Saturday 31 December 2005

Personality - The Best Acessory

What does it mean to sport a pair of Louis Vuitton stilettos fresh from their latest summer line, in comparison to that of last season Nike sneakers purchased at 30% off? To me: absolutely nothing.

Shoes DO NOT determine the person; nor do clothes, perfume, location or jewellery – pretty much everything visible to the human eye.

A 36 karat gold necklace does not compensate for a cold hearted soul. An Oroton wallet does not compensate for a selfish obsession with brand names. Not everyone is as free-flowing as the Lisa Ho dress featured in Madison magazine.

If only we were as natural as Mount Franklin spring water. If only.

Drinking Coca Cola will, before finishing the entire contents of the can, turn you into the goddess of confidence who spends most of her time flirting with boys on the beach. Wearing a Mossimo outfit makes standing in a filth-ridden alley way, massed with graffiti and broken down buildings look good. Who are we trying to kid?

When was the last time you saved up for an item of your dreams and not feel as satisfied as you originally anticipated? Bet they didn't advertise the part about satisfaction NOT guaranteed. Marketing people aren't stupid, they didn't promise it because after all, it was JUST a bracelet, JUST a packet of frozen chips, JUST a handbag and NOT instant euphoria.

Where are the advertisements that endorse a good personality, health and well being? The ones that do exist, though, are lost in between pages promoting the newest mobile technology to change your life, and your how-to step by step guide on the new diet craze to sweep Hollywood of its feet.

Social status only gets you so far. Ultimately, we are all victims of the same time frame, blessed with 24 hours in our day – whether you make them count or not is a different story. We all breathe the same air – spoiled by the same case of global warming. We all have the same fate – death.

These points should be enough to make any sane person open their eyes and see the human race as equal. But it's not. Why? Is it because we're all at least a little bit insane?
Insecure? Indecisive. Insensitive? Indeed.

We're losers to our own game. Upon finally owning the new house, the new car, the new job – we're anything BUT satisfied. We want more. We want the new house with servants and a tennis court – event hough you HATE tennis. We want the new car with rims and the finest quality sound system, fit for 50 cent, dawg. We want to be our own boss to a million dollar empire.

Beauty is a curse on the world that stops us from scratching the surface. All we see is dirt and rubble, not the fortune of gold that lies beneath.

We've built up an appetite for material things, accepting them as substitutes for areas of emptiness in our life. Nothing beats the feeling of helping a stranger. Nothing passes the time better than spending it with people who accept you just as you are, and wouldn't change a thing. Nothing makes you rest easier than going to sleep at night knowing you made a difference in someone else's life.

As my favourite author, Mitch Albom once said: "Devote yourself to something that gives you purpose and meaning". Devote yourself to one or many things, temporarily or permanently.

I devote myself to being positive so that those around me don't have to put up with someone who seems to wake up on the wrong side of the bed everyday. I devote myself to doing fairly well in my studies so that my mother, who raises three children on her own, doesn't feel that her hard earned money to support our education is going to waste. I devote to being a good sister so that my brothers have something worth looking up to. I devote myself to submitting hopefully meaningful critiques so that while I'm exercising my joys for writing, others benefit also. I devote myself to serving God because what you give, you get back tenfold; it's a win win situation.

Know that there's more to life than being the number one fashion brand name victim. It's not what you wear, and it's not how you wear it either – it's what you do while wearing those clothes that makes a REAL difference.

Wake up and smell the roses, then kick off the shoes and feel the sand between your toes!

Tuesday 27 December 2005

My Philosophy

Live to no one elses standards but that of your own.

Compare yourself to no one but who YOU were in the past. Don't strive to be anyone but a first rate version of YOURSELF.

S m i l e m o r e. Smile Frown less. Sad

Surround yourself with good people.

Be good to others as if it were the final step towards world peace.


Forget sex, a simple kiss will do. Forget a fancy bouquet, a single flower says it all. Forget extravagant dates, designer clothes and expensive jewellery to make us smile - your presence should do the job. When you wrap your arms around us. When you hold our hand. When you look us in the eye. Sometimes that's all we want, nothing more. Sometimes, it doesn't get better than just that.

Remember that it's the imperfections that make someone truly beautiful; perfectionism is just a figment of our imagination.

Without flaws there would be no compromise.

Know that nothing lasts forever but enjoy it while it's there.

Don't indulge in materialistic things - even that diamond ring is too heavy to take up to heaven with you. Rather, fulfill your life through sentimental means: How many people you made smile, how many people you made laugh, how many times you gave without the expectation of receiving and how many times you put others before yourself.

There are no such thing as strangers, only friends you haven't met yet. Enemies are the result of ignorance and lack of capacity to understand.

The grass is no more greener on the other side so appreciate where you are
RIGHT NOW.

In the situation where a problem arises don't point fingers on who did it or why it happened; only focusing on a resolution will make the problem go away.
Accusations only create more.

If you didn't land your dream job, win the lotto, or if your last relationship didn't work out, sorry honey but:
GET OVER IT!
It wasn't meant to be. The world keeps spinning, the river keeps running and time keeps ticking. It doesn't stop for one second to feel sorry for you.
It moves on, and so should you.
It happened and it was good, but it's God's way of telling you there's more, perhaps better things out there.
Don't linger in what used to be or could have been - like a broken record. Broken records are annoying. And there's a point where even your best friends tire of your miserable proclamations.
Instead, fix yourself up and press play. Make your presence the music to someones ears. Finally, realise that it wasn't you after all - it was the record player that stuffed you up. So yes, shop around and find someone who WORKS for you. It's called compatibility.

Love your family. Like the trackside team to an eager F1 driver at the starting line of a race, it's the family who equipped you for life the best they could.


It's the friends you meet along the way. They may not be riding alongside you forever - but they DID get you further than you would have by yourself.

Every now and then, do something you enjoy - paint, read, go for a walk. Keep yourself occupied and you won't have time to dig yourself into a hole of negativity.

If you don't know something... ASK! He who asks questions is a fool only for a moment. He who doesn't ask questions is a fool forever.

When you say I love you - mean it. When you mean it - show it. When you show it they'll be so convinced you're worth loving back. When this happens, the hard part is to continue showing it. Keep going, ensure that it wasn't an act and that they made the right choice in giving you their heart. As long as you're true to your word you can never tell someone too much that you love them. Don't die with the regret that you didn't say it enough.

If you've been stopped in your tracks on a bad hair day or wearing the daggiest outfit on the face of the earth - look the person in the eye and they won't notice a thing.

Sure, $50 might buy you a night out clubbing with your friends, but
the best things in life are free.
Quite a bargain price if you ask me.

All things happen for a reason. It's only when you stop complaining that you allow yourself to see the reason why.

Don't criticise. It's you mind's subtle way of telling you that you've got personal issues with yourself that need sorting out. It's through criticising people that you make yourself feel better... temporarily. So don't involve other people in your misery.

Dying is easy, it's the living that's hard. So congratulations to anyone reading this, because obviously you're alive. Stay in there!

Last of all, don't mistake happiness for perfection. The Macquarie Dictionary defines happiness as contentment, fortunate or lucky.
Be content without the big house and the big income because you're fortunate to be blessed with good health and a roof over your head. Be happy that you're lucky to be alive.

Friday 16 December 2005

Super-update Me

Expect this blog entry to be like that of Streets Rainbow Paddle Pop ice cream - a bit of this, a bit of that, and not exactly the BEST tasting (to me, anyway). My holidays could be described much the same, like ice cream that has been consumed so quickly, that it seems unfair we couldn't savour the taste for just a second longer.

Have you ever looked at the clouds? I mean, REALLY, TRULY, ACTUALLY looked at them? I hadn't, until last week. Remember those holographic Pokemon cards, or holographic Goosebumps bookcovers. Yeaaaah, admit it, they were the bomb first time you laid eyes on such an optical illusion. Well, on that particular day, the clouds resembled something like that. While at the sametime, reminding me of puffs of white fairy floss hovering just a few metres over the errr...biosphere. The night had a beauty all of its own. Driving home, the trees looked like silhouettes against a sheet of deep purple.

They might say that small things amuse small minds, but I'm just observant - maybe OVERLY observant. Better still, I'd rather be on some level of observant than not see the things I'm looking at. Confused? It's like watching a movie but not giving your full attention. Sure, you saw the movie, but you didn't exactly watch it.

During the week the familia and I went to Centrepoint Tower for lunch. One word: Scrumdidlyumptious! Tongue I advise everyone to go there at least once in their life. The views are a tad bit high for my liking, but nothing short of specacular. My cousins (Geri, Jon & Raynald) took a freak load of luvo photos (they should really consider making luvo-ness an Olympic event) and had our full of oysters - taking advantage of the whole all-you-can-eat thing. Jon and I developed a fetish for taking photos of neatly presented desserts. I dunno, maybe it runs in the blood.

Yesterday was Benjo's No Reason Pool Party. Sunny skies. Fried Chicken. Sunscreen flavoured lollies. Coke & Sunkist. A whole lot of H2O...FUN! So much for that 'NO PUSHING' rule they taught us in primary school. We were a bunch of teenagers acting like little kids. It just goes to show that you're never too old to be young. I had to leave early for work. Elle came with me. Another luvo session, this time on the bus.



Today Chester came over. A day well spent considering I thought it would be Revenge of the Boring. Bumped into, almost everyone at Liverpool Westfields.
Other than making you Smile happy Smile , boyfriends are also good for holding any loose papers, your hand bag (until my mum told me to stop being slack), and anything heavy. Of course, my mum would know. Chester ended up carrying two shopping bags of...let's just say fragile heavy stuff. So yes, mothers benefit too.
Chester and I played the good old game of tic-tac-toe. He won twice, the rest were all ties. It was an outrage, for me. Angry
Quote of the day:
Chester: Let's play S.O.S.
Noeline: How do you spell that?
Chester: gasps for air to support his laughing fit
Noeline: I mean, how do you play that?
In case you were wondering, he won another (box) game too. DAMMIT!
Apologies (not really) for all those times I hit you (hard, apparently). Yes, I'm one of those 'abusive' girlfriends. Like Jay and Kyle said, before you know it you'll be on those ads featuring the slogan: Abusive Girlfriends - Australia says NO!
Yeah, and for the record he got his hair streaked a blondey-orangey-light brownish colour. Looks KOOLIES, I rekon.

♫ It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas ♫
I think that most parents are proud victims of festive season syndrome. Mum thought it was time we bought a new Christmas tree with built in lights and stuck on decorations. Its the summer Christmas holidays. Which means a whole lot of getting red/black (depending on how your skin reacts to sunburn) and getting fat, due to all that food and lazing about. Oh well, come school and we'll stress it all out.

I turned 16 three months ago, and unlike other sweet-sixteeners out there, I'm yet to get my L's. There's little hope when I don't know the first thing about driving cars.

More reflective, hopefully inspiring and insightful blogs to come, like the ones you were used to reading before. Lately they've just been about the everyday yarda.

Till then, here's some food for thought I might write about later on, quotes and random stuff I found interesing.


"We all love the idea of being in love. Just the reality of it sounds kind of interesting" Orlando Bloom

Personality - the BEST accessory.


It's called a B R E A K up because it's B R O K E N.


"Baby they build you up only to tear you down" Nelly Furtado

"Too much of a good thing can be bad... less is more" Joss Stone

Wednesday 7 December 2005

Don't blame it on the sunshine

My life recently..

My much loved Auntie Gloria and Uncle Jeff touched Australian ground for their month long holiday from the United States. Auntie Gloria is the coolest auntie of the bunch, boasting her iPod – comprising of tunes from the soulful Joss Stone and the super kawaii Gwen Stefani. Uncle Jeff has the warmest eyes I've ever seen; like gazing into an unopened book of wisdom.

Their arrival gives the relatives an excuse to do a little sight seeing them selves. I was fortunate to tag along on one of their sight seeing days.

It was then that I discovered there was more to Bondi Beach than the surf and sand. If you took the time to notice there were footpaths that traced along the coast, and on foot you would find spectacular views that are more than capable of taking your breath away.

I wondered to myself what it was that people thought about as they gazed out into the seemingly endless expanse of ocean. Were they gambling against odds their chances of developing skin cancer as they laid about sun tanning? Most probably not. Were they missing a loved one? Were they pondering the meaning of life? Were they retreating to a place of solace hoping the sea would wash away their troubles?

I know this may sound nerdy but there were little caves formed in the rocks, so far below the surface it went against your imagination to believe the water level was that high, millions of years ago.

We had Hungry Jack's for lunch. Even though I didn't pay for it, I couldn't help feeling odd to think I used to get bags of it for free. After that we had some lip smacking ice cream. Words just can't explain, but it was good!

As if catering to my wishes, we headed off to the art display of UNSW. I love art to bits, but if there's one thing I hate about being in an art gallery: it's that you can't stay in there forever. It's amazing the things a paintbrush and a little imagination can concoct.

Formal was five days ago, memories still as vivid as ever. Everyone looked fabulous. With little expectations, I made plenty of room for surprise. It wasn't great, but it was, nonetheless better than I expected – and that I'm thankful for.

YES, the food was crap and the music was craptacular, but it's the friends that can turn any situation around. It was a night of Kodak moments and lots of dancing.

♫ Don't blame it on the sunshine
Don't blame it on the moonlight
Don't blame it on the good times
Blame it on the boogie! ♫

Yesterday was quite eventful. Kristine, Kathreen, Frances, Carmela and I were so close to purchasing concert tickets to The Backstreet Boys, had it not been for the broken ticket printing machine. It didn't help that all the remaining seats were situated at the back, and our height wouldn't have balanced that set-back.

So instead we headed off for a day of shopping.

A pat on the back to Frances who gave into my friendly peer pressure which caused her to blow her well earned dosh. Thanks to me that convenient yet flashy handbag, black jeans, shorts and bikini are now hers, and not admired from a distant memory like they would be, had it not been for me.

I bought myself black three quarter jeans, a trinket badge and vest.

Here's a little segment of our day...
Two pigeons lay about on the grass of Macquarie Street Mall in a public display of affection.
Everyone: Ewwwwwwwww! Look at the pigeons.
AJ: Leave them alone. They're just making eggs.
Noeline: What?! Do birds lay eggs?
Carmela: OH MY GOSH! You did not just say that.
Everyone (except Noeline): laughs
Kristine: Noeline, what do you think nests are for?
Noeline: Ohhh yeah! Comes to a ground breaking realisation.

After a satisfying session of retail therapy, the remainder of the day was spent at Awards Night. Congratulations to everyone who received an award. I myself received the Academic Achievement Award for Visual Art, Outstanding Contribution to the College Chior and funnily enough - Outstanding Class Contribution in PDHPE. How I managed to get that when I'm absent most sport lessons and suck when I'm there remains a mystery to me. Oh well, a smile and a half from me.

I've ascertained one of life's hidden little pleasures. Put a twist to those milk and cookies and try cholate milk with Hershey's caramel chocolate. It's to die for.

I was watching Oprah today. They were promoting awareness of child sex slavery. If you think it's ludicrous that twelve year old girls are being sold off as sex slaves by their family, try grasping the concept of seven. These girls hadn't even hit puberty yet.

Concentrated in south Asian countries, it is communal belief that having sex with a young girl will bless the male with strength and well being.

Virgins are of high demand. The younger the girl the higher the price. But is ten dollars for oral sex worth defaming the respect, spirit and self worth of a young girl? I most certainly think not.

But get this: European tourists are the top customers of such a service. There is little hope when police and judges are easily blackmailed in releasing those undoubtedly guilty of inhumane offence.

Where's the justice when fifty dollars can buy a man out of years, possibly a lifetime in prison. Where's the justice when fifty dollars can grant these men a lifetime to recommit crimes of child sex slavery.

It made my realise a little bit more how lucky I was. Hopefully you do too.

Shout outs to my G.F.A. (pronounced geh-fa meaning Ghetto Farm Animals) girls! Featuring Frances the pig, Danica the horse, Carmela the dog and Noeline the slut. You've all been so good to me.
A happy birthday to my Westie gangster Kathreen who turns sweet 16 today.

A heartfelt lojevano hug to Vii who is holidaying in the Philippines, I miss you!

Toys: you're a barrel of laughs! Thankyou for every single smile and laugh you've given me over the past two months. It's just too bad that I'm so much more mature and intellectually advanced than you. The scoreboard says it all. 16-30. And that's the way I like it!

♫ We've had such a great time in these past two months
I've never laughed so much in my life
It's been all about us...♫

I've decided upon my New Years resolutions for 2006. They are to get fit and take risks. I might look alright on the outside but I'm rotting on the inside. I'd hate to see the state my muscles and bones are in. You know that saying think outside the square you live in? Well I stand firmly grounded right in the middle of that square, just where the two diagonals intersect. Boring much.

Wish me luck, I'll need it.