Merry Monday!

Here's a picture to brighten up your Monday!

Have a fantastic week!

Confidence

For a few days over the past week, I have felt like making myself look 'pretty'. This involves putting on a bit of make-up, nice clothes, and putting my hair up. Now, when I say I want to make myself look 'pretty', it's not because I think I look ugly. I just wanted to make myself look and feel nice.

This has gotten me thinking. I do not remember one point in the past few years where I have looked into the mirror and have thought of myself as 'ugly' or 'unattractive'. Not once. I look in the mirror and think that there are other girls prettier than me. Let's face it, we all think that way. And yes, I have my 'imperfections' - we all do. However, I don't think of myself as ugly.

Then I thought: 'Why? So many other people consider themselves unattractive. Why do I have such confidence that I am beautiful?'

Then it hit me.

A few years ago, I, like a lot of other people, would wait for someone to tell me I was beautiful, pretty, amazing, wanted, and fantastic. I had the frame of mind that these things were only true if someone else told me that they were. Then, one day, I got tired of waiting. So, I started telling myself these things. I repeated them over and over until I believed it myself. Now, although I still am shy, insecure, and a generally private person - I do not have an issue with how I look. Yes, I am quite underweight, but that isn't a problem. It's just me.

This is a lot of people's problem: they wait for other people to tell them that they are wanted, beautiful, and valued. The thing is, though, with other people, they are only temporary. Even if you find someone who thinks all of these things of you, chances are they won't say it every day. You won't see them every second of every day. The only person who can tell you these things exactly when you need or want to hear them is yourself. You are the only person who can tell yourself every second until you die. So, why not start now? Keep telling yourself these things, and if other people want to try and make you feel ugly, unworthy, or useless, then that's their fault. It's their loss for not wanting to be friends with such an awesome person as you.

Of course, we should all try to make everyone around us feel beautiful and wanted, but in order to truly feel this ourselves, we need to convince ourselves we are, instead of waiting for someone else to convince us.

Doing this makes us feel a lot more confident. It's how we become confident, I think.

We shouldn't be vain, though. We shouldn't brag about how much more beautiful we are than other people, just because we feel like we are. That is selfish, and a horrible thing to do. We can feel beautiful and valued without being vain: that was always my goal when I began this journey of telling myself these things, and I have realised that I have
achieved it.

The idea of this post came after I began to write up a caption
for this photo on my Instagram.

Goals for 2015

Okay, I know it's nearly the end of January, but better late than never, right?

At the end of last year I had no goals for the new year. No resolutions. I sat back, and thought to myself how 'I couldn't be bothered' with resolutions this year. I mean, they never work out, anyway.

Over the past month, however, I have changed my mind. I will, indeed, try to work on a few things.

First things first, I want to get back into drawing. I have done next to no drawing the past 6 months, and I would rather like to just sit down, pick up a pencil, and draw. I want to improve on my portrait drawings, and also delve into drawing animals, and also with different mediums. I want to start using coloured pencils, and even paints, maybe.
I attended an art workshop about two weeks ago, and painted two pictures: one with watercolour paints, and one with acrylic paints. I was quite pleased with the results!

Watercolour painting

Acrylic painting

Another goal of 2015 is to read more. I didn't read very many books last year, and I would like to change that. Any suggestions of good books for me to read? I am in the process of reading the Divergent series.

I want to cook more. It's been on the back of my mind to bake, and maybe I will, once the weather cools down a little.

2014 was the year of me opening up. I was shut inside of myself for as long as I can remember, and was reluctant to let anyone in. Last year, I opened up, made, and reinforced, some pretty fantastic friendships. This year will be more for figuring out hobbies that I enjoy to do. My biggest goal is to try new things, and figure out what I like. Do I like to draw? Paint? Make things? Scrapbook? Make cards? What TV shows do I like? What movies? Books? What kind of books? Do I like writing? If so, what would I write? All these questions are going through my head, and I hope to be able to find out the answers to them.

Another resolution in my mind is to blog more. But, I have that resolution every year. Let's hope that this year I can actually fulfil it.

Happy New Year!

Chocolate Mousse Muffins (Optionally Gluten Free and Lactose / Dairy free!)

Tonight I spent some time in the kitchen baking! I was on Facebook, and came a cross an interesting looking muffin recipe - which only had 3 ingredients! I was curious, so I decided to make a batch - they turned out very well, and are extremely delicious!

We had our oven at a slightly lower temperature (well, maybe) - it can be a bit of a dodgy oven so we're never sure what temperature it's actually at! Also, we spooned it into little patty cake papers, and only cooked them for around 15 minutes instead of 20.

I found the recipe here: 4 Ingredients - Chocolate Mousse Cupcakes - it has information about the cookbook, and the page has other recipes with 4 or less ingredients in it!

Image copyrighted to www.4ingredients.com.au

(GLUTEN FREE / LACTOSE FREE) CHOCOLATE MOUSSE MUFFINS

Makes 12-15

Ingredients

250g (7oz) block of chocolate - preferably dark 70% cacao

3 eggs (beaten)

1/4 cup Self Raising Flour (Gluten Free if you are coeliac)

Method

1. Melt chocolate (in microwave 10 secs at a time until melted).

2. Crack eggs into bowl with chocolate and beat well

3. Mix in 1/4 cup of the self raising/rising flour. Mix with a wooden spoon.

4. Spoon into patty cake papers (approx 12-15) 

5. Bake in a preheated oven for 20 mins at 180C/360F

NOTE:

Use dairy free dark chocolate if you are lactose intolerant or dairy free.

If you are not lactose intolerant or gluten free, then you can use normal self-raising flour and the chocolate of your choice.

Hope you enjoy this recipe - and remember to like my Facebook page here!

Daybook - No. 6

Outside my window...
I hear busy sounds of the highway. It's late at night, so not so busy, though!

I am thankful...
That over the past few weeks, I was able to go to Sydney to play with the London Symphony Orchestra, audition for the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Elder Conservatorium of Music (in Adelaide) (Bachelor of Music Performance - Classical), and see all my close friends while I was doing it! I'm also thankful for a feature in the local Newspaper! One more thing to be thankful for: I received the 'Student Of The Year' award at my local conservatorium!

I am thinking...
About how I will spend tomorrow - my birthday.

Learning all the time...
I have learnt this week a little bit about baking - I haven't done too much in the past, but tonight and last night had me in the kitchen baking doughnuts and cupcakes!

From the kitchen...
Not too much now, but I did cook some 'Chocolate Mousse Cupcakes' - I'll post the recipe up after this post!

I am creating...
Lately, just wonderful memories.

I am working on...
Trying to stay relaxed more often!

I am going...
To see friends, also to our local Ice Cream store's 5th birthday this week!

I am hoping...
That next year will go smoothly and fantastically!

I am praying...
For the victims of the Sydney Siege - and for the person responsible for it.

I am pondering....
What is meant to be for my future?

I am reading...
Nothing at the moment

I am listening to......
Just the sound of my fan and the highway.

I am hearing...
^ Ditto!

I am struggling...
Not really struggling at the moment: that's something new!

Around the house...
People are asleep

One of my favourite things...
My friends and family!

A few plans for this week...
I have my birthday tomorrow (well.. today, Wednesday) - will visit some friends! Later in the week we will head off to our local ice cream store, as it's their 5th birthday. I also need to finish my Christmas shopping this week!

A little peek at my day...
Today I woke up quite late, and lazed around a little because I didn't feel too well. Then I cooked dinner, washed up dishes, and cooked cupcakes! 

Front page!

The Article!

Also, if you haven't liked my Facebook page yet - click here to go check it out!

Things Have Been Happening!

I'm afraid I have become very slack about my blogging over the past month! How lazy of me!

Admittedly, though, I have been doing a lot of things. I'll give you a quick rundown of my past couple of months!

In July, I went down to South Australia. To Adelaide! I went down for South Australian Music Camp, which went really well. I loved going down, as well, because I saw some of my best friends. It was disappointing that I could only be down for a week, but that's life sometimes!

My next big trip was in August. I went down to Sydney for a workshop with the AOBO (Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra). That was a lot of fun, we had a tour around the opera centre, and played in the Opera House! I learnt quite a lot about the process of putting on an opera, it's quite fascinating!

I also saw some of my close friends, and made more friends while I was there! It was amazing! Again, I was only down for a week, but it seemed like longer, and I saw more people, as I stayed at Campion College, where all my friends are. Also, in Adelaide I only had one full free day, in Sydney I had two, and the workshop days were only half-days.

Last Sunday, I had a big thing happen. I performed a solo-duet, with a soprano, and with an orchestra behind me! We played 'Totem in Corde Langueo' by Franz Schubert.

It went really well, and everybody loved hearing myself and my fellow soloist play/sing!

I also wore a bowtie!

Another thing that happened was that I played in a concert at my local conservatorium. The Sinfonia ensemble, which I am in, played with a guitarist by the name of Bruce Mathiske. It was an awesome, and very educational, experience!

Last thing, I received my result for my Grade 8 AMEB Clarinet exam. I received a B, which I am quite happy with! That's a good result, considering I was sitting the highest numbered grade!

Anywho, that's the major things that have been happening in my musical life!


Have you liked my page on Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/livingacrosstheriver/

Very Inspiring Blogger Award!

I was surprised, and so happy, to find out the other day that Imogen from Imogen Elvis: Gossping With Dragons had nominated me for the 'Very Inspiring Blogger Award'! Thank you so so much, Imogen!

The rules:

1. Thank and link to the amazing person who nominated you.

1. List the rules and display the award.

1. Share seven facts about yourself.

1. Nominate 15 other amazing blogs and comment on their posts to let them know they have been nominated.

1. Proudly display the award logo on your blog and follow the blogger who nominated you.

So, thanks again, Imogen! It was really unexpected!

7 Facts About Me:

1. I have been playing the clarinet for 9 years, and learning for 4
2. I studied the human face for around 7 years, because I wanted to be able to draw portraits.
3. My favourite book series at the moment is Ranger's Apprentice, although I am currently reading The Dark Is Rising sequence, and I am thoroughly enjoying it - it won't surprise me if that becomes my new favourite book series!
4. My favourite Marvel hero is probably Iron Man, and my favourite villain is Loki.
5. I recently dyed my hair red!
   
   
   
6. I recently completed my Grade 8 AMEB practical exam, I'm hoping that I'll receive the results soon! I don't think I'll get the A I wanted, but you never know!
7. I've tried to think about what my life will be like in ten years, but, in all honesty, I have absolutely no idea. I could be anywhere, doing anything. I know my next immediate step in my music career, but I have no idea what will happen after that, let alone what my personal life will be like. I can't even fathom many possibilities of what may or may not happen. I guess I'll just keep all options open, and not think about it!

Nominations

I'd like to nominate Sue Elvis from http://www.storiesofanunschoolingfamily.com/ , I always find her posts extremely interesting, and inspiring in the ways of unschooling!

I think I need to read more blogs, though, because that's the end of my very inspiring bloggers list.

Thanks again, Imogen!