M.I.A

Hello Bloggy Friends! I am sorry that I have been M.I.A (missing in action) lately!

Last weekend I packed up my little car and my Dad's car, loaded the trailer and headed down South to the Riverina! I have relocated here to finally start my uni course for the year! Uni hasn't officially started yet (my first class is on Monday the 27th!! Exciting!) but I decided to take some time to unpack and set myself up in my new little unit off campus!

During this move I was Internet-less!!! I can't believe how much I missed having readily available Internet. I didn't realise how much I used and depended on it until I had none! Even Internet on my trusty IPhone was slow and almost non-existent.

 (It seems that my new unit is in a bit of a black-hole when it comes to internet service because I can't even get ADSL wireless net connected here... sad face!)

Anyhow, I am back home in the country this weekend to get a few more things that I forgot and to have a night out on the town with some close friends because I wont be seeing them for a little while when I'm full time at uni.

Thankfully I am taking back to uni with me a new USB internet connection and I will be online in my unit when I get back to Wagga on Sunday wooo!!

I have much more blogging to do now that things are getting busier in my life!

At the moment I am kicking back in my mums new lounge room! She's been slowly re-doing it since my Dad finally agreed to let go of a ridiculously old brown leather couch that we have been trying to convince him to get rid of for years! (He is a bit of a hoarder my dear Dad!)

Mum purchased 3 gorgeous new white leather couches and has decided on a blue and white theme. I love it! She is slowly getting bits and pieces together and is re-using most of our timber furniture that we already had in the room. Its a work in progress but it already feels nicer to sit in this room and relax or watch TV. Isn't it funny how you change a few things in a room and the "vibe" just feels nicer?!

I am also lusting over my new Tony Bianco Tupelo boots that just arrived in the PO Box yesterday! Ahh, I love them! I am so in love with Tony Bianco shoes and they are currently having an awesome sale online. Some of their top-selling heels are on sale! Get in quick to get your size!!

On a final note, Feb-photo-a-day is almost over! I am still playing along on Instagram, you can see all of my posts there!

Until next time, take care :o)

Today I am grateful for...

Ambition!

Ever since about September last year I realised exactly what I wanted to do with myself this year!

I decided that I wanted to get myself together and go back to university and finish my degree in Graphic Design. As I was tripping around Europe I got a sense of "drive" come over me, a feeling of certainty and I knew that I was ready to work hard towards something that was not only going to make me happy but also be helpful towards my life in the future by hopefully opening up some career doors!

I feel grateful that I have a new found sense of ambition that drives me to look towards good things in my future and pushes me to work hard and strive for good things!

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What are you grateful for this week?

Share it with us over here at Maxabella's.

#febphotoaday challenge - Days 6, 7 & 8!

More pics from Fat Mum Slim's Feb photo-a-day challenge!

Day 6. Dinner

I can take no credit for this yummy dish! It was thoughtfully prepared by my local Thai takeaway restaurant! lol Yummy Beef panang

Day 7. "Button"

This is a pretty bow button from a gorgeous (and my favourite!!) blouse that I bought from Top Shop in London!

 Day 8. "Sun"

This was my wake-up view this morning! Sunlight streaming through my blinds! Good morning world!

You can follow along with Feb photo-a-day on Instagram (Follow me!! I have a new tab on my sidebar, check it out!)

Soooo many people all over the world are following and participating!

Join us!

Dreaming of some retail therapy...

My re-location to the Riverina in NSW is getting closer and closer and although I am going to be sad about leaving home and my family and friends I am excited about one thing....

SHOPPING!!

I am a shop-a-holic. I admit it. I cant help but love a good "shop", some retail therapy is always good and it feels like I haven't had a good old shopping trip in a long time!

One thing that my lovely little country town doesn't have is good shopping!

I've become accustomed to online shopping and boy is it handy!

I thought I'd make a nice little list of my fav online stores that I stop into on a regular basis - some of them have been tempting me too much lately with new season fashion online! Ahhhh autumn/winter-y stuff is looking so cute at the moment! I'm excited for the cooler seasons to start (I can't believe I'm saying that because I usually LOVE summer, but winter is looking awfully stylish so far!)

If you're like me and are living far from the shops or just prefer to shop from home (in your PJ's - gotta love that! lol) then check these sights out:

1. Sportsgirl

I can't fault Sportsgirls' online store! I've had multiple purchases from these guys and all of them have shown up and packaged well. I even often get a cool little freebie when I buy stuff (I got a USB stick once, very handy!!)

They have a great return policy and I've never had troubles with sending something back if it doesn't fit right.

Plus I am in love with their new season stuff! So cute! Loving the new winter-y colours!!

Oh, and the "Sale" section online is always a must-see! Some awesome stuff goes on sale here, it also doesn't take long before something that is new goes on sale, so if there is something you love but don't love the price tag, wait a little while and it could end up a good $30 cheaper soon!

They have FREE shipping Australia wide for all orders over $120!

2. Betts shoes

Every girl loves shoes and so do I! Betts have some awesome heels (and flats), but I've mainly purchased heels online here. They are really prompt with their delivery and I'm always happy with my purchases!

Plus, their new season shoes are always so trendy! And they have awesome sales too!!

3. The Body Shop
Okay, so the Body Shop isn't exactly in the "clothing" department but they do sell make-up and gorgeous products! I have been using Body shop makeup (mostly their foundation and powders) for a few years now and I love the stuff! I am also currently using a face cleanser by them and it feels devine!

I've purchased tonnes of stuff online with these guys and have never had any dramas with delivery or anything! I love the Body Shop!

4. Forever New

Another one of my fav stores! This chain store sells the most pretty-girly stuff and I love it! I don't usually buy their clothes online (their range is much better in store) but I am addicted to their accessories!

One word... Bags! They stock the cutest bags! I love them

5. Tony Bianco

Ah, my new favourite love!! I am quickly getting addicted to Tony Bianco thanks to a good friend of mine who is also a big lover of Tony Bianco shoes and bags! This week was my first purchase from the online store so I cant comment on how quickly the item gets to me just yet, but I am so excited to receive them! I've browsed their online store many a time and have never been disappointed in what they are offering. Some of their boots... OMG! Love!

They have some good sales online too! Generally Tonys' shoes are around the $170+ mark but you can be lucky enough to get online and find a bargain for about $60 - $100!! Sweet!

The bags online are just gorgeous too!

Plus they offer FREE delivery! Gotta love that, its just like shopping in the store!

Okay, you're all geared up now - Get shopping ladies!!! :o)

#febphotoaday challenge, Days 3, 4 & 5!

Playing catchup here on my blog as I haven't been posting my daily photo-a-day challenges on here! (I do however, post them daily on Instagram and you can find me under @elliemaree12)

Here are days 3, 4 & 5!

Day 3. "Hands"

Day 4. "A Stranger"
(this guy was at a BBQ that I went to on the weekend)

Day 5. "10am"
I took a shot of my Dad's busy work diary, he has 10am free for a change!

Today is day six! The challenge is to take a photo of dinner.

What are you having?

In this lifetime...

What is your biggest fear?

Snakes? Spiders? Clowns? Death?

I used to think that my biggest fear was dying or losing the people that I loved the most. Death is scary, the thought of never seeing somebody ever ever again in this lifetime is a horrible thought. Of course this is something that still frightens me like crazy but lately I have been feeling scared about other things, U have had this feeling or urgency to complete everything that I have ever wanted to do. 

I'm scared of running out of time and not doing everything and anything that I have always wanted to do.

My biggest fear is not having enough time.

I think maybe as we get older we start to realise that time goes by so fast, we understand that we cant control everything and sometimes we get so busy that things that we used to want to do fall by the way side so we can get our "normal" jobs and day-to-day life work done.

For me I'm starting to get scared. I'm twenty three, I feel like I may have wasted the last three or so years of my life "fluffing" around, chopping and changing my mind, moving away and then moving back home again, starting a degree then deferring it, falling in love and then back out again. I feel like I am only just now starting to realise what I want out of life and all of the amazing things that I want to do with my time.

Tonight I was sitting beside my dad on the couch as he read the newest issue of the Outback Magazine. He was admiring all of the gorgeous cattle herds and farms that cover the pages of this issue. He was "Ooohing" and "Ahhing" at how beautiful these properties looked and we both admired how great their lives looked, just being "Farmers" living off the Land. I love farming, and having grown up with my dad and his dad being graziers on the land I have always thought that I might end up on a property somewhere down the line. Now that I am finally choosing to finish my degree in Graphic Design over the next two years, I feel like my "farm-girl" lifestyle is getting further and further away.

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As I saw a picture of a farm-girl in the magazine my stomach sank. I thought, "How great would it be to just be a "farmer" like this girl?". I told myself, "maybe in another lifetime". I felt a little sick at this thought and I got scared.

"Maybe in another lifetime?". We only have one lifetime. I want to be the farm-girl and the graphic designer and the horse enthusiast and the fashion-ista and the avid traveller all at once! Is it possible to do all of these things in one lifetime? This lifetime? Am I running out of time at twenty three?

For some reason I used to feel like when we decided what we want to be once we became "grown-ups" it meant we had to stick to it. You decided to be a nurse, that's it... you're a nurse. Now that I am older and realising that I have a passion for a whole swag of things (farming, design, photography, agriculture etc) I'm starting to believe that if you work hard at it, you can be as many things as you want to be, all at the same time. There doesn't have to be limitations just because of a chosen profession!

I am going to start telling myself that it is possible to be the fun, graphic design-y, crafty, country farm girl all at once. We don't have to choose one particular path, we can have it all in this lifetime!

The key is to start working towards it NOW!

I'm not going to wait around to contemplate and change my mind and get confused on what I really want to do. I'm going to throw myself into everything that I enjoy and enjoy doing it and I'm going to do it well!!

Time to get over my biggest fear. I have plenty of time, as long as I start now!

(Me and my Dad riding our horses on our farm)

What are you afraid of in "this lifetime" ?

#febphotoaday challenge, day 2!

Feb photo-a-day challenge, Day 2. "Words"

Yummy words in Donna Hay's magazine this month! Mmm, lets get cooking!

I have been sooo slack in the kitchen department lately, hoping this months mag will give me a bit of inspiration!

Follow along with #febphotoaday on Instagram thanks to @fatmumslim !

#febphotoaday challenge!

So this month I am attempting to follow along with this lovely Bloggers "February photo-a-day" challenge!

Its going to be a tough-y since I don't always get some spare time to be creative but I'm determined to give it a crack! I was all geared up to do it last month but got too busy and sadly missed out!

Anyhow, here's how you can join in too!

Head over to Fat Mum Slim's blog and read this post with the details on what the daily photo challenges will be and just share your piccies!

I'll be posting mine on my Instagram feed (you can follow me using my name elliemaree12, or search this #febphotoaday tag to see every ones daily contributions)

I'll also be trying to post via my blog as well just in case some of you aren't up with Instagram yet (if you aren't, I totally recommend it!! Its an awesome little free iPhone app! Check it out!)

So here is my Day 1 posting. "My View"

I didn't see a great deal today. I'm still recovering from my wisdom teeth operation from last week (boo), I'll most likely be back at work tomorrow. So today my view was me curled up in bed watching OTH re-runs!

Until tomorrow, take care