Little things

Hello lovelies (or no one. I'm not sure if anyone even reads this haha),

I had a harsh reality check today. I just worked out that I don't have enough money to pay my next rent installment, let alone my groceries and power when I get back home. I am so so so lucky that I have wonderful parents who are willing to help me out. However, this means that for a few weeks I will have absolutely no spending money.

No coffee, no random buys...I'm shocked at how difficult this seems to me. It goes to show how comfortable I am in my life - how completely, utterly blessed I am, and how often I fail to realise that.

So, that said, a lot of good will come from this. I'm going to learn to appreciate the little, wonderful things in life that money can't buy. Money can't buy you happiness - this is a cliche, but it's true!

The sunlight fanning through the trees, beautiful forests, fresh air, sunrises, laughter, kisses, hugs, sweet words to warm your heart, a text from a friend, working out and eating healthy, a beautiful photograph, time with family, the ocean...there is so much more to live for.

I am so completely blessed♥

Put your hearts up

I have always read in a lot of books, blogs, etc. that your thoughts define your reality. Like, if you think positive, beautiful thoughts about yourself and others, your life will begin to change, too. I always accepted that as a given. I mean, it makes sense. But I never really thought about putting it into practice.

The past couple of weeks, I have really made an effort to be much more positive. Not getting annoyed easily, smiling a lot more, and making the best of the beautiful life I have been blessed with. And I can honestly say, it has worked. I honestly feel so much more love around me and in my heart :) It's a truly wonderful feeling!

And this afternoon, as I was listening to Ariana Grande (love her music!) I really started thinking more about positivity. Her music and her message is all about love - loving and accepting others and yourself, and just being a beacon of positivity and happiness :)

This gets me onto my next thought...I am a Christian. A Catholic, to be exact. At university, I have made a lot of new friends, and the majority of them are non-denominational Christians. I love them to bits, but there is one thing we often don't agree on - and that is our beliefs about heaven. They believe that giving your life to Jesus is the only way to get to heaven. And I won't insult that belief, because that is what they believe and I accept that.

By contrast, I have always believed that if you are a wonderful person, living by Christian values, you are ultimately connected to God - because God is love, and you are showing love. However, because I spend so much time with my Christian friends, I have adopted a mindset of judgement that I really don't like. For example, I will see a person who is not Christian, and my mind will automatically think "ooh dear that person has got it wrong." I hate how my thoughts reflect a mindset of superiority.

I want to get rid of this mindset. I want to focus on spreading the love to those who need it, to light up people's days :) I want to stop judging people in my head. Of course I will remain firm in my Catholic beliefs, but I honestly believe if I have a more open, positive mind, I can improve my own life, and that of others :)

"If we give a little love maybe we can change the world"
- Ariana Grande

Pics via weheartit♥

Blue eyes

LOOOOOVE

Plus this...

EYE O_o

I had a chill day today; my last one before I get into study week, waaaah. I spent my day cleaning my room, and this afternoon, I went shopping and bought this gorgeous turquoise eyeliner♥ I'm not normally a makeup person, but I'm loving this with a little bit of silver eyeshadow in the inner corners :)
xx

Fantastimagical Friday - Calm

Calm (adjective): Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other emotions

Life has been a bit of a stress recently...so I made a little collage to go on my desktop, to remind me, everyday, to slow down, breathe and savour every moment :) It's also a reminder of all the beautiful things in life.

Calm calm calm♥

Photos from tumblr and toneitup.com. Collage made using Picasa :)

Courtney♥
xx

Fantastimagical...Sunday? ENERGY

So, I missed my weekly post on Friday. Oh dear. However, I have been busy with university and study and coffee and friends so I believe I'm forgiven. :P And so now that I'm completely exhausted, I think a good word to look at today is ENERGY♥

Energy (noun): the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity.

Photos from weheartit.com. Iced tea photo via instagram (karenakatrina)

Energy...to me is so much more than a sort of motivation. It invigorates my whole sense of being. Fresh, cool water; a swim in the ocean or lake; the adrenaline rush of leaping off a cliff, hanging in nothingness for a second and then disappearing into the cool water. When I wake up and sunshine is streaming through my window. Those moments when I can stare up at the sky with the sun on my cheek and feel so thankful for my life. Finding that last little ounce of energy at the end of boxing class and feeling absolutely exhausted, yet fantastic, by the end of it. Eating fresh fruit, and drinking fresh, cool water or iced tea. The woody scent and taste of cinnamon. Simplicity. The beach. Those flashes, bursts, moments, even full days of invigorating inspiration that make me feel so alive♥

Love♥
xx

Fantastimagical Friday - Lovely

I've decided, to help me get into a little bit of a routine with my blogging, that I will start a weekly segment called "fantastimagical Friday". Why fantastimagical, you may ask? It's basically a word I've invented over the past year to describe anything that makes me happy♥ So in this segment, I will choose a magical word that has been swimming round my mind recently, and post any pictures I can find that can visually depict that word.

Today's word is LOVELY

Lovely (adjective): exquisitely beautiful

Pictures from weheartit.com :)

To me, "lovely" means beautiful flowers, tea parties, old fashioned things, dainty and pretty dresses and skirts and lace, anything quaint and beautiful, grace, manners, picnics, sunshine, sepia dreams, washed out photographs, kisses on the cheek...all things beautiful.

Courtney
xx

photosphotosphotos

Partially inspired by Sarah from I Am Number Four, I got my camera's shutter speed checked at the photo shop today after working at the coffee shop. It has been bothering me for a while, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to wonder around town afterwards taking some photos♥
lovelove
xx
P.S. I'm sorry I have been gone a while. I'm just so very busy, you see!

the light in my room makes patterns on my wall. i feel i am underwater, and i want to capture my sea adventures♥

thinking space

Sometimes it seems like rekindled love doesn't give my writing hand the same spark that it has with a broken heart♥

he image above is my own photograph

adventures of a fairy

Sometimes my little fairy princess gets so tired of sitting on my shelf all day. So she flies away to sit down somewhere else, with a more interesting view. Often I have to lead her back with a trail of biscuit crumbs to her tiny place on my shelf. The little places I find her in are sometimes rather peculiar, but she does look very sweet in her little hiding places, so I couldn't resist following her and take some pictures♥
xx

all photos taken by me

unblocking my writer's block

yes, i am supposed to be annotating my shakespeare script at the moment, but it has been so long since i have written. my internet decided to go away with the butterflies for a while you see:) but now it's back, and so am i.

i will begin this gorgeous tag that seli gave me♥

Seven Things I Always Need

1. I goodnight kiss and hug. It somehow makes me feel so happy and content before I go to sleep:)

2. To be loved. To have somewhere there who I can always talk to if I'm having a bad day, to hug me and hug me until my tears dry.

3. To be able to perform! To act and to dance is an amazing way to keep my worries away. I just returned from an amazing weekend of learning dance in 5 different styles - jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, funk and lyrical

4. A good book. I love to read, ask anyone who is close to me:) I'm reading Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley at the moment it is sooo beautiful.

5. To have alone time. Of course I adore my friends, especially Seli:) , but alone time is so valuable to me, to think and to write.

6. My diary. Some people think writing a diary is just what little girls do to write their crushes and secrets of the last 10 seconds, but it is really so much more than that. I use mine to write what comes to mind, poetry, and especially songs. I love love writing songs:)

7. God, and my family. Always with me, never without me:)

Now I tag...erimentha, felicity, charlotte, and Grace:)

My list for you: Seven Things in your favourite colour :)

☮☮

Aside from the tag photo, all photos are mine.

Licorice

A new kitten for my family and I. Licorice is his name, because of his fur. He is lots of fun to play with, and loves to run around after wool, balls, and curl up on cushions and have a little catnap. He is very gentle♥

Courtney

xx

eep! and a quick hello

ok, i must say, i have been on the internet far far too much these holidays, so im vowing to stay off it for a few days. it will be hard for me, but it will be for my own good :)
before i go though, here's an update of what has been going on in my life...
i went with my siblings and mother to the museum, and the special exhibit was an art one, where all these students from around the country had displayed their art projects. they were all painting, sculpture, photography, etc, and so weird, wonderful, and inspiring. those students are all so talented! i think i might take photography nest year...

kisses,
Courtney
xoxo

bright spirits and blue skies

today i woke up feeling refreshed and happy for no particular reason. i was getting on with my siblings better than usual, and i actually took some time out! maybe it's because i got girlforce:shine out of the library (again!) and have been reading through it's beautiful pages :)

or maybe it's because the weather is so beautiful today, especially for an autumn morning! here's a pic i took myself :) my room will be ready soon - i have now been living in the rumpus room for 10 weeks! my walls are slowly becoming a pretty pink (of course) thanks to dad's hard work and time.

why do i have to be so poor? i really need to start saving up because there are so many sparkly things that fill my mental wishlist:

*digital camera*rose and vanilla perfume*lots of clothes*GirlForce Shine (so i don't have to keep issuing it from the library!)*etc.etc.

Oh my sometimes i need to stop and think like this:

"Happiness isn't having what you want, it's wanting what you have"

hehe

Courtney

xox