weep little lion man, you're not as brave as you were at the start.

"Little Lion Man" by Mumford and Sons is a song I listen to when I'm happy to ensure my good mood continues.  It's one of those feel good tracks that can easily be associated with good memories, like the time Rhylea, Andrew's brother, Michael and I were dancing together to this song before going out one night.  It was a night full of plenty of laughs and happy memories and every time I hear this song I feel so happy. 

♥

i want you, all tattooed, i want you bad.

The Offspring's "Want You Bad" is a song that I love to listen to when I'm angry. I love being able to sing along at the top of my lungs as it always releases my frustrations and I'm guaranteed to feel happy again afterwards with it's upbeat lyrics.

♥

isobel may hethorn and thomas burke hethorn.

I miss my Nanny and Poppy.  There is not a day that goes by where I don't think about them and wish that they were still here with us.

My Nanny passed away in 2007 after a short battle with a rare and agressive type of cancer.  This caused a lot of pain and confusion for my Poppy, whose condition deteriorated significantly as a result.  It was just before Christmas in 2010 that he also passed away.

Due to the fact that Mum and Dad always worked long hours, our Nanny and Poppy would take care of Rhylea and myself during throughout the day.  We created a close bond to them and often referred to them as our second set of parents.  I consider ourselves very lucky to be able to say that, some people have no parents whilst we were blessed with a second set.  On the days that we couldn't see our Nanny and Poppy, like on weekends or holidays, we would call and spend hours on the phone talking about anything and everything.  When we were spending time at their house, they would do anything we wanted and when it came time for them to do what they wanted, like garden or watch the horse racing, I loved how they would include us and teach us all about their world too.

Although I consider myself very lucky to have had the time that I did with them, I hate how they won't be around to see me get married, meet my babies, see me graduate and come to our house for dinner.  I miss them every single day and would do anything to have them back with us.

 

♥

get carried away.

Sex and the City (2008).

IMDb Synopsis:  "A New York writer on sex and love is finally getting married to her Mr. Big. But her three best girlfriends must console her after one of them inadvertently leads Mr. Big to jilt her".

IMDb Rating:  5.3/10

My Rating:  9.5/10

My Thoughts:  One of my favourite movies of all time.  The music, the fashion, the city and the good friends.  I love everything this film has to offer and could watch it over and over again.  Even Dad and Andrew enjoyed this film, so even though "Sex and the City" is targeted at a female audience, it is one for everybody to enjoy.  A fabulous continuation of the television series and is best enjoyed over a few Cosmopolitans.

♥

the number one movie in america is number two.

Jackass Number Two (2006).

IMDb Synopsis:  Chris Pontius, Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera, and the whole crew return to the screen to raise the stakes higher than ever before.

IMDb Rating:  7.1/10

My Rating:  7/10


My Thoughts:  "Jackass Number Two" goes above and beyond the realms of the first Jackass film.  The stunts are more dangerous, more disgusting and more likely to offend some viewers, making this film more impressive than the first.  In a strange way, I was impressed by how far the crew were prepared to go in their challenges and still be alive to tell the story.  Similarly to "Jackass: The Movie", this film is not for the squeamish.

♥

because i'm being taken over by the fear.

Lily Allen's second album "It's Not Me, It's You" is one of my favourite albums of all time.  "The Fear", the first track on the album, is my favourite song of Lily Allen's.  Lily Allen is a pioneer within the music industry with her unique style and this album exemplifies this.

♥

happy mother's day.

If I could give you diamonds
for each tear you cried for me.
If I could five you sapphires
for each truth you've helped me see.
If I could give you rubies
for the heartache that you've known
If I could give you pearls
for the wisdom that you've shown.
Then you'll have a treasure, mother,
that would mount up to the skies
That would almost match
the sparkle in your kind and loving eyes.
But I have no pearls, no diamonds,
As I'm sure you're well aware
So I'll give you gifts more precious
My devotion, love and care. 

I love you Mama, Happy Mother's Day.

♥

you leave before midnight, you're standing in the bright lights.

"Midnight" by Elan is a song that was never played regularly on the radio, even when it was first released.  This always surprised me as it is such a good song and Elan's voice is so powerful and unique, forcing one to listen to her music.  I first heard this song when I was doing work experience and was listening to the radio with a friend.  We instantly fell in love with her music and went and bought her CD in the lunch break.  It is so disappointing that Elan's music has not been broadcasted the way it deserves, especially "Midnight".

♥

with stuff you'd never see on tv.

Jackass: The Movie (2003).

IMDb Synopsis:  "Johnny Knoxville and his band of maniacs perform a variety of stunts and gross-out gags on the big screen for the first time".

IMDb Rating:  6.3/10

My Rating:  6.5/10

My Thoughts:  Whilst some parts of the film were very funny, the majority of the stunts shown made me physically ill to watch.  The film's shock value was the only thing that made it bearable to watch, as I was so amazed at the creativity and perseverance of the group that I couldn't look away.  Not a film for the squeamish.  

♥

it's supernatural, extraterrestrial.

"E.T." is one of my favourite songs by Katy Perry and lucky for me, it is always on the radio.  It is quite a popular song and since it was released in early 2011, it seems to have been played on every radio show.  I hope it doesn't become one of those songs that are played so often you begin to hate them, as it is one of the few songs I love from the first time I heard it.

♥

the world's favourite family is back.

Look Who's Talking Now (1993).

IMDb Synopsis:  "In this, the third film, it's the pets who do the talking. The Ubriacco's find themselves the owners of two dogs, Rocks, a street wise cross breed, and Daphne, a spoilled pedegree poodle. James has a new job, pilot to the sexy and lonely Samantha. Mollie's just lost hers and is stuck at home".

IMDb Rating:  3.7/10

My Rating:  6.5/10

My Thoughts:  The third and final installment of the "Look Who's Talking" series is by far the best of the lot.  Unlike the previous two films, "Look Who's Talking Now" is more family friendly and the cringe worthy moments that appeared previously have transformed into some really sweet and touching moments.  A good Christmas film for the whole family to enjoy.

♥

red, red wine goes to my head.

UB40's version of "Red, Red Wine" is a song that I enjoyed listening to once upon a time but now I cannot stand it.  The combination of the tune, the lyrics and the reggae band singing it just doesn't work and every time I hear it, I become more and more irritated by it.

♥

mikey's back and about to face his greatest challenge...his new baby sister.

Look Who's Talking Too (1990).

IMDb Synopsis:  "Small babies comment on the disagreements between a husband and wife."

IMDb Rating:  3.9/10

My Rating:  5/10

My Thoughts:  My thoughts on "Look Who's Talking Too" are much the same as my thoughts on "Look Who's Talking".  A film with a few laughs without a great deal of substance and plenty of cringe worthy moments.  Overall, not the best movie of all time but worth a look. 

 ♥

he's hip, he's slick and he's only 3 months old. now all he has to do is find himself the perfect daddy.

Look Who's Talking (1989).

IMDb Synopsis:  Mollie is a single mum who's on the lookout for a reliable and normal boyfriend. Her son Mikey, (unbeknownst to her) seems to have a better idea of which of the men she dates would make a good father figure! If only she could understand him

IMDb Rating:  5.6/10

My Rating:  5.5/10

My Thoughts:  "Look Who's Talking" is the first of three films in the "Look Who's Talking" series.  The film is a good light hearted comedy which offers plenty of laughs.  The only issue with this movie is that with the laughs comes plenty of cringeworthy moments too.  Overall, it's a good movie to unwind to and to have a laughs at. 

♥

make my way back home when i learn to fly.

"Learn To Fly" is my favourite Foo Fighters track as well as a song I can relate to.  It refers to the story of somebody who has let fear of failure take hold of their life, controlling their every move and stopping them from living a fulfilling existence.  However, they have come to a point in their life where they realise this is an unhealthy way to live and decide to change things, deciding that life is to be enjoyed and failure is an unavoidable fact of life.  The person in the song has come to the conclusion that they are ready to be in charge of their own life and conquering their fears.

♥

they only met once, but it changed their lives forever.

The Breakfast Club (1985).

IMDb Synopsis:  "Five high school students, all different stereotypes, meet in detention, where they pour their hearts out to each other, and discover how they have a lot more in common than they thought".


IMDb Rating:  7.9/10


My Rating:  8.5/10


My Thoughts:  The way the film has merged different background stories and personalities to form the main plot is quite clever.  I am undecided as to whether or not this film was made as a lighthearted comedy or if there was the intention to develop depth within the story line, as I actually learnt some meaningful lessons from this movie.  In conclusion, I gained a good laugh and a few thoughts to ponder from this film and think should be a must see on everyone's movie bucket list.






♥

my scars remind me that the past is real.

I have a very eclectic taste in so there are not many songs that seem to stand out from my usual taste.   I suppose the most surprising song that is on my music player is "Scars" by Papa Roach because of it's grungy sounds and lyrics.

♥

melbourne, australia.

My most favourite place of all time is Melbourne.  I went for ten days at the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 with Andrew.  There are so many things I loved about this place and cannot wait to return next year so we can do the things we didn't get round to doing last trip.   

The Great Ocean Road is the coastline that spans from Torquay to Allansford.  The Twelve Apostles, which can be seen from the coastline, are the rock statues that have resulted from the erosion and detachment processes of the cliffs.  We travelled on part of the Great Ocean Road when we went to Lorne, a small town about two hours outside of Melbourne, for a music festival called Falls.  Unfortunately we did not get to see the Twelve Apostles, but were amazed by the sights of Bells Beach and the beautiful scenery that the drive had to offer.

St Kilda is Melbourne's main beach, located only six kilometres from the city.  With my favourite AFL team being the Saints and my favourite television show as a teenager being "The Secret Life of Us" being set in the Melbourne suburb, I was disappointed when we ran out of time and didn't get there.  The suburb is known for it's trendy culture, with streets lined with cafes and the site for many events and festivals, as well as it's beautiful beach.

The Queen Victoria Markets, situated on Victoria Street in Melbourne Central, are frequently visited by tourists.  This is another place I would like to visit next trip, failing to do so last time.  I remember when my Mum went about fifteen years ago, she visited the markets and brought home some beautiful presents.  One present that particularly sticks out in my mind are the psotage stamps that she chose for me from big buckets, paying a minimal amount for some beautiful stamps from around the world to add to my collection.

     The Eureka Skydeck 88 is situated in South Bank.  It is the world's fourth tallest residential building, measuring at 297.3 metres tall.  The observation deck is on the 88th floor, offering a breathtaking 360 degree view of Melbourne.  For the stunning views, I was able to brave my terrible fear of heights and go to the 88th floor, but not enough to walk out into the glass box that protrudes from the building, allowing you to look down and see the city below.

Phillip Island, located 140 kilometres from Melbourne Central, is home to the fairy penguins.  I was disappointed we didn't get to visit them, but with Andrew's love of fairy penguins and my desire to see them in their natural habitat, we will undoubtedly get there next time.

South Bank's Crown Casino is the biggest casino in the Southern Hemisphere.  I'm not a huge gambler, so I was just amazed at the light shows and the fact that we were standing where the Logies ceremony is held each year.

I was so excited to sit in Federation Square amongst thousands of cricket fans watching parts of the Melbourne test on the big screen, surrounded by the art gallery, cafes and SBS headquarters.  I loved the mix of sport and culture that we sat in the middle of, giving us a taste of the different flavours that Melbourne has to offer.

The love that Andrew and I have for animals made us save the best for the last day of our holiday - Melbourne Zoo.  We were amazed by some of the animals we encountered and could have spent forever there.  Such beautiful animals and such a beautiful environment.  

The Melbourne Cricket Ground was a huge highlight of our trip.  We went for the second day of the Boxing Day Test and I was astounded by the atmosphere and the size of the stadium.  It's capacity is double that of Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium and it was definitely noticed when sitting in the top tier.  I loved the walk leading up to the MCG along the Yarra River as well, getting a good view of surrounding sporting arenas such as Rod Laver and AAMI Stadium.

Flinders Street Station was amazing.  Prior to leaving for our holiday, everybody I came across advised me to go and see it and although I gathered it must have been a must see, I did not imagine anything as spectacular as that.  The beautiful station has a very vintage feel to it, making it feel as though we were catching a train in the olden days.

The Royal Botanic Gardens are breathtakingly gorgeous.  The walk along the Yarra through some of the most beautiful gardens I've ever seen was quite a beautiful way to enjoy a lovely afternoon.  It reminded me a lot of my Nanny as she loved looking at gardens.

Andrew and I had a wonderful time at the Melbourne Aquarium.  I loved that fact that we didn't have to leave the city in order to see the beautiful sea creatures and the amazing tunnel that allowed us to stand underneath some of the tanks, looking up and admiring all the animals.

Andrew has family in Williamstown, a suburb that's located by the water about fifteen minutes from Melbourne Central, allowing us to spend a bit of time in the lovely area.  The pretty scenery, consisting of old buildings and gorgeous parks along the water made me sit on the swings for hours on end, taking in the beauty of my surroundings.

Southgate shopping precinct, the DFO and Melbourne Central created some of the best shopping memories I've ever had.  The array of stores with bargains galore had my attention for hours.  I had to forcibly remind myself that we only had ten days to enjoy the sights and sounds of Melbourne, not shopping centres.  The Blue Train Cafe in Southgate also serves the best caesar salad I've ever had and offers the most stunning views of the city, particularly at night.  Andrew and I joined our friend Simon there for dinner one evening and were very impressed.

The gorgeous architecture of Melbourne is what I first noticed about this city.  Saint Paul's Cathedral, located on the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets, is one building that springs to mind in particular. The Anglican cathedral is one of Melbourne's major landmarks with it's intricate design and beautiful stained glass windows.  This is one of my favourite photos that I took during our trip, looking up from outside the cathedral with the afternoon sun shining from behind the building.

The Victorian Arts Centre, located in South Bank, is where major theatre productions are shown and home to the markets on a Saturday morning.  Due to renovations, we were unable to go inside the establishment and have a look around, but we did get to see the 160 metre tall spire that sits on top of the building.  At night it was an absolutely gorgeous sight, lighting up and resembling a miniature Eiffel Tower.

  

I loved the trams.  As weird as it sounds, I could have watched them all day.  On our last day, I made Andrew spend the afternoon on as many trams as we could travel on, I just loved them and embraced them as an icon of Melbourne.  With the second largest tram network in the world, Melbourne has over 500 trams, 300 kilometres of track and thousands of stops.  I found them absolutely fascinating and loved the noise of the bells as they went past.

  I absolutely adored Swanston Street, one of the main streets in the city.  We stayed up the end of Swanston Street just outside Melbourne Central in a suburb called Carlton.  I loved how the street had a suburbian feel to it, despite being in the heart of the city, with trees lining the grey, stone paths accompanying the hustle and bustle of a regular city.  

  

♥

there's no place like this home.

The Castle (1997).

IMDb Synopsis:  "A Melbourne family is very happy living where they do, near the Melbourne airport.  However, they are forced to leave their beloved home, by the Government and airport authorities.  'The Castle' is the story of how they fight to remain in their house, taking their case as far as the High Court."


IMDb Rating:  7.5/10


My Rating:  8.5/10


My Thoughts:  This is a tale that really touches the heart.  The good old fashioned Australian humour that has been integrated into the story has complimented the element of sentimentality that is present, making it easy to fall in love with this family.  A heartwarming film that any Australian must see.






♥

say you're true, say to me, c'est la vie.

"C'est La Vie" by Irish band B*Witched is my guilty pleasure.  I'll be completely honest, I love singing and even know the official dance moves, which I do on a regular basis.  Whenever I need a bit of a pick me up, this song is guaranteed to put a smile on my face.

♥