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.