My Hunger Games Love

* Swap is now closed

Just a few things first, it's the last day to sign up for the Just Because You're Lovely Swap. I've already started matching people up so I might assign partners earlier than I said :) So that means more time to put together a pretty package for your partner!

Thank you to everyone who has signed up. I really hope you enjoy it! It's my first time hosting so I hope it all works out.

As the title suggests I have this obsession with The Hunger Games trilogy. I've mentioned this trilogy countless times on this blog and my love for it has not changed.

With the release of Mockingjay next week (25th in Australia which is pretty much the 24th in the US) my excitement is feverishly gaining momentum. I'm planning on re-reading the books just before the release so it feels like I'm continuing on.

It will be so good to find out how it all ends but at the same time so sad that it's over. When I first read The Hunger Games I felt so weird after (because I couldn't stop thinking about it) and have re read it countless times since then. There was the horrible wait (for a year) to read Catching Fire. Once that was out I had to wait again (for a year) to read Mockingjay.

Seriously if you have not read these books yet I urge you. I don't think I had a person that I've recommended the series to that hasn't liked them. It is not you're usual young adult book and I love that. (It gets compared to Twilight a lot, though I have no idea why because this is written so much better but I can't complain because it was Stephenie Meyer who introduced me to the series when it was first released)

But, these books are just amazing! Suzanne Collins is the master at wanting you to keep turning the pages. She creates characters that make you care. She is by far one of my favourite authors (I've also read her Underland Chronicles which I loved). If I could meet an author I would love to meet her.

Anyway, I've bought a few Hunger Games merchandise. I got a shirt from Zazzle.

What I love about it is that you would not understand it unless you have read the first book.

I'm going to wear it when I go pick up Mockingjay next week.

via The Meadow etsy

I bought this necklace which has a few of the lyrics from Rue's lullaby. Again something from the first book.

Via Dragonflycurls etsy

I bought this handmade rubber stamp of a Mockingjay from etsy. It's to use on my letters (especially for the Hunger Games fans)

I'm sure I will be getting more items very soon. Anyway, sorry that turned into a huge post. If I recommend any book series this year it will be this one.

P.S. I'm guest posting at Pugh's News on the 19th August.

Have a great rest of week!

The randomness of Monday

Hello lovely people! When Monday rolls around I always feel all over the place. A few things to mention.

It was supposed to be our week of organisation last week but it didn't really happen. My cousin and her hubby were here for a few days from America so we spent those days with them. By then we got a bit lazy and didn't do much. I did start cleaning my creative space though. At the moment it's a mess because I have all these boxes full of memories and I'm sorting through it and trying to decide what to do with it all. Leave them in boxes or put them in a journal??

We did get go to the Sunshine coast with the fam to show my cousin and her husband where my brother Alvin and his wife Melly are moving back to.

Considering it's still winter it got quite warm that day. I decided to see how cold the water was.

It was still freezing but the warmth of the sun was lovely.

I can't wait for when we can go to the beach all the time. I miss our warmer weather. That was a lovely taste of summer.

Anyway, a few things I have to do this week...

♥ Finish and send my letter for the Dear Darlings pen pal project.

♥ Send some postcards for Postcrossing (I need to find some good ones)

♥ Package up some stud earrings for a giveaway (I'm not sure if I can mention where it's happening yet)

♥ Start on my journal with Jasmine

♥ Put my mixed cd's together Bianca's cd swap.

♥ Continue cleaning and organising

♥ Purchase more Hunger Games merchandise (and prepare myself for the release of Mockingjay next week!!!!)

♥ Put my giveaway for the blog together

♥ Plan our overseas trip (hopefully - more about that later)

♥ Work on my Just Because You're Lovely Swap which you have until Wednesday (18th) to still join. I've already put all the participants into a spreadsheet so far and have started matching people up. I'm seriously trying my best to match you with the right people :)

Have a beautiful week everyone!

MBFF weekend

Hello lovelies! A quick update on the Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival. It was lovely! It's always such a fun event. I didn't get that many photos as it was hard with lighting and people in the way.

One of the better photos I was able to take. I loved the flow of the dress.

I liked the colour and style of this dress.

On the Saturday between the two shows we went off to the Rosemount Wine Bar at QPAC. And the best thing they had was a photo booth. It was free too! We got one photo but could download the photo from the website.

You can click on the photo to see it larger (I hope). I'm the smallest of everyone again. We had two lots of photos because there were a few of us. Plus they were going around a giving us a sample of the Rosemount O wine. Soo good and it served with ice :) I was ready to buy a bottle I liked it so much.

After the second show we all went off to have dessert at Southbank. It was delicious and fun. I love having these girly outings.

On Sunday, Kristina and I went in a little early as we went to church first. We had breakfast and I had the cutest hot chocolate. It was cute the way it was served.

Crushed up chocolate and a tiny milk bottle. The milk was pre heated too.

I didn't get any photos from the Sunday besides that photo above, as my camera battery died. I thought I had recharged it the night before but I obviously didn't.

And it was the Swimsuit show which is one of my favourites. It's always so colourful and happy and makes me long for summer.

So this was meant to be our week of organisation which hasn't really happened but more about that next time. I have so much to do. You still have time to join the swap but it closes next Wednesday 18th.

I'm also involved with the Dear Darlings Penpal project over at Oh, My Darling. I have my group of penpals for me to write to so I will have to start that very soon :)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I have so much to catch up on so I should get a move on.

Some outfits

Hey lovelies! Thanks for you comments in the last post. I have a fair bit to catch up on as I was busy the last few days. If I owe you emails or anything they will be coming.

I will post about the Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival soon. Yesterday was also a big day hanging out with my fam. My cousin and her husband are here for a few days from the US.

So far, on this week of organisation we have done nothing. Great start... and it's a gloomy day today so all I feel like doing is watching movies. But then we have had a few busy days so need this day to refresh and get back on track.

These are just my outfits from the weekend. Be aware that I really can't pose so they are a bit stiff.

I added a belt to break up the dress. Oh and I got my hair cut. Well trimmed, layered and a side fringe. The hair dresser curled it for me.

I wore this short sleeved cardigan. Which wasn't enough because it was night time and got a bit cold. I did wear stockings though (shiny legs).

My Sunday outfit. I didn't actually wear those heels but I thought it would be nice for the photo :)

For some reason I just wore flats instead. One of my friends and I were there early and I couldn't be bothered to walk around with my heels in another bag. Plus I was wearing black opaque tights but it got hot and I had subtly take them off (in public! I sat down and no one was the wiser).

I will do a better blog about the Fashion Festival next post. Oh and to answer a few questions from the comments. I work at Myer, a department store here. And I buy a lot of my clothes from there including the nude heels and the stripy skirt.

So have a lovely week and I will need to do heaps of catching up...emails, swap (come joing in you haven't already) making things, organising!

Just a Minute In...August

Via Flickr

I first want to say thank you soo much for everyone who has signed up for the swap so far. I'm going through the emails and already starting to match up partners. One thing I forgot to mention is, it would be preferable if you have a blog! Thanks so much. It just seems like it's better when there are more ways to contact you.

Just a Minute In....August

Looking... Forward to the Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival this weekend. Two fashion shows on Saturday night and have a dessert 'debrief' afterwards :) Then Sunday afternoon it's a swimsuit show. So excited!

Planning... Our week of organising (next week!) as I have mentioned in a previous post Jason and I have taken a week off work to get our house organised and decorated.

Making... Lists and starting to figure out partners for the swap

Creating... Mini notecards, earrings and other bits for my Etsy shop and for a fundraising night

Obsessing... Over shopping at the moment. I need to stop

Praying... For guidance with all the personal issues that I have going in my life right now

Yesterday I went shopping with Julia. As I mentioned before she is in Australia to study. I bought a few things but they were mainly for this weekend :) It's kind of justified.

I got this from Dotti. It's to wear on Saturday night (might need a cardi too)

I bought these from work. Price was soo good.

I also got this from work. It's for Sunday.

I love that there tulle and lining under the skirt. It makes it puff out a bit.

Some baby clothes from work for a friend. None for me yet :(

I got these purple tights because it was buy one get one free and Julia wanted to get some red ones. So we paid half each.

I still have a huge bow fascination. I adore the giant bow headband.

And Julia and me.

Thanks everyone! I have lots of bits and pieces to do with the swap, giveaways, planning the next week and doing Etsy things.

Have a most wonderful and beautiful weekend!

Swap Time!!

* Swap is now closed

Paper doilies used from puglypixel

* Edit - It would be preferable if you have a blog! Thank you!

Hello lovelies! Today is the day to join the ' Just because you're lovely ' swap. Feel free to use the little button thing I made for the swap.

So you can sign up from today until the 18th August. Partner will be assigned on the 23rd August and packages to be sent out on the 8th September.

The cost is around $15-$20 or more if you decide to spoil your partner :) and pretty packaging would be a wonderful bonus.

Remember to let me know whether you are fine with sending overseas or just want to send within your country. I will try my hardest to partner you up with someone in your country if possible.

So basically with this swap, you are putting together a package that is full of goodness for your partner. It's all about your partner. To participate it would be great if you could add a paragraph or so about what interests you. It could be your favourite colour(s), music, books, movies, what you enjoy, what you like to do, if you collect anything etc. This is so you partner can get to know you better and hopefully put a package that is completely you.

If you would like to participate please email me at gracienne.nancy@gmail.com with these details...

♥ Full Name

♥ Mailing Address

♥ Blog site

♥ A paragraph about you

♥ Whether you can send overseas or only want to send within your country

At that's the details. Please email me if you have any questions or comments or other suggestions. There are other details on this post as well.

Oh and if you would like to participate please leave a comment as you have two weeks to sign up. It would be great to start noting down interested participants. And again I say only sign up if you know that you can swap, because I really don't want anyone missing out. It's happened to me on various swaps and it's such a bad feeling.

So that's about it, please enjoy this swap! I'm also going to have a little giveaway for the participants in this swap :) It will most likely be a journal of loveliness. Like the fairytale journal I made for a swap.

And to celebrate 200 followers I have another giveaway in store.

I think that's it! Have a wonderful rest of week and I can't wait to see who participates in this swap.

Just because you're lovely

Via Flickr

Hello lovelies! Thanks for the feedback on the swap. I've decided to do the 'Just because you're lovely' swap. Maybe next time I will also do 'A few of my favourite things.'

Remember sign ups will be this Wednesday 4th of August (eep August!). I will have a questionnaire to fill out so I have some information about your swap partner. Yay! I do hope that you have fun.

Speaking of packages. I received a beautiful one from Sandy of Sandy a la Mode. I won her lovely bunting giveaway. Here's a few photos of the package.

The lovely packaging. I love that she included some butterflies! And those pins were handmade by her. I can't wait to see what her Etsy store will look like. It will be full of so much prettiness.

This is a peak at her beautiful bunting she made. She picked the colours and fabrics that I would like. I absolutely adore it!

At the moment I have it displayed on our staircase. It adds a nice bit of colour to the lounge room.

So remember to sign up for the swap on Wednesday. And only participate if you know that you are able to. Oh and I just need one more follower to reach 200! I was thinking of having a giveaway once that happens. Thank you to all my followers and anyone who reads my blog. You're so lovely!

Have a beautiful week!