Day 2 - The meaning behind your blog name

This one is REALLY easy! Me and my Dad are absolutely OBSESSED with the show black books. I’ve also gotten my best friend Steph into the black books action and we now are constantly texting or facebooking each other with random black books quotes. “I want a herb garden” is said by Manny and is said in such a serious way that cracks me up every time and eventually I started saying it randomly :) My mum ended up getting me a herb garden for my birthday. So now I have a herb garden!

Day 1 - A recent picture of yourself and 15 interesting facts abuot yourself.

1. I used to be vegetarian, but no longer am.

2. I am obsessed with the colour green.

3. At aged 14 I became an aunty.

4. I have been lucky enough to travel all round Australia, and to parts of Europe and Asia.

5. I had a massive phobia of dogs, which I successfully overcame.

6. I have 4 siblings. A brother and 3 sisters.

7. I want to move to Melbourne when I've finished school and study at university.

8. I have participated in: tennis, soccer, athletics, softball, basketball, netball, cross country, gymnastics, ballet, hockey, jump rope...i think that's all!?

9. I would love to one day own a dog. Either a golden retriever, husky, labrador or border collie.

10. I am very lucky to be a babysitting to some lovely little girls.

11. My first name (Nicole) means Victorious and my middle name (Catherine) means Pure. I like this :)

12. My hair is naturally dead straight.

13. I don't really like water. I don't like interracting with sea life.

14. I LOVE plane flights!

15. I'm literally addicted to eating frozen peas and jelly belly jelly beans.

This Time For Africa

After reading a book in which I wish to leave nameless, my mind has been opened to new possibilities. For so long I've been upset with my life and thinking it isn't going anywhere, but I've realised that if I want my life to go somewhere, I have to be the one to open myself to new opportunites. I can't depend on people to do it for me. Realising this excited me as I am now constantly thinking of new hobbies I can take up and events I can attend. I no longer feel like I am anti-social and trapped. I don't know what set me free exactly, but something happened and now I'm so happy and optimistic about life. My mind feels FREE and I can do whatever I want now :)
I am now really looking forward to the year ahead as I have many exciting things planned.

On another note, I am not one to dance sober, but anytime time Waka Waka is pumping and I'm standing up, I feel obliged to jump around like mad. I'm not sure if you would classify it as dancing, but it changes me and send goosebumps up my arms whenever I hear it! Great song <3

Celebrations

Merry Christmas!


I hope everybody had a lovely day.


Christmas for me has always been a tiring, emotional day. I think it's because it's a really full on family day and I get really worn out very fast. By this time of night (9.30pm) I'm very much ready to curl up in bed and have a cry. I don't know why, but this always happens. It's not because I'm upset, it's just and overwhelming amount of emotions compacted into one day, and crying usually expresses my emotions.

I had a lovely day today, did the present thing in the morning, lunch at my gran's and dinner with my sisters, their partners and my adorable nephew Lucas. I've never spent time with my nephew on Christmas day and I can't remember spending time with my sisters either on today's Celebration. So this year I've had a very special Christmas :)

This year was not about the presents for me, all I wanted was a nice and relaxing family day, and luckily, that is what I got :)

I also got:

• 2 wii games
• 2 cds
• Clothes
• 7 books
• A LOT of jewellery - mainly all green
• A LOT of make up and body products
• MONEY! :)
• A gift voucher
• Chocolates
• Two beautiful silver photo frames

There were probably more things. But I can't remember right now. For once, I didn't ask for a big present, as I literally couldn't thing of any electrical appliance that I didn't own or that didn't need updating. It's so weird getting SO many things off you Christmas list, apart from just one big thing.


I am a very lucky girl ;) And still have more Christmas celebrations to come!


Merry Christmas!

Christmas Realisation

I think I've definetly grown up this year. For once I have felt more adult around Christmas time. I've been working a lot around this time and because of this, I have no spent a lot of time getting into the Christmas spirit. I also did my Christmas shopping in November because I knew this month would be busy for me. Today certainly doesn't feel like Christmas Eve. We have the tree and presents going on and I'm currently looking at them, but it's just feeling like a regular day to me. For once, I'm not really excited about Christmas, but relieved that it's finally here and that I get a day off working. Although, I reckon I will be more excited tomorrow :)

I'm looking forward to tomorrow as I get to spend the day with my family, and hopefully for once it won't be a stressful period for us. I'm not phased about what I receive. I'm lucky enough to be going on holiday to the Gold Coast in a couple of weeks anyway. I'm just concerned that we all have a pleasant and relaxing day. My family have been run off our feet running our shop in these last few weeks, and we all deserve a break.

I'm about to make a Christmas Vlog as well if you'd like to take a look - 10is4eva (my youtube account)
www.attemptingmagic.blogspot.com - my photography blog

I wish everyone a beautiful Christmas with whomever you spend it with. :)

<3

Some people are just TOO cool.

This is a rant. Let me begin in dot point form (in season colours)

1. DON'T employ people who can't speak proper english! For heavens sake, I tried to buy 1 sushi roll today, asked a simple question and I'm not even joking, after asking her to repeat herself 3 times, I gave up and bought a different sushi roll, as I just couldn't understand her. Turns out it was the wrong sushi roll. Seriously, if you are going to employ extra people around Christmas time, WHY would you employ people who most wouldn't be able to understand. At this time of year, people want fast service and quick, easy to hear answers. I'm not trying to offend Asian people, but I feel if they are going to work in Australia, they should at least learn plausable english.
2. Just because they are public toilets, doesn't mean you can spend 10 min in there with your friend gossiping and putting on your make up. I mean sure, there's probably not really a rule about it, but I think it's unfair. This toilet is semi public as it's in a cafe place, but I think there should be some sort of rule about the usage of the toilets. I knocked after 5 minutes of waiting and was replied with "out in a sec darl," 5 min later I swore at them and stomped off to find a new toilet.
3. If you have a problem with the way I dress or look, don't make it obvious and point me out and then talk to our friend. You don't know, so don't judge me. If you do know me and have a problem with me, say it to my face.
4. Don't question the prices I give you. It's not my fault your spending so much money, don't question that I've put it in the system wrong or that I haven't given you a discount. Because 99% of the time I'm right. I spend a lot more time in the shop than customers and I am much more a custom to our discounts. Also, I fricken pay attention!
5. So, I love Christmas time. But I absolutely HATE town at Christmas time. People go crazy and it's so busy. At the same time, the sales at Christmas time are amazing and it's so hard to resist.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Duck of my life, Nikki :)

Priviledged

I have realised today that I am very lucky to be a babysitter. Of course I have spent so many nights bored and stressed whilst babysitting, but really I am really very blessed. Being part of someone's life is a beautiful thing. There is one girl that I have babysat for over a year now, since she was 9 monthes old. I babysit her very often, and over time I have seen her change and develop. We have gone through our rough patches as she has gone through many periods of changes. But whether it being the first time she crawled, the first time she walked and the first time she talked. I have been there close to the time that all these things have happened.

Today something remarkable happened. She said my name! She walked up to me, looked up and said "Nikki". I was so honoured! She has a limited vocabulary and for her to know who I am and be able to say my name was so touching. I have spent countless hours with her and she has made me so happy. Today, she made my day.

She is such a gorgeous girl and she is now a very proud big sister :) I can't wait to get to know her little sister soon too!

Duck of my life,
Nikki

Shit

The amount of upsetness and crying I'm doing right now is incomprehendable. I'm such a mess.

Inspiration

So I bought a new big notebook. I would take a picture of it, but my camera isn't charged :( But it is really cool, and the front of it states the following:

"This is my note book, which I will fill with lists, thoughts, dreams, love letters, scribbles, doodles and other shit." - Pretty much somes up my life.

I want to include lots of photography to inspire me with my writing. I definetly think I need to build up my confidence when writing, and explore alternative techniques.

I'm really excited about this :)

I've recently posted 2 new videos on Youtube - (unedited of course) - go check them out :) - 10is4eva

My new photography blog is going really well as well :)
http://www.attemptingmagic.blogspot.com/

Keep it real,
Duck of my life,
Nikki

Inspired

I was bored, and googling people I know. I came across a blog of somebody I know. She was not someone I had imagined blogging. But it was amazing. It was simple, angelic and beautiful. She puts up photography and small annotations. It absolutely inspired me to pursue my own photography.

I have now started a new blog, dedicated to my photography.
www.attemptingmagic.blogspot.com
(I was in a bit of a Harry Potter mood)

I now want a new, better camera.

But yes, after seeing this one blog, I was absolutely inspired by the beauty and simplicity of life.

Duck of my life,
Nikki

Youtube Account: 10is4eva

Follow/Read at your own please

Doing Something Different Each Day of December

So this month I was going to do something different each day. But yesterday I simply didn't have time to learn how to tune and play my GREEN ukulele :) Today I'm making sand bottles which I feel will be very challenging. If I have time left after making the sand bottles and making my video about them, I may try out my ukulele.

This is just a quick post about my ideas for December. I want to do it to make my holidays seem more interesting as I'm no going away on holidays. I don't want to waste my holidays on TV  and the internet.

Feel free to follow me and my progress :)
I also make daily videos on Youtube about the things I'm doing each day in December.
My Youtube acount: 10is4eva

Duck of my life,
Nikki

2022 Soccer World Cup

Japan
Korea
Qatar
USA
Australia

So it was announced yesterday that Qatar would host the 2022 Soccer World Cup. Being an Australian and a soccer lover, I should probably be disappointed, but after comparing the videos of the Australian and Qatar campaigns, I have to agree with the decision at hand. Australia's video was corny, poorly put together, and showed successful Australian (such as Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe.) It showed nothing about how much Australian's love their soccer and how big a part it plays in so many young Australian's lives. After seeing the video last night, I was left thoroughly disappointed in the end result. I decided then that we did not deserve to win the bid, as we looked greedy and boastful.

I don't know much about Qatar, but from some of the campaign commercials I have seen, they have proven to me that they are a soccer loving country. Their commercials had the exact content that Australia's SHOULD have had. It will also be a boost for Qatar's soccer and (hopefully) economy. I also liked the idea that after the world cup, they will be donating their soccer stadiums to less fortunate countries. I think this is a really nice idea and shows the connection they have will their neighbouring countries.

Last night I thought about who I would like to host the world cup out of the five candidates. My personal preference would have been Japan. As I will be 28 at the time, it will probably be a perfect opportunity to go to the world cup, as I have always wanted to. I absolutely adore Japan so going there to the world cup would have been wonderful. Alas, it is being held in Qatar, which now interests me and I am seriously considering going :)

Duck of my life.
Nikki

Eclipse

So I actually bought Eclipse at a spur of the moment thing as it was at a really cheap price. After watching Eclipse again, I've realised that the movies are very similar and tend to begin and end quite the same. I think I only like Eclipse because of the introduction of the newborns and how they act. I've come to realise that the wolves, newborns, Cullens and Volturi interest me more than Bella and Edward's love story. I would love for the movies to include more in depth about these things instead of the love story. Learning visually about Jasper and Rosalie's backgrounds in Eclipse is really cool and is one aspect of why Eclipse is my favourite Twilight movie so far.

Duck of my life ;)
Follow me!