graduation – A Worldly Addiction

Seriously… it’s December?! How on earth is there only a few weeks until Christmas, a few weeks until a new decade, and a few weeks left of work until we get to relax and play! Wow

🌅Terrigal getaway

There’s nothing quite like a little weekend getaway. When life gets so crazy and you’re living hour by hour, sometimes you need to remove yourself from reality and explore somewhere unknown. Despite growing up in Port Stephens, I’d never ventured to Terrigal or the Central Coast. So when Soph and I finally had a free weekend that lined up, we knew we wanted to getaway. So why not somewhere only 2 hours away with gorgeous beaches, national parks, great bars and even better restaurants. Terrigal really is a holiday town and nothing says ‘relaxed’ more than fish n chips, 3 hour dinners, lolly shops, and soaking up some sun and getting lost in a book. Reset and refreshed.

🎓 Soph’s grad

The day finally came that we got to celebrate Soph’s graduation! My girl is a clever cookie, and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce – Bachelor of Arts (Distinction) earlier this year. Graduation is such an exciting time and it’s important to recognise (and adequately celebrate) the hard work and dedication it takes to complete a degree. I’m so damn proud of Soph for all of her hard work. I know she’s going a long way and I can’t wait to see the path she forges for herself.

🏙️Sydney sesh

If anyone knows me, they know I’m a huge fangirl of Shameless Podcast. So when I heard there was a live show in Sydney, I knew I had to go! So my friend Vanessa battled for some tickets (these are some popular gals) and we were heading to the show. Us, along with 800 strangers, gathered that rainy Sydney night, to engage in a similar conversation we’ve been listening to every Monday morning for nearly 2 years. I must admit, it was pretty damn exciting. Zara and Michelle have done an incredible job to build their company and a highly engaged following. It was awesome to soak up some strong female vibes.

And what’s a night out in Sydney without sharing cocktails with my beautiful friend Tishia. We went to a sneaky gin bar that played smooth jazz and sipped on fancy cocktails. We got delish woodfire pizza and giggled the night away. The next day we headed to Burwood to go shopping and eat bulk Chinese food. Chinatown there is next level and we found ourselves some delicious treats. It’s weekends like this that I live for. Running from one event to the next, soaking up all the good vibes, good food (and good alcohol), and even though I’m left absolutely exhausted, they’re amazing!

📷Work

This month I was lucky enough to do the socials for the Fellowships and Alumni Awards Dinner. I was working with a great group of people who are talented, driven and so damn nice. I also got to meet some incredible people (check me out on Linkedin for more), and it got me thinking about how lucky I am to work with people who are working to connect one another and make the world a better place.

🎧Podcasts

Inside the Big Day Out
This mini series is a must for all music fans! It will leave you looking up Pearl Jam’s greatest hits and want to jump around in a mosh pit. This is an incredible insight behind the scenes of one of the world’s biggest music festivals that defined Australian culture and music. Pretty devastated that I didn’t attend one of these festivals myself – I was busy being punky at Soundwave – but wow, Big Day Out in the 90s would have been incredible!

📚 Books

Conversations with friends, by Sally Rooney
Yes yes yes! I loved this book so bloody much! I picked this up from the university book shop, and found that it was prescribed reading for an English Literature subject. So I figured it would be alright, but boy did I underestimate how incredible this would be! I smashed it out in a few days and I am so stoked. I was intrigued, hooked, angry, wanted to shake the characters through the pages, and be invited to the parties… I loved it and would absolutely recommend it!

Image result for conversations with friends

🎥Flicks

Flying the Nest
I know I’ve mentioned them on the blog several times before, but…. OMG they’re having a baby and I’ve never been more emotional watching a baby announcement vlog! I love their videos, their relationship and their outlook on life. And I’m so excited to see their vlogs leading up to having the baby, and watching their journey as a young travelling family!

Season 3, The Crown
I’m sure I’m not the first to admit that I was a bit skeptical about this season with a new lead actress, but OMG wow, get onto it asap! It’s much like season 1 with big, historical events unfolding throughout the season. Olivia Coleman is incredible and I’ve loved having a spare few hours to binge a few episodes immersed in the world of the royals.

🎵Tunes

Old School Arctic Monkeys
So after taking a deep dive through rock history by listening to ‘Inside the Big Day Out,’ I became consumed by old school Arctic Monkeys. I’m not going to lie, I first got into them in 2013 with their AM album (yep amazing album) and I never really went back through their old stuff. So I’ve lately become obsessed with old school Arctic Monkeys and wow… I’m even more in love. Seeing them at the start of the year was amazing, and I’m so glad they’ve a band that continues to grow, evolve and produce bloody good music.

📝Quote

The law of attraction is something I truly believe in. You get what you give. The universe doesn’t owe you anything, so you might as well treat people with kindness, radiate happiness and keep a positive outlook on life, because you may just get exactly what you want. A frame of mind is one of the most powerful things we can possess. So why not try being happy and see what happens.

OK, so December will disappear before our eyes, and we’ll suddenly be in 2020! So I’m going to try and live in the moment, soak up the beautiful sunshine we have, enjoy the festive season and make the most of what’s left of 2019!

December 3, 2018December 3, 2018

Adelaide HaynesLeave a comment

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things: NOVEMBER 2018

The scariest thing about November being over is that it’s now DECEMBER! How the heck did that happen? I must admit, December is one of my favourite months. It’s sunnier for longer, people are happy, festive and cheery and everyone’s optimistic about the new year. But before I get too ahead of myself, let’s look back on the whirlwind month of November.

☕ Little fam date in Sydney

Unfortunately I don’t get to see my family much because of my busy work and social life commitments. But I was stoked when Mum and Elly agreed to meet me in Sydney for a lunch date. Sometimes you don’t need to do anything big and wild, you just need to have a long lunch and a good ol catch up. We wandered through Glebe and found a leafy courtyard to enjoy some coffee. It was such a nice day we ordered a snack, and then lunch, and then more coffee. It was one of those effortless, organic conversations that didn’t want to end. I’m so grateful for these moments and cherish my family so so much.

💡 Getting a HD for my thesis

So I finally received my results for my thesis and……. High Distinction!!! I seriously could not believe it! I had a dream when I was abroad that I got a 73. Not that that’s a bad mark but I was at least aiming for a 75 (distinction). The fact that I got an 85 (HD) blew my mind! It’s crazy because now I feel like I’m actually finished! What a mammoth project! All of my hard work has been recognised and I’ve been rewarded for it.

🇮🇩 Bali

So if you were following me on Instagram (and if you’re not… what are you doing?!), you would know that I spent two weeks in Bali with my girlfriend. It. Was. AMAZING! Honestly, I couldn’t have imagined a holiday so perfect. There will be an entire post dedicated to our travel itinerary and highlights from the trip (so watch this space). But a highlight I can share with you would be swimming with manta rays in Nusa Penida and staying at an incredible boutique hotel in Uluwatu called Mû. I never really had the urge to go to Bali because I thought it was too touristy, too this and too that. But I can honestly say it is the perfect destination because you can make it whatever you want it to be. Stay tuned for more.

🎶 Tunes

I’ll still have me – CYN
So I recently came across this song on YouTube and I am in love! She’s so sweet and cute and this song is just amazing!

Ocean – Martin Garrix and Khalid
I’m not normally into this music but I love the emotions behind this song. You can bop along to it and I picture it as an epic montage song.

🎥 Flicks

The Letdown
Not that I’m a mother, but if I was I reckon this would be #relatable. It’s a short little show that you can find on Netflix. It’s funny, confronting and at some times, hilarious. The women share intimate insights into the somewhat mysterious world of motherhood (at least for someone where motherhood seems like a lifetime away).

The Bold Type
Ahhhhh #lifegoals! This series is incredible! I may have accidentally watched the entirety of season 2 in one day (I was sick in bed) but damn is this a great show. It’s witty, classy, political, sassy and downright AMAZING! I consider it a bit of a mix between Sex and the City and Younger and hello, sign me up!

📗 Book

Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel
A work colleague was kind enough to lend me this book. I don’t usually read fiction, especially a book that revolves around cooking. But this is a sensory delight. I love the way it ignites our primal sense of taste and smell through describing traditional Mexican dishes. A passionate story of love, cooking and family, this gorgeous little read is a lovely escape.

Can We All Be Feminists? by June Eric-Udorie
THIS. IS. A. MUST. READ! OMG I absolutely loved this book! 17 essays about intersectional feminism that will challenge your ideas of feminism and get you thinking about your privilege, power and own brand of feminism. I particularly loved the chapter on immigration policy and gender inequality (PhD anyone?!). Love love love!

Paris Echo, by Sebastian Faulks
So this isn’t my usual kind of book but it’s a good one! I’ve found lately that it’s crucial to mix up your reading and reading fiction is actually really important. I really loved this narrative and the two characters you become immersed in. I actually found it incredibly interesting because I had studied some of these moments of time in my French history class. Particularly regarding the independence of Algeria and Algerians in Paris. If you’re not across this incredibly important piece of French history, you’ll find this incredibly insightful. And if you love Paris, then you will love this book.

📷 Bloggers, Vloggers and Podders (yep Podders is a thing).

The Cut on Tuesdays
This is cutting-edge! I absolutely love it. They talk about such pressing issues facing women every day. One of my favourite episodes is about pubes and wow I never knew that I needed that in my life! An absolute must for those of you interested in women’s rights, experiences and journeys throughout life.

📝 Quote

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up with what you should be doing and comparing yourself to other people and where they’re up to in life. But something I love the most about holidays is that you’re completely disconnected from ‘reality’ back home (or at least you try to only check your emails once a day). When you’re in a foreign country and everything is new, I have an overwhelming sense of this is exactly where I am meant to be right now. And it’s beautiful. Embracing the now and the moment is really difficult for a lot of people. The simplicity of enjoying the moment is sometimes not so simple. But when you’re travelling, you notice the flowers, the streets, the sky, the smell and you take a deep breath and feel it. It’s something I will try to carry with me back to ‘reality.’

So November, you were wildly amazing and I feel so blessed for the opportunities that came my way this month. I am sooooo looking forward to December to see friends and family, celebrate, be festive, cheery and embrace the now – right before I head off on my next trip… do you know where I’m going? Stay tuned!

October 21, 2018November 1, 2018

Adelaide HaynesLeave a comment

Uni’s over, now what? GAP year 2.0

Two years ago, I was on exchange in Montréal. Upon the depressing thought that I would be returning back to Australia, I had a lot of people ask me what I wanted to do with my life when I finished uni. And I reflected upon this so much that I even wrote a blog post about it. Fast forward to today and I am (again) finished uni forever! I have submitted my 17,777 word thesis (yes that’s really how many words it was) and I am hanging up my student hat (well at least for the time being).

Upon the submission of my thesis, all I wanted to do was settle in, celebrate with a few beers (which I did), focus on my work and actually have no plans (for the first time in a long time). Well, that didn’t last too long before the classic, ‘so what’s next?’

Does there have to be a next? Can I just focus on the now? I’ve spent the last 5 years of my uni life thinking about my next assignment, next deadline, next date, next time I’ll see my family, next pay check, next next next, go go go…. I just needed to take a want to be grateful for what I have right now.

I’m sure anyone who’s recently graduated from uni knows the feeling – you submit your last project and you suddenly stand taller, feel lighter and see the world differently. There are endless possibilities. I genuinely can take my career path in any direction I please. Which is terrifying but bloody exciting. There’s only a limited window in your life where you get the opportunity to be selfish, to pack up and go, to work casually, take risks, backpack the world before you have commitments and other priorities.

I know people and have many friends who know what they want to do. Who aren’t even finished yet and have a full-time job lined up for them. Which is awesome because who knew there were permanent full-time jobs still available (#casualizationoftheworkforce). And it’s awesome because they’ve worked so hard and made so many sacrifices to get that job. But for me, right now, the only job in the world that would make me want to sacrifice so much would be a full-time travel blogger (which 1- sadly, people don’t apply for, you gotta make that happen yourself, and 2- now that I’m free I can commit more time to making that happen which I’ll jump into now).

BLOG, VLOG AND CREATE

Speaking of making things happen, one thing I do generally respond to the what next question, is that I’m going to focus on my blog, YouTube channel, photography and editing skills. I love what I’ve created on this platform. I love that I can sit in my room and type what my brain thinks, and that other people take time out of their day to read it and connect with it. It’s incredibly powerful and I think I’ve somewhat forgotten the magic of blogging.

TRAVEL

Another response to the what next question, and really, I think this answer is to be expected from me… is TRAVEL! As if I’m not going to galavant around the world?! I’m heading to Bali in November with my girlfriend, Soph and am so freakin excited! It’s a place I’ve never been and a place that I’ve recently become fascinated with. With beautiful hiking, volcanos, islands, beaches and cheap alcohol, I cannot wait.

Then, at the end of the year I’m heading to Japan with my Dad and family. Dad and I are flying out in December and will be on the ski slopes on Christmas Day. Then my brother Isaac and sister Elizabeth, will join us as we venture around Japan. It’s definitely going to be a spectacular Christmas and wonderful New Years Eve.

GAP YEAR 2019?!

And then bam! Hello 2019! I think I’ve decided to call 2019 my GAP year. GAP year 2.0. Wow! I’m excited, filled with hope, options and possibilities, and I really can’t wait to jump into it all! I plan on filling it with weekends away, planning some overseas adventures, getting back into what I love and committing to making the most out of this special time. So, to anyone else out there thinking, ‘what next,’ take a deep breath and say ‘whatever the fuck I want!’

May 6, 2018

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These Are A Few of My Favourite Things: APRIL 2018

Well hello 2018! You have done a full 180 and have been delivering nothing but good times! (thank you). This month has been a freakin roller coaster and I can’t believe it’s over already! I can honestly say that this month was filled with joy, celebration and laughter (and I’ve never been happier). I’ve been partying hard and working harder (working hard doesn’t look good on Instagram so that’s why you may not believe it). But seriously, to everyone who featured in my life this month… THANKYOU! What a ride!

🎓 Graduation

Pictures are worth a thousand words. But what if you took one thousand pictures?? So I finally got to suit up in the incredible blue cap and gown. I’m so grateful for my incredible friends and family that came to celebrate with me. Yes I’m still studying (my Honours degree is a separate degree) but it was pretty great to take some time out of my hectic life and celebrate the achievement of finishing my double degree.

🏠Home

There’s no place like home. Lucky for me, home is absolutely paradise! This was one of the first weekends I’d been home when all us of kids were together. I absolutely love my fam and sadly don’t get to see them as much as I would like. Working part time, studying full time and living 4 hours away will do that to a person. But it’s so great to know that when I do go home, I have lovely humans to eat, drink, swim and laugh with. My favourite bunch of goofballs.

🎬 Being assistant director for the day (enjoying the heck out of my new job)

I’ve recently started a new job at uni doing digital marketing and damn am I LOVING IT! A project I was working on involved 3 days of filming on campus with an awesome film company, CRATER. I got to interview staff and students and prompt them to provide the kind of answers we were looking for. It was incredibly high energy work, but hearing all of the wonderful feedback from my colleagues and CRATER was so encouraging. Film and photography is something I’m deeply passionate about and I am so grateful for this hands on experience being an assistant director for the day!

🎉 Party’s galore

This month there were a fair few hectic parties going on! And we know there’s nothing I love more than a good party (especially if it’s dress up!)

Woo Shak

Soph’s double denim

🎶 Didirri & Crooked Colours

This month I reigned it in a little and only went to two gigs, Didirri and Crooked Colours. They were both incredible! I went to RAD to see Didirri and it was so gorgeously intimate and special. I rendez-vous’d with a girl I met in Montreal and had a great night being lovingly serenaded. Crooked Colours was a great little party indeed! Especially when you go on a double date!

1+by+Hugo+Sharp+Didi+20170421+8x10+1+-+graded+-+wide.jpg — Check out Didirri’s music here

🐄 Groovin the Moo

OK so gigs are AMAZING but there’s nothing quite like a good ol music festival to fulfil your gig desires. This year I went to the Canberra festival (I usually go to Maitland) and it was RAD! I went with an awesome bunch of people and boogied all day! Towards the end of the night it dropped to extremely cold temperatures (around 3 degrees) and I’ve never been more grateful for dressing appropriately and my Docs!

💖 The start of something new

Whether I know you in person or through the blogosphere, it’s pretty awesome to tell you that I am dating an incredibly amazing woman named Sophie. For some of you who are extra attentive on Instagram, you may have already connected the dots. For others, it may come as a complete surprise. And I totally get it. Life’s full of wonderful little surprises. I am incredibly excited to share this new chapter of my life with Soph and see what this surprise has in store for us.

🎶Tunes

Spector – Fine Not Fine.

Damn I have had these guys on repeat for the past few weeks! Such a great band to sing along with and rock out to!

Press Club – Headwreck.

You know me, I love my rock music. And I especially love some kick ass female rock bands! These guys are extremely talented and their entire album is addictive!

🎥 Flicks

The Office. OK so I’m a little late to the bandwagon on this but holy shit this show is HILARIOUS! I seriously cannot get enough and find myself laughing endlessly! Anyone who’s seen it knows that there’s really not much else to be said because it’s genius. And anyone who hasn’t seen it, well what the hell are you doing with your life?

The Handmaid’s Tale. YES YES YES! I read the book a few months ago and honestly can’t stop raving about it. The book is incredibly well written and definitely a book of our generation. And the TV series is equally amazing! It has incredible cinematography and carries a very strong message that I believe will be a test of our time.

📗Books

Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race by Reni Eddo-Lodge. WOW. A crucial read for anyone wanting to further understand our fucked up world. Particularly for a white person, this book is essential in the process of coming to terms with our white privilege. The books is centered on racial tension in the UK which is extremely insightful. When you hear the term ‘race wars’ you usually think of gun violence against black men in America. Britain has a troubled history of race relations (um hello colonialism) and is currently struggling with an identity crisis. I especially loved the chapter dedicated to Feminism and race. As a feminist, I’m extremely aware that feminism can be exclude women of colour. Reni’s insight is truly essential if we are to ever create a world without racial prejudice and discrimination.

Every Lie I’ve Ever Told by Rosie Waterland. If you read her breakthrough novel ‘The Anti-Cool Girl’, then you’ve absolutely got to read this book! Witty, smart, sad, raw, Rosie takes her through her struggles with mental health and dealing with the troubles life throws at us. I smashed this book out in a day and I couldn’t recommend it enough.

📷 Bloggers and Vloggers

Hey Nadine. This girl has been absolutely killing it lately! Her India vlogs are incredible! She’s been pumping out content which is a real testament to her hard work and dedication. It’s great to get an insight into travelling somewhere like India and is incredibly inspiring for my travel bucket list!

📝 Quote

This quote has been extremely motivating this month. It makes me believe that I am here on this earth for a reason and that our life is such a precious gift. A gift that shouldn’t be wasted on worrying about things beyond our control, or things that do not bring complete joy to our lives. It centers me and leaves me thinking that this big bad world maybe ain’t so bad after all.

Wow April! Thank you for turning 2018 around and delivering a great hand! It’s pretty amazing to think about all of the wonderful things happening and the wonderful people in my life right now. Moving in to ‘mental May’ I just need to remember what keeps me grounded, to work hard, not slack off and maybe not drink so much.

Life is freakin amazing!

November 1, 2017

Adelaide Haynes1 Comment

GRADUATING: The Tears & Beers

On the 27th October, I submitted my final assignment of my undergraduate degree (woah!). As I pressed the submit button, my eyes nervously scanned the room for the little guy about to pop confetti all over me and carry me out of the library on a throne. I received my email receipt saying my assignment had been successfully submitted, yet the confetti and throne didn’t come. #confused. So I walked home, texted my Dad saying I’d finished and listened to the mysteriously good Demi Lovato album. I got home, got changed and sat on my bed… now what?

Naturally, I needed a beer. I hopped on my bike and rode the Dan Murphy’s, treated myself to a 6-pack of craft beer (I’m officially not a poor uni student anymore), and went home. I cracked open a beer, flung open my laptop, and chucked on some documentaries about gun violence in America (cheerful right?).

After about 3 beers, my Dad called me to congratulate me. It was then that I began to feel pretty stoked. I felt this overwhelming feeling that I’d actually made my Dad proud. He asked me what I was doing and I told him abut my depressing gun violence documentary. He then replied with ‘Adelaide, you’ve finished studying, you don’t need to pretend to be smart anymore.’ Haha thanks Dad… I’m just actually this much of a nerd that I celebrate not studying, with watching some intense docos but not feeling guilty about it.

A few beers later, I had some flowers delivered to my house. My Mum is pretty talented at getting flowers delivered (she somehow even managed to be able to deliver flowers to my hotel room when I was in Mexico!). They were stunning and made me well up. Even though my parents weren’t there with me, I could feel their pride and hugs from miles away.

My phone was inundated with messages from friends and family, congratulating me on my achievement. I was so overwhelmed with love and support, that it suddenly felt real.

I had finally finished my Bachelor of Communications & Media Studies – Bachelor of International Studies (Deans Scholar) Majoring in French & Global Media, Minoring in Global Sustainable Development and the Environment – phew that’s a mouth full!

That evening Mitch came over and we went out to dinner at the ultimate place to celebrate anything…. His Boy Elroy. Some burgers and espresso martini later, it was the perfect ending to an amazing and emotional day.

Does it feel real? Nope. Do I know what I’m doing next? Hell no. Do I care? Absolutely not. For the time being, I’m going to jet off to Thailand to my sister (who also graduated – congrats girl) to eat, drink and soak up some sunshine to fully embrace our graduation success.

This post is dedicated to my friends and family who have unconditionally supported me throughout my epic university journey. Without you guys, I really don’t know where I’d be. They say it’s not about the destination, but the journey. And I’ve had one heck of a ride.

To all of you out there about to graduate, studying for final exams, or have still got a few years left… you can do it. One step at a time. It’s not easy, no one ever said it would be. But I promise you that those celebratory beers will go down even easier once you finish. Work hard, party harder and make sure to take a break, relax your mind and remember it’s all going to be OK. You got this!

🎓🎓🎓

October 31, 2017

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These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things: OCTOBER 2017

I’M FINISHED MY DEGREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! OMG! Words really cannot describe how I’m feeling (maybe a little hungover from all the celebrations) but damn 4 years, two degrees and I’m finally done! I’m sure with my new found spare time I’ll be blogging about how it actually feels. This month has been a roller coaster, finishing a degree and applying for another is stressful. But I made it and now I can finally relax and celebrate my achievement. Let’s have a look back on the tumultuous month that was October.

💃🏻 Feeling Confident and Proud of Myself

OK so I know this is super lame and cliché, but this month I’ve felt incredibly proud of everything I’ve achieved across my 4 years at uni. And not just uni related, but in a lot of aspects of my life. This month I spoke at the National Leadership Conference, worked hard at work, have been smashing out my uni assignments, taking time for my friends, boyfriend and myself…. and I think I’ve made it out rather unscathed. I know it may seem a bit la di dah, but every now and again it’s important to take a step back and think, damn…. I’m doing well. And I think that’s what finishing a degree means.

🇫🇷 French

For those of you who don’t know, French is my major for one of my degrees, and it’s definitely one of the skills I’ve struggled and worked extremely hard at. Learning a language is extremely difficult, and therefore it’s important you have a good support system around you. I’m incredibly grateful for my bobos who have supported me through this last and final year of French. Not only in the classroom, but helping me indulge in my obsession with cheese, by arranging wine and cheese nights out at the Throsby. I’m super proud of my level of French and it’s definitely one of the life skills I want to continue to improve. Alors merci beaucoup mes bobos, je ne survivrais pas sans vous.

🎓 DEGREE!!!

I have officially submitted my final assignment for my Bachelor of Communications & Media Studies – Bachelor of International Studies (Deans Scholar) – Majors: Global Media, French Minor: Global Sustainable Development

Woooo!