Dragon's Loyalty Award

I've been nominated by the super talented and awesome Rosa of Gingerbread Sagas, you really need to check out her blog!

The Rules

1. Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Acknowledge that blogger on your blog and a link back.
3. You must share 7 things other bloggers may not know about you.
4. Nominate up to 15 bloggers for Dragon’s Loyalty Award.
5. Copy and paste the award somewhere on your blog.

Seven random facts that you don't (but probably do) know about me

one. Ginger makes me nauseous, even though ginger is suppose to help with nausea.

two. I still sleep with my teddy I've had since I was a baby.

three. I like to waste time watching youtube videos of people playing video games. I'd rather do that than play a video game myself.
four. I collect scarves and beanies, especially if I travel
five. I'm forgetful... like really forgetful, to a point where I even forget about my notebook, with notes not to forget :(
six. I'm a pessimist, and an introvert, but am really good at pretending to be an optimist and an extrovert :)
seven. This took a long time for me to post, because I'm having a really hard time thinking of seven things about myself... should I be worried??

I'm going to copout and nominate "anyone who wants to do this"

I want to thank Rosa again for the nomination and apologise for the amount of time it's taken for me to finish it :)

Mid Year Resolutions

mid year resolutions by princessgeek86

Cameras & Luggage

Hello friends!
Time for some more travel talk!

Only 96 days until I head to New Zealand, and I'm very excited! I have a backpack, I have some good walking shoes, I have $500 left to pay off my tour, I have my flights booked, and I have my passport!
I still need to save some spending money (but I have 7 more pay days until I go) and I just need to relax and chill out until then.
I need a camera (because you always NEED to take photos when you travel) I have my old Samsung digital camera, that is slow and sluggish... I have my iPhone 6 Plus (that takes better photos then my Samsung)... and my sister has a Canon DSLR (which I am planning of taking, but it's large and bulky) so I'm looking at getting a new camera. I was thinking of getting a tough waterproof camera, but while looking at Harvey Norman, I came across the Olympus Pen (the mini DSLR) I went home and did some research, and have decided to get an Olympus Pen E-PL7.

They are similar to normal DSLR cameras, they have interchangeable lenses, but are smaller and lighter. The E-PL7 has built in wi-fi to connect to your smartphone, and has many other cool features. Harvey Norman currently have them on special for $448 (including one lens) (I've seen the same camera at other camera shops in Australia for $700 and more). They are out of stock at the local store, so I'm hoping I can get one ordered or rain checked for the sale price. It doesn't even bother me if it takes a couple of weeks to come in. So on Monday, after Jury Duty :(, I will head to Harvey Norman and see what I can figure out!
I've been watching videos about the camera on Youtube, and reading reviews, and all the reviews are pretty positive. I go pretty research mad when I find something I like. I would like to hear peoples opinions on cameras, have you had any experience with the Olympus Pen cameras? Let me know in the comments!

I have made contact with some people who are also going on the Contiki Tour with me. I have added one of Facebook, and we have started chatting. It will be nice to get to know some people before we actually meet, it takes a little of that first meeting anxiety away.
I want to ask him about the luggage he plans to take with him, but being a guy, he's probably not as obsessed with luggage and packing lists as I am. I'm still worried about my luggage getting left somewhere that isn't where I am!

June/July Goals

Winter is here! Lovely, lovely, wet, cold winter! This is my first winter after my weight loss, and boy, am I going to feel the cold this season!

2 more months worth of goals! I did soo well last time *sarcasm*

Start & maintain a bullet journal. I did this last August/September and it made my life so easy! I wasn't forgetting things, I was actually productive, but it got lost and forgotten when I had my surgery. http://bulletjournal.com is a really easy website to help you get started!

Write letters to my pen pals. I need to do this! I have no excuses. I'm a bad pen pal!

Gym. I joined the gym, so now it's costing me money to exercise, so I better go, and at least get my moneys worth! :)

Finish 1 Deadpool comic. I have 3, I've owned them for ages, but haven't read them yet. Deadpan has been annoying me in my dreams, so I guess thats his way of telling me to read about him! (and I don't think Spideypool counts *wink*)

Keep my room tidy. I have a rent inspection soon, so my room is actually clean and organised. The goal is to keep it like this!

April/May Goal Recap

Time to recap the last couple of months, including how good I am at NOT completing my goals! Here's the April/May Goals post, if you would like to refresh your memory!


Post a review of my new backpack. Failed - still haven't found the time to do the review. I haven't even sat down and looked at it probably myself. It's very pretty, and it should fit everything in it, but thats all I know so far! I will review it before September... I promise

Ride to work, at least 5 times. I didn't ride to work, but I did walk to work (and home), about 7 times. Go Me!

Try not to stress over small stuff. I have been quite stressed over the past 2 months. Mostly because of issues at work, but I did a mini stress plan up, and I'm slowly working through each stressor.

Tattoo. PASSED! I am now tattooed! 2 tattoos to be exact! I want more!

55 Little Things To Be Happy About

I'm feeling a little down at the moment. I've decided, instead of wallowing in depression, I'm going to attempt to make myself feel better, by writing a list of 55 Little Things To Be Happy About.

1. Washi Tape
2. Pawpaw Ointment
3. Cold nights, and lots of blankets
4. Sun showers
5. Quote stickers
6. Crispy apples
7. Bacon and Eggs for breakfast
8. Clean washing
9. Parcels in the mail!
10. Disney Movies
11. Date stamps
12. Minecraft
13. Travel planning
14. Photos of New Zealand
15. House tour videos on youtube
16. Banana smoothies
17. Crossing things off my bucket list
18. Pinterest
19. Warm socks
20. Trying to be organised
21. Cookie dough
22. Little cross stitches
23. Ollie the weasel
24. Sips Plays Cities: Skylines
25. Writing lists
26. Gotham
27. Cleaning out my wardrobe
28. New backpack
29. Typewriter sounds
30. Paper flowers
31. Teal eyeliners
32. Gift cards
33. Lego mini figures
34. Old photos
35. Walking to work
36. Floral dresses
37. Boots
38. Podcasts
39. Reading a good book
40. Winter scarves
41. Butterflies in your stomach
42. Kitten cuddles
43. New perfume
44. When people compliment new perfume
45. Beanies
46. Meditating during my lunch break
47. Laughing until you cry
48. Studio Ghibli movies
49. Solving a problem
50. Friday evenings
51. Journal prompts
52. Sales
53. Fish & Chips
54. Water
55. Soup

I planned on a list of 101 Things, but as you can see, I made it halfway! I do feel better. I have a very busy week this week.

I'm seeing The Umbilical Brothers on Wednesday, and then heading to Perth to see Wicked on Saturday. I'm excited about both.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

What are some little things that make you happy?

Let me know in the comments

<3 Molly

Tattoo For Me!

I had my 6 months post-surgery appointment last Tuesday (even if it's actually been 7 months) and everyone is happy, especially the bariatric surgeon. I have lost 65.5% of my excess body weight and 13 inchs off my waist. He's also told me it's time to exercise, and not walk to work exercise, proper, "sweat your arse off" (his words) exercise. At least 3 times a week, moving to 5 days a week in 6 months time. He has told me I can quite easily get to under 85kg in the next 6 months, and then I'll be at his goal weight (83kg), I'm happy the way I am now, but now I need to exercise to build muscle and tone my flabby skin :)
I don't have any exercise goals at the moment. I would like to ride to work and home (ride home - uphill - without getting off my bike) and I'm looking into yoga, for stretching and stress relief.

Work is causing havoc with my anxiety at the moment. I used to leave work and not think about it, until I went back, but now I'm thinking about it all the time, my mind is constantly trying to figure out whats going on, where I fit, how I can fix EVERYONES problems... it's stupid stuff that I shouldn't need to worry about. It's immature stuff, that only involves me a tiny bit. It's the overall feeling around work, the way others feel, affect me. I have downloaded an app called Headspace, which has short 10 minute meditation sessions, which have help (if I remember to actually do them)

I crossed something off my bucket list on Tuesday. Something I've been wanting to do for years, and finally after a couple of failed tries, did!
I got a tattoo...
Well technically I got 2 tattoos.
I finally got the Deathly Hallows from Harry Potter tattooed to my wrist, and because I had some time left, I got a little Jiji from Kiki's Delivery Service tattooed on my arm.
They're both healing at the moment (and quite itchy) so when they're healed I will get better photos, but here are the super fresh, just inked tattoos.

I need to sit down and do a mini life plan (again) and hopefully restart my health on Monday (which also happens to be Star Wars Day!)

Can anyone recommend some yummy protein shake recipes :)

<3 Molly