Mental Health Week Opening Night

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the opening night of Mental Health Week at the Rendezvous Hotel in Scarborough. While the organisers were hoping to hold the event across the road on the beach, weather stopped this in its tracks. However, the Rendezvous Ballroom was a fantastic substitute, with a big stage, lights, and - most importantly, given the torrential rain - a roof.

Mental health is imperative to ensuring the health of the heart and soul, and I believe that its importance is becoming increasingly realised in today's media. The speeches between the acts were touching, and definitely highlighted the importance of the event, as well as bringing back the music lovers to why this event happened in the first place - to raise awareness for mental health problems, and assure people that mental health issues can and will get better. Unfortunately I don't have many (good quality) photos from the evening, so I've added a few that aren't too embarrassing. Unfortunately iPhone + sitting fairly close to the stage does not equal great pictures.

Acid T was the opening act and featured ukulele players galore. Not much to say here other than these people seemed so damn happy and they definitely put everyone else in a great mood - fitting, considering the event. There was also some epic recorder playing popped in there - I swear I never sounded like that in primary school.

Fox Cat Rabbit was the following act, and while I had never heard of them before (apparently I've been living under a rock?) I was very impressed. With cute songs and charming vocals, Fox Cat Rabbit is exactly my kind of music and I'll definitely having a pursue through iTunes. The duo is made up of Bernadine Grigson and Keira Jane Ephraims and they were adorable and charming (can I have their beautiful full skirts please?!). I love acoustic folk music, so this band was right up my alley. Personal favourites from their set include "Are You Happy Now?", "Pyramids" and their cover of "Brand New Key". One thing about these girls that sets them apart would have to be their actual musical talent - while most people in bands can sing, their harmonising and use of rounds really made their performance into such an art form. Definitely more to come from these two.

Next up, The Seals. Those who regularly read Laura Robin (anyone?) will know that I've seen The Seals twice before and loved their performance both times. For a more detailed write up on this Perth based band, I reviewed their Ellington performance here. While they were missing fiddler Charlie McCarthy, this band once again put me in a great mood with their hand clapping tunes and onstage banter. Something that I really enjoy about this band is the array of instruments that keep popping out - violin, double bass, guitar, banjo, bones, mandolin... I'm waiting for the bagpipes, personally. I loved their renditions of "I'll Fly Away", "Big Scoity" and "Little Sadie".

And then, the main act: British India. Not going to lie, I had never listened to anything by this band before but I was lured to the event by a promise of folky, bluegrass opening acts, a picnic (food? Okay!) and the evening off study. However, while I had no expectations for British India, I really enjoyed this band. While indie rock is not usually my cup of tea, I loved bobbing along to their songs - two rows from the front, none the less.



If you're looking for a British India review from someone who knows what they're talking about when it comes to this kind of music, I'd have a flick through here, however if you're after a few words from a girl who loves her pop, singer/songwriter and folk, you've come to the right place. While their edgy and moody vocals are not necessarily something I could listen to day in, day out, I definitely enjoyed this performance. The songs that stuck out the most for me were "Summer Forgive Me", "Vanilla" and "Run the Red Lights". Not surprisingly, these are probably their most "pop" songs, or at least those that are most up my alley. While I'm told British India usually plays at 18+ club events, they put on a good show for their only performance in Perth.

So, that's my review done. To celebrate Mental Health Week, I'm going to try and spend more time in the sun (before it gets too hot for me to go outside without burning to a crisp...far out) as well as taking time out to read and relax before the nice little cave of uni assignments I have built falls in on me. That time of the year, eh?

Sunday Seven #14: Father's Day Edition

Looking uber glam skiing

With it being Father's Day in Australia today, I thought I would celebrate my main man, my Papa Bear: my dad. Here are seven ways he has made my life special.

1. Coaching my netball team last year: while we weren't the most amazing team by a long stretch, we had a fantastic time. Highlights include dad telling everyone he used to play a lot of netball in the "full forward" position (perhaps he meant Goal Attack?) and telling me to "MOVE" when I was actually out of play for obstructing my player. Oops.

2. My one claim to fame in life was being on the front page of a weekly newspaper in my state (I was about 18 months old, I've clearly moved on). Well, during last week, a very similar photograph appeared in a different newspaper in Western Australia, and dad found my (pretend) outrage so hilarious he photocopied the image and stuck it everywhere around the house. Notable locations include over the copy of my photograph we have framed, on my mirror, behind my bathroom door, and in my bed. Nicely done.

3. Last night I got home from a party, with that sinking feeling in your stomach you have when you realised you've taken your sheets off the bed to wash them and haven't put them back on. Dad to the rescue: he'd remade my bed for me. Bless.

4. Waking me up at 5am 3 mornings a week for rowing training for a whole year. So much dedication. He would also drive me to rowing (the dog would get the front seat of the car).

5. Dad taught me how to ride a bike and also taught me how to drive, necessary skills that I will always have. I was so nervous about learning to drive because I thought dad would be a bit of an anxious passenger seat driver, but he kept to his word and only yelled once - and that was a bit of a life/ death style situation.

6. Always mimicking me - dad is very good at taking the micky out of EVERYTHING and sometimes I'll say something and straight away be thinking "ohh boy. Oh boy. Nope, that was a very very very bad idea". Dad, ever the comedian, will always make sure to capitalise on it.

7. "Sophisticated" text message exchanges - dad and I are usually texting each other memes or really lame jokes that no one else in the family seems to find even slightly amusing. The whole time I was in Cambodia, dad was keeping up to date with photographs and what I was up to (I think he was mainly interested in the photographs, because whenever he called, he would make sure I was alive and then ask me to send through all my pictures). Now, we swap funny photographs and angst at our shared love for correct grammar.

In truth, there are so many other ways that dad has made my life special. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, and to mine? I love you so much, and you are one in a billion.

Accidental Zara Purchases: An Outfit Post

I was planning on withholding from entering the first Zara in Western Australia for at least a few weeks after it opened. 48 hours after the first customers crossed the threshold, I was in there with a friend. Willpower, what even? I picked up a t shirt that is at the dressy end of the t shirt spectrum (is there even a t shirt spectrum?) - it's embellished with large white beads in an almost Peter Pan collar shape. Also accidentally arriving in my shopping bag were a pair of leggings/ jeggings/ pants in a thick, stretchy navy blue material (in hindsight, they look suspiciously like the jodhpurs I wear for horse riding, but moving on...). They have zips at the bottom and are slightly cropped...and very, very comfortable.

Have you bought anything new lately?

Sunday Seven #13

Today was such a wonderful day - I spent the morning at a shopping centre, watching Australia's Next Top Model auditions (they just happened to be on while I was doing a spot of shopping, I promise) while eating a chocolate chip muffin. I told Mum that I was going to be "plucked from obscurity" (heavy sarcasm) by a talent scout - the closest that happened was someone in the muffin line asking if I was auditioning but I will claim that! I had a pub meal for lunch to celebrate a friend's birthday - fish and chips followed by ice cream, yes please. Then I spent the afternoon at going away drinks for a uni friend, with some other new friends, and I am now curled up in front of the TV watching Divergent with my family. Not much study was done, sadly, but it was a great day - the memories of which will get me through the study I will have to eventually do! Anyway, I digress - here are seven of the other things that made my week special.

1. Heading out with some friends on Thursday night - one of whom is just home from university for a few weeks. It was so lovely to see everyone, especially the lovely Lily, and we had such a nice evening.

2. Watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with my brother and sister. We're only halfway through, but it's so nice to spend time with them while we appreciate one of my favourite series in the world.

3. Avocado and vegemite on toast, with a cup of tea, for breakfast. Great starts lead to great days.

4. My beautiful little dog, Elsie, just being so cute. She is always up for a cuddle and a pat, and I'm such a sook because Else is just so gorgeous. Right now, she's curled up between my Mum and Dad on the couch, getting a back rub from one parent and an ear scratch from the other. Dog has her life sorted out.

5. Michael, my brother, had his Year 12 ball and he looked so grown up. His date was gorgeous, and he looked very smart in a suit. Him and my sister, Rachel, are only a bit over 2 years younger than me, but I still think of them as "little", and in my mind they're about 7. Bless.

6. Freezing cold nights, when I could turn on my electric blanket and snuggle up in bed with winter pyjamas and a doona. Ah, the small pleasures.

7. The most beautiful weather in the world this week - stormy in the early days, sprinkles of rain later in the week and finally, wonderfully sunny - but most importantly, not too hot! - weather today. Perfect.

What made your week special? :)

The British Tag

I've seen a few YouTube videos of this tag, and considering my obsession with all things British, I thought it was time I did a blog post dedicated to my favourite things from the motherland. Cup of tea ready? Let's go.

1. How many cups of tea do you have a day? + How many sugars?
Probably about three cups of tea a day (I'd say this goes to at least 6 during exams...waiting for the kettle to boil is a good procrastinator). I have English Breakfast tea with a tiny bit of milk and no sugars. When I first started drinking tea, it was pretty much half milk with about 5 sugars. Not even joking. One of my friends feels quite uncomfortable with the amount of milk I add to my tea - "If you're going to put some in, commit to putting a little bit more in, would you?"

2. Favourite part of your roast
Roast potatoes, hands down. So crunchy (when done properly), and just so filling and absolutely wonderful.

3. Favourite dunking biscuit
Kingstons! Are they even considered a dunking biscuit? I also love popping in an ANZAC biscuit. I also love Milk Arrowroots - I don't usually actually dunk the biscuit, I just have it with me while I drink the tea. I cannot handle crumbs in my tea - no thanks. 

4. Favourite quintessentially British pastime?
Drinking tea, strolls in the park, horse riding, plotting which member of the royal family to marry.

5. Favourite word?
Scrumptious/ wonderful/ beautiful. I also love the word spiffing - "what a SPIFFING chap". Ah, such a good one to whip out when one is dressed nicely.

6. Cockney rhyme slang?
Not going to lie, had to use Google to find some good 'uns, but my favourties were apple-and-pears (stairs) and oats-and-chaff (footpath). 

7. Favourite sweet
Anything, not overly picky. I love Natural Confectionary and Starburst lollies, however Sour Straps are also a personal favourite. But honesty, if it's sugary, I'll probably be all for it. Does chocolate count? Cadbury's hands down then!

8. What would your pub be called?
The Tea Gardens. And (if you're interested), it would do cakes (is that a pub thing?), roasts and Pimms.

9. No.1 British person
Kate Middleton! Or Emma Watson. Tough decision, I'm pretty obsessed with them. They are just such classy, fashionable ladies, who seem to have a good social conscience too (always a plus). 

10. Favourite shop / restaurant
Zara would have to be my favourite European shop, however I have recently become obsessed with looking through the Topshop website (made a bit of a cheeky purchase the other day, and I am eagerly awaiting its arrival!) As for Australian stores, I love Sportsgirl a little too much.

11. What british song pops into your head?
Anything by the Spice Girls. "Stop" was a notable favourite in my household when I was younger, I had a full song and dance routine to it and everything.

12. Marmite.
I have never tried Marmite to be honest, but Vegemite? Love it. 

Sunday Seven #12

I had a few unexpected things happen this week (good unexpected!), so it was a week that was full of surprises. I got to catch up with my old netball team, see lots of my friends, and I also accidentally did a spot of shopping (oops, but not that oops). Here are the seven highlights from my last seven days.

1. Two of my friends popping around with flowers and chocolate after I had a (very, very minor) back operation (hardly a surgery, really). I felt spoilt rotten and very loved! The flowers are so beautiful, and have really lit up my desk - which I'm spending a lot of time at currently, with a politics speech due tomorrow. I spent a lot of time having tea and catch ups with friends this week, it was lovely.

2. Making it to my brother's final football game of the season (and of his school career) yesterday - it was a fantastic match, the weather was beautiful, the result was very close... and to top it off, my brother scored a great goal, which just happened to win the match. Such a proud sister! I actually spent a fair bit of time with him this week - we finished watching Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone together, and I also appeared in his media video for school (I'm a star in the making).

3. One of my friends has a farm, and they are currently babysitting two abandoned lambs in their (suburban) home. I popped around to see them yesterday and ah, they are so cute! Lots of bleating and them toddling around on unsteady legs. Bless.

4. I wasn't able to work this weekend and that meant I could grab a few sleep ins - wonderful. My sister and I had a lovely lounge in front of the heater this morning as well, which was lovely.

5. A few online shopping items I ordered arrived - a present to me, from me. Even if one package happened to be university books (there goes my excuse for not doing the readings...).

6. Last week, I was able to go back to dancing for one class each week, and, like the sleep ins, I have appreciated it so much more since I haven't been able to do it for 8 months. My fitness levels leave a lot to be desired (a lot, a lot, a lot), however I've had the best time seeing all the girls again.

7. And last, but definitely not least, one of my best friends arriving home, safe and sound, from university on the other side of Australia. Lily, we have missed you lots and I can't wait to spend time with you over the next few weeks!

I hope you have all had a lovely week, and have a fantastic week ahead! If you like the above photograph, and want to see more like it, follow my Instagram - @laurarobinblog.

Sunday Seven #12

I've been absent from this the last few weeks (sorry!) however I have had a lot of things that I have enjoyed lately. So here is my Sunday Seven (although it has turned into a Sunday Twenty One!) Hope you enjoy.

1. Harry Potter marathon with one of my best friends. Such a good day. Lots of food, lots of gossip, and lots of Harry Potter. We're watching the films in reverse (random?), so it was Harry Potter marathon part one - films 8 to 5 inclusive.

2. Cleaning out my bathroom - weird, yes. Incredibly satisfying? Also yes. Plus I feel like I bought $100 worth of make up because it was all in the wrong drawers... now I know where it is. And it's actually managed to stay mostly clean as well!

3. Hanging out with one of my best friend's cousin! He was here the week before last and we all got on really well with him. It was a bit of a shame to see him go - the constant banter and insults streaming from him were pretty hilarious.

4. Having successful shopping trips with two friends who aren't renowned for their shopping successes - one hates shopping, the other hates spending money without having a careful think. But we managed to buy what they needed and it was really fun as well.

5. Having Saturday mornings to myself over the last few weeks - although I absolutely love my job, there is something so lovely about having a few weeks off and being able to have a lie in.

6. Farmers markets with my mum last week - macaroons, bread, cheese sticks, massive dogs, vanilla tea - such a lovely morning.

7. Hopping into bed with mum after my dad had got up and gone for a walk. It was still really early and we had a nice chat before we had our breakfast.

8. My grandma writing on my Facebook wall saying that she enjoyed my blog - so lovely of her! I'm very impressed with how she has managed to master the Internet as well.

9. Celebrating a plethora of birthdays - Three 19ths and one 20th - over 5 days. So much food (it was kind of wonderful). It's always nice to celebrate with good friends as well.

10. Having a shoulder massage and reflexology with mum last weekend - so relaxing!

11. Successfully baking a cake (it turned out absolutely massive but I didn't burn anything!) as a thank you for one of my good friends.

12. Going out for lunch with my whole family during the week when dad was on his lunch break. Lots of food, lots of laughs. Times like those when I remember how, even though they drive me nuts sometimes, my family really means the world to me.

13. Brunch/ breakfast with a group of friends on Friday morning - it seems as though everyone else has left the city/ state/ country so it was nice to see those of us who are still around. I had pancakes - so good. I'm usually a gal who can be counted on to have something savoury for breakfast (just in case you were wondering), however the pancakes were top notch.

14. Helping to prepare dinner at the Ronald McDonald house. The families were so lovely and it was wonderful to see how much of a difference the house has made. It was a challenge cooking for such a large number of people (especially of the majority of us aren't known for our cooking skills) however I think we did a good job. Very rewarding and a lot of fun too.

15. Taking the time to read a few books. I love reading and have always been such a bookworm, however the addictiveness of the Internet sucks me in on more than a few evenings. The loss of wi-fi at my house halted that though, and so into a few books I burrowed!

16. Finally finding a pair of black ballet flats that are appropriate for work and don't kill my feet.

17. Getting cuddled by a foal this morning. So adorable.

18. Going to a party and seeing lots of friends I hadn't seen for ages. Had lots of compliments on my Laurables posts as well - thank you, you lovely people! It made my night...and then doing a cheeky Maccas run afterwards. Chicken nuggets and ice cream taste so much better at 12am, don't you think?

19. Going out to a few bars and going clubbing a few weekends ago. Both evenings were lots of fun, involving plenty of food and heaps of dancing. Perfect.

20. Editing the format of this blog. Not 100% sure what I think about it yet, but I'm very proud of myself for finally figuring out how to do something with this template of mine.

21. And finally, sitting down to write this post and realising that even though some weeks might be a little bit average, I have so many things in my life that I should be, and am, thankful for.

If you've made it to the end of this Sunday Seven bumper edition, well done! I hope you enjoyed this post, and that you have had a lovely weekend. All the best for this week as well.

Laura's Life // July

I thought I might let you know what's going on in my life lately just in case you're interested (and even if you're not). If things have seemed a bit absent around here, it's because I've been focusing on Laurables, but also because a few posts meant to go up over the last few days got pushed aside when WE LOST WIFI. As much as I want to pretend I'm joking about how traumatic I found it, I did struggle a bit (and I don't even consider myself a huge Internet user!) I got stuck into some books instead, cleaned out my room, and just generally pottered around. Our Internet is back now, which is nice, but it was kind of nice over the last few days not succumbing to the draw of blogs and videos, and instead enjoying a few good books. Here's what I have been up to over the last few weeks...

Read
I've read a few lovely books which will be posted shortly - Vogue On Coco Chanel was a notable favourite, but I also absolutely adored The Collected Works of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Levin. I'm now stuck into Longbourn by Jo Baker - when mum and I realised we both wanted to read this, we decided that it was definitely a sign and bought a copy to share. As for blogs, I've also been loving "Cider With Rosie" and "Paris in Four Months", but especially "The Private Life of a Girl".

Do
The university holidays have been absolutely wonderful, however I'm almost looking forward to returning to uni...? Feels a bit weird to say that but I do miss having a routine and keeping busy. However, that's not to say that I haven't been using my free time wisely… a lot of food has been eaten, a lot of chats and catch ups have been had, and the workers at my local Gelare know me (how I wish I was joking). I completely cleared out my bathroom as well, which was a strangely refreshing task (stuff. Everywhere) and now I can actually find most things that I need. I didn't realise how much of a hoarder I was until I threw away about 10 tonnes worth of out of date samples…

Write
As for my other blog, I've posted a few (very) opinionated pieces as of late (would we really expect anything less?) I've written about asylum seekers, people who insult Arts students and why the use of the word "rape" in a casual context is deplorable. There has been an absence of Sunday Sevens on here for the last few weeks (I'm sorry!) but there should be one up this weekend! I did put up a July Resolutions post, and I'm proud to say I have been sticking to most resolutions. Even though the temptation really is there to stay up on the Internet (I'm looking at you, Tumblr and Bloglovin'!) until the early hours.

Watch
I've been watching the television series Heartland, about a horse ranch in Canada. It is potentially aimed at a younger audience than myself, however I'm going through a horsey stage really enjoying it because it isn't too heavy, has a good storyline and the scenery is beautiful. I haven't had a binge watching session which is surprising, however I have steadily made my way to nearly the end of Season 4, which I think is quite a good effort for me. I watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower with my mum and sister the other night and it still managed to touch me as much as the first time I read the book and saw the movie. I think a lot of the time people don't realise how much of trying time the teenage years can be, however this movie projects this in such a poignant way.

As for YouTube videos, I really enjoyed The Persian Babe's Sale Shopping Haul, Fleur DeForce's Home Tour of her kitchen, and Amelia Liana's Sunday Club vlog.

Listen
I've been listening to Ed Sheeran's X album and I have to say, I'm really enjoying it. The songs are so catchy, and one thing I love about this artist is that the songs all have stories woven into them, which makes them so interesting to listen to. I've also been listening to G.R.L's "Ugly Heart" which is basically about a good looking boy having a not so attractive personality. Relatable, easy to listen to, and very poppy.

I hope you enjoyed this rather rambly post, and that you have also been enjoying whatever you have been up to lately :)

July Resolutions

Some of today's little purchases to get me organised...good thing one of my goals isn't to save more...

When I look at the date, I can't believe that we're already halfway through the year; however when I look back at everything that has happened this year, it seems crazy that so much has been packed into six months! I'm really excited with what the rest of the year holds, and especially this month because I'm on my uni break - 5 weeks of doing nothing but, well, working a lot, but also having much more time to myself. Here are some things I'm aiming to accomplish this month (and hopefully keep going for the rest of the year!)

1. Read more

This was one of my resolutions for May, however I definitely did not fulfil it. It's so tempting to go to bed after becoming engrossed in the Internet and it's much easier to watch a random video than push myself through a novel. This month, however, I have decided to nominate two books I want to read over my uni break - sadly, the days of me being able to plough through a book a day over holidays are long gone, as I now work instead of go to classes! This month, I will be reading Philomena (Martin Sixsmith) and The Bookstore (Deborah Meyler).

2. Go to bed earlier…and actually do it

Another one of my resolutions for May, and I was doing so, so well…until last week came along, and I began going to bed after 12am, and paying for it the next day. I always feel so much better when I have had a good sleep, and so this month, that's going to be happening (hopefully).

3. Stop saying "I wish" and start saying "I will"

After a long break due to a bit of a dodgy spine situation, I have decided to resume dancing this month (hopefully!). Although it'll be painful, it won't be making the situation worse and I have decided to go for it, instead of pining over missing dance classes. I cannot wait. It's more about not having the time anymore, plus all my classes are a bit of a trek away, however I think it will be worth it.

4. Sort out my wardrobe and sell clothes on eBay

After coming up with the rule of only buying clothes with the money I have made from selling things online, I have been much better at saving and also being realistic about what I do and do not need. I've surprisingly managed to stick to it (…sports clothes don't count as clothes, right? RIGHT?!). Plan this month? Sell lots of old clothes so I can buy some winter staples. 

5. Continue being in a generally great mood

This month I have managed to find myself in a much better mood all the time, and I don't know why. The only significant thing that has changed has been me exercising more, so I guess I should keep that up to? I'm going to try to continue looking on the bright side of things, after all, the last six months were pretty great and I bet the next six will be too.

Sunday Seven #11

This week was a bit of a funny one - a lot of things I was looking forward to, but also a major disappointment that dulled the tone of the week a little bit. However, enough fantastic things occurred during the week that I can still put a smile on my face - a lesson learned, however a lot of fun was had by me this week too!

1. Seeing The Seals at The Ellington. I'd been looking forward to this gig ever since I first saw the band at Fairbridge and in short, it was a fantastic evening. Read a more in-depth review here if you are interested.

2. Having lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in a year and dinner with a group of friends from school. It's always lovely to catch up with friends (especially over food - just saying), and these two meals were no exception. The food especially deserves a comment - Grilld for lunch, and Nandos for dinner. Don't mind if I do.

3. Having lovely homemade soup made by Mum for lunch on the days I worked this week. So much better than the thrown together sandwich I usually take with me, and really lovely to enjoy with the cold weather we have been having. Mum's an absolute superstar (read more about that here).

4. Watching my cousin play in the second Women's AFL match at Etihad Stadium today (and her team winning - Go Melbourne!) I was so proud of her. Alicia played really well - lots of kicks and marks. I think it's fantastic that girls get the opportunity to play at such a level.

5. Seeing Grease today - it was fantastic! I think I'll be writing a review of it some time this week, but it was really such a great night out. Probably the best closing number I have ever seen in a musical, fantastic music, vibrant costumes: definitely a must see if you get the opportunity. It didn't hurt that my uncle, who worked on the show in its early stages, managed to get our names read out by Bert Newton in a section at the start of the musical. I won't spoil anything, but it was very funny!

6. A spot of shopping during the week. I have been trying to save for a few months, but due to a few changes I don't need to be as dedicated anymore! I hit up Lorna Jane and Mac… oops (but I'm not really that upset about it).

7. Midnight ice creams with one of my good friends last night (early this morning?) Nothing is quite as good as an M&M Mcflurry.

I hope you had a lovely week and that you have a fun week ahead of you. I just wanted to quickly say thank you for the support I have received for my blogs - Laura Robin and Laurables. I really appreciate all the messages, shares and likes that posts of mine have received, and I hope you continue to enjoy my writing as much as I enjoy writing it :)

Evenings at the Ellington #2: The Seals

A few months ago, I attended the Fairbridge Festival (read about it here) and was lucky enough to enjoy The Seals when I was down there. In a blitz of festival hyperactivity, I picked up their CD - and boy, am I glad I did. So glad, in fact, that when the opportunity arose for me to attend The Ellington Jazz Club to see them, I gladly took it.

Firstly, The Ellington. This place is absolutely fantastic, and I enjoyed the same food as I did on my first venture to somewhere a little bit different for my demographic. The wait staff are quick, the table set up is great because it allows everyone to see the musicians, and the food is affordable and tasty (imperative for me). We had a great table - one row from the front and slightly to the right of the stage.

I'm not fantastic at describing music ("They're good, I like the beat, um, it's kind of folky but I don't know if I'd leave it at folky…") so I borrowed a quick biography of The Seals from their website: "With its mix of grit, raw emotion, sweet vocal harmonies, occasionally lewd lyrics and a barnshaking live show, The Seals unique blend of blues, bluegrass, and old time music will hit you like a steam train and have you coming back for more". Perfect.

I don't know what it is about this sort of music that never fails to put me in a good mood - it's very different to what I usually listen to (click here/ here if you're interested in some of my past playlists) and definitely not what is popular with my demographic (music snobs who are turning up their noses beware…I have a post aimed at you!). However, something about the catchy tunes and clever lyrics makes this band very fun and enjoyable for me.

With a plethora of covers and originals, the gig started off on a great note with a very catchy song…that I cannot for the life of me remember the name of. Something about blue eyes and baby dolls? I remembered it from Fairbridge and really enjoyed it. There was a section dedicated to bad songs and I have to say, I really enjoyed these covers. 'Kiss Me' is a beautiful (but yes, very corny song) was sung to absolute perfection vocals and a perfected deadpan expression performed by Rob Tomlin. 'Amazing' by Alex Lloyd was changed up a little and fit right into this segment.

I loved the renditions of 'Ramblin' Man' and 'Ballad of Mary Johnson' (winning Derry Doyle an award for runner up Senior Songwriter at the WA Country Music awards) as well as 'Old Bark Hut'. Plenty of murder songs in their set - gave the evening a nice touch. 'Corn Bread and Butter Beans' was another one of my favourites from the night, lead by Tom Gourlay. There was plenty of banter and laughter between the songs, both from the musicians and the audience. Everyone was hand clapping and foot stamping away… and just when we thought it couldn't get any better, it did.

A Taylor Swift cover.

As a bit of a Swiftie myself, I was absolutely stoked when the familiar strains of 'I Knew You Were Trouble' began playing. With Phil Cilli on vocals, this hit was performed slightly different to how we know it, but it was great for a laugh. The Seals plus Taylor Swift - doesn't get much better than that. The gig finished with 'Cecilia', before the audience demanded (and received) an encore of 'Mary's Kitchen' (a lot about Mary that evening).

I was fortunate enough to speak with the lovely Derry Doyle at the end of the gig, when he revealed that a little bit of Taylor Swift jamming is frequent at their rehearsals - more points from me.

The only downside to the gig is, I would have to say, the lack of "Be There Blue Eyes" - the second song on The Seals' EP and one I really enjoyed. I suppose the song is a bit more chilled and laid back, so not as appropriate for a gig such as this, however I did miss it.

With infectious enthusiasm for the songs they were singing, plenty of laughs and a lot of banter, The Seals are as enchanting in their segways between songs as they are in their music. A raffle of incredibly unusual and tacky  interesting goods was a highlight of the evening, with great commentary by Tom Gourlay and Charlie McCarthy, with a bit of piano from Phil Cilli classing it up. The band members aren't afraid to have a laugh with each other, and at themselves while on stage, and the complete lack of pretence makes it much more intimate and enjoyable for the audience. I think one thing that sets The Seals apart from other bands is that they don't just sing their songs and be done with it - they put on a real show, and that's what will keep people coming back for more.

If you're looking for an evening when you can't stop smiling, The Seals are a must see.

Their Facebook/ Instagram (@theseals)/ Youtube/ Website

Sunday Seven #10

Haze looking very snug in her pjs

I hope you've had a lovely week and that your exams (if you have any) are over or starting to finish up. I finally finished my exams yesterday (feels like I kept going long after everyone else!) and it feels lovely to not have to worry about study. I've been spending the hours since 11am yesterday tidying my room (recycling old exam notes is so refreshing) and catching up with my friend Erin before she goes home to Canada. Here are seven things that made my week special.

1. A friend telling me that "Sunday Seven" makes her week - you know who you are, and that put the biggest smile on my face! Hopefully this week meets your expectations. Another friend also told me to hurry up and update, and a few people told me that they like reading my blog. Thanks guys, it really makes a difference :)

2. FINISHING EXAMS! When I was writing last week's Sunday Seven, I kept reminding myself that "next week you can write that you've finished all your exams" and that's one of the things that got me through. Saturday morning exams are painful.

3. Having the absolutely perfect Vegemite to toast ratio on Monday morning - it really makes a difference.

4. Ice cream with a friend in the rain yesterday - and they had peanut butter cup flavour. It was pretty amazing.

5. Speaking of the rain, the weather the last few days has been glorious. After winter took its time to get started, I have been enjoying the rain as it comes. Studying is so much easier when it's cold and pouring outside - and so is sitting inside reading/ binge watching Heartland (I finally have time to really enjoy it now that exams are over - it's a Canadian TV show about a horse ranch…no shame).

6. Going horse riding with my friend today - it's always so much fun. Today we went on a half trail ride/ half trail walk (it's a challenge when there's only one horse and two people) but she was very generous and I spent a lot more time in the saddle than on the ground. I'll be feeling it tomorrow...

7. Going out for dinner with my family and some family friends. We had such a nice night - joking, laughing, and just having a really good time. It was a great way to end exams and the week. Bring on the holidays!

What made your week special?

Sunday Seven #9 - All about my mum!

My mum has spent the better part of the last few weeks trying to get onto this list, so I thought I would make a special post just for her! She's an absolute super star and makes every day so special. Here are seven things that mum did to make my week special - she does so many more!

1. Bought me Maltesers for the evening I was home alone. A huge packet. And she didn't even ask me to save any.

2. Wrote this note for my exam (my French exam isn't until Wednesday this week but I was so touched!)

3… then sent this text to make sure her plan was working.

4. Popped a hot water bottle in my bed so it was warm when I came home.

5. Snuggled with me (and the dog) on the couch while we watched the footy.

6. Made a lovely soup for me so I was warm when I came home from work

7. Mum's excessive use of emoticons in text messages always makes me smile

Also making my week special was a barbecue with Erin the lovely Canadian exchange student today (so much food, I don't think I will ever recover, all prepared by mum!), as well as finishing one of my exams - one down, two to go!

What made your week special?

Sunday Seven #8

I was considering letting this post go for the week considering I haven't really done much and I've been under the pump with exam preparation, but I figured that it's always nice to appreciate the little things in life, even if most of my week was spent with my nose stuck in a textbook. Here are seven things that made my week special.

1. Italian food with one of my friends on Friday night. Lately I haven't been amazing at organising a catch up with this friend, so it was lovely to see her for dinner on Friday night.

2. Getting a visit from one of my friends at work - she told me she was coming but I thought she was joking! It was a nice surprise :)

3. My dog wandering around this morning with a leaf stuck to her beard (she's a miniature schnauzer). She has such a solemn little face but it's quite hard to take her seriously when half the garden is stuck to her fur.

4. Spending the day at the library studying today (I never thought that would make this list) with one of my friends and one of her friends - I was (surprisingly) productive and we had lots of snacks (as well as an extended lunch break) so it wasn't at all horrific.

5. Making it to a circuit class at the gym this morning and actually not dying.

6. Discovering a new TV series and becoming hooked - probably not the best thing to happen during exams but hey, you get that.

7. Spending a lovely morning with another one of my friends during the week - we sort of lounged around, enjoyed toasted sandwiches for breakfast and some tea, and it was lovely and relaxed. I hadn't slept well the night before but after sitting around, having a chat and stuffing our faces, I felt so much more energised. It can't have anything to do with the amount of chocolate I scoffed. 

Looking back, my friends made my week really special. Sorry for the lack of posts at the moment - exams are killing me - but I'm sure most/ all of you are studying hard at the moment as well. Best of luck if you are - the holidays are just around the corner! I hope in the midst of hitting the books, you had some special moments during your week as well :)

Sunday Seven #7

University finished up this week, and with a week of study and then two weeks of exams to go, a nice long break is in sight! This week was quite good - my exams don't start for awhile so I'm still feeling nice and relaxed about them. Give it a few days and I'm sure I'll be a bit more stressed (and dealing with this through my tried and true methods of procrastination…read about them here)

Here are seven things that made my week special.

1. A post I wrote on my other blog, Laurables, was shared around on Facebook and viewed more times than anything I have written before has been. I received some wonderful feedback and it was really touching and quite exciting. Thank you for the support, really, it's so exciting to have lovely feedback and get an important message out there. Read the post here if you are interested.

2. More horsey things… I did a bit of horse shopping with one of my friends yesterday and she is SUCH a bad influence and such an enabler! I came away with some jodphurs (riding pants) and some boots to wear as well. Yes, I needed them…sort of…

3. My family had some people over for dinner last night and we had some amazing pizza…so amazing, in fact, that mum was shouting up the stairs for me to "COME DOWN AND INSTAGRAM THE PIZZAS!" Thanks mum.

4. I headed to a bar close to my house with some friends on Friday night and it was really nice. I managed to have 3 dinners that night - one at home, one at McDonalds (we didn't think we'd be able to afford the food at the bar), and then some pizza and chips at the bar - because it wasn't as expensive as we initially thought. Oops (but not really regretting it that much).

5. Turning up to a French exam and thinking that I had to write a paragraph and freaking out about this a lot (French is not my forte) but then finding out it was just a listening comprehension. Not (as) bad.

6. A long weekend this weekend has made me very happy - it will be nice having my mum and dad around tomorrow, even if my brother and sister are studying for their final year exams (things are a little tense around home at the moment, as you can imagine…)

7. My dog has a red blanket on her bed, that is covered in pictures of dogs and bones. Whenever she goes to bed, she's wrapped up in this (very cute). The other day I went to the laundry, where she sleeps, and Elsie was not visible but her red blanket was halfway out the doggie door - she'd obviously gone to go outside wearing a massive cape!

What made your week special?

Sunday Seven #6

After a busy week, it's nice to sit down and reflect on the little (and big) moments that made the last seven days fun for me. With only one week left of university, homework and assignments are starting to wind down, while study for the impending exams is beginning to ramp up. Here is what made my week special.

1. The rain was so lovely throughout the last half of this week. When it rains in Perth, it pours, and it really did. I don't love getting caught in the rain when I need to be at uni all day, but I don't mind it when I'm on my way home or I'm doing something outside. It's been nice sitting inside while it pours outside, and being able to wear boots and jumpers again.

2. I went out to see my friend's horse again and even though it was absolutely pouring, it was so much fun (plus, I got to break out the pink gumboots!). Poor Haze wasn't impressed that we were taking her out of the paddock but I don't think she was too upset by the whole thing (aside from Lily reintroducing her to a metal bit after her not having one for about 8 years, but she even took that in her stride, aside from some priceless faces I wish I'd captured on camera). We also went to look at horse warehouse sale while we were out there - nothing quite like brand new $70 helmets reduced to $25 to put you in a good mood :)

3. A few of my friends and I meet up for lunch at uni on Mondays, however for the last few weeks I have been busy with assignments. It was really nice this past week to catch up with everyone, including a girl who doesn't usually come. Plus, I made a really good decision with my lunch that day (cold roast beef, chutney and cheese sandwich - it was risky, but it paid off). Many more Mondays like these would be great.

4. A book I ordered for Mum for Mother's Day finally arrived - My French Table - and we have both been enjoying looking over the beautiful photographs and imaging a life in Normandy, France. Ah, we can dream!

5. Speaking of French, I received a mark I was really happy with for a French written test. I really wasn't expecting this as I completely forgot how to conjugate a verb I needed and ended up settling for "je a" (I'm pretty sure that's not even a thing) instead of "je suis". It's not a test that is worth much, but it was still a nice surprise getting a result I was happy with, especially because I was so off the mark in the grammar department!

6. My dad, sister and I went to see a school production of The Wizard of Oz the other night and it was fantastic! Toto was a real dog (a large poodle) and the whole production was wonderful. The kids were very talented. I love a good musical, and this was no exception. Apparently on one of the other nights, Toto did a runner into the audience to see his mum - the school's drama teacher. He restrained himself to one (perfectly timed) bark during "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for our performance.

7. My sister isn't really a dog person, and although she loves our dog very much, she isn't the type to pick her up and cuddle her, more give her a pat when she walks past. The other morning, I had to wake Rachel up and so I put Elsie on the bed with her. When I came back in after getting changed, Elsie and Rachel were cuddled up and it was absolutely adorable. She'd probably kill me if I uploaded the photograph, but take my word for it - very cute.

What made your week special? I hope you had a lovely weekend and a great week ahead.

Midweek Ramble/ Instagram Catch Up

New skincare in the mail/ Technology post/ Healthy snacking/ A new month/ My book pile/ Tea break at work/ Afternoon reading/ New magazines/ Hot chocolate at uni

I'm sitting here typing this with a rather violent case of hiccups and the rain pouring down outside. I love autumn! I can't believe we are already halfway through this week - the first three days of my week are always packed with uni and work so I'm happy that they are out of the way. At the moment, I'm writing a 3000 word essay for a unit at university. 3000 words is a lot, especially when I'm not 100% sure I understood the essay topic to begin with. One of my friends very accurately said something along the lines of "the problem with a 3000 word essay is that mine always seem to have the same real content of a 1000 word essay!" Too true, too true.

Over the weekend some of my parent's friends came over for dessert after they all headed out for dinner (lucky, my sister and I were left at home with only a salad for company [I love a good salad, but when your parents are out having Italian, well, you know…jealousy does tend to set in]), including a couple who they hadn't seen for 8 years. It was actually the lady of that couple who initiated the dinner, as one of her New Years Resolutions had been to reconnect with people from her past whom she missed. I suppose when you see these people again, you have absolutely no shortage of anything to talk about (not that mum ever does!). It's nice knowing that even when you haven't seen people for awhile, you can still reconnect with them in the future.

Something that has happened lately that completely shocked me was the kidnapping of over 200 Nigerian female students. In such a progressive world, we still hear about shootings and attacks on female schools in African countries due to the belief that females should not be educated, which is absolutely horrible. However to hear about these girls being taken from a place where they are supposed to be nurtured, safe and learning, and then enslaved as child brides to their kidnappers, definitely disgusted and floored me. It is completely undermining their ability to learn, and is just a revolting show of power. Furthermore, the lack of coverage in the news about this is pretty appalling, with a focus instead being laid upon two grown men fighting in the street and the budget.

To finish on a happier note, I've been enjoying Gretchen Rubin's "The Happiness Project". Such a great book about being happier with your life by changing little things in it, like going to bed earlier, solving arguments peacefully and how being right doesn't necessarily mean being happy about the situation (I really need to learn this). There will be a post on it coming up when I finish it.

I hope you enjoyed this rather thrown together post and that the rest of your week is great!

The Playlist #3

If you're reading this, you found Laura Robin! You may have hopped over from Laurables - if not, check it out here. I hope you enjoy this post!

Here's what I've been listening to in the last few weeks - a little different than normal and peppered with the sounds of the Fairbridge Festival. What have you been listening to lately?

1. "Come to Me" - China Doll

2. "Emily" - David Lazarus

3. "Fast Car" - Tracy Chapman

4. "Stay This Way" - David Lazarus

5. "Be There Blue Eyes" - The Seals

6. "Run Boy Run" - Woodkid

7. "Paper Squares" - China Doll

Happy Tuesday!

Travel Wishlist

I was blessed with a love of travel from my mother, and after returning from Cambodia (read about it here) I have definitely been bitten by the travel bug. There is something so special about visiting a new place and learning about a new culture and I want to see so much more of the world as I get older. Here is my wishlist of travel destinations…

1. London, England
I have been to London but I don't really remember it all that well (definitely not old enough to appreciate the likes of Topshop, Zara…). I would absolutely love to go to London for the shopping, but also for the cultural aspects that I wasn't old enough to enjoy…Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and London Bridge to name a few.

2. Greece
Greece is definitely on my travel wish list, especially Athens and the Greek Islands. I'm a bit of a history lover and so I really want to see ancient ruins. Ever since I watched a special on the Athens Olympics, I've wanted to travel to this beautiful country as it just looked to beautiful and picturesque. As for the islands, I would love to see Mykanos. I'm not really a beach person (something about being super pale…) but with somewhere as beautiful as this, I'm sure I could get used to soaking up some rays on the sand - with a healthy dose of 50SPF on my limbs.

3. Dublin, Ireland
Little bit of trivia about me - I did Irish dancing from when I was 7 to when I was 15. It would be so awesome to visit the birthplace of Irish dancing and maybe see some shows while I was there. I'm half Irish (there's some more trivia) and I would love to visit the country where my family comes from. I still have some third cousins/ second cousins/ great aunts and uncles living in Ireland and so it would be amazing to meet them. Plus, I love Irish accents…

4. Copenhagen
This destination may have been inspired by the recent Eurovision song contest which was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Originally a viking fishing village in the 10th century (thanks Wikipedia), Copenhagen now has a vibrant student life and is famous for the Tivoli Gardens (an amusement park), as well as Rosendorf Castle. I'd also love to see Stroget,  Europe's longest pedestrian street and the beautiful canals. Denmark is apparently the happiest country in the world, so I can only imagine how amazing its capital city must be.

5. Vietnam
Quite a lot of the people we met in Cambodia had been to Vietnam or were on their way there and from what they had said it sounds like a fantastic country. Apparently it's quite a bit more touristy than Cambodia so I would like to visit before it gets more touristy - Cambodia was pretty touristy, but only to the extent that there was wi-fi everywhere. I studied the Vietnam War in History at school, so I think it would be quite special to visit a place I have learnt a lot about. If the Vietnamese people are anything like the Khmers, I'm sure I would have a wonderful trip.

Where do you want to travel to? All photographs from Pinterest.

Sunday Seven #5

The last few weeks have been pretty crazy with assignments flying left, right and centre and just generally being pretty busy. It's nice to look back and reflect on the things in life that have been enjoyable over the last week or so, so here are seven things that made my week special :)

1. Finishing two major assignments - freedom here I come! (After exams…)

2. Celebrating my dad's 60th with Italian food and cake. Happy birthday dad, you are fantastic!

3. Eurovision grand final - long live Conchita. I really wasn't a huge fan of the booing of the Russian contestants though…yes, I understand that the political circumstances aren't great at the moment but at the end of the day, they were two 17 year old girls representing their country (with a great song that I can't get out of my head!)

4. My gorgeous Irish grandmother arriving from Melbourne to spend 10 nights with us. She's adorable and so much fun to spend time with.

5. I went out for some drinks last night and it was really nice. It was at a bar walking distance from my house which was handy, drinks weren't as expensive as I was thinking, and it was a nice way to celebrate a friend's birthday and meet new people.

6. I got into the car after work and the car parked in front of me had left so I didn't have to reverse out of my spot (which I usually do really awkwardly). The intersection where I have to turn right coming out of my job is usually so busy and takes about 5 minutes of waiting until I can leave, however I got straight through on Friday. Plus, one of my favourite songs was on the radio. Life's little wins :)

7. My dog got a haircut and usually she looks a bit ratty after a clip, but she looks pretty darn adorable at the moment. Especially when we put on her jumper - I wouldn't say this is her favourite activity ever…

What made your week special?

I hope you have had a lovely weekend and are having a relaxing Sunday.

Sunday Seven #4

1. Fairbridge festival! It was an awesome weekend (albeit the camping/ rain situation…) - read about it here.

2. Although that said, my second favourite of the week is autumn sort of starting (and maybe here to stay, fingers crossed).

3. A new month starting and getting all inspired to be a better person with my my May Resolutions (let's see how long they last!). Read about them here.

4. Downton Abbey and So You Think You Can Dance finales begin on during last week - I'm sad they're both over, especially because I don't religiously watch any other TV shows, but I really enjoyed the final episodes. I do love a bit of historical drama and dancing (although my choices are question by my friends). Now what to do with my Sunday/ Thursday nights...

5. Meeting my friend's horse and having a bit of a ride - this was such a highlight of the week as it was great to spend time with her and I love horse riding and horses. My legs are so sore today though!

6. Eurovision starting this week!

7. Being told that my back rehabilitation (be careful when rowing everyone!) can go down to once a week - there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel!

What made your week special?