HEAD OUTTA THE CLOUDS AND INTO THE BOOKS

Just so you know, I don't feel like blogging at the moment. I honestly am so stressed out with my uni assignments. I have three due in the next 2 weeks. This picture describes how I feel. I have a stack of reading to do. I need to study. Just the thought of it makes me feel sick.



Peace.

I'LL TASTE THE SKY AND FEEL ALIVE AGAIN

Whenever I am sad I listen to Owl City. I don't exactly know why but for some reason all of their songs make me so happy. I can be having the worst of days and as soon as an Owl City song plays on my iPod in my car I am overwhelmed with excitement.Hello Seattle and The Saltwater room are probably my most favourite of their songs (I did really like Fireflies until it was played 1000 times a day on the radio).
All of the lyrics to all Owl City songs are so random and weird, but I think that is why I love them. Because in this weird jumbled way, they all make sense to me. I swear, Adam Young is a genius.

These are my favourite lyrics from some of my favourite Owl City songs.

The Bird and The Worm
You and I left our troubles far behind, troubles far behind
But I still have just one more question on my mind
For all my pals who live in the oceans and the seas
With friends like these well, who needs enemies

If My Heart Was A House
It makes me smile because you said it best
I would clearly feel blessed if the sun rose up from the west
Flower balm perfume, all my clothes smell like you
Cause your favorite shade is navy blue
I walk slowly when I'm on my own
Yeah, but frankly I still feel alone
So I may as well ditch my dismay
Bombs away, bombs away

Captains and Cruise Ships
Old captains and brand new cruise ships
Sailing over the brimy sea
When I crash my beloved desk job
And swim through the debris
I'll cut loose leave this mad house all for the atlantic blue
I'll stroll down your treelined driveway, and sail the ocean with you

The Saltwater Room
All the subways around create a great sound
To my motion fatigue, farewell with your ear to a seashell
You can hear the waves in underwater caves
As if you actually were inside a saltwater room
Time together isn't ever quite enough
When you and I are alone, I've never felt so at home
What will it take to make or break this hint of love?
Only time, only time

The Tip Of The Iceberg
I'll travel the sub-zero tundra
I'll break glaciers and frozen lakes
And that's just the tip of the iceberg
I'll do whatever it takes to change
Farewell powdery paradise
We'd rather skate on the thinnest ice
Fingers failed us before they froze
Frostbite bit down on all our

Hello Seattle
Hello Seattle, I am the crescent moon
Shining down on your face
I will disguise myself as a sleeping pill
And descend inside of you
Hello Seattle, I am a cold seahorse
Feeling warm in your sand
I sing about the tide and the ocean surf
Rolling in the evening breeze


Thank you Adam Young, for making me smile every single day.

What is your favourite Owl City song? And if you don't know of Owl City, please buy their Ocean Eyes CD. You won't regret it.

I LOVE SKINS

I have a new addiction. Skins. It is quite definitely one of my favourite television shows ever.

Skins is a British TV drama that follows the lives of a group of teenagers through the two years of sixth form. Every two series the entire cast is replaced as the characters leave sixth form. I am quite disappointed about this as there are some characters in the first two series that I absolutely love. I have just finished the first two seasons and they were amazing. I brought season three of Ebay last week and am hoping it will arrive tomorrow. Although I will have to say goodbye to my favourite characters Chris and Cassie I am excited to see the introduction of the new characters. The following is a list of the Skins cast from the first two seasons.

Tony Stonem: Tony is one of the main characters. He is attractive, extremely popular and somewhat troublesome. He is often at the centre of the drama within the T.V show but often his manipulative and cunning ways go unnoticed. At the end of season one something major happens to Tony that shapes his character entirely in the second season.

Sid Jenkins: Sid is Tony's best friend and in season two also is in love with Tony's girlfriend. Sid is the dorky sidekick who is often hidden in the shadows of Tony's limelight. He is not very good at schoolwork and struggles to maintain relationships but he is adorable. I love Sid.

Michelle Richardson: Michelle is Tony's girlfriend and she is also attractive and popular. I like Michelle but it annoys me that she takes Tony back after he cheats on her.

Cassie Ainsworth: Cassie is by far my favourite character. She is simply amazing and her character is so interesting and unpredictable. She is 'spacey' and sometimes a little crazy. She is continually saying and doing random things and I love all of the outfits she wears. Cassie acts happy and positive to mask her emotional and mental struggles with her eating disorder. Her trademark saying "wow!"

Jal Fazer: Most of the story lines surrounding Jal are to do with her passion and talents for playing the clarinet. She is an extremely talented musician and so is her father and brother. I like Jal's character, she is mature and responsible. In the second season she is faced with the death of her boyfriend and the possibility of being a mother.

Chris Miles: Chris is hilarious hence the reason he is one of my favourite characters. He is so funny and is the party animal of the group. He is forced to live on his own after both of his parents have left him and his brother passes away. He collects medicinal boxes and likes goldfish. He also has a major crush on his Psychology teacher Angie.

Maxxie Oliver: Maxxie openly embraces his sexuality and isn't afraid to admit that he is gay. He loves to dance and is a really good artist. He is a well liked character and is Anwar's best friend.

Anwar Kharral: Anwar prays five times a day although he is not very devoted to his religion as he regularly takes drugs and takes part in pre-marital sex. Maxxie is Anwar's best friend and often homosexuality is an issue for Anwar and his family to accept.

I love Skins. Although the storylines and plot may seem controversial Skins explores many issues such as substance abuse, dysfunctional families, eating disorders, disabilities, pregnancy, religion, sexuality and death.
Skins is fantastic and if you haven't seen it yet, please do!

DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH

I think that it is totally unnecessary to find out the sex of your baby before it is born. This might seem like a kind of random post but my sister is pregnant and finding out the gender of the baby has been discussed many times. I don't think they are going to find out the sex, but I have a couple of friends who have told me that if they were to have a baby they would definitely want to know if it were a boy or a girl. There reasons: so they can 'colour coordinate' their nursery and wardrobes! That is the most stupidest thing I have ever heard. Why would it matter what colour the nursery is. You can always choose gender neutral tones, such as yellow, orange, red and green. I don't think buying pink or blue clothes would be my first priority either. I think giving birth to a happy and healthy baby is more important than what is between its legs and what colour jumpsuit it is wearing. I think that not knowing would be more exciting. What ever happened to the element of surprise. My friend told me 'most people find out these days' which I am struggling to find Australian statistics to support. The funny thing is, ultrasound technicians can get it wrong and you might end up with a totally 'uncolour-coordinated' room!!

Although I understand that finding out the sex of a baby is each couples personal decision I just think that some of the reasoning behind the choices are almost selfish. Many of my friends in America have babies and I think that almost all of them find out the sex of the baby AND name the baby before it is even born. A friend of mine has also already started to buy baby things, such as a pram. And she is only 12 weeks pregnant. Chances are that in the next 28 weeks she is going to probably find another pram that she likes better and probably even cheaper. Same thing applies for naming your baby when it isn't even born yet. You are probably going to change the name anyway because you will find another name that is more 'perfect'.

I think finding out the sex takes all the excitement out of having a baby. I'd rather wait the nine months, be totally surprised when I find out the sex and then choose a name. I know that pregnancy is an exciting thing but like the old saying goes, don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Would you want to find out the sex of your baby and name it before it is born?

MEDIA JUNKIE?

I think I can self diagnose myself as a media junkie. My consumption of media definitely exceeds the recommended daily dosage.I am obsessed with reading books, watching dvds and television series. I am in the middle of so many books and TV series its become a little overwhelming.

TV SHOWS ON DVD
Heroes: I have just finished watching the 3rd season and am now waiting to watch the 4th season. I loved season 1 & 2 but found season 3 to be quite a disappointment. Hopefully season 4 wins my heart back.
LOST: I am in the middle of watching season 2. There are like five seasons so I have at least another three seasons to watch.
Gossip Girl: I watched season 2 online and am now impatiently awaiting the third season to come out on DVD as I have missed watching it on Austar.
True Blood: I have only watched the 1st season as I am yet to find season 2 in stores.
Skins: Omg my new favourite TV show is Skins! It is so good. I own the first series on DVD and started watching it again yesterday. Damo has even fallen in love with it. They are screening the 4th season on Austar next Monday but we are yet to watch the 2nd and 3rd seasons. I'm gonna borrow them from my friend and hopefully watch them over the weekend.

BOOKS
Handle With Care: I am about halfway through reading Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult. It is a really sad book about a young girl with a fragile bone disease, Osteogenesis Imperfecta. I really want to finish reading it but have never found the time.
The Hunger Games: My friend Elise recommended that I read this book by Suzanne Collins. I am only about a 1/4 of the way through it. So far so good!
Eclipse: I am re-reading the Twilight Series and am currently up to Eclipse. I am really looking forward for the movie to come out in cinemas in June.
Wicked Whispers: I am pretty sure this is the only non-academic book available for loan at my university library. It stumbled across it in the journalism section. It is written by Jessica Callan, who was an original member of the famous 3am gossip column. It bares all on the journalism industry and gives a great insight on what it was really like to write for a tabloid gossip column. I am only a few chapters away from finishing it. Truth be told, I don't want it to end.

I am also patiently awaiting for Packed to the Rafters, Masterchef and Australia's Next Top Model to return to TV. I also really want to buy this months editions of Cleo and Frankie. When I talk about it like this I really can't believe how much media and entertainment I consume. I am addicted. Really there is nothing better than watching a good television show or snuggling up on the couch with a good book to read. And even better I love talking to my friends and discussing what we think about certain characters and story lines.

What are your favourite TV shows, movies or books?

JUST KEEP SWIMMING

I am so excited! Damo and I finally got goldfish. We were supposed to buy them ages ago, we have had the fish bowl for a couple of months now. Yesterday we finally went to the Leongatha Pet Shop and bought two, there names are Fillet & Finn. I was so scared they'd already have float to the top this morning, but they are still peacefully swimming around. I've never really had my own pet, so I really don't want them to die. I'm scared that Damo will overfeed them. On the TV show Skins Chris has heaps of Goldfish and he feeds them like weed and drugs and they never died so hopefully Fillet & Finn last for a while. They are so cool, seriously.

Damo's one is the whiter one and mine is the orange one :)

CAPRICORN

"CAPRICORN December 23 - January 20 This is an excellent time to begin new projects, especially those that involve dynamic activity or some risk. You will feel full of vitality and vigor to confront life. You won't enjoy sitting down too much or spending time in one room for a prolonged period and will resist maintaining a daily routine."

This is my horoscope for this month extracted from Cleo Magazine. Sometimes I completely flick past the horoscopes section as I think they are a waste of time and should never be taken too seriously. But for once, I completely agree with this months horoscope. I feel as though I have so much to do. There are so many things that I want to start doing but squeezing them all in to my hectic schedule is kind of the big issue.

1) I really want to do well in uni this semester so I need to study study study! Last year I barely studied at all. It still amazes me how I managed to get decent grades. I am going to need to dedicate at least 1-2 hours per day to studying/revising.

2) I have recently started a new job at my local supermarket. I initially thought I was going to get approximately 15 hours a week of work. How could I have been so wrong! For the last three weeks I have been rostered on to work from between 20 and 30 hours per week. This week I was meant to work 6 shifts with them all finishing at 9pm. I had to ask to cancel 2 of them because there was no way I could work that much and stay on top of my study. I am going to ask if I can only work about 15 hours a week in the future. I am also trying to organise some industry work experience at a local newspaper and/or radio station.

3) I want to get fit. I am so out of shape it is disgusting. I eat so much junk food and barely ever exercise. I made a promise to myself that in 2010 I would start going to the gym. There is a brand new fitness centre opposite my university so I want to become a member and go at least 3 times a week. I also purchased the Latin dance DVD program Zumba. It is a great way to keep fit so I want to try and do a Zumba workout at least twice a week.

4) In my previous post I mentioned how me and my boyfriend Damien want to buy a house. Saving for a home loan deposit is really my main goal for the year. Today I made Damien join the Commonwealth Bank. The lady told us that we would need to save a deposit of 5% to be considered for a home loan. A $200,000 loan would therefore require us to save $10,000. My goal is to continue saving $135 a week, but since I have started my new job I aim to save at least $200 per week.

The above four things are the main things I want to focus on in my life right now. I hope that I can remain organised as I realise I have a lot on my plate right now, especially with university. For once I actually have faith in this months horoscope as do feel full of vitality and optimism and am confident that I can achieve my goals.

MOVING OUT :)

Both my boyfriend and I still live at home, but about a year ago we decided that we would like to move out. We thought it would be a good idea to start buying things early so when we finally moved out we would already have everything we would need. Although we are still currently living at home I am so happy that we decided to do this. We are now saving up for a home loan and by the end of this year we should have enough for the deposit. I am so excited to move out and finally use all the things that are stored under my bed or in the garage. Each week we'd put some money aside and then go shopping on the weekend for house stuff. Since everything is away in storage I kinda forgot how much we really had :)
So far these are the things we have bought. They are all brand new and in their boxes.

-Refrigerator
-Washing Machine
-Kettle
-Toaster
-Blender
-Microwave
-Iron
-Pots & Pans
-Dinner Sets
-Bath Towels
-Tea Towels
-Cutlery Set
-Glasses
-Kitchen Utensils
-Rubbish Bin
-Floor Lamps
-Knife Set
-Chopping Board
-Soup Bowls
-Kitchen Table
-TV Stand
-Barbeque
-Outdoor Setting

The only other things we will need to buy are a new couch, television and a vacuum cleaner. I am so proud that we have already acquired all of these items. When it comes to us moving out it is going to make things a whole lot easier. I have chosen to go with a red/cream/black color scheme so all the items match. Both Damo and I are currently saving $135 each a week. So thats $1080 a month that we can put towards a home loan. We are extremely happy that we never rented a house. Personally I think renting is an absolute waste of money. You are only paying off someone elses mortgage! When the time comes that Damo and I buy a house, it may possibly be the best day of my life!

DYING TO DIET

I work in a supermarket and the amount of people that buy weight loss products such as milkshake packs and those muesli bar type things is absolutely ridiculous. I understand that many people in society have the desire to lose weight but I don't believe that spending outrageous amounts of money on weight loss dietary programs is the best way to do it.

At Safeway they sell boxes of 'The Biggest Loser' milkshakes for $39.98. There are only 15 milkshakes in a box. That equates to about $2.65 per shake. People are lead to believe that these shakes work miracles and just by drinking them that they will instantly shed the kilos. The shakes are meant to act as a meal substitution and therefore replace an entire meal. The thing is that people often drink the shakes AND eat their regular meal as well, meaning they will actually put ON weight! I think that the companies that produce these products should be ashamed. They are so expensive and send the wrong message out to people that are obviously uncomfortable about their weight.

A lady once came in and bought two boxes of the shakes. Two boxes, thats $80! Imagine how much fresh fruit and vegetables she could have bought for $80. Instead of substituting her meals for silly weight loss shakes, to lose weight all she would need to do is eat healthy and exercise.
This week at Safeway watermelon is on special for 0.75c a kilo. For $80 the lady could have bought 106 kilograms of watermelon!!! Although that seems crazy I am just trying to demonstrate how much $80 could buy, compared to 30 lousy milkshakes.
I wish that people would realise that spending ridiculous amounts of money on weight loss products is only going to make their bank balance decrease, not their waistline!

SHUTTER ISLAND!!

On Sunday afternoon I dragged Damien to the cinema to see Shutter Island because I had a free movie ticket. I hadn't heard much about Shutter Island, I hadn't even seen the preview for it. So I was going in with no expectations whatsoever.

Shutter Island stars Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) and Teddy (Leonardo DiCaprio) as a pair of U.S Marshalls that are sent to Shutter Island, a maximum security hospital for the criminally insane, to investigate the disappearance of Rachel Solando a patient who has managed to escape from her cell. Rachel had been convicted to Shutter Island for drowning her three children. The only way to get off the island is by a ferry, which leads Teddy to believe that Rachel is still somewhere on the island.

The first half of the movie shows the search for Rachel but in a strange twist of events, it is then Teddy who is considered 'crazy'. It is revealed that Teddy is actually a patient at Shutter Island and has been for two years. The doctors and psychiatrists of Shutter Island explain to Teddy that he is the one who in fact drowned his children and shot his wife. Teddy believes that everyone is lying to him and that he is being set up. Teddy thinks that he is being drugged as all the food and cigarettes he had been consuming had been supplied by the staff of Shutter Island.

The movie was very confusing and I am sorry if I have given away to much, but trust me I haven't. There is so much more to this movie that I have not explained. There are so many twists and surprises that my mind is still ticking, trying to find some answers.

During Teddy's initial investigation of searching for Rachel he discovers that Shutter Island conducts lobotomies to patients who cannot be cured of their mental illness by any other means. The staff of Shutter Island deny that lobotomies are being performed and the audience is lead to believe this as it is made out that Teddy is in fact 'crazy'. At the end of the movie, it shows Teddy and Chuck sitting on some stairs out the front of the institution. A staff member walks out of the building holding a straight jacket and an ice pick, an instrument used when doing a lobotomy. This is the part that really confused me. This means that Teddy was not crazy. That Shutter Island was pure evil and WAS conducting lobotomies on their patients. I am still trying to understand everything. I think I need to go and see the movie again. But although many people are arguing that Teddy was crazy, I think that the ending made it clear that he was being set up.

You HAVE to go see this movie. I have done such a bad job at trying to explain it, but once you see it you will understand why. It is one of the weirdest and hardest to interpret movies I have ever seen!

DEFINITELY NOT A FOOD BABY

So..... MY SISTER IS PREGNANT!!!
I am so incredibly excited I just can't control myself. I only found out about 4 weeks ago and it was probably one of the most happiest times in my life. My sister is 26 and she has been married for almost two years. Connie and her husband Frank have just bought a new house, everyone was anticipating they would start a family some day soon but it came as a very big shock to me. She is 15 weeks this Friday and her estimated due date is September 1st! I can't wait til she gets a baby bump. Pregnancy is so exciting. I am so happy for her and Frank and so excited that in less than 6 months I am going to be an aunty :)

Ultrasound at 12 weeks :)

To celebrate this extremely exciting news I am going to organise a movie night at Connies house. The movie playlist will consist of my all time favourite baby movies.
1. Juno
2. Where The Heart Is
3. Knocked Up
4. Baby Mama
5. Junior

I absolutely love movies about pregnancy. Juno would have to be my favourite, it is just too hilarious. What are your favourite baby movies?

FORGOTTEN

It's so easy to forget things. Like where your favourite shirt is, to do your homework or to buy the milk when you are out. I forget things all the time. I'm hopeless. I have recently realised that I forgot just how much I missed my friend Elise.

Elise was a new student in year 12. Moving schools at the begininng of such an important year would have been extremely difficult. I took her under my wing :) I made sure she was comfortable and didn't feel alienated. We hung out everyday. We talked about everything. She never annoyed me or got on my nerves. Really, we were perfect together. In year 12 we were extremely close and I had so much fun with her. Sadly, last year we didn't hang out as much. She pretty much had a full time job and I was a full time student at uni. We spoke sometimes but never got to speak in depth like we used to. In the last few weeks we have started hanging out a lot again and I am so happy. It has been so good catching up and it made me realise just how much of a great friend she really is.

She is very similar to me and we have a lot of the same interests. I went to her house on Saturday night and we talked for five hours. We mainly spoke about movies, television shows and books plus the regular dose of gossiping on the side. At the moment I really feel as though Elise is my only 'real' friend. She isn't a massive bitch like most of the girls I know. She is down to earth and doesn't care what everyone else thinks. Most of the girls that I used to hang out with haven't spoken to me in months. But Elise is always up for a conversation and is always willing to hang out. I know it sounds corny, but I really am glad that she is my friend!

VALENTINES DAY MOVIE

So my Boyfriend Damien and I FINALLY went and saw Valentine's Day. Ideally I would have liked to go on Valentines Day, but instead we went last week with my friend Elise and her boyfriend Jimmy when it wasn't as busy. The movie centres around the lives of ten different people living in Los Angeles and how they celebrate and cope with the expectations and pressures of Valentines Day. There have been many mixed reviews about the movie Valentines Day, with critics slamming it as being a totally cliche rom-com that has been jam packed with stars. Rottentomatoes.com gives it a 4.1/10 but I believe it deserves much more than that. Yes it was cheesy, a little predictable and jam packed with an all star cast, but I enjoyed every minute of it. The highlight characters were Julia (Jennifer Garner). Reed Bennett (Ashton Kutcher), Edison (Bryce Robinson) and of course Felicia (Taylor Swift). Taylor Swift has been recieving terrible reviews for her big screen acting debut . It has been said that she was too over-the-top, too excited and lacked focus. I don't know how this can be said, considering the role of Felicia was to be a young teenager totally head over heels in love. This was Taylor's first major acting role and I think she should be commended on her efforts. As we walked out of the cinema even my friends boyfriend said "Taylor Swift was hilarious, she has definitely gone up in my books". Overall I think it was a great feel-good comedy and complimented with a jumbo popcorn it made for a great night out. Go see it now if you haven't already!

SELF CONFESSED PARTY POOPER!

Last night I got convinced to go to a beach themed uni party. It was an extremely last minute decision and I had to whip an outfit together in about 15 minutes. I am not one to attend uni parties. I hate to go out. I have only ever been out a handful of times and not once have I come home more satisfied than what I was previously. I understand that it is up to each individual to choose what they do in their spare time, but for me to go out to some club where you hardly know anybody, paying $15 entry (sometimes more, sometimes less) and then having no other choice but to pay about $10 for each alcoholic drink. This is not my idea of a 'good time'. People say that going out is a good way to socialise, but really I don't think a whole lot of socialising or catching up can be done when everyone is so drunk they can barely stand up and the music is so loud that you can't even hear yourself think. I really just don't understand why people would willingly want to go out, from what I have experienced it isn't fun at all. There are so many things that I would rather be doing than hanging around with a bunch of drunk people with vomit on their shoes. It's disgusting! I know some people that go out like three times a week. Usually Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. They rave on about how much fun they have and make it out like if you don't go you aren't cool. But I have finally come to realise that they must be seriously delusional or just really insecure that they have to go out just so they can feel good about themselves. I obviously wasn't born with the 'go out and party' gene because honestly I'd rather watch paint dry on a tacky commission home.
Drinking raspberry daiquiris was the best part of the night ;)

WORST BANANA CAKE EVER

Today I thought I should do something constructive instead of spending my whole day watching Austar or in front of the computer screen. We had three over ripe bananas so I thought that baking a banana cake would be fun and well...easy! Turns out that I can't even bake a cake without royally stuffing it up.

I googled basic banana cake recipe and wrote down the ingredients and method. I'm not going to lie but I didn't use the correct measuring utensils but I don't think that would make a cake go so terribly wrong.

The cake has been in the oven for 30 minutes now. It hasn't risen. It has barely cooked. It is still all moist and gross. To be honest it looks like absolute crap.

I am trying to figure out where I went wrong. There was only like 8 ingredients but somehow I have messed it up. Now I won't be able to take a nice fresh piece of banana cake to work tonight.
I'm so angry!

FIRST DAY BACK

Today was my first day back at uni for the year. I find it hard to believe that I am already a second year student. I thought to mark this 'oh so special' day I would start a blog. I promised myself I would start one someday, so all excuses aside here it is. Welcome to Monipops.

Monipops will be full of my random thoughts, my insights, facts, information and general chit chat about my daily life. Don't get too excited though. I'm forgetful, often unorganised and quite a procrastinator, but hopefully I can put 10 minutes aside each day to publish a post.

I have put together a list of some random things that happened to me today. Nothing too exciting but thought it would make a nice ice breaker.

1. On the way to uni I drove on a really bad dirt road and almost lost control of my car.
2. Even though I should know where I am going by now I even got lost at uni today.
3. In my journalism class we got asked to tell some random facts about ourselves. I couldn't think of much at the time. But some random facts are that I spent a year in USA, I really like Milo, I can only watch movies with subtitles and I hate bad spelling and grammar.
4. I met two really nice girls named Pia and Christina. At 20 it feels weird to be trying to make new friends.
5. I used an Apple Mac computer for the first time. The screen was about as big as my home television, it was awesome.
6. My iPod would not stop playing Taylor Swift songs even though it was set to shuffle.
7. I was craving fried rice, but of course the only place that sells it in my town is closed on Mondays.
8. I realised I am definitely NOT a party animal. So many people asked me if I was going to the uni party tonight. Of course I am not going, I'm a party pooper!!
9. I have already spent over 3 hours on Facebook today.
10. Today is officially the first day of Autumn. Goodbye Summer, you will be missed.

What did you do today?
:)

Love Monipops