i am grateful

Australia does not celebrate Thanksgiving. Which makes me sad. Up until about 20 minutes ago it was only because I love turkey and think any time of the year where you get to year as much turkey as you want should be celebrated. However, tonight my friends and I had a bbq to say Merry Chremoo to each other and now as I lay in bed with a food baby I am thinking about how lucky I am. I am taking this opportunity to reflect on the things I am grateful for in my life and in 2009.

i am grateful for...



my beautiful kind girlfriends - they all make me laugh, smile and feel beautiful. Some old, some new, some closer than others but they are all dear to my heart.

i am grateful for...





the closest thing I will get to a brother - We have been through ups and downs but he is always my protector and still my best friend.

i am grateful for...my health.
As someone who works for a disability service, interned at the National Breast Cancer Foundation and has a sister who is a nurse I have witnessed and heard my fair share of stories. This year had a close call which to this day makes me shudder. I am so grateful to be healthy.

i am grateful for....



my education - this year I finally graduated uni.
NB: excuses for the very shabby appearance of my robe and hat, both were too big and were slipping off all day.

i am grateful for...


my family - photo is missing due to the rareity of a photo containing all of us.

i am grateful for...



the little things - rather generic I know, but the days at the beach with best friends, singing in my car, waking up on a summer morning and having his arms wrapped around me make me grateful to be in this world.

i am grateful for...


my boyfriend - I am glad that no matter how much he doesn't want to speak to anyone he will always take the time and effort to say the three little words that matter most.

tremble little lion man.

playlist so as to not think about impending new job tomorrow:
(there is no need for a nervy b)

• The Beatles - I just saw a face
• Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man
• Jaime T - Chucka Demus
• Moneen - Accidents (cover of Alexisonfire originial)
• Alexisonfire - Young Cardinals
• City and Colour - Hello, I'm in Delaware
• Otis Redding - Try a little tenderness
• Paramore - Hallelujah
• She & Him - Sweet Chariot
• The Beatles - When I'm 64
• The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
• Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma
• Glasvegas - Daddy's Gone
• Philedelphia Grand Jury - Going to the Casino
• Dropkick Murphy's - Shipping out to Boston
• Goldfinger - 99 Red Balloons

It is growing rapidly, but these are just some of my obsessions at the moment. I must admit I am not big on buying albums (as in hard copies) mainly because I am lazy but am keen to get Paramore's newbie, Glasvegas, Vampire Weekend, The Philly Jays, and my newest and most current obsession, Mumford and Sons. I really need to make a visit to JB!


On another side, completley unrelated note, manfriend and I went op shopping this weekend and I have started my Classic collection (goal to read classics instead of chick lit) with Wuthering Heights and Oliver Twist. Also picked up Memoirs of a Geisha. I am attempting to broaden my mind :)

final day as a slave to the customer service man

Today was my last day working in retail for what I hope to be forever, if not, a very long time.

the things I will not miss about retail/customer service:

• being ignored when you greet/try to help someone
• being called "good girl" when I put something in a bag. i am not a dog, and if you are going to treat me like one at least give me a treat.
• even better, you could try treating me like a human being
  
• the phrase "cheque, savings or credit"
• tiny, overflowing stock rooms
• ill fitting uniforms
• over demanding customers, my work ethic is not 'the customer is always right' mostly it is 'the customer is always stupid, rude or annoying'
• people loitering around the door waiting for you to open the doors, and then trampling you when you do, it will still be there when you get it, especially since you are the only one out here.
• two words: 'seniors discount'
• retail shopping blindess - I once heard a customer ask, while standing in front of the register. "yeah, but where do i pay?"
• fat, scooter riding women, who honk at you so that they don't even have to 'scoot' (not walk) into the store.
  

on a brighter note, things I will miss:

• the amazing staff who I now just call my friends
• singing and dancing to the AMAZING centre music (Tina Arena is huge in France)
  
• the free access to chocolate, wrapping paper and ribbon
• merchandising windows
  
• the old ladies who just make me laugh instead of wanting to strangle them
• the old men who just make me laugh instead of wanting to strangle them

second post in one night

just too happy at the moment.


did i forget to mention I love my boyfriend.

by far my favourite photo of the year.

he is my happiness.

all i do is party

disclaimer: above title is a lie.

past few months have been insanely busy: final semester of uni, internship, looking for a jobs and working. plus, social activities.
My Dad likes to tell everyone that walks into my house on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night that I am just going driving through the streets till I find balloons and then crash the party.
Obviously, he is a hilarious man.

Excerpts from sporadic party moments of late:

Going away party for my bestie. she came back 6 months later.

Bestie's Pirate 21st
Parrot, Peter Pan and Pirate.


school kid party. i am a good catholic school girl.

OktoberFest Brisbane Style
NB: this photo also displays my friends maturity levels.
my boss ladies going away partay

and my absolute favourites so far




one of matt's random get togethers
absolutely love that kid
- why do all my friends move away -


my cousin's wedding
kudos to my sister for her photography

my boys at my event

half the group but still a great photo
kudos to the photographer who donated his time to the NBCF; Mark Lobo

There were several thousand photos to choose from and ones that never saw the light of day, all I can say is the busyness has been crazy but so much fun.


Something that has also been apart of my busy year which has failed to produce any photos is thursday night girls night. I have two absolute, without fail, love them no matter what best friends.


Every Thursday night we cook each other dinner at alternating households, and then go out for gelati at our favorite spot "Milany". Racecourse Road Ascot, if you haven't been go now. Call me and we shall go together. Tomorrow night, it's my turn to cook. I fail at all cooking, except one dish, 'Chicken and Chorizo Paella' from Donna Hay's Chicken cook book. So simple even I can cook it.

i know it's early but...

I love Christmas.

Even working in a chocolate store at X-mas cannot deter me from the love I hold for it so dear in my heart.

I know it's early but yesterday at work I could smell it!!!

And then tonight, while hanging out the washing manfriend said he could smell xmas beetles in the air.

Things Erin <3's about X-Mas:
(in not particular order)

• Going swimming all day long
• Coleslaw, my Nanna's pasta salad and potato salad
• Christmas Carols in every store
• BING CROSBY
• House lights
• Those giant plastic candy canes
• Those giant REAL candy canes
• Buying presents
• WRAPPING PRESENTS!
• UNWRAPPING PRESENTS!
• Fruit mince pies. Going into to coles, just to buy fruit mince pies. Harassing my Nanna for fruit mince pies. Smelling fruit mince pies because you physically cannot eat any more but are not eat satisfied.
  
• The way the mornings feel when you wake up (only people who experience Xmas in the Summer)
  
• Decorating the tree (note: I love this so much I made my family decorate the tree the morning I went to Europe for 2 months as I would not be home to do it)
• Getting to see everyone you know and love. and mostly seeing them drunk (Stolen: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl by Belle Du Jour)
• The fake snow
• Our annual coast trip
• Carols on TV
• Watching the Carols on Xmas eve while eating fruit mince pies with mum, dad and man friend
• (This one is a newbie) Drinking with my family on Xmas Day
• My mum's Santa candy cane holder

I think this list could go on forever.

old angers

Found this written in the margin of a uni book from last year:

happiness
bitches and such, who think they're cool.
but not the bubblegum cheerleader american teen movie kinda cool
The people who think their cool because they're not.

you're not better than me because you know too many useless facts about a band no one has heard of.
their first album was NOT better
your haircut is not cool because its shorter on one side and you have a fringe.
you're clothes don't make you smarter than me
those badges do not give you street cred.

ps. those glasses you're wearing don't make you look intelligent,
just like a douche




lol