November Challenges

Inspired by PsychBabbler and Ilaeria, I have decided to take on a couple of challenges this month.

First, the #fmsphotoaday November Instagram challenge. I gave up last month due to various reasons but what the heck, here I go again. These are the prompts for November:

My Instagram & Twitter handle is @missRBit

Also this month, I am attempting the NaBloPoMo to motivate me to blog more. I think I'll use the writing prompts on some days and go my own way on others - we'll see how it pans out.

 Wish me luck!

If I had Rihanna's address...

Dearest Ri-Ri,

Your music isn't really my thing. And normally, your personal life wouldn't be my business either except it's in the news every other day and it's a little hard to avoid. So, seeing as it's in my face all time, I've assumed the right to comment (and question).

So, I'm wondering - why Chris Brown? I mean I love a good looking black man, so I get the attraction. But surely, once he treats you like a piece of shit, smashes your face in, threatens you and writes douchecanoe lyrics to his songs - the charm wears off? 

I'm sorry Ri-Ri. I know there is more to a story than what we read in the papers. I know you say he is "the love of your life". Having the world hate on your love is hard. But, the truth is this ex/current/maybe boyfriend of yours did assault you and definitely did not think it was wrong. Do you understand that people like me want to smash HIS face in because what he did is so disgustingly wrong? (Sorry, getting a bit protective there!) You say you have forgiven and I am all for forgiveness... when the person is actually sorry for what they did. Your mate Chris doesn't look so sorry to me.

You know what Ri-Ri, the love of your life often turns into the douchiest, jerkiest, scum of the earth-est, biggest mistake and regret of your life. Shit like this happens to people all the time. Trust me, I know from personal experience. But you know what else? He isn't the only man in the world. He definitely isn't the best man in the world for you. There are many, many other men who will love you (and you only and not wonder if you can love two people at the same time). You will see that relationships are more about love less about push and shove. More about a throw down on the bed less about a throw out of the car.

You're a talented woman Ri-Ri. You're beautiful, sexy, you can sing and you can make the world dance to your tunes (literally!). I feel like you don't see that though. You've definitely got your swag on in your videos and on stage but maybe it's just a cover? I don't know...maybe I'm just making things up. What I do know is sometimes a man takes away such a large part of you, you don't even know yourself any more and so it's easier to let things be than start over. But this starting over could be the beginning of an amazing new life.

I know no one can tell you how to live your life. Not me and not the millions of angry women around the world who just wish you'd show Chris Girlfriend Beater Brown the door (to put it politely).

So, Ri-Ri, I just hope you find peace, I hope you find happiness, I hope you find love. Most importantly, I hope you find yourself.

Sweet dreams

So last night after my usual "Let's sleep/ Let's worry" dramas, when I finally fell asleep I had dreams.

Dream 1
I woke up in bed with someone pulling at my leg. Turns out it was my sister and she was trying to kill me. Except my sister wasn't actually my sister. It was my other sister - my sister's long lost twin, who we didn't know existed. I'm not sure why she was trying to kill me but she looked quite evil.

Dream 2
A friend and I are invited to some amazing party in Melbourne (I don't know why Melbourne and not Sydney). When we get there, we learn the Braxton boys are going to be there and we're super excited because you know, Heath's a druggie turned good who's just lost his baby and his girlfriend's a psycho. And he's hot. Brax has fake stencil tattoos but I'll ignore that, he's such a bad boy with a good heart. And he's hot. Casey, young, reckless and always in trouble but he's a good kid you know. And he's hot. Their dysfunctionality just makes them hotter. Except, they come out to party with us in the real world of my dreams and I'm devo. They're all ugly and white (not being racist, they've just got the whole Summer Bay tan going usually) and look nothing like what they do on TV. My real world of my dreams is shattered. The Braxton boys are ugly.

Conclusion? I watch waaaay too much Home & Away (cue for you to judge me. Both dreams are based of recent happenings on the show.) Seriously, I need a life and/or need to find something better to do 7pm, weekdays.

Come party with me

I've been having very fitful sleeps lately. Instead of winding down, my brain goes into overdrive as soon as it hits the pillow. My body's like "Yeah…let's go to sleep!!!" My brain is like "Yeah let's make To Do lists! Wait while we're at it, let's sort the To Do list into categories and colour code them too!!"

Body's like "YAYY! Sleep!"

Mind's like:  "Ok, to do list done now time to stress about how many "to dos" I have."

Body's like: "Sleep!"

Mind's like: "Holy shit, I will never ever achieve anything I want in my whole life because my To Do list is so long."

Sometimes German Shepherd dog neighbour joins the conversation "groooowl woof woof BARK BARK BARK"

And then Poodle dog neighbour wakes up and wants to join the party too. "rrrrfff, rrrffff, woof BARK rrrfff rrfff WOOF WOOF WOOF"

Body, still trying, "Sleep?"

Mind, now annoyed because dog neighbours have interrupted OCD list making and worrying over list making; gives up and thinks about things that did happen during the day and how it could have/should have/ would have been different. 

Body: "Ok, change sides, may be that will help"

5 minutes later... 

"No switch again, that will help. Ok wait no, lie on your stomach. No no, kick your legs about a little, that will definitely help and will definitely NOT wake up anyone else who happens to share the bed"

Mind: "OMG I am going to be so tired tomorrow."

To do lists. Worrying about to do lists. Worrying about done lists. Worrying about worrying about lists and not sleeping.

Body's like "I give up, here have some Restless Leg Syndrome."

And Body, Mind and dog neighbours party like it's your birthday all night long. 

Sleep comes in for a visit in the early hours but we're in a Friends with No Benefits relationship and he leaves as soon as his wife rings and shrieks to the world that it's 6am and it's time to start another day. Never mind that your previous day never actually ended. 

Lessons in Happiness

I've been reading and thinking a lot about happiness lately. (I know, how incredibly hippie of me.)

I'll be honest; I have had some very dark days in the past few years. Days where getting out of bed seemed like more work than it was worth. Days where my body would physically ache from the effort of going to work. Days where eating an apple for dinner was hard work. Days where I smiled so hard just so people would assume I was normal and not ask me any questions.

Luckily, I have (mostly) gotten out of that. I am a happier person today than I was 2 years ago and consequentially, also a little bit more philosophical. Age has something do with it as well I suppose.

I have learnt:

·         Happiness is not a destination. I am not going to be happy after I have done this or achieved that. Happiness is every day, and it comes from living my life the way I want to.

·         So, to live the life I want I also need to follow my heart. Life gets in the way (a lot) but it is my life so amidst all the craziness and the inanity of the every day, I need to make my happiness a priority. Following my heart is not as difficult as it sounds.

·         Happiness is personal.  There is no point in going after what I think I'm supposed to do or want because everyone else does. I define my own happiness.

·         Inner peace isn't just a hippie notion. When you're happy, you're at peace. Finding that contentment has to come from within.

·         Change is intimidating but it's also invigorating. I have never regretted trying something new (even if it was a bad experience) so clearly I enjoy risks. I need to challenge myself more.

·         Keep learning. Yes, shiny, pretty, new things make me happy but learning something new, career challenges, inspiring words and intelligent conversations are the ultimate fuel for my soul.

·         Don't be so afraid of sharing, of opening up. I've found letting people in sometimes makes me realise I'm a much luckier, happier person than I know (This is something I am still struggling with but trying hard to get over)

My happiness is mine and I have to remember that.  

Olives can walk!

So last night, there was something on the floor and I thought it was an olive. (We had a Greek salad for dinner and sometimes my food leaves the plate and ends up on the carpet instead of in my mouth).

So, very confidently I grabbed a tissue and went to pick it up. As soon as I touched it, I shrieked. The olive was alive, had legs, was moving and wasn't very olive-y at all!

Meanwhile J is in hysterics because he knew it was a beetle or bug or some sort of horrible insect but enjoyed seeing me so convinced that it was an olive that had traveled from the kitchen, gone around a corner and ended up just outside the bedroom. (What? Olives roll around, they can travel long distances if they're fit and willing.)

I don't think I will be eating olives for a while.

Boys are mean.

Mornings + Cold

So this winter has been ridiculously cold. Ok so may be in Finland it gets to minus 30 and *that's* cold but whatevs. 15 degrees is cold. For Queensland, and for me.

Anyhoo, so in the mornings I stay in the shower until I am dragged out because it's the only happy place in the world. Because there is nothing worse than coming out of the shower into a cold, dreary place known as the Rest Of The Bathroom. But apparently 45 minute showers in the morning make us late for work (Tell me again how adult life is supposed to be fun). So J came up with the idea of dragging the heater into the bathroom before going into the shower. Genius.

This morning, I pressed all its little buttons but the damn heater would not come on. Only obvious explanation for this? J had somehow broken the heater while I was asleep. "What did you do to heater? It's not working...how did you break it"

"I didn't break it. I've been in bed, like you" "No, I'm sure you broke it. You know its cold and I can't have a shower without it. WHY IS IT SOOOOO COLD?" "Are you sure you switched it on?" "Of course, I pressed all the buttons"

"No..I mean at the wall. Did you plug it in?"

"Oh..."

Remember how I said mornings aren't my thing?

Mornings.

I don't deal with them well. I wake up early for work but that's because I have to go be an adult and shiz but left to me I'd rather hibernate till it's spring.

Unfortunately for me, J is quite the morning person. Unfortunately for him, he has to endure these scenes (with variations) almost every morning:

Scene: In bed *alarm goes off*

Me: WHY IS IT RINGING ALREADY? It's dark outside. Did you set it right???
J: Yes. Same alarm, everyday. Same argument, everyday. Wake up.
Me: No. It's not morning yet.
J: Fine. Do you want eggs?
(The man knows me too well, bribing me with food and that)

End scene.

Scene: Getting ready for work

J: *touching my cheek trying to be all affectionate-like*

Me: AAAaaaahhhh WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? IT'S COLD!!!! Don't touch me!

End scene.

Scene: Driving to work

J: *attempting to have a conversation with me and getting responses in grunts and yawns.*

J: You are sooo grumpy in the morning.

R: It's cold and I haven't had my coffee yet, I'm conserving my energy by not talking. Just drive. 

No conversation for the rest of the journey.

End scene.

Honestly, I don't know why the man puts up with me.

When I grow up

I had always imagined when I grew up, I'd turn out to be a polished, well spoken, classy lady who has her shit together at all times. I went to an Irish Catholic all girls' school for Chrissake! When the nuns weren't talking about Jesus, all they taught us was how to be a lady.

Instead I turned out to be me.

• Someone who can't eat a cupcake without getting the frosting all over her face.
• Someone who puts her top on inside out and doesn't notice till someone points it out.
• Someone who tries to get up from her chair whilst still having her headphones (which are plugged into her computer) around her neck. Almost every day.
• Someone who forgets at least one thing on the shopping list (isn't that the point of having a list?)
• Someone who stubs her toe on the bed at least once a week.
• Someone who sometimes tries to answer the phone when the alarm goes off in the morning.
• Someone, who has conversations like this:

J: Do you think Macs will ever take over PCs?
Me: Who's PC? 
J: Umm... Macs? and PCs?
Me: What are you talking about? What's Mac? Mac, as in short machiato, like a coffee?
J: Oookaaay. Are you even thinking?
Me: What? Why? WHO IS PC?
J: I'm just going to wait till it comes to you.
*finally, my brain kicks into gear. Cue, giggle fit*
Me: oooooohhhhhh hahaha.
J: *shakes head*

May be, someday I will grow up and become a lady who thinks before she speaks?

#PhotoADayJune - Days 6, 7, 8 and 9

Been a bit slack putting up the Photo a Day June challenge pictures up on the blog. I'll blame it on being tired and the inability to share straight to my blog via Instagram. Anyway, here's a quick catch up.

Day 6 - Hat

I'm not really much of a hat-wearer. However I am a hoodie-wearer and a hoodie can qualify as a hat right?

This picture is of me in my favourite hoodie. It has been unnaturally cold for the Gold Coast so obviously this hoodie has been getting quite a run lately. I am known to wear this at work even in summer (hood up) as I am always freezing in the office and need to protect myself from the cold aircon. Some of my colleagues even call me Kenny (from South Park). ;-)

Day 7 - Drink

The cold I spoke of continued and after dinner on Thursday, I needed something to warm me up so I convinced J to buy me a cup of hot chocolate from Max Brenner. I don't go to Max Brenner much but when I do, I always get the same thing - the dark hot chocolate with waffle balls. If you haven't had it, you are missing out. It is heaven in a cup.

Day 8 - Six o'clock

Today I almost forgot to put up a picture so I had to recycle one that I've taken before. My alarm goes off at 6 am every work day and when I wake up, the first thing I see is the shelf next to my bed. This is a picture of the shelf which is stacked with my ever multiplying and much prized jewellery collection.

And no, I definitely don't have enough!

Day 9 - Your View Today

I have spent most of my day being a bum on the couch so my view has involved:

1. AFL players and wondering why they must fumble with the ball so. Stupid game. (sorry Victoria)
2. Don (sexist but sexy) Draper
3. Food
4. Did I mention, food?
5. J (when I could take my eyes of aforementioned Don Draper)
6. A painting of tango dancers that J bought in Argentina.

No. 6 seemed to be the obvious choice for the photo since J declined being a model and I was too hungry to take photos of my food earlier today.

Obviously my photography skills do no justice to this painting but it is absolutely beautiful and I do spend a lot of time looking at it, dreaming about winning the lottery and running away to a land far, far away. But until that happens, this painting will have to suffice.

This post is part of the #PhotoADayJune Challenge.

#PhotoADayJune - Sign

This is a sign in the office kitchen (above the toaster, obvs).

About 10 am every morning, is burnt toast time. A lot of people eat their morning tea around this time and the entire office smells like toast.

But apparently burnt toast is srs bsns.

The text on the bottom explains in detail how there have been complaints and also includes a statutory warning about burnt toast being injurious to our health. Especially the people smelling the burnt toast.



 I thought this sign was funny because I can't believe it's actually up there. I mean ok, you may not like the smell of toast but is it really that bad that you would complain about it? There are worse smells. But I suppose it bothers some people.

This post is part of the #PhotoADayJune Challenge.

#PhotoADayJune - Close Up

This is a close up picture of a couple of my favourite silver bangles.

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I LOVE jewellery.

I really miss jewellery shopping in India. It's cheap and its oh-so-pretty! I bought these bangles when I was in India in 2011, from a little store I have been going to since I was about 13 or 14 years old. I hadn't been there since 2007, yet the guy at the shop immediately recognised me (I did after all spend a LOT of money there).

I ended up spending a LOT of money. Again. (surprise surprise) but I cam back with some amazing silver jewellery that I always get compliments for.

This post is part of the #PhotoADayJune Challenge.
 

What's that song again?

You know what's awesome? Technology.

So we're in the car, listening to Triple J.

Me: What's this song again? I really like it.
J: I don't know B..
Me: Oh but I have to know.....

*lightbulb moment*

Out comes smartphone and tap tap tap, SHAZAM (literally), the song is:



Wait. It doesn't end there. Then, le smart phone is even more awesomesauce. It tells me I can listen to the song on Spotify! MIND = BLOWN!

So of course, all weekend I Spotify the shiz out of this song. Never mind that YouTube was just as accessible, I had to Spotify because I could!

Picture this scenario 5 years ago and you'd be hanging for the song to end and keeping your fingers crossed that the radio presenter tells you the name of the song. Or it would slowly eat away your insides until the next time you heard it and may be, just may be,  you would ask and someone would know the name of the song. Pain. Ful.

How awesome is technology?

#PhotoADayJune - On My Plate

This is our dinner tonight - Garlic and thyme roast beef with a side of roast vegetables and gravy.

And because you're asking, it was delish!

This post is part of the #PhotoADayJune Challenge.

Dhoom Machale!

Last night SBS had a new reality show on - Bollywood Star. It's a competition to find a Bollywood star in Australia for one of India's leading movie producers/ directors. Last night was the audition process and it was pretty funny. I am keen to watch more.

After the show, SBS had a Bollywood movie on. Now I'm not usually a Bollywood kinda gal but all the singing and dancing on Bollywood Star got me a bit enthusiastic so I spent my Saturday night watching Dhoom 2. What was funnier though is poor J got stuck watching it with me. I think he enjoyed it and was pretty amused with exactly how far Bollywood stretches the concept of "willing suspension of disbelief."

I was talking to my mum while we were watching the movie and told her J was watching it with me.

Mum: You're making him watch a Bollywood movie? He will get a weird idea about India.
Me: He knows me, he already thinks Indians are weird.
Mum: That's true. 

And now, J has been singing "Dhoom Machale" since last night.