I think I am becoming a bit of a buzz-kill in my old age, but having just recently purchased an apartment and coming to grips with having significantly less space than I have had - I really don’t have room to get gifts that I do not actually want or need. Moving forward I am trying to only buy gifts for people that are consumable or experiential; or that they specifically ask me for. And I am hoping for the same. The 9 items above are all on my Christmas/Birthday wish list, and they’re mostly things that I know that I will use (the exception being that beautiful Amok Island print which is purely aesthetic). (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ltE8ZhP95/?igshid=nb5j8tlrf7rn

It is the first day of December, and while I’m actually the Grinchiest Grinch that ever bah-humbugged; this year I have a lot to feel festive about. My amazing friends and family, my gorgeous boyfriend, my apartment that takes shape more and more each day... As we head rapidly towards the end of the year my thoughts are already turning towards 2020 and what the year will be like. I am already building a list of what I want to achieve in the next 12 months, but I’m wondering: What are you hoping for in 2020? (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5goDDihg9Y/?igshid=1qiy662x5exoc

I am putting an offer on an apartment today. This is as exciting as it is terrifying, and I know that this is just the first step in a long and universally abhorred process. I know how the process goes from others, of course, so I am loosely aware of what to expect, and how unlikely it is that this first offer will be the apartment that I wind up buying. So I am just taking a moment to feel quietly impressed with myself and my current situation, you know, before I hit send and then throw-up in the bin beside my desk. (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzZS12EhXW-/?igshid=1ev60yqh8nt6u

This is the face of someone who is in the midsts of some fairly large life changes. I honestly never thought that I would have my shit together enough to be able to look at buying my own apartment. I never thought that I would find job satisfaction in the Public Service. And I certainly never thought that I would be proactively changing the way I approach my day-to-day life. But, here we are. Half way through 2019 and I am taking control of my shit like a certified adult. Sure, I slipped up and bought an $84 candle on Friday... but I am not going to let that slow me down. Happy Monday y’all. (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzWsk56BCc6/?igshid=rh90pyj0m33q

Indulging in a little Cruella de Ville moment with this vintage fox fur collar today. The weather has been a bit inconsistent here in Canberra so far, but I feel like we’re in for more bone-chilling-cold before the year is out. This should give me ample opportunities to wear this blazer again (and the matching mittens too...) Strangely enough I don’t find myself reaching for my heavy, faux-fur lined jacket as much this winter. I’m sticking with my lighter jackets and layering more and more. (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzMaqnPhglu/?igshid=zecot8vbxbdz

An abundance of lemons. I am very lucky to have been gifted these gorgeous Meyer Lemons this week, and given we’re in peak cold and flu season I figure it is a welcome reminder to up my vitamin c. Planning on baking a huge batch of lemon sugar cookies and also a slow-cooker recipe from my pal @photobeforeweeat They’re almost too gorgeous to eat though. Almost. (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHOOZkhEPr/?igshid=196jwdqn2m7f2

House hunting looks. I am spending an insane amount of time looking at property online at the moment, so it was really nice to get out and about on Saturday to actually meet realtors and view properties. Still feel like I have zero idea what I am doing - but at least I looked cute. (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzErlfABW6T/?igshid=1bmt55ymnkz4z

さむい。(Sa-Mu-i) [Japanese - cold. Used for cold weather and for when you feel cold.] Spent most of the weekend taking little trips out and about to make the most of the cooler weather. Lunch with a friend in Braddon. Walking around the lake with the boyfriend. Hanging out my laundry. I also spent an alarming amount out time watching the grey skies and rain from my couch, dreaming about wood fires and weekends away. 🔹 🔹 🔹 #さむい #canberra #CBR #canberrafashion #canberrastyle #mycanberra #ilovecanberra (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByjM3DfhCK1/?igshid=zvvbg0sh4blg

The awesome team at @koji_collection are doing a fantastic giveaway this month, so I had to get in on the action. Swipe left to see my less-than-flattering tribute to yo Koji Collection image I have reposted. Yes. I bought myself the denim windbreaker. 🔹 🔹 🔹 #kojicollection #kstyle #canberra #CBR #canberrafashion #canberrastyle #mycanberra #ilovecanberra (Koji Collection에서) https://www.instagram.com/p/BybedM4Bu5z/?igshid=qzsn356xyvbs

Autumn has passed us by and Winter is finally upon us. We are only one week in and I am beyond excited for my favourite season. There is already snow on the Brindabellas and I am off to Jindabyne next weekend to live my apres ski fantasy. Which for my friends and I is getting drunk and looking at the snow once. (at Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByY8IulBDHn/?igshid=xzuq8gjqcogk

...aaaaaaaaand he’s back! Back to Canberra. Back to work. Back to friends. Back to life. Back to Autumn. Back to the daily grind. I am loving the change in season and the cooler weather, and coming home to my city ablaze with autumn leaves. It is the perfect opportunity to bust out some of my recent purchases from Hong Kong and Japan. (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxYgbn2hDqs/?igshid=un34326r4yap

Nothing like a strong cup of tea to set you up to face the day ahead. March has been a prolonged exercise in resilience and it is making my upcoming holiday to Hong Kong and Japan with the boyfriend seem very necessary indeed. I am so lucky to have amazing people all around me who pick me up and/or kick my arse whenever my resilience starts to waver and I feel like curling up at the bottom of a bucket of KFC. I just need to get through the next 20 days; and then I have four weeks of freedom. (at Interlude Espresso Bar) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvfVmCWhNbE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1554jixsnhx5s

Rain befitting my mood today. It turns out that I have a few cumulative stressors in my life at the moment that have culminated in my car breaking down on Saturday afternoon. The resulting temper-tantrum I have thrown over the past 48 hours is certainly not equivalent to the fact my car is currently not working; but as my BFF and platonic life partner pointed out - there’s actually a lot going on around me right now. So - this is a PSA - take care of yourselves! You can’t be everything you need to be for the people in your life when you’re run-down and moments away from setting a building on fire because your car won’t start... (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvaKsKAhdoq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1c9c2ti357gk3

D e f l a t e d . . . These sad balloons that not even Pennywise could love have got me feeling some type of way this morning. Two days out from the weekend, I just got paid, and all I am thinking about is curling up in front of the TV with some Schitt’s Creek and some take away. What’s got you feeling flat this week? (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvP8q9jBbQG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9v73q8uoc8e4

Weekend town centre prospecting... Something I have always bought into here in Canberra is the idea of your social identity being tied geographically to where you live. I think of myself very much as an Inner-North snob, despite having lived in the untamed wilds of West Belconnen for eight-ish years now. So checking out other town centres and thinking about what my life might be like if I lived there is something of a hobby. Other Canberrans weigh in! Am I alone in this? (at Woden Town Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvNXi3DB3eq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=d516htfz8ucs

Neon dreams... I’m off to Hong Kong and Japan in 29 days with the boyfriend and I couldn’t be more excited. I am seeing bits of my favourite place in the world (Tokyo) wherever I turn, and Hong Kong keeps popping into my feeds... I have never been to Hong Kong before, so if anyone has tips or must-sees I would be very happy for these. (at National Gallery of Australia, Canberra) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvK0pNvBC4P/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bwrbu2c1rfjr

Probably making inappropriate innuendo about internationally significant artworks... Cute Sunday afternoon catchups rounding out what was actually a fairly prolific weekend. Amazing Chinese pancakes (coming soon to Dickson), Art. Not Apart., BFF hangs, property hunting (which is legitimately terrifying), boyfriend time and Sunday afternoon drinks gelato... Where did my weekend (and my plans not to spend any money) go?!?! I guess I should feel pretty chuffed that I didn’t buy the two $80 Country Road cushions that I had my eye on. Take victory where you can I suppose. (at National Gallery of Australia, Canberra) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvIKAZDhGHV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19hk5vtuy7bii

Everything is looking rosy as we head into the weekend. Or should I say, rosé? Looking forward to a full weekend at home in beautiful Canberra, to enjoy the changing of the seasons and preparations for my favourite time of the year. Going to head to Art. Not Apart. for the suitcase rummage, chase some art around the city, and spend some time getting ready for my upcoming holiday. Happy Friday friends! (at Logan Wines Apple Tree Flat) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvAdgZ-hnoC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1t0cte1exavt8

Turning over a new leaf like... I always find that it is the weeks where my routine is disrupted in some way, where my routine is shaken up or I have to change due to external factors; that see me making the most progress towards my goals. I wonder why that is 🤔 I like to believe that I am a creature of habit, and that my habits form a framework that I can operate within to be my most successful... this may not actually be the case. What do you think? Is routine the glue that holds your pieces together? Or is it a cage that keeps you from evolving? (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu-AYo7hxMk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=867htzfw25f7

Coming out of a four-day long weekend and not remembering where I work, what I do, or how to log in to my computer... After three blissful days away in Mudgee quaffing boutique wines and basically living off wood fired pizza, I actually don’t remember how to function today. Which is problematic, because I need to work in order to pay off the wine and fine dining costs of the weekend... (at Mudgee, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu4vGXHBRyR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=e3thv8tz6h1w