Write down your deepest fears, tear them up and put them in the bin.

My new craze is the English comedian, Ross Noble! You might have seen him on Rove last week (hilarious) and he's touring Australia right now. He's in Perth on Wednesday, I wish I could go...

Go to http://www.rossnoble.co.uk/ for his official site (although I'm warning you, it's really really weird) and go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5p3OtlqnVs for his Rove interview.

xx Miss Moi

"Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there."

- Will Rogers

Make a mess and clean it up.

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."

- James Dean

Yves Saint Laurent Y-Mail Range

The new range from YSL are way too cute. With a stylish postcard design, complete with address and stamp, it'll deliver you instant style. It comes in a range of products, such as wallets, card holders and handbags. Unfortunately they'll set you back some pretty hefty sums (think in the $800 region). Go to http://www.cultstatus.com.au/.

Maybelline New York Colossal Volum' Express

It's meant to give you 9x larger lashes with the new "collagen formula", but I find all that a bit creepy. No, I just love the bright yellow container and cartoon large brush! Go to http://www.maybelline.com/ for more info and to order, and also check out the Mascara 101 and How-To videos while you're there.

xx Miss Moi

I can't wait to see the new movie Nine, released in November. It's directed by the same person as Chicago and stars Fergie, Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Kate Hudson and Sophia Loren. Need I say more?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O6vvK6XdKQ

xx Miss Moi

You see things; and you say 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?'

- George Bernard Shaw

Why is it that random stangers feel the need to ask you about you want to do with the rest of your life?

As soon as the words slip your lips that you're in highschool, the automatic question is "what do you want to do when you finish?" For the o.oooo1% of us who have actually figured this, sure, that's great. But for the other lot, who are just trying to get through their next assignment let alone thinking about possibly the biggest decision of our young lives, well, it leads to some awkward fumbling and slurred sentences. What amazes me is the range of people who ask you this - while working at the supermarket the other day, I was asked the very question by a random lady buying cornflakes. I mean, come on, do you really think I'm going to have a heart to heart over a cash register?

The generic answer is, of course, "I'm still deciding between some different pathways". It's always a winner, as it lets people think you're really intellectual and mature, while those pathways actually include the escape exits - front or back, which should I choose? But of course, this all collapses if they ask which pathways they might be. We've already had a discussion (okay, me rambling for half a page) about awkward silences, and this is another surefire way to create one. You may be thinking 'is this girl socially challenged?', but I assure you, I'm not. I am perfectly able to create conversation. But come on. This is extreme circumstances. Bluffing can of course be used, in which the anwerer comes up with a random career path they have no real intention of following, but sounds real enough. My personal favourite is "something in Public Relations". If anyone can tell me what this actually is, I'll give you 50 bucks*.

Alas, after many trials and errors, I have come to the conclusion that there is no safe answer and mostly end up just saying "I don't know". This either has one of two reactions; a sympathetic nod, complete with head lean, or a half hour rant about how today's society is corrupting our youth. Neither are exactly optimal responses, but will have to do under the circumstances.

But for you, my dear readers, I will try to answer this century-old question as truthfully as I can. When I finish school I want to travel for a ridiculously long time, living on nothing more than a shoestring and go into complete denial about any responsibility or choices I have to makes. There. I'm sure my 90-year-old grandfather will just love that.

xx Miss Moi

*Okay, I admit I was bit dramatic. No, I will not be giving anyone $50. Sorry to get your hopes up ;)

Britney's coming downunder!

There's been speculation for months, but it's finally been confirmed! Britney's coming in November for only a few 'exclusive' shows. I know what you're thinking - great, that means Perth misses out, doesn't it? I have good news for you - she's actually coming here first! Omg!

The official dates are...

Perth - Burswood Dome
Friday, 6 November 2009

Melbourne - Rod Laver Arena
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Thursday, 12 November 2009

Sydney - Acer Arena
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Friday, 20 November 2009

Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Tickets come on sale Friday, 3 July. Unfortunately it will set you back up to $200, but come on. It's Britney.

xx Miss Moi

We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.
- George Bernard Shaw

Why is it that you can never get a pair of stockings that actually fit you?

I am a serial stocking killer. I freely admit it. Judge me as you may, but first just listen to my story. Every single stocking company has a different system of sizing - some use XS, S, M, L; others use Petite, Average, Tall; and some, and what I am about to say may shock some people, have a 'one size fits all' policy. I know, disgusting. No matter what size I try, I never seem to be able to find a pair of stocking that actually fit me. They're either way too small, and cross down around your knees, or way to big, and stretch up above your head (a safety risk in itself). One might say, well why not just fold it down. Ah, my uneducated one, you try breathing with five layers of stocking wrapped around your waist.

The immediate problem with the small is, of course, the inability to walk, a skill I think we all like to possess, but more importantly the dreaded ladder. It is the global disaster of the school girl. No one can truly understand the horror of finding that little tiny hole on your knee unless they've experienced it themselves. I always got weird looks from my brothers when I came home in tears after a seemingly harmless hole appeared in my stocking. But if only they knew the terrors that were soon to unfold. This tiny hole soon becomes a little bigger, with a tuft of string hanging loose. While sitting bored in class one day you look at the tempting string as it seems to say to you, "oh, what's the harm? I'm just a little bit of string, what can I do?" You grasp it in your quavering fingers and in one foul swoop, you yank that string with all you've got. Instantaneously a thousands tiny ladders spring out from all sides, creeping down your legs and bringing terror upon you. "Please forgive me, Please forgive me," you cry to the stocking gods. "I didn't know, I didn't know!"

Such a sad, sad scene. No amount of nail varnish can save you now. You must walk around as the other girls laugh at your holey stocking as you try to make jokes about how 'holy' they are. Nobody's laughing.

I say we start a movement. The Global Stockings Movement. If you see some poor sod wearing a pair of stocking with ladders in them, than laugh at their jokes! Cry out in joy at the hilarity of the double use of the word 'holy'! Together, we can change the world, one stocking at a time!

xx Miss Moi

Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
-Anonymous

I was worried, to say the least, to hear about the two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who have been sentenced to two years hard labour for committing a 'grave crime'. After the April nuclear tests in North Korea, I seriously worry about what going to happen next.

This is no laughing matter, but seriously, North Korea has now threatened to test-launch a new, more advanced missile if the UN doesn't apologise for condemning their April launch. Hm, that sounds really logical to me *sarcasticness emanating off*. And come on Hillary - saying that your considering putting North Korea back on the list of 'Countries Who Support Terrorism'? Oh, I'm sure it's got them quaking in their boots, and sending your journalists right on home.

I'm not going to sit here and pretend I have any clue about anything to do with politics or this situation, because let's be serious here. I'm a 14 year old girl sitting at a computer on the other side of the country. I wouldn't have a clue about how any of this works. But it seems to me (and please dont judge me if I sound naive) that the US treads a fine line between doing just about nothing and meddling way beyond what they should. I mean, it's my understanding that a US ship docks in Fremantle each year that 'will not be confirmed' whether it has nuclear substances on it or not. And of course Australia sits here like the little kid we are while the big bully knocks us round a bit and tells us to shut up. America has meddled in hundreds of countries, including our own (need I remind you of WW2) and yet can I seriously sit here and say that we could have done without that? No. Sure, they nuclear bombed the hell out of Japan, absolutely devastating entire regions, but at the end of the day we most likely would have lost the war without them. It's that horrible fine line of something you're totally against, and something you can't live without. Please leave me a message telling me if I'm completely wrong or your thoughts. To tell you the truth, I'm a bit short on material, so what better way to get people talking than write about politics ;).

xx Miss Moi

This week I'm obsessed with...


kikki.K
This too cute Swedish brand has a wide range of quirky stationery and gifts inspired by "Swedish design with its simplicity and clean lines". My favourites are the Luft Jelly Notebook and the Conversation Starters (shown left). They're perfect for those awkward silences at dinner parties, with questions like 'My most embarrassing moment is...', 'I'd like to be reincarnated as...' and 'Five famous people I'd invite to a Dinner Party'. All of their stuff is very Ikea-ish and way too cool for school. Go to http://www.kikki-k.com.au/.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs
The new fragrance range by Marc Jacobs is summery and fresh - the best way to get you over those winter blues! Its fragrances are infused with gardenia, wild strawberry and violet and jasmine petals. The bottles are very sweet, with flexible vinyl petals on a pretty gold lid. Of course, they're a tad on the expensive side at around $80 for 50ml, and we are well out of Spring, but it's still a lovely fragrance and well worth the splurge. You can get them from Myer, David Jones and http://www.daisymarcjacobs.com/.




xx Miss Moi

"In the hopes of reaching the moon, men failed to see the flowers blossoming at their feet."

- Albert Schweitzer

Tupperware is possibly the best invention created by man.

I mean, let's be serious about this. Sure, the lightbulb is great and electricity is pretty handy, but at the end of the day would you prefer to have a lamp or a container that fits five smaller containers in it? Yeah, that's what I thought. I mean, how much quick would Thomas Edison have been able to create the lightbulb if only he had had an organised kitchen. We can only imagine...

I still remember when the tupperware craze hit all those years ago and everyone was cracking jokes about women meeting up to discuss plastic containers (the infamous 'Tupperware Party') to hide the fact that their cupboards stocked a seperate tupperware container for each different ingredient. And one for their lunch. And dinner. And pet food. And dead hair. Or maybe that was just me...

We moved house around the time that tupperware hit, so Mum took it upon herself to kit us up with a whole new set of kitchen utensils and containers, and continued to spend a good five hours organising our entire pantry. Each container had a different label, each type of ingredient had a specific colour and every thing had a place. The amazing organisation blew our tiny minds, and sent my brother into an episode of shock. It all lasted about a week. The coconut got mixed with the self raising flour, the brown sugar with the white and the bread crumbs with the baking powder. Basically, complete and utter chaos. I suppose the moral of this story is that tupperware is amazing, and at times I think perhaps supernatural, but there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that can organise our pantry. I attempted to do an excavation some years ago, but had to abort when I found an ulterior lifeform growing in a jar of chutney that went off in 2003 (our current record). I expect the guys from Evolution to arrive any day now.

I guess the attraction of tupperware is its, well, handyness. The quirky simple that has made many businesses successful - Smiggle, for example. Then again, maybe it's just the fact that it's freaking awesome. Hm.

xx Miss Moi

Lady Gaga has released the official video clip for her song "Paparazzi". It's superbly weird, seems like soft porn at many spots and is a bit on the freaky side. But it's uttery awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQJ9Vi8GLok

xx Miss Moi

Oh, how I love to laugh at footballers being idiots!

Ben Cousins is in the hot water again (when is he not?) after flipping his middle finger on national television. Didn't some alarm bells ring? Anything? No? The controversial footballer, who was kicked off the West Coast Eagles in 2007, looked down the barrel of the camera before Saturday night's game against Fremantle (his first at Subiaco since being sacked) and gave the one fingered salute, which was then broadcasted all over Channel Ten news. Not only did this provide some very embarrassing comments from AFL chiefs such as Andrew Demetriou ("We don't want any players doing that sort of thing, let alone Ben Cousins"), the Richmond Tigers have fined him $5000. He later said it was a joke for the "van man" and that "within our family we all do it to each other as a joke gesture. I've even seen my grandmother do it". Well, I think I'm starting to understand a bit of Ben's problems.

But, to be fair, if I was constantly under the spotlight like football players, especially a previously self-confessed drug addict like Cousins, I'm sure there would be times that I'd do things that even I wondered about. Actually, I already do that now. Maybe we (namely I) should lay off him - I'm sure the 5000 dollar fine is giving him enough grief as it is. And hey, at least he beat Freo.

xx Miss Moi

I made this last night, it's so unbelievably easy but full of flavour ;)

Linguine with mint pesto

400g linguine
1 1/2 cups frozen peas
1/2 cup mint
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/2 cup olive oil
1 garlic clove
2 tbsp pine nuts

Cook linguine in a large saucepan of boiling water, according to directions. Add peas for last 5 mins of cooking. Drain well.
Meanwhile, place remaining ingredients in a food processor and blend to a paste.
Combine mint pesto and pasta. Divide between bowls and scatter with extra mint leaves.

xx Miss Moi

p.s. I used a handheld blender instead

Welcome to June! First day of Winter, half way through the year, and officially one week since I started this blog! Thankyou everyone for your support.

I'm a Winter girl. I am. As much as I love long Summer days lazing around the pool, I have spent way too many 40 degree days sitting in a stuffy classroom attempting to focus on the equation of a parabola (which are, by the way, possibly the most annoying things in the world). No - freezing, windy, rainy days are my dream come true. Possibly the best feeling in the world is being tucked up in a warm cosy bed and hearing the rain and wind hitting your window. It makes me shiver with excitement!

So what's so special about June?

• The rose is the flower for June, and the pearl is the gem.
• The first of the month is Breast Check Day - go to http://www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/ for more info.
• May and June are also the months for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea - go to http://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/. I'm holding mine next weekend :)
• It's apple month, with Fuji, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady and Granny Smith all coming into season. Time to bring out that apple pie recipe...
• National Sorry Week is from Wednesday 27th May to Wednesday 3rd June. The theme is "See a person, not a stereotype".
• It's the 'Winter Solstice' on the 22nd - the longest day of the year!
• Nicole Kidman turns 41, Angelina Jolie turns 33 and Johnny Depp turns 45 (*tear*)

Happy June!

xx Miss Moi