2015: A Year in Review

The year started with mending a broken wrist, and feeling frustrated that I had lost all strength I once had, and feeling like it would take forever to get it back. In retrospect, it really didn't take too long at all. 

I left behind my retail job as I got a job working as a Judge's Associate. A few weeks after that, I was admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW, and officially was able to call myself a lawyer. The firm I had been working at as a law clerk then asked me to start as a full-time lawyer. I was devastated to leave my job with the judge behind, but so excited to start this new chapter of my life. 

I threw myself into 50-hour work weeks (made longer with a commute). It took me a while, but I did eventually adapt to the long work weeks, and settled into an area of law I never saw myself practicing in (and actually kind of loving it) 

I took my Dad to Soundwave in February - impressive, if you knew my dad. J and I rocked out on Day 2 of the festival, and I got to see Slipknot (one of my favourite bands ever) for the first time - Over the past ten years, I keep missing their shows for one reason or another. 

Not that we were to know at the time, but it turns out this was the last Soundwave ever. J and I met at Soundwave in 2009, so it's sad to see the festival to go, even just from a sentimental point. 

So many cute Rommy snuggles all year... 

Was lucky enough to attend two hen's nights, and watch two of my good friends get married to the loves of their lives. 

Spent a few months eating only brussels sprouts and potatoes as I struggled through the RPAH Elimination Diet. Turns out I'm very intolerant to gluten, along with some other food additives. Not the funnest way to find out but I'm glad I did. I've been strictly gluten free for a few months now, and never knew it was possible to feel this healthy. 

J and I moved house. I adore our new house, and feel so much better living here than I ever did at our old place. Even though we're practically only down the road from our old place, it's amazing what a change of scenery can do for your mood, and your wellbeing. 

Brad and I checked out the Festival of Dangerous Ideas - sadly by the time we were booking tickets most of the panels we wanted to see were sold out. We did manage to get into Cybersexism, which was amazing. 

We celebrated J's birthday at Parapark - an escape-the-room type game. So much fun, and now we're looking to try so many more of these. 

Our New Zealand trip in October was a definite, massive highlight of the year. 

Such an amazing, beautiful country - so much to do, so many beautiful people and it will forever hold a special place in my heart as the place where J and I got engaged. 

Probably the best part of the year was saying 'yes' to J asking me to marry him - I now get to spend the rest of my life with my love, my goose. my best friend. 

I think I was overdue for a good year, and 2015 definitely delivered. 

Although I'm sad to see 2015 go, I have so many plans and goals for 2016 and I'm excited to get started. 

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Lately, in Pictures #78

A video posted by michaela (@michaelaarghh) on Nov 27, 2015 at 9:49pm PST

It's been a while since I've written one of these posts - this past month has just flown by, and I haven't really been up to much that's worth taking a photo of.

At the beginning of the month, I started parkour training and have since learned how to jump, vault, slide, and roll my way around obstacles. It's so much fun, I feel like such a big kid and the Sydney parkour community is awesome.

I'm sad that the jacaranda trees have stopped flowering. The best thing about my morning commute was getting to stand amongst the discarded purple flowers that lay strewn across the platform. I have not been enjoying the weather these past few weeks. From 40 celsius to 19 celsius, to rain, sun, hail and everything in between, I'm never sure what to wear to work anymore. 

I made Vietnamese rice paper rolls for dinner a few weeks back, and haven't been able to stop thinking about them since. So filling, so tasty and so healthy - one of my favourite meals in spring/summer. 

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Review: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Nude Collection*

I received four out of five of the Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Nude Collection lipsticks in my goodie bag at the Bloggers United AU Sydney event last month, and have been wearing them almost exclusively since. 

There's a few different takes on the "nude" colour, meaning you should be able to find something that suits your skin tone. Rimmel claim these will give you 8 hours of wear. I have found that with a 10 hour workday, I've had to re-apply twice, maybe three times if you count after eating. 

The formulation of these is really nice; the colour is opaque, and you can build it up to a nice intensity. I have fairly pigmented lips, and don't have a problem with getting the colour to show. I find these lipsticks really moisturising, and they apply easily. 

The packaging is okay. Each tube is the same colour, and the colour is identified by a sticker on the base. The tube is made out of plastic, which does feel a little cheap, but this is a drugstore brand so that's to be expected. The lipstick itself winds up nicely, and the lid snaps on with a satisfying 'click'. I don't know if I'd trust the lid not to fall off if it was just thrown in my handbag though. 

Swatch time! From left to right - 40-42-43-48. 

40 is the lightest of all the shades, and is probably my least favourite. It's a cool-toned apricot-y nude. 

42 and 43 are both contenders for my favourite colour, I think they both suit me really well. 42 is a bit more pink, while 43 is a warm-toned apricot. 

48 is a bit dark to be considered nude with my skintone, but would suit darker skintones better. It's a warm-toned burgundy colour. 

top row: nude lips, 40. middle row: 43, 45. bottom row: 48. 

Overall, I really love these lipsticks. They have a great formula, are easy to apply, and I have got compliments each time I've worn them to work (which admittedly never really happens when I wear nude lipsticks). 

Disclaimer: These lipsticks were given to me in a goodie bag at a bloggers event I attended. This review has not been influenced in any way by Rimmel, and all opinions are my own. See my disclaimer for further details. 


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November Goals

I'm slowly getting used to being back in the real world. We were only in New Zealand two weeks, but we packed so much in it felt like a lot longer. 

OCTOBER GOALS

- Order my sister's 21st birthday present

I ended up having to deviate from my original gift idea, due to the people having no stock, but I hope she will like this present just as much. Hopefully she also won't mind that it's almost a month late. 

- Eat more salads / vegetables

I'm not sure whether to cross this one off - we didn't eat that many veggies while away, but we ate lots when we got back. 

- Start planning Christmas present ideas

Not yet. Maybe this week. 

- Get back into cooking

My friend gave me a recipe book for my birthday, filled with gluten-free recipes. I've gone back to cooking one dinner a week, and started preparing meals to bring to work for lunch too. I'm finding cooking really satisfying, but I hate the mess it leaves. 

- Enjoy New Zealand! 

As if that was ever going to be a challenge. 

- Try to keep up with stretching while overseas

This however was a real challenge. There was a little stretching, but nowhere near as much as there should have been. 

NOVEMBER GOALS

- Have Christmas shopping finished by the end of the Month (or, in the very least, a gift list sorted)

- Practice handstands 5x a week. 

- Stretch 5x a week

- finish editing NZ photos

- Print photos for my desk at work

- Attend two parkour classes each week

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