welcoming the new year | 2016

Hellllooooooooooo!

After the great positive response I received from my new year post one year ago, I've decided to write up another new years resolution list! So, after looking back on my 2015 new years resolutions, I would say that I didn't achieve as much as I would have liked too.. T_T But hey! I did get to complete some like...

I've taken more pictures as I've got a better camera ^_^

Drawn more and tried different styles that I wouldn't normally draw in.

Passed that piano exam! Wow, that seemed like ages ago... and I've posted consistently on this blog! Woohoo! *celebrates*

But all in all, I could have completed every single one of them if I wasn't super lazy so... urgh why?

Here's a list of 16 resolutions I would like to achieve in 2016 in no particular order:

• Keep my succulent alive 
• Stop leaving everything until the last minute
• Stop being indecisive with everything
• Put on sunscreen (urgh the aussie sun)
• Read more books and complete my new goal on Goodreads!
• Even more art ^_^
• Put studies first!
• Stop procrastinating (which is the hardest thing to do T_T)
• Don't over think too much (I tend to do that way too much and that results in nothing making sense)
• Continue volunteering ^_^
• Grow taller (ha, I wish.) 
• Revise, revise, revise.
• Put up with my current laptop that's starting to deteriorate 
• Exercise regularly (which still probably will not happen...)
• Cut down on YouTube and tv shows and use that time more usefully
• Be organised!

Well, cheers to the new year! Let me know any of your resolutions or goals in the comments below and happy new year!

Have fun!

 ~ Judy x

15 moments from 2015

I was looking forward to 2015...

Why? Well

a) Fifteen is my lucky number (because)

b) I was born on the 15th (January)

c) I turned 15 on the 15th of 2015

d) All the factors of 15 are odd, and I love odd numbers (okay I'm a weird nerd, don't judge me! xD)

And I have to say, the year turned out marvellously (loads better than my terrible last year) :D

Now I'll share with you some moments from this year :)

1. I received a ukulele from my friend's for my birthday!!! Still love it as much as I did when I first got it :D

This photo was from last year, and that's actually Judy's ukulele xD

2. Getting my kitten. It's inexplicable, the feeling I had in the car ride home, holding onto a box containing that tiny little ball of fur.

3. Watching the musical Les Misérables, and sitting in that dark theatre, tears in eyes, squeezing the life out of my friend's arm next to me and letting the music and story wash over me.

(I had a photo to put here from after the musical, where the theatre was dark yet relatively empty and the stage showed 'Les Misérables' in an eerie green blue... but it was on my phone which I lost *cries*)

4. Visiting Canberra (Twice! Once with my school :D) and driving through my old town, and seeing all the places I had spent years expanding in my memory with imagination.

5. There wasn't exactly a defining moment for this, but realising that I'm very comfortable with using my camera and can fiddle with settings and know what is happening everywhere without really thinking about it.

6. Going overseas to China and realising the sheer enormity of the world and what it has to offer, and how incredible it is that there can be so many people, each with their own unique story.

7. Running a waffle stand at school!

8. Having three awesome kids at volunteering run up to me going "YELENA WE MISSED YOU!!!" and having a big group hug :D

9. Finding an old cockatiel chirping literally on our door step. Rest in piece, little guy :(

10. Getting bombarded at school with all sorts of career, university and degrees advice, and deciding on my goal.

11. Holding a picnic with my friends.

12. Changing uniform. Like most Aussie schools, we have to wear a uniform, and this term I had to change from the junior uniform of Year 7 to 10 to the senior one... which I like a lot better! :D

13. Waking up at 4 am to witness the sunset on the Gold Coast.

14. Making new friends :)

15. Posting on this blog (somewhat) consistently and surpassing 100 posts! ^_^

Here's a quick little montage of random video clips from my year to go along with this post. :)

Thanks to each and every one of you for reading our blog, whether you've stumbled upon this little corner of the internet a year ago, last month or even starting from this post- you're awesome! <3

As always, stay fabulous! :D

Lena xx

PS. Second post in two days!!! AMAZING :O New record! I wanted to get this up before the new year, and I posted this 4 minutes shy of New Year's Eve... excellent timing I must say *pats self on the back* I think Judy is doing her own little recap tomorrow (which is now in 2 minutes :O) so look forward to that :)
PPS. Sorry about that, my body is always exhausted by midnight (including my eyes which feel like they're swelling shut) but my mind is more alert, awake and talkative! Oh look, one minute left til New Year's Eve!
PPPS. IT'S NEW YEARS EVE!!! FAREWELL 2K15 :D

japanese candy review + GIVEAWAY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

As a little Christmas present to all you lovely viewers, we're hosting a give away for these Japanese candies, held by Japanese Candy Box :D

Details will be at the end, alongside with a video taste testing all of these in case you're interested ^_^

BUT FIRST, ONTO THE CANDY!!!

This is a subscription box, so you pay a certain amount and every month you receive this box full of goodies ^___^

Can I just say... the tissue paper it was all wrapped in is very cute :O

Moko Moko Mokolet 3 Candy Toilet Kit

First up we have a... toilet?! xD

It's a DIY candy toilet kit (which I didn't open because I've already done one of these before, so I'll just give this one to Judy to do heh :P Maybe she'll make a blog post on it?)

Basically, you pour a powder and water into the toilet, and foamy liquidy stuff comes out of the bowl, which you drink with a straw... sounds a little dodgy, but it's somewhat cute xD Personally, I didn't enjoy it a lot when I did it, but maybe Judy will like it better :O

However, must say, very impressed that this subscription box includes DIY kits. They're pretty hard to find in Australia, and if you do find them, they're not the cheapest/most worth it things ever... D:

Puccho Pyramid Blue Soda Candy

Next up we have these soda candy balls which are hard on the outside but have chewy centres. These were really yummy and fun to chew on xD

Because of my impatient nature, I tend to chew on lollies instead of sucking them slowly like most people I know... anyone else do this? :O

Coris Mizuame DIY Syrup Candy Kit

Next is another DIY kit, which was a syrup thing?!?

Sorry for the pathetic photo... the photo I took of the actual packaging came out super blurry T_T

They give you three little packets of syrup in pink, yellow and blue, and you mix them together and just eat it xD

First impression? VERY VERY STICKY. I hate getting sticky stuff on my hands T^T

In terms of taste? It was reaaaaally sweet o.o And I felt like it tasted a lot like flour which was a little odd.

Meito Puku Puku Tai Fish Shaped Wafer

Totally not holding this upside down T_T

This inside looks a bit like cake, doesn't it?

Now we have a wafer fish! It was super light and airy, and I think the inside was chocolate? Not sure to be honest o.O

Pine Deka Pudding Candy

This one was really yummy and caramel tasting :D

Meiji Pucca Chocolate Filled Pretzel

To be honest, not my favourite. Mainly because I'm a sucker for anything sweet, and I felt like the chocolate was slightly dark :O

Fujiya Milky Sweets

Reminds me a lot of these Asian lollies I had when I was little called White Rabbit or something :O

Tohato Caramel Corn

THIS ONE WAS REALLY YUMMY and so familiar tasting, but I have no idea where else I've tasted it before...

Meiji Cola Flavoured Popping Candy

A really nice twist to normal popping candy, as it has normal candy inside!

So yes, here's the video! :D

So, now time for the exciting giveaway!
We will be giving away a Japan Candy Box filled with delicious and fun Japanese candy and snacks. All you have to do is scroll down to the handy gadget and follow the steps to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The aftermath T^T

So ja, hope you're having a wonderful holiday and that you live every day hoping to make the next one better ^_^ Inspirational quote of the day, maybe? xD

Stay fabulous!

Lena xx