27 December, 2014

New Places Of 2014

Objective: Discover the world around me by visiting new places every month.
From my new year resolutions post

January 
Camping at Killalea State Park on NYE.
This beautiful darling took me out to 'Claire's Crepes' (Newtown).
Night out with Lauren to The World Bar and Soho (Kings Cross).
Dinner with the girls at an amazing Italian restaurant in Surry Hills.
(Tasted nicer then it looks - complimentary Nutella pizza)
February 
Taking a classy shot in the bathrooms at Embassy with Christina and Kirstin.
Italian Restaurant - Amici in Kogarah with mum. 
Lunch with Lauren at The Hill Eatery in Bondi. Best burger.
The Royal National Park - Walked from Greys Point. 
March

I have been to Sydney Uni before, but I started Uni this month!
Christie and I went to Palm Breeze for dinner in Burwood. 
Went to Excelsior Jones in Ashfield with Kirstin and our cousin Mary. 
New Shanghai in Ashfield was absolutely delicious! 
Menya Mappen Noodle Bar in the City, loved it!
Amazing experience at Doyles in Watson's Bay.
Delicious dinner at Spice Temple (CBD) with aunty and cousin from America.
Pancakes on The Rocks with Caitlin. Very overrated. 
April
The Bridge Room Sydney, was absolutely amazing! Forgot to take a photo
of my main meal (fish) but it was ridiculously perfect!
Camelia Gardens in Caringbah, with my English friend Shannon. 
Captain Cook's Landing Spot in Kurnell. 
May
Thai Pathong in Newtown for Genna's 19th birthday. 
121 BC at Surry Hills for wine and tapas with Kirstin and Cindy. 
Oliver Brown with my love Genna. 
June
Lovely lunch at D'Continental in Oatley with Lauren.
Siam Signature Thai in San Souci with Christie. 
Culture Bean, Kogarah with Lauren.

July
Bread & Circus (Alexandria) with Gen and Lauren.  
Delicious food from All Good Things Eatery (Kingsgrove) with Caity
The Depot (Bondi) with Elias
La Maison de l'Eclair (Bondi)
Bon Ton (Leura, Blue Mountains) 
The Red Door (Leura, Blue Mountains)
August 
Autolyse for breakfast with my sisters.
Cafe Bella Dee (Sansouci) with Lauren.
Feast at Gasolina (Ramsgate) with Gen and Lauren.
September
Apple Pie and Burgers at Hazlehurst (Gymea)
Hot Chocolates at Oliver Brown (Beverly Hills)
October 
Vegetarian Burgers at Pilgrims (Cronulla)
Wicks Park Cafe (Marrickville) 
Opera Bar (Sydney)
November
Grumpy Barista (Petersham) with Genna for early birthday brunch 
Bondi North Fish with family and Elias for birthday dinner.
December 
Kith and Kin  (Kogarah) with Genna and Caitlin  
Hardware Food (Bondi Beach) with sisters and Cindy 
Sushi and Grill (York Street, Sydney) with Mum and JEI workers
Delicious treats at Kurtosh (Surry Hills) 
Sweets at Hopetoun Tea Rooms (Melbourne) 
Best Italian at Max Hardware Lane (Melbourne)

Happy New Year everyone! 

09 November, 2014

99.95

We are set up to fail.


Well maybe not to fail, but ultimately we cannot reach the top. Someone is hiding it from us, hiding it so that we are never satisfied and go on and on and on, from one thing to the next. The peak, the pinnacle... perhaps it doesn't exist. Because, it doesn't seem like we will ever be 100%, completely, satisfied.


When we learn to walk as toddlers our fat, chubby, confused limbs can't hold us up.

Then when we stand, we are pushed down by our older siblings.

When we learn how to dot our 'i's and cross our 't's we practice over and over again.

Then we bring our work home to our parents and they send us straight to tutoring. Aged 5.

When we beg our parents to let us try team sports, we feel included, we feel cool.

Then when we join up, we realise how uncoordinated we are.

When we put so much effort into our year 6 assignments we feel great, satisfied.

Then when we buy new shelves for our highschool textbooks, we chuck out our dust collecting primary posters.

When we study and study and study for the HSC, there are a lot of things we sacrifice.

Then when our ATAR results come out we look at that disgusting number...


99.95


At least this is the life for an elite Asian child.

I'm only kidding of course. That is a GROSS generalised statement about asian children. But I have been a toddler, was sent to tutoring at a young age, do have terrible hand-eye coordination, spent way too much effort on assignments in primary school, BUT I didn't care less when I saw that number on my paper. And no, I did not get 99.95.

But just imagine, those students (not limited to Asians), those genius' that you probably wanted to punch in the face because they were so smart. But those naturally talented individuals worked hard. No matter how hard they try to pull off the "I didn't even study" card, we all knew they were lying. But imagine you were one of them, all your efforts go into getting the best, being the best, being number 1. But when the HSC rolls around, they realise the highest they can ever get is... 99.95.

I bet that just kills them that tiny little bit. That 0.5 that they can't ever receive. They can not ever obtain. They will forever and always be 0.5 off perfection.


I hope you can tell that I am being very dramatic, and obviously I know it is an amazing achievement to get the highest possible mark you can get at the end of your schooling career. But I just want to highlight the fact that this is just the beginning.

My first year of uni is finally coming to an end. It wasn't all bad, it was just different. It was tough getting back into studying but it becomes easier and easier to accept a pass instead of the top mark. 

No matter what it is about my life whether it be uni marks, friendships, body image etc I have been struggling to keep a positive and healthy mind set about being content. Lately I've been focusing on "perfection" (what ever that means) and it's really damaging. Aiming for perfection especially when it comes to mental health about body image is so dangerous, because you'll always want more, you'll always want better. 

I'm not being a defeatist... It's the truth. 

I'm never going to have Nicki Minaj's but. And that stings in this "big but" fad that is going on. I'm never going to have Kate Upton's boobs But that's ok. 

I have to learn to accept my genetics. I need to focus on developing my mental strength. To strive to be healthier, more intelligent, more loving, less stressful and not to obsess about "my humps" (Black Eyes Peas reference). 

So what, I don't have the "perfect" body?
So what, I didn't get HD's at uni?
So what, I still haven't found another job? 
So what, I didn't get 99.95?
So what? 


Life is still god dam great.


From,
Content Claire 


21 July, 2014

Mountain Tripping

Last Monday afternoon, Lauren, Genna, Alex and I drove to Leura (Blue Mountains) to have a cute girls week away. Even though we spent our time at the usual touristy lookouts, and wandering through Katoomba and Leura's local shops, we predominately spent our time relaxing in our cosy cottage, watching loads of movies, cooking food, drinking cheap wine (classy I know), having great chats and generally having a big laugh. I loved spending time with the girls this week, and it was the perfect, and relaxing time away. Here are some photos to sum up the trip.

Corny tourist shot



We had an absolutely lovely week away at the Blue Mountains, the first of many trips to come.

From, 

Relaxed Claire