anzac day.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Lest we forget.

♥

happy easter x

Happy Easter to everyone out there.  I hope all of you have had a lovely chocolate filled day with your loved ones and that the Easter Bunny has been kind to you.  I also hope that a moment's thought has been spared to reflect on the true meaning of Easter and may each of us take the opportunity to integrate the "rebirth" concept into our own lives - a new attitude, a new approach, a new way of living.

♥

green eyes, yeah the spotlight, shines upon you.

The song "Green Eyes" by Coldplay reminds me of Andrew.  When Andrew and I first started dating, he would play the album "A Rush of Blood to the Head" on a regular basis and so nowadays I instantly think of the happy, "butterflies in the tummy" moments we shared in the early days whenever I hear this song.

 It wasn't until the first time I saw Andrew cry though that this song started to remind me of him.  Andrew usually has hazel eyes, but I noticed that when he was crying, his eyes turned the most gorgeous shade of green I had ever seen.  I remember being fixated on his eyes for some time and could not get enough of how beautiful they were.  The next time I heard "Green Eyes" I automatically thought of Andrew.

The lyrics of the song also perfectly describe my feelings for Andrew.  I am very much in love with him and feel that my life has only gotten better since being with him.  I would be lost without him as I see him as "the rock upon which I stand".

♥

how embarrassment.

The most embarrassing moment of my life occurred when I was about seven years old.  I was in grade two and it was the last day of term, so my class were allowed to watch "The Land Before Time".  Those who didn't like the movie were allowed free time in the next classroom and so that's where I went.  It just so happened that I was joined by the class clowns, who would make me laugh and laugh until my ribs ached.

This day was no exception.  In fact, I remember being in stitches all afternoon, barely being able to breathe in between laughing so hard.  All of a sudden, I was absolutely busting for the bathroom but I was having too much fun to go, so I held on.  It became excruciatingly painful and was so unbearable, I finally decided to go and ask my teachers if I could go to the bathroom.

By the time I got to the other classroom where our teachers were, I was needing to waddle.  With my knees bent inwards and the pain worse than imaginable, I tapped my teacher on the shoulder and said "Miss, could I please go t......", only to have my entire class turn around and watch me wee all over the lino floor.

To make matters worse, it was a free clothes day at school and so of all the things to wear on that memorable day, I was wearing white shorts.

  

♥

a sleepy lagoon, a tropical moon and two on an island.

"Sleepy Lagoon" by The Platters makes me cry every time I hear it.  It reminds me of my Poppy, who passed away just before Christmas in 2010.  My aunt, Lori made him a compilation CD and this was the first song on it.  He had trouble remembering many things but knew every single word to this song and would sing along so beautifully whenever it was played.  Once upon a time it would make me smile as it would remind me of him and I hope that in time it does that again, but for now it absolutely breaks my heart as it just reminds me how much I miss him.  

♥

when we were young.

I have some very fond memories of my childhood and often think back to when I was younger when I need to put a smile on my face.

Christmas time was always my favourite time of year, as the whole family would get together and play cricket or volleyball in the backyard after eating a delicious lunch.  My mum would make a piñata every year full of presents for the whole family, a tradition I would love to introduce when we are all older.

I always looked forward to Friday nights as it was the night Dad would take us to watch the soccer and have pizza, pasta and ribs for dinner.  I remember after dinner, Rhylea and I would find the old bones from the ribs and pretend they were dinosaur bones, imagining we were world famous paleontologists.  Kind of gross now that I think about it, but we had so much fun and thinking about it always makes me happy.

I remember when my Granda wasn't very well, he would rest in his bedroom.  I would often times feel sad that he was on his own and would watch television with him.  I remember one time in particular, we were watching the English football highlights and it was the Merseyside clash between Liverpool and Everton in 1997.  Granda told me all about Robbie Fowler and what a sensational player he was, how Redknapp's amazing goal saw Liverpool win the match 1-0 and explained the flow of the game in a way that has stayed with me ever since.  Ever since that night, I have loved Liverpool and will always value that time I spent with my Granda.

During our visits to my grandparents house, we also played Uno cards with my Grandma.  I loved going to Grandma and Granda's for the Uno games, the amazing orange juice that seemed to only be available at their house and the assortment of treats she would offer us from the fridge.

Nanny and Poppy took care of us before and after school as our Mum and Dad had long days and would start and finish well outside of school hours.  I remember Poppy would pick us up from school every afternoon with a sandwich Nanny made for us.  She was quite inventive with some of the sandwiches she made, like orange sandwiches, but my absolute favourite was her peanut butter and honey ones.  They tasted like caramel on bread and were the yummiest sandwiches I've ever had.
School holidays were so much fun at Nanny and Poppy's house and one of the best memories I had of Pop involved eating watermelon and watching the cricket during the Summer holidays.      

I also remember visiting Nanny and Poppy's neighbour, Molly, every afternoon after school.  She had the sweetest beagle, Holly, who would cuddle up to us every visit.  

I cherish these memories and hope that we can create similar memories for my babies.

♥

gonna take your mama out all night.

I instantly smile every time I hear "Take Your Mama" by The Scissor Sisters, regardless of what mood I'm in.  The first time I heard it, I was driving to football training with my aunt, Carmie.  We had the best time, having a massive Scissor Sister sing-a-long on the way.   

It also reminds me of the time Andrew and I went out with a couple of our friends before we started dating and he tried to impress me with his drunken rendition of this song.  One of the funniest things I have ever seen.

♥

first kiss.

My first kiss was one I would rather forget, as the only kisses I want to remember these days are those I have with Andrew.  So I'll write about my first kiss with Andrew instead.

Andrew and I had known each other for a couple of weeks and loved each other's company so much that we had spent most of every day together.  I had driven Andrew home after a night out at the pub with a couple of friends and we sat outside his house talking for a while before he got ready to leave my car.  We normally hugged each other when we said goodbye and so I thought we would again, only to be surprised when I felt him slobber down the side of my face!  Unfortunately I didn't know he was preparing to kiss me and turned my head to offer him the good night cuddle.  Just as he was about to sneak off sheepishly, I told him to do it again and next came the best kiss I've ever had.

Next day he asked me out, just in time for Valentine's Day.



♥

now i'm feeling so fly like a g6.

I hate the song "Like A G6" by Far East Movement with a passion and think it would have to be my least favourite song of all time.  The lyrics are meaningless, the tune is annoying and every time I hear it, it gets stuck in my head for a long time.  Unfortunately for me, Rhylea loves it and plays it quite a lot!  

♥

dreams can come true.

 I spend most of each day dreaming about my future and thinking of ways in which I can turn my dreams into reality.  Now that I'm approaching my mid twenties, a lot of my dreams are starting to consider my future husband and the children I will have, rather than be entirely focussed on making me happy like they were when I was growing up.

I dream of growing old with Andrew and being able to reminisce when I'm older about the adventures, dates and events we experienced together, such as our first trip to Melbourne.  I dream about creating traditions with him and being able to share them with our babies.  Most importantly, I dream about the eternal love we will share and the many wonderful experiences we will have over the many years to come.  

I dream of having three children and have always imagined that I would have a boy and twin girls.  I would love to have a boy and a girl but obviously don't mind as long as they're healthy.  I dream of sending them to good schools and encouraging them to participate in a variety of extra curricular activities.  I dream of our family home on a regular basis and don't want an expensive, stylish house, but would rather a renovated Queenslander that epitomises us as a family, full of laughter and personality.  I imagine that we will own a two storey, five bedroom, 3 bathroom, big yard, study, 2 car garage, swimming pool, sports bar and room for each of us to have our own personal space.  I dream of having chickens, a cat, guinea pigs, fish and two Maltese Terriers called Buzz and Indie.

I dream of moving out with Andrew, Ben and Rhylea in the near future and remaining close friends for the rest of our lives.  I dream of still being able to see them regularly after we start our own families and allow our children to grow up together.  I dream of being able to invite my other friends to my home as well and hold dinner parties and afternoon teas.

I dream of being my perfect weight by the time my wedding rolls around and try to maintain it after I get married.  I dream of being able to play soccer again until I'm too old to play anymore, run, swim and cycle every morning and try as many sports as I can.

I dream of being financially stable.  I don't necessarily want to be rich, but I do want to have the money to be able to support my family, give my children a good education, explore the world and be able to retire at a reasonable age.

I dream of being the sports psychologist of the Brisbane Roar, before moving to England and working for a team in the English Premier League.

I dream of having a positive self image and being able to embrace my unique qualities.  I dream of having no anxieties in relation to my appearance and being able to accept my flaws and go as far as embracing them because they make me different.

I dream of practicing my faith by attending church every Sunday with my family.  I dream of being able to give my children an understanding of our faith and give them the opportunity to develop an understanding of their own beliefs.

I dream of being able to manage my anxieties and eliminate all negative thoughts.  I dream of living life to the fullest and allow positive thinking to direct me in the most suitable path.

I dream of being able to make a financial contribution to charity on a regular basis.  I also dream of contributing my some of my time to charitable organisations as a volunteer and support their cause in a more practical sense.

 I dream of always having fun, spending quality time with my family and friends and making the most of anything life throws at me.

♥

and it was all yellow.

My all time favourite song would have to be "Yellow" by Coldplay.  It's one of those songs that I could listen to over and over again and never get sick of.  The lyrics are so simple, yet so beautiful.  "Yellow" was released when I was in grade nine and I remember every art class my friends and I would play it and talk about our future wedding plans as we all wanted it as our song at our wedding.

♥

bad habits.

I have too many bad habits it seems!  I'm going to refer to this list on a regular basis and try and work on my list as it seems I haven't been as cautious lately.

Arguing.

Bad at listening.

Anxious over insignificant things.

Jealous.

Chewing loudly.

Cracking knuckles and then being mad at others when they do it.

Swearing.

Drinking too much Coke.

Forgetting my limits with alcohol.

Eating too much bad food and not enough good.

Fidgeting.

Easily angered.

Gossiping.

Lip biting.

Nail biting.

Overeating.

Overspending.

Procrastinating.



♥

a day in our house.

Because of work/uni/friends/Andrew/cricket/soccer, I am barely at home these days.  When I am at home, I always try and complete the following tasks:

Take Mickey for a drive or for a walk.

Study.

Wash clothes.

Iron clothes.

Cook dinner.

Check Facebook and blog.

Clean house.

Relax.

Wash dishes.

Read.

Play Wii.

Exercise.

Pick Mum and Rhylea up from work.

♥

ten things you should (but don't) know about me.

1.  There is very little in this world that a Spice Girls sing-a-long cannot fix.

2.  I am obsessed with writing lists and cannot start my day without making a to do list.

3.  I love the rain and find that the drearier the weather, the happier I am.  

4.  Once upon a time I could speak Japanese almost fluently.

5.  I played representative softball three weeks after picking up a bat for the first time but would never have the guts to play representative football, even though I am much better at football than I am at softball.  

6.  Ever since Andrew and I started going out, I dream of the perfect life we will make together at least a thousand times a day.

7.  I suffer from generalised anxiety disorder.

8.  My pinky fingers are double jointed.

9.  I am fascinated by planes and could sit at the airport all day and watch them fly overhead with one of those radios that pick up the conversations had between pilots and the tower.  

10.  By the time I'm 25, I would like to be a vegetarian.  I have tried thousands of times to become one over the past eight years but I have failed every single time.

♥

rhylea jane millar.

My baby sister, Rhylea is my one and only sibling.  There is five years between us and over the past nineteen years, we have built a close and loving bond as sisters and as friends.  She is the funniest person I have ever met and I love how her humour has no limits.  The only thing I don't like about her is that she is by far the prettier sister.

I remember the day Rhylea was born as if it happened yesterday.  I remember visiting her and Mum at the hospital when she was only hours old.  I remember our first cuddle and how adorable I thought she was.  Although I loved her anyway, I loved her even more when she bought me a Vicki doll as her sibling gift.  My baby sister (and the brand new doll) made that day one of the best days of my life.

Rhylea is currently working part time at a pet shop and is studying journalism via correspondence.  I have never met anyone other than Rhylea who can match my eclectic taste in music or who will happily talk to me for hours on end about celebrity gossip and TV soaps.  She often amazes me with her wisdom  and maturity, only to turn around and make a joke in poor taste or say something ridiculous five minutes later.  

She is my sister by chance but my friend by choice.  I love her to bits and pieces and I consider myself so lucky to be able to call her my sister, as well as my best friend.

♥

blogs worth visiting.

Since being introduced to the world of blogging by my friend, Beth, I have enjoyed keeping up to date with other people's blogs.  I love finding out about other people's views and learning new things through the experiences of others.  Below is a list of my favourite blogs that I follow on a daily basis:

Blue Skies and Blue Eyes. 

This blog belongs to Beth and one of my favourite blogs by far.  I have been friends with Beth for almost twenty years and although our busy schedules have prevented us from keeping in touch as much as as we would have liked, I love that I can read her blog and be completely up to date with everything that's going on with her.  I also love reading all about her thoughts and her dreams, her blog is so insightful it's as if we keep in touch on a daily basis.  

Kikki-K. 

I first came across this store when I was on holidays in Melbourne at the end of 2010 and instantly fell in love with this store.  I'm sure poor Andrew was keen to leave, but we ended up spending a good hour and a half in the shop as I gazed at the gorgeous items on display.  One of the first things I did when I arrived back in Brisbane was trawl their website for more stationery to buy when I came across their blog, which covers everything from all things Sweden to cocktail recipes, style tips, creative projects and yummy recipes.  All things lovely in the one blog!

A Cup of Jo. 

I first came across this blog when reading Beth's blog one evening.  Joanne Goddard is a magazine writer and this is her professional website.  She lives in New York with her young family and covers all things beautiful, including fashion, bikes and photography.  Her creativity and commitment to family is what attracted me to this blog and I love imagining myself as this type of mother in a few years to come.

Jen's 365 Day Photo Challenge.  

This blog has inspired me to begin the 365 day photo challenge once I have completed the blog challenge.  Those who have accepted the challenge say that it's great to keep a record of the year's experiences and that it's a great way to strengthen photography skills.  Unlike Jen, I will be partaking in the challenge with set themes, rather than taking random photos, as I think it will encourage me to gain new experiences and test my creativity.  

Signed by Tina. 

I love this blog for two reasons: 1) there is a new post every few hours and 2) I love every single post.  This blog represents everything I love and adore and there is not one thing on this page that I don't like.  I love her sense of style and could spend forever looking through the photos posted on her page.

S.C.R.A.P. 

This sweet blog is dedicated to recycling materials and using them for art and craft projects.  The ideas are really lovely and are a nice way to use the scrap materials that are laying about.  I plan on completing a few of these creations in the countdown to when we move out so that we can personalise our home with cute little knick knacks without breaking the bank.

The Personal Excellence Blog.

I live by this blog!  This blog is what keeps me on track and I almost consider it as a type of therapy.  Whenever life throws too much at you and it becomes overwhelming, the articles posted on this blog help give you the clarity to decipher what moves to make.  The next blog challenge that I would like complete is actually on this blog and aims to assist the participant in organising their life and making the most out of it.  The articles are quite inspiring and helps us to look at life's problems from a different perspective, making them significantly easier to overcome.

♥

what i stand for.

I believe it's important to have beliefs and philosophies, they help shape us.

I believe in God and I wish I was more committed to practicing my faith, but I don't know how to practice the faith when some of my personal views contradict those of the Church.

I believe in the abolishment of animal testing and support those companies who do not test on animals.

I believe in making a contribution to society where able, whether that be through work or volunteering so that everybody is working together to build a community.

I believe that money isn't everything and would choose to be poor and happy over rich and sad any day.

I believe that we've come a long way in our understanding of mental health but there is still a lot more education needed to ensure people understand the impact that it can have on a person's well being.

I believe the best kinds of friends are those who will always support you and offer you eternal, unconditional love.

I believe family should be the most important thing in life and will always be my number one priority.

I believe the greatest feeling in the world are the feelings that come with being in love with the right person.

I believe work, rest and play is the way life should be experienced.

I believe in order to live by all these beliefs, you must love yourself.  You must have the confidence and self respect to be able to live life to the fullest and the clarity to decipher your personal views and values.



♥

these are a few of my favourite things.

At the moment, I'm in love with quite a few things and dream about them all at some point during the day to keep a smile on my face.

Andrew.

Family.

Friends. 

Kikki-k organisers. 

Vintage bicycles. 

Cupcakes. 

Baskin and Robbins Love Potion. 

Tiffany & Co. jewellery. 

The Veronicas (and their cute tattoos!). 

Gold Coast Titans. 

Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf. 

Archie comics. 

Vera Wang Princess Perfume. 

The O.C. (and it's fabulous music!).  

Brisbane Roar. 

T2 tea.  

Pretty dresses. 

Cute shoes. 

Summer Roberts and Seth Cohen. 

1950's fashion. 

Fondue. 

Photo walls. 

Candles. 

Liverpool Football Club. 

Milk and cookies. 

Floor pillows. 

Rose quartz. 

St Kilda Saints. 

Summer Roberts' bedroom. 

Macaroons. 

Melbourne. 

Blair Waldorf's headbands. 

♥

i'll be there for you.

My best friend is Andrew.  We instantly became friends when we first met at the beginning of last year when our friend Jake introduced us at a local pub.  Jake and I had come from a party and decided to meet Andrew for a drink.  As I arrived straight from the party in fancy dress, Andrew mercilessly teased me and my choice of outfit and began the start of an amazing and fun-filled friendship.

My beautiful sister, Rhylea, is my best girl friend.  I remember the day I met her for the first time, the day she was born.  She was so tiny and she was too cute.  We have always been very close and have been through so much together.  She is the funniest person I know and can leave me in stitches for hours on end.  She is the most wonderful sister and friend I could possibly ask for and can't wait for her to be my maid of honour when Andrew and I get married.

My gorgeous friend, Charlie is one of the sweetest souls I have ever met.  I met her about eight years ago when she started playing at the same soccer club as me and we have been close ever since.  My fondest memories with Charlio consist of the times where we played in the back line together and had so much fun.  She has the kindest heart and I love her bubbly personality.  I love her to bits and pieces and would be lost without her.   

Ben is one of my dearest friends.  The first time I met him was when our mutual friend woke Ben up at a ridiculous hour so that he could pick him and his drunken friends up from the city before driving them to various spots all over Brisbane.  I will be forever grateful for that night and although he takes every opportunity to remind me of how much sleep he missed out on, I know that being the selfless person that he is, he doesn't really mind.  I can't wait for him to move out with us and pick us up from more late night drinking sessions to come!

I met Amelia through Andrew at the start of last year.  Andrew and I bumped into her in the city when we went on a shopping date.  This lovely girl offered to help dress me for my first unofficial date with Andrew the following night, having only met me minutes before.  She became my fashion guru immediately and we spent the rest of the night drinking and shopping.  That night I felt as though I was with a friend I had known for years, Amelia is one of the most fun people I know and love her easygoing nature.

♥

the last day on earth.

If this was my last day on Earth, I would make sure I live it to the fullest.  I would start by waking up beside Andrew at the Grand Hotel in Melbourne and having a fabulous breakfast in bed.

We would then walk along Swanston Street and take in the sights and sounds before meeting our friends and family at a restaurant at South Bank where we will eat and drink for hours with those who we love the most, celebrating my relationships and the experiences we have shared.

After saying leaving my friends and family to enjoy the rest of their party, I would go for a walk with Andrew along the Yarra River and watch a football match at AAMI Stadium.  After we watch one of the best games of all time, we'd go for a tram ride to St Kilda where we would watch the sunset and lie under the stars and cuddle.

♥