My Favourite Things In Girlfriend This Month

As you can see from the title, this is a post about the awesomely gorgeous Girlfriend that landed in my letterbox yesterday for the final time (subscription ended... sob).
You see, I kind of feel as though I am growing out of Girlfriend a little bit. As I mentioned, my 12-month subscription ended with this March issue and the buyer of the subscription, a family friend, who always gets me a supscription for Christmas, has decided this year to buy me Dolly because "you're 16- you're old enough for Dolly now" (despite the fact I have been reading Dolly for 4 years). So maybe this is the end for Girlfriend and I. And if it is, what a way to part.

So on that note, here is my list of faves:
1) The cover: I have to say, this is one of the best-looking covers I have seen for a loooong time. It's pretty and simple and sassy and sweet and cheeky and colourful all at once! I am not a Vanessa Hudgens fan, but she looks shiny with a touch of attitude and I really like her top.

2) "30 Reasons Boys Are So Random": from "they consider crash-tackling you into the ground a sign of how much they love you" to "they don't get High School Musical" this is just sooooooo accurate!

3) "In 2008 It's Okay To...": ask for help, cry, sing loudly, dance badly, own 50 pairs of shoes but wear just five, love cute stationery and feel confused. So reassuring!

4) The fashion spread, "Trend Worthy"- cute pieces (I want the royal blue Lili coat and the multi-coloured, woven Cotton On scarf), mostly happy models (shocker!) and a gorgeous layout. Lisa Stern is my fashion hero.

5) "It Girl": I am a huge Emily Blunt fan and its a intersting little spread- mixing fashion with an interview. Me likey.

6) "Celebs Are Scary": entertainment ed Rob is sooooo funny. He is the post-OC Seth Cohen.

7) "Editor's Blog": I love ed's letters and this one is so warm and fuzzy.

8) "Body Language Basics": body language 'spert (expert) attempts to uncover the meaning behind some famous celeb photos. He reveals that Jessica Simpson is needy and desperate, Mischa is a cow, Nicole and Joel are really in love and Jess Alba thinks her baby-daddy is immature. Wow. Ground-breaking stuff. But some good little tips to know if he's into you... or not.

Get out there and get it!!

Love bubblygirl xoxo

Top Romantic Movie Lines I Wish Someone Would Say to Me Again

Hi hi! Sorry my list from Sunday kind of died at number five. I had to leave for work and was so desperate to get a post out to you guys that I didn't want to save it for later, I just wanted to get it out there so I published it a little prematurely. Which is actually a bonus as it has given me more time to mull over my favourite lines, so here is the original list with a few new additions:

1) "I love you just as you are." Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy to Renee Zelweger's Bridget in Bridget Jones's Diary.

2) "I always think you're cute, Juno. I think you're beautiful". Michael Cera's Bleeker to Ellen Page's Juno in Juno.

3) "You're sweet, and sexy, and completely hot for me." Heath Ledger's Patrick to Julia Stile's Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You.

4) "You complete me." Tom Cruise's Jerry to Renee Zelweger's character in Jerry Macguire

5) "I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees [21 degrees C] out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." Billy Crystal's Harry to Meg Ryan's Sally in When Harry Met Sally

6) "It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were suppose to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic." Tom Hanks' Sam to radio host in Sleepless in Seattle

7) "In the words of David Cassidy when he was with the Partridge Family, I think I love you." Hugh Grant's Charles to Andie McDowell in Four Weddings and a Funeral

8) "Winning that ticket, Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me... it brought me to you. And I'm thankful for that, Rose. I'm thankful. You must do me this honor, Rose. Promise me you'll survive. That you won't give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless. Promise me now, Rose, and never let go of that promise." Leonardo DiCaprio's Jack to Kate Winslet's Rose in Titanic

9) "I might be the only one who appreciates how amazing you are in every single thing that you do, and…how you say what you mean, and how you almost always mean something that's all about being straight and good. I think most people miss that about you, and I watch them, wondering how they can watch you bring their food, and clear their tables and never get that they just met the greatest woman alive." Jack Nicolson's Melvin to Helen Hunt in As Good As It Gets

10) "...And you and I had, just you know, met... Yeah. I would have asked for your phone number and I wouldn't have been able to wait 24 hours before calling and asking, "How about coffee, drinks, dinner, a movie, for as long as we both shall live?" Tom Hanks' Joe Fox to Meg Ryan's Kathleen in You've got mail

11) "I barely know you. I don't know your dad's first name, I don't know if you ever wore braces, or contacts, or glasses and I have no idea how you came to be a wedding planner, Mary. But I do know the curves of your face. And I know every fleck of gold in your eyes. I know that the night at the park was the best time I've ever had." Matthew McConaughey's Steve to Jennifer Lopez's Mary in The Wedding Planner

12) "I should have told her she was perfect every day. Because she was." Liam Neeson's character about his dead wife in Love Actually

13) "There are so many things I want to say to you but time's caught up and now I'll never say them. Except that I loved you from the first moment I saw you and every moment since. I would die for you." Robin Hood to Maid Marian in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

14) "No, I don't think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That's what's wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how." Clark Gable's Rhett Butler to Scarlett in Gone With the Wind

15) "You must know... surely you must know it was all for you. Your are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night and it has taught me to hope as I'd scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on."" Mr. Darcy to Keira Knightley in Pride and Prejudice

16) "Wanna make you smile whenever you're sad / Carry you around when your arthritis is bad / All I wanna do is grow old with you. / I'll get your medicine when your tummy aches / build you a fire if the furnace breaks / Oh it could be so nice, growin old with you. / I'll miss you, kiss you, give you my coat when you are cold. / Need you, feed you, I'll even let you hold the remote control. / So let me do the dishes in the kitchen sink / Put you to bed when you've had too much to drink. / Oh I could be the man to grow old with you. / I wanna grow old with you." Adam Sandler's Robbie's song to Drew Barrymore in The Wedding Singer

17) "I am no one special, just a common man with common thoughts. I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me, and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect, I've succeeded as gloriously as anyone who ever lived. I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and for me, that has always been enough." James Garner's Old Noah (Duke) in The Notebook.

18) "Yes I do. I love you. I love the way you walk, I love the way you laugh, I love the way when you get nervous you bite your bottom lip just like you're doing now, I love the way you love Mary, [to the congregation] I even love her liver mousse. I love you and if there were no Mary, if there was nothing else I would still love you. And I want to make Mary all over again with you." Peter to Sylvia in Three Men and a Little Lady

19) "I love you more in one day than he could love you in a lifetime". Laurence Olivier in Wuthering Heights

20) "I'd rather fight with you than make love to anyone else". Dermott Mulroney's Nick to Debra Messing's Kat in The Wedding Date

21) "Look, maybe it's just me, but if you've got to dress it up [a wedding] like that it just doesn't ring true. I think the most that anybody can honestly say is look,I guarantee there'll be tough times.I guarantee that at some point one or both of us is going to want to get out of this thing.But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, 'll regret it the rest of my life. Because I know in my heart you're the only one for me." Richard Gere to Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride.

So there you have it. The most gorgeous, funny, sweet, sexy, swooning lines I could remember from some of my favourite movies. I could have gone on forever, but these are the 21 most prominent in my mind.
Of this list, my favourite quotes are: Adam Sandler's beautiful and funny Wedding Singer song (makes me cry every time!), any of Tom Hanks' lines, the speech from When Harry Met Sally, any of the quotes from films with "Wedding" in the title and pretty much any line from The Notebook. Of course, the ultimate line is Colin Firth's in Bridget Jones: "I love you just as you are."
What are your favourites? Do you have any more to add to my list?

Romantic Movie Lines I Wish Someone Would Say to Me

Hello everyone! Please accept my deepest, most sincere apologies for being a very bad blogger-mummy. My little blog baby has been screaming at me for almost a month now and I keep ignoring it, with pathetic excuses like "I'm going to see Juno" or "I haven't caught up with (insert friend's name here) since school broke up!" etc. etc.
But here I am, in front of a shiny New Post page, listening to Jack Johnson on a Sunday morning (before I have to go off to work, but that is beside the point!) so how can you be mad at me??
So the main reason my posts are so sporadic is that I only write when I am inspired (not very helpful when you have to churn out four creative English tasks per term at school!) and lately, I have not been particularly inspired. But, after seeing a tribute to Heath Ledger this morning, and seeing the fabulous Juno earlier in the week, I feel a movie-related post coming on!
So here it is, a few of my favourite movie lines. I've tried to be as accurate as possible but some are written just from memory so hopefully you will get the drift! While we're at it, I'll make this a romantic quote list, just because I'm in a slightly romantic mood today, as ever! I wish someone would say these lines to me, with actual feeling of course!

1) "I love you just the way you are." Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy to Renee Zelweger's Bridget in Bridget Jones's Diary.
2) "I always think you're cute, Juno. I think you're beautiful". Michael Cera's Bleeker to Ellen Page's Juno in Juno.
3) "You're sweet, and sexy, and completely hot for me." Heath Ledger's Patrick to Julia Stile's Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You.
4) "You complete me." Tom Cruise's Jerry to Renee Zelweger's character in Jerry Macguire
5)

Five Best Things About Being Sweet Sixteen

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
My birthday has just passed (New Years Eve) and I turned 16. I thought I would make a list today about the 5 best things about turning the sweeeeeeeet sixteen:
1) You can drive a car! OK, yes, you do have to have a licensed driver in the passenger seat, but still, I can drive!! Weeeehooooo!
2) You feel more grown up than ever- driving, earning more at work, starting the HSC/VCE, etc.
3) Wage increase! At my job, at every birthday until you are 18, your wage goes up by a dollar an hour, may not sound like much, but there is a big difference between 9 bucks an hour and 10 bucks!!
4) Parents give you a little more freedom. My curfew has been extended by an hour.
4.1) Parents respect you a little bit more, as do almost all adults. 16 is only four years away from the officially grown-up 20, you know!! So start acting more mature!
5) It just sounds great to say it!! "I am 16 years old". Yeah!!!


Sorry about the random postings, I am really short on time and am only posting when I feel inspired to write something. I am going on a week-long holiday tomorrow, so I will probably, nay definitely have something to say about that when I get back!!!

Comment on the best things about being the age you are currently- I wanna hear from you!
Have a great week everyone!

Top Ten... Reasons I Am Not Going to Call/Text/MSN/Myspace/Poke/Initiate a Conversation With HIM

OK so a few weeks ago, I went away camping with my family and several other families over the Melbourne Cup long weekend, regular blog readers will know what I'm getting at here. There was a guy. I know, alarm bells ringing already, right?
He was so fantastic, we flirted all weekend long (you can read the old post archives for all the tragic details) and had a thoroughly great time. Anyway, you may remember that THAT little affair ended swiftly on the day we got back to real-life civilisation and I came crashing down from my floaty little cloud of love with a thud. He was now going out with another girl we went away with. I know, right? At the time, I was devastated. He totally used me as, like, an outlet for his pent-up flirting or something. Then, as time wore on, I realised that he was just a guy, just like many that i have known before him and many I will know after him. He is flirty, fun and non-commital, like most guys his age. So onwards I moved.
Today, I received a teary phonecall from The Girl, informing me that they had broken up. I have NO IDEA why she called me, we aren't super close buds or anything. In fact, I only met her on the camping weekend and have had very limited contact since then.
I soon after received a message on myspace from The Guy, wanting to "catch up soon".
I know that if I see him, all those strong feelings from the camping trip will return and I will spend another six weeks tearing myself apart over every little thing we both do or say.
So today, I would like to, nay I NEED to write a list of reasons NOT to catch up with him...
1) He will make me fall in love with him even harder this time
2) It's disrespectful to The Girl, even though we are not actual friends
3) I will look into those gorgeous, blue, twinkling, playful eyes of his and may actually faint
4) I shouldn't torture myself that way again. He can't be the guy I need right now, as much as I want him to be
5) I am very young. Like, 10 days away from turning 16. I don't NEED this kind of CRAP in my life yet
6) I am having a fabulous time with my friends and family just enjoying the summer holidays. I don't NEED him around
7) I can DO everything by myself. I am a totally independant, strong girl. I don't need a guy at all.
8) ...
9) ...
10) ...

Oh my goodness I can only think of seven reasons not to call him! This is a disaster! OK, before my resolve crumbles completely and I call him first thing tomorrow morning, I need my fabulous, loyal blog readers to help me out here by coming up with two or three more reasons NOT to call this guy who I know MUST be bad for me, otherwise he would not have made me as HURT and ANGRY and CONFUSED as he did the first time around.
PLEASE HELP ME BLOGGERS. I love you all. I NEED my loyal readers to rally around me and help me in my time of need.

Love in desperation, bubblygirl (about to lose her bubbly-ness if someone doesn't act soon). xoxo

Top Ten... People And Places For Style Inspiration

I LOVE fashion and just clothes themselves, but attending a school with a strict uniform policy means I can only exercise my style on weekends and holidays. And, as we are now embarking on the fabulous journey that is the summer holidays, what better time to make a fashion-focussed list? So here you have it: My top ten people and places for style inspiration!

1. whowhatweardaily- even the supposedly-stylish Nicole Richie (personally, I'm not much of a fan) turns to this website for tips!

2. Jessica Alba- the newly pregnant starlet always looks gorgeous and, yes, sexy, without ever dressing inappropriately. She is the anti-Britney, when it comes to the style stakes.

3. The Satorialist blog- gorgeous photography, and a colour palette that rarely strays from grey, navy and black- perfect for a Melbourne girl, what with our looooooooong winters and penchant for dark clothing and warm coats.

4. Megan Gale- S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G. I wish I had the guts to dye my hair as dark as hers. She just carries it so well. Similarly to Jessica, Megan is always well-dressed and always sexy. Plus, I love David Jones (of which she is the face) and Andy Lee (her boyfriend, co-host of "Hamish & Andy" on Fox fm and 2day fm).

5. Melbourne's Chapel Street and anywhere in St.Kilda

6. My own wardrobe- where else can you pull together pieces from every corner of the world (well, every shopping centre within a 100km radius, at least) and create a look that is totally you.

7. Magazines- I'm talking about your everyday Girlfriends and Dollys of the world, not your Vogues and Harpers (my part-time wage doesn't allow me to splurge on Marc Jacobs and Chloe)! I particularly love the spreads featuring everyday girls in trends to suit their bods.

8. Mandy Moore- she's as tall as me and not a super-skinny minnie (shock horror! A Hollywood starlet who is a regular old size 10-12?!), so I really do take a lot from her casual personal style- well-fitting jeans, long tops, gorgeous casual dresses. I can't wait for her label, Mblem, to ship to Australia!

9. Helsinki fashion blogs. Just google that phrase and you will be confronted by a plethora of pages full of inspiration of the slightly quirky kind. For those days when you feel a little wacky.

10. People-watching. Whether it's in the fashionable city centre or watching the people walk by as I work, I am constantly inspired by those who know and show how to dress for their bodies and do it well.

I hope you have been inspired by my little list today to get out there and have fun with fashion. After all, they are just clothes and you're gonna take 'em all off at the end of the day anyway! Have fun and dress well!

Love bubblygirl. xoxo

P.S. For those who commented on my Chick Flick post, I thank you! It's so rewarding to see that little comment box say "6 comments" or "9 comments". It really is one of life's little thrills. For those who commented that Josh from Clueless was hot but the Cher-Josh relationship was more than a little gross, I TOTALLY agree. Ewww. Ewww. Ewww. I saw an episode of new Channel 10 drama Cane last night and the main character was adopted by this old guy when he was young and then went and MARRIED the guy's DAUGHTER. Grrrrrooooooooosssssssss. But in regards to Josh's hotness in Clueless, is everyone forgetting about Elton? He may have been horrible to Ty and put the moves on Cher when they weren't wanted there, but the guy was MINT. In case you need reminding, he looked like this (he's the one in the top right-hand corner):

PHWOARRR, right?!

Unfortunately, he now looks like this:

I know. Shocking transformation. And not in a good way.

Anyway, my point is, Elton was seriously hot in Clueless and was seriously underrated as a hottie in that movie. Wow, this P.S. has almost turned into another post. Sorry about that! Thanks for sticking with it though, I know my posts tend to be quite long and probably get boring. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mwah!

Chick Flicks

Seeing as an ad for Clueless just came on the TV, I have decided that today's list shall be a list of my favourite chick flicks! So here they are, in no particular order:

1. The Notebook
2. A Walk to Remember
3. Clueless
4. Never Been Kissed
5. Thelma and Louise
6. Pretty Woman
7. Bridget Jones's Diary
8. Sleepless in Seattle
9. Marie Antoniette
10. Breakfast at Tiffany's
11. Beaches
12. Steel Magnolias
13. Ghost
14. The American President
15. Muriel's Wedding
16. My Best Friend's Wedding
17. Jerry Maguire
18. Meet Joe Black
19. Stepmom
20. Titanic
21. Notting Hill
22. Erin Brockovich
23. Runaway Bride
24. Lost in Translation
25. The Horse Whisperer
So strictly they aren't all chick flicks, but I love all of these movies. Numbers 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20 and 25 are all tear-jerkers, so have a box of kleenex handy while viewing!
Are any of these your fave chick flicks? What else would you add to the list?

Love bubblygirl

New Look, New Feel, New Me!

Hello and welcome to the new and improved blog from bubblygirl!
Over my two-week blogging hiatus, I realised I miss this open forum for my opinions, I miss sharing details of my life and the world with you readers and I especially miss the gorgeous comments you all leave for me!

So, I'm back! I have decided to make the blog all about lists. Anyone who has been on my myspace page knows that I looove writing lists, so I thought I would stick with what I know and make lists out of anything.

From "Top Ten's" and "To-Do" lists to "Favourite Things" and "Celebrity" lists from magazines, I will endeavour to bring you imaginative and (hopefully) interesting or humourous lists daily.

This is a new blogging path for me on which we are embarking together, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated! This isn't to say that I will only ever post lists in the future, of couse I will occasionally make my big, righteous posts, but for now this is the direction I am taking.

First List: Things I'm Looking Forward To
1. Christmas! Just 13 days away!
2. My birthday! Just 19 days away!
3. Summer holiday- off to the Murray for a week-long break filled with wakeboarding, water-skiing and relaxation! Can NOT wait!
4. My work Christmas party- if only to feel the tension between the manager and 2IC. Controversy!
5. Long summer days lounging around with friends in the pool- heaven!

OK, so that was a fairly ordinary list but I am certain the creative juices will start flowing back to me soon! Have a great day!

Not Goodbye, Just See You Later

First can I just apologise for my inconsistent blogging of late. I could rattle off a list of excuses as long as my hair (quite long!), i.e. I had exams, I've had extra work shifts, I've been doing lots of socialising with my gorgeous friends, and they are all true, but the truth of the matter is, I have made a discovery.

I have discovered myspace. Yes, I know, I'm about four years behind everyone else but you know what they say, better late than ever. It is so addictive, I have been spending ever spare moment working on my page, sending out friend requests, etc., etc. I now have eight friends! Yay! Friend me here!

In other news, look at my counter; I've broken the hundred hits mark!! Three cheers for me! Three cheers for you for sticking with me!

So, the purpose of today's post is to bid you a fond farewell. I'm not saying I will never come back to Stuck in Suburbia occassionally, but for now, between myspace, work, school commitments, friends, family, Christmas and everything else, I just don't have the time to make my posts as strong as I would like them to be.

I thought I'd put up a list of my favourite websites on here, just as a little parting gift to you. These are sites I hit up almost on a daily basis. Hopefully you know about most of these, but maybe there are a few that will lead you to a potential new favourite! So here they are, in no particular order:

1. Go Fug Yourself- Daily criticisms and fabulous bitchy comments on celebrities and their red carpet outfits from the hilarious gofug girls Jessica and Heather. Our very own Australian Idol finalists Nat and Matt even got a mention this week, check that out here.
2. Girl With A Satchel- A gorgeous, articulate and intelligent blog about the glossy magazines of the world, written by Girlfriend's Erica Bartle. Her "Sunday Soapbox" pieces are a personal favourite. She is a fantastic writer with strong yet polite opinions and perfect grammar (yeah!) and seemingly a very well-rounded young woman. A role model for us all.
3. Newspaper Sites- I don't often get a chance to read the actual, paper version of any newspaper, so everyday I go online to read the Herald Sun, The Age, The Daily Telegraph and the Sydney Morning Herald. We need to know about the world around us, from big events down to the sport section!
4. ebay- I adore ebay! I have bought my iPod, watches, bags, shoes, clothes, books, jewellery... anything and everything! Get into it, kids, you don't even need a credit card; you can link up your bank account or key card account or even use Paypal (they explain it all on the site, it's so easy to use!).
5. Youtube- funny vids. 'Nuff said.
6. Beauty Editor- I discovered this site only a few days ago and I am working my way through the archives in the "How To..." section, trying to soak up as many beauty hints and tips as I can. From "How To..." get great legs, to "How To..." wear false lashes, this site has EVERYTHING beauty.
7. The Shebang- Technically, I don't visit this site everyday, but I do get the podcast from iTunes, so you can get it here, as well as seeing pics and sending off emails to the show.
8. myspace- weeeee! I love myspace! It is soooo addictive! Get into it!
9. Song Meanings- I go to this site everytime I'm singing along to a song and can't for the life of me figure out what the singer is going on about. It also has song lyrics.
10. Hamish and Andy- See number 7.
11. Tickle Tests- I don't visit this site regularly, but when I do, I end up spending a looooong time taking various personality tests, such as "What Breed of Dog Are You?" and "Are You a Party Girl?", the multiple choice tests are such fun.

So enjoy, kids. I'll see you back here soon, but until then I'll keep popping up with comments on the blogs of Frangipani Princess and Girl Next Door. I'll leave you with this quote: "Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true"- Leon J. Suenes. Enjoy life and make the most of every opportunity and have fun being Stuck in Suburbia!

Love and Best Wishes, Bubblygirl xoxo

New Piccy! Plus A Bit Of A Rant

I decided to put up a pic of your very own bubblygirl (i.e. ME) with my profile. But it's so small! Does anyone know how to alter the size? Anyway, that's me at my formal earlier this year. What a night! I loved my red dress from DJ's and it was a perfect dress for dancing! Woo! I will definitely be wearing that again when the Chrissy party season takes off in a few days time (this Saturday for me).

In other news... I haven't taken a stand on my soapbox for a number of weeks now, and I'm feeling surprisingly relaxed and happy (Note to self: not yelling= less stress! Love that!).
Today, though, there is an issue I feel I must address and I want all my bloggy readers to listen up:
We girls need to get over ourselves when it comes to our bodies. Our dangerous obssession with a number on the bathroom scales, a number on the tag of our dress and the letter and number on the back of our bra has got to stop!
As you can see from my brand-spanking-new pic, I am not super-skinny but I do have a healthy BMI and lead a healthy life. I actually used to be completely depressed with the way I looked and felt about my body but I have come to a realisation and now, being a girl who is healthy and happy with herself, I want to share it with you.
Six months ago, I saw myself like this: weirdly, like abnormally, tall; fat thighs; flat, boring hair; hideous glasses; chubby arms; fat nose; small eyes; boobs too small for body; big hips; no-one will ever love me; blah blah blah.
The thing was, I wasn't eating well. I wasn't exercising nearly enough. I was focussing on the negatives in my life instead of seeing the fabulous positives. I was being miserable.
So, I changed. I cut out crappy foods full of saturated fat, sugar and sodium (salt), I stopped drinking soft drinks and replaced them with green tea (yum!), I started getting up early and taking my puppy for a 5km walk every morning and I started appreciating what was good in my life. I felt great! My mood, hair and skin improved out of sight and I haven't looked back.
A friend of mine is recovering from bulimia. It was so devastating watching her go through this and keep it hidden from everyone except a few select friends. She was by no means overweight when the disease hit her- it was an absolute shock. But with some excellent support she is now on the road to recovery. She felt under pressure from boys, trashy magazines, video clips, movie stars and, of course, other girls, to look a certain way and she nearly destroyed herself in the process. Her metabolism is ruined, her teeth are weakened and she is very thin.

What I'm trying to say is, we've gotta look after ourselves and not buy into the perception of beauty that is thrust upon us. The campaigns in Dolly and Girlfriend are shunning that skeletal, I've-been-drinking-and-on-drugs-and-haven't-eaten-for-four-days look in favour of a healthier image (I particularly love the exercise plans both mags featured in the November issues).

I know none of this is particularly well-written or succinct but I hope I have gotten my point across. The terrible writing is due to two weeks of non-stop studying with breaks only to attend my part-time job. I had my last exam this afternoon and now I'm free for the holidays! But I'm slightly exhausted and my brain isn't keeping up with my thoughts. K, that makes no sense at all! I'll have a better-written post tomorrow, I promise!

Love Bubblygirl xox

I'm Melting, I'm Melting...

It's 30 degrees in Melbourne right now! On the 20th of November! And 37% humidity! And yesterday was the hottest November day in four years! Are you kidding me?! It isn't even summer yet! Don't get me wrong, I love hot weather but it's just so unexpected for this time of year. In honour of our crazy weather, today's post is dedicated to all things hot, hot, hot! (Pluis this gives me the chance to chuck in a few piccys, which -due to my exam revision and therefore lack of time to research and find pics- have been noticeably absent lately). So here we go, in no particular order:

1. Long dresses. I LOVE the '70s maxi dresses that are back for summer! They are so light, breezy and easy to wear. Plus I am super-tall so they are nicely flattering on me! I have three already, including one actual vintage one from the '70s.

2. Jake Gyllenhaal- HOT. 'Nuff said. Just look at him. Seriously, he makes your body temperature rise by like five degrees! (*fans self with hand*) Those eyes! Kills me everytime...

3. Lollies! I have recently curbed by chocolate addiction and have discovered... LOLLIES! They are so much fun and totally remind me of going to birthday parties when I was five. Wohoo!

4. Jim Sturgess- You may not know his name yet, but this adorable Brit is starring the the new musical film based around the Beatles music called Across the Universe. The movie looks incredible and this guy has the accent to melt every girl ( I am a sucker for British accents- can't wait to live there!) and cutey-pie looks. Get to know him before he's too famous! (Doesn't he just have that cheeky British look about him?!)

5. Hamish & Andy. I love these guys! All my friends and family know about my weird obssessive crushes on them- I start hyperventilating whenever they are on Rove, Real Stories, Thank God You're Here or Spicks & Specks and I HAVE to listen to their radio show everyday (if I miss it I have to podcast!). Andy is dating supermodel, super-gorgeous Megan Gale (what a lucky girl!) and Hamish writes a fabulous column for Cosmo every month. They are so cheeky and funny! Check them out here.

6. Mangoes! You gotta love a sweet, juicy mango on a hot afternoon... perfect!

7. The Shebang- another radio show, this one is in Sydney only so I have to podcast it. Marty and Fifi are hilarious and Drew sounds hot! Get into it, guys!

8. Channel 10- I am LOVING Channel 10 right now, mainly just for the fact that they are bringing me Friends SEVEN DAYS A WEEK starting December 3! Thank you Channel 10! Also, I do enjoy a bit of Oprah, Dr. Phil, America's Next Top Model, David Letterman, Are You Smarter Than A Fifth-Grader and, of course, The Office.

9. Daniel McPherson- OK, so City Homicide may have finished last night, but it was so worth it just for Daniel aka "Si/Simon". He's adorable and wears a smart suit on the show every weeks and he's mates with Hamish and Andy.

10. Summer! Bring it on! Christmas, beach days, my birthday, school holidays, trip up to the Murray, sleep-ins- I CAN'T WAIT!

Enjoy and excite!

Love liv xoxo

Song for the day: "Hot In Herre" by Nelly. Ohmigoodness do you guys remember listening to this in like 2003 and dancing all crazy to it?! I have some FABULOUS memories of this song! Great party song!

Pics courtesy of whowhatweardaily.com, papermag.com, rainbowdesigns.com.au, flickster.com, blog.news.com.au, images.foodnetwork.com, images.2dayfm.com.au

Letter to My Thirteen-Year-Old Self

My little sister is thirteen and in Year 7. Watching her go through this year, with all its trials and tribulations and giving her advice, has inspired me to write today's post as a letter back to my thirteen-year-old self; that young girl starting high school seemingly forever ago...

Dear 13-year-old Liv,
Here are a few pointers that will guide you in the right direction and save you from much heartache and frustration in the next few years:
1. High school is NOT scary. Scary is cutting yourself shaving your legs and it JUST WON'T STOP BLEEDING-oh wait it stopped. See, nothing to worry about!
2. Boys are intimidated by smart, opinionated girls as it challenges their developing masculinity and makes them feel stupid. As they get older, the smart guys realise that these sorts of girls are actually quite attractive and worth their time much more than silly Paris Hilton-alikes.
3. Don't worry about being liked or conforming just to be liked. Although popularity feels like the most important thing in the world right now, making friendships with people who actually like you for who you are is waaaaaaaay more vital to your happiness!
4. Always have a camera in your bag.
5. Always have a 'pad' in your bag. 'Nuff said. Just be prepared. You never know...
6. Never let an opportunity pass just coz you're scared of what people will think or you're the only one doing it or whatever- if you want to do it, then do it!
7. You have to work to achieve your goals. Stuff isn't just thrown into your lap, unless you are very very lucky.
8. Boys will never understand the female fascination with shopping, make-up, cute baby animals, Julia Roberts' movies or having good hair. So don't even bother explaining.
9. Don't ever EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER dumb yourself down for ANYONE. If people don't like you because you are intelligent and opinionated, they are SO not worth knowing.
10. Family is everything. Be nicer to your sister. She isn't that bad.
11. Your parents really are doing the best they can. Give them a break.
12. Even if you feel like you have a problem that is so embarrassing that no-one could ever being going through, chances are one of your mates is feeling exactly the same way. Keep the lines of communication open- your friends are life-savers.
13. Boys hate it when we complain about our bodies. You are NOT fat. So stop saying it! As they grow up in school with us, guys start to pretty much just love girls and think they are perfect as they are coz they realise that a sparkling personality, a killer smile and a sense of humour and confidence is hotter than a 6 ft, 50kg, D-cupped blonde without a brain.
14. Self-confidence is the most attractive part of any person. Never apologise for being who you are and don't change for anyone.
15. Choose your battles. Sometimes, it really is just better not to say something. But always speak out on the big issues.
16. Find your passion and follow it whole-heartedly. Don't lose sight of your dreams and desires.
17. Girls will say nasty things about you. Try not to take the bait and sink to their level. While it may be hard to bite your tounge, in a few weeks/months it will seem so trivial you will be glad you didn't explode over nothing.
18. Trust yourself. Especially in exams and tests. You really do know more than you think you do.
19. Never let anyone pressure you into doing something you don't want to do. Especially that time in Year 10 when that guy asks you out and you don't actually like him but everyone tells you to go with him coz it'll be totally awesome and they'll have something to talk about for weeks... just promise me you'll only make decisions when YOU want to, OK?
20. Don't wish away your life wanting to be just a bit older all the time. Life is actually pretty great right now, isn't it? So stop to smell the roses.
21. Flirting is fun. Just don't send off too many signals, coz to some guys an innocent smile in their direction means you simply MUST be in love with them.
22. Boys are stupid. Seriously, they are immature and silly and do stuff that makes us wanna pull our hair out but at the end of the day, we love 'em. And they love us. Just go with it.
23. Mates before dates. Always. No exceptions. Ever.
24. Exercise, sleep, good food and a balanced life is just as important as school, sport and socialising. Look after yourself.
25. Don't be embarrassed about the fact that you love your footy team. Guys actually find it attractive when girls like sport. So if you like sport, be into it. If you don't, don't try to be. See rule 14.
26. Be yourself, love yourself, never apologise for who you are, don't stop giggling, always strive for your goals and love life- it's a great ride!
I hope some of you younger readers can take something away from this! Have a great weekend!

Love bubblygirl
Today's song: "Beautiful Girl's Reply" by Jojo. Jojo has taken Sean Kingston's song and reworked the words so it's all about girl power. Watch it on Youtube and be happy that you're an awesome girl!

Catch-Up Songs

Sorry, just realised I didn't put a song on yesterday's post! I think it should be... hmmm, I think Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" pretty much sums up the feel of yesterday's writings!!
No actual post today due to exam revision (scary!) but the song for today is most suitably Alanis Morissette's "Perfect"- listen to the lyrics and you'll understand the pressure I'm feeling! OK, admittedly the pressure isn't coming from my parents as it is in the song (it's actually the pressure I put on myself!), but that's the way I feel right now.
Have a listen to ol' Blue Eyes (Sinatra, for those who don't know) right here.

Have a great night!

Love bubblygirl

Dream Big!

For a long time now I have been making a list in my head of things I want to do in my lifetime. I have never actually written them down but for some reason I feel like today is the day to do it. So here goes, in no particular order, my current top 30:
1. Ride elephants in Thailand (I've already done that one- earlier this year!)
2. Visit 20 countries within the next 20 years (I figure that is fairly achievable)
3. Sing "I Will Survive" at a kareoke bar (there is a story behind this one: this was the first song I ever sang at kareoke when I was quite young and I was so incredibly nervous. You could hardly even hear me! I nearly died! I have changed a LOT since then and can't wait to belt this one out!)
4. Do the best I possibly can in my last few years of school and then uni
5. Become a vet
6. Live and work in London, England as a vet
7. Get a tattoo (just a little one, like on the back of my neck or something)
8. Kiss a total stranger (don't know if this will happen, but hey, it's my list!)
9. Shop in New York. Actually just to BE in NY would be awesome!
10. Bungee jump (Probably in New Zealand)
11. Sleep under the stars (no tent like I always do, just sky!)
12. Road trip around Australia with friends (This one is already in the works, three of my friends and I are planning already for this at the end of Year 12- Can't wait!)
13. Fall in love- for real! With someone who actually loves me back! (Read some of my old posts to see what I'm talking about)
14. Get dressed up and attend the Melbourne Cup
14.1 Attend any one of the days of the Spring Racing Carnival (i.e. Oaks Day, Cox Plate, Derby Day, etc.)
15. Learn to dance properly (this will happen next year, with my deb ball preparations)
16. Celebrate my birthday, New Year's Eve, in another country
17. Visit Paris in autumn- it looks like it would be soooo beautiful
18. Attend at least one major sporting event (Olympics, etc. But I would most like to go to an AFL grand final)
19. See my footy team, Collingwood Magpies, win a grand final!
20. Visit Germany (this is likely, I'm hopefully heading over there with my German language studies next year)
21. 1 Drive on the Autobahn in Germany (no speed limits! Woo!)
21.2 Celebrate Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
22.Snorkel in a tropical setting (already done this- again in Thailand!)
23. Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef
24. Go skiing
25. Learn to mix cocktails as a bartender (plans already in the works for this one- one of my (future) roadtripping mates, Rachelle, and I are going to do a two-day course at a local TAFE which qualifies you with an alcohol and gaming license)
26. Run a marathon
27. Go skinnydipping
28. Play poker in Vegas
29. Stay out partying all night then go straight to work (not as a vet obviously, that's just dangerous, but when I'm still without responsibility!)
30. Attend a big rock concert (or any concert at all, really!)
31. Take a hot balloon ride
32. Have my own family that is just as great as my family with my parents and siblings now!

Wow it feels so good to have just written this all down- somehow it makes it all more achievable. OK, so there was 32. not 30. But it's addictive! There is so much more I want to do!
What would you have on your list?

Friends!

Oh. My. Goodness. I just found out that my favourite show of ALL-TIME (and that's saying a lot), Friends is coming to Channel 10 by way of repeats! Yes! Wohoo! It's time to get excited people, this may not be a huge deal but we gotta make the most of those simple pleasures, remember?!

No word yet on when the show will commence, but my guess is that it will be in the off-ratings period this summer. I think the reason we love this show is that it is so real. OK, they get up to some crazy s*&% that stretch the truth just a little but you gotta love it!

Some people didn't/don't like the Ross and Rachel saga, but I adore it for its true representation of a long-term, complicated relationship. As "Vogue from the US" commented on the Friends page on imdb.com, "Ross and Rachel getting old? How could it? Do relationships get old in real life? No, they're ongoing, sometimes stagnating, sometimes changing. Thats REAL." So true! "Vogue" goes on to say: "This show is about 6 people who love each other like family...which I must say as an 18 year old... is very real. Once you hit your late teens - early twenties...things begin to change. You grow both closer to and further from your biological family, and as you reach more independence, you adopt another family of your own: YOUR FRIENDS."

Thank you "Vogue" for totally expressing my exact feelings towards the show. I mean, who can resist the adorably innocent Joey and Phoebe, the neurotic Monica (I am so, scarily, like her!), intelligent and insecure Ross, sarcastic but sweet Chandler and, of course, the character that gave us the most copied hairstyle of the '90s, Rachel.

Thank you Channel 10 for giving us this opportunity to relive the magic that is Friends and always remember to value your own Friends- I have really realised in the last few weeks just how much I rely on my friends and how much they rely on me.

Keep it friendly, guys!

Love bubblygirl.

Song for the day: How could it be anything other than "I'll Be There For You" by the Rembrandts?! Catch it on Youtube. Such an adorable clip, too!

Yay!

I'm sure you'll all be glad to hear that after the incredibly depressing weekend full of anger, sadness, self-worthlessness, loss of self-confidence, more anger and more sadness I have had something of an epiphany.

Since early this morning, I have been making a conscious effort to make myself happy. I am so sick of boys and their games and complications, petty fights with friends, etc. Today has been a great day! It didn't hurt that the sun was shining, the birds were singing and I had mango for brekky (yum! My first of the season!)!

So how did I put this happiness into action you ask? Well, I started simply. My little sister was baiting me to pick a fight with her this morning, teasing me and just not leaving me alone. Instead of having a go at her and yelling, I took my dog for his morning walk right then and there instead of a bit later at the time I would regularly go. Score: Unhappiness-0. Me- 1!

Then at school, we were having a discussion about war, a topic which (clearly) gets a lot of people fired up, myself included. While I still got involved in the discussion, I did so in a much more resepectful manner, no shouting or anything like that and I ACTUALLY LISTENED to the opinions of others before commenting on them! It's a Christmas miracle (Sorry, that's my phrase of the moment! Don't you love it? It works both truthfully and sarcastically- the perfect saying!)!

Another awesome point to top off the day is that The Office is on tonight! Yeah! Check it out guys, I reckon it's funnier than the UK verison (ohh, controversial!).

Oh my gosh, I am feeling happier, more relaxed and more confident than I have... well, basically ever! And all because I gave up on my hang-ups, stopped fussing about STUPID SILLY SMELLY IMMATURE boys and embraced the simple things!

I love life right now! I hope it stays this way for a long time!

Hope you guys had as great a Monday as I did!

Song for the day: "Don't Stop" Fleetwood Mac. Catch the lyrics have a listen here. It's just so positive!

Oh another great thing for the day: Hamish Blake, of "Hamish & Andy" just beat Katie Holmes' marathon attempt by four minutes! Go Hamish!

So guys embrace the positive, and have a great time in life!

Songs for Life

I have dragged myself out of the doldrums and depression and decided to each day dedicate a song to my mood for the day or my post.

Today's song: "Am I Not Pretty Enough", Kasey Chambers. Read a copy of the lyrics here. I especially related to the lines: "Am I too outspoken?/Don't I make you laugh?/Should I try it harder" and of course, the entire chorus. I'm gonna go cry now. Have a great weekend.

Disaster!

It's Saturday Morning. 8:36am. I have been in a daze and on a bizarre emotional rollercoaster since... well actually, this time yesterday. I had to pull through and go to school and then work last night but today I have freed up my schedule so I can wallow in my sorrow all day long. I don't think I'll be able to get out of bed. I hate boys. HATE THEM. And hate is a very strong word. So here's what happened at 8:30 yesterday...
I am in a carpool to get to school. It involves three families, all of which went away camping on the weekend. My best guy friend, let's call him Rob, leaps into the car and we chat away, as per usual, before he drops a little bombshell. Here's how the conversation went down:
ME: Get up to anything exciting last night, Rob?
ROB: (All excitedly) Yeah, actually. I helped Pete ask Lauren out last night and now they are officially going out!
(Refresher: Pete is Rob's best mate and Lauren is the girl who was on our camping weekend, but only for a day. She rejected Pete months ago and ever since, Rob and Pete has been very wary of her, being the tight "brothers" that they are. I have a MASSIVE crush on Pete and we had a very flirty weekend with interest coming from both sides. Read my post from two days ago to see just how much he paid *special" attention to me.)
ME: (Devastated) Oh... wow... that's great... hehe... haha.
ROB: Yeah, he asked her on MSN last night.
ME: *silence*

I started off feeling a lot of animosity towards Lauren but now I realise that it's not her fault. It's not her fault Pete flirted with me all weekend. It's not her fault I don't want anyone else to play with my hair but Pete. It's not her fault that Pete apparently finds her infinitely more attractive than me. It's not her fault I was STRUNG ALONG by a stupid silly boy.
I am so SO angry at Pete! How could he do this is to me?! Playing with my hair, feeding me melting marshmallows, play-fighting, sharing drinks, looking after me when I didn't feel well, playing poker with me, flirting ALL WEEKEND LONG!
I feel so stupid for letting him lead me on like that. I feel so used. It's like, for the four days that Lauren wasn't away with us, he was using me as a substitute for her. Every moment that he was quiet and I thought he was looking at me, he was probably thinking about HER and how perfect she is and how he would ask her out when he got home.
I can't believe I let myself foolishly think that he could ever just like me. I'm not blonde, or super-busty, or flat-stomached like Lauren, but I'm not hideous. I'm smart, I can be funny, I'm caring and flirty and I can be fun. What is so wrong with me that I can't find a guy who I like and who also likes me, not just one or the other?!
(It's also not Lauren's fault that I had a fabulous dream last night in which Pete and I were getting married. You know what they say: Date a blonde, marry a brunette... Let's hope against hope that that was some sort of premonition of the future. Please, Dream Gods, make it happen!!)
One of my dear, dear friend's advice was: "He's a guy. He probably just had excess testosterone to blow off and you were the closest target. I'm sorry, honey, I just think he wanted to have a flirt and you were there. Figuratively speaking, he just couldn't keep it in his pants." Devastating stuff, I know, but that's what friends are for- they tell you what you need to, not want to, hear.

I'm gonna go cry into my cereal now. Have a great weekend.
Please comment, I feel so alone.

Just A Quick Post

Hi sorry I was home late tonight and I'm just about to head out again now so I have two quick little updates to shoot off to you today...

First off, Ben Cousins has returned to Australia, reportedly to Sydney to continue his rehab closer to home but away from the glare of Western Australia. Good luck, Ben!

Secondly, if you read my post from yesterday the following will make a lot more sense! So the guy who I will from here on refer to as ULS (Unrequited Love of September), the guy who really liked me in September but I just didn't feel the same way about, has started flirting/hitting on me again. Today he played with my hair as I walked out of the classroom ahead of him and I had a total realisation, epiphany, lightbulb moment or as Oprah would call it, my "aha!" moment: I don't want any guy to play with my hair but Pete. I don't want anyone else to touch me or flirt with me or do ANYTHING with me except for Pete.

This is terrible! It means I really am stuck on Pete! I thought this was just a little crush... arrgghh I have to shake this off somehow and focus on my upcoming exams. I couldn't focus through my three practise exams today; I was so distracted thinking about my fabulous weekend and, of course, Pete. I can't focus, I have no appetite, I can't sleep... This is so bad!

Any comments, bloggers and readers? I could really use some feedback, I feel kinda alone!

Love and a stomach full of butterflies,
bubblygirl.

I've Got A Crush On You

I know you've all heard that lame but sweet Mandy Moore song, "Crush" (if you haven't listen to and watch it here) and I know you have all probably had a crush at some point. But I have a serious crush on a guy right now and it is HURTING ME I like him so much!

This is going to be a completely self-indulgent post and I promise I'll return to current affairs/interesting stuff that relates to other people tomorrow but today I really just have to get all this off my chest.

Let's just say his name is Pete. I have known him for years, our families holiday together three times a year with several other families. Pete is the best friend of one of my best guy friends, is the same age as me and is COMPLETELY ADORABLE! He is a total flirt, is cheeky, silly, taller than me (no mean feat, I'm nearly six foot!), athletic, blonde, enthusiastic, thoughtful and sweet. He has these huge blue eyes that melt me completely- he could ask me to do anything and I would do it as long as he just looked me in the eye when he asked!

We have flirted for a few years now and we all went camping together on this past long weekend and things kicked up a gear. He taught me how to play poker, we play-wrestled in his tent (other kids were in there too, it wasn't just the two of us!), we shared a blanket around the fire, we took it in turns toasting each other marshmallows and feeding them to each other from the stick, he looked after me when I came down with a cold... it was a GREAT weekend.

The thing is, now it's over and I won't get to see him until January when we next go away. My stomach, head, throat and heart all ache with... longing, I guess. I just want to have one more day with him the way it was on the weekend!

I know nothing can ever happen between us because if it did, our whole playful relationship would be ruined. But at the same time, what if something more were to happen? Would we be great together? Could we get along if things didn't work out?

You are probably reading this and going, "Yeah, OK, we've all had crushes too. Move on, hon! Plenty of fish in the sea..." The reason I feel so strongly about this particular crush is that Pete was the first guy to show me that sort of attention since my disasterous break-up of August and the unrequited love of another guy in September (I just didn't feel the same way as he did and I had to let him know before anything happened- that was the issue with the August break-up, I let myself be led into a relationship I knew I wan't interested in AT ALL. But that is another post for another day. Actually there are probably another seventeen posts in that issue alone!) and I just lapped up the attention and adored every second of it!

I feel sick! I can't get him out of my head! There was a moment on the weekend when he stroked my hair when my head was in his lap and I swear to you, I have been floating on a cloud ever since. Maybe he is just a player (or "playa". Woo! In da hood, gansta!), maybe he actually likes me, maybe I'm going to go INSANE thinking about all this...

Arrgghh, whoever says girls are complicated has never been in this situation; Boys are so confusing! They pick us up, treat us like princesses then turn us off and on like taps in the kitchen sink!

Can anyone, and I mean ANYONE, offer me ANY sort of advice. PLEASE help. I am reaching into cyberspace here, praying that there is a girl (or even a guy) who is older and wiser than I and knows how to deal with this.

PLEASE!!

Found a great quote that PERFECTLY describes what is happening here, I'm sure many of you can relate to this:

"That's why they call them crushes. If they were easy, they'd call them something else."

-Anonymous

BTW, I want to be the girl in this piccy at left. He is totally protecting her and she looks so at ease and in love and it's all just so sweet! I want to be in love but with someone who loves me back, not just this one-way street I have had so much experience with lately (working both ways- guy likes me, I don't like him; I like guy, he just plays with me).

HELP!! PLEASE!!