2014Luce's Eternal Sunshine: 2014

12 December 2014

The Pear'fect Pantry, Wembley

Living in this new area, I’ve been keen to find the local haunts and after a little digging, I discovered that The Pear'fect Pantry was in fact a cafe, and according to Urbanspoon, a popular one at that. So, I decided to go for a stroll and meet Caitlin, Ebony, Amy and her gorgeous kidlets for a midweek brunch.

10 December 2014

New Abode

It's been over two weeks and I think I'm officially used to living with Steve (aka The Boyf) in our little home.

22 September 2014

TPFF WA Designer Installation: Fashun, Freebies and Subtle Stalking

Anyone who knows Mazz and I know that we're pretty simply gals. What we lack in fashion/beauty/general life skills, we make up for in enthusiasm and we are easily impressed by people more skilled than us. Keeping that in mind, when I scored some VIP tickets to the WA Designer Installation at the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival last night, she was obviously the perfect date. 
My cute, blurry date

8 September 2014

Ballin' for PMH

Saturday night saw us rocking up to the Esplanade Hotel in Freo for the 2014 Paediatric Oncology Gold Ball.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the ball was held in honour of the 14,500 plus children worldwide who are diagnosed with cancer every single month. All proceeds from the ball are going to the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation for paediatric oncology research, as well as to local families who have children with cancer.

2 September 2014

Sweet Dreams are Made of Cheese

I adore cheese. It is a wondrous thing filled with dreams and deliciousness. So when my housemate discovered a boutique cheese shop had opened up locally, a cheese and wine night was imminent. She asked me if I could pretty please go check out Little Cheese Shop in Bayswater to pick up the fromage and while it was a hard decision, I finally agreed!

29 July 2014

#StopThinkRespect

Anyone who knows me is well aware I cannot tolerate racism or any type of discrimination. I see this as general human decency but I know many people think I'm over the top or too politically correct when I pull them up on small comments they make. Unfortunately for them, I have reached the point that I no longer care if I come across uptight. Racism is never okay. Ever. 

Racism is defined as "the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races." It seems that many Australians either don't know or don't care that many of their comments and actions are subtly racist. Personally, I have witnessed this time and time again, from whispers on the train to outwardly racist jokes being told at a party.

The new campaign by Beyond Blue is incredibly thought provoking in the way it shows the casual racism Indigenous Australians face everyday.


Below is also a behind the scenes video with real life experiences of the actors depicted above.


This touched me because these are actions I regularly witness in such casual settings that at times it's so easy to gloss over and I'm ashamed to say that there are many times when I have just let it go. Hopefully this moves you as much as it did me and reminds you that when it comes down to it, everyone is an individual and should be treated as such. 

xx Luce

24 July 2014

Winterland Adventures



Perth has been producing the goods lately so the moment an excited Brooke told me about the Winterland Ice Skating in the City, we knew we had to check it out. After easily roping a few friends in, we rocked up to the Perth Cultural Centre, which had been transferred into a dreamy winter wonderland. Along with a teeny outdoor ice skating rink, there was a rinkside bar serving snacks and mulled wine as well as a crackling fire setting the mood on the big screen. 
After a small setback, which involved myself and a lack of socks, we were soon gliding across the the outdoor rink like the graceful ladies that we are. 

29 June 2014

Happy Birthday Harms!

Even with an eight year age gap, Harms and I have always been close. Growing up she was the perfect older sister and I was the typical little sister, bugging her incessantly. I stole her clothes, made her late EVERYWHERE and was her constant shadow. She never fobbed me off though, instead helping me choreograph daring dance routines and taking me on regular weekend outings. As we grew older, she continued to involve me in her life, having me stay for weeks on end at her place and cooking my favourite meals. I grew up wanting to be just like her.

17 June 2014

Taking Stock

On this gloomy, wintery day I was inspired by this list to give you a sneak peek into my life lately.

Making: NOOD's raw chocolate tart with the unexpected secret ingredient being tofu! Check out more NOOD recipes here
Cooking: the perfect winter warmer, cheesy mushrooms on toast with wilted spinach.
Drinking: too much iced water for this chilly weather. 
Reading: The News - A User's Manual by Alain De Botton. An intriguing analysis of the news machine we love so much and what makes certain stories so addictive and others so damn boring.  
Wanting: to see these little munchkins again soon. Even though I've just returned from Cairns, I'm missing my crazy nephews already. They are growing up so damn fast and I loved our chats while I was there (intelligible and otherwise).
Looking: forward to our Flashback Friday party this weekend.
Playing: netball, as usual.
Listening: Tightrope by Illy on repeat.
Wasting: time.
Sewing: nothing. I rarely sew.
Wishing: adulthood wasn't so expensive. Bills, rent, who knew!
Enjoying: my Peter Alexander hot water bottle.

Watching: Friends reruns.

Wondering: how to recreate the amazing pear and goat’s cheese pasta I had in Sydney a few weeks ago.

Loving: The Lion King after recently seeing the musical - amazing!

Hoping: for a call from a potential employer. 
Marvelling: at the intelligence of my nephews after rewatching some cute videos I filmed. 

Needing: to slowly back away from the chocolate! Obsessed. 

Smelling: My divine beeswax candles, compliments of the lovely Brooklyn. 
Wearing: Thick knit bed socks and my cosy Seed scarf
Following: the ANZ Championship finals.
Noticing: the orangey red leaves that have fallen. 
Knowing: you have to be ready for everything that is thrown your way, life waits for no one! 
Thinking: about over thinking. I think too much. 
Bookmarking: Houzz. Great inspiration for future apartment interiors. 
Opening: new magazines received in the mail - bliss. 
Giggling: at talking cat videos...which are also slightly creepy. Also, old Facebook statuses which are hilarious and cringeworthy all at the same time. 
Feeling: sore from netball. I always end up with at least one (extremely) minor injury, whether that be a corked bum, a jarred finger or a bruised arm. All part of the fun, of course.

xx Luce

27 April 2014

Abseiling

A few weeks ago, I conquered one of my biggest fears by slowly descending backwards off a few cliffs...and it was amazing! 

It was my first time abseiling and it isn't something I would willingly choose to do but as a Christmas present from Steve, I had no choice.

We headed up to Mountain Quarry in Boya, around 35 minutes out of Perth, and the whole way there I was pondering how the hell I was going to do it. 

I thought I'd share a few happy snaps and prove that sometimes the most fun you can have is doing something that scares the pantaloons off you. 






We started on the baby face, supposedly as a warm up. Everyone else seemed relaxed so I took that opportunity to look for the nearest escape exit that didn't involve throwing myself over a cliff. 

There was none, so over the edge I went.
We did an intermediate face next, which involved some free falling because of an overhang.

 The real mission though was the huge 55 metre cliff that I had vowed not to go near as we first entered the quarry.
Of course, Steve was cool and calm and disappeared over the edge with ease. 
Meanwhile, I was making the instructor double and triple check my ropes and promise me that I wouldn't die. 
The whole way down I was shaking and was so thankful no one was around to hear my self affirmations interlaced with profanities.
It was exhilarating though, the most amazing feeling and once I was on the ground, I wanted to go again! 
Adventure Out is who we went through and I recommend you do too. The instructors were fun and informative, they knew their stuff and made you feel at ease immediately. 

They also kept their promise that I wouldn't die and for that I am grateful! 

xx Luce

31 January 2014

Friday Fancies

I adore current affairs. This love has more than likely stemmed from my mandatory news quizzes at uni, where I would study tirelessly each week to add a measly 2% to my semester mark. I can confirm these quizzes were, and probably still are, the bane of any journo student's existence.

On the train and in lull moments of my day, I love nothing more than to scour the web for interesting, funny, thought provoking and sometimes peculiar articles, blog posts, videos and the like. They might not be the most intellectual or newsworthy and my old tutor might disapprove, but here's a few links from the past week that have tickled my toes and piqued my interest.

Firstly, I need to work my way through this list of books that will apparently change your life...God knows I don't have enough books in my to-read list already!

Fringe World Festival is upon us here in Perth. There are way too many amazing events and performances, from comedy to art exhibits, cabaret to theatre but I have managed to compile a personalised wishlist on the festival's website. My top picks are All the Single Lad(ie)s, comedian Khaled Khalafalla, This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things musical comedy, The Drunk Show and 5-Step Guide to Being German 2.0. Let me know if there are any other spectacular shows that aren't on my list, I'm definitely open to suggestions.

Special mention to my housemate, Lauren, who will be belting her lungs out as a soprano in The Menagerie indie choir's performance, This Song is Mine. Unfortunately it's already sold out but I ordered my tickets early and cannot wait!





Moving on from Fringe, The Guy's Guide to Seeing Women, Not Objects is an interesting read and something that I think both genders need to take on board, not just men.

Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and Mary Lambert were joined on stage by Madonna to perform Same Love at The 56th Grammy Awards. Throw Queen Latifah into the mix as a celebrant and three dozen newlyweds to create a real wow moment. It is such a moving performance. Of course, the backlash soon followed, as expected. 

http://www.etonline.com/awards/142870_Grammys_Mass_Wedding_Held_During_Macklemore_Song/

Also at the Grammys: Imagine Dragons teamed up with Kendrick Lamar with a freaking hectic remix of Radioactive.

Last but definitely not least, how amazing do these whiskey sours sound from the sisters at a Beautiful Mess? Cocktails needed, pronto! Yum.

Well there you go, I hope you've found some inspiration for your weekend!

xx Luce

6 January 2014

2014

2013 was a great year for me. There were many amazing, big moments: I did my first triathlon and welcomed a new niece and nephew into the world, as well as some pretty cute babies close friends popped out. My parents relocated to the country, I moved out and graduated from uni. I went to my first ever interview for a job in my field and attended some beautiful weddings.

        

This year I was not keen on making a new years resolution because I believe that every day is a new day  and you can enrich your life any time that you decide. Naturally though, because it is me after all, I changed my mind about the 'no resolutions' resolution.

So my new years resolution isn't the usual lose weight, get fit type, although that's also needed! Instead, I am going to have a Year of Firsts (à la The Londoner). To try something new as often as possible and to not let fear or complacency back me into my comfort zone that I seem to love so much. These firsts can be as small as trying a new food or as huge as going skydiving. I just have to do it!
First firsts on my list? Abseiling, donating blood and laughter yoga. Anyone want to join?
I'll let you know how I go!

xx Luce