Sign-in Sunday: A Little Bit Of Everything

Weekly Ramblings

This week just hasn't been my week. I've been flipping tired (that's an understatement!), I'm depressed for several different reasons, chronic guilt is eating away at me, and today my necklace holder which hangs on the back of my door broke off, breaking two of my most favourite necklaces. One had a butterfly and was a one- of- a- kind, very- hard- to- find necklace (readers will know how much I adore butterflies) and the other one a purple one, my favourite colour. Both broken, smashed and unfixable. I'm devastated. I just want to cry. You may be thinking gosh woman, it's just jewellery, get over it, but to me when I'm sick and tried of being sick and tired, being sick and tired of aching, sick and tired of feeling like I have bricks tied to my ankles and completely annoyed as hell with life and with the week I've been having- when something I love breaks I do believe I have the right to feel miserable and upset. That said, it doesn't allow me to be miserable for days, so I am giving myself today to get it out of my system and tomorrow is a new day, a new week and I can start again; happier. This also means that I now have an excuse to go jewellery shopping, so I guess that's a plus!

Nope, I didn't get as far as baking this week but I am happy to report that my bedroom is almost looking spotless! Well, apart from the evident lack of dusting and vacuuming, but hey, I'll get to that this week. This is all thanks to my angry/frustrated/pissed off/I've had enough of this crap mood. Yes, I clean when I'm angry. I'm still trying to figure out if that's a good thing or not! I did, however, get an hour of decent driving practice, hooray! Although after 30 minutes, fatigue set in so I think that goes to say when I'm on my P's I'm only driving short distances.

Blog News

Unfortunately I've been feeling too unwell to start my sketchbook for the sketchbook challenge. January has been one hell of a month, with my worst fatigue month ever. Hopefully next month I'll have two sketches to show you to make up for it.

Over the next few weeks and months I will be introducing you to some exciting, new and creative topics that I hope will be a permanent feature of this blog. You've probably already noticed some changes that I've recently made. Here's how it looks:

Monday

All About Me Monday

Card Making Monday*

Tuesday

Blab About Beauty Tuesday*

Thankful Tuesdays

Wednesday

Wednesday Weekly Word*

Words Of Wisdom Wednesday

Thursday

The Nail Files Thursday*

Friday

Friday Funnies

Crafty Fridays*

Best Buys Of The Week*

Saturday

Shabby Chic Saturday*

Sunday

Sign- in Sunday*

Monthly

Poetry And Praise*

Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness+

Whenever I feel like it posts

Book reviews, giveaways and much more!

* These will be permanent features of this blog.

+ Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness I hope will be a permanent project of this blog, however, this depends on how well it goes. I am putting everything into this project- my finances, my energy and I can't do it alone. One person can only do so much. I really want to see people blessed and I really want this project to work. It's going to take time but if people don't help me get the word out by blogging about it and tweeting about it, and most of all donating- even if it's just $1, then this project may only happen once every so often- money doesn't grow on trees, I really wish it did though!

Days that have been assigned more than one topic will be alternate weeks (if I'm organised enough). If I have something in that topic to post I'll do a post, if not, I'll write a complete random post, a health post or not post at all (confused yet?). I will not be posting everyday of the week and some weeks I may not even be able to post at all (just in case you were expecting some marathon blogging). So as you can see there will be a little bit of everything, so there's something for everyone! GET EXCITED!!

Goals for the week ahead

I don't have many goals for this week as I've got a lot going on. I do need to make an appointment with my gp and get my stomach problems sorted (hello more tests). Over five months since symptoms began causing real trouble I'm still no better! It's gotta be food related (pun warning!)- I have a gut feeling. I really want to get to the shops this week to get materials for my sketchbook so I can do some sketching this week too.

I am really excited about this week for two reasons:

1. Tomorrow night is chicken parma night at our house! Yum! I'm excited! I will definitely be taking photos (if I don't forget)

2. I'm going for my P's (again) this week!! Eeek!

Please pray for my driving test this week- pray that I don't get a horrible tester again, that I'll have a really good fatigue day (that sounds really funny), that I'll be alert and that it won't rain. Your prayer is greatly appreciated. I need all the prayer I can get!

 

To leave feedback click the comments link below. Your comments are appreciated.

Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness

You are invited to be involved in a world wide blogging project- Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness (RABK). This is a project that I am very excited about (I cannot even begin to tell you how much!) and it is something everyone can get involved in too (that's you as well non-bloggers!).

One day last year my church ran an outreach project called 'Love The House' where groups of people got together to bless a member of the church who was struggling or in need- cleaning houses, gardening, baking and the like. I was one of the many who were blessed by that day. Young people willingly and lovingly gave up their Saturday to spend it with me. I enjoyed the day with some much needed great company, a little shopping and a great lunch. At the end of the day I was blessed with a gift card to spend at one of my favourite stores and from that day onwards all I could think about is how much that day helped me and how much I wanted to continue to help and encourage others in a similar way, not just in my church but world wide. I felt cared for, appreciated, loved, and encouraged. Without sounding materialistic, the act of someone simply giving me a gift card as a 'random act of kindness' bought some much needed joy into my life (I'm a shopaholic!) and I want to spread that joy to others. While it may not be possible for churches to run such an event more than one day a year, I didn't want it to stop at just one day. There are people hurting and I want to spread the hope that I have found. And so I began praying. Really praying. I didn't know how I was going to help or what to do but I felt stirred in my spirit to do something. In the midst of my desperate prayer it suddenly came to me and 'Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness' was born.

Being chronically ill and housebound most days myself, I know what it is like to experience discouragement. I also know what it is like to receive encouragement from the most unlikely of places and I am so passionate about making a difference in the lives of not only those around me but encouraging the chronically ill world wide and empowering others to do so also.

" I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I can't do interfere with what I can do."- Everett Hale

What is Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness?

Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness (RABK) is a project that seeks to bless and encourage those living with a chronic illness who wholeheartedly blog with a passion to raise awareness, who write about their own struggles so that they may help and encourage others in chronic pain. For those who research and share helpful information and insight, and who generally blog to make a difference in the lives of so many. RABK relies upon the generosity of people like you donating to help encourage and bless a chronic pain blogger financially so that they may be able to afford something they would really like to buy for themselves that they normally would not indulge in.

Blogging about chronic pain and illness is such a brave thing to do and RABK is a project that seeks to acknowledge this and is a way of showing our thank you and appreciation to those bloggers who are writing their hearts out with such passion, honesty and courage.

Each month a chronic pain blogger who I have been in contact with and deem deserving of being a RABK recipient will be chosen by myself, and the donations from that month will go to blessing that person in the form of money, gift vouchers and the like. Be it money for a special dinner out, movie tickets, a day at the day spa, a new camera, a new phone- what we can give depends upon the generous donations from people like you. Each month a detailed blog post will be published on the chosen blogger/recipient informing donaters of who their donations have helped, and how that person has been blessed as a result.

RABK will run regardless of donations, however, without donations it will not run monthly. If you would like to, you are more than welcome to donate. There is more than just one way to get involved....

How can YOU get involved in Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness?

RABK is an amazing project that anyone can get involved in, both bloggers and non bloggers. You can donate via the Paypal button which is located on the right sidebar of this blog. You are welcome to make a one off donation but I am also looking for people, sponsors, companies and organizations who wish to commit to this project long term who are willing to donate monthly. Those who wish to donate monthly will have their name/logo/link featured in a sponsor section.

Bloggers

1. Donate: be it $5, or $10- every little bit helps!

2. Blog: if you can't afford to donate and would like to get involved write a blog post about it and link back to this site!

You can copy and paste the following-

'Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness' (RABK) is an amazing project anyone can get involved in, both bloggers and non bloggers. RABK is a project that seeks to bless and encourage those living with a chronic illness who wholeheartedly blog with a passion to raise awareness, who write about their own struggles so that they may help and encourage others in chronic pain. For those who research and share helpful information and insight, and who generally blog to make a difference in the lives of so many. RABK relies upon the generosity of people like you donating to help encourage and bless a chronic pain blogger financially so that they may be able to afford something they would really like to buy for themselves that they normally would not indulge in. Be it money for a special dinner out, movie tickets, a day at the day spa, a new camera, a new phone- what we can give depends upon the generous donations from people like you.

Blogging about chronic pain and illness is such a brave thing to do and RABK is a project that seeks to acknowledge this and is a way of showing our thank you and appreciation to those bloggers who are writing their hearts out with such passion, honesty and courage.

Each month a detailed blog post will be published on the chosen blogger/recipient informing donaters of who their donations have helped, and how that person has been blessed as a result.

For more information and to get involved/donate check out www.chronicallycreative.net

I encourage you to reach out and spread hope and compassion to the hurting by getting involved in this project in any way you can. Your help, involvement and donations are greatly appreciated. Let's make a difference in the lives of those with chronic illness by blessing and encouraging them! Your kind and generous donation may mean that instead of spending a whole day in tears, they spent a whole day smiling- because of you.

3. Grab the RABK badge! This is locate in the right sidebar of this blog. Copy and paste the code into a html widget to display the badge on your blog

4. Twitter: tweet about it! Example: Follow @ChronicCreativ and get involved in Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness http://bit.ly/g0fXxt

5. Facebook: share it on your fan pages and in your news feed and/or display the RABK logo as your profile picture (just right click on the RABK logo above and save it in your pictures to use- I give you permission!). Be sure to join the facebook page too!

Non Bloggers

1. Donate: be it $5, or $10- every little bit helps!

2. Tell your friends and family about it

3. Twitter: tweet about it. Example: Follow @ChronicCreativ and get involved in Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness http://bit.ly/g0fXxt

4. Facebook: share it in your news feed and/or display the RABK logo as your profile picture (just right click on the RABK logo above and save it in your pictures to use- I give you permission!). Be sure to join the facebook page too!

By getting involved in this project, you are also helping and encouraging me. It makes the bad pain and fatigue days a little better and it makes my day so much brighter knowing that I have encouraged someone else. When I know that I can help someone going through a similar situation it brings me joy in knowing that my pain has a purpose. I encourage you to reach out and spread hope and compassion to the hurting by getting involved in this project in any way you can. Your help, involvement and donations are greatly appreciated. Let's make a difference in the lives of those with chronic illness by blessing and encouraging them! Your kind and generous donation may mean that instead of spending a whole day in tears, they spent a whole day smiling- because of you.

To leave feedback click the comments link below. Your comments are appreciated.

Beautiful

In the wee hours of one morning, another sleepless, restless night, a song played on the radio. A song that gently tugged at my heart and washed away all the heaviness which bound it. "You're beautiful (no, it wasn't James Blunt), you were made for so much more than all of this". A song, that in my despair, I needed to hear. I was feeling anything but beautiful and doubting that I had a purpose, a life beyond being "sick". I had been finding it really difficult not to let my illness define who I am when it demands my attention at times and when I spend my time dealing with it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To hear those sweetly sung lyrics was God's way of gracefully reminding me that I am beautiful and that He has made me for so much more than my current circumstance.

"The days will come when you don't have the strength, when all you hear is your not worth anything" hit my heart, hard. Everyday I've been struggling to find the strength to just get by and survive another day and because of that I had been feeling as if I wasn't worth anything. How could I be if I struggle to just have a shower or clean my room? "I'm praying that you have the heart to find, cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight". I have no doubt that God used that song to speak to me that night, it was His way of letting me know that I am made for something greater than all of this, that I am stronger than my illness and that I am so much more than a "sick" person. Being in the midst of one of the worst and longest fatigue flares and feeling totally overcome I realised that I am so much more than a "fatigued" person. How many times I've had to turn down an invitation because "I'm fatigued" really gets me down but recognising that despite how lousy I may feel on the inside- I am not fatigue. I am Emily and despite lacking energy I know that I am blessed beyond measure, talented, smart, determined and ambitious. I know that I am dearly loved with a love that lasts forever.

Upon searching for the song to share with you, I had no idea who the artist was nor did I know the title of the song. All I knew was that I had to find it, not only for me but for others also. Ever since I heard that song I have felt stirred to share it. And so, I randomly typed in 'Christian songs- Beautiful' in you tube not liking my chances of finding it but amazingly it was the first video that came up. A coincidence? Definitely not. This song was not only for me, it is for someone else too. I hope it speaks hope into someones life like it did for me.

Artist: Mercy Me, Song: Beautiful

To leave feedback click the comments link below. Your comments are appreciated.

There's Always Next Time

Last year I wrote about the challenges of driving with chronic fatigue and I shared with you my frustration and excitement about getting through the hurdle of my last lot of driving lessons. After completing the driving lessons I finally went for my test in December last year. I was so happy that I got to the point of being prepared enough to go for my P's. After a long four, now going on five years of chronic fatigue, I never thought I'd get there.

I arrived at the testing place with more excitement than nerves about the fact that that day I would (I say would because I was expecting to pass) be driving home a P-plater. I gave my name to the receptionist and was assigned who I thought at first to be a lovely female Indian tester, who turned out to be one hell of a bitch (excuse my language, but she seriously was). I went for the test in my own car as I'm more comfortable driving in it, so my driving instructor was unable to come with me which meant it was just me and the tester in the car, which was kind of a disadvantage because there is no one to back me up on her unfairness. That driving test turned out to be one of the most horrible experiences. After five minutes of driving I didn't care if I failed I just wanted the test to end. I was tempted many times to pull over and make the horrible woman get out of my car. You know those people who are just plain miserable who give off bad vibes and you feel horrible and yucky just being in their presence? Well that was her. I like my car to be filled with happiness and her miserable demeanor was really quite disgusting. Appalling, actually. For a driving tester I would have expected a much more lively friendly persona but I guess my expectations were way too high in standards. This woman was the most disgusting, rudest and impatient person- every time I would turn out onto a main road she would make a point of letting out a sudden sigh when she thought I could have pulled out in between a gap in traffic. Now, my driving instructor clearly told me that if I didn't think that it was safe to go- don't. His theory was that it was much better to just get a penalty. Well clearly in her mind that was not the case, and sighing is just plain darn rude and not on when someone is taking their driving test. I bet if I had taken my instructors car, she would not have done that. I just think she was highly unprofessional and took advantage of the fact that I didn't have my instructor with me.

By the time I got to the second half of my test she had me feeling really flustered which is really quite dangerous (dumb woman) and I made a mistake. Eeek. I was sitting at a set of traffic lights waiting to turn left- the lights changed, I turned the corner and a little further around the corner there were another set of lights that were red adorned with a 'beware of pedestrians' sign. And so seeing the pedestrian standing ready to cross and the light beaming red, I stopped. The woman crossed the road, it all seemed good. Confusion soon washed over me as I quickly realised what I had just done didn't feel right. I kept on driving and the tester pipes up "you weren't suppose to stop there"- it was for the other side of the traffic lights. Oops. It was so deceiving, hence why she took me down there. Damn.

 (image via weheartit.com)

I found myself back waiting for the results of one of the worst thirty minutes of my life. FAIL. I knew that I had failed, but it was still a shock to here it. There was a little part of me that still hoped I had a chance as I've heard of people doing much more stupid things in their test and passed. Had I not made the mistake at the set of lights, she would have failed me anyway and this fact makes me feel much better about things. I was set up to fail right from the beginning, and despite doing a brilliant reverse park, nothing could please this woman. She was a grump and one hell of a hard task master. She wasn't happy with me driving 10km under the speed limit (which is what my driving instructor told me to do) and a little less in the rain- and it was raining! I bet if I drove faster she would have failed me for that too! She was clearly a woman who was totally unhappy in her job (it really showed!) and who can't distinguish between home life and work life. I don't care what your job is- for goodness sakes, leave your personal problems behind. She couldn't even brave a fake smile and she looked like her face would break if she even attempted to.

 (image via weheartit.com)

I've heard stories from friends who have gone for their licence who have been unfairly failed, discriminated against and it just really frustrates me that no tester has the same marking standards. I've heard of testers passing bad drivers and failing good ones, expecting different speed limits and it's just plain unprofessional to judge a persons driving capabilities based on what mood your in.

I came home so unhappy, upset, disappointed and feeling like a failure. All I wanted was to get my P's- to have one thing in my life work out for a change but instead of dwelling on the negatives of disappointment I whipped out my 'Things to be thankful for' list and got writing....

I am thankful that....

 

• I have the joy of the Lord
• I'm not a misery guts
• I don't feel the need to impose my misery on others
• I have a nice car to drive
• I have a clean car (thanks to my Dad cleaning it for my test!)
• I got writing material from this experience
• I'm going to be a better and safer driver
• I am more than a conqueror
• I will eventually get my P's
• I have the money to pay for another test
• I have another chance to go for my P's
• There is always a next time

And while I'll admit that the test did shake my confidence a little, I booked another test immediately, and I'm now looking forward to trying again. Hopefully I'll get a much more nicer and respectful tester next time round. I really do not want to fail again, I am so fragile as I'm struggling a little with fatigue and depression so it will be good if one thing can go right in my life for a change. The one thing I've learnt from this whole experience is that I'm not a failure.. it seems like I'm failing at everything at the moment but my God does not see me as a failure and neither should I.

 

Psalm 107: 28-30

"Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that it's waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so he guides them to their desired haven."

 

- I woke up to this scripture placed under my bedroom door by my sweet Mum. I'm going for my P's again knowing that my God will calm the storm, and that He will guide me to my desired haven.

 

 (image via weheartit.com)

To leave feedback click the comments link below. Your comments are appreciated.

Sign-in Sunday: Suggestions, please....

Blog news

Well I was going to introduce you to Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness this week but I ran into some unexpected difficulties. I was highly disappointed. I am so excited about this project, I just can't wait to get it started! The good news is that I have the blog button, the information page and the post all ready to go so I'm definitely hoping for this week. Fingers crossed. My 100th post will be coming up soon! Most likely within the next few weeks. I'm thinking of hosting a giveaway to celebrate. Thoughts? Does anyone have any suggestions about what to host as giveaway? I'm totally stuck for ideas. What would you lovely readers like to see as a giveaway? Suggestions please! If someone happens to offer a suggestion that I pick, they will get two bonus entries!

Weekly Ramblings

I made it through another week. I struggled but I'm here, alive! Now I just have to get rid of this horrid headache. Ugh! This week I got that huge pile of washing done, it wasn't done by me, but it got done! My lovely Mum got it all washed, dried and folded for me! I have the best Mum! There is no way I could have got through it all even if I did have some energy to attempt it. It feels SO good to have all my washing finally clean. Now, just to stay on top of it...

choccas I tell you, choccas!

I am blessed with the most amazing family, one morning this week I woke up to see my Dad and sister washing my car! That was definitely not one of my top priorities, and now it's all nice and clean! I bought my car a little over a year ago now and I have never actually cleaned it myself- that's what CFS does to you. I haven't had the energy to clean it myself and if I did have a good fatigue day, cleaning it is out of the question as it would exhaust me to the point where I could not function the rest of the week and all the other chores/tasks that I have to do will suffer. I did get thirty minutes of driving practice in this week though, but I wouldn't call it good practice. Driving when you are so overwhelmed by unrelenting fatigue is not a good idea especially when CFS causes mental fatigue also. The only reason why I pushed myself to drive is because I'm going for my driving test really soon and I'm freaking out as I've been too fatigued to get any practice in. I usually drive when I'm fatigued (as I'm always fatigued) but I make sure I am feeling alert enough to drive and I only drive short distances but lately the fatigue has been hell, I've hardly been able to drive and I'm stressed as my driving test is way too close for comfort and I'm in my worst fatigue flare. Ever. I know how to drive though (I've been on my L's for far too long due to CFS) so I probably won't force myself to do any more practice as it's beginning to affect my driving- I'm just hoping and praying that I'll wake up to a good fatigue day on the day of my test. Good days are very rare lately.

I didn't get to vacuum or clean my room this week, but hey, I made it through. Now just to make it through another week...

Goals for the week ahead

This week I would really love to try out some new recipes. I love baking and let me tell you, I haven't baked in quite a while. So, if fatigue will allow I am going to bake some chocolate chip cookies! I have a craving for them. Bad. I also want to order some stuff to make the cutest valentines cupcakes and hopefully get stuck into making some valentines day cards. Oh and I desperately need to make a hair appointment for sometime within the next two weeks- I haven't had a hair cut in over a year and I badly need a colour. I've never had my hair dyed before but at twenty-two I find myself going grey. GREY! I started going grey when I was eighteen (damn genetics), but it was just the odd grey hair that when found I simply plucked out. Now the grey hairs are popping up all over the place that I have no choice but to go and get it coloured. I would do a box color but I'm not that brave yet. I have really long hair, and by long I mean really long. When I straighten it (which is so rare as I don't have the energy) it just about reaches the base of my spine. YIKES! I really love my hair long and I get so many comments about how nice it is but I would love to have it shorter to be able to style it better. So this is my dilemma... get my hair cut short, or keep it the same length? And do I just stick with the same hair colour? I don't think I can cope with departing with my long hair right now (although it does grow back really fast), so I'm thinking maybe I should just get half of it chopped off. Meet halfway. Whenever I get my hair cut I freak out that it's too short, and that is a problem I could do without right now. I've always had my natural hair colour- dark brown. Part of me wants a change..but what? If I go a little lighter I may look washed out and I have really dark eyebrows which would probably then need tinting. What a hassle. I could go darker...but risk looking like a goth, no thanks. I guess I'll just have to see what the hairdresser suggests. This will be interesting. I can't believe I'm going grey, it will be a relief to see no more grey hairs! So all of that will keep me busy trying to get myself through another week.

yours truly with shorter hair

 yours truly with longer hair

Hmmm..... decisions, decisions.

To leave feedback click the comments link below. Your comments are appreciated.

Best Buys Of The Week- 21/01/11 Edition

 Here are this weeks best buys:

BYS Diamond Shadow. This eye shadow palette only cost $6! I bought it at a discount store (the other week actually- I've hardly been out this week damn fatigue)

I fell in love with the dynamic colours- they're bright and cheerful. I don't usually buy eye shadow as I can't seem to get it to look right without me looking like a freak, and I usually break out in eczema anyway, but I thought I'd venture out and have another try for something creative to do seeing as it was cheap. So far I've worn the light blue colour (bottom row 2nd from the left) and it looked alright, and I didn't break out in eczema! Hoorah! I can't wait to experiment with the other colours and try some different colour combinations!

The following purchases are from Koorong, a Christian bookstore. I managed to visit this store the other day despite a really terrible fatigue week. Here's what I picked up:

2011 desk calender. Featured on one side are the calender dates

and the other side is a picture of a teddy bear along with a scripture. Cute.

$3- score!

Wobbly by Vikki Roubin. One woman's journey through depression. From the quick flick through that I've had, it looks a great read. I can't wait to read it and write a book review for you! I foresee this as possible giveaway material.... we shall see.

Cup of hope. I'm beginning to have quite the mug collection. Scripture reads: "And His name will be the hope of all the world"- Matthew 12:21. I love this! I'm drinking from it right now :)

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!!

PS- stay tuned for Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness!!

To leave feedback click the comments link below. Your comments are appreciated.

Best Buys Of 2010- Spring Shopping



I'm feeling pretty down today, so I thought I'd do a cheerful post and show you what I picked up over spring last year. I could really do with some retail therapy at the moment (it works better than any antidepressant) but as usual I'm too darn fatigued. Maybe soon. Looking back at what bargains I bagged over spring makes me happy though. Here is what I found:

Gorgeous top from Target (where else!). $20. Just had to have it. I don't have many dressy going out at night kind of tops so this will be perfect for when I do finally get out to party at night!

My favourite pair of high heels right now. Yes, I have small feet but the bonus is that they always have my size! Well, usually. Some places don't cater for small feet. These cost me $7 (I know!) from Target. Love the colour! They look great combined with the following top pictured below and jeans.

One of my favourite purchases of last year. It was love at first sight. The picture doesn't capture the frills, yes it is very frilly! And it has butterflies amongst the flowers! This lovely top is from Big W (my sister works there so I get 5% off, ha!)- $24.

Lovely high heels from Target. Not so lovely when you have swollen feet- $7

 Gorgeous top from Target. I love the detailed flower embroidery! $4 (yes!)

I love these shoes! My favourite flats in my wardrobe, and they are SO comfortable! My family call them the 'frill neck lizard shoes'- they do look a bit like a frill neck lizard I suppose! Not only can people look like animals, shoes can too, ha!

And another nice top, this one is from Valley Girl (which is another store where I regularly shop). Pretty. $10.

PS- I am going to figure out how to remove those damn borders!

To leave feedback click the comments link below. Your comments are appreciated.

My first blog giveaway winner!

 (image via weheartit.com)

It's time to announce my first blog giveaway winner! Exciting!! Due to the fact that only three entered I decided to make things extra random to make things fair. So thanks to the true random number generator at random.org the three entries were each given a random number between 1-5. Here are those results:

Meri- 4

Alanna- 3

Phylor- 2

And the next first number that came up that was a number in the draw to win a $15 Amazon gift card was our winner.

And the winner is.......

Congratulations Alanna! Send me an email via the contacts page with your preferred email address that you would like the gift voucher to be sent to. Happy shopping!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

To leave feedback click the comments link below. Your comments are appreciated.

The party's where the pizzas at!

I enjoyed the most delicious pizza for dinner last night, and for me to be posting about you know that it has to taste pretty amazing! I ordered the tandoori chicken pizza, bursting with vibrant flavour- it's a party in your mouth.

Dressed with chicken breast fillets marinated in tandoori spices, shallots & crushed cashews, drizzled with mint yoghurt. It was divine! I ordered the large size because I'm  a pig smart, I now have left overs for lunch today! So I have some energy spare to do something other than exhausting myself from making lunch, that's one thing to be thankful for today!

This pizza is from a gourmet pizza bar called Crust. It cost $20 for a large and that's the cheapest price for a large! I normally refuse to pay $20 (I'm trying not to think that I could have bought three tops for that price)  for a pizza but this pizza is the only exception so you know it must be good! It's totally worth every single cent! The last time I ordered from crust I tried the satay chicken pizza and that was pretty awesome too! Their pizza bases are quite thin so if you like yours thick, than the upper crust pizzas are probably the go. Although, a little more pricey at $23 but boy the Moroccan lamb one sounds good! They deliver quick, the pizzas are amazing and the service is great. Crust pizzas are highly recommended.

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Sign-in Sunday: The Bachelor in Rome

Blog news

My First giveaway ends tomorrow! The winner will be announced at a random time in a blog post tomorrow so if you would like the chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card, make sure you enter!

Hopefully this week sometime I will be introducing you to a massive blog project I have planned called Random Acts Of Blogging Kindness. It will be something everyone (non-bloggers) can get involved in and it's a project that I hope to continue throughout my adventures in bloggerville (providing it goes well!), but for the time being I shall just leave you wondering about what it entails, ha!

Weekly Ramblings

This week I managed to clean my room. Hurrah! Well, sort of. I had it looking half decent and now it looks like a battlefield again. So many obstacles everywhere. I really need to work out a cleaning schedule that works- and soon! The reason I struggle so much in this area is because I have a really small bedroom with all my crap squished into it- my bed (of course), a massive study desk, a rocking chair, an ikea wardrobe and a dressing table. This leaves me with only a couple of walking steps in space and no available room for a bedside table and lamp. I'm used to living in quite largely sized bedrooms and I never imagined that small room would be so difficult to clean. With all my stuff in it though- it is! It's a good thing I'll be moving to a room upstairs soon. Sweet relief!

I finally managed to go and get my nails refilled too, I let them go for ten weeks! This is also a great relief. One nail was just about to snap off and they desperately needed a good file. All is good in the world. Well no, not really. There have been epic floods and people have lost loved ones and this saddens me.

This afternoon was spent watching the first episode of The Bachelor in Rome. The perfect show for entertaining a young single woman living with chronic illness. My life now doesn't seem so bad. Comprising of twenty five gorgeous women from across America, in Rome- the city of romance, all fighting to fulfil their long awaited fantasy, to marry an Italian prince. Coupled with attitude, style, sass and jealousy, this is the show to watch. One woman even likened herself to Cinderella- "I consider myself like Cinderella, I sold my car to be here". I lost count of how many times the word "cute" was supposed to be taken as a compliment. Place twenty five women in one building all buying for one mans attention, vowing that they are "the one" and you're set for some of the best entertaining hours tv viewing can offer. Throw in a pair of diamond earrings and the women act as if there whole life is at stake. It's also a battlefield to behold when the show surprises all twenty five women with a dating game twist- enter two more Italian local beauties, and it's game on. There was eye rolling, serenading, tree hugging and there is always the one who consumes a little more liqueur than was probably intended. Guaranteed. The Prince found himself involved in a ping pong game, himself the ball, and the twenty seven women the bats. The claws were out. There was bitchiness and pure jealousy "Oh my god, they're hot I hate them", and those that had there heads to far stuck up their arse to be anything close to dating material- "I'm older, well educated, I'm beautiful and I've been blessed with genetics. The girls have nothing over me". Then there were those who were just plain desperate that it was sickening- "I'm just gonna rock the charts and be myself baby". One woman decided that wearing a tiara was the best way to gain the attention of the prince.

It was a great afternoon. There is hope for me yet.

Goals for the week ahead

This coming week I would like to get through some of my washing that has been piling up (damn fatigue) and at least get 30 minutes of driving practice in. I also want to vacuum my room and go shopping as I still have gift cards from Christmas. Yay! I don't know if fatigue will allow for all of this, but I'm certainly hoping!

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