Give my regards to soul and romance

Yesterday was the Good Vibrations Festival in Melbourne.

It was a bizare day filled with strange happenings but as soon as it hit 8.35pm at the main stage nothing else mattered. Quite simply it was a day of waiting for the moment that The Killers arrived on stage. I didn't realise this until the lights dimmed and they wandered onstage.

Not much else mattered for the next hour and 40 mintues except for what was on that stage.

I was pinched, yelled at, almost saw a fight errupt between some girls while in this crowd but it was totally worth it to share smiles and sing and dance and show my love and support for a band who's music has ALWAYS made everything better.

"Well I don't mind if you don't mind
'Cause I don't shine if you don't shine"

It was lovely to share their last show for this tour with them. It felt like a special one. I know it's relax time for them and I hope it's not too much longer before I get to see them again.

Now I'm off to FINALLY watch episode 1 of Survivor: Heroes Vs Villans. I know I KNOW I've been busy!

Glitter sparks & happyness

x x x

Brooke

P.S - More photos from the day can be found in my Flickr set HERE

Newness is goodness

This week I've been changing. Not so much myself or the things I've been doing but I've been making some adjustments that I've felt have been coming a while.

First major adjustment is that I said "Fare the well" to my dearly beloved purple hair and "Hello fire engine" to my newly dyed hair! It's not a huge change for me as my hair has been a similar colour to this before but it's a big change from what it was. Check it OUT!

I'm super happy with how it turned out. The girl who dyed it for me was concerned that it'd turn out "too bright". I wondered what she thought I thought "too bright" was - I mean she just bleached PURPLE out of my hair!!

It was inspired by the same thing that inspired me last time I dyed it this colour (about this time last year as I attended Soundwave with mega bright hair) and that is the tv show "Skins". Something about that show makes me want to wear bright coloured jeans and dye my hair red.

I have also recieved my new watch in the mail and it's beautiful! It's a Betsey Johnson watch and I'm in love. I didn't know she even designed watched until I saw this particular watch on Gala Darlings photostream. I waited about a month before I purchased this watch after seeing it and my love for it did not diminish so I decided I had to have it.

I have also continued to get better at work. I've re-focused my energy into my job and it feels great to be succeeding. I also got offered a trip to Malaysia in April that I will be taking through work so I'm very excited.

My brain is basically mush right now but all I can say is I'M EXCITED FOR GOOD VIBRATIONS FESTIVAL on Sunday! I'm excited to meet new friends (Flankee) and hang out with old Killers gig buddies (Sophie)!!! It's sure to be a fabulous day and I'll take lots of photos on my newly purchased (tomorrow) p&s camera!

Hope everyone had a glorious week!

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Tuesday is tired day

I'm obsessed with this leopard grey/black print.

On Sunday I went to Target and bought myself a scarf & footless tights in this print and now they are added to my collection of tops, tanks and t-shirts that are already in my wardrobe.

I don't know what it is about this print but whenever I see it, I'm drawn to it. I guess worn the wrong way it can look trashy but I only ever wear it with dark jeans or a black skirt and not much other colour in my outfit. I love the way it looks. It adds a but of edge to an otherwise plain outfit.

It's my pattern of choice.

In other news it's been released that The Killers will be in Melbourne on Sunday to perform at Good Vibrations festival. This is surely a win for the festival and any fans (like myself) who have been looking forward to this for a long time. I just hope they're coming because they want to and not because they are being forced due to contractual obligations. I'm certain they'll give it their all and I'll be there to witness it.

To be honest it's been a hectic week. I worked all weekend and I don't have another day off until Saturday which puts me on about 9 days straight (I think, my brain isn't allowing itself to function properly). It's been a great time for me at work as I bettered my personal best last month and have already smashed it this month.

Right now all I want to do is put my feet up, relax and enjoy episode 1 of Survivor: Heroes vs Villans - no spoilers please :)

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Sad Panda

My heart goes out to you and your family.

I only hope that you'll come back to Australia when you're ready.


x x x
Brooke

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)