Oats and Bows has moved to Wordpress!!

www.oatsandbows.wordpress.com

Add this link to your blogroll please!!

Come visit soon :)

Dearest Bloggers,

I have discovered the name of my newest game - it is called the “Amy might have been drunk but let’s not talk about it” game. Amongst that there is also the “Act sober in front of the family game” and the “pretend not to be hungover game”. Needless to say, tonight was  the first night I have ever been drunk in my life, despite being quite close countless times. I made out with, erm, a couple of people, but here’s some advice ladies, just because you want to forget whatshisface, doesn’t mean you should hook up with someone else to try. 

I am full of life lessons, aren’t I??

Though I must say, a high point of the night was spent drinking Jagerbombs and dancing to My Chemical Romance, another rolling around in the sand (I know, it sounds suss) and looking for my friends phone, and upon calling it realizing she had given me her dad’s number instead of hers.

I still may have some amount of alcohol in my system, so let me sleep, and I shall get back to you tomorrow morning.

Overall points to remember from tonight:

1. I ate whatever I wanted
2. I drank without caring about calories
3. I lived
4. I felt alive and free

<3

P.S Trying to pretend to be sober to your Dutch family friends when in normal circumstances you can barely understand them, is pointless, yet verrrrry difficult.

Hola, my chicas!!

Today I got to thinking about new years resolutions. I usually make some, but never really end up keeping them, because of all the pressure associated with them. This year, I’ve decided instead to write a list of things I want to achieve in 2010, rather than things I have to change.

In 2010, I would like to....

• Learn Dutch
• Learn Mandarin
• Focus on study more
• Train for and run 4km
• Save 4,000 dollars +
• Read the top 25 penguin classics
• Blog everyday (within reason)
• Challenge myself at least once each day
• Get promoted mid year at YABC
• Apply for and get a second year internship in parliament

The ‘resolution’ about challenging myself refers not just to food, but in all areas of life. As someone once said,  ‘do something each day that scares you’. In order to live a more free life, I vote that we all ‘seize the day’, and do something that scares us. If we try and achieve this, I think we can one day succeed at living ‘free’ of ED, or at least have the strength to challenge it whenever it returns.

My challenge to you, gorgeous girls, is to write your own list. It doesn’t have to be as long as mine, or it can be longer, whatever you want. As long as it’s things that YOU want to achieve, without ED’s interference. I’m calling this my ‘Decade of freedom’ challenge. Cheesy, I know, but when things have a title they sound more realistic ;)

Anyway, I hope you all at least give it a go, and maybe even post yours on your blogs.

Love you all.

So I'm back from Eden. But in about two hours I'm driving up to Lorne with my family.

To tell you the truth, my week with my friend and her family was, well, interesting. They eat so much, and I'm not just saying this. I felt really rude, because they were trying to be so accomodating vegan-wise, but they ate so differently to me. And by the end of my holiday in Eden, I really wanted to get away from my friend. I find it amazing how you find out people's little annoying habits when you stay with them for a period of time, and hers started to get on my nerves.

But anyway, enough of that. I think I'll be taking my laptop with me to Lorne, but it all depends on whether I can get reception.

I'll tell you what I'm looking forward to in Lorne??

This.

Fritz Gelato's bounty flavour gelato. Totally vegan, and totally delicious.

So while my little 6 and 4 year old cousins go to the other ice cream shop and get some rainbow ice cream, you can bet I'll be running down to Fritz ;)

I'll end this post with a random photo my friend took of me in Eden. It seriously doesn't look like me :)

Hey!!

I write this quick blog to let you all know that I won't be posting for about a week - I'm going away with my friend and her family on a holiday to the beach.

:) I'll post when I get back. I'm a bit nervous to tell you the truth, but hopefully it should be fun.


<3

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and get lots of presents from Santa ;)

As I type this it is 11.42pm on December the 24th, and I have just spent the evening home alone cooking (yes cooking!!), wrapping presents and listening to christmas carols. Oh, and being a camera 'ho, as you can see above (yes, the candy canes are in the shape of a heart).

This picture represents what I think Christmas is about. Contrary to popular belief, Christmas is not about food, or social eating. I don't even think it's too much about religion. It's about family, friends, and expressing the love you feel for them 365 days of the year. It's about being yourself, being free, even if something (or someone) tells you that you shouldn't.

I love you all, and I truly don't think I'd be as free or as happy as I am today without you. This sounds like a goodbye message, but don't fret, I'm not leaving you!! On the contrary, I am also using Christmas as an opportunity to celebrate my return to this lovely world, with lovely people :)

<3 LOVE YOU.

P.s  You know you're cool when you have excess sugar cookie batter stuck to the bottom of your feet.

;)

Meoww.

So today, I bought what I think is the BEST T-SHIRT EVER.

As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to buy it.

:)

As you may know, I'm vegan, so this is perfect for me.

Ignore my penguin pyjama pants.

<3

So after I apologized profusely for my hiatus, I erm.... disappeared.

I apologize again, I never meant to disappear from the blogosphere, because I adore you all. Things happened beyond my control, then I was busy, then I was out of the country, then I was devastated.

As I said in my previous entry many moons ago, my great uncle died, so I (along with the rest of my family) basically lost two weeks trying to deal with it/get back to "normal" again. After that, I started my part time job at my mum's work, where I'm an executive assistant (sounds fancy, isn't). At the same time I had yabc concerts, then mum and I went to Bali (a trip which was a present for my 18th birthday). I arrived in Darwin at 3.00am on the way home to a text message telling me my ENTER score, the mark I received for year twelve. All I will say is that it wasn't what I had hoped for, and not high enough for even my back up universities. Needless to say, I was upset. If you classify screaming and sobbing for hours on end upset. Which I do.

Anyway, I post this to tell you all that as of today I will be returning to blogging, I pinky swear.

I leave you with a photo of me at the entrance to Kuta Beach in Bali.

<3

Sorry about my hiatus, I've had so much going on lately, it's actually quite crazy.

My great uncle died on Thursday, and mum and I have been moving into our new apartment.

I promise to post properly once my life is a bit more organized :)

<3

I do not have any photos, but I do have news.

a) I'm finished high school, forever.

b) I ATE CHINESE FOOD.

If you're asking yourself did you read that right, you sure did ;) Tonight, mum and I randomly decided to stop at a place near our house called 'Oodles of Noodles' (cute name) and get some food. We got the vegetarian noodles to share and OMG. I can't believe I ever stopped eating this. We got to watch them make it, they barely put any oil in, and they stir fried it all healthy like. Which made me happy, because even if I need to challenge ED, I have always been a firm believer in trying to be healthy. They were so good, we shared a takeaway box and there was so much in it, that when mum put her heap in the bowl it looked like there was way more than half left.

Anyways, I was proud of myself. For both pieces of news stated above. I'm free!! From school at least, and one step closer to being free from ED.

Today was spent studying in the city, I decided not to go the library because it's air conditioned and obviously I still get cold pretty easily. Last time I studied there I was pretty distracted the whole time because I was so cold. Instead I went to the shopping centre, and sat where they have little tables with powerpoints set up. Only problem was it smelt a bit like fast food and fried chicken (to say a bit is an understatement), but at least I wasn't freezing my fingers off!!

Breakfast was cereal, but my study fuel was a little different:

Apricot-coconut fruit bar, and Cherry Pie Larabar.

I really liked the Larabar, I haven't tasted this flavour before but it was yummy, and held me over well during my studying.

Next comes the iffy part. Skip over if you are likely to be triggered, etc. Although I don't really say anything too triggering (I hope). I went to my mum's work this afternoon to get a cup of tea with her. We ended up having some roast vegetables and bread at a local cafe - let me tell you, these vegetables had so much oil on them it was unbelievable. Even mum agreed. I soaked off some of it with a napkin. Afterwards, I started freaking out, and crying, about how I will gain so much because it was like two tbsp of oil which equals XXX calories which is more than the meal should have been, and generally stressing out. On my way home I still stressed out, and seriously contemplated not having dinner. I went back and forth on that issue so many times, but eventually made myself a pita bread pizza. I lay on the couch and cried afterward. I just felt (and still feel) so fat, and horrible. I keep trying to tell myself 'you won't gain weight in one day' but it's not working, I can't calm myself down.

Sorry to be such a downer. I'm just sick of this life, if you can even call it that. I want to go outside and walk, but I'm so lazy that I can't even be bothered, all I want to do is cry.

<3

Only one more exam until I'm free!!
Wednesday, 5.15pm is the date and time of said freedom :D I can't wait, but I'm still really nervous about the International Studies exam. We have to answer short answer questions, do 3 extended responses and 1 essay. The Media exam was easier than I expected, it actually wasn't that different from last years, which was good, because I used that to study for the exam. Oh, Philosophy was alright, a bit draining.

What does a soon-to-be graduated girl eat for breakfast before a big day full of exams?? Some cinnspice layered oats, of course ;)

Lunch was a sandwich, gobbled up between exams (plus maybe two bottles of diet coke :S). Dinner is TBC (to be confirmed).
The lovely Jessica tagged me in this little quiz, so here we go:

1. favorite variety of apple? pink lady. reminds me of Grease :D
2. apples dipped in..? boysenberry soy yoghurt.
3. favorite way to enjoy pumpkin? soup, or mashed with cinnamon and paprika.
4. favorite soup? with crackers or bread? pumpkin, with sourdough.
5. do you eat orange foods all year round? yes, they're the best kind ;)
6. most used spice in your autumn cooking: cinnamon, of course.
7. you are baking some homemade bread, what flavor combination of bread would you like to make? choc banana, or pumpkin cinnamon.
8. favorite autumn vegetables and ways to eat it? pumpkin, any way baby.
9. hot chocolate, hot cider, coffee or tea? tea, especially ginger.
10. favorite seasonal dessert? oat pancakes, or waffles.
11. lets make a fall stew! pick any 6 ingredients to create your one: pumpkin, broccoli, carrot, beans, cauliflower, corn.
12. pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts or almonds to snack on? almonds.
13. popcorn flavor/seasoning? salt and vinegar.
14. bowl of hot cereal you have been wanting to try: pumpkin oats.
15. post a link to a recipe that you recently bookmarked: oops, I actually deleted my bookmarks the other day, I'm cleaning out my laptop.

I tag Eleanor, Tatianna and Meg.

I'm not too interesting, but I hope that was entertaining :P Well, time to go study/listen to Owl City non stop.

Love <3

Only a short post today, because my Philosophy books are staring at me.

:(

Today I had waffles for lunch.

And some of this.

Note to self: possibly drink less diet coke/coke zero??

It's weird, ED loves and hates this stuff. Loves it because it fills me up, and the calories, hates it because he thinks it will make me fat because of the chemicals and such. Blah.

I had yabc this morning again, seriously tiring. All I really want to do right now is sleep, but I have to study. It wasn't just physically tiring, but emotionally as well. One of the girls there has really been annoying me lately, for various reasons, and today one of the other girls, who is also a friend of mine, said to me during break "are you actually going to eat??" Not everyone was eating, and I prefer to wait for my lunch which was in 30 mins. But her comment upset me. That and she also said "Gain some weight, I don't like being able to feel people's bones." Err, okay, sure. :S It made me feel self conscious for the rest of the class.

Anyway, study time now lovies.

<3

I hope you guys liked the video post, it only took me a million years to figure out how to do it ;)
Next time I'll probably (hopefully) be on my baby, and I won't look like a ghost/goth!!

This morning I had yabc, and it was so hot, it was so horrible dancing in the un-airconditioned hall!! Lucky I love it, because I was tempted not to go today. I have another rehearsal tomorrow. After yabc mum and I went out to lunch at an Indian restaurant. At many points ED was telling me all kinds of things about how I would blow up like a balloon etc. etc., but you know what I said in reply?? F-off, ED, don't ruin this for me. I just did 3 hours of dancing, so just go stuff yourself in a mushroom. Yes I did say mushroom. :P

The other day I got an email from yabc with an attachment about the 2010 Adelaide tour. It turns out that while we’re in Adelaide we won’t only be performing at the Fringe Festival, but also in various schools around Adelaide!! I wish I knew which ones. Anyway, I also found out which places we will be performing at in Melbourne in January. I get free tickets, so if any of you girls are from Melbourne and want to see me perform (with about 40 other people); let me know which venue you want to come to!! Here are the dates and venues:

Saturday 30th January – Substation Arts Centre, Newport.
Sunday 31st January – Frankston Arts Centre
Saturday 6th February – Coburg Town Hall
Sunday 7th February – The Castle, Dandenong and Berwick Secondary College
Saturday 13th February – Maroondah Secondary College (Croydon)
Sunday 14th February – Cromwell Road Theatre, South Yarra

As I said, let me know so I can hook you up!! ;)
Oh, and don’t you Adelaide ladies fret – I’ll be in Adelaide from the 8th of March until the 14th of March. Hopefully soon I find out which schools we’ll be performing at, it would be awesome if it was any of yours!!

And I forgot to answer jibbalibba’s question from the other day: I got my smooze icy poles from Coles, they’re in the section with all the ice cream toppings and cones. They were really good, by the way.

I'm off to study for media. Sorry, I haven't commented many blogs today, but that's because I just got home and I really need to study. I'll catch up on my commenting soon.

<3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFjMdztk3Nk
TGIF.
I'm sorry about the quality/sound delay/etc. of this video, I was using my lame webcam on this laptop. I'll be able to post better ones once I can use my Macbook. I get so awkward and shy on camera :\

Anyway, I had my new cereal for breakfast this morning. It was pretty good, well scratch that, it was delicious :) I kind of forgot to take a photo before I ate it though so here's what it looked like towards the end:

Delicioooous. Look at all them oat clusters ;) My only problem was that I only got two sultanas in my serve!! Mum told me that they all went near the bottom of the packet. Naughty 'tanas :P

I really should study at some point today, I have a mountain of media and philosophy books waiting for me. No, seriously, a MOUNTAIN. But after the exam yesterday, I need a bit of a chill out session. Oh, the exam!! I kind of winged it (wung it?) through the exam yesterday, I left one of the essay questions, but all I need to do with this subject is pass, so it's all good. No stress (well there was a bit yesterday, but shh).

I'm actually at my grandparent's house today, because the doctor I went to is down the road from their house, plus they're in Cairns at the moment so they won't know haha. The doctor's appointment went okay, they think my chest pains are anxiety so they prescribed some anti-depressant/anxiety pill things, and I basically had to get weighed etc. again. He wants me to come see me once a week now, instead of in a month like we originally planned. He also told me I need to limit my water intake (but but....I love H20) and drink gatorade type drinks (blech). One thing that weirded me out was that he told me to do exercise that makes me really sweat, like full on exercise?? Uh, does he not see me at the moment?? :\

Well, I hope you all have a great day, I know I always say this, but seriously I love you all.
Ich liebe dich <3

Good Morning.

Last night, mum and I went for a late night walk up to the supermarket, because she wanted some ice cream, and ended up coming back with more than just that ;)

Here's two of the things we got; Sultana Oat Crisp Cereal, and Coconut + Pink Guava icypoles.

When we got back, we watched Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist.

I needed to buy some cold cereal, because it's getting too hot over here for oats everyday (I know, sadness!!). It's going to be a challenge eating cereal, but I've decided that on my exam days I will have porridge, just because I know it holds me over well for long periods, and I need that when I'm doing exams. But after that, sayonara oats (for now at least)!! :( What will oats and bows be without ze oats?? At least my cereal has oat clusters :P See, I bet you knew I couldn't leave oats behind completely.

Tomorrow morning I have a doctor's appointment, which my mum made this morning, for a few reasons. Last night, when I was in bed, my chest was hurting quite a bit, and I was finding it hard to breathe. I wasn't sure whether it was because of exam anxiety or something like that, but I couldn't get to sleep for ages, because I was so scared. Eventually I woke my mum up, and she came and lay next to me, talking to me until we both fell asleep. I woke up at about 6am, and have only had around five hours, but I can't go back to sleep!! Anyway, another reason for the appointment is that earlier this morning, when mum had already left for work, I walked into the kitchen to get my water bottle out of the freezer (yes, it is that hot here), and as I paused in the doorway, I had to hold on to it with both hands. You see, I always get dizziness in the summer, I have all my life, but lately I find that whenever I stand up I get super dizzy. I've kind of gotten used to it, but this time I freaked out, because as I said, I had to hold on to the door with both hands, and everything went black, and I almost blacked out. :S So mum thought it was probably best to see the doctor tomorrow.

If you've gotten through all of that, you're a superstar. I'm a bit nervous for my exam this afternoon, but I'm trying not to think about it, seeing as I know this will be my worst subject, as long as I pass, it's okay.

Have a nice rest of the day, girls.

<3

G'day.

Haha I love using Australian slang. Considering nobody I know ever uses it, it's awesome.

How are we all today?? I'm pretty good, just taking a study break, I only have one more area of study to take notes on, and then I'll probably just read over all my notes again. The funniest part is that this is the most I've written in this exercise book all year. But that's mainly because my teacher wasn't very sucked, and barely gave us any notes, or any help at all. So I'm winging it, thanks to the textbook (which funnily enough, is written by my teacher, and isn't helping that much), and some notes for the subject I found online - thank you internet!!

Look at all the pretty tabs in my textbook. There was one colour for each area of study, and there's four areas of study. you can't really see them all properly, but they're tabbed in yellow, orange, pink and green ;) The areas of study are: Washington and Canberra, Continuity and Change, Public Policy, and Contemporary Australian Foreign Policy. Fun, right?? Excuse my horrible handwriting.

I'm currently in the state library, which was nice and quiet until these two guys sat next to me. They're speaking quite loudly, do they not know it's a library?! Gosh. Haha, I'm so critical sometimes, sorry about that. It's just not the best atmosphere when you're trying to memorize aspects of Australian Foreign Policy.

No eats to post today, because my breakfast was eaten on the tram, and my lunch was sneakily eaten in here about five minutes ago. Dinner's hard to photograph, because I usually eat with mum. Oh, in response to Neela, the book I was talking about is called Stasiland, and it's by Anna Funder. Even though I hated most of the books I studied for Literature, this one was actually quite good, so I recommend it to anyone who wants to maybe learn more about the German Democratic Republic. Listen to me, all nerdy like!! You ladies only come here for the eats, not my marvellous intelligence :P

My exam for National Politics is at 3pm, AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time). So synchronize your watches, and think of me at that time?? ;)

I'll probably get a post in tomorrow before I leave, because I try not to study too much on the day of the exam, it stresses me out.

Have a good day <3

Guten tag.

Today I went to my friend's house for a 'study session', which turned into an iPhoto cameraho' session ;) We took breaks in between study to make gluten free marshmallows, and take millions of photos on her mac. It was one of the best days I've had in a while, it was great to be social, let myself go, and laugh.

The gluten free marshmallows, before they set.

Rawrrrr, I'm a monster!!

Awkward turtle.

I feel accomplished, because even though we did lots of other stuff, I actually got quite a bit of study done.

Oh, I almost forgot, I got a very good email today. Remember the audition I went to a couple of weeks ago?? Well I got an email today from yabc saying that I got into the tour!! January we will begin rehearsing, and then in March I get to go and perform at the Adelaide Fringe Festival!! I'm so excited :D

I'm off to go have dinner now. I hope you all had a fantastic day, you deserve it.

<3

Bonjour!!

It's stifling hot here today. I went out for a walk just before, and all I wanted to do was sit in front of an air conditioner. I burnt my thumb this morning making a cup of tea, so now it matches my other thumb which I cut open cutting mushrooms the other day, what a klutz I am, seriously. And the burnt thumb just makes me feel hotter!!

These were the dvds I ended up watching with my mum last night:

I know, Hannah Montana is for kids, but suprisingly I like it ;D

The song she sings at the end, 'The Climb', really gave me a powerful message last night, so I thought I'd pass it on to you girls.

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

That's just a verse of the song, but it sent me such a strong message of inspiration, and never giving up hope. And that's what life is all about, especially rebuilding yourself from ED. We need to keep positive, and keep 'climbing'. :)

Anyway, today I have spent the majority of the morning studying for my second exam which is this thursday. How fun :\

My lunch today was delicious. I have named this concoction 'multi-layered cinnspice oats'.

Oats with a layer of brown sugar, cinnamon and mixed spice in the middle, topped with more brown sugar, cinnamon and mixed spice.
I know it looks the same as usual, but trust me, it didn't taste the same ;)

Also, something I thought about last night: is anyone interested in doing a bar/food swap with me?? I'll send you Australian bars, plus other Australian goodies?? Let me know.

Have a lovely rest of the day.

Good afternoon, lovies.

Yesterday I had my end of semester assessments at yabc. This meant we each had to perform part of one of our numbers individually, in front of the rest of the class (which is about 60 people) as well as the dance and music teachers. I have had really bad blocked ears lately, and when I get this I can't hear myself sing properly. Guess what decided to happen on Saturday?? :/ Luckily it was only one ear, and I explained it to the teacher well before hand, but apparently I was good anyway, so hopefully I get promoted at the end of the year.

This morning mum and I went to the Camberwell Market, just for a look around. We bought some second hand clothes, and then ventured through Camberwell, shopping. I bought a couple of things:

Pop-up penguin advent calendar (I love penguins).

Itunes card, CLEO magazine.

Handmade scrabble tile necklace.

I loved all my purchases.

:)

We had lunch at the market, I got a falafel wrap and sweet potato wedges, and we had some sorbet afterwards. I felt okay about these decisions at the time, but I feel sick and full and bloated at the moment, and ED is going crazy in my head to restrict, restrict tomorrow. I'm trying not to listen but the voice is so loud right now. I feel ill :(

I know this sounds weird, but one of my main triggers at the moment is actually my mum. She skips meals all the time, or when I buy something out, which is really hard for me, she tells me we will share it, but then has none. I end up eating it all and feeling horrible, while she doesn't eat anything. I can't seem to be able to tell her how this is affecting me, but it is.

Anyways, sorry about that. I hope you all have a great day. I'm spending the rest of this super hot afternoon lying on my bed, reading my magazine and watching dvds. Love you.