White Curtains

I'm saying bye to these curtains forever because in a few days, people are coming to hang white, vertical drapes. My family have had them since the time we moved to the house we're currently living in. It has been 11 years since I last moved houses, and though it's hard to recall all of the memories I've had with my family in my little, weatherboard house, I know that they were all lovely past memories, full of laughter and love.

Hot weather and Yu-Gi-Oh!

Hurlstone boys: Kenny Tieu, Simon Chau, Miss Vo, Thomson Trang, Alan Ly

Yu-Gi-Oh! cards

What our "healthy" school canteen sells

Left to right: Ashley Wu, Anh Le, Me

I cannot exaggerate enough how hot today was. My mum's car read 38 degrees and I thought that it was pretty extreme for Spring. The weather isn't helping the Year 12 workload at all too. I am constantly stressed about homework and notes and exams which are springing up in a couple of weeks.

My plan for lunchtime, was to look through some Senior Science books, but the library was closed for ex-Year 12 students to study for the HSC. So Ashley, Anh and I decided to keep ourselves entertained by watching the intense Yo-Gi-Oh battles between the boys. Yes, why are they still playing card games? I don't know. Yu-Gi-Oh was primary school stuff, stuff of 5 years ago!

But you know what, it's not surprising at all that the boys started playing Yu-Gi-Oh again. Although we're the oldest kids at school now, we're still running for trains, playing tips and what not. Kenny's deck was astonishing. He said he spent $100 plus on that deck and it shows, because he has red/black protective sleeves for all of his cards. He must have been spoilt. Enough words said. I'm only kidding, he's very hard-working now, that is, in the classroom.

The Prefects are back! I looked at photos on Facebook and it seemed like a really fun camp. Oh well, I had fun at school...right?

Aphids and Agriculture

Diligent Hurlstone students

"Cute, little Aphid"

So all the Prefects (cool kids) are gone to camp and that's basically means that all my bestfriends are gone too. The weather is warming up and I don't know if I'm fancying that. Though I am in Year 12 along with my Hurlstone friends, it seems as though we're still interested in looking at flies flying in circles. Today in Agriculture, we looked at Aphids: sap sucking insects. "Aren't they cute?" Mr Schippers said. I'm just amazed at the photo above. It was taken through the lenses of a microscope.

"Magic Outside of Hogwarts"

EOS Club

My birthday cake from my bestie, Julia!

Julia Tran and me

Christie Duong's butt slice

Eating out at Sands Restaurant

Beautiful wink Miss Tran!

Cute little tea cups

Crab and Vermicelli Noodles

Sweet crab meat

Salty prawns...

Sweet and Sour Oysters

Fish...

That's my mummy and our messy table!

Coconut Jelly Dessert

Beautiful Tania

Hey, it says 17, I wonder what for...

My Ferrero Rocher Ice-cream Cake

All the cards I was given

I'm guessing that I've been an ass (annoying) to some this year, hehe. 

I love this card, it's lovely!

I've officially turned 17 today and can now "do magic outside of Hogwarts"(Quote Nathan)! Although no birthday I've ever had could beat my 16th birthday, today was quite a splendid day. The day started off with a 'BANG', I'm being punny here. Julia was sneakily handing out poppers to the train kids at Cabramatta Station and as I was trying to talk Vivian into making a friendship bracelet for me, my friends popped colourful streamers all over me and sang me happy birthday.

I received many cards, hugs and 'happy birthday' greetings as I got to school. Period 1-Extension English  was a bore because I had to get on with my own work which was Exercise 6 on Series and Sequences, as I dropped Extension English. But as expected, Agriculture was fun. We sprayed herbicide all over our lettuces and were told that we'll be harvesting next Monday! "Lettuce for dinner!" Simon Banh said.

Julia made me an oh-so-moist chocolate cake which was scrumptious! You're a wonderful friend Julia and everything that you've done for me or given to me, I will cherish and never forget. I also started Senior Science today and for now, it seems rather interesting and easy. The rest of the school day was quite boring.

My godmother and godmother's mother (HAHA) came over to my house in the afternoon to celebrate my 17th birthday. We ate out at Sands Restaurant, located in Cabramatta Rugby League Club for the first time, and my first impression of the food there is a rather good one. As Miss Tran and her mother are vegetarians, we had "seafood" on our minds when ordering the food. The food was delicious! We were also given Coconut Jelly dessert which I didn't like very much.

For a change, my godmother bought ice-cream cake for me, instead of the usual, spongy cakes, and it was very nice.

That pretty much sums up my first day of being 17. Thank you to everyone who wrote me lovely cards or sang 'happy birthday' to me, you made my day amazing!

Little Girl's Makeup

My makeup collection

I know I don't have much makeup at all and most of it is consists of lip balms, but I am hoping that one day soon, I'll be able to expand on this little collection of mine. The Lancome cosmetics were from my mum.

From left to right, top to bottom:

1. "Play" Perfume by Givenchy 
2. Teint Miracle Foundation #1 by Lancome
3. Tinted Moisturiser by NIVEA
4. Parure Extreme #3 by Guerlain
5. Juicy Tube in "Tickled Pink" by Lancome
6. "Paris Hilton" Perfume by Paris Hilston
7. Carmex Lip Balm
8. Hypnose Mascara by Lancome
9. Body Shop Lip Balm
10. "Summer Fruits" EOS Lip Balm 
11. "Fruity Shine Strawberry" by NIVEA
12. All-Around Safe Block Essence Sun by Missha
13. Japanese Apple scented Lip Balm bought from Missha

ABC Kids

Well actually, Mr Gee likes making jokes more than teaching..

I really like Mr Pernickety, and Mr Scatterbrain!

Too bad this photo blurred...he's so cute!

I have chosen 'McBean' as my Varsity Jacket nickname. Tracey McBean, get it? The famous inventor with short orange hair, freckles and glasses. My other options were: TNT, TRACEthesmell, tracesofnuts. I cannot put to words how indecisive I was about that decision. It took me months to decide...Last night, I was still asking all my friends on MSN for their opinion. I'm happy with my final decision because I know I won't be embarrassed to wear my jacket out in a few years time, unlike TRACEthesmell.

I came home from school and wasted half an hour watching cartoon shows on ABC Kids. They've got like 4 channels now? Correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, the cartoons were very amusing and cute. I watched Peppa Pig, Mr Men Show and Yo Gaba Gaba! That green, furry long-armed blob is so cute! For Show and Tell, he made a lobster, HAHA!

I know I'm turning 17 soon, but what can I say. I have a weak spot for cartoons and will always love them, even if they have turned weird and freaky like Yo Gaba Gaba. I remember the times when I used to watch Arthur, Yoko Jakamoto Toto, Koala Brothers, Angelina the Ballerina, Banana in Pajama...Yes, I did watch alot of T.V. Like many other Year 12 students at Hurlstone, I think I'm still a kid at heart. It's a shocking thought that we're even in Year 12!

Time to Exhale

My dad went and bought all these books a while back for me...

The thought of coming back to school was a daunting one for me. The reality was that I completely flunked my Yearly Exams and I knew this because I wasn't really trying towards the end of the year and found myself falling to sleep as I crammed in my bed.

I luckily did not perform too badly as expected and ended Year 11 on a sound note, maintaining most of my ranks if not, only slipping a few. HOWEVER, my maths result was shocking, so so shocking. I cried myself to bed for two days thinking that I would not be accepted in 4u. But guess what? I'm in for it and am jumping for joy! (so are my lovely parents)

Danica Huynh, you honestly are a great friend to me, something that I often take for granted. You were there to counsel me when I had little faith left inside of me and could barely see the future.  You are such a wonderful person and you clearly care about me because you looked for my name!

And thank you Margaret Tram, you comforted me and  kept me in good spirits whilst I sulked, ranted and complained to you at school and at home on the phone. I love you so much! I am so happy for both of us, we must push ourselves to the limits in this final high school year. You and me Marge, I'll install an engine on our little boat.

I also hope I get Sproule as my Advanced English teacher, otherwise I would rather stay with Mrs Davis because I'm kind of scared and worried about the pressure I might get from being in Top class. I will not let myself side track this year like I did with Year 11. I've changed to Senior Science from Physics and Mathematics Extension 2 from English Extension, and I am very keen to start Year 12 now.

'Flamingo' Wallet

It's rather spacious hey?

Mum bought me this Oroton wallet and I'm just loving its 'Flamingo' colour! It's sparkly, but the sparkles don't seem to show up in photos...It's rather big for a person like me too. I only have a few cards other than my school ID, train pass and library card, but my pink phone fits into it perfectly. I LOVE IT, THANKS MUM! I think I'll make this wallet my 'going out' wallet, it's too precious to be thrown into my school bag. School starts tomorrow, and tomorrow marks a significant turning point of my life, the beginning of the HSC battle. Bring it B.O.S, lets see how torturing you can be.

When Trans Meet City

Lily got two Smurfs from a skill-tester

My sister and cousins, Cindy and Lily

Playing with 'Smile Detector' whilst walking to Capitol Square

We were flooded with all these coin eating machines

Tania and I clawed a Domo-Kun!

Hello cute little girl

Walked to Market City for food

Morning Glory Sale

Not quite sure if this is a woman or a chicken...

Miss Tran and her funky glasses

We found the shop's name to be quite amusing

Hadn't been to Galaxy World for years

Seems like someone has grown a little big for these cars

Token for Bumper Cars!

Tania's fast, red car

Dance, Dance, Revolution! That white shirt guy was pro and made us feel bad.

Giant Domo-Kun

This camera just needs good lens and it'll be superb

Mother's Crepe. Look at all the choices!

Our Caramel Strawberry Cheesecake Green Tea Crepe! 

I went City today with my sister, Godmother and cousins and we watched Spy Kids 4D! It was a cute movie, but we should have watched 'The Smurfs' instead or 'Johnny English Reborn' which I still haven't watched! The weather was nice and sunny as we walked from place to place. After the movie, we went Capitol Square, then we went to Market City to look for food. Being girls, we were a little caught up with the Morning Glory Sale which wasn't too great because none of us ended up buying anything. Miss Tran bought Sushi, but the rest of us didn't feel like it, having eaten sushi at the Buffet yesterday. (We end up eating Hungry Jacks and McDonalds...boring!) We then went Galaxy World which I hadn't been to since Yr 8. I was so surprised at it's size, it's huge now! We played Bumper Cars, DDR and Angry Bird skill-testers...my cousins love skill-testers because they're quite 'skilled' at it.

I went to JB Hi Fi to look at the Canon G12 too and it's not as big as I thought it'll be. I'm still juggling between the Canon G12 and the soon to come Canon S100. Tania and I shared a Caramel Strawberry Cheesecake Green Tea Crepe. It was our first and I really had no idea what to choose! There was savoury or sweet, cold or hot, ice-cream or no-icecream and many more choices!

I had a great time today, but it's now time to get on with my mountain of school and tutor work.