What a freakin’ year!
Compared to last year, shit felt pretty quiet. But really – it’s been a year of tremendous growth, awesome achievements, and fantastic travel. Ain’t too shabby! Continue reading “Hello, Goodbye: 2018”
Category: Looking Back
My body, myself. Or, growing up.
When I was 10, we had two TV’s with cable – one in the living room and one in my parent’s room. Between my brother’s Super Nintendo and my sister’s Food Network, I rarely got to watch it in the living room, so I commandeered my parent’s TV. My parents had a giant bed with 47 pillows and tons of blankets, and I had privacy – I flipped between Wishbone and MTV while writing stories about unicorns whose parents were ax murderers and no one bothered me.
Flashbacks
Do you ever have those moments where you’re all, I’ve been here before? Continue reading “Flashbacks”
2015 in Photos
Ringing in 2015 with champagne and a 6″ Huntsman spider crawling above us.
New Years Eve Huntsman – ACKKKKK
My first Aussie summer nearly killed me. I will never take a/c for granted ever again.
We cooked so much at home and tried heaps of new recipes – some failed, like this buffalo chicken meatball sub.
Australia Day
Good Life Choices
So. Much. Visa. Paperwork.
But looking back at all our letters and treasures was fun.
Beach land! Slowly but surely, I am getting more comfortable with open water filled with danger.
I had a few really bad days, and a lot of great days.
I fell in love with the 27mm lens, and blood-orange roses.
Celebrated my first Valentines Day on the same continent with my one and only
I could eat this every day for the rest of my life
I went back to single colour hair. Eight months later, I miss all my blonde.
We may have gone over board on pizza, but most of them were well deserved
giant bugs tried to kill me
our friends had exhibitions, our friends are the coolest
New cookbooks that re-lit my baking fires
the weather started to cool down in March – and every cell in my body rose in celebration
my first Royal Easter Show was fantastic
Cyclones nearly drowned us and we didn’t see the sun for almost 2 weeks
My favourite had a birthday
Joel and I celebrated 2 years together
Lots of Meal Planning – months later, we’re getting the hang of it
I got to see Joel selling his work
We watched X-Files every day for like 2 weeks straight. Devotion.
Lots of good Skypes with my friends and family, and I want to plan more for this year
I finished a project! And then took it apart and started again (3x) Knitted Snood.
$33 of pork
Perpetually sick for the entire month of June
Steve Powers in Bondai
Celebrated 4th of July with American style bacon!
Falling in love with Paint by Numbers
I turned 13!
I survived my first bush walk
Read so many good books
Joel was a busy busy guy! And he took a part time job to focus more on photography and studio work. So proud of him.
So much baking
Seriously, Paint by Numbers is the best calming, meditative act
Celebrated 1 Year in Sydney!
It took 3 months, but I re-vamped and re-named my blog. So happy with the results!
Barbeques!
My first week at my new job was amazeballs
Hang times with friends
more beeeeach
Halloween!
Lots of couch upgrades
More Good Life Choices
Planned my first Thanksgiving meal
Twigg-mas Tree!
Christmas felt like Christmas this year, and it was fantastic
Developed a puzzle addiction
2015 Christmas break has been the best 2 weeks ever
STAR WARS!
Full moon on Christmas Eve
Favourite
Happy New Year, everyone!
So looking forward to 2016.
xox
Audrey
Selective Outrage
I don’t post on every terrible event that happens in the world. And when I do, I’m sickened by the thought of “who is going to fuss at me this time?” “how long until the articles come out about the other – or greater tragedy that I’m ignoring just by making my profile picture different?” My Facebook doesn’t change lives. Obviously. It’s private, first of all, and I don’t post enough to infiltrate algorithms. Same goes with my Instagram. I’m not an activist. I don’t post to change people’s minds or make a difference. I just post.
I don’t know much about Beirut, beyond what I’ve grown up hearing. I’ve never been there. My heart aches for its people, and it aches when I hear of those suffering in war torn, drug ridden, famine suffering areas. Of the refugees and the hostages and the prisoners of war. It doesn’t end at the Middle East. It’s in Africa, Mexico, America, everywhere. Conflict scares the shit out of me. From when I was old enough to realize what was happening in the first Gulf War, and I hid under the dining room reading the newspaper and crying because my uncles were there, my friend’s dads were there, there were news stories showing the US bombing Baghdad and I thought my dad would be going next. I count every single blessing and star that I haven’t experienced conflict directly.
The fear that it could happen where I live, and the realization that it happens basically everywhere close to me, is very real. And I didn’t give my social media prayers to Paris because mainstream, white washed, pro-western media told me to. I gave them because I have an emotional, life changing connection with Paris. And because I know that feeling of watching the news, wondering if everyone you know is ok. Wondering what will happen next. Wondering when it will all be over. Wondering what you can do to stop feeling so helpless.
I don’t know what the answer is. I just know this weekend was a difficult one. As I read the news from my couch in my warm home with dinner ready in the oven, all my friends and family safe and accounted for… I’m just thankful for where I am, and everything I have. I don’t take it for granted.
A letter to my 20 year old self
Dearest 20 year old Audrey,
Oh, you.
This is your 30 year old self, here to offer you a glimpse into what’s coming, and maybe some advice (even though you won’t take it, because you’re *really sure* only you know what’s up. Trust me, though, you don’t. Not even a little). So, here goes, some advice to you, you fragile little creature.
-take college seriously. Quit some of your jobs and focus on school. Give a shit about your classes. Take internships that are offered to you. I know it’s hard while you’re depressed. Just fight through it. The grades and knowledge will be worth it. And yes, I know you’re conflicted about leaving New York and transferring to GMU, but don’t worry. You’re going to meet people there who shape your life for the best. AND STOP SKIPPING CLASS.
-leave him the second you think you should. It will save you years of heartache and self-doubt. Stand up for yourself, and don’t let him rip you down. That’s a lesson you’re going to wish you had learned at 20.
-don’t accept that credit card with a $3000 limit. $3000 isn’t an emergency card–it’s a ticket to Trouble Town. And please start saving money. Get a therapist, not another credit card.
-while we are on the subject, stay out of H&M. You won’t own a single thing you bought there for more than a year, and you’ll save yourself about $5k.
-With all that money you save, go on every vacation offered to you, and study abroad. It gets more difficult to travel when you get older.
-study Mom whenever she makes a meal. You’ll wish you’d done that more when she’s not a phone call away.
-don’t spend so much time freaking out about not being where you think you should be. You will learn the hard way that you spent the freest years of your life digging through the “I Should Be” pile, and comparing yourselves to others.
-enjoy that metabolism. And that hair.
-stop panicking about what ifs. What ifs will be lurking around almost every decision you make, because you’re high strung. That’s you. Just relax. There’s a lot ahead for you. And even if you don’t listen to me at all, you still end up living in Australia with your soul mate. And you’ll still be writing. And you’ll be employed. And you’ll still be able to fit in most of your high school clothes. And that’s pretty much above average.
xoxo,
Your 30 Year Old Self
ps. Don’t get rid of that black sleeveless shirt with the lace Victorian style collar. It’s almost ridiculous how much you end up missing it.
Audpodge and Blither Blather 