face your fears

Everyone has different facial expressions, but there is one expression that is, your "everyday face”- an expression that you wear every time you aren’t busy talking, kissing, forcing a smile, or sneezing.

Lately I have been asked by a fair number of people if I am sad or upset, this is a little strange for me because I consider myself to be quite a content and neutral looking person.

This puzzled me for a while.

I went out one evening and out of the blue a friend of mine asked if I was about to cry, I asked why(?), and they said "well your expression is very sad and worried looking”. Hmm... sad and worried, not me, at least not me, all the time. 

So I went home and the next morning, took a photo of what I thought is my “everyday face” (pictured above) and I have to say, everyone is right. 

I look anxious and gloomy, which might be true at times, but definitely not a feeling I want to convey on an everyday basis.

Its something people might not ever think about, what their face looks like while they’re simply walking around. 

But trust me, its a very important thing to consider, I recall walking past people scowling and looking angry while glaring at everyone, on numerous occasions, and wondering, “what is their problem??” 

Looking back, I am pretty sure more times than not, they weren’t actually mad, it was just their facial expression while casually taking a stroll down the street. 

Maybe its a guarding mechanism, used to feel confident while under the public eye. 

In reality an expression can be mis-interpreted, especially if you aren’t even aware you are making it.

Please, don’t make the same mistake as gloomy looking me and angry looking them, actually take time to feel what your face looks like, relax those face muscles, and maybe even smile? 

I will be working on my smile,

Its more attractive than looking like a grump.

just an idea

I don’t know why, but for some reason I have always thought that the idea of dying/sleeping in water is beyond beautiful and the most poetic and natural way to end a life. Probably because at the young ripe age of 12 I was fascinated with the character of Ophelia in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”,  that I always pictured it as finding eternal peace inside a flowery and watery grave.


For my Studio Art subject this coming year I am planning to re-create several scenes with my handy-dandy mermaid camera, depicting the deaths of tragic figures in poetry-mainly underwater.


This will be hard- because without a variety of expressive models/actors...this whole thing could turn into cheese. So I am placing an open call for any aspiring actors, models, swimmers, or just friends of mine who wouldn’t mind helping me out next year. 
I want you to be in my photos, this would mean possibly getting wet and possibly being extremely close to a member of the opposite sex (romeo and juliet?)  


So just zip me a message or comment on my facebook page if you would like to be involved, everyone I know is so beautiful and lovely, you could really bring something special to the shoot. 


Of course this is all still in the planning stages, all I know is that it will involve water, flowers, and poetry. 


Oh and, there will be a horse, not in water of course, that surprise is yet to come!
Here are some images that will be inspiring my work. 

*Unfortunately this call is not open to my international readers, for obvious reasons. But feel free to leave comments with some of your ideas to make my idea better. I need all the help I can get.*


Thank you so much my darlings,
ally 


xo

Little Aowl loves Little Doodles

I adore any kinds of little critters, in real life or paper/fabric/cardboard form. I particularly enjoy little birds, I had stumbled upon these drawings a little while ago, and fell in love with them once more today. 
Little Doodles is the darling artist/shop responsible for these little fabric and paper crafted birds. They feature all sorts of animals wearing spiffy threads and much more. Take a little time to visit their blog, or their cargo collective (that I linked above). 

All art belongs to Little Doodles!

nothin’ you can do

if you like my blog…
& want to follow me at a whole different level you can like my "little aowl" facebook page here!


I am in the middle of exams at the moment so its a bit hard to come up with really amazing posts regularly,
but you can bet your boots, that as soon as I am done with my last exam a whole bunch of ally goodness will come your way! 


In the mean time smile because the weather is good- raining and pouring at 4 in the morning, sunshine in the late afternoon.


I am also smiling because I found quite a lovely green dress last weekend, on sale!


check it…check it


okay so its a reaaaallly bad and blurry photo,
but its the only one I took before I went out on a late night 
date with a certain curly-haired boy (that I love) last Saturday. 


I was in a rush, but was also very keen to share my find,
I will wear it again soon and post less fuzzy photos. (I pinky promise)

dress- Glassons

have a lovely night, and I promise to check back in soon!
wish me luck on exams

toodles, xx

90's Horse Party

Last night I spent my entire evening watching any episode I could find online from my latest TV show obsession, “2 Broke Girls”. Its stars two very funny leading ladies, Kat Dennings as Max Black and Beth Behrs as Caroline Channing; they literally made me laugh so much I was in stiches with tears dripping from my eyes.

I have watched many TV shows over my life span, shows that are deemed hilarious, but none have made me LOL.

Some may call this show a cheap laugh and after reading some reviews labelling the show as “a typical sitcom setup”, “an average comedy”- I must say I have to disagree.

 While it may use the same format as a traditional television sitcom, it is different to the rest, in the sense that the show has heart and the jokes are genuinely really funny. (This by no means is me diminishing the comedic value of other television shows.)

 I absolutely love the story line, Kat and Beth are brilliant comedians, their onscreen friendship is quite endearing, and they have a lot of fun doing what they do. I really hope the show starts gaining a large fan base and stays on the air for a long time! I am very keen on it premiering in Australia early next year/or late this year (I'm not quite sure the exact date!) on channel nine!

 So watch it online and/or tell all your friends about it.

Overcome Those Exam-Season Blues

Do you feel tired all the time? The weight of exam pressure getting you down? Then here are my ten, never fail, self soothing techniques to get happy and get through those long and dark hours of study time. Therapy for any girl in the middle of important exams:

1.     If studying from home make sure not to stay in your jim-jams all day, you will feel a lot better after having a shower, washing your face, brushing your teeth (oh golly, please do brush them), slapping on some deodorant, and starting your day fresh faced and minty fresh.

2.     Crack open a window to get some fresh air flowing through your room, or better yet sit outside in the sun for a little bit, get your daily vitamin D intake...its good for you. If fresh air and sunshine is not possible for you, or the thought of going outside is too difficult to comprehend at least pull up your blinds and stop living like a vampire.

3.  Eat anything you’d like to eat, but in small portion sizes. I know while studying I always get crazy cravings, maybe its a subconscious way of procrastinating, I don’t know... But I can attest to always feeling sick and whale-like after going on a 20 minute binge session in my pantry. So what I have started to do, is leave my snacks and treats that I just cannot live without, in a little picnic basket next to my study area already pre-portion controlled. That way I dont over eat and feel sorry for myself for the rest of the day.

      My own personal example: Mini bags of organic cheesy cornichips, a pot of tea on the desk, apples and peanut butter, mint chocolate (snack sized pieces), and mixed lollies in little ziplock baggies.

     

      Maybe it sounds a little bit OCD... but that's ok, I feel much better when I can plan out my day, right down to my scheduled bathroom breaks. (okay maybe that's a little too much)!

4.   Watch an entire television series all day...marathon style. I prefer watching mindless reality TV, or talk  shows but the choice is yours. Put on a season of America’s Next Top Model, or The Real Housewives of (I prefer New Jersey), maybe even The Ellen DeGeneres Show-and just veg out. Sure you’ll feel unaccomplished, but there are certain days of your life where you just need to slow down and stop working your already rapidly growing brain.

5.    Skip the coffee break, make it a tea break instead!

6.     Go to your local op shop and treat yourself to an over sized and comfy piece of clothing-be it a jumper or a mumu-something comfy to wear that will make you feel hip and sassy, and feeling super thin in your over sized garment.

7.     If taking a stroll down to your local shops and you feel hopelessly glum, take time to wave at the old folks and wink at young children. You might make their day or really creep them out, either way you feel like a cheeky monkey doing it!

8.     Do not go on facebook or twitter! And if that is too hard, at least don’t stay on it for longer than one hour, it is unhealthy and strangely consuming, it will take up your precious “me-time” and probably your study time too.

9. (please only do this if you are in the comfort of your own home!) Take off your skirt, put on a pair of tights, and blast your music really loud. Then basically jump all around the house,dancing and singing to the music, in your underwear+a pair of tights, the tights are used to make you feel like a ballerina and to suck in all the excess bounce in your legs while you’re bopping around, so you feel graceful and lovely!

10.  Take some time to feel your face muscles, and make sure you aren’t accidentally scowling or frowning while staring hard into your text book or notes. Relax your face and let a slow smile creep up on you as you remember that, after exams... summer holidays are here! Now isn’t that the most hopeful thought ever?

the warmfuzzies+crushed aowls

Every time we (mainly females I presume) hear about someone living out their fairytale ending in the real and slightly negative world that we live in, we have these expectations/dreams that naturally come about- “can’t wait for my turn, its gonna be real magic”-ok thats probably just me...

I know thats not all of us, but i can tell you that was me as a little girl, and as the years have passed I,

 have been bumped and bruised along the road but I still hold onto that same cliche and overused idea of a “happy ending” with me and him (whoever that him may be in the future). 

Now I realize that a large number of our youth population subscribe to the idea of love not existing, or not being worth their time. And my answer to that is a lovely eye-roll, because I cannot imagine another reason for saying that other than an attention seeking cry of desperation. Sure you might have had your heart ripped apart at the seams! Who hasn’t? But a series of disappointments is no reason to give up on something... a feeling, that completes our very existence. 

My friends, love is not like santa clause, it does exist!

I don’t think you can choose to not believe in it, it would be like not believing in the oxygen we breathe with. Simply silly!

Sure we can’t physically see it, but we can see its effects, and use it all the time.  

Ever thought “hey maybe this thing called love is not like what I see in the movies?”

Real love is even better, maybe not as perfectly staged, lighted, and costumed-but at least its the real thing.

Love can be found in many ways (not just people)- for example, the way I get teary as I listen to a great song, the way a flower litters pollen all over my white cardigan leaving a perfect stain of lovliness, or the way we (me and you know who you are)  move together while dancing to that less than perfect song in your kitchen. 

Love I believe is found in the way you look at a situation…at someone. It does not have to be found in a person, but if it is make sure to not miss it, because love is always there but your vision of it will not be, if you choose to subconsciously or consciously look away.  

Similarly,  don’t wreck your vision of love by comparing it to other guys and gals with a completely different situation to yours. 

Every love is unique and different in its own way. (FYI- you won’t always get the warmfuzzies-don’t mistake that feeling for amour) 

I don't know if its right or wrong to sound cliche, but I’ll admit I do, because I do believe in romance.

Despite the many tears and disappointments I am still here today trying to convert everyone into believers. If there is one thing I believe in

 its love. 

If I say anymore I might drown in this sorry and cheesy rant on all things mush and gush. 

What more to say other than: hey, i love you!

leftovers

I must admit for being a monday, it hasn’t been all too shabby. I made mushroom and spinach quiche for dinner, watched family friendly tv shows such as “Happy Days” and “The Brady Bunch”, procrastinated study (yet again), rediscovered my old jimjams, and captured the good parts on camera.



view from my window





current wall decor



lay me down to sleep (here)









 



jimjams!

halloween costume?





goodnight

moments DO make a difference



moonlight cinema





end of a day in barcelona




my playmate




only person who can get me on a rollercoaster




gus&al




best person in the world




tarzan and jane