spring

It's been here two and a half days. Perfect spring. Warm sun. Light breeze. Summer is only just round the corner. It's stirring thoughts of beach trips and star gazing. Of ice cream and Havanas. Of sun burn and and hot tar roads. Of barefoot adventures and road trips to anywhere. This is the perfect time of year.

remember when | for angela kate

Last night I said 'see you later' to my best friend. I gave her a hug, affirmed that 6 hours wasn't really that far and got out of the car. There aren't really words for that kind of goodbye.

This morning she left on a new adventure. She is on the road somewhere between here and there.
I cried almost everyday this week. Which is awkward. I blame it on a mixture of hormones and sleep deprivation. If I'm honest it's probably just because Angela is a special kind of person who I'm really going to miss. She is my partner in crime. The peas to my carrots. The kool in my koolmint - so that doesn't make sense but you catch my drift.

But seriously. I blog about Angela a lot, like here, here and here and its because she rocks my socks - or you would if I wore socks. So in celebration of her new adventure here is a post dedicated to fun times.

Angela, you are my best friend and I love you more than I can say here with out sounding like a dag. You know me on good days and bad and you still want to be my friend.

I don't have to act around you because even when you think I'm strange you still like me. I don't have to say anything other than 'I'm feeling agitated' to make you understand what is going on in my head. And I never need to find and excuse for wanting Maccas.

I'm flat out blessed to know you. I'm better off for having you as a friend, even when I think you're strange.

Thank you for being my friend, drive safe and I'll be seeing you real soon.

Also thank you to our friend Lou, who is a super talented photographer, for making us look so good. 

stranger danger | an observation

Since I have started working in retail talking to strangers has become part of my job. To be honest I'm pretty darn good at it. Saying hello, having a little chat about what they have been up to, throw in a complement, have a little joke, sell them some clothes, say 'thanks, we'll see you next time!' is all good fun.
The problem is that after a few days of working my brain gets stuck on costoumer service mode and I find myself saying "Hey!" to strangers in the supermarket. Or asking the lady washing her hands next to me in the ladies bathroom how she is going - awkward like I want to know how she went in the toilet!

I got thinking about this idea that strangers are dangerous. Haven't we all been told at some point in our life 'don't talk to strangers.' If you have ever heard the story of Little Red Riding Hood then you know what happens if you stop and talk to someone you don't know.

Since a small age we have been taught to keep to ourselves. Now don't get me wrong I understand why, sometimes strangers are scary stabber men or 'wolf's' but mostly they're not.
Mostly they are perfectly normal people - or as normal as any of us are. Who have families and jobs and lives totally separate from ours. Really that's what makes them strangers, the fact that their lives are completely separate from ours. I just wonder what would happen if we stopped treating strangers as scary dangerous wolves and started treating them as people worthy of our time. Can you image if you chatted to people on public transport, or said good morning to the person ahead of you in the line at the coffee shop.

I know what you're thinking: 'people will think I'm strange.' Maybe. But that's the kind of thinking I'm talking about. We would rather play on our phones then interact with the nice lady sitting next to us.

I'm not saying you should strike up a conversation with everyone you see. I'm just saying maybe strangers aren't as scary as we have always thought. Maybe they are nice people, just waiting for you to say hello.

an unexpectedly long time between posts

I just get busy. You know how it is? You have an unexpectedly large amount of things to do and seemingly no time to do it. It's around this time that I forget to blog, when really there is so much I could blog about. Then right on que my friend Steph sends me a screen shot of my last post and a message to tell me it's been to long.

Then 'hey presto' I post and the cycle repeats.

So let me fill you in on what's been going down. The last few weeks in photos.
In no particular order - in fact in absolutely the wrong order.

Went to a wedding.

This kid came to visit.

Went to this pretty chicks birthday. 

Met Tagapaa.

Got up early enough to see the sky like this.

Watched 24.5 episodes of Pretty Little liars.  

Toasted marshmallows  

Started reading an awesome book.

Flew.

So I have been busy. Really busy. On top of all that I'm working now which is cool and bible college is back! There is no excuse really. Sorry about that.

Ps. Steph I will try to be more frequent and more informative from now on. Fingers crossed I can find time... Better cross your toes as well just for good measure.

just for the sake of it

This post has no real point. Only to say that after spending a week house sitting with my best friend she is still my best friend. After a week of late nights, early mornings, eating together, watching movies together and getting in each others way we still love each other. Isn't that cute of us.

There have been moments in our friendship where we stop and say -'Whoa, this just went to a new level'
Some of those moments will never be spoken of again. They are often to embarrassing or bizarre to share with anyone else but they make sense to us.

This week I had one that I can share. I put a stool on my head and so did Angela. You know it's true friendship when you can put a green, plastic, kids stool on your head for no reason and no questions asked your friend does the same. It's strange I know but when something works this well I'm not going to question it.

Ps. Here is some photo evidence of said stool incident. I look almost identical in both photos, but Angela cracks me up.

Angela talks about it on her blog, go have a look.

confessions of a procrastinator

I'm feeling pretty unmotivated. Actually. Scratch that. I'm feeling like procrastinating is easier than facing the list of things I need to do.

I am a procrastinator. It's a fact. I leave everything till the last second. From small things like the fact that even if my alarm goes off at 7.30 I don't get out of bed till 8 meaning I have to weigh it up do I eat or do I shower - showering normally wins out. Or big things like choosing what and where I want to study - I enrolled in bible college on the last day of applications.

I think it may be a sickness. Or it could be genetic. Or maybe its because I have always been one of those annoying people who never tried to hard at anything but somehow managed to be slightly above average at it (the trick is to only do things you know you will be good at).

If I was really honest I would say that the reason I procrastinate is that I don't want to fail. If I leave something to the last moment and I'm bad at it, or I make the wrong choice, it dosen't matter because I didn't try that hard or give it much thought anyway.

Right now I am procrastinating. I should be studying. It's at this point when I could cry and say I'm over that I realise that I dislike being a procrastinator. I promise myself that when I've got through this I will do better next time. I will plan in advance. I will study hard. I will make decisions. I never do.

I am a procrastinator. I am a procrastinator and it sucks.

when everything goes wrong

So I didn't take many photos this weekend. The main reason was I was to busy laughing.
Angela and I went on an adventure. We do that sometimes just because we can. Normally, for the safety of others, we have some form of adult supervision but this weekend we decided we would go it alone. Because after all I am 20 now.

Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong but somehow turned out exactly right.
First we left Sale much later than planed. This was a direct result of our inability to pump up a tyre. In fact not only did we fail to put air in the tyre we somehow managed to make it more flat than when we started. Thanks Neil for bailing us out of that one. Turns out when there is a kink it the hose it doesn't work.
Next we had to navigate to the hotel. For the record I'm normally quite a good navigator. That said I somehow managed to push Angela to the edge she was using her 'I'm remaining calm but I might yell any second' voice. How you ask? I accidentally directed her into the city. After some quick refreshing on google maps and some deep breaths we managed to go round the block and end up back in the right place.

Plenty more ridiculous and stressful things happened. Things like parking in the wrong place, almost going up a one way street, waking up an hour later than intended and almost missing church and getting lost trying to find The Glen. The point is, however, that we did all the things we wanted to do and more and had a good laugh on the way.

When I talk to some of the older wiser people I know I am amazed by the life they have lived and the stories they have to share. This weekend will go down in history. 20 years from now I'll be telling Angela's kids all about it. 'This one time your mum and I......'

never nineteen again

I have been twenty for twenty four hours. So far I like it.
I'm not going to lie nineteen was a tough one, now with hindsight I appreciate the work God did in my life this last year and I wouldn't change it. I am in some ways glad to see the end of it.
Today started when I was woken by my mum and little sister jumping on me. I was then dragged from my bed by Lateshia who took me to her house. I got to bend the rules of presents in our house and open my families gifts before I even left the house (bonus is I got new clothes to wear) At Lateshia's I found three balloons, Damon, pancakes, a Matt Corby ticket and Angela.
Angela then took me for a walk down the street and purchased me a wondrous hippy bag.
When I got to my home I found Alison, Steph and Booster had set up a picnic in the back yard. There was three more balloons, fruit, chocolate and three beautiful hugs.
Next Russell arrived. He told me that was taking me to the place... So I got in the car and off we went. After a walk around cob and co stables he guided me to La Pochetta where a small tribe was ready to have lunch. I sat next to my friend Neil who happens to be born the same day as me.
After some persuasion from Lisa the next stop was the Ladies High Tea. I learnt that turning twenty doesn't automatically make you fit for polite society - my pinky just doesn't want to stick out.
Lateshia, Shanae, Alysha and Angela then took me to another 'place' (*cough* Redd Catt) where I got to drink carmel latte and laugh like a fourteen year old.
Then home again to eat dinner with Lateshia and Angela followed by cake with my wonderful friends.

Today I was blessed. I got to begin my twenties with people I love. I got to eat, laugh and share with my family and friends. I don't feel wiser or more sensible than I did yesterday but I do feel hopeful. This is the life God has given me and I love it. I'm excited for the year to come, whatever it may bring.

And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. (Galatians 6:9 AMP)

Hi I'm Lauren. I'm 20.

the birthday dilemma

If you know me at all you know I don't like birthdays. Correction, I don't like my birthday.
I'm just not into them.
It's pretty ridiculous really because from about three months out I am counting the days (23 sleeps to go if your were wondering) and making lists about things I want to do and presents I would like. I totally buy into the hype.
For some reason or another I always end up disappointed. It's like as soon as I make a plan it finds a way to unmake its self. For as long as I can remember I have ended the day thinking, 'well that's it I guess...'
So this year I'm making no less lists and no plans (ok so maybe a couple of plans but nothing big). Yes I am counting sleeps but I refuse to buy into the hype. I'm going to have an awesome day just because the world is beautiful and there for me to enjoy. The fact that it's my birthday will just a bonus.

I'm going to be spontaneous, I'm going to enjoy the company of my friends and family, I'm going to eat cake and have fun. That my friends is about as far as my planing goes.

I'm going to leave my teenage self behind with a new out look on birthdays and life.

I'll get back to you in 23 days and let you know how it went.

eleven

More than enough information about me. Please play along or I will feel lame, like I have no friends.

There are five rules:
1 // Post these rules.
2 // Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3 // Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4 // Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5 // Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them.

Eleven random things:
1 // I don't like my ice-cream to touch my cake/fruit/pudding/other tasty dessert. Two separate bowls!
2 // I am number 3 of 4 children.
3 // I bite my nails
4 // I walk and talk in my sleep. It's kinda creepy.
5 // I have never broken a bone.
6 // My fish just died.
7 // I still think 'ballet dancer' is an appropriate answer to what I want to be when I 'grow up.'
8 // I have a yellow belt in Zanshin Shotokan. Look out or all go all ninja on you butt.
9 // I have a tattoo and 6 piercings.
10 // I only eat white marshmallows.
11 // I don't like I step on the cracks in concrete. I adjust my step so I don't even stand on the joins.


My answers to Lou's question's:
1 // The best birthday present you ever received?
A swing set. Although I don't remember receiving them its common knowledge around our house that I credited this awesome gift to my Poppy. My two year old self could not be convinced that Mum got them for me. They have served our family and friends well ever since.
2 // Your go-to, never-fail meal?
Mashed vegetables. Go heavy on the pumpkin and stir in the peas and corn at the end- there is nothing worse than mushy peas.
3 // Your most unfortunate holiday experience?
I have ridiculously light skin. The rest of my siblings are the kind of people who spend two minuets in the sun and go brown. Any outing, any holiday adventure always ended with me looking like a tomato and possibly adopted amongst a family of bronzed beautiful people.
4 // One thing that you wish you had?
I wish I had a Bachelor of Arts (Ministry) Essentially I wish I could be finished studying without any work.
5 // Your Facebook friends: The more the merrier or select few?
I only add people I know and by know I mean have met. I wish I was a less is more kind of person but I'm such a sticky beak I want to know about people.
6 // Your shoe size?
Embarrassingly big. Please keep in mind I am tall. I'm a ladies 10-11.
7 // What names are NOT on your baby names list? If you don't have a list, just pretend you do!
Trevor, Bill and Jessica. There isn't anything wrong with them or people who have those names I just don't like them.
8 // Your morning routine?
Alarm. Wake up. Alarm. When did I go back to sleep? Grump at anyone who asks a question. Shower with my eyes closed. Dry my hair for 25 minuets. Change my clothes 6 times. Eat something. Brush teeth. Try to smile till I stop feeling like a zombie.
9 // Your favourite thing about blogging?
There is a place where it's ok to talk about whatever I like and there is a small chance someone would like to read it. To top it off there are hundreds of interesting blogs to be discovered, conversations to join and games to play.
10 // What were you like at age 16?
A little selfish. Passionate. Not as smart as I thought, but not stupid. Messy. Unmotivated. Learning how to be better.
11 // What is your biggest accomplishment thus far in life?
Living till now. It's not that impressive in the scheme things but I'm pretty proud of the last 20 years.

My Question's:
1 // What is your youngest memory?
2 // What would you never do? Not even for a million dollars.
3 // What is your favorite word?
4 // How do your like bed? Messy or made?
5 // Would you rather be blind or deaf?
6 // Cereal or Toast? Why?
7 // What would your 12 year old self say they wanted to be when they grew up?
8 // What advice would you give yourself at that age?
9 // What are you afraid of?
10 // Winter? Summer? Spring? Autumn? Why?
11 // Do you snore?

 Steph, Cassie, Hollie and Angela you guys are up next.

bathrooms

I know what bathrooms are for. Cleaning, washing, singing in the shower, teeth brushing, applying make up and other general personal hygiene things.
However, it seems that I use bathrooms for other things.
Some of the most interesting conversations I have ever had, I had in bathrooms. Some of my best friendships had there defining moment in a bathroom. Some of my funniest moments have happened, in a bathroom.
Basically some of my favourite memories have come out of bathrooms.
I'm not really sure what it is about them. I just love them, they way the lights look, the way speaking sounds. With out a doubt it is my favourite room in the house. Even when I was little I used to hide out in the bathroom with the door locked. I would sit on the floor and sing.

What's your favourite room in the house?