2013s
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The Holiday. Two women swap homes for a holiday and both end up finding love. Such a very sweet film and the cast is perfect (if you have not seen it, go watch it).
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Romeo + Juliet (directed by Baz Luhrmann). There have been quite a few film adaptations of Shakespeare’s book over the years, but this is by far my favourite. Plus, it has a really great soundtrack.
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The Notebook. It’s damn near impossible to watch this film without getting teary-eyed. It’s ridiculously romantic and beautiful.
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Before Sunset. This is the sequel to the film Before Sunrise, which is also brilliant. I love the dialogue in both films. If you have not seen this film yet, I would recommend that you watch the first one before this one.
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Serendipity. A really great romantic comedy that tells the story of two people who meet by chance in New York one night and fate brings them back together years later.
- Never show up to a dinner/party/thing without something in your hands
- Leaving clothes wet in the washing machine will make the colours run
- Always overdress, rather than underdress, for a job interview
- You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar
- Woody Allen makes weird films
- If you condense all of your shopping purchases into one bag, it softens the blow on your husband
- If you’ve married a good man, he won’t mind how many shopping bags you come home with
- Plain flour can’t be substituted with self-raising flour
- “Don’t marry for money, but don’t be silly enough to fall for someone without any”
- You can’t make new old friends
- Men need the short version, every time.
- Eating healthy when Im sick is really hard
- 'Mean Girls' is a really good movie, and yes I am a little embarrassed to admit that
- You will reach a certain age when crap friends need to be left behind, I have reached that age
- Josh and I fight differently, not bad, just different
- You cant make new old friends
- When blending pumpkin soup, its important to not be wearing white
- To be able to be completely yourself with someone is pretty rare and very awesome
- I have coughed in Josh's mouth, mid kiss, twice this week... AND he still loves me
- This is so true: "We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are."-Anaïs Nin
- Your dad thinks the world of you and will support you through anything.
- Your mother is my greatest treasure and gets my upmost respect and trust. You should treat her even better than I do.
- Let music be your mistress.
- Never underestimate the power of doing chores unasked.
- Never miss a practice and I’ll never miss a game.
- Don’t ever start quitting; it’s a hard habit to break.
- Never say no to a breath mint or deodorant.
- Aim higher; no one accidentally became prime minister.
- You will fall in love and marry one day, so be discreet and save money.
- Become an expert in something.
- Don’t spend too much money on a haircut. They don’t last. But don’t tell your girlfriend or wife that.
- Dance with the prettiest girl at the dance.
- Only flip your steak once and cook it until the blood rises on each side.
- In monopoly buy the orange properties.
- Always pack a pair of jeans. They go with everything.
My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that,and I intend to end up there.
– Ruminant
#ilovemyjob
I am loving my job! I never thought I'd end up selling Beauty promises in a jar... But now I can't imagine doing anything else!
cereal for dinner?
It has been a year: We made it. It has been a good year for Team Withers. Some days we have skipped together, run, or walked; others have felt like an army crawl through mud and in the dark. Some days have been hard, but they have always been good. Here is a little of what I’ve learnt;One year ago, I wrote a blog- wedding cake for breakfast- it was a raw look at what my first two weeks of marriage looked like. I had always heard people harp on that year one of marriage was the hardest, but never understood, until I was knee deep.I see now, after 365 days, that what they meant is that year one is an ADJUSTMENT.
It’s someone sharing your closet, getting water all over the bathroom floor, and someone sitting on the toilet for 25 minutes when you’ve just woken up and need to pee. It’s the compromise between unhealthy snacks and ‘chick food’. It’s the disagreement over salad for dinner, whether Naturopaths are legit, and if the current government is going to destroy the country. It’s the moments when you choose not to yell when they have forgotten the one thing you asked for, the time to choose love over your ego.
Living with someone who loves you wholeheartedly is the best, and its unbelievably liberating.A single friend of mine always comments that she is far too independent to be married and I giggle inside because, I have found, that a right relationship will spur the creativity within you and push you further than where you could have gone alone. I love my hubby, I love our home, our kitty, our business, and our plans for our future. I love our baby names and our travel plans. I love that I speed home just to talk to him and he always drops whatever he is doing to fulfil that need.My marriage has gone from the sugary high of wedding cake for breakfast, to the wholesome nutrients of cereal for dinner, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Almost a year ago we danced to this song. And my husband has been living up to the lyrics ever since.
We’ve been together for a while now we’re growing stronger everyday now It feels so good and there is no doubt I will stay with you As each morning brings sunrise and the flowers bloom in springtime On my lovin' you can rely and I’ll stay with you Oh I’ll stay with you through the ups and the downs Oh I’ll stay with you when no one else is around When the dark clouds arrive I will stay by your side I know we’ll be alright I will stay with you Though relationships can get old have a tendency to grow cold We have something like miracle yeah, and I’ll stay with you Oh I’ll stay with you through the ups and the downs Yes I’ll stay with you when no one else is around When the dark clouds arrive I will stay by your side I know we’ll be alright I will stay with you
My top 5: romantic films (right now)
This was definitely my hardest ‘top 5’ list so far. I mean, how could I choose just 5 romantic films when I love about 100? Well, somehow I managed to (though it took a while). Also, you may be surprised to see that I ended up leaving out classics like Pretty Woman, Casablanca, Titanic, When Harry Met Sally, and Love Actually. Not to say that I don’t love all those films, but for this list, I decided to rather go with films that I was more inclined to watch right now.
This thing called LOVE
This thing called LOVE - by Jenna McManus–
A few things have happen this past month that have made me look at love in a new light. I don’t know if you could say I have the authority to really be talking about this topic, as I, myself have never actually been in love. But who’s to say I’m not just as qualified as someone who has? I’m working on learning how to love myself day by day, and my life too. But what I’ve started to notice about love of late is from things I have seen and witnessed; words I have heard spoken, and thoughts I have listened too. Which got me thinking about this…
there are too many mediocre things in life, and mediocre love shouldn’t be one of them
It got me thinking about how we as humans tend to settle for things far too ordinary. We accept that what will be will be, too often. We just suck it up and get on with it instead of fighting for something far more extraordinary. Is it because it all seems too hard now? Its out of reach, unattainable? The “I can’t be bother” mentality washes over our pretty rose colored glasses and the possible opportunity for the fuck you could have gave is now gone. You’ve settled and for some reason you’re ok with it.
I see this far too often. Is it that we just grin and bare it? You couldn’t be f’ed working on the extra 10% that could make your relationship with life and love all the more extraordinary.
The mediocre things in life are the cards that came in the deck of grownup-hood: wake up to a daily routine, the same smell of coffee and those nine to five hours we dread (more like eight to six). We accept it as “life”. All those thoughts you had as a starry-eyed teenager, trying to figure out what exact extraordinary things you wanted to achieve now seem like a distant memory. It wasn’t so long ago you felt this radical change come over you. High school was out and it was as if something much bigger than you was on the horizon; this life full of adventure, new experiences and carving out this dream you so badly wanted to make a reality.
And then it came. The settling into life, and all what may now seem like naivety has washed away
But it doesn’t need to be like this.If we can accept that life will throw some cliched mediocre things our way, we can still fight for the one thing that doesn’t have to be mediocre. LOVE.
Love is the one thing that comes in an abundance of forms. You can love your job, you can love your partner and you most certainly can (and should) love yourself. The energy you put into this lovable life can be that life changing thing you need to cut yourself from the rat race and go on to living an extraordinary life, with an extraordinary relationship with LOVE.
You see, theres no need to settle, not yet.
Because unless its mad, passionate, crazy love, then you my friend better start working on finding that extra 10% to be even more great than you are right now.
10 things I learnt from my Mama
What have you learnt from your mama?
We had the most magical honeymoon. Tasmania, defiantly not where I had ever imagined going, especially for my honeymoon. Now, I wish we could go back! #discoveringplacestogether #balinext #love
This is my favourite quote. My Dad bought me this print and we have only just gotten around to putting it up (we will probably get kicked out for putting a hole in the wall, but it's well worth it)
Lavender
Lavender is a protector, evil hates it. When you feel emotional or overwhelmed, go to silence and put lavender in your bath water or on your bed. When you get out, put a few lavender drops in a towel and rub yourself down with it. Your skin radiates the flower essence and the negative feelings back off. You become more free, less attacked.
#lifeismorethanahashtag
Being married is the greatest gift that Ive been given. In all of my wildest dreams, I never imagined that I would be lucky enough to have this kind of love in my life. We both understand that we live a privileged life- living with a double income we always have (organic) food in our fridge, a warm bed, expensive uggs and a roof in a trendy neighbourhood. Lately I have found myself pulling back from social media, deleting/ unfollowing 'friends' who I dont know or see on a regular basis. It's too much information to be flooded with, every minute of the day and I can help but sometimes compare myself to beautiful strangers, walking a different path than me. People comment on how wonderful our lives look through the fancy instagram filters- but let me tell you that behind every picture is a woman aching to become a mum, a friend who feels a little lonely at times and a wife who feels guilty for letting the housework slip or when she snaps at her husband after a full day of work.I would never want people to compare or think that our life is a bed of roses. I have a husband who farts too much and he has a wife who nags a little too often. We ride the waves of life like everyone, making the most of everyday... xo
People who deal in levels of false expectation often find it difficult to work in a high degree of cooperation. When you enter into an expectation that someone will behave a certain way or a situation will turn out a certain way or you will get a certain result from your action- and that expectation turns out to be false- you often find yourself expressing disappointment unhappiness, despair or depression... depending on your emotional investment in the outcome. Expectation is a good area to stay away from. When you just let other be and cooperate with what is, you find your life flowing along much more smoothly.*please note that I sometimes still buy into expectations and float between the idea that I only expect what I am willing to give. Life's a journey I guess
Paris is always a good idea….
10 things I learnt this week
Kaila
I got the privilege of meeting this bubba today! I donated eggs to her parents about 18 months ago, and they got pregnant first try!!
One Saturday morning, I was looking for a treadmill in the paper and stumbled across an ad by her parents for an egg donor. Expecting it would be similar to a papsmear (it’s not by the way), we met and all got along really well and they picked me to be their donor. About three months of testing, injections and a two operations later AND after 10 years of trying, with multiple miscarriages, Teena was pregnant. (there was a lot of pressure on my eggs to preform!!)
Today, at the City Botanical Gardens, I met Kaila and her parents. It was special and so surreal. Many people close to me didnt feel that meeting her would be a good idea, but it’s the best one Ive had to date!!
She is happy, feisty, curious, head strong, funny and very much loved!! It’s truly the most important thing I’ve ever done! x
15 pieces of advice for my son, by Josh
The difference between Men and Women
…The Scenario - Going to have coffee down at Bulimba::
Britt - Has a shower, does hair and makeup (well, tinted moisturiser), gets dressed and brushes teeth. All ready to go.
Josh - Still in underwear, stills down and twitters on his phone. Checks something for afternoon wedding. Checks something on computer. Goes to the toilet.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN!!!!!
Happy Birthday Kelly Belly!
Happy birthday to one of the most sweet, loving, loyal true friend a girl could have!sushi. boys. gym. new friends. oldfriends. weddings. breakups. hurts. new jobs. old jobs. knitting.- We’ve seen it all.
Happy birthday!! Here’s to your best year yet! xo
