Package from Natalia in Russia!

I was recently in a swap on swap-bot called "I can't buy THAT here!". This swap required everyone to send something that you can only get in your country/state/city/town. I sent my partner in Israel some TimTams, Minties and a Cherry Ripe chocolate bar.

My sending partner was Russian, and she sent me so many wonderful things.

I love seeing writing in other languages, even if I don't understand it.

Oven mit, oven grabby-outer thingy, 2 blocks of chocolate, Russian

candy, a pair of socks that remind me of dairy cows and this cool Easter

egg decorating paper that's traditional in Russia.

This is sooo cute! This chocolate is called "Alenka".

I actually want to keep the wrapping. 

Candy and dark chocolate... *drools*

This is the interesting Easter egg decorating thingy. At first, my brother's

girlfriend and I were confused but then...

... we saw the instructions, and it kind of made a bit more sense.

Pending op-shop refashion #1

Went op shopping today and I bought more giant dresses and skirts

to refashion. Some are massive muumuu-looking things that will be

cute summery dresses, and some are long skirts that will become

high-waisted and medium-length.

I will document the process on this blog, don't you worry!

This is a bag I bought while op shopping yesterday... Cute, huh?
Smells and bit leathery and mothball-y, though... Will have to

air it out a bit.

Slightly irrelevant, but this is one of my good friends... I thought I

would include this photo as the background is my wonderful city, Brisbane, at night.

It's wonderful. :)

New room!

Sorry about my lack of posting, guys. It's exam week now and I've been busy with studying and moving rooms. I took a few photos of my new room so I thought I might show you!

Oh, and I made a Hello Kitty cake yesterday. I didn't want to murder her though so I got my boyfriend's sister to cut it, as I spent the afternoon baking at her house with her.

I would have made a tutorial, but I didn't document the process with photos... But one day.

I think I made her nose a little too big, though. :(

Packing, moving rooms, AARGH!

I'm moving into a different student unit on Monday (but I also have an exam and have to hand in an assignment on that same day, argh!) and packing is killing me. It was pointed out to me last night at my family birthday dinner that I am a hoarder, so today, I tried to throw out unwanted things... Which, might I say, was very hard for me.

But don't we just love my kitty back in my hometown? Her name is Miia.

And the new t-shirt I got for my birthday... I wouldn't normally point this out, but I swear that is not a nipple or anything pointing out, it's just detailing on my bra. *chuckle*

Op shopping finds #1

I went op (thrift) shopping by myself today, and though most of the op shops were closed due to the Melbourne Cup (annual horse racing) being today, I managed to find one that was open and found a whole bunch of purchases that I was rather happy with.

Brown vintage suitcase for just $3 - so cheap!
The darker brown marks on it are just wet spots from when I wiped it over.

Two granny dresses that I'm doing to hem and take in (sort of like how it's done 

at New Dress a Day), a pair of flats, and a coin pouch.

I'll be sure to show you my granny-dress-to-cute altering process!

Happy mailbox!

I got a whole bunch of packages today, and had so much fun opening them!

A lovely package from Cheray, my Happy Mail partner for October.

She sent me a rose ring, decorative tape and a Harajuku doll!

I was so happy to receive it... Also, look at that awesome

letter paper - it folds into a shirt!

Kawaii swap for the "Pick 5!! Newbies welcome" swap on swap-bot.

My partner sent me kawaii memos, ribbons, bento supplies, deco tape

and adorable post-it notes that are hiding behind the little bento paper cup things.

An order that I made through the Icecream Drops store on Ebay Australia.

It's a kawaii bento box - I plan to send it out in a future kawaii swap.

And here are a couple of letters that I sent out to the US just the other day.

Final exams

Sorry I haven't updated for a little while, I've just been busy visiting my hometown! I have about one-and-a-half weeks left of university for the year, then will get a much deserved four month break. It's not exactly holidays just yet, though...

So I have to study for two remaining exams (for my Phonology course, and Indonesian), and I have to write one 2000 word essay (for my Second Language Learning and Teaching course).

Sigh, the life of a uni student!

Wish me luck!

Raptor t-shirt... WANT.

Dear friends and family members who read my blog,

My 19th birthday is coming up next week, and I would like this.

"RAPTOR" t-shirt as shown on the movie Ghost World.

Etsy store "indigofeet", $35.00

Asperger's Syndrome

So the other day, I found this quiz on Facebook which evaluates where you range on the Autism Spectrum. My result was way above average, and while I knew that this tool wasn't an official diagnosis tool, I told my mum about it.

She then told me that she's known for a while that I have autistic tendencies (more specifically, what could be Asperger's Syndrome, a high-tendency level of autism) but she never wanted to make a big deal of it because she didn't want to label me. Fair enough. But I am glad she told me this, because now it is so clear. I finally know why I do the things I do, and think the things I think.

Here's a list of Asperger's Syndrome symptoms I've gathered that apply to me:

• dramatic transitions from one phase to another
• overnight or instant development of intense and specialised interests - if I am interested in something, I will study it intensely and become almost a walking encyclopedia on the topic
• above-average intelligence
• difficulties in empathising with others
• difficulties when it comes to social situations
• finding it hard to control negative emotions (e.g. anger, depression, anxiety)
• poor development of motor skills - also, I need to have the simplest and most obvious things explained to me in specific and detailed instructions
• preferring routine and getting flustered if things don't go as planned
• thinking visually
• "disconnecting" and going off into my own little world
• extreme anxiety
  

Now it's time to get an official diagnosis. Not sure how to go about doing that, but it's something I need to do so I can gain a better understanding of... well, of my brain and how it works, I guess. People have always distanced themselves from me or have written me off as weird.

I just don't like how people call it a disability, though. I am perfectly happy with how I am and I feel that despite the whole social side of it all and being incredibly insecure when I'm out in public by myself, it is really an advantage... or a gift, so to speak.

Felt plush tutorial: Kawaii Mushroom

I recently joined up for the "Whimsical Woodland Plushie #1" swap on swap-bot.com, a platform for crafty people such as myself to get together and swap their lovely creations and stuff related to their interests, and the theme for the swap wass "mushroom".

So, I went out and bought some different colours of felt (it only costs 75c for one A4-sized sheet here!) and got cracking.

Here's what I did:

Step 1: I already did a whole bunch of things before I decided to make a tutorial on this. But what I basically did up to this step was get some paper, pen and scissors draw (and cut out) a mushroom in the exact same size and way I wanted the mushroom plush to be, put the template on top of the white felt and cut out the shape, cut out the red mushroom top separately and craft glued it on, then I cut out and glued the facial features and mushroom spots from the felt. 

Step 2: I then faced the outside sides of the mushroom inwards and did a simple stitch around the edges - though I left a little bit unstitched so I could turn the mushie inside-out and stuff it.

Step 3: Turn the plush inside-out (or, to be honest, right-way-out!). Don't freak out if the stitchings break or get a bit loose when you do this... You can always fix that up later.

Nearly there!!

Step 4: Stuff the little guy! If you don't have any proper stuffing and choose to use cotton balls, that's okay, but it would be a bit gross if the plush got a bit wet (the cotton balls would go soggy!) and it wouldn't be as soft as it would be if you were to use proper stuffing.

Step 5: Use a matching coloured thread to stitch up the opening that you left for the stuffing.

Voila!

And your little Mushie is finished. 

I wish I dressed like Cassie Ainsworth

Skins, anyone? Or is it too drunken-druggy-UK-teenagers-getting-up-to-no-good for you? Ah, I love it so much... Mainly Series 1 & 2, though. Though the outfits all throughout the show are brilliant. Furthermore, I'm not too fond of the idea of a US version of Skins... The British accents just make the entire show.

Anyway, to stay on track with the original intention of this post, I would just like to announce that I have been searching for a skirt like Cassie's (Series 1 & 2 of Skins) for a really long time.

It has poodles on it... It's great.

Well I think they're poodles, anyway... Geez, they could even be horses or something.

On the topic of Cassie, let's just sit and admire her wonderful outfits for a moment.

"Wow".

Recommended Movies #2

My readers seemed to enjoy my first "Recommended Movies" post, so I've decided to do another one and show you all my inner filmophilia. I have a particular love for coming-of-age films from the '70s to the '90s.

I enjoy the music, the crazy outfits and the colourfulness of it all.

Last night I watched one of the following movies, and I've actually just finished watching another one of them.

1. Empire Records


If I could pick one casual job to do so I have money in my pocket while I work my way through my university degree, I would totally work in a similar environment to Empire Records. This is one of those movies where the characters would randomly break out in dance to '90s alterna, while giving you that itch to get up on your bed and dance as well. This movie was made and set in the mid-90s in a record store named Empire Records. The big boss is planning to convert the store into part of the Music Town franchise, and this movie's set out over one day of the store's employees trying to work out how to keep Empire Records standing, all the while going about their usual dramas in their lives.

2. Dazed and Confused


Also starring Rory Cochrane, though not quite so zen and more pot-head hippyish, this movie is set in the '70s and it's about high school graduation, making plans for the summer, smoking a lot of pot, seniors initiating the poor and defenceless freshmen, and one of those awesome '70s parties.  I have an intense fascination with the American summer vacation in the '70s - or rather, what these kinds of movies portray of them (flash back to Now and Then).

19th birthday wishlist

It's my 19th birthday in 2 weeks and I've compiled a bunch of things I really want to get my hands on!

This includes:

Canon Ixus - I need a new camera. I've been using my boyfriend's lately.

Filofax. Pink, "Personal" size in Finsbury.

I saw my mum buy me this and I can't wait to have it!

Fujifilm Instant Camera - I've always wanted a polaroid camera.

I love this one. It's so cute, like a bubble.

GHD straightener. I have a hair straightener but it's absolute crap.

A world map to go on my bedroom wall. I think my boyfriend's sister's taking care of this!

*sigh* I love birthdays.

Gettin' all clucky!!

My big sister, Rebekah, is pregnant and my little baby nephew will be due in mid-to-late-November. I'm really looking forward to it... She's the first out of our siblings to have a baby, so my mum's really excited to finally be a grandmother!

I really want a kid as well, I always have, but I'm planning to wait at least 3 more years so I can get my education out of the way first. I think my boyfriend's a bit scared about that, hehe!

Anyway, I'm so glad that we'll have our little nephew for Christmas! The whole family's planning to go to a holiday house at the beach to spend the holiday with the family. It'll be great and I look forward to getting to know the little bald, squishy fella.

Good thinkin', Bek... The more people you invite = the more presents you get. Hehe!

Left to right: Me, my big sister and my younger sister.
You can't even tell we're all sisters!!

Playing one of the games... A race to write down a baby boy name
for every letter of the alphabet. I won that one! 

The awesome nappy cake that our cousin made.

Unwrapping the presents... This is the cringeworthy "aww"
face everyone was making. 

"Pin the Dummy on the Baby"!