Day To Night

The first time I drank from a silver cup

My girls

Fried Dumplings

Fish cakes

My first drink: Mojito

The birthday girl and the beautiful birthday cake

Pass the parcel game and the dares hidden within the layers: Andy's and Mitchell's duet of 1000 miles

My classy potato :)

I had one long, amazing day today! My day kicked off with starting work experience at City Specs (Liverpool Westfield) and I have to say, working is so much fun! I guess it's because it was my first day...I probably wouldn't say that in 5 years time. My dress code needed to me semi-professional but I also wanted to wear something fitting to attend Wendy's 18th Birthday Party, so I slipped on a Zara Classic dress. It really does give me a mature look, so I am thinking of buying more dresses or skirts of similar design for work.

To sum up what I did at work on the first day: I was trained to use the computer system, write tax invoices, work the EFTPOS, sell sunglasses. I had to stand on my feet for 8 hours straight, something I've never done before, so my legs ached so much at the end of the day.

Straight after work, I went to Wendy's 18th Birthday Party at Green Peppercorn. I really wished I owned a toner or setting powder, because my face looked so oily at the end of the day. I touched up on my makeup in the car, but overdid the highlighting, so my face did appear shiny in some areas. Just remember, it's highlighter and not oily...

I really liked the restaurant as a whole - food, furnishing, atmosphere, service - despite having to eat Vegetarian dishes as I was sitting on the Vege table. I wish I took photos of every dish I ate, but I forgot to do that because my table sort of became desperate for food when none of the dishes came our way. I was so hungry after work! HAHA, so enjoy the entrees. I had my first drink for the first time too! I had a Mojito like Vanessa, because I had no clue which alcoholic beverage would taste good. I didn't like it very much, but it was cold and refreshing though. I did not get drunk! Hell yeah for good tolerance.

After the food, we formed a huge irregular circle and played pass the parcel. The parcel somehow always landed at my side of the circle...I ended up with it twice. There were little white slips of paper with dares written by Christie Duong. One of my slips read: "If you like it hot, ask Christie for a surprise". I was expecting a lap dance, but it turned out that I had to eat a chilli. I tried to be cool and chewed the whole thing, and ended up glugging down a two cups of water as well as gobbling down two Picnic chocolate minis. The other dare that I had to do was wax three boy's leg. I chose Avi, Vincent and Wilson. It was very...amusing.I really had such a day!

I rethought my initial promise of blogging everyday to blogging when I actually have something interesting going on. Recently, all I've done are chores and watch k-dramas. Nothing fun about that. So yeah, until next time then! (My new, mirror-less camera should be arriving tomorrow, so I'll start using it soon)

Hunting Bargains & Eating At Obaltan

Catching the East Hills line

Waiting for Shannen to try on her clothes

Wearing: Adidas white T-shirt, Forever New overalls, Calvin Klein belt, Urge teal loafers, Oroton body purse

My first Korean restaurant experience!

Obaltan endorses femininity

Thought this was soup, but it's pickled cabbage and lettuce

Radish that tastes like Kim Chi

Beef ribs

Chilli rice cakes

Pork belly

On the grill

Shannen (Shanini) being a cutie

I had such a great time with three of my girlfriends today at the city. Aside from Shannen who had to look for a formal outfit to wear for her first interview tomorrow, Anne, Anh and I were wondering around the City streets for no other purpose other than to get out of the house and make the most of our Post-HSC lives. Without a doubt, I can say that today was 100% worth it. Budget shopping or window shopping, whatever pleases your vocabulary list, can be pretty fun. I thought it would be a horrifying experience before today, but one thing that I have learnt about budget shopping, is that you get "cheapsake's satisfaction" and it truly is an exalting feeling. Speaking of vocabulary, Anh and I had an epiphanic moment on the train to the City today, as we realised how our English vocab had rotted away in a matter of 2-3 weeks from completing our HSC English assessment tasks. We actually struggle to think of words such as "elegant" and "tricked".

To recount our adventurous outing in short:

We boarded an East Hills train and talked about Joseph Gordan Levitt and 21 Jumpstreet for most of the time. I have to recount that Anh miraculously used her school pass to exit the gates at the QVB entrance. Good work little sister!

We tried our luck at Top Shop first, but soon realised the bargains weren't there...so, we headed to Myer. I managed to scoop two cardigans off the sale rack at Myer and they are just perfection, made for me completely. The first is a hot pink, over-sized cardi with black lace decoration and the second, is a navy blue cardi with a detachable leopard fur collar and shiny black buttons. $45 in total, sweet!

My pact with Anh is that every time we go to the City, we must buy Moochi and keep the spoon as a  memory trigger of the outing. Today, they made Green Tea frozen yoghurt, just my luck!

Obaltan was where we had lunch at. It was quite hard to find as it is situated at the end of an alleyway, and Anne and Anh can both take credit for finding the restaurant. We did vlog the whole lunch session, but I am waiting Anne to upload the video. It was my first time eating at a Korean restaurant and I really enjoyed it. Obaltan's interior design is cosy with wooden furnishings, and to critique the dishes that we ordered, we decided on an average of 8/10. I praise the rice cake dish!

I won't write further, because this will get tedious for both parties. The video will hopefully be more fun to watch. To the lazy, get out of the house and spend time with friends! I had such a great time, I mean it!

Thank you to the ladies who accompanied me today, I loved spending time with you!

My Life Begins Now

I am back for good! The HSC has finished finally, after 2 years of immense studying and a total of 13 years of schooling, it is now over. I am so relieved in this moment, but I sometimes feel anxious about the results that are to come in December.

I will now write out a list of goals/ a list of to do things during this POST-HSC period of my life:

1. Find a job
2. Learn how to drive and get my P's
3. Eat healthily and exercise to return back to my <50kg self
4. Learn how to cook
5. Maintain hair, teeth, brows and skin in excellent condition
6. Save money and buy my wishlist on Pinterest
7. Go out with friends at least twice/thrice a week
8. Go to the beach (need my bikini body first, of course)
9. Go to a fancy bar or restaurant
10. Buy a pro mirror-less camera and blog!
11. Renovate my room by adding small decorative touches to the bland walls 
12. Catch up on movies and dramas
13. Make a reading list and read some novels at leisure
14. Paint a canvas of Audrey Hepburn 
15. Rethink UAC choices 
16. Buy Christmas presents for my family

That is all I can think of at this point in time. I plan to blog on a daily basis for the next few months because I have plenty of time to do so. To recount my first afternoon of POST-HSC life, I went to Events Cinema at Liverpool Westfields to watch Looper with about 20 Hurlstone friends. I was completely blown away by handsome Joseph Gordon-Levitt as well as the twisted plot of the movie. Looper is my first gory movie I think...I've never dared to watch anything rated above M, other than Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which I accidentally watched thinking it was just another chick flick...I was so scarred. Anyway, back on track, it isn't me to not to be stuck in some clumsy accident. Yesterday was sweltering hot, so after the last Chemistry exam, I decided to treat myself to an 'All Berry Bang' Boost, only to have it completely spill in my white canvas bag on all my chem notes...After the movie, Julia and I circled around Westfields in search for a pretty 1000 piece puzzle, but we didn't find anything. We had one climatic moment when Julia decided to walk down the inclining escalator...I felt rather rebellious for the first time in years. In the afternoon  I went to my cousin's house for home made steak, as we awaited the 100 million dollars lottery call. 

That about sums up my first afternoon of Post-HSC life. I am just so relaxed at the moment and it's rather nice. I need to clean my room out now, I have papers piled up everywhere that are getting on my nerves because I can't stand messiness. My parents returned the role of housemaid back to me yesterday, so I guess I'll have busy day today dusting and cleaning. Cleaning time, see you all soon!

A list of first times

Wearing: David Jones beanie, Ojay grey shirt, Ojay cardigan, Bardot denim jeans, Calvin Klein belt, Therapy black wedges, Oroton body purse

Makani Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar 

Chicken Udon

Seaweed in tofu skin

Anh eating her chicken kebab after 3 plates :P

My first moochi with biscotti and green tea frozen yoghurt and mochi, strawberries and kiwi topping

Wearing the Illamasqua blush

First and foremost, MY TRIALS ARE OVER. THANK THE HEAVENS!

I thought I had the rest of the week off to chill but sadly, school starts again tomorrow. Anyway, I had so much fun shopping with Vanessa, Anh, Jennifer and Ngoc and we also bumped into Vivian, Christie and Julia! Though, we all ended up splitting into shopping couplets. Shopping therapy for "all the stress" we felt during the trials. I emphasise the "stress" because I obviously didn't feel the stress I was meant to feel. My English tutor said I was being complacent about the HSC and he also just casually commented, "You know what 30-40 years olds regret the most...not studying hard enough during Year 12." 

Ughh...what are you trying to imply? :( I do try, but it's probably not to the extent of students who dream of becoming doctors and prestigious so and so. Here's my secret revealed: Success is marrying a rich husband. HAHA, only kidding. Although, I did wish I had lots of money when I was impulsively shopping with Anh at Zara, Seed, Sheike and Jigsaw. Everything was nice but everything was also so expensive...for the little pocket money I saved up. Funny how Anh and I decided to check out Jigsaw to see if they sell nice clothes. Indeed they had very sophisticated clothes and rather dear too. We walked into the store, and a fancy, sophisticated 55+ shop assistant looked at us with eyes that said, "Um, children, I think you're not in the right place." 

I went to Myers and bought the Mac 7 lashes and they are g-g-g-orgeous. Cannot wait to glamour up for formal night.  I tried on the Illamasqua blush in "Hussy" and I am in love with it. On the other hand, I am so glad I didn't buy Nars' Orgasm online, there are chunks of glitter in it. I always feel intimidated to ask to try things, probably because I feel young and unimportant.

Anh and I went to so many stores and even double up of stores and during all that shopping, I felt as though my feet were on fire. (Anh is in love with Dotti; we went back to the store 3 times :P) How smart of me to wear wedges to shop and even smarter, to wear wedges to shop in the city! Anyway, I endured the pain because I'm just simply too strong and resilient...or too cheap to buy crappy shoes, haha.

We went to Makani to eat, just Anh and I because everyone had already eaten when we called to meet up. My chicken udon was really nice - first time eating udon noodles too. Lots of first times today. First time going shopping with Anh, first time allowed to shop with friends in the city. 

So aside from loving the shopping experience in the city, I am also loving Moochi. I have not tried Noggi but Moochi > Iladyyoghurt at Cabramatta. I was being a fatty and bought my Moochi in size: BIG. This was right after lunch too. Green tea frozen yoghurt was nice. It tasted like ice-cream. After today, it'll be intensive dieting again, Anh and I promised. Whilst we were pigging out on our frozen yoghurt, a stranger came up to Anh to compliment how beautiful her skin is, and a middle aged man waved at her and asked how she was. Creepy city people. 

I am also really glad that I had an opportunity to see maxi dresses in person, because before this, I was doubting the dress that was given to me by my lovely Godmother. Believe me, I like the dress, but I just felt as though I had no chance to pick a dress myself...which is a nice feeling to have I guess.

Today really made me feel that the end is near. THE END IS SO NEAR I FORGOT THAT I HAD JUST FINISHED MY TRIALS YESTERDAY AND I FORGOT WE HAVE SCHOOL TOMORROW. HAHA. Well, I guess it's back to school tomorrow. I won't be blogging again in 3 months. Wish me luck for my finale guys. Will need it. Bye for now!

Lunching At Holy Basil

Michelle, Me, Liza

Mary, Shannen, Ying and Karen

Classmates from tutor

Pad Kee Mao Vegetables in Mild

Watermelon and Strawberry Fresh Fruit Shake

Michelle having trouble handling the chilliness of the dish

I had 6 hours of tutoring today and my brain is now officially dead I think...The good thing about today was that I ate out with Liza and Michelle due to having the 1 hour break in-between our Chemistry tutoring sessions. We were joined by some friends from tutoring class because there weren't any spare tables available. They kept asking me why I take so many photos. They just don't understand that a girl can never have enough photos of herself with friends and food in a nice restaurant.

We ordered two dishes: Pad Kee Mao and Ox Tongue. I forgot to take a photo of the Ox Tongue dish. :( Pad Kee Mao is my all time favourite dish at Holy Basil because I had chosen it the first time I dined at the restaurant. Michelle was a cutie and couldn't handle the chilliness of the dish.

I've never tried the most extreme level of chilli they provide but I remember this one time, I ordered 'MEDIUM HOT' which comes after the 'MILD' level, and I had to leave half of my dish uneaten because my tongue was about to shrivel up. 

Holidays are ending soon and that might mean that this will be my last post until a very long time. So yeah...good bye my lovely readers. :(

Pokemon Party

Getting ready for the party

Streamers curtain

Dawn and Piplup

Fishermen that always lurks around

Professor Oak

Physic Duck and ...

singstar

Mariokart

Eating vegetarian noodles

Dawn releasing her pokemon, Piplup

Beautiful birthday girl

The three birthday girls

Before watching the horror movie

I haven't been to many parties in my life but I can reassure you that this Pokemon party was absolutely fantastic! All the outfits were amazing! We had so much fun playing singstar and Anna Tran's strange games together. Surprisingly, the boys were incredibly good at singstar, namely Alvin Yap.

Anna Tran's first game was called the 'Dare Game' and it is a game that involves a person choosing to take the challenge of throwing a 20c piece into a cup on the other side of the table with their elbow sitting on the table. If they miss, they must drink up a cup of concentrated cordial and if they get it into the cup, they can choose someone else to drink the concentrated cordial. I must recount that Joseph was the only person who could get the 20c into the cup. The moment the coin clanked in the cup, we all roared in amazement.

The second game was called 'Spin the Bottom, Toss the Coin' and it is similar to Truth and Dare. Everyone must sit in a circle before person 1 spins the bottle. The tip of the bottle will eventually stop at another person, say person 2, and then person 1 must toss the coin: heads meaning slap person 2, tails meaning kiss person 2. Person 1 or person 2 can choose to opt out, and will have to receive a punishment instead. The punishment was drinking a cup of soy sauce and more things were added in with the soy sauce as we played. This led to very awkward situations...

We also watched a horror movie called 'Let The Right One In' and it was not one bit scary. We all got bored of it and decided to watch it on 2x. There was an unexpected scene in the movie that really didn't need to be there...yes, a nude scene that scarred all of us. 

I had so much fun, thank you birthday girls! Happy 17th Birthday Anh, Anna and Mary!