Currently...week 2!

I really enjoyed writing this post last week so I am persevering for another week! 

WATCHING...

Lots of movies! Over the weekend I've watched: The Impossible, The Promised Land and Robot & Frank.

LISTENING... 

Mostly listening to the radio particularly the Triple J Hottest 100 over the weekend. I have also had "My Number" by Foals on repeat in my car.

  

PLANNING...

Currently planning which design course I am going to do and how many units to study at a time. I would love to do it full time but I also work 40 hours p/week so don't want to over commit and end up getting burnt out. I am also helping plan my mums 50th Birthday at the end of next month.

THINKING ABOUT...

A million things at the moment - Blogging, money, moving house, study, work, travel! Ahh, overwhelming! One of my new years resolutions was to stop over-thinking everything but I seem to be failing this at the moment. Ohh well at least its all positive.

LOOKING FORWARD TO...

Hopefully moving house towards the end of February. We really want to move into the city so its just a walk to the beach or harbour after work and plenty of restaurants hopefully at our doorstep!

READING...

Blogs, blogs and more blogs! After finishing 'The Kite Runner' last week I definitely need a time out from heavy novels. I have been given 'The Boy In The Stripped Pyjamas' by a colleague so will probably start it in the next few days.

MAKING ME HAPPY...

Life in general at the moment is making me happy. Everything is quite positive in my world at the moment and it is keeping a big smile on my face! Having my husband finished with uni exam's is also making me happy as it means lots more time together....atleast for the next 3 weeks until another semester starts!

Do you update a 'current' post on your blog each week? I love reading these posts so comment below with a link to your blog if this is a post you do!

PHOTO RECAP - Australia Day 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Beautiful wine country scenary

2. A gigantic cow we encountered (he did not like me!)

3. Selfie in front of a waterfall at Somersby Falls

4. Sparkling Newcastle Harbour

 

 

Latest Obsession - Red Nails

I can't get enough!! For about the past month the only colour I've wanted to paint my finger and toenails has been red. I think its because I've been tanning less (attempting to embrace my pale skin) and the red looks best with my natural fair skin color but whatever the reason I am OBSESSED!

I've been wearing Rimmel "Double Decker Red" and I love that its a colour that works for weekends but can also translate for the office. Whilst I love bold brightly coloured nail polishes I find it hard to pull them off whilst trying to look professional in my job.

Here are a few of my fav red nail inspiration photos from Pinterest...

Source: dreamsforwearysailors.tumblr.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: thechicdepartment.tumblr.com via T on Pinterest

Source: hepsylone.tumblr.com via Shirley on Pinterest

Happies and Crappies

HAPPIES
- It's a long weekend this weekend for Australia Day!
- It's early days but I'm really starting to enjoy blogging
- I found a design course that I think I'm going to enrol in...very VERY excited!
- Getting to spend some quality time this weekend with my fav person in the world - my hubby Gav
- I bought a new top that I LOVE...and it was on sale!
- Finding so many interesting and fun blogs from all over the world

CRAPPIES
- I've been feeling really low on energy this week. I think it's time to start making fresh juices again.
- I planned to exercise a lot more this week but it just didn't happen
- I was meant to be attending a friends baby shower tomorrow but its been postponed as she has a pretty nasty virus.

Hope everyone is having a great week with more Happies than Crappies!

Yum Yum French Toast In A Cup

After stumbling upon a super easy recipe for 2 minute french toast in a cup on Prudent Baby, the husband and I decided to try it out for an easy Friday night dinner tonight. We had both had a super stressful week at work and Gav was studying for his Statistics exam so we wanted something simple but tasty and let me tell you it did not disappoint! I added extra cinnamon as I love it and definitely added way more maple syrup than the average person but it was worth it!

I have a feeling this is going to be a regular lazy weekend brunch for us in winter!

Source: pinterestguccibags.com via Abigail on Pinterest

Moments That Make You Smile

I had one of these moments this afternoon. I had been out shopping for a baby shower gift for a friend and was driving home to spend time with the husband. I drove down a windy road I love that has bush on either side of the street (despite being in suburbia), a new song i love came on the radio ("My Number" by Foals) and when I got to the end of the street there was a perfect view of the bright setting sun in a cloudless blue sky. It may not sound like anything special but the mix of hearing a new song love, beautiful scenery and a perfect evening sky just really made me smile. It's moments like these that can really brighten your day!

I snapped a quick photo when I was stopped at traffic lights...

Don't forget to follow me on instagram: @mrsjennachapman

Currently...

I have seen this on a few other blogs and have decided to try it out on my blog. I hope to have a "Currently" post each Wednesday updating what is going on in my life. Here comes the first...

WATCHING...

Lots of TV – alot of our favourite shows are just starting again. Loving: The Office, Parks and Rec, New Girl, The Mindy Project and Chicago Fire.

LISTENING... 

Obsessed with “Same Love” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Beautiful song! I am also loving anything by Alabama Shakes.

  

PLANNING...

Very early stages of planning another overseas trip in December 14! We are hoping to be away for about 5 weeks and visit: America (San Fran & NY are musts for us), Ireland, UK (another UK roadtrip), and then maybe going to Spain or Portugal or Italy or Vienna – still figuring out where we want to visit in Europe.

THINKING ABOUT...

How I want to grow my blog and how to go about it.

LOOKING FORWARD TO...

A long weekend this coming weekend for Australia Day! Also looking forward to a special Valentine’s Day date with my husband.

READING...

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. So different from my normal reads (I love Chick Lit!) but I am captivated by this book. Hoping to have it finished by the end of the week.

MAKING ME HAPPY...

Quality time spent with Gav. Our super playful and crazy cats. The people I work with and the daily laughs we share.

Happy Wednesday!

The Beautiful South Coast

For what seems like forever, Gav & I have been talking about taking a trip to the South Coast and this weekend we finally got to do it! As I’m back to working full time we only had the weekend free but decided to make the most of it by heading off early (ish) Saturday morning.

Gav and I have always loved long drives together - we take our favourite drinks, put on some music and just chat about anything and everything. I think some of our best conversations happen in the car as neither of us are attached to our iphones, ipads, laptops etc like we can be at home.

Part of the attraction for a trip to the South Coast was doing the Grand Pacific Drive. It’s a 140km coastal drive from south of Sydney to Wollongong. Wow, it did not disappoint. There were so many quaint little coastal towns along the way like Thirroul, Scarborough and Coledale, full of cafes, old pubs and non-stop beaches. We also drove over the Sea Cliff Bridge which was really cool but kinda freaked me out as I’m scared of heights and the bridge is suspended over the ocean. It offered great views but I was happy when we were off it!

We spent some time exploring Wollongong but it was windy, cold and started to rain so we decided to head to Kiama where we were staying. Kiama is such a sweet little town! We strolled through the small Terrace Houses that were built in 1886 for quarrymen but are now used as lolly shops, boutique’s, antique stores and restaurants. We stumbled across a second hand book sale where I scored a book I have been wanting for a long time but hadn’t been able to find and Gav grabbed an old Dr Karl book he hadn’t read.

Seeing the Kiama Blow Hole was a must for Mr Geology (aka the husband) and he was definitely in his element. I was surprised at how much I liked it – before we went I thought “meh, it’s some water coming through a hole in some rocks, big deal” but it was bigger and better than expected. I could have watched it all day!

The hotel we stayed at was the Sebel Harbourside which we were treated to by my parents (thanks mum & dad!). It was a beautiful hotel across from the harbour and had a very cool old stone school attached to it which is now used as a function centre. Our room was perfect, the staff were super helpful and breakfast and dinner were amazeballs! We were happy that the restaurant/bar were showing A-league games live so we got to catch a bit of the Sydney v Wellington game before watching our Jets play the Central Coast. Will definitely stay at this hotel again!

On Sunday morning we noticed markets along the harbourside as we were checking out of the hotel. We LOVE markets so spent some time wandering around the water’s edge looking at all the different stores. Great relaxing start to the day!

On the way home we again took the Grand Pacific Drive before heading into the Royal National Park once we got closer to Sydney. Neither of us had been through the park before but the scenery was breathtaking – beautiful green, lush forest then turning into real Australian bush as we got higher out of the park. It was well worth the extra time!

As usual, as soon as we hit the F3 freeway back towards home I fell asleep! I don’t know what the reason is but this happens every time we are driving home along the F3!!

It really was a perfect, relaxing weekend together. We have both been quite busy lately with work and general life so it was good to take some time out to just be together. Definitely the refresher we needed!

We are hoping to do lots more of these type of trips this year, quick little weekend’s away exploring NSW. Where should we go next?

Here are a few photos from our trip...

A New Path

With a new year comes new changes, and for me this is in the form of my career. After dropping back to work part time in 2012, so that I could study to become a Primary School teacher, I now begin 2013 working full time again!

So, you might ask what happened? Well, after a year of studying a Bachelor of Education I realised, like many university students do, that it wasn't the right thing for me. I just couldn't stay motivated to complete the course work (i was doing the degree via distance education) and towards the end of the year my passion for what I was studying disappeared completely. After lots of soul searching, thinking about what I like to do and late night chats with my husband I decided to withdraw from the course and return to my job full time.

Luckily I have a job that I love and continued to love even when I was studying. I work with some incredible and hilarious people and appreciate the opportunities my employer has given me. To describe what I do I would say; admin/communication assistant, executive assistant and the most enjoyable part of my job, desktop publisher. Through staff departures and promotions I have been introduced to the world of design and I LOVE IT! In my job I design and produce a printed bi-monthly magazine which reaches around 4000 people and in my free time I often find myself designing cards, prints to be framed and invitations etc for family and friends. My goal is to learn more about design, enhancing my knowledge of adobe creative programs (outside of InDesign and Photoshop) and learning web design.

Doing what i love...

So, this is where I am in 2013. Happily working full time and madly researching local design schools to brush up on my skills and explore where things can take me.

Anyone who knows me would agree that I am a planner, I always need to know what I'm doing and where I am headed, no leaving anything to chance. Whilst I might now know what I want to do, I don't necessarily know where it will take me and that is both petrifying and exciting.

3.2.1....HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Welcome to 2013! I love the clean slate a new year brings. I like the feeling of thinking this is the year I will - lose 5kgs/figure out my career/learn yoga/accept my pale skin/join a bookclub.

In 2013, my big plan is to blog. Over the past few years I have spent a lot of time reading blogs and thought, 'hmm that looks fun'. What I have enjoyed most about discovering blogs is the glimpse it gives into peoples lives all around the world and the open and honest conversation that it starts. And that, is what i hope to offer readers through my blog; stories about my daily life, posts about topics that matter to me and hopefully some laughter and fun along the way!

There it is, my somewhat short but equally nerve wracking first post. If you would like to know more about me head to the 'About Me' section or check out my profile.