The Power Series

Sunday 26 March 2017, 6.30pm 

A spontaneous 20-minute drive to Balmoral Beach to catch the sunset, after over eight months of travelling overseas and not being by the Aussie water. 

By 7.30pm, back at home and meal-prepping for the week ahead.

I would say that the turning point of my life (well, the first one) occurred sometime between 2015 and 2016. 

Prior to 2015, I went through days and months where I felt deeply unhappy about myself, my life and everything around me. There were days when I would remain completely sedentary, lying in bed, doing nothing. I had decided to take some time off university because I constantly felt stressed about studying, and socialising with my classmates felt like a chore. It felt like a stupid lazy move at the time. By that point, a few of my friends had already started working full-time...why would I want to extend my degree by another half a year? I was already behind.

Guess what, taking a gap year during university (I ended up deferring for another semester) was the best thing that I've ever done for myself. 

For the first time in my life, I focused on myself. Not in a selfish way. I listened to what I wanted, I learnt not to judge myself, I didn't tell myself off when things didn't go to plan. I took risks with friendships and my career, I travelled by myself for the first time. I moved out. I learnt to be single and to stop feeling sorry for myself. 

I never used to be spontaneous or go out by myself. But look at all the sunsets that I miss out on, just 20 minutes away from my doorstep, when I didn't take care of myself nor focus on growing myself!

So, I want to introduce the Power Series - a series reflecting on the power of designing our thoughts, actions and behaviour to live the 'best version of yourself'. 

I am by no means perfect. Soooo so far from it. Everyday I am still learning about myself and what I can do to live a happier, more fulfilling life. But through the C/M space, I would love to share with you guys (and also remind myself when the going gets tough) about what I've learnt so far through travelling, reading and looking after yourself.

What gives you power? Where does your power come from? I would love to know if there are any topics that you would like me to discuss in this series - leave me a message below!

The September Round-Up

A round-up of what I got up to this month.

At the start of September, I decided I needed to get off the couch more (metaphorically and literally). I've learnt that I feel more productive and tend to procrastinate less when I have a busier schedule, and I feel a sense of satisfaction every time I look at my iCalendar and diary (can't live without those) and see each day filled up with tasks (colour-coded and categorised of course, because geek). I also decided that I quite like the idea of having adventures (I had always thought of myself as a creature of habit) so I made an effort to go on more outings with friends and explore my own city. I was pleasantly surprised by how inexpensive some of these outings were.

Here are some of the things that I got up to this month:

1. BREAKFAST BUFFET AT GLASS BRASSERIE, HILTON SYDNEY

As a celebration of starting our own little business (which has sadly come to an end), my friends and I decided to indulge in a hotel breakfast buffet one morning. While I can never not love pigging out on bacon, smoke salmon, eggs and hash brown, the buffet at Glass Brasserie left us a little disappointed, with a drink selection of only black coffee and English breakfast tea (otherwise extra costs apply to other hot drink options, such as lattes and cappuccinos). Nonetheless, I loved the inclusion of coconut chia pudding in their breakfast menu, and we got an amazing floor-to-ceiling window view of the Queen Victoria Building, sans traffic noise.

2. BRUNCH AT BOURKE ST BAKERY & EQ VILLAGE MARKETS

Whilst the original plan was to visit the coffee trade show The Coffee Experience (which we did, and it was fine, but unbeknownst to us coffee noobs, it was meant for professional baristas sourcing coffee beans and equipment for their cafes - duh), the highlight of the day was stumbling across the EQ Village Markets at Moore Park. Think fresh food, fresh flowers, organic soap and handmade/homemade everything against a backdrop of live music. We also dropped by the trusty Bourke Street Bakery and loaded up on savoury and sweet pies. To die for.

3. BRUNCH AT HYDE PARK BARRACKS CAFE & THE ART GALLERY OF NSW

On this beautiful Sunday, my friend and I enjoyed a quiet brunch in the courtyard of the Hyde Park Barracks Museum before heading to the Art Gallery to see the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize exhibits. I was surprised that it had taken me so long to come to the Art Gallery - not only was its location not inconvenient to get to, the cost of my ticket was inexpensive and I had a great morning being amazed by the quality of all the artworks (especially the Young Archie competition which put my stick figures to shame).

4. LOBSTER BUNS & WALKING AROUND MILSON'S POINT



After accidentally sleeping in till 12pm (accident, I swear), my friend dragged me out for lunch at Johnny Lobster in Crows Nest, and I am so glad she did. Thoroughly enjoying the great food and the impeccable branding and interiors, the highlight of the meal was Green Juice with apples, gin and cucumber (try first before you judge us for having alcohol for lunch...) We then headed to Milson's Point on a whim for a leisurely walk along the water, which we affectionately named the Santa Monica of Sydney (and continuously reassured by our well-traveled friend that it is nothing like Santa Monica). Sydney, why so pretty for?

Are there any places in Sydney that you would recommend visiting?

Self Portrait

Watching Bridget Jones, stuffing my face with slices of chocolate-baileys cake and fighting over who gets to sleep on the couch and who has to sleep on the unpumped air mattress...I heralded 2015 with a couple of girlfriends, a renewed determination to blog again, and a new conversation starter in hand: Colin Firth or Hugh Grant?

Long story short, 2014 was a very bit of a bumpy year, filled with questions like WHO AM I? (both in the Les Miserables sense and the Existential Crisis in Capital Letters sense). Heavy riveting growing-up stuff. With it went the desire to #OOTD or #BOTD (breakfast/brunch of the day...witty witty I know)  in this little corner of the Interwebs, and in came the urge to create something to be proud of - something more than "don't you take photos of yourself doing fashion and stuff."

Some questionable floral sketching ('ART') and new year resolutions ('GROWING UP') later, here are some shots of yours truly looking for more chocolate-baileys cake.