Casual Summer with Vans, a Chicnova dress and Soles cap

Wearing: Chicnova's Vintage Cotton Hammock Dress with Floral Print in Light Blue thanks to Chicnova; Asos Boyfriend cut denim jacket; Vans Canvas Authentic Lo Pro in white; Soles' Tommy Lee Cap thanks to Soles; Kushla's wrap bracelet thanks to Kushla; May 28th 12.40PM watch thanks to Surfdome; Sportsgirl 'Spring Fling' lipstick

I have a lot of free time on my hands this week due to my mom going overseas for 6 weeks, my shifts being moved around and that I've decided to take a break in my relationship. I've thus spent alot of time concentrating on my new gym membership.

I was sad last week with alot of emotional ups and downs, but since heading to the gym and building up my endorphins I've been walking around with a clear head and happy smile. I even dance at home while cooking and washing the dishes. 

In the midst of trying to forever distract myself, I also cleared out the clutter in my room, on my laptop and in my emails. My life feels lighter. 
And for a good two months, I was stuck on this absolutely boring book, that I hated the writing style of and couldn't for my life keep concentrating on. I don't want to name the book but 100 pages into it I decided to just store it away and live with the fact that I didn't finish it (I have a compulsive need to have closure in everything I do in life). And it felt good to get rid of things that were making me feel guilt when I walked into a room.

Little things I know, but it makes a big difference when I'm struggling to deal with much bigger and greater life decisions.. 

Another little thing I've discovered is the combination of VANS and DRESSES (well my dress shown actually has the wonderful feature of shorts added underneath), and I love toning down my usual dressed up look with some flat summer sneakers. It feels like summer all day everyday for me now and I am again in tune with the laid-back Aussie spirit. Add a SOLES leatherette baseball cap and I am now super sun-smart, living up to another way of the Aussie life.

Shipwrecks and Floating Forests at Homebush Bay

Wearing: Chicnova's Loose Round Neck T-shirt with Tiger Print thanks to Chicnova; Riders by Lee denim shorts thanks to Riders by Lee; Shubar 'Rattle' Boots; Sportsgirl Rings; Monkey Backpack from the Markets

One hot muggy day, Hughie and I decided to visit Homebush Bay in search for a mysterious 'Floating Forest'. This Forest had somehow found its way on an abandoned ship (formally known as the SS Ayrfeld) still floating on water. It's hard to find, as there are no real directions on the maps around Olympic Park, nor can you search it on Google Maps.

So we decided to hire a tandem bike and with a flimsy map we rode to a point called 'Shipwreck Look out Point'. On the way we found remains of wood ship wrecks, getting more excited as we kept riding. When we finally got to the look out point, it actually was disappointing. We saw the back of the ship so far away it was a speck, with a tired and useless telescope that was supposed to provide the 'view'. But we saw on the other side of the ship was a possible viewing platform and it was not marked on the map.....

Hughie and I took a chance, and rode our bike to an estimated location - over bridges, and crossing busy roads, we ended up behind a hotel and in front of their swimming pool. And before we knew it we were in front of the beautiful Ship Wreck with a trees and shrubs growing on it - The Floating Forest.

The SS Ayrfeld is 102 years old, and once served as steam collier turned transporter during WWII. In 1972 the ship was towed into the bay to be dismantled and most parts sold for scrap. It was then just left there, abandoned. Yet amazing things happened. Trees and vegetation sprouted over the past decades and produced the 'Floating Forest'. Nature worked its magic and now we have a beautiful example of nature's resilience and power. Such a lovely wonder of the world I believe everyone should get a chance to see one day... I certainly feel so very lucky to take a day out of my busy life just to find it.

Waiting to Roar

Wearing: Chicnova's Loose Round Neck T-shirt with Tiger Print thanks to Chicnova; Paint It Red's Drive On shorts thanks to Zoie Boutique; Topshop leather jacket; Silver Armour Cuffs thanks to Beginning Boutique

These past few weeks I've been distracted by friends and their dramas, long hours at work and beautiful company. I've been on top of most of my blog work (which I am so proud of) and because of that I see an uncluttered future in which I can plan more adventures and outings. 

But for a few seconds a day, when I walk through my front doors I sometimes have small hope. I rummage through the junk mail to see if a long-lost letter is sandwiched in there, a long lost email is hidden in spam.. or if I have phone reception in case a message was meant to be sent to me at that very moment... 

It's just a few seconds and its a fleeting moment but it always crosses my mind without a doubt. I hope for the day I reduce it to zero seconds. I prefer to not taint a perfect day with sad thoughts, especially when I feel that the other doesn't get sad or thinks about me. I feel very forgotten when I experience this... 

This is when I dress fierce. Dark lips, dark hair, dark clothing. Sometimes I imagine that even though on the inside I might have a couple of weaknesses; on the outside I at least look aloof and as tough as nails. On show today is my new tiger print t-shirt I picked up from Chicnova. It can represent my tough exterior while I mend my almost-fixed interior. Let's hope I can walk through my front doors one day without stopping. Roar.

Lazy Sunday Markets with Chicnova

Wearing: Chicnova's Beige Batwing Sweater in Stripe and Loose-fit Dog Print Drawstring Shorts thanks to Chicnova ; Cali and Cale Shelly White Sandals thanks to Cali and Cale

Lazy Sundays. After a weekend of partying I still can drag myself out to lazily browse the markets on a Sunday. These mornings I don't mind snuggling up to my loved one with smudged/no make-up on my face and knotted up hair.  I know he still loves me even if I scare myself in the morning mirror. And I usually complain horribly about how his stupid blinds let in sunlight in blinding streaks and I always wake up groggy and grumpy. But on Sundays, I don't complain at all. Hmmm.

So the boyfriend took me to 'Trash and Treasure' Markets at the Grand Bazaar. Ugliest Markets in the world.. literally trash everywhere (people selling lots of queer door handles in plastic bags, car batteries and ugly ceramic dolls on the bare concrete) but then there were some beautiful items. Things like antiques from old wars, beautiful glass jars and wood shelves. But yeah, mainly you had to SWIM through alot of crap to get to the nice things - Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.. (God I love Ellen).

And so as the weather is moving out of Winter and into Spring I can afford to show off one part of my body this week, and I opt for a cosy sweater and loose-fit shorts (Sunday means lazy eating too) and even though I know for a fact I didn't exactly brush my hair for these photos, I really don't care, because god-dammit, it's Lazy Sunday.