Look Behind You

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I've had it on my heart of late to write something that will speak to people who are feeling tired right now. Not just in the physical sense, but also emotionally, mentally and spiritually. 

Is it just me, or does this time of year sometimes feel discouraging, when we look back and realize we didn't accomplish everything we set out to do at the start of the year? I know this year has restricted SO many of us in our plans, and I can relate to the disappointment and frustration that wells up. Initially, I thought 2020 had held me back on the experiences and knowledge and opportunities I thought I needed to pursue the life I wanted to live. It frustrated me that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make it happen. 

Yeah, you could say I'm a bit of a control freak. ;)

After complaining about the lack of opportunities, I finally was given an answer to prayer that I had waited two years for; a job as a receptionist. I was so blessed to be given a lovely workplace, colleagues, and work that I loved, and yet still things weren't perfect. Why?

Because I was terrified. I knew absolutely nothing about the job or the field of work (other than completing some certificates while in school and doing some data entry at other workplaces), and there were unbelievable amounts of information to learn. I was told it would take 6 months before I would even get a grip on things, perhaps longer. I hated feeling inadequate, like I wasn't giving anything to the team, or even worse, I was 'letting other people down' by making mistakes. (Yes, I've been working on getting a healthier mindset. ;)) 

It's a genuine struggle to persist at something you're not very good at. That you're totally clueless about. Especially when surrounded by a room full of people who seem to have it all together. 

The first couple weeks I had to keep telling myself not to quit, it would get easier. And then I would pray,

"Oh, Lord, PLEASE let it get easier."

A few weeks passed, and I still found it overwhelming. This time, I prayed a little different:

"Lord, please show me your presence strongly today. I need to know you are right there beside me. Please whisper in my ears when my hands are shaking and my stomach is churning. Remind me of your faithfulness in the past, and help me to trust in you again. I forget so easily, Lord."

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That day, I had the best work day I'd ever had at my new job. All nerves flew away, I was confident and eager to start my shift, and I had colleagues remark to me and say I seemed like I'd gotten so much more comfortable and confident in just a week, or even a day; that I was doing really well.

I wish I could say every work day was like that, but they weren't. There were some hard ones. There were some easier ones. It wasn't the work or the workplace so much as my own anxieties and pressure I had placed upon myself. A perfectionist mindset. The desire to please everyone. The idea that I could learn it all perfectly and quickly, only having to be taught once. (Yeah, that's cute, Gabby.)

While I was driving to work during one of the harder weeks, God reminded me of something:

"Look behind you."

So I looked behind - not at my rear-view mirror, but at my past. I had felt this scared before, when I first started work at my café job, back when I was in school. The people I worked with were perfectly lovely, and the role itself was not very hard. But man, was I scared. Absolutely terrified. Anxiety can take many different forms, but I do believe I had my own battle with it during those times. And yet, two years on, I feel very capable at my café job, and it gives me confidence in knowing that I am capable of doing at least one job well. I have come SUCH a long way, and yet it's so easy to forget. Without a second thought, I just assumed that this time around it was going to be different.

And you know, I let myself take it a step further. I asked what if?

What if my greatest fears actually took place? What if I failed miserably at my job? What if people were disappointed in me? What if I let the team down? And deep down, the one nagging at me...

... what if I messed up so bad, that I came into work one day and found out I had lost my new, precious job? 

Fear clouded my thoughts (and they still can, if I'm not constantly fighting those lies). I tend to place a lot of worth in my performance and what I can do for others, so if I am not able to give even half the amount that everyone else is giving, I feel so worthless and ashamed. 

So again, I brought this to my Heavenly Father and cried out to him with my deepest fears that had been ripping my peace apart and breaking my sleep and leaving me broken.

And tenderly, oh so tenderly, he reminded me yet again.

Gabby. Even if your deepest fears were realized, even if the absolute WORST happened, you still have everything you need. Even if you lose your job and you are filled with shame and disappointment, there is still hope. Because you have me. And that is all you'll ever need. You can lose all of it and still you cannot gain anything greater than what you already have. Everything you need is right here, and it's not going away. I will never go away. I will never leave you or lose you. There is always hope, because I AM.

And dear friend, it was as if all my fears melted away. The mountain I thought was blocking my path was actually just a little ant-hill that I could step over, because I had been lying flat on the ground, paralyzed with fear and unable to see with a clear perspective.

 Even if you lose 'everything', you still have all you will ever need, in Him. He is our Provider, our Comforter and our Protector. He isn't just with you on the days where you could shout for joy because of His many blessings, He is also with you on the days when you cry into your pillow every night for weeks on end. 

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You may be scratching your head, at the end of this, wondering how this applies AT ALL to end of year disappointments and feelings of exhaustion?

Simply because of this:

2020 was NOT how I pictured it and it ruined so many incredible dreams and aspirations that I had cherished for a long time, but it did not ruin my life. Not even close. What I thought I needed this year was about stage 3 in a process where I hadn't even gotten past the intro. God needed to do a lot of heart work within me this year, and He sure did. I did not survive this year (or starting this new job) because I'm so adaptable and perfect, but only and purely because of relying on God's strength and peace. 

It's still easy to look at this year and be disappointed with the dashed hopes, but remember that God doesn't waste anything. He gives you everything you need, even if sometimes that doesn't look like what you think it will. You can push through it because God's power is greater than our weakness. Remember that He is faithful. Remember that He always has been. Remember that He always will be. Remember that we have all we need when we have God's grace. 

And to close, I would like to write out some song lyrics that I really love and which I reflected over a lot during those difficult weeks. In the what if scenario that I would lose my job, I realized that my life would still go on. My family would still be there, music would still be there, the birds whistling in the trees would still be there, and God would still be there.

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"If the sky falls down and the river floods

All we got is all we want

The moon still pulls the ocean

My head still fits your shoulder

Long as vinyl records still make you dance

As long as there's a bigger plan

And every day is new

All I need is the grace of God and you."

("Grace of God and You", by Clare Bowen)

12 Delights of Christmas Tag

 Hello friends!

Today I have a scrumptious Christmas tag courtesy of Heidi (thank you for both creating it and tagging me!). I am SO excited to put forth a post filled with Christmas celebrations and glitter. Let's get to it!

from Heidi's blog :)

1. A favourite Christmas tradition?

Ohh, so many! But ONE of my favourites is that every year, we decorate our Christmas tree as a family, and Mummy and Daddy buy each of us children a new individual ornament for the tree and wrap it up for us to open, so we then have a special ornament to remember each year by... we have a lot of unique ones (no two are the same!) and we also have quite a compilation now! But I think it looks beautiful.

2. Say it snowed at your domicile, would you prefer to go out or stay curled up inside? 

Oh my, wouldn't that be a sight?! Snow in the middle of summer?! xD I'm sure many Australians wouldn't be averse to experiencing a white Christmas! I for one would probably choose to go outside for a short amount of time to squeal and throw snowballs at sibling-sized-targets, but spend most of the day cozily curled up inside. ;)

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3. Tea or hot chocolate?

Is coffee not an option???! Haha. Hot chocolate all the way! (But also... coffee. :D)

4. Favourite Christmas colours (i.e. white, blue, silver, gold, red and green etc)?

Ooohh, that's a tough one! I will go with white and gold. It's so beautiful and elegant.

5. Favourite kind of Christmas cookie?

HOMEMADE GINGERBREAD!!! Also, coffee shortbread. Absolutely incredible. (And I just realized... I'm not sure if you would count these as cookies?? But we don't really *do* cookies per se at Christmas time if you don't count these haha.)

6. How soon before Christmas do you decorate (more specifically, when does your tree go up)?

It has changed several times over the years - it used to be 1st December, then the passionate Christmas lovers bumped it up to mid November, and gradually it's been pushed even further back... but now I'd say, roughly mid November? We don't have Thanksgiving in Australia (at least, most of us don't) so there's not much to hold us back! ;)

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7. Three favourite traditional Christmas carols?

"The First Noel", "O Holy Night" and "Mary Did You Know?" (if you count that last one as traditional). There are so many glorious carols out there though!

8. A Favourite Christmas song (i.e. something you might hear on the radio)?

Ok guys, don't kill me for this one but Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is so fuuun! xD I love singing along to it! Granted, it IS overplayed, but it's still fun. A close second would be Michael Buble's "It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas" and Celine Dion's "Feliz Navidad". 

9. A favourite Christmas movie?

I honestly haven't seen a huge heap of Christmas movies, and a lot of the modern ones really aren't my thing, but "The Nativity Story" does have a special place in my heart. :) <3 

10. Have you ever gone caroling?

Unofficially, yes! I remember one Christmas our extended family (who are all very musical) decided to walk out on my grandparent's road where they had a huge Christmas light display that people would drive to look at, and we walked around and sang a few carols in a couple places, some with backing music and others acapella. I distinctly remember (this all being completely impromptu) that we spontaneously did a four or five part harmony on the final note of one of the carols (I think it was "The First Noel") and it was so exciting! Definitely one of my favourite Christmas memories.

11. Ice skating, sledding, skiing or snow boarding?

Hahaha.... ha... ahem... well, let's just say I've only done one of those four things, and that would be ice skating, and I am quite dreadful at it. I think perhaps in Australia it would be more accurate to say surfing, body boarding, swimming or cricketing? ;) But in a make-believe, dreamy snow world, I would choose sledding, please.

12. Favourite Christmas feast dish?

Hands-down the fancy Christmas dinner my mother makes every year with roast pork wrapped in bacon, and maple syrup marinate over the roast and the veggies. It's simply divine.

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Thank you so much for this tag, Heidi - it was so much fun! I'm tagging:

Katie

Eva

Miss March

... and whoever else would like to fill it out! :)

Have a fabulous day all, and blast those Christmas tunes! ;)

Spring Bucket List Check-off + Life Update

Hello all my lovely friends! 

Here I am, as promised, to check in and review how well I did with my spring bucket list! I must say, I surprised myself with how much I DID get done, but as you will see, it wasn't all of them. ;) 

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 - Learn "All of Me" by Jon Schimdt on the piano   I worked quite hard on this one, and can definitely play it fluently, but I'm still perfecting it, which will be a long process, I think. ;)

- Give flowers to a friend (didn't have the opportunity for this one, although I still want to anyhow!)

- Have all/most of my Christmas shopping finished by the time summer/December rolls around  I basically just have a couple little last-minute presents to get and I'm done! I'm so proud of myself, haha.

- Freeze fruit (such as grapes and bananas)  I froze a banana and loved it so much I did it three times! When grapes come into season I'll definitely try them, too. 

- Go for a long bike ride (it was genuinely too hot for this... it's been over 40 degrees the past couple weeks.)

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- Draw something spring-inspired  I didn't get to actually draw a proper picture for this one, but I did some intricate designs in my bullet journal that were definitely spring-inspired. :) 

- Cloud gaze (I literally tried so hard to do this one but we've literally just had clear blue skies for weeks xD)

- Drink coffee on the patio  This was no doubt the easiest, hehe.

- Dry some flowers (yeah, didn't have time and was also lacking flowers)

- Make ice cream (I did buy gelato twice on our beach trips though, hehe)

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- Freshen up my blog look  I completed this very early on in spring, and am quite happy with how it is right now. And frankly I don't have the time to re-do it again anyway. *cough*

- Add more cute summery dresses to my wardrobe  Definitely didn't get as many as I'd hoped, but I do have some lovely new things in my summer wardrobe!

- Photograph nature  One afternoon I whipped my camera out in the setting sun and took some snaps. It reminded me of how I would like to get a proper camera someday.

I could have uploaded a pretty flower picture I took, but instead,
to keep it real, here is my little sister's pet goat eating said flowers.

- Learn to braid my hair properly (let's be honest, this will take me at least 10 years)

- Make and decorate cupcakes  I completed this one with my little siblings! :)

- Listen to "The Light in the Piaza" (musical)  I listened to the entire thing over 2 days, and enjoyed it! It wasn't quite as enthralling as I'd anticipated but it was sweet. 

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And now let's address the elephant in the room... my lack of consistency and presence in the blogosphere of late. I'm sure I'm not the only one, but let's just say, switching from a 16 hour working week to a 38 hour working week has not been a walk in the park for me. And also, I'm silly enough to think I can still keep up with everything else I do (dance lessons, singing lessons, Bible studies, social events etc). I can't begin to explain how much I miss reading and playing the piano and having time to read and write blog posts, but they were just the activities that were left behind in the dust.

December is already here, though, (whaaat) so I will be getting some time off work, which I am Most Excited About. I do hope to catch up on some blog posts then (hopefully even create a little pile of drafts I can publish when life picks up its speed again?) and be less of a Ghost of Christmas Past phantom in the shadows. (Ok, can you tell I'm working on some Phantom songs with my singing teacher and I'm currently still in the operatic mood? ;)) 

So, to sum up my messy 'life update': I am excited to spend a bit more time on here during my Christmas break (in between Christmas baking, playing games with family, wrapping presents and dancing to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas", naturally) and we'll see how it goes from there. I have SO many plans and dreams and ideas for 2021, but I genuinely have no idea which of those shall become a reality or which shall remain my favourite daydreams to ponder while I'm trying to go to sleep at night. If I had my way, I would fulfill all of my aspirations for the new year and would get so busy and burnt out that I would probably delete all social media accounts and hibernate under my pillow for a week, so I'm currently still tweaking what I want to prioritize (which is proving devastatingly difficult). I make no promises as to what will happen with my dear little blog next year, but I always hope for the best, and I have no wish to neglect it so poorly as I have done. But if I have learnt anything this year, it is that my plans do not mean anything if they are not in line with God's. 

It's so lovely to be back and I can't wait to talk to you all again soon! *blows kisses*

An Appreciation Post for Padme's Wardrobe

Ok, so this might be the randomest post I will ever publish. xD But hey, I'm in a Star Wars frame of mind and there does happen to be a Star Wars party going on, so now seems like the perfect occasion to write a post solely gushing over Padme's crazy, decadent wardrobe! 

Shall we?

Ohh, this outfit was pretty epic! Wouldn't wearing that make you want to kick open doors and storm the castles buildings?! I know I would. Even the belt is cool!

Okay, seriously though - who looks this cute in their PJS?!?! And all those beads would surely be uncomfortable to sleep in... but throwing all rationality aside, I love the silky look and the falling beads! So elegant. *sigh*

This may be my absolute favourite outfit of hers. IT'S JUST SO STINKIN' CUTE. And like, doesn't it just SCREAM spring?! Perhaps not fully sold on the mini ear warmers (haha) but I think it's looks so elegant and dreamy! 😍

I mean, who wouldn't feel cool wearing this?! It has a CAPE and EVERYTHING! It's probably one of the more practical outfits, haha. But I love the slim fit paired with the block white and the lengthy boots... and also the hair is very On Point. ;)

Ahh, I love the baby blue colour and the flowy material on this one! Also, those cool sleeve things?! All her outfits have some extra element to make them so unique and fancy. I approve.

Oh, the elegance. Oh, the silky drapes. Oh, the colours! Okay, this one is super pretty - and I'm always a sucker for those kind of necklines. ;) But how could you NOT feel like a princess in this?!

Ok, is it just me, or does this outfit remind you of some form of comfy PJs?! xD I no joke think of it every time. But hey, cute PJs. I personally wouldn't wear them, but I think Padme rocks them.

Woah, is that a skirt! I do love the way the hood falls, though, and also the unique shade of green that she pulls off so nicely. (And also, Texture Much.)

Perhaps the most "sensible" of all her outfits? This one is so flattering, and a lot less flamboyant than the others. I think it's pretty. :)

Now I feel obliged to admit, not all of Padme's stylistic choices mesh with mine. This, for example, is not my idea of a beautiful makeup job:

Nor would this be my hairstyle of choice:

(And also, with my amount of hair, it would be a puny, wispy bit of a strand dangling down beside my head, haha. xD)

But hey, if I looked like this, when I got out of bed in the middle of the night, I'd make no complaints:

Okay, so I'll stop with the randomness, but do tell me - do you see your favourite Padme outfit on this post? 

And I'm very curious - which outfit would you most likely wear yourself? ;) I think I would probably pick the spring looking outfit, with the funny ear warmers, haha. xD (Or if  I was feeling particularly Boss, perhaps the slim-fitting white suit complete with a cape to flap around heroically in!) 

7 Reasons Why I Love SOLO

In celebration of Eva and Katie's Everything Star Wars Blogathon, I am bringing you a Star Wars themed post today! After a mini brainstorm, I decided to do a post defending Solo: A Star Wars Story, since it's seemed to cop a lot of criticism, and it's personally one of my top favourites.

So without further ado, here are 7 reasons why I love this movie!

1. Backstories

Everyone loves a good backstory, right?! (*raises hand*) I love movies that plumb the depths of a well-known, beloved story. I love all the tie-ins, the quirky ways friendships started, and the inside jokes or hidden meanings that form as a result. Admittedly, you can easily get caught in plot holes when treading this path, but sometimes I will turn a blind eye to small irritations if it gives me a greater appreciation for the overall story, which this movie definitely did.

2. Alden Ehrenreich's Awesomeness

I was very impressed with this guy! Han Solo is a huge role, and Harrison Ford has some big shoes to fill, but I personally think Alden nailed it. His attention to detail in everything - the mannerisms, the smirks, the way he walked - tiny things, yet they made a strong impression. I really appreciated all the little quirks that Alden slipped in which synchronized his younger role with Harrison's older role.

3. Emilia Clarke// Qi'ra

I've never seen Emilia Clarke in anything else, but honestly, she's such a sweetie. I enjoyed watching all of her scenes (and also, her wardrobe! 😍). She brought a lot of class and precision into her role, and I found her character fascinating. I felt very drawn to her story and character throughout the film. (And also, when do I get to find out the rest of her story?!) 

4. Interweaving Stories

Although it's a little iffy sometimes with plot holes, I do love it when we have stories that are interwoven amongst other favourites. "Rogue One" did a superb job with this, but Solo still had some exciting twists when you realized where it lines up in the Star Wars history books. ;) Figuring out when this story took place added a new exciting challenge the first time seeing this!

5. A Strong Villain

Okay, so it might ruin the doctor from Master and Commander for forever, but you can't say that Solo was lacking in a good villain. This guy took creep and power and ran with it, and I genuinely shivered in my boots at the idea of some of my precious characters having to face him down. He was disgustingly evil, and I approved.

cuties

6. Lando

The suave, the swagger, the smoothness! Ooohh! This guy KILLED this role! Wow, still not over it. I was so amazed at how well he played young Lando. I loved his sass and his coolness, and even his naive ways. Sometimes I forgot he was a different actor to the original Lando - I was so convinced of it being the same character, haha.

 7. Good Pacing

This movie covered a lot of ground, but I was never once bored by it. It had twists at good points, but never swerved so far off the main storyline that you couldn't follow it. (Ok, maybe I'm just appreciative of any movie that isn't as confusing as the movie "Tenet".) I thought the general pacing of this film was great, and I was definitely hooked the whole way through.

Here ends my post, but if this puts you in a Star Wars mood, go check out the party going on here and here!

And of course,

May the Force be with you.

My Spring Bucket List {2020}

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Hello friends!

I have a new project that I would like to try, and I thought I would invite you in on it! I was inspired by a couple things - one being an Instragram post I saw recently (but for the life of me can't find again), and another being Rachel's seasonal To-Do lists... both of which combined with a desire to add a slightly more festive, fun-loving spark into my 2020 has led me to create my own spring-inspired bucket list. :) 

As both a means of accountability and inspiration, I will be sharing it with you here! (I also fully understand that for at least half of you, the season would be autumn and not spring, but the idea is still the same. ;)) 

So let's get to it!

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MY SPRING BUCKET LIST {2020}

- Learn "All of Me" by Jon Schimdt on the piano

- Give flowers to a friend

- Have all/most of my Christmas shopping finished by the time summer/December rolls around

- Freeze fruit (such as grapes and bananas - I've never done this before but everyone keeps telling me how amazing it is!)

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- Go for a long bike ride

- Draw something spring-inspired

- Cloud gaze

- Drink coffee on the patio

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- Dry some flowers

- Make ice cream

- Freshen up my blog look

- Add more cute summery dresses to my wardrobe

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- Photograph nature

- Learn to braid my hair properly

- Make and decorate cupcakes

- Listen to "The Light in the Piaza" (musical)

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And there you have it! A lot of those things are specifically spring-inspired, but some are also just random things I would like to do. ;) I realize we're already a full month into spring so I'm quite a bit behind! I'll try to give myself some grace if I don't get through the whole list, but I'm curious to see how much I can tick off before December.

What are some things you want to do before summer (or, perhaps winter) rolls around? Is there anything I should add to my list? Let me know in the comments!

EOWYN: Shieldmaiden of Rohan

I no joke get SO excited about Rachel's Annual Tolkien Party every year, and since I actually have my own blog this time around, I felt the urge to contribute at least one extra post. It's been a hot minute since I've watched or read any Tolkien, I must admit, but his stories run deep in my mind, so I shall write this nonetheless.

After giving it some thought, I decided to write an Eowyn appreciation post, because I probably admire her the most out of all the female LOTR characters. And I hope, by the end of this, you will admire her, too. (If you don't already!)

EOWYN.

Dear, darling, Eowyn. 

How I pity you, and admire you, and feel so proud of how far you've come.

You are one of my all-time favourite female characters; I swear I learn something from you every time I encounter your story.

First of all, you lose your cousin. Then, your brother is banished by your uncle, who you see on a daily basis being overpowered by the wickedness of Grima. You are stuck inside with a greasy-haired creep who stalks you and watches your every move. (Shivers.)

Later on, you meet Aragorn, who you understandably fall for. Yet, he does not return your love. At one point, you are told that he is dead, and hope begins to slip away. Going disguised, you join the army out to battle, kindly taking Merry along with you, because you feel his pain of not being able to help his friends or fight alongside them. In the face of the Witch-King, you still stand and wield a sword, eventually bringing him to his knees and conquering him. Unafraid of death, you fall onto the battlefield, unconscious from pain. 

Your uncle is now dead, your body now weak, and your hope quickly fading.

And then who do you meet?

Another, who has known pain and sorrow like you. Someone who has gentleness and strength from a painful past. Someone who is fighting alone as well. Faramir. 

He finds you in the Houses of Healing, and he never leaves your side. Your hope has nearly disappeared completely, and the life has almost gone out of you. But not quite. You are stronger than that.

Faramir reminds you of what you've known all along; that hope still remains. He sees you for who you  truly are - a shieldmaiden of Rohan, who is stronger and more courageous than many an honoured warrior. For though you faced intense darkness, never once did you give up. Never once did you back down. You fought with every breath inside of you for what you knew to be good and true and honourable. Even though others doubted you, you proved that stature and status does not make a hero - the courage to do what is right and the strength to carry it out does.

You remind me that even though I may feel small and useless, strength and courage can take many different forms. And whether or not I ever brandish a sword or win a battle, I can choose to fight for what is good and true and honourable. Even though I fall. Because, just as Faramir did for you, I know there is Someone out there who will pick me up, stand by my side, and remind me that there is always hope.

May we all have the courage and strength that Eowyn showed to stand and fight for truth and hope, and may we never forget the One who is fighting right beside us. 

Tolkien Blog Party Tag Answers!

For many years, I have participated quietly on the sidelines for Rachel's Tolkien Blog Party, but now that I finally have my own blog, I can actually join in properly! Suffice to say, I am Very Happy about this. ;)

Today I will be filling in the tag answers that Rachel has created for her 8th annual celebration of Tolkien's works. :D

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1. What Tolkien character do you think you're the most like?

Oddly enough, the first character that comes to mind is Bilbo Baggins. He's not out there to make history or prove his honour or discover treasure - he's going on an adventure, and he's making more friends while he does so. He enjoys comfort (*raises hand*), good food, and takes awhile to find his feet and try his courage. I do believe if I were ever given such an opportunity as Bilbo, I would resist it out of fear at first, then eventually give in, and by the end of it, wonder how I ever had lived my life in such a dull way beforehand.

2. What Tolkien character do you wish you were more like?

Eowyn. I love her strength and her courage, her convictions and her skills. I have a whole post coming on why I love Eowyn so much, so stay tuned for that. ;) (For the record, however, Aragorn comes in as a close second.)

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3. What would your dream home in Middle-earth be like?

Very much like a Hobbit Hole! Only, I would prefer one with plenty of windows, which seems a little ironic. But something cozy, homely, with nooks to read in, a large kitchen, and green meadows surrounding my house, where flowers grow easily - that would be perfectly lovely!

4. You get to make a movie of the story of Beren and Luthien!  Who do you cast as the leads?

Oh goodness, I've never thought of this before! Well, she might be too old for the part now, but Amelia Warner would play a convincing Luthien, in my opinion... Beren I'm a little more stumped on. Armie Hammar keeps coming to mind, but I feel like he might be a little too... modern?

5. Have you ever marathoned the LOTR or Hobbit movies?

Yes! Last year I joined my two older sisters in watching all three extended Lord of the Rings films in cinema, back to back. I believe it was over 12 hours of film. (And no, I do not normally watch that much screen, haha.) To top it off, we did the entire thing in costume! I had a very stiff back by the end of it, but it was worth every second, and I felt like I had really joined the fellowship on their exhausting journey, and experienced it in a more in-depth way.

6. Do you have a favorite song or track from the movie soundtracks by Howard Shore?

Why, "Concerning Hobbits" of course! It's so peaceful, yet lively. I always let out a happy sigh whenever I hear it, and immediately picture green meadows and children chasing butterflies.

7. Which of Tolkien's characters would you like to be best friends with?

Faramir, please. :) <3

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8. Who of the people in your real life would you want in your company if you had to take the ring to Mordor?

Probably my older sisters, because they would be good at roughing it, and my older brother because he's a nurse haha, and then I would query all my friends to see who was the most fluent in Elvish. ;) But I would probably also be that person that would ask EVERYONE to join me because the more the merrier, right?! (Also, I would need all the help I could get, *cough*.)

9. Have you read any of Tolkien's non-Middle-earth works?

No, although I have listened to the "Farmer Giles of Ham" on tape, so does that count? (It was most amusing.)

10. Is there a book by Tolkien you haven't read yet, but want to?

Not in particular, although perhaps someday I would like to tackle "The Silmarillion". 

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Thanks for the fun questions, Rachel! I will be publishing a post on Eowyn later in the week, but in the meantime, go check out the epic giveaway going on!

Sunshine Blogger Award

 Hello friends!

Olivia tagged me for the Sunshine Blogger Award! I love sunshine and I love tags, so let's do this thing. :D

Rules

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you in the blog post and link back to their blog (thanks Olivia! 😘).

2. Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.

3. Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and ask them 11 new questions. 

4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

Olivia's Questions

1. Is there a particular song you would show to people if you were trying to explain yourself - your personality, your heart, your aesthetic, your inner landscape - in musical form?

Wow, this is such a great question, but also a very deep one. I could think of so many possibilities, but honestly, this is the one that keeps coming back to me:

"Dream" by Priscille Ahn

Another song that I would gladly take as my anthem would be "Live Like You're Loved" by Hawk Nelson, but that would be more about my passion than my personality. (Also I feel like the cheat answer would be the Enneagram "Two" song by Sleeping at Last, haha.)

2. Do you like tattoos or no?

As a general rule, my answer is no. The average skull or giant picture tattoo that people get does not appeal to me in the slightest. However, I do appreciate the small, meaningful words people have tattooed, especially if it's in memory of someone, or one of God's promises. This may have partly to do with the fact that I have affinity for words on ANYTHING.

Just a random cute picture

3. What is your favourite thing about your favourite holiday?

Is it odd that in Australia we don't really call festive occasions 'holidays'? Holidays are what you Americans call vacation. ;) But anyhow, to get to the point, my favourite 'holiday' would most definitely be Christmas... what's less clear is my favourite thing about it. The general carefree, warmhearted attitude people having over Christmas time... the nostalgia, the festivity, the excitement that never goes away... but I especially love how we all get a chance to let go of everything else going on in life, and just celebrate Jesus. That's my favourite thing.

4. What non-story-related hobbies do you enjoy?

Oh girl... so many. I'm a multi-passionate person. ;D Music (namely piano and singing), theatre (hmm... is that a story??), dancing, bullet journaling, baking, languages, videography... quite a few!

5. Top 3 favourite TV shows?

That would be White Collar, Gilmore Girls, and the classic Get Smart. All totally different, all totally loveable. *hugses them*

6. What is one thing that the world needs more of, in your eyes? (Serious or trivial.)

The first thing that comes to mind is wisdom, to be honest. Or just plain common sense. I wish people would think for themselves more, and realize that it's important to question what others present as facts, and know the truth for yourself. 

But also, in a trivial light, I think the world needs more musicals. ;) (Never enough to suit me!)

7. What is one thing that the world needs less of, in your eyes? (Serious or trivial.)

That one's easy! A reliance and use of technology. (*cough* Says the girl as she types up a blog post.) But I genuinely believe the common addiction to screens and phones is not something to take lightly. It's literally wrecking our society. *hops down from soap box before a rant takes shape*

8. Do you need more cool air or more heat when you sleep?

Well, as I live in Australia, I'm tempted to say cool air, but I think I would sooner go heat, because if I am hot, I will eventually get to sleep, but if I am cold, I will literally lie there shivering for hours and it is NOT fun.

9. What scents do you tend to love in candles, perfumes, etc?

All the flowery ones! Also those ones that tend to smell like fruit punch. (Is that odd?) 

10. Top 3 favourite animals?

This changes all the time... but at the moment, birds (especially ducks <3), dolphins and dogs. (I'm SO original, I know.) (Cats and elephants also follow up that list closely.)

I mean, how can you not love this adorable ball of fluff??!

11. Socks or no socks?

Oh, no socks all the way! I hate wearing shoes or socks, and would go barefoot all the time if I was able to. 

My Questions

1. What is your dream job?

2. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

3. What is your go-to beverage order?

4. Do you normally try new items on a menu, or the same thing every time?

5. Chocolate or caramel?

6. What is the nicest compliment you've ever been given?

7. If you could learn any language in one day, what would it be?

8. Which actor/actress looks the most like you?

9. Can you hold a handstand?

10. Do you ever wear glasses?

11. Spots or stripes? 

I just like flower pictures, m'kay?

I WOULD tag people, but almost everyone has already been tagged... so, if you've been holding out for someone to tag you, by all means, I dub you my nominee and you may take these questions and run away with them! Just don't forget to come back and let me know. ;) (And of course, feel free to answer them in the comments if you'd prefer.)