Update: Plans (kind of)

Well hello there stranger!

Who ever it is reading this I welcome you to this weird and wacky platform that is/will be my blog.

I started this blog 2 years ago when I was 14 because I thought I was hip and cool and I wanted to be the next Zoella (I know, I was super cringe). Little did I know at 14 years old how hard that was and I quickly gave up on the whole blogging thing. However, the other day I got an email that someone had commented on my blog. I'd completely forgotten about it so I gave it a click and it took me to my post on "Open When Letter for my Best Friend" and I was overwhelmed. The page had received over 100,000 views. Since then I've wanted to come back here and start again (don't worry not to be the next Zoella). Just for a little bit of fun and to add something extra to my life, I guess. 

So yes, here is an update. I want this blog to be a safe place for me, almost like a diary. I want to be able to look back at it to remember things that I don't want to forget. I will be writing about anything, from things that are happening in my life, to DIY's and hauls. Oooooo and possibly thrift shop hauls. Actually definetely thrift shop hauls, I am a tad obsessed with thrift shopping.

So yeah, if you're reading this then I guess, follow me. Is that what you do here? And buckle yourself in for a wild ride, that is my life.

Over and out,

Emma Maria xxx

P.S My middle name is Maria which I prefer to write as it could be a bit dodge to write my last name. Laters guys!

Sunset in New Zealand

Hey guys!

How are you all? I hope you're just absolutely spiffing! 

Anyway, not so long ago it was my birthday and I got given Canon DSLR 600D camera. I had heard many people say that it is great for beginners. So I put it on my Birthday/Christmas list (because my birthday is on the 15th of December) and now I have the camera! Yay! It is the most fantastic thing that has ever happened to me. My camera is my baby. Who needs real babies when they have cameras.

It is honestly the best present I have ever gotten. I love capturing things in the moment so that I can remember them forever. I think the thing I have loved taking pictures of the most is sunsets. They are so incredibly beautiful.

I was at my friends house for dinner the other day and I was so happy that I thought to bring my camera because that night the most impressive sunset I had ever seen appeared in the sky. So I quickly ran to grab my camera. I thought someone might like to seem them. So here are the two best pictures...

Doesn't it just have the most gorgeous colours in it.

Hope you have a lovely day!

Bye

❤️

Start of Something New

Hey everyone,

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! 

It's that time of year again where we can start a fresh, have a new beginning, and for me to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I love starting a new year because it's a chance for me to start again and change things in my life that I believe need changing. But in order for things to actually change you have to be able set goals or resolutions otherwise things never really change. I saw a quote I really liked that highlighted this. Turn your dreams into wishes, your wishes into goals. Your goals into reality and your dreams will some true. 

I have been told by many people that you should only pick three resolutions in order to complete them. People have also told me never to set the bar too high. I learnt that lesson last year. One of my resolutions was to go for a run everyday... That failed for me after just one day. But who cares, that was last year. What matters is what I decide to do with my life this year. 

I have thought long and hard about what my new years resolutions should be so without further ado here are my three goals.

1. Be nice to everyone! Think more about others before I think about myself. That also includes listening to people more and letting them tell me their stories. I talk a lot and so I often forget that other people like to talk too.

2. Compliment people more. I am not quite sure why I don't do this very much now, it just doesn't seem to cross my mind. But it should. It is so easy just to tell someone that their hair looks lovey today or that I love their skirt. I love seeing the way a compliment can brighten someones day. So this year, friends, be expecting a flow of great complements coming your way!

3. And number three. Drum roll please. I left the hardest till last. My third resolution is to be healthier and fitter. I know, I know, impossible to do when chocolate exists, but it has to be done. At school this year we have swapped uniforms and I have to wear this horrible pencil skirt that shows off every part of you that sports a couple more pounds. So if I could just shrink my bottom a little that would be fantastic.

I really do hope that these resolutions aren't to hard to accomplish.

So, what are your New Years resolutions? I'd love it so much if you left a comment down below telling me your goals for 2015.

Good luck!

❤️

I'm Only One Girl

So hey everyone!

I have tried to write a diary several times and me being the type of person that I am gave up on that after one day. I just think it's kinda lame. (I'm sorry to everyone that does actually write a diary. It's just not for me.) I know that it's a great way to get things out and that when you look back on it when you're old it can teach you a lot of things but I just don't get it. So I thought that maybe I could write it here. Then it sort of has a purpose because somebody might read it. I don't know if that makes any sense but I hope you get me. 

Lately I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping and when I have trouble sleeping I think. I just think and think and think. The most common topic I think about is that I am only one girl in billions. I am one person living in New Zealand with some great friends and a family. I have an awesome life but I can't help but think that it doesn't really matter because I am only one person. Like if I die tomorrow (hopefully I don't) only a handful of people would be affected but the rest of the world would keep going the same as always. I don't know why that scares me but it does. A lot. I don't really know exactly how to explain it but I want to make a difference to the world. I want to leave some sort of postive mark even if it is small. I want to be remembered not just by my parents and my friends who will then also die and then I'll be forgotten but by a larger part of the world. I want my story or my life to somehow teach there's something or affect others somehow. Okay this is making me sound like some sort of sycho that's desperate for attention. Trust me I'm not. I just want to try and make this world a better place. I don't know how yet but I will. Even if I am just one girl in billions. 

Another part of only being one teenage girl in heaps is that I always think about all the things I haven't seen and all the people I haven't met. New Zealand is so small and you can almost live as if there is nothing else out there. I know that there are heaps of starvation problems all over the world but how can I really sympathise if I've never actually seen it. I know that Ebola is killing heaps of people that really don't deserve to die even if they are only one person. But how can I make a difference when I'm only one person. It just scares me, the concept of being this tiny little speck that can just be smudged out or erased. That my life really doesn't matter. It's has no meaning.

I have no idea if any of that made sense or if normal 14 year old girls think things like that but I have to admit that it does help to write it out. So anyway if anyone is reading this, I hope you have a lovely day. 

Bye!

❤️

Open When Letters for my Best Friend

My friends birthday was about a month ago but I still haven't gotten around to getting her a present. I felt really bad and I wanted to get her something extra special. I started to look around on Pinterest for ideas and I found the idea of open when letters. Open when letters are when you put a certain scenario or a feeling on the envelope and the person can only open the letter when they have that feeling or when it's that time.

I found it really hard to come up with my own ideas for these letters and started looking around for some help. I was surprised at the lack of ideas of what little things you can put in the envelopes. It took me a while to come up with and look for all these ideas but in the end it all worked out and I finished 30 open when letters.

Without further ado here are the 30 letters I did and their contents.

Open when... You first get these letters

All I wrote for this were the instructions and the rule that she was only allowed to open 2 a week because it took me so long to make. But I was worth it!

Open when... You feel sad

In this letter I included:

- Tips on how to get over sadness

- Quotes

- A note - I just wrote about how I was sorry she was feeling sad and that I hoped she felt better soon.

Open when... You're bored

This includes:

- Two things to colour in

- Three sudukos

- Coloured pencils

Open when... You can't sleep

In this I included:

- Ways to trick yourself into sleeping

- A lullaby

- Some tea bags

Open when... You're handling other people's problems

All I had in this one was a letter. I wrote about how I really admire her for trying to deal with other peoples problems. I also told her that there is no shame in taking a step back if things get too much.

Open when... You're feeling down

 

What I included in this envelope was:

- A couple of quotes

- Some lollies or candy or whatever you call it because candy makes everyone feel better

- I also wrote her a letter where I just said that I hope things get better and that I'm always here for her if she needs to talk or scream.

Open when... You're mad at me

For this I wrote a letter about how I was sorry and that she should tell me that she is angry at me if I don't already know. I also included some chocolate as a sort of truse

Open when... I'm dead

I included: A letter

Open when... You need to rant or scream

I put a note in this one saying that she should call me. I didn't put that picture in because it had my number in it and I don't want any creepy people trying to call me. Ahaha.

Open when... You're contemplating hurting yourself

I included:

- A quote

- A note telling her not to do anything stupid and with some help lines for her to call

- I also added a rubberband to remind her to be flexible, a paper clip to help her keep it all together and 10cents for luck

 Open when... You get hungry on a bus

All I put in this was a chocolate bar for her to nibble on if she gets peckish.

 Open when... You need motivation

In this envelope I incuded a couple of quotes and a letter telling her that she can do anything and that I believe in her.

 Open when... You can't find any blimin socks

It doesn't take a genius to figure out what I put in this one. Chocolate!! Nah just kidding I put a pair of socks in it.

 Open when... You get an excellence on a maths test

I put a little congratulations picture in this envelope and told her that I knew she could do it and to keep up the good work.

Open when... It's halloween

In this I included:

- A happy Halloween picture

- A trick or treat picture

- Some lollies

 Open when... You want to reminise

I added a bunch of photos of us.

 Open when... You don't want to study

I added a whole lot of studying tips and a note telling her that she should just study otherwise she would be disappointed with her result.

 Open when... You feel lonely

In this I put some tips about how to stop feeling lonely, a quote and a letter which incuded a list of people that care about her.

 Open when... It's that time of the month

A bit weird I know but come on its my best friend. 

 Open when... You have a hard and important test 

 

In here I put: 

- A couple of good luck pictures 

- A note telling her to stay calm 

 Open when... It's a snowy day 

 

In this envelope I inserted a snowy day bucket list and a hot chocolate. 

 Open when... You miss me

 

For miss me I decided to put a few pictures of us, a letter and a friendship bracelet. 

 Open when... You don't feel beautiful

 I included a massive long letter telling her that she is beautiful and that beauty of the soul is important. I also added a couple of quotes. 

 Open when... You need a laugh 

 

To make my friend laugh I added a couple of funny pictures and quotes and a funny memory we share. 

 Open when... You're sick

For this I inserted some strepsils, paracetamols, tissues and a note telling her to get better soon.

 Open when... It's New Years

I couldn't take a picture of the contents of this one because I had already stuffed it full of confetti. Obviously I used confetti. I also used easy to follow New Years resolutions, a page for her to fill out the resolutions she'd choosen and a happy New Years card.


 Open when... You're crying

For this I put some tissues, a crying quote and my number in the envelope.


 Open when... It's your birthday

I included a few things in this:
- Pictures and quotes to do with birthdays
- Some balloons that I wrote messages on
- Confetti, which is why I couldn't show you the contents of this envelope.


 Open when... You need a hug

The contents of this package were too big to fit in an envelope but it had a teddy bear inside. I forgot to take pictures before I wrapped it up.


 Open when... You need $$$
 

This had money in it. Duhhhh I hope you enjoyed this blog post and it helped you a bit if you want to make your own open when letters. Have a great day. Bye!!
 ❤️

Baking: Date Scones

Today I wanted to do some baking and I decided on some good ol' Date Scones. I found this recipe from nzwomensweekly.co.nz.

Date scones

Ready in 35 minutes

• 3 cups self-raising flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 40g butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups dates, chopped
• 1 cup milk
• 6 dates, sliced in half lengthways

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC.

2. Sift the our and sugar into a large bowl.

3. Rub the butter into the flour to resemble fine breadcrumbs.

4. Add the chopped dates and milk. Using a knife, form the dough and divide into 6 large 
scones.

5. Lightly flour your hands and mould the mixture into balls.

6. Place on a lightly greased tray, top each with 2 date slices and flatten slightly.

7. Bake for 25 minutes.


I had to add more milk to make sure it all joined together. They were really easy to make. I cooked them for about 20 minutes and they are quite a dark brown. I wouldn't leave them in any longer. Just add a bit of jam or cream and viola your done. I added some raspberry jam 
and they turned out delicious. I will definetely use this recipe again.

 

Review: Lush Karma Bubble Bar

I don't really take baths very often. I'm more of the shower type of girl. But it being winter I thought why not take a bath. The other day I bought two products from lush. The Honey Bee Bath Bomb, which I am still yet to try, and the Karma Bubble Bar. I opted for the Bubble Bar because it smelt absolutely divine. 

Everything in moderation, including meditation. Indulge in a luxurious scented bath to keep life in balance. To use crumble under running water for mounds of fragrant bubbles. 

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Cocamide DEA, Patchouli Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Lavandin Oil, Pine Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Elemi Oil, Gardenia Extract, *Citral, *Geraniol, *Citronellol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 15510, Colour 14700

The lady in lush told me I did not have to use the whole thing at once. I decided to only use a quarter of it which next time I probably won't do. I did get loads and loads of bubbles but not quite enough for my liking. 

What I loved about this bar is that as you are crumbling it under the running water it makes your fingers so soft and it starts to make bubble immediately. The scent is delicious and it wafts around you as your relaxing in your bath. 

Everything about this product is amazing. I got it in New Zealand for $8.90. Which I think is completely worth it. I rate it a 4.5/5. Well done lush! 

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