Remembering memories.

I'm currently writing an assignment for my New Media and Digital Cultures university paper where we have to compare two readings from a particular week of the course so far. I chose the week of memory, where we discussed things like remediation, nostalgia and hauntology. (I'll leave a really interesting link explaining a bit more about hauntology, here)

One of the readings was all about the concept of prosthetic memories, and this really interested me, and got me thinking. Prothetic memory is where we remember things we did not actually experience, that are, in a sense, implanted memories. This concept pops up in movies from time to time, including Inception, The Thieving Hand, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Blade Runner. It's kind of a futuristic concept, but I think aspects of it are present in our lives, well, in mine at least.

My parent's filmed a lot of my sister and my childhood's, from the big adventures to the mundane things, a lot of it was caught on film. Every so often we'll sit down and watch a bunch of home movies together, and essentially i'd watch myself grow up. They'll be certain things that i'll 'remember' when watching the tapes, but i'm not sure if I remember them actually happening, or if I remember watching them happen. 

Still with me? I guess it just fascinates me that, at some stage of our lives, we were consciously making decision that have possibly affected who we are today, yet we have no memory of actually making those decisions. Instead they have been overwritten by something else. I guess this is why we film parts of our lives, and take photographs, because we rely on these memories to validate our experiences. 

So I guess back to the "do I actually remember this memory or do I remember watching the video of this memory" question, does anybody else have this? Or is it just me?

In short, i'm semi-geeking-out about this assignment, and needed to have a bit of a brain dump. Prothetic memory does seem a bit 'out there,' but at the same time, entirely possible in our lovely, ever improving technological lives. Especially if sold to advertising companies to make us lifelong, loyal customers - agree? 

Hiatus.

It's been almost 2 months since I wrote my last blog post. 

I know that's not the end of the world, but when I started this blog back in January, I told myself that I was going to write at least three times a month, and i'm slightly disappointed in myself for not sticking to it. 

Sure i've got excuses, exams happened, I went away on holiday, work was busy and I was concentrating more on on my YouTube vlogs, but really, I was never so busy that I wouldn't have had time to write a post or two. 

As well as letting you all know where i've been, this post is a wee kick for me to remember to post regular content, so it becomes a habit, or second nature. I've heard that it takes 4 weeks to make or break a habit, so there's my challenge, which - let's be honest - is easy enough!

I'm excited at the prospect of writing more again, I almost forgot how therapeutic it can be just to write stuff down (even if no one is reading it!). 

I have a few blog ideas, but if there's anything you want me to write about, let me know!

Until next time, kiddies. 

The little things.

Last July my Gramps passed away very unexpectedly. He was the first of my grandparents to go too, which made it that much harder, and I still miss him terribly.

My Gramps was also a very keen carpenter, and over the years had made me jewelry boxes, hat stands, bookshelves, toys, shadow boxes, as well as a lot of other things for our house. I have quite a lot of cousins too, and for each of their 21st's, he would make them a key of some sort. 

Gramps passed away about eight months before I turned 21, and today my dad sent me this little 'S' that he'd found in my Gramps' shed. 

In the note dad said Gramps was going to use it make something for my 21st present. To everyone else this probably doesn't mean much but when I was younger he made me a bookshelf that had the letters "SJP" on the side (my initials), and dad said he think's he was going to do something similar for my birthday. 

I know it doesn't seem like much, but this little "S" means quite a lot to me, as it really is the little things that count.

I feel truly privileged to have known my Gramps, not just as a Grandfather, but as a person, and he continues to be my inspiration of the type of person I want to become.  

I will forever be his 'blossom.'

Fashtags

So Facebook got hashtags...

Well, actually - let me rephrase that. people have been using hashtags on Facebook for quite a while, but now they finally do something. Sort of. 

I get hashtags on Twitter and Tumblr. And Instagram for that matter, though it does frustrate me when people "over-hashtag." (Here's an example) Although i'm guilty of adding the odd, useless hashtag to many on my tweets for 'comedic' purposes, and i'll tag my tumblr posts of pictures i've found and want to share with others. For a monthly event I help run, (Social Media Club Wellington) we use the hashtag #SMCWgtn on the night so people that are unable to attend can still read what's going on.  

Facebook have jumped on the hashtag bandwagon because, “To date, there has not been a simple way to see the larger view of what’s happening or what people are talking about.” (Issac, M. Read the full article here) Although this will be good for businesses, what some people don't realise is that if your privacy settings are up to date, no one will be able to see your hashtag's anyway.

I'm still unsure about FB's new feature, but I guess I can't really knock it too much until i've tried it, right? What are your thoughts?

Feeling it.

Just like everyone else, sometimes I have down days. Days that I don't feel like socialising at all, and times when I just feel crappy. 

My usual method of getting these feelings out is writing about them, but the posts I write never get published. It's almost as if I'm embarrassed to say how i'm really feeling, or i'll feel stupid if I look back over the post on a day when i'm feeling happy. 

It's not like I want to go and rant away on any social media platform that will listen, because we all know how annoying that is, but I do honestly feel better after writing stuff down, almost as if I need to write about it to understand, accept and move on from those feelings.

99% of the time, I am generally happy, i'm blessed to have a pretty awesome life, but like I said, i'm only human, and sometimes you just got to let it out.

I guess what i'm trying to say is that this blog is a space for me to share with you guys what's going on in my life and interesting things I find along the way. I don't want to feel like I can't be my true self on my own blog (Though in saying that, don't expect anything to change, i'm not about to go all emo on you guys and rant and whinge in every post - promise!) 

Even just writing this post, i've cleared out the negative cobwebs and I feel so much better. It doesn't even matter if no one if listening, sometimes you just need to acknowledge your feelings, and move on...

the best thing in May.

With the semester ending and exams looming, i've been a bit slack on the blogging front as of late!  Although we're already a week into June , my favourite thing in May was definitely the company. 

Friends birthdays, my boyfriend's University graduation, BYO dinners and seeing the Harlem Globe Trotters were a few highlights, all spent with the most wonderful people. 

I've said it before and i'll say it again, having the right kinds of people around you makes all the difference. Life is to short to surround yourself with toxic people, or just people who don't always have your best interests at heart. I'm very privileged to have a wonderful friend group and family, and I love that I get to share my life with them (As cheesy as it sounds!).

I'm looking forward to exams being over soon, giving me more time to write and vlog!

Ciao bellas xx

Something new.

There's something about putting yourself out there, and trying new things that is both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. 

For me, one of those things is vlogging. I've attempted a few videos in the past, but it never really felt right, or I always came up with excuses as to why it wouldn't work. This year has been my year of trying new things, (such as this blog) and one day I just decided that really, what's the worst that could happen?

This weekend I gathered some equipment and made an 'introductory' video for my YouTube channel. When it came to the editing side, I realised that halfway through, my camera shifted it's focus to the background rather than me. A minor set back, but hey, it's my first attempt and I can really only get better! (I hope anyway, haha!) 

So here goes everybody. Watch my first video here. 

Clinky drinky.

Recently some friends and I had a bit of a cocktail evening, which led to sampling some delicious drinks, and I couldn't wait to share my concoction with you all!

I'm sure i'm not the first person to put these items together, but i give you a strawberry-citrus sampler. (Okay, so I didn't actually name this drink on the night, and was still thinking of one while I was writing this post, any ideas?)

Inside

• 2 shots of Citrus vodka (I used Absolut Citron)
• 1 shot of lemon cordial
• Frank sparkling soda and key lime
• Freshly squeezed lime (as well as a few slivers for inside)
• Mint
• Strawberries

(Note: Since it's not actually strawberry season in NZ any more, I opted for frozen strawberries, which actually worked out pretty well, because they doubled as ice cubes!)

To make it look as good as it tasted, I served my cocktails in mason jars I picked up from Briscoes, with a bit of lime raro around the top of the jar, and a paper straw to complete the look.

In addition, you could add some cranberry juice to give it an extra fruity taste, or even use gin instead of vodka, to spice up an old favourite of mine, the G&T.

I've also made this drink as a mocktail, and it tastes just as good!

If any of you have any other delicious cocktails that you're currently obsessed with, please write them in the comments below, or tweet me at @smayjay

P.S drink responsibly and all that jazz

xx

the best thing in April.

I must sound like a broken record when I start every one of these blog posts by saying, "where has the month gone?!" but seriously, time is speeding by this year.

Time flies when you're having fun, and like i've said lots before, this year is turing out to be amazing. I feel like i've accomplished so much, and in general I feel heaps happier. I'm a lot busier this year too, so maybe i'm just distracted and don't notice the hours passing by, but I feel like i've crammed a lot into 2013 so far. 

Anyway, enough musings, my favourite thing from April were the events I went to, and the adventures that they led me on.

I started off the month by heading out to a part of Wellington I hadn't even been before, to literally dance the night away at a friends 21st. It was with a crowd I didn't know very well, but by the end of the night you'd swear we'd known each other all our lives. It was the kind of 21st where everyone actually had a good time, and not just had a competition to see who could drink the most, the fastest.

That month I also ran another Social Media Club Wellington event, with some awesome guys from DeloitteNZ. In true SMCWgtn style, it ended with a skipping competition, and then heading to Chow for some delicious noms and cocktails. 

Another friends 21st saw us dancing the rain and catching up with old friends I hadn't seen in ages. Later that week I headed to a beer pong (yes, you read right, beer pong) tournament at my University put on the brewing society, which was yet another amazing night. (Despite breaking my finger...!)

In New Zealand, April 25th is ANZAC day, where we celebrate those who have fallen before us to give us the freedom and the type of life we are living now. My grandfather is a veteran and this year I decided to honor him, by going to the dawn service, along with my sister. Although a very early morning (the service started at 5am) it was beautiful, and I will definitely be going back next year. 

Until next time, xxx

Can it.

A while ago, while trawling through Pinterest, I stumbled upon this post, using tin can's as pencil holders, and decided it would be my next rainy day project. 

(NB: When I say rainy day, I mean it was actually a day that it poured all day, and the sun hardly came out, so apologies at the poor quality of the following photos!)

To start, I bought some tins of peaches and headed down to Bunnings to buy some testpots paint. I decided I wanted to do pastel colours, and settled with "Lochmara Bay Quarter" blue and "Hidden Valley" pink, both from Dulux. 

After soaking the cans to get the label residue off, I decided the best way to paint the cans would be to simply dip them into the paint, as painting with a brush left brush marks and didn't look the best. I put masking tape up to the line where I wanted the paint to be and then just dipped the cans in. 

I left them in the hot water cupboard over night, and voila! If you're going to give it a go, i'd suggest covering the whole top of the can in masking tape and leaving them to dry upside down, as mine have a bit of a build up at the bottom of the can. I also didn't make sure my masking tape was securely down obviously because my lines at the top of the tins aren't completely straight, but ah well, adds to the rustic look! 

I'm still very happy with how they turned out and am now scouring my room for anything and everything else that I paint pastel pink or blue.

Online VS. IRL

Lately i've had quite a few discussions with various friends about meeting friends online. 

Not meeting people in a romantic sense as such, but communicating with people online, who you then go on to meet in real life, and sometimes become the best of friends. 

Maybe it's because of stories we've been told, or movies we've watched, like Trust, but for some, the idea of meeting friends online seems like far too much of a foreign concept for them to understand. Of course there are creeps out there, who pray on young, seemingly innocent tweens, and they'll always be those who wreck it for everyone else, but in my opinion, it's not all bad. 

Because of the way the internet is integrated into so much of our daily lives, I think it would be impossible not to become friends with the people you interact with. Sure, there are some exceptions, like if you only stuck to places like Facebook, where you knew all your friends already, but the beauty of the internet is that it allows you to connect with people from all walks of life, that you wouldn't otherwise get the chance to meet. 

I know heaps of people who have met some of their best friends, or even their partners through social media sites like Tumblr and Twitter (even Instagram!), and I honestly don't see anything wrong with that. I myself have met some really good friends through these sites too, and the way we interacted online is exactly the same as how we interact in real life.  Even saying that though-"in real life" -makes it sound like the people we meet online aren't "real," but i'm sure you get my drift, just because something happens online does not make it real, not at all.

Maybe because I work for a social media firm, and I spend a large chunk of my day interacting with people on various social media sites, but in my opinion, how you become friends with someone shouldn't matter, only why you are friends should. 

And hey, if you are going to meet someone you've met online in a real-life setting, at least put your detective hat on and do a bit of stalking first so you know they're legit. 

the best thing in March.

Sidenote: Goodness gracious it's been far too long since I wrote on here! 

Once again, i'm sitting here writing about my favourite thing, in a bit of disbelief that March is over already.

This was such an awesome month, and i'd have to say, my favourite thing was probably my  birthday/ turning 21. Now I realise that sounds quite self-absorbed, but I love how birthdays can bring (nearly!) all your favourite people together. 

I spent my actual birthday in Tauranga with my family, after seeing Fun. a few days before. I was royally spoilt by everyone and had such a great day. The following week I celebrated with my friends back home in Wellington which involved being sung Happy Birthday by restaurant patrons, buskers and randoms, carting a cake around town before having a wee street picnic, and dancing the night away. 

As well as this, I ran a few events that went swimmingly, work is going great (and Uni isn't half bad either), and I finished the month off with an roadtrip back up north with my boyfriend where we ate far too many Easter eggs. 

One thing I do wish was that I had time to blog more, because theres a blue moleskin journal sitting on my shelf with a list of blogs i've been too busy to write. Hopefully April isn't as busy though, and i'll have a bit more time!

Ciao bellas xx

Haul.

I've been on a bit of a shopping spree this last week, and this is (some of) what I purchased. (List and links below) 

Clockwise from top left: Wrangler jeans in Ziggy fit, Dotti belt, Dotti jumper, Just Jeans sunglasses, Platinum grey tights, Acapella polkadot tights, Volcom wallet, Kmart maroon beanie, L'Oreal Paris Infallible brush in porcelain 015, Grey Vans, Pagani polkadot dress

outfits of the week.

So I thought I'd do a wee WIWTW (what I wore this week) showcasing what I've be wearing as of late. 

This was a crazy busy week for me, with Uni all day on Monday, preparing for an event I run that happened on Tuesday night, running another event at Uni on Wednesday, then hopping straight on a plane to Auckland later that day to see FUN. live in concert. Then on Thursday I drove to Tauranga to spend the weekend with my family, as Friday was my 21st birthday. Phew!

(Disclaimer: By writing this blog post, I'm obviously not trying to convince you guys i'm fashionable or anything like that, because that is certainly not true! I just thought it would be a bit of fun. I enjoy reading similar posts and seeing what other people are wearing so thought i'd give it a go.)

Monday 11th March


Dotti wrap scarf

New Look blouse

Supre basic black cardi

Pull and Bear skirt

Colombine tights

Farmers ankle boots

Tuesday 12th March

Dotti maroon blazer

Jeans West crochet top

Arrow necklace (made by me)

Primark belt

Glassons  tulle skirt

Grey Vans

Wednesday 13th March  (day/ night)                                                                    

Diva flower headband              

Massey University t-shirt / 

Fulled by Ramern fun. shirt 

Valley Girl shorts

Grey Vans 

                                                                

Thursday 14th March

Topshop singlet

Arrow necklace 

H&M bandage skirt

Grey Vans

Friday 15th March

Just Jeans sunglasses 

Dotti lace dress

Dotti waist belt in royal blue

Colorado handbag

Sandal bought in Venice, Italy

Saturday 16th March

High bun ribbon (made by me)

Supre basic black cardi

Glassons white shirt (studs added by me)

Supre royal blue skirt

Ankle boots from Mother's wardrobe

Sunday 17th March

Hair bow (Christmas gift)

Topshop dress

Arrow necklace

Dotti singlet - unshown

Kmart ankle boots

Stud.

For a while now, I've been searching for a shirt to customise and continue my stud affair. 

There's plenty of tops out there already studded, but seeing as I had some pyramid studs left over from previous projects, I thought i'd give it a go myself. I found this shirt in Glassons for $29.99 - it's quite sheer so i'll have to wear a singlet underneath, but seeing as winter is coming up, this isn't really a big deal. 

I then simply measured the width of the pockets, and how many studs would fit to make a nice line across the top. The fabric is quite sheer, as I mentioned, so you have to be careful not to pucker it too much, but measuring where the studs need to go first solve this. (I counted I needed 10 studs, so measured where the middle of the pocket was and worked my way out, so even if I'd miscounted, it'd still be even.)

I think it turned out pretty well, but that's just my opinion :-)

the best thing in February.

The best thing in February for me was a week, specifically the week  of the 18th - 24th. 

This was the last official week of my summer holidays, as I started my final year of University (eek!) the following Monday. 

Even though I was working during the day, I seemed to fit a lot into the week, and constantly had a smile on my face. I caught up with a lot of friends who were back from their summer holidays, saw 90s band Garbage and got treated to a free dinner thanks to my sister who'd won a 'date night' at a delicious restaurant called Chow. It was also the week of my sister's birthday, so the celebrations were plentiful. 

I made the decision at the beginning of the year to take advantage of as many opportunities as I could, and have fun whenever possible. So far this is going splendid and i'm having a blast. If January and February are anything to go by, this year is going to be awesome. 

that's a wrap.

For my sister's birthday, I got her a pair of stirling silver heart earrings, but was struggling to come up with a creative way of giving them to her as they were so small. 

I found a cute wee china box with her first initial on the front, so I placed the earrings on a piece of card, with a little bit of tissue paper and put them inside. 

As cute as this looked, I wasn't finished yet - I then bought a mason jar to put the china box inside (and yes I realise this is sounding a wee bit like a one person pass-the-parcel!) I also decided to put some sweets in the jar. Really, you could put any kind of confectionary in the jar, but I settled on White Rabbits. Bit of a backstory, White Rabbits were lollies we had as kids when we lived in Borneo, and I was stoked to find them in a store here in Wellington. 

To finish it off, I added a black ribbon and hand-made a card with a wee typewriter that I drew on the front. My sister seemed to love it, and it put a smile on her face so I was very happy. 

Happy Birthday big sis!

the best thing in January.

Something new i'm going to be starting on this blog is called 'the best thing,' where at the end of every month I will look back and share what my favourite thing about the month was - pretty self explanatory. 

I know we're already in to the swing of February, but here's the best things about January... 

2013 brought a lot of fresh starts for me, and the best thing about my January was all the changes, and how happy they've made me. From simple things like changing bedrooms, to starting this blog and being more inspired, to more personal changes. 

I stumbled across this quote a few weeks back which sums up how I feel perfectly. It follows along the same lines of saying "yes" to everything, and already I've had some amazing opportunities come my way which I put down to my change in attitude. 

Let me know what the best thing about your January was in the comments below or tweet me @smayjay

xx

Uni or bust.

I was all for going straight to University after high school. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do and had it all planned out. 

Through my high school i'd heard of a gap year programe, which gave you the opportunity to work at a school in the United Kingdom. Because of my travel bug, I applied, but didn't think i'd get the chance to go, so continued to check out Universities and live life as normal. 

In August of my senior year I got an email saying I had been accepted, and was going to be placed at The Dragon School in Oxford, England. It was only when I told my friends and saw their reaction that I questioned wether it was the right thing for me or not. Was I ready to leave all my friends and family for a year and go and live on the other side of the world? 

Turns out I was, and to this day I maintain that taking a gap year was one of the best decisions of my life. I got placed at a school with 23 other gap students from Australia and South Africa and was a 'matron" for Cherwell House, home to 80+ 11-13 year old girls.

          

Although testing at times, I felt I grew up a lot on my gap year and experienced so many things. I travelled all around Europe and met so many amazing people, some of whom are still my best friends to this day. I still had regular communication with friends back home, and on my return it was like nothing had changed.

While on my gap year, I also decided I was no longer keen on going to Broadcasting School in Christchurch, my original plan for after high school. Instead I decided I wanted to go to Massey University in Wellington and complete a Bachelor or Communication degree. 

Since I went on my gap year, I can't say what would have happened if I had gone to broadcasting school, but all I know is that the degree i'm completing now is so perfect for me and I can't imagine doing anything else.  

In saying that though, heaps of people I know have gone straight to Uni and still love what they do, but for wanderlusters like myself, before hitting the books, I hit the University of Life, as nothing beats experience. 

the one year rule.

I am a serious over-packer. Whenever I go away somewhere, even if i'm only going for a night or two, i'll take enough clothes to last me at least a week. 

So I guess there's nothing left to do but admit it....Hi i'm Samme, and i'm a clothes hoarder. 

A few years ago I had a self intervention and decided upon the one year rule. Just as it sounds, the one year rule basically means any clothes I haven't worn in the last year get given to a second hand shop on passed on.  Of course, there are a few stragglers in my wardrobe, like that too small school production shirt or my first concert t-shirt and a ball dress or two, but everything else is stuff that I actually wear.

As a true shopping addict, getting rid of clothes does mean an excuse to go out an buy more, but it also means a chance to be creative, and customise your old clothes into new pieces. 

So far i've managed to stick by the rule, though i'm not sure if thats purely because i've started wearing all my clothes out of fear I might have to give them away!

(and yes, I really am this weird.... le sigh)

P.S, A large section of my wardrobe is taken up with Liner Note Kids apparel.  I may be bias as it's my sisters clothing line, but I think it's pretty awesome, go check it out! 

Lifescouts.

A few days ago, I came across a new wee something called Lifescouts. 

This is for all those who miss the days of Girl Guides or Scouts, where learning a new skill meant gaining a badge - except, as the name suggests, these badges are awarded for life experiences.

A website has been set up, where a new badge is released everyday, and people are encouraged to reblog, tweet or even share them on Facebook, telling their story about how they achieved the badge. There's even a web store where you can buy your badges in the physical form!

I think this is a really great way to share stories and create a community, and encourage people to go out and experience things. Here's a video from the creator of Lifescouts, Alex Day, in which he explains the concept in a bit more detail. (Excuse his ramblings and tangents)

YouTube channels and tumblr blogs have already been set up, chronicling peoples stories of how they attained their badges. I'm really keen to blog my stories, which I will do on my tumblr. I encourage you all to do the same, on whatever social media platform you prefer, or even in the comments to this blog post. 

Here's a sneak peak of all the badges i've achieved so far, stories coming soon. 

Top Knotted.

A hairstyle that has proved very popular is that of the top knot. Although a quick and easy way to sweep all your hair off your face, adding hair accessories can give it that special wee something, and dress it up a little bit more.

Continuing on my love affair with studs and flowers, another summer project was this top knot ribbon.

This is an easy enough DIY project if you'd like to try it at home. I bought the studs from Studs and Spikes (the same ones I used here as collar details) and the ribbon and flowers were from Spotlight, but i'm sure similar ones would be available from any craft store. 

Because of the delicateness of the ribbon, I was scared sticking the studs on would cause it to pucker, so I super glued them on instead. (It is possible to get 'stick on' studs from Amazon, but because I also wanted to use them on clothing, I opted for nailhead studs) 

Once I have my top knot, I simply tie this headband on, leaving a small bow at the back. You can customise this to the max, from changing the colour of the ribbon, flower, to the amount of  studs etc. 

If you're thinking about giving this a go, let me know how yours turns out!

Feeling like Alice.

For quite a few years now, I have been obsessed with Alice in Wonderland. I collect copies of the book and pretty much everything else that's Alice.

Last year I stumbled across a website called White Rabbit designs, and fell in love with all the beautiful jewelry. Handmade in New Zealand, the pieces are whimsical and gorgeous, and I could honestly say if my money tree would grow, I would buy every single piece of their collections. (Their French seamstress necklace being first)

From bird cages, to penny farthings, to teacups, there is something to suit any girl's taste, and these necklaces make beautiful presents. For Christmas 2012, I was luck enough to receive the Alice tea party silver pendant and I love it to pieces. Even the hook is a gorgeous wee heart. 

Handcrafted jewelry always exudes love, and White Rabbit designs are no exception. I encourage you all to go and check out their stuff - though I warn you, you may leave their website with an exhausted wee visa card...

Flowers in her hair.

A big trend I've noticed this summer is floral head pieces. From crowns to daisy chains, wearing flowers in your hair is perfect for summer. 

While home over Christmas, I rummaged through my mothers sewing boxes and found some cute flowers I couldn't wait to put onto a headband. (Which I found in a $2 type store)

The next step was how to attach the flowers to the headband, and for that I used super glue.

I wore this headband on Christmas Day 2012 with a navy blouse and maroon skirt and it really tied the outfit together nicely. 

I was a bit apprehensive to try this trend at first, but now i'm so glad I did! I really encourage you all to try and make your own headband like this, headbands and flowers are readily available in craft stores, so go get creativity on.