masqueradesandcarousels mixtape, week 4

Download the mixtape here
This photograph is by CubaGallery here but I had modified the colouring :)

Since last week's mixtape, I had downloaded all of the Harry Potter soundtracks, hence the reason that all seven, yes I added two extra songs/scores.  These seven songs (technically scores) are my favourite song from each of the Harry Potter soundtracks.

Fashion Styles That I Love

It was only a year or so ago, that I got into fashion.  Because I never go out "shopping", I just search fashion whenever I have the chance in my busy internet surfing schedule.

Here are a favourite selection of fashion styles and fashion "icons", if you will:

Alexa Chung
I never really paid attention to her "look" since today, really.  It has a very "British" look, which I love, since I love London and want to live there one day.

Bag: Multiple Use Golden Button Bag Brown

Striped Shirt: TopShop Long Sleeve Breton Striped Tee

Blazer: The Outnet

Shorts: Miss Selfridge Petites High Waist Shorts

Oxford Shoes: Monsoon Jess Brogue Shoes

Emma Watson
I love Emma's fashion and her look in general.  Whether it be just casual or dressed up, she has amazing fashion sense. 

(Source: Unknown)

Hot!

Ring: Miss Selfridge Gold Dainty Bow Ring

Bomber Jacket: American Eagle Plaid Bomber Jacket

Bag: Pink Studio Lupe

Shoes: Aldo Hiner Platform Pumps

Cardigan: Charlotte Russe Cardigan

Jeans: Piperlime J Brand Jeans

Here is another look which I love:

Socks: Warehouse Over The Knee Sock

Scarf: Matches American Vintage Honeycomb Knit Snood

Shirt: John Lewis Kew Striped Swing Top, Charcoal

Skirt: H&M skirt

Jacket: Tilly Jacket

Boots: Quiz Black Dirty Pu Army Boots

Okay, I hope you liked the three looks that I love.  I am now going to finish watching these interviews of Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint before going to bed.  I should be booking a haircut today so that is going to awesome!

To All My Viewers

Where do you live?  What is your fave movie/book?  What are your interests?

You all know a bit about my life and my personal thoughts, but I have no clue about you.  It is very sad to know that I have no followers, unless you count myself on bloglovin'...  I need help and ideas on how to make you, the viewers and people from the outside world come and read and/or follow my blog.  I would love to have followers but I don't know how.  I know, I am being myself but I need to know what you are interested in reading.  From my Stats, the top five posts are:

1. Saturday Shipper: Scabior and Hermione
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
3. Friday Favourites: Harry Potter
4. I Want A Haircut
5. Those Special Friendships: Cherish

Just by looking at those, you are all interested in Harry Potter, which is great!  We have something in common.

What would you like to read on my blog?

18 Things To Know At 18

In 102 days, or more specifically, 3 months and 10 days, I shall be eighteen years old.  The year I will be officially an adult.  I am not sure how I am going to celebrate it, but let me get on with this post...  Since I am still a young person, who hasn't really done any life-changing choices, I thought on searching those life lessons before 18.  I came across this blog post: 18 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I Was 18.  So, I am going to post these 18 lessons before you all since, some of you may be turning/have turned/or will eventually be turning 18 and I think we all should know these life lessons:

1. Commit yourself to making lots of mistakes. – Mistakes teach you important lessons.  The biggest mistake you can make is doing nothing because you’re too scared to make a mistake.  So don’t hesitate – don’t doubt yourself.  In life, it’s rarely about getting a chance; it’s about taking a chance.  You’ll never be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.  Most of the time you just have to go for it!  And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be.  Either you succeed or you learn something.  Win-Win.  Remember, if you never act, you will never know for sure, and you will be left standing in the same spot forever.
2. Find hard work you love doing. – If I could offer my 18-year-old self some real career advice, I’d tell myself not to base my career choice on other people’s ideas, goals and recommendations.  I’d tell myself not to pick a major because it’s popular, or statistically creates graduates who make the most money.  I’d tell myself that the right career choice is based on one key point: Finding hard work you love doing.  As long as you remain true to yourself, and follow your own interests and values, you can find success through passion.  Perhaps more importantly, you won’t wake up several years later working in a career field you despise, wondering “How the heck am I going to do this for the next 30 years?”  So if you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, don’t stop.  You’re on to something big.  Because hard work ain’t hard when you concentrate on your passions.
3. Invest time, energy and money in yourself every day. – When you invest in yourself, you can never lose, and over time you will change the trajectory of your life.  You are simply the product of what you know.  The more time, energy and money you spend acquiring pertinent knowledge, the more control you have over your life.
4. Explore new ideas and opportunities often. – Your natural human fears of failure and embarrassment will sometimes stop you from trying new things.  But you must rise above these fears, for your life’s story is simply the culmination many small, unique experiences.  And the more unique experiences you have, the more interesting your story gets.  So seek as many new life experiences as possible and be sure to share them with the people you care about.  Not doing so is not living.
5. When sharpening your career skills, focus more on less. – Think in terms of Karate: A black belt seems far more impressive than a brown belt.  But does a brown belt really seem any more impressive than a red belt?  Probably not to most people.  Remember that society elevates experts high onto a pedestal.  Hard work matters, but not if it’s scattered in diverse directions.  So narrow your focus on learning fewer career related skills and master them all.
6. People are not mind readers.  Tell them what you’re thinking. – People will never know how you feel unless you tell them.  Your boss?  Yeah, he doesn’t know you’re hoping for a promotion because you haven’t told him yet.  That cute girl you haven’t talked to because you’re too shy?  Yeah, you guessed it; she hasn’t given you the time of day simply because you haven’t given her the time of day either.   In life, you have to communicate with others.  And often, you have to open your vocal cords and speak the first words.  You have to tell people what you’re thinking.  It’s as simple as that.
7. Make swift decisions and take immediate action. – Either you’re going to take action and seize new opportunities, or someone else will first.  You can’t change anything or make any sort of progress by sitting back and thinking about it.  Remember, there’s a huge difference between knowing how to do something and actually doing it.  Knowledge is basically useless without action.
8. Accept and embrace change. – However good or bad a situation is now, it will change.  That’s the one thing you can count on.  So embrace change, and realize that change happens for a reason.  It won’t always be easy or obvious at first, but in the end it will be worth it.
9. Don’t worry too much about what other people think about you. – For the most part, what other people think and say about you doesn’t matter.  When I was 18, I let the opinions of my high school and early college peers influence my decisions.  And, at times, they steered me away from ideas and goals I strongly believed in.  I realize now, ten years later, that this was a foolish way to live, especially when I consider that nearly all of these people whose opinions I cared so much about are no longer a part of my life.  Unless you’re trying to make a great first impression (job interview, first date, etc.), don’t let the opinions of others stand in your way.  What they think and say about you isn’t important.  What is important is how you feel about yourself.
10. Always be honest with yourself and others. – Living a life of honesty creates peace of mind, and peace of mind is priceless.  Period.
11. Talk to lots of people in college and early on in your career. – Bosses.  Colleagues.  Professors.  Classmates.  Social club members.  Other students outside of your major or social circle. Teaching assistants.  Career advisors.  College deans.  Friends of friends.  Everyone!  Why?  Professional networking.  I have worked for three employers since I graduated from college (I left my first two employers by choice on good terms), but I only interviewed with the first employer.  The other two employers offered me a job before I even had a formal interview, based strictly on the recommendation of a hiring manager (someone I had networked with over the years).  When employers look to fill a position, the first thing they do is ask the people they know and trust if they know someone who would do well in the position.  If you start building your professional network early, you’ll be set.  Over time, you’ll continue talking to new people you meet through your current network and your network’s reach and the associated opportunities will continue to snowball for the duration of your career.
12. Sit alone in silence for at least ten minutes every day. – Use this time to think, plan, reflect, and dream.  Creative and productive thinking flourish in solitude and silence.  With quiet, you can hear your thoughts, you can reach deep within yourself, and you can focus on mapping out the next logical, productive step in your life.
13. Ask lots of questions. – The greatest ‘adventure’ is the ability to inquire, to ask questions.  Sometimes in the process of inquiry, the search is more significant than the answers.  Answers come from other people, from the universe of knowledge and history, and from the intuition and deep wisdom inside yourself.  These answers will never surface if you never ask the right questions.  Thus, the simple act of asking the right questions is the answer.
14. Exploit the resources you do have access to. – The average person is usually astonished when they see a physically handicap person show intense signs of emotional happiness.  How could someone in such a restricted physical state be so happy?  The answer rests in how they use the resources they do have.  Stevie Wonder couldn’t see, so he exploited his sense of hearing into a passion for music, and he now has 25 Grammy Awards to prove it.
15. Live below your means. – Live a comfortable life, not a wasteful one.  Do not spend to impress others.  Do not live life trying to fool yourself into thinking wealth is measured in material objects.  Manage your money wisely so your money does not manage you.  Always live well below your means.
16. Be respectful of others and make them feel good. – In life and business, it’s not so much what you say that counts, it’ how you make people feel.  So respect your elders, minors, and everyone in between.  There are no boundaries or classes that define a group of people that deserve to be respected.  Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother.  Supporting, guiding, and making contributions to other people is one of life’s greatest rewards.  In order to get, you have to give.
17. Excel at what you do. – There’s no point in doing something if you aren’t going to do it right.  Excel at your work and excel at your hobbies.  Develop a reputation for yourself, a reputation for consistent excellence.
18. Be who you were born to be. – You must follow your heart, and be who you were born to be.  Some of us were born to be musicians – to communicate intricate thoughts and rousing feelings with the strings of a guitar.  Some of us were born to be poets – to touch people’s hearts with exquisite prose.  Some of us were born to be entrepreneurs – to create growth and opportunity where others saw rubbish.  And still, some of us were born to be or do whatever it is, specifically, that moves you.  Regardless of what you decide to do in your lifetime, you better feel it in every fiber of your being.  You better be born to do it!  Don’t waste your life fulfilling someone else’s dreams and desires.

Summer Holidays

"A hug is worth a thousand words. A friend is worth more."

Ever since Graduation, I have only left the house probably four or five times.  I know, incredibly lazy, but I am quite antisocial sometimes and I don't have my Provisional licence yet (which I could have had since March) but once again, too lazy.

These Summer holidays, I am going to change.  I am determined to get my Provisionals as well as getting a part-time job which I can have until I have finished university - that is, if I get into a university.  God, why does life have to be so complicated?  I wish I could just be a little girl again, living in Canberra, living a good and relaxed life.  I still recall when I would do swimming classes and ride a bicycle.  God, I haven't been on a bike since... forever! 

I am still yet to receive a haircut and I am unsure if I explained why I actually want a Pixie haircut.  I have just completed an important chapter in my life: schooling.  I am now officially in the big, scary world, well, not until I have graduated from university with a teaching degree...  I need a change in my life, which doesn't involve myself getting a tattoo or losing my virginity, I just want a different haircut.  Someone said, if you can't go longer, go shorter.  Since I really hate my hair being midlength and sitting on my shoulders, I want to get it cut shorter.

Anyone have any exciting plans for the holidays?

Pixie Haircuts

I have always been intrigued of the famous "pixie haircut" and now, I want a pixie haircut.  At first I was very worried that it may not suit me, but I then began to search images and videos with larger women.  The haircut suits everyone, but I believe the length of the hair (mostly on the top).  I yet have to book an appointment to get a haircut but I do realise that I will miss having longer hair.  My hair is currently just sitting on my shoulders, with a few layers stopping at my cheeks.

Always want the messy, bed hair...

I hope I can get a haircut next week or the week after because I want it ASAP!

Happy Thanksgiving

With no comments on helping inform me of this American/Canadian holiday, I am just going to acknowledge it as where you eat turkey and pumpkin.  You may some how be insulted, I am sorry if I have in fact insulted you in some bizarre way, but that is all I see as Thanksgiving.  However, I had just come across this website which shows you images of conversations which one spelling error makes a conversation very uncomfortable.  Since it is Thanksgiving in America, I thought to share you a Thanksgiving related spelling error:

Happy Thanksgiving!

Graduation

Oh, November 19 2010 was probably the most awaited day of my schooling life and has already passed.  Six days ago, to be exact.  Truthfully, I never expected that I would actually make it to graduation.  A week after my seventeenth birthday in March - just at the end of the first term, I was ready to pack up my school bag, drop out of high school and never enter the school unless it was necessary.  Thank god that I decided to stay, or my life could have changed dramatically!

Graduation dress (plus Jasper, 11 month Westie)

Dress: CityChic $99.95

Cardigan: CityChic $59.95

Shoes: Target $20.00

The day was quite strange.  When I arrived at school, I found Cherish and then the rest of our "gang" found us.  Until we were told to go line up in our form classes, it was pretty much about how we were excited in seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.  As we were walking from outside the hall, into a back room inside the hall before walking down stairs towards the audience, I was just thinking to myself: "Don't fall down the stairs.  You don't want to fall down the stairs."  And thankfully, I didn't fall down the stairs, or I would've been incredibly embarrassed.  There were some chicks wearing heels which were probably between 4 and 5 inches and I was having trouble thinking of not tripping in flats.

After receiving my certificate

Anyways, after the most dull graduation, we got to watch a video created by two of the students in my year.  I love the video but I also love Bianca's stop motion video from heaps of photographs which I posted in this blog post

After watching the video, we sang the school song for the last time before leaving the assembly hall. 

Chelsea, Tayla, Alex, Cherish and I, where we sat (half our group had left already)

Overall, it was a great day and am glad I was able to spend it with my friends.  Seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 was technically what topped the day..

xx

Special Friendship: Melanie

Myself and Melanie in 2007

I have known Melanie since I was at the age of three, which technically means we have known each other for fourteen years.  I could go on forever on how my life would be so different with out her - it would be.  But I shall try and choose a few memories to reminiscent about.

Melanie is on my left, at my 4th birthday party

Like many children, you usually had that friend, whose house you would go every second week and your friend would come in the weeks where you didn't go to their house.  Melanie was that friend.  She was and still is one of my best friends.  I still recall memories of when we would jump over her hedge with prickly leaves and onto the grass - her drive way was incredibly steep, dropping a metre or so; hiding in her bedroom away from my Dad so I wouldn't have to leave her house, as well as making our own fort with a bed sheet in her bedroom.

In 2003 or 2004, Melanie and I got into the most absurd argument which lasted a month or longer.  It was because we both had the same interests in the book The B.F.G., F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and another television show.  When I look back onto that argument, it was so ridiculous!  I mean, aren't friendships bonded because of each other's interests?

Myself and Melanie in 2005 when she came up a month or so after moving

The most emotional year for us, well definitely for me, was 2005, when I moved from Canberra to Queensland because my Dad got a new job.  I still remember the last day we hung out and when Melanie's Mum dropped me off at home and I hugged Melanie.  However, I never knew that was the last time I would see her until one of us went interstate to see each other.  The first few weeks in Brisbane were very sad.  I cried because I missed my best friend and how I was unable to see her.  So the next school holidays, which were like 10 weeks after I had arrived in Brisbane, Melanie flew to Queensland for a trip.  I was so incredibly happy when I saw her.  That feeling was like when loved ones see each other after months or years of separation.  Quite an exaggerated emotion, but that was how it felt to me.

Melanie and Myself (sunburnt) - last time she was up in Queensland

The past two years, we haven't met each other because of my European Trip in December 2009 which was the time my Dad and my brother went down to Canberra for Christmas.  We do speak to each other on MSN on rare occasions because of our lives interrupting our social lives.  I really really hope I can see her next month because I do fear that our incredibly strong friendship is slowly becoming loose.  I cannot and will not accept that my friendship with the most amazing, funniest and greatest person in the world just leave my life because we live two states away from each other.  I think I would mentally die if I never spoke or saw her again - she is like my long lost sister.  She is apart of my family and I love my family dearly.

How long has your best friend relationship been?  Are you still besties or have you gone your separate ways?

Rest In Peace for Pike River Miners

For the past five days in the Pike River Coal mine, New Zealand, twenty-nine miners were trapped and now are all believed to be dead since there was a second explosion today, November 24 2010.  The tragic explosion had occurred at 2:37pm in New Zealand, which was a larger explosion than the explosion on Friday, which had caused the miners to be trapped. 

The chief of Pike River Coal, Peter Whittall stated after explaining of the large explosion from the rise in gas levels:

"There is probably unlikely to be any survivors from that.  There was coming a point where we were very hopeful we could get some men out of the mine, but it was probably realistic that some men could never have come out alive. This probably takes us to the point where I'm unlikely to see my workmates again. I'm unlikely to see them walk out of that mine."

There was to be an emergency crew who were related to missing miners however, they had complained about the delays.  It is believed that many were probably already unconscious before the second explosion because of the carbon monoxide, so therefore, it is likely that the carbon monoxide could have killed the miners instead of the explosions.  As the vent wasn't working which removed the gases whilst the miners were working, there was an increase in methane gas, debris and coal burning from the first explosion. 

Here are the names of the twenty-nine men who lost their lives today:

1. Conrad John Adams, 43 from Greymouh
2. Keith Thomas Valli, 62, from Winton
3. Malcolm Campbell, 25, from Fife
4. Glen Peter Cruse, 35, from Greymouth
5. Allan John Dixon, 59, from Runanga
6. Zen Wodin Drew, 21, Greymouth
7. Christopher Peter Duggan, 31, Greymouth
8. Joseph Ray Dunbar, 17
9. John Leonard Hale, 45, from Ruatapu
10. Daniel Thomas Herk, 36, from Runanga
11. David Mark Hoggart, 33, from Foxton
12. Richard Bennett Holling, 41, from Blackball
13. Andrew David Hurren, 32, Greymouth
14. Jacobus Albertus Jonker, 47, from South Africa
15. William John Joynson, 49, from Queensland
16. Riki Steve Keane, 28, from Greymouth
17. Terry David Kitchin, 41, from Runanga
18. Francis Skiddy Marden, 41, from Runanga
19. Samuel Peter McKie, 26, from Greymouth
20. Michael Nolan Hanmer Monk, 23, from Blaketown
21. Stuart Mudge, 31
22. Kane Barry Nieper, 33, from Greymouth
23. Peter O'Neill, from Runanga
24. Milton John Osborne, 54
25. Brendon John Palmer, 27
26. Benjamin David Rockhouse, 21, from Greymouth
27. Peter James Rodger, 40, from New Zealand
28. Blair David Sims, 28, from West Coast
29. Joshua Adam Ufer, 25, from Australia

Rest In Peace
xxx

The Runaways

This film, The Runaways is a biographical film on the all-girl rock band from the 70s, The Runaways.  Floria Sigismondi had written as well as directed the film, which was based off Cherie Currie, original lead vocalist of The Runaways in her book Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway.  The three main stars of the film are Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie, Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett as the guitarist and Michael Shannon as the record producer, Kim Fowley.  The film shows how the band had begun in 1975 until Cherie Currie had left the band.

As a fan of Stewart's and Fanning's films, I am surprised and amazed on how well they were at singing songs from The Runaways.  I have heard the originals from the true band and both Stewart and Fanning have amazing vocal chords.  I think they are almost the exact as the true Runaways but having a lighter-less rough vocals.

I would recommend this film to anyone who is into the actual band The Runaways, or a fan of Kristen Stewart's or Dakota Fanning's films, because I think that these films allow their characters of real people give both actresses a variety of emotions to play with.

Would/Have you ever wanted to start your own band?

Outfit Post: Chilling with Cherish

Today was a pretty good day, I guess.  I met up with Cherish at Chermside around 9:20am before deciding to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 at 10.  It still doesn't feel like I have seen the film three times, since I always wait for my two favourite scenes: Death Eaters/Order of the Phoenix battle over Little Whinging and when the Trio are running away from the Snatchers in the forest- you gotta love action scenes!

We did go to the various department stores such as Big W, KMart and Target, however they didn't really have any clothes which were good and were all around $40, which was a shame.  I was hoping that I would pick out a cute dress and some nice shoes, however, that never happened unfortunately.  I bought mascara and some liquid eyeliner, which doesn't look like "charcoal" to me.  Cherish and I also went to JB HIFI, to check out any sales on DVDs.  Cherish bought the blue Avatar special DVD and Prince of Persia for $20 each whereas I bought The Runaways featuring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning (shall have a blog post later about that) for $24.98.  I had wanted to see The Runaways ever since I saw this gif on tumblr. 

 

Dress: CityChic $99.95

Cardigan: CityChic $59.95

Necklace: Lovisa $20

Necklace has carousel with a horse charm

Tomorrow I plan on receiving my Yearbook from my school, which should have arrived at the school.  This was one of the first times that the yearbooks had been late on graduation, which is incredibly annoying since I have been wanting it for some time.  Mainly because I want to see the photos from my Formal as well as what everybody in my year wrote as their farewell message.

xx

Feeling Sick

Xenophilius and Luna Lovegood dancing in the Deathly Hallows film

I hate it when you are feeling amazing one second and a second later, you feel like absolute crap!

It is a real bummer, since tomorrow I am suppose to be shopping and rewatching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 but I may have to postpone, depending on how I am feeling.  Which is a real shame because I need to buy some more clothes!  Preferably dresses because I only have two: my formal and graduation dress.

On a plus note, I have downloaded the Harry Potter soundtracks from Philosopher's Stone to Deathly Hallows Part 1, which is amazing.  I actually want it for Christmas, since I am obsessed with Harry Potter, however, I now only want them so I can have them physically not just digitally.

Online Makeovers

Since there is nothing to do at this moment on the internet, I have been giving myself online makeovers on this website here.  Here are a few of my "makeovers" if you will.

"Before"

Myself as a Blonde...

I think I shall buy a curling iron asap

This is the hair colour I want :)

Okay, that has taken an hour or two to do.  So I shall now search for something else to do on the internet...

My Etsy Purchase

Three days ago, after I had been picked up by my Dad after seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, I had received my etsy purchase.  At first I had no idea who it was from because I had no idea where Chiara, the creator, lived.  So I was a little worried, however, I was thrilled to know that I had received my daily diary for 2011.  You receive this wrapping which has "Owl Post", "magically bound" and a stamp which has from Hogsmeade Dec 25, however, right now I have misplaced it, so I am unable to show you that today.  No matter, here are a few photos of what it looks like:

To give you an idea on its size

Monthly view

Weekly view

Daily view

Address book at the back :)

Chiara's business card

If you would like to check out her etsy store, just click here

Does anyone have an esty store?  If so, please give me your link in a comment, because I would love to visit it ♥