Homework Assignment

Its started.

I told you all I'd be updating the progress of this month’s Radical Self Love challenge and so I begin.

Our first assignment was to get a notebook that will become our Radical Self Love bible and write in the first page an invocation or promise to ourselves for what we want out of this month.

I went shopping today and stumbled across the 3 pack of lined Moleskin journals that Gala mentioned in her video. I've wanted to try out the Moleskin journals for a while now but have struggled to find a good size or style as our choices are very limited here in Oz. Not today!

Here's how I decorated my book and my first page promise to myself.

My basic promise to myself is to explore opportunities that I have previously been afraid of. I've already begun by requesting to become a contributor for a couple of online music websites as a photographer. I am yet to hear back from them but I did send off my requests Friday evening so fingers crossed.

I also want to spend more time writing on my blog (which is a given) and focus on getting myself into a certain dress that I purchased from Modcloth by March.

Those are my goals to keep me happy and mainly to make me smile more. I'm basically a pretty laid back happy person but I too have negative thoughts about myself and those thoughts are what I want to rid myself of.

On my shopping adventure today I stumbled across a beautiful headband. I wanted to share with you as it made my day!

And me enjoying the bow - you can slightly see my new hair cut here. Straight fringe and uneven sides. I did go into hairhouse warehouse today to get hair dye to dye my hair bright red but the lady was very unhelpful and told me I'd have to go to a salon to get it done. Pfft I've done it before myself from dark to bright red so I can do it again. Tomorrow I try a different hairhouse warehouse and see what reaction I get.

This week I will attempt to dye my hair bright red and then on Friday I am flying to Sydney to see The Killers. I'm excited and ready for this week to begin!!

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Radical Self LOVE

I'm joining in!

You must all know about my adoration and respect for the lovely Gala Darling. If not then you haven't read back in my blogs far enough!

February can sometime be a hard time for people (usually those without that "special someone" to share it with) and to combat that she has launched the ideal of "RADICAL SELF LOVE". This month is all about accepting yourself and loving yourself and I've decided to dedicate my month to that. I know it sounds corny and cheesey but sometimes we forget the simple things like being happy with ourselves.

She sent out this super cute video on Thursday and I plan tomorrow to fullfill my homework assignments! I'll be posting my progress and what my month of RADICAL SELF LOVE will entail. Details have not yet been finalised but my main aim is to be happy and less stressed. I want to be happy with myself and proud of where I am and what I am achieving!

Anyone else joining in on the month of RADICAL SELF LOVE?

Glitter Sparks & Happyness
x x x
Brooke

Hockey at the Hi Fi Bar Feb 3rd 2010

Reason #557 why I need my own computer - so I can post when I want, not when the computer is free!

Wednesday nights are usually a strange night to head into the city for a show, this week was not different. It's "hump day" - the day that you're just getting used to the work week and you've recovered from the tiredness caused by the weekend.

On Wednesday I journeyed into the city to FINALLY see the band Hockey live properly. Why do I say finally? Well attempt #1 occurred when we were at Lollapalooza Festival last year. They were supposed to be the first band we watched that weekend, instead we were greeted by 2 songs, possibly 3, and then the sound completely cut out for the rest of their set *insert mega sad face*

The night didn't start so well as we were driving to the venue I recieved a text from a friend informing me that the support band wasn't playing and there was a dj spinning tracks while the cool kids sat on the steps and chatted noisily.

When we arrived we found our lovely friend and headed to the bar to kill some time.

After standing around chatting in a slowly filling room at 10pm the lights dimmed and five shapes emerged onto the stage.

They start off straight to the point with “Work” and the energy level on stage feels a little off. The crowd react happily at the end of the songs but the vast majority are clearly not huge fans. Front man Ben Grubin feels like the kind of artist who feeds off the crowd and for 50% of the set he wasn’t getting much from them to feed off of.

That being said it was very hard to fault Hockey. While the energy levels from the crowd were lacking through some of the songs, musically the band were flawless. Each song was delivered with precision and energy that was hard to resist. Highlights of the set came in the form of the big single “Song Away” and the energetic dance tune “Put The Game Down”.

The mood was relaxed as the harmonica came out and the band performed a superb version of “Four Holy Photos” that had my friend (who had admitted earlier in the night that this was her least favourite song from the album due to the country twang) smiling and suitably impressed.

New song “Get Married Late” started out feeling very Vampire Weekend-ish but soon transformed into a sound that is pure Hockey.

It was a fun, danceable evening that I got to share with new friends and old friends and I left the Hi Fi Bar with a big smile on my face. It was lovely to finally see this band live, I just hope next time they tour the crowd shows a better appreciation for them.

I left the venue with another setlist to add to my growing collection (it’s a skill I tell you) and a new Cobra Starship poster that was ripped down off the wall by my sister and stuffed in my bag. It’s now proudly hanging on my wall so I can get excited about their impending tour (and my impending tour to Sydney and Brisbane to see them).

I have a few more ideas on where to take this blog so stick with me as I develop and explore!

Glitter Sparks & Happyness
x x x
Brooke

P.S I am purchasing a new "point & shoot" camera that will capture photos at gigs. These photos in this post are all mine but my trusty Canon IXUS 50 is on it's last breath - 90% of the photos I took were blurry as it's just not as fast as it used to be *mega sad face*

No photos

I haven't taken a photo with my SLR since before Big Day Out and I feel lost. It's only been a week! I decided to rectify that with a few quick shots of what's around me right now.

I know they're not up to my usual standard but it's the best of what I have to work with.

I have very exciting things happening to me and I want to share it all but I just have to find the time (look at me making excuses already). I will sit down on Thursday night with a review for you all - tomorrow night I am going to see HOCKEY (the band) at the Hi Fi Bar.

I was already hugely excited about this but now I'm hearing that their shows have been amazing on this visit to our shores so the excitement level jumped about 10 points! Plus I won more tickets to the show tomorrow night so some extra friends get to come along cheap cheap because I'm awesome!

I have been listening to their album "Mind Chaos" constantly since I bought it back in September and I still can't get enough. But enough about those boys - I'll talk more about them in a couple of days!

Our new manager started at work this week which has been lovely for me. It takes all the pressure off my shoulders and I can re-focus on working and breathing again.

I'm a little obsessed with painting my nails different colours again. I'm bored with every finger being painted the same colour so I'm mixing it up. This week it's white & purple and I love it!

Still no photos of my new hair. Tired eyes don't make for lovely photos.

Glitter Sparks & Happyness
x x x
Brooke

P.S Anyone got any suggestions of what you'd like to see here? More music focused? More photos? More life? More reviews? More movies? More insights? Interaction is key to making this fun.

P.P.S Here's what I'm looking forward to tomorrow night (only with a more excited crowd please)

Sparks of Happyness week 13

I know it's been a great week when it gets to Friday and I'm still wrecked from Monday night.

It's that time of year again for me where I revel in gig paradise. This week was a particularly busy one as not only did I have Big Day Out but I also attended two sideshows that completely knocked my socks off! I promised a post yesterday but I think last night the most you would have received would have been complete drivel so here is a little round up on my experiences this week.

The week technically started with a new hair cut - straight fringe - which I am yet to get a good photo of. I will attempt to get one this weekend and post it as soon as I have.

Monday night saw me journey into the good ol' city to experience Kasabian. It has been a long torturous wait to see this band again (last time was when I was in the UK) and it was well worth the wait. Though they started a little slow Tom, Serge & the boys warmed up and the crowd warmed up with them. There was so much energy and enthusiasm coming from both sides that you couldn't help but be wrapped up in it. "LSF" ruled my world!

Tuesday was the Big day - Big Day Out I mean. It started early with a LONG wait to get inside the venue (too many people, not enough gate space) and ended in the same manner (too many people, not enough train platform). I saw a lot of "bits" of bands and managed to catch whole sets from Kasabian, The Horrors, Lily Allen, Mars Volta (while waiting for Muse) and MUSE (I'm not counting Powderfinger because I wasn't really listening). Tiring but entertaining, hot but no sun burn, and extreme but enjoyable. Muse took my breath away!

Wednesday night was the last gig for the week. This one I was probably looking forward to more than anything else - The Horrors at the Corner Hotel in Richmond. It was the perfect venue for them - small, dark and atmospheric. Someone posted on my facebook wall after the show "Faris is a bat" and it was precisely the right words to describe the intense lead singer. The whole band had me captivated from song one until the very end of the set. It was everything I could have hoped it would be - lots of the new stuff but they still threw in three oldies in the encore (including my favourite "Gloves"). Perfect perfect perfect!

Thursday arrived and I hit a MASSIVE wall. The tiredness enveloped me and I made the mistake of forgetting about a training session I had for work in the city that day. I had to drive in, was 40 minutes late and had to try and switch my brain on while I felt and probably looked like a hot mess. I finally went to bed before 2am last night and today I have been less of a zombie.

Today my copy of Hadouken!'s new album arrived in the mail and I'm currently devouring it with my ears. It's brilliant - but that can wait for another day. I got to watch a new episode of Skins this evening as well as catch up on all things Friday Night Lights. It's been a quiet Friday night but after the week I've had it's exactly what I wanted.

OH AND I ALMOST FORGOT THE MOST AMAZING THING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK. I bought tickets to see The Killers at the Enmore in Sydney on Feb 12th! 2 weeks today and I'll be seeing those lovely boys in a venue about the size of the old Palace Theatre where I saw them back in 2004. That gig still remains one of my most favourite gigs of all time so I am very excited about seeing them in a small venue again! My heart begins beating in my throat when I think about this so it's going to be 2 weeks of trying not to think about it.

I hope everyone had a great week! Share and share alike please!!!

Glitter sparks & Happyness
x x x
Brooke

P.S You should follow me on Twitter - I update WAY too much but you get to keep track on what I'm doing during the week. I can be quite insightul when the mood takes me. Otherwise you get tweets like: "Hoping desperately my @HadoukenUK cd arrives in the mail today. Come on Australia Post be my BFF!"