Adelaide HaynesLeave a comment

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things: APRIL 2021

So somehow it’s May… when did that happen?! I think I lost track of time between long weekends, stressful work days and smashing some personal bests with my running. This month I’ve been really proud of the way I’ve been able to step up and take initiative and stand up for myself. I’ve been having a pretty challenging time at work, adjusting to a new workplace culture, new management style and a new role (all in a new city). I’m super grateful for my incredibly kind and supportive colleagues, but I’ve certainly been questioning my capabilities which has taken a toll on my confidence. It’s hard not to spiral when your confidence falls, questioning why you’ve made these decisions and questioning where you’ve ended up.

I’ve been really grateful for the incredibly supportive people who have reminded me of who I am, what I contribute and how I am valued. While it may sound like a cry for validation, positive reinforcement, it’s so much more than that. It has meant the world being able to reconnect to my values, my skills, my experiences and what makes me special. I am special and so are you – if anyone makes you feel like you’re not special, you’ve really got to consider whether you need that person in your life or not.

While the past few weeks have certainly been challenging, I’ve dug deep, been brave and stepped up so that I can get through these challenging times. I feel like I’ve grown an exponential amount, being able to communicate clearly and confidently to attempt to resolve conflict, while also making the concious effort to not take certain things on, because it doesn’t fill my cup.

At the end of the day, there will always be people out there who do not want the best for you, question your intentions and attempt to bring you down. As the beautiful Michelle Obama said, when they go low, we go high. So higher and higher I will strive to continue to fly.

Easter adventures

Hands down one of the best things about April is the number of public holidays we’re able to squeeze into the month! So over the glorious Easter long weekend, John and I headed up to Port Stephens to enjoy some sunshine and celebrate my Mum’s birthday! It’s always nice going home and even nicer to celebrate such a special and beautiful woman like my Mum.

Some of John’s friends joined us at Murray’s Brewery for a much needed beverage in the sun and we spend the evening on the balcony eating cheese and drinking beer. On Sunday we were treated to some glorious weather and we went exploring to our secret island, and honestly is there anything better than jumping off a rock into the water? I love love loved it and love brining people to enjoy the beauty of Port Stephens.

After our weekend in Port Stephens we headed to Sydney to spend time with John’s family. We headed to Manly for lunch and soaked up the beautiful vibes of being by the beach. It was such a lovely day out spent with John’s family – I even got a few cuddles from little baby Jack!

Yours & Owls

The festival we never thought would happen finally happened! Scheduled for October of 2020, I think I bought tickets over a year ago and with all of the cancelling and rescheduling, I’d considered my ticket a donation to Yours & Owls. Despite countless challenges, the legends at Y&O managed to pull off NSW’s first COVID-safe festival and boy oh boy was it great! Two days of back to back bangers was so much fun! Big shout out to Elly for letting us have pres on your front balcony. I had my first chip on a stick (I don’t know what I’ve been doing with my life) and we boogied away to Lime Cordiale, Smith Street Band, Hayden James, Tones and I and Slowly Slowly – oh and Blue was obviously the superior section!

ANZAC Day long weekend

And another long weekend rolled around. ANZAC Day is always a special day in our family, not only with Isaac currently serving but with a lot of family members having served. Our family came down to Canberra so we could go and watch Isaac march out in Captain’s Flat. It was so lovely to have everyone over – including my beautiful Grandma – for brekky and dinner. Then I discovered my new favourite pub, the Old Canberra Inn. We headed there (with a bit of an embarrassing detour of my behalf) to play two up, eat some schnitty and down some pints! An absolutely epic long weekend and I couldn’t be more grateful for my family for coming together and enjoying eachothers company.

Celebrating our 30th

While I’m not quite 30 myself, the organisation I work for celebrated its 30th birthday! I was respsonbile for pulling off our 30th birthday (which, if I say so myself – went pretty damn well!). It’s always hard starting a new job, let alone being handed the responsibiltiy of delivering a milestone event. While it was certainly a bit of a whirlwind, I’m so proud that I not only pulled it off, I kinda nailed it! Shoutout to my awesome colleagues who got me across the line and helped me make the magic happen.

Colours of Autumn

Just thought I’d share some of these gorgeous photos of the beach, the river, the lake and the trees I’ve been soaking in. Isn’t Autumn just the best?!

Flicks

The Serpent
You know that I’ve been loving shows that satisfy the travel bug within me. The Serpent certainly does that (but in a bit of a messed up way). It’s a bit of a slow burn but absolutely worth it! It’s an epic show based on the true story of a French serial killer throughout the ‘hippie highway’ in the 70s. 110% recommend!

A Fantastic Woman
I bit the bullet and tried out my first bath in my new place – despite the lukewarm water (seems we’re having some hot water issues… not ok as we are about to enter winter!), I lit a candle and set up with my laptop to watch this gorgeous movie soaked in bubbles. This took a turn I really wan’t expecting and thought was beautiful and heart wrenching. It tells the story of a trans woman who experiences severe isolation after the passing of her secret boyfriend in Chile. It’s in Spanish but hey – I think you’re brave enough to overcome the subtitles for this incredible film.

Tunes

deja vu, Olivia Rodrigo
Yep, basic bitch status has been achieved. But seriously Olivia girl who hurt you?! At such a young age she is absolutely killing it and producing absolute bangers. I’ve had her songs on repeat and believe she’s about to release an album… she’s certainly on my radar!

R U High, The Knocks and Mallrat
I have had this banger on repeat. Such a good tune to listen when you’re on your way home from work on a Friday and getting pumped for those after work drinks!

Books

What Alice Forgot, Liane Moriaty
So I was a bit slack on reading this month (oops) and I think it’s because I got stuck on this book. For 400 pages it just didn’t really do it for me. Nonetheless, I persevered. It was nice. That’s all I really have to say. I’ve got some much better books on my to read pile, so check in next month for those updates.

What Alice Forgot eBook: Moriarty, Liane: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

We Are All Burnt Out, The Cut

I have been recommending this episode of the Cut to everyone and anyone who will listen. I was listening to this episode on a drive up to Sydney and I honestly felt like it was specifically addressed to me. It is a MUST listen. It talks about identify and who we are when we place so much value on what we do (our jobs), how toxic workplace culture can affect you and why it’s so important to have things outside of your job that spark joy!

Product

It’s actually an oldie but I’ve never had so much appreciation for it – my Garmin watch! Ever since getting it I’ve been getting super into my running and think that I can finally call myself a runner. My goal this year is to run a half marathon (21.1km) and this month I smashed my longest run of 10kms! Despite the below zero mornings, I’ve been dragging myself out of bed to run to the lake and get my heart rate up and get sweaty. I’ve also beat my parkrun 5km PB and I’m nearly at my goal of doing it in under 30 minutes.

Might be a strange one, and also may not be entirely because of my watch, but I’m so proud of myself for pushing myself and really dedicating the time to improving my style, strength and endurance. So Garmin if you’re reading, I’m happy to be sponsored by you!

I picked up my Garmin from Rebel when it was 50% off so keep an eye on their website for some pretty awesome deals!

Forerunner® 735XT

Well, April what a month you were. I feel stronger, professionally, mentally and physically, and I’ve never felt more connected to the people in my life who matter the most. The next month is pretty full on with LITERALLY every weekend booked out for the month. But hey, I’m going to take it slow, take time for myself and take it easy.

I hope May is kind to you, I hope you’re kind to yourself and remember to make some time for fun and joy!

Adelaide HaynesLeave a comment

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things: NOVEMBER 2019

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!

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📚 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!

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🎥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!

Adelaide HaynesLeave a comment

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things: MARCH 2017

OK 2017, slow down. Come on! This is the greatest year ever and you’re just speeding by? This month has been insanely hectic but productive af! With birthdays, networking, goal setting, interning, studying and getting surviving all this rain (seriously – weeeeeeeeks of rain I actually can’t deal). So let’s have a look at all the awesome things that have happened this month!

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🎉 My sister’s 21st Birthday

OMG she did it. She made it to 21! Ah I’m just so freakin stoked that I got the chance to celebrate one of my best friends and soul sisters birthday. Despite being ridiculously sick (sorry for not being able to party properly), it was so lovely seeing my family and spending time together.

🍻 Being with my friends

Parties, coffee dates, beer seshes, beach seshes, playing with puppies, buying dumplings… there was a lot of hugs and love flying around with my friends this month and I’m so grateful to have them by my side.

😘 Twenty Something Humans

So some of you may have already seen that lately I’ve been writing bits and pieces for Twenty Something Humans. If you haven’t already checked them out – then what are you waiting for?! But this month, I’m starting a very cool, very hip, very à la mode internship with them! It’s a space where I experiment with my writing style, and write about things, well, that are meant for Twenty Something Humans (sorry Mum but those pieces aren’t for your eyes). So make sure you give it a cheeky check out 👀

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📚 Books

‘Yassmin’s Story’ by Yassmin Abdel-Magied, is a recount of her life story, the challenges she’s faced, the successes she’s triumphed, the failures she’s learnt front and her general awesome attitude. I’ve seen Yassmin appear several times on Q&A and thought ‘ OMG I want to be her best friend.’ So naturally I had to read her book. Easy to read, thought provoking and fucking inspiring!

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🎶 Music

Catfish and the Bottlemen. HOLY SHIT. Why has it taken me so long to jump on this amazing album? I’ve been obsessed for the past 2 weeks and all I want right now is to be able to see them live… please come tour Australia. Please. Thanks.

BØRNS. Ooooh damn this song is beautiful. His other songs are pretty damn awesome

Oddisee. Well well well, where has this guy been hiding all my life? Music is so chill and smooth yet he absolutely talks some truth and hits some really important issues. I’ve had his album on repeat for the past few weeks and damn am I stoked.

🎥 Flicks

Hidden Figures – kick ass women making their mark on the world (and out of it). Every one needs to see this film! I love watching strong female leads, but especially women of colour telling their story and rewriting the history books.

Marseille – sticking with the theme of ‘needing to study my French but can’t really be bothered so watching French films and TV shows to ease my guilt of not studying French’ thing I’ve got going on, Marseille is my new fave thing. A political drama with some freakin amazing actors. 11/10 would recommend.

📷 Bloggers & Vloggers

Ollie Ritchie

Holy shit – this is what filmmaking and content creation is about. His stuff is absolutely freakin amazing. Especially the video below about Paris. Ah it makes my heart soar.

Nicole Jade: She Flies Without Wings

One of my awesome friends, Nicole, has a super inspirational blog that gives you insight to her thoughts and experiences with poise, beauty and love.

https://sheflieswithoutwings.com/

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📝 Quote

OK – so this isn’t necessarily a quote, but it’s more of a kick up the butt. Some motivation to stop criticising myself and comparing myself to others. I’m so hard on myself for no apparent reason and it honestly gets in the way of me doing what I really want to be doing. So enough is enough. Get rid of those negative, bad thoughts and bring yourself up. You gotta be your own biggest cheerleader. You got this girl!

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💖 OK so  yea, I’ve been pretty busy. But it’s good, I like it this way. Keeping my mind racing, thinking and creating pushes me. And when I’m pushed in the right direction and I’m concentrated and focused on something important to me, then watch out world cus there’s no brakes on that version of Adelaide.

PEACE

Adelaide Haynes1 Comment

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things: FEBRUARY 17

Ok, so I get that February’s a weird little month. 28 days, 4 weeks, 672 hours, and damn have they disappeared. My first full month back in Australia and in Wollongong. And it’s been a freakin amazing. Let’s get to it!

Discovery Days

Let’s be honest, I have one of the best jobs on earth! And the best time to work as a student ambassador is definitely the annual Discovery Days. Not only is it a heaps of fun for the kids, but it’s fun overload for us as well. And this year was no exception, pouring rain and sweltering heat… nothing could stop us from having an incredible time. I’m so lucky to work with such an awesome team of inspiring people.

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My Montréal Video

So I FINALLY put together my Montreal video. It took hours of gathering footage, editing and then re editing (because my original upload got muted due to copyright – oops) but it’s finally alive and chillin out there on the internet! I’m so proud of this video. It makes me so freaking happy to watch!

[If you haven’t yet subscribed, click here to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing! I’m nearly at 100 subscribers and I’ll have to do something epically awesome when I reach 100]

Finding a new HOUSE

If anyone knew me during the beginning of the month, they would’ve known how freakin stressed I was looking for a place to live. Khal, Rhys (my two amazing friends) and I were searching for a house to rent in Wollongong and damn is that market competitive. However, this goes to show how far positive thinking can go. I told the universe that I would have a house by Sunday the 5th Feb, and on Friday the 3rd Feb we got a very exciting phone call confirming this!

80s Prom Party

It was one of my beautiful friend’s 21st Birthday party and she decided to have it as an 80’s Prom Theme. OMG. First of all – why can’t I wear puffy pastel dresses around all day every day?! Secondly, damn it was so much fun! It’s always so nice going to a good house party, catching up with people you haven’t seen in forever and meeting new people. The night ended with a swim in the pool, me ripping the petticoat out from under my dress because I could barely breathe, and then crashing in an awesome van for the night. Top night!

Speaking at Orientation Week 

I know I’ve included a few little speech related moments through these posts, but every now and then, you gotta show yourself some love and be proud of what you’ve achieved. I was asked last minute to give a 10 minute presentation of a ‘Uni Survival Guide.’ I had prepared my slides but hadn’t really prepared much else. Yet I was able to get up there, smash out a great speech and speak confidently and calmly. I’m super proud of yet another speech I’ve made at UOW. It was even better when a student approached me afterwards asking me about my degree and uni experience, saying that I inspired her to look into doing exchange. (Awww).

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Tunes

Maître Gims. Yep, this whole French major thing has really got my head because now suddenly everything is in French. Regardless of whether you’re into French music, this song is actually freakin awesome!

Benjamin Clementine. I’ve only just discovered this guy and I’ve been listening on repeat. His music is so unique, the piano is enchanting and his vocal range is huge! Plus this video clip is just so stunning, I had to include it in my faves for this month.

Childish Gambino. So somehow last year I lived under a freakin rock and missed his amazing album that came out! Urgh it’s soooooooo good I’ve had this on repeat all month!

Flicks

Call My Agent. Netflix, you’ve done it again. This is a brilliantly dramatic yet light hearted TV show about agents and their crazy actors that they manage. It’s in French and I’ve been opting to have the French subtitles on to work on my French. It’s soooo worth the subtitles though! C’etait magnifique.

La La Land. Ooooh la la I’m in love. Emma Stone has been my ultimate girl crush since Easy A when I could finally relate to an awesome red head on screen being awkward and somewhat cool (at least, that’s what I thought I was). The soundtrack is amazing, it’s simple, beautiful and just so damn lovely to watch. Though I would recommend letting your friends know that it’s a musical before going. I somehow failed to mention that and they weren’t too happy! haha

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YouTubers 

RayaWasHere. I’ve been following Raya as long as I’ve been following Louis, but it’s not until recently that she’s really won me over. I think it was the video below, that really pulled me in. I feel that she has a very genuine and beautiful way of capturing her friendships and connections with people and I’d love to see more content like the one below! You go girl!

A Worldly Addiction.

I’m going to give myself a little plug here but I feel like this month I’ve really produced some great content. One of my favourite videos I’ve ever made is absolutely killing it and it’s received over 1300 views so far! WHAT?! I’ve been feeling super proud of myself and my drive to put myself out there, live life to the fullest and create beautiful moments, so why not do yourself a favour and chuck us a subscribe. If you go to my channel from here make sure to comment “Shameless Plug” on one of my videos. OK let the blog continue as per usual.

Books

I haven’t technically finished it (I kinda got caught up in Season 3 of How To Get Away With Murder ((OMG))! But it’s so so good! ‘I wouldn’t start from here’ by Andrew Mueller is a reflection on his career and experiences as a war and conflict correspondent. I love in each chapter you’re taken somewhere completely different and never quite sure where he’s going with it. From Kosovo, to  Palestine, London to Lichtenstein, it’s a fascinating take on ‘the 21st Century and where it all went wrong.’

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Quote

The quote below has really helped me through this crazy month. It reassures me that if we want something, if we want to be something, then we must accept the change that inevitably comes with growing, learning and evolving. It reminds me to let go of things that are no longer important and embrace the new, the scary and the exciting.

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Well those 4 weeks just absolutely flew by! March is going to be absolutely hectic. I’m organising another overseas trip (can you guess where?!), uni will hit with it’s full blow, my little sister is turning 21 (HOW?!) and the adventures will continue as always! I hope March treats you well and you treat life even better! xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adelaide HaynesLeave a comment

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things: NOVEMBER 16

Oh damn it’s all becoming a bit too real. November is over which means only a few more weeks until Christmas, then after that I’ll be packing up my life here in Montreal and travelling around the West coast of America, before heading back home in January. I’m not sure I’m ready for it yet! But before I get ahead of myself…. let’s recap on the amazing month that was November!

Montreal Adventures

This month was the month to really embrace the beauty of Montreal. And with my dear friends, I think I’ve accomplished that. I was lucky enough to have one of my best friends to come and visit for a few nights. You can check out what we got up to below!

A Night Out At Reggies

OK so this isn’t exactly something new (I kinda go to Reggies every week). But this time I happened to bring my camera. Despite the fact that we’re missing my girl EVA (next time) – these photos are of beautiful people that I’m lucky enough to call my friends here in Montreal.

BOSTON

I was lucky enough to go the the States again this month, and this time it was Boston! What an awesome city! I honestly had such an amazing time with amazing people – check out the video to see Boston in it’s full glory.

Flicks

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know that I’m a huge fan of a good documentary. And Netflix has been DELIVERING! The Hunting Ground is a must watch for everyone, particularly university students. It sadly reflects deep seeded issues with the university as an institution and the unequal treatment of men and women.

13th absolutely blew my mind! I think this is compulsory viewing for every single human being. It shines a very ugly light on the American ‘justice’ system whilst highlighting the huge issues of racism, inequality and corrupt institutions that plague America. I was in tears by the end of the film, and after the election of Donald Trump, who’s racist words echo throughout a very powerful section of the film, I’m scared and fearful for those who are already subject to such inequality. #blacklivesmatter

Lovesick

Yep – I’ve done another binge watch of a Netflix series but this one has left me feeling love, loved and…. lovesick. It’s light hearted, classic British romantic humour and it just made me so happy to watch. 10/10 would recommend.

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Tunes

This song! I don’t know how I missed this when it was released but damn this song get’s me so pumped and makes me so happy! It makes me incredibly excited to be back in the sunshine, at the beach with some great friends!

Tom Odell, I will forever love you. I’ve been listening to all of his music lately, but this is just a great cover that I’ve had on repeat for the past few weeks. As someone in the comments described, Matt Healy (the lead singer of the 1975) is like a cigarette and Tom Odell, he’s like a smooth whisky with a vintage cigar.

Bloggers & Vloggers

JacksGap

This channel is INCREDIBLE! It’s soooo inspiring and has definitely given me direction and motivation of where I would want to take my channel, career and life. I love them because they combine creative and quality content with a meaningful message and for that, I absolutley applaud them!

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kayla briët 

This girl is ridiculously talented! I was lucky enough to see her premiere her short film called ‘Smoke That Travels’ and is one of the most incredible films I’ve ever seen. She write and producers her own music, she’s an incredible story teller and again, creates extremely meaningful and important content. I’m incredibly inspired by her and she’s definitely someone the YouTube community should embrace and support.

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Reads

After being lucky enough to see Chris Hadfield speak at Buffer Fest (you can see the video here), I was inspired to read his book. And it’s just as amazing as him! It’s interesting, light hearted, but filled with some very important life lessons that anyone can relate to and learn from. I can’t wait to give it to my brother, who’s fascinated with science and space!

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Quote

This month, as you have already seen, I’ve been very grateful for the friendships I’ve made. I haven’t been worried about travel, boys, school… my main focus has been these friendships. Dedicating quality time, going out and doing something fun and different, and just appreciating every opportunity I have to spend time with them. Maybe it’s because I’m getting a little sentimental because I know I’m leaving soon (let’s not mention it just yet), but it’s such a rare time in my life where I have zero responsibilities and I get to dictate my days. And I guess despite all of the crazy times we’ve had, they’ve stood by me and made my experience here absolutely unforgettable. You know who you are…

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OK so that wraps up November! There’s sooooooo much in store for December that I can’t even really think about it right now, but stay tuned because it’s going to be amazing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Adelaide Haynes2 Comments

My Favourite Documentaries on NETFLIX

When Netflix & chill isn’t an option, sometimes, you just have to chill out with yourself and find a good movie to watch. And lately, I’ve been really getting into my documentaries. It might have something to do with feeling guilty when I actually do watch a film. So to compensate, I’ve been watching documentaries; an easy way to chill out and actually learn something new. So, if you too love a good doco and are looking for some new ones to add to your list, then look no further!

Chasing Ice (2012)

An amazing look at the dramatic changes happening as a direct result of Climate Change. A team of scientists venture to some of the most remote parts of the world, including Alaska, Greenland and Iceland. And having been to Iceland, it made watching this documentary even more incredible.

Perfect for: Those of you who love some beautiful cinematography, are interested in nature and concerned about climate change.

The True Cost (2015)

This documentary will make you close all of the online shopping tabs you have open. It follows your $10 top back through the supply chain to cotton farms in the US, to farms in rural India, to the factory workers in Bangladesh. It’s a fascinating look at where our clothes come from and the huge injustice of the fashion industry.

Perfect For: Those of you who love shopping the sales rack at stores.

Cowspiracy (2014)

Whilst at the People’s Climate March in Sydney last year, there were people everywhere holding signs saying ‘real environmentalists are vegan.’ Whilst I initially dismissed the thought straight away, it definitely planted a seed which prompted me to do some research for myself.

“Livestock and their byproducts account for at least 32,000 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, or 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.”

This just blew my mind. Whenever I used to think of CO2 emissions, I would always think of mining and fossil fuels. Whilst I’m not saying that Cowspiracy is what you should base all of your knowledge off of, because I personally believe it is highly propaganda-ish, but it is extremely eye opening to an issue not discussed in the media. And learning more about this issue inspired me to adopt a vegetarian diet.

Perfect for: Those of you curious about vegetarianism or veganism. Or alternatively, if you don’t want to subscribe to one of these labels, a reductionist (view TED Talk here)

Mission Blue (2014)

This documentary follows the story of Sylvia Earle, one of the world’s first oceanographers. She dedicated her life to the ocean, the life in it and the life that depends on it. Not only is Sylvia an incredibly inspiring woman, but the history and evolution of ocean exploration is looked at through a beautiful lens at a world just at our footsteps.

Perfect for: Those who have ever had their breath taken away by the beauty of the ocean. Also for those concerned for the future of our oceans and the effects that Climate Change has, especially in Australia.

Blackfish (2013)

This disturbing thriller showcases the issue of keeping majestic animals like Orcas in captivity in Sea World. Whilst I personally have issues with the portrayal being on the lives lost by several trainers at Sea World and not the orcas themselves, it still tells an incredibly powerful story of the harsh realities these beautiful animals face. As a result of this film, Sea World announced they would end their breeding program at the Orlando park. However, one of the main orcas in Blackfish, Tilikum, is suffering so much, that his health is rapidly deteriorating.

Perfect For: Those who are also passionate whale lovers and who see a huge breach of animal rights in the act of capturing, detaining and ‘training’ animals.

So there we go. Netflix has definitely provided the goods when it comes to documentaries. And if you have any suggestions, please let me know in the comments below!

Happy watching and learning!

 

Further Information

TED Talk on being a REDUCTIONIST