Adventures Of Late.

Its been a long time! I could write rambling apologies for my absence, but it has been a whirl wind few months of fun, adventures and getting amongst it - which is really nothing to apologize for.

I have many tales and a backload of photos to share which I will attend to ever so slowly, but for now, my most recent adventures and forays into springtime!

Spring has been a cliche for me when it comes to new beginnings. Winter was a struggle, and I made no secret of that.

However nothing is permanent, and spring came full of new promise, adventures and this handsome face.

Spring also came with the promise of slightly longer days in gentle sunshine, picnicking at cottage gardens in remote historic towns with friends.

The born-again feeling that spring brings is encouraging me to eat consciously. The boy and I have made ourselves regulars at a local vego/organic/vegan orientated cafe. I've never been an advocate for vegan food, but this place has me converted.

My tried and tested favorite vegan breakfast; bean compote, spinach, grilled tomato, homemade hummus on toast and sweet fig tempeh.

My city is gearing up for festival season, which means sideshows galore. I was lucky enough to score a free ticket to see Kimbra perform live a few weeks ago.

If you haven't heard of her, do yourself a favor:

The thing I like best abut spring in Perth is that you still get the occasional shower. There really isn't anything nicer than a spring shower. Days when we cant be out romping in the sunshine, we stay in, bake, watch movies, and devour.

My spring picnic outfit of choice. Vintage gingham dress and one of a kind Mr Individual hat!

My addiction to pretty vintage dresses in baby blue is growing stringer by the day. Such a fun colour!

'Going Up The Country'

I'm alive.

I'm alive and kicking, actually.

The past few weeks have been manic, frantic and productive in ways that can't be adequately summed up in a half winded 3 am post. A longer post will ensue tomorrow.

In the meantime? I'm rewarding myself by making adventure plans!

In August an old friend from the east coast and I are loading up my car and heading South West to explore the Harvey region.

We're staying at an amazing cottage estate atop the valley. These photos are from the accommodation website.

I can't wait to be tucked away up there. It'll be the very crux of winter and hopefully the valley will show us a little rain. I can't think of anything more perfect.

Step into my office..

The best thing I did for myself this week was disable my facebook, and move my work space outside into the courtyard.

Its a full moon. That might explain my last post.

Its been raining rather heavily for the first time in months here, and I find it so much easier to work outside where I can rug up, plug in, smell the damp earth and listen to the rain falling around me whilst I work.

The blanket was a hand made gift given to me by my Grandmother for my 21st birthday.

She knitted one square for each year of my life. It is perfect for throwing over knees or shoulders in this kind of weather.

I've also grown very attached to that re-useable coffee cup. Its an extension of my hand and always full of delicious peppermint tea.

The office relocation has done wonders for my productivity.

Check out the trailer that we've just released for the Human Rights Arts & Film Festival!

I'm getting very close to finalizing the perth program and I couldn't be prouder of what I do right now.

Spirit Polish.

I'm 23, and I am still learning a lot of things. One of those things is how to be alone.

Last night I thought my little heart was going to crack in two from the yearning I have to be held close by my family back home. They visited oh so briefly last week, and for those few days I felt safe. Like I was back in the nest, or tucked tightly under wings, warm dry and not afraid of falling.

We ate Chinese food in my parents holiday apartment on the Saturday night, just like we used to every weekend at home.

We're a small unit, but by golly we're a tight one.

There is no force more powerful in my life.

This speaks volumes to me about the infinity of legacy and the love of family.

They left and I took a rather big fall with impeccably bad timing.

I received some news regarding my health that wasn't so great, and it left me reeling.

I turned to him, because it is all I've known for some time, but the reality came hard that my heart is still reeling from that too (and rightly so).

I think it is the times like these that take the shine off your spirit. You plough through feelings of heartbreak, loneliness and loss and try to find the best way to handle them, and attempt to polish your spirit because you're terrified it'll never look the same again.

The other night a good friend just sat and cried with me. I was gracious for such a small and mercy, and very touched. Having a lap to collapse into when the world gets a little rough and tumble is a salvation I'm blessed to have, even if I forget that I have it sometimes.

“ In each of us lie good and bad, light and dark, art and pain, choice and regret, cruelty and sacrifice. We’re each of us our own chiaroscuro, our own bit of illusion fighting to emerge into something solid, something real. We’ve got to forgive ourselves that. I must remember to forgive myself. Because there is a lot of grey to work with. No one can live in the light all the time. ”

- Libba Bray

The power of positivity may have escaped me temporarily, but I'm willing to ram it back down my throat until I'm throwing up rainbows, kitten and unicorn dust once again.

In the mean time, I find writing to be cathartic.

A little more soul polish for the road...

Health & Beauty

I love a good pampering! One of my favorite things to do is treat myself to a decent beauty treatment that actually nourishes my body in one way or another, and helps to restore a sense of relaxation and well being.

I have a very very fair complexion which is prone to redness and very easily irritated. A lot of popular products on the market just don't work for me. They sting or burn my face, and leave it worse than it was to begin with.

A few years ago I made to switch to all organic/natural/home remedy beauty products, and I have not looked back. They smell amazing (for the most part) , they feed my body and get results. I feel like my skin is the healthiest and happiest it has ever been, so I thought I'd share my favorites!

my daily selection

Face Goodies.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleansing Pads

I use these to cleanse/remove my make up at the end of the day. They're very gentle and non-astringent and have a gentle exfoliating effect with soy extracts, which my skin just loves.

Rose Water & Dr Hauschka Organic Day Cream

Rose water is an amazing toner. I first head about its benefits from Wellness WA. Its particularly kind to my sensitive skin, and feels cool and soothing after a long day.

Dr Hauschka is hands down my favorite facial moisturizer! I love it. Its a little on the pricey side, but I've found it is perfect for my super dry skin. Its light weight, so you don't feel like you're smearing butter on your face. It lets your skin breath and a small amount is perfect underneath make up.

Its made of all natural ingredients, so its very gentle - and it smells delicious!

Kora Organic Skincare by Miranda Kerr

I love this range of products. Again, they're on the pricey side but they are well worth it.

I use the Cream Cleanser with Noni, Avocado and Sandalwood when I want a deep cleanse (great for after i've been wearing stage make up for a few hours. Gets everything right off and feeds the skin underneath).

I also own the Balancing Rose Mist which is heaven for dry tired skin when traveling on airplanes.

Nourish Skin Oil

I use this when my face is feeling particularly dry. I also use it every second night on my nose. For some reason, my nose gets super dry very easily and needs a little more moisture than the rest of my face. I pop this on overnight and by the morning the redness and dryness is gone!

Hair Goodies

Grown Black Pepper & Sage Shampoo

Another totally organic product. This shampoo has been a life saver for me.

Earlier this year I decided to bleach my perfectly healthy hair, with disastrous consequences. Its dark again, and slowly on the mend, but I can't use any harsh shampoos and I defiantly don't want to be soaping up my head with even more chemicals. I really have to baby and feed my hair at the moment, so the Grown hair car range is perfect for me. I also use the Rose, chamomile and Lavender conditioner.

Al'chemy Vitamin Masque & Organic Mayonnaise

Al'chemy is an awesome australian brand of natural products. I use the Ginkgo and Jojoba intensive moisture masque, which again, is a chemical free saviour to my dry damaged hair. If I have enough time I leave it in for 30 minutes.

This might surprise you, but mayonnaise is actually amazing for you hair. Especially if its very damaged like mine is. The only down side is that it absolutely stinks to sit there for 20 minutes with it smeared all over your head.

However, if you can stand the smell (which washes away when you wash it out, I promise) - the natural proteins will give a far better result than any treatment you can buy!

Organix nourishing coconut milk

Another hair lifesaver. I put this in my hair wherever possible. I've never used a product like it. It helps soften even the most brittle ends and prevents breakage. Its made of organic coconut milk, coconut oil and egg white proteins. Plus it smells like coconuts. Its so amazing. I can't rate it highly enough.

Body and Soul Goodies

I don't use anything too special on my body, just an organic goats milk soap that I pick up from the farmers market. There are plenty of lovely handmade organic soaps available on Etsy.

Every day I take Thompson's Women's multivitamin, which in my opinion, is the one of the best multi vitamins on the market. Its a low allergy and gluten free formula without any artificial coloring, flavoring or preservatives.

I also take Blackmores 'Nails Hair and Skin' tablets with biotin twice a day. I've only started doing this since I friend my hair, but I've noticed a change in my skin on them as well.

Last, but not least, I want to give a huge wrap to essential oils.

Sandalwood is like prozac to me. Whenever I am m feeling stressed, sad or strung out, I burn it.

I'm also a huge advocate for the de-congestive properties of sweet orange oil. If ever I feel a flu creeping in, I burn that.

Real Life Sunday Snippets.

What a whirlwind weekend.

I turned 23 on Friday.

I don't feel much wiser, particularly since I think I may have a had a little too much party punch last night.

I'm very much embroiled in the realty of life right now.

Sometimes you drink a little too much home made fruit punch.

Sometimes you feel hazy, and all you want is the longest, hottest shower and some more sleep.

Sometimes you need to take it like a solider, bundle up your lap top and head to the university library.

In the meantime, I have a selection of real life snippets for this sunny little Sunday!

Last weekend, my housemate and I headed out to the Fremantle Street Arts Festival.

I was there mainly for the break and aerial acts.

This one crew were insane. They were break dancers, but then they strapped on stilts and did a whole lot of crazy stuff that shouldn't even be possible on stilts. They're called Stalker Theatre and they're from Sydney.

I'm currently training towards silks and ropes, so I love seeing them in action.

I've got another 12 weeks of training before I can even get up there, but I'm starting to develop muscles on my muscles, see?

This was my favorite routine of the day.

This is Flo Foxworthy. She is a well know costumier from New Zealand.

Today she posted that photo of the jars on her facebook wall.

I love organization, and I really enjoy sequins. So seeing this makes my heart race a little bit, and inspires me to organize my sewing room/studio a little bit better.

This is very sweet. It makes me cry.

From my involvement with the burlesque and dance world, I was introduced to The Belly Dance Costume Recycle Project.

I think it is an awesome move. People sell all kinds of second hand dance costumes on there, not just belly dance costumes. I know from my years on competitive dance circuits that costumes are ridiculously expensive, and usually not worn that many times because judges/audiences want something fresh. It is heartening to see these beautiful things being recycled and given a new life.

Sunday Snippets; Burlesque style!

Todays Sunday snippets have a burlesque flavor!

In less than 8 weeks, I will be competing in Miss Burlesque Australia.

I'm still the process of working out each of my three acts. There are so many cliches in 21st century burlesque that I am trying desperately to avoid. I've really struggled with the classic routine. Bumping and grinding is said to be the essence of burlesque, but its really not my thing. Give me a fast paced song with some rhythm, with plenty of percussion and a neo-gimmick any day!

This is the inspiration for my routine for the 'Classical' burlesque section of the competition.

Fortunately, I won't be dealing with live birds (mainly because they're super creepy).

My costume for this section was made by one of my most beautiful friends, mentor and very talented costumer Wendy Herron - who is worthy of a snippets all of her own!

The costume for my Neo routine is on its way from the U.S and is inspired by the infamous Crazy Horse number.

Although my version will be a LOT more modest than theirs!

I'm super excited for my unique routine, inspired by my all time favorite cabaret performer, Meow Meow.

I saw her live at the opera house a few years ago, and was entranced.

My little claim to her fame is that we trained at the same performing arts academy.

Apparently she was visiting campus last year and sat in the rehearsals for 'Cabaret'.

I must have been busy sleeping under a rock or something that day. I still hold high hopes of meeting her.

Last but not least is the pièce de résistance; the gown!

I stumbled upon this little number a few weeks ago whilst I was thrift shopping with my friends.

It was $12, and hiding nonchalantly on the dress rack like the wallflower that it was. I snapped it up quick smart!

The puffy sleeves have already been removed. The beautiful baby blue color and the delicate cut instantly reminded me of Betty Draper and Grace Kelly.