Parties and Partying

I'm 19 years old, almost 20 so it is safe to say that I am no stranger to going out and partying. I do enjoy it most of the time (I really have to be in the mood for it sometimes) and I have to be out with the right people to have the best experiences. I'm pretty happy to say that 98% of the time I am actually out with the right people (my amazing boyfriend and beautiful bestfriends)!

Like I mentioned in a previous post, I am currently in my busiest time of the year. From July until December I seem to be non-stop on the go. Everyone is having their birthdays (which is actually quite funny because both my bestfriend and my boyfriend don't have their birthdays until January and February). This means a lot of weekends are spent going out celebrating and a lot of money is spent doing so. But it also means there are a lot of times that I (and everyone I go out with) need to be careful of what is exactly going on around us.

I'm from Sydney, Australia and I know the 'nightlife' used to be pretty good. But now there are so many laws and lockouts that apply basically anywhere you go in the city regarding what times you can go into/out of clubs and times you can buy alcohol. I don't really think these laws have done anything except increase drug use. Everywhere you go (and yes I do mean literally everywhere) there are people on drugs. It's really obvious to tell the difference between people who have drunk too much and the people who have decided to do drugs for the night instead. Neither is safe (obviously), but I don't think the laws introduced were the way to go. All that's been done is drive many places out of business because 1am onwards was when they would make most of their money. 

No more club hopping and partying all night long, drinking until the sun comes up. 

I think it's sad (and I know it isn't just here, it can happen anywhere) that people spike drinks... Listening to stories friends of mine have told me about drink spiking makes me so angry. Stories my girlfriends tell me about creepy guys following them around and pursing them even after invitations to dance/ get a drink/ go to their hotel rooms or houses have been declined. It's scary. I'm lucky in the sense that I have amazing friends and a very protective boyfriend who I know will always look out for me and I look out for them. But the scary part is still anything can happen. You can't "let loose" for a night because there aren't good people out there.

The number of fights I've been around and that have impacted me is ridiculous. Being pushed down and bruised and cut up because of fights happening near me is ridiculous (and I know I am not the only one that this happens to).

I wish everyone who decided to go out partying and clubbing would take a bit more responsibility, control their behaviour and not be inappropriate/creepy because then I know everyone would have such a better time and the government wouldn't have to be so strict with laws and enforcements on everyone as a whole. 

I'm really looking forward to my birthday 'week' this October because I have about 4 days/nights of fun planned and I really hope none of it is ruined or spoilt from anything I've mentioned above. All anyone would like is to feel safe when they go out. 

And on a much lighter note, enjoy these happy snaps from the last two birthdays I attended over the last two weekends.

Semester Two, Let's Go

Semester 2 is well on it's way now. It's like every single time I go on uni breaks and then it's time to go back to uni, I forget how much work there really is and how fast time goes (all my fellow uni/college students out there I am positive you can agree with me on this one).

It's already the third week (well my week is over because I only need to attend uni on Tuesday's and Wednesday's) and I thought I would share a little bit about how I feel this semester is already going (classes, timetable, friends and free time).

So for those of you who are new to my blog or just perhaps have forgotten since the last time I spoke about uni, I study Commerce and I am majoring in Marketing and Human Resources. (The most interesting/deepest question I have ever really gotten about this revolved around why I actually want to do this. If I can ever come up with an answer better than I'm interested in it/I'm good at it/ plenty of job opportunities I will definitely make a post about that. But for now...)

This semester I am taking two core units relating to my Human Resources major (I have finished all of the marketing components until third year classes) and two electives (needed to fill up the credit points to earn my degree).

This semester I am taking:

- Introduction to Global Business (elective)

- Organisational Behaviour (core HR unit)

- Entrepreneurship and New Venture Management (elective)

- Human Resource Management- Recruitment and Selection (my online class which is a core HR unit- surprise!)

So far I think i am liking my online class the most (just kidding, but I find it the most convenient because I do the work at my own pace, which surprisingly I have been going week to week with as a regular unit). Least favourite is global business. Probably because I don't really have any previous knowledge on the subject and I feel really pressured to do well and learn all of the concepts. I will manage though, the downfall again is a lot of group work. 

Timetables are always so stressful for me. If I want a good timetable, I panic so much trying to make one and then I feel like I can never get it just right. I attend uni Tuesday mornings 9am-12pm and Wednesday mornings 10am-1pm. This isn't including the two lectures I can;t attend because they are at crappy times (4pm Thursday and 8am Friday [yeah right]).But I have it pretty good. 

One of my favourite things about a new semester at university and just being at uni in general is the opportunity to make new friends. This is the time that I really wish I wasn't a shy person and that I had a more outgoing personality. I tell a lot of people when I get talking to them that I am rely shy and most people don't even believe me. It really is a struggle to put myself out there and fake the confidence, but (and I am pretty sure that I have said this before) fake it until you make it. I don't think there's anything wrong with that and I really think it's helped me over the last year and a bit. 

In high school I was terrified of talking in front of people and couldn't manage without turning into a tomato and having a panic attack. Now, I am a lot more confident, I can make presentations and speeches. Of course I am still freaking out on the inside, but most of that sheer horror at speaking in front of anyone is kept on the inside and I am pretty proud of myself for that!

I have a love/hate relationship with uni! I think I love the opportunities that it gives me (both now and for the future), but I am just trying to make the best out of my life because I have the power to decide what I am g0ing to make of it.

Nothing (and no one) will hold me back.

As a side note I would love to mention that I was talking to my best uni friend about being an exchange student and how much I would love it. I wish I would get the opportunity but I unfortunately don't see it happening. Oh well, a girl can dream. And what would my blog be (forever dreaming) without all of these dreams.

Until next time my beautiful followers, 

Kristelle xx

Instagram: @krristelley

Food is life

Okay, so I don't know about everyone else here, but I am absolutely obsessed with food. Not just "oh this place will be good let's eat here" but to the point where basically everything I do is revolving around what I am going to eat that day (lol). Tbh I would love to know how many other people out there do this, so I don't feel so alone haha. 

I basically eat everything. There are very few things I won't eat (I don't even pretend that I'm allergic to cucumber anymore, I eat it now!). There are some things of course that I would prefer not to eat, but given the opportunity, I will still probably eat them.

So for those of you who have read some of my previous blog posts, you would know that I have made the choice to move towards a healthier lifestyle. Of course I still eat junk food, but I have been trying to get that out of my system. 

One of my favourite healthy foods are acai bowls. They are super tasty and you can basically just top them with any fruit, chai seeds, muesli, just basically anything you want. They were super quick and easy to make (and they make for a good Instagram photo haha). Here's a few of the best acai bowls I've had lately (and a quick recipe for my home made one!!). There's a wonderful place near me that makes the best acai bowls ever (and that's what these two pics are from). XS Espresso for anyone who lives in Sydney!

Simple acai recipe:

Acai smoothie pack

Raspberries/bluberries/strawberries (to blend in the puree)

Splash of almond milk

To top:

Fresh fruit (my favourites include: strawberries, passionfruit, banana, kiwi-fruit)

Any other toppings (I personally enjoy muesli and chai seeds)

And as for the method you just blend the first three things together and then pour it in a bowl. It should be a thick consistency. Then chop up all the fruit and make it look pretty on top of the acai mix :-)

Simple, easy and one of my favourites. 

 Apart from my acai love, yes I do love other things. Recently my boyfriend took me on a date to a wonderful gourmet burger place (I've been here once before, but this time was better). I had an amazing chicken snitzel burger and he had a kangaroo burger and we 'shared' chips. Not the best photo, but it was a good night! Moo Gourmet Burgers for anyone who lives in Sydney, look it up :)

 Another one of the most amazing meals I have had recently was just a random bestfriend lunch date. We went to this amazing place called Grano. They have a coffee shop version with just drinks and desserts and a restaurant next door. We were starving so naturally we went for the restaurant. (pictured above) we had a prosciutto pizza with rocket (and it was amazing) and some kind of chicken salad with their special dressing. We shared both of the foods and I am seriously still dying to go back there!

Last but not least, considering I am obsessed with food, I think you all can guess what else I may be obsessed with (yes it is grocery shopping). Doing the groceries calms me, and I find it relaxing to plan out and buy the foods I plan on eating for the next week. It is genuinely fun for me, even though I know most people hate it. 

I am always on the hunt for nice places to eat (mostly cool/cute cafes around the beaches) and I plan to make a list and visit all of these places and order something of the menu. I might make this a plan with my boyfriend considering we both love eating.

Kristelle xx

Instagram: @krristelley

Updates

So life has been pretty crazy lately. All I have seemed to be doing is working and now I'm back at university for a new semester, the stress really seems to be piling on.

Even though life is getting crazy busy again (well a different kind of busy than it has been during holidays) I am happy to say that I am at least feeling better now and want to get back into the swing of things. 

Regular routine is back! This semester I am going to be at university twice a week for three classes and I am taking a fourth unit online (only offer, but works out pretty well for me in the end anyway!) I am aiming to work about 5 times a week, workout 5-6 times a week and have regular blog posts (hopefully all about something interesting) online for you all to read :-)

I like keeping busy and having such a huge variety of things to do (and begin able to spend time with my beautiful friends) makes me happy!

I have so many exciting adventures coming up in the next few months because this half of the year is defiantly the busiest for me!

I will have a new post up soon, just wanted to quickly update you all on life and let everyone know I have a smile on my face again. Here's some happy photos to end my blog to prove that :) Also want to say how happy I am that us folk down here in Australia are in our last month of Winter! I am definitely way way too excited for it to be Summer again.

Instagram: @krristelley

Sad

I don't really write much anymore. I don't write about things that are meaningful or all the fun adventures that I have with my beautiful boyfriend. In fact I don't really do much anymore. 

Some days I can't get out of bed. It's not that I don't want to (believe me I want to get out of bed, make a healthy meal and get outside in the sunshine and workout- or just do something), but I can't. I physically can not bring myself to wake up some mornings and get out of bed. I'll make myself think I'm not even hungry so it doesn't matter if I stay in bed until my mum or sister gets home that night. And it's not even that I'm asleep (I do sleep way too much though). Some days I can lay there for over an hour and just stare at the roof or the wall fighting with myself that I need to get up. 

For a change though I go to work. That's my life lately. Working and then staying in bed almost every moment I'm not at work. 

I've lost the ability to find happiness in those small things I wrote about a couple of months ago. I don't write meaningful things, I don't go on fun adventures with my love. I don't really do anything and that makes me really really sad. 

I know things will change and turn around eventually, so it will be okay. 

I'll get to be my happy adventurous self with my partner in crime. Visiting places, eating great foods and taking lots of pictures. But until then I just need to sleep it off. Get this bad place out of my head and shitty moods out of my system. I just need to feel alive again. 

Orange is the New Black

I joined the bandwagon guys! I finally got Netflix out here in Australia recently and yes, I gave in and decided I needed to watch Orange is the New Black... just like what seemed everyone else. 

But I'm glad I did! I can easily say this is one of the best shows I have ever watched. Definitely up there with my all time favourites of Greys Anatomy, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and The O.C. It's something new and fresh which is definitely what I needed considering all my favourites are years old (except for Grey's Anatomy, but let's be real here, the show needs to end to save itself now). 

Season 1 and 2 I loved so much. They were so good. Kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't wait to watch the next episode (which is probably how most nights when I had finished whatever else I had to do I would stay up until 2:30-3am just to finish another episode. 

Season 3 in my opinion wasn't that great. It just didn't really go anywhere? If you get what I mean. 

Ruby Rose, yes she's hot and yes I have known who she is for a long time from little things like Girlfriend magazine?? and on TV (well I think that's right, but I'm not sure so don't hold me to that lol). I don't however understand the sudden "omg I love Ruby Rose she's so hot I think I'm lesbian now". Like girls, no.

I can't wait for season 4 but that is a long time away (sad face).

I got my boyfriend into the show which is pretty funny. He got mad at me when I would watch the episodes without him because he would miss out on what was going on. The next episode we would watch together he would keep asking questions about what was going on, who was who etc. So I decided we could start at the beginning together (that was we always have something to watch when he's at my house and we don't want to watch a movie).

Oh he also told me I would be Piper and I'm a tad offended. I don't even know who my favourite character is- I just can't pick one. 

Any other OITNB addicts out there, I would love to know! When I start watching a series I either hate it and give up after 2 episodes or I become obsessed and watch everything as fast as possible. No middle ground. 

Thanks for reading about how crazy I am when it comes to TV shows, until next post,

Kristelle xx

Check out my Instagram here OR @krristelley (if you're just on your phone) xx

Check out my Tumblr here x

Wedding Cake Rock

I would like to be able to say "Yay a day where I have no work and can do whatever I want!!!!" but that wasn't exactly true. I conveniently had work in the evening though, which meant I could spend my day doing whatever I wanted :-)

If you want to stay updated with all of my adventures, check out:
My Instagram here @krristelley
My Tumblr wi-ldberries
or even add my Snapchat @krristelley

Today was a day for an adventure. I messaged one of my beautiful friends (Jess) and I decided it was going to be a beautiful day for a hike and a trip to the infamous Wedding Cake Rock. 

Wedding Cake Rock

The hike was tiring. I will admit that much. There were so many trees and rocks to trip over (I almost face planted several times) and there was so much mud even though I don't think it had rained there in the last week or so. 

Bundeena Coastal Trek

There were several beautiful lookouts on the way to our main goal of Wedding Cake Rock and it was all so beautiful. The ocean, the view, mini waterfalls and even the trees and shrubs were nice enough to appreciate.

Standard selfie in front of Wedding Cake Rock

Wedding Cake Rock is actually fenced off now because of all the dangerous photos people were taking on it and the large amounts of people that would stand on the rock at a time made it 'unstable'. Bit of a yolo moment quickly hoping on the rock for a photo and then running back off for fear of dying and falling to our doom :')

Not even an accurate photo to describe how high up we really were

The hike lasted us about 2 and a half hours including us stopping to mess around and take all of these photos. Today was a good day. Getting exercise with some great company and appreciating the beauty of Australian nature. 

It was so peaceful out there in the sun and light breeze, climbing away next to the ocean

Instead of taking a path back to the car, Jess and I walked down the rocks closer to the water. The view was absolutely amazing, I don't think I can emphasise how beautiful this country really is. The weather (although sunny) has been super cold lately. It felt so nice to be up there, jacket off because we really were working up a sweat, my skin soaking up the sun's rays. 

I really felt like I was on top of the world

Wind in my hair and sun on my face I felt so happy and so at peace. But Jess and I had climbed all the way down the rocks (to where we couldn't climb down anymore) and we were quite a walk from the path. So naturally, the only way to get to the path was straight back up the side of the cliff. Bear Grylls styles, we rock climbed back up. A lot of effort and kind of scary for someone aka me who is scared of heights. 

It was an amazing day. We ate lunch on a wharf and I was happy. Days like this remind me of how lucky I really am and how much I love my life.

Thanks for reading! 

Kristelle xxx