Life Update | 25 May 2015

The last two weeks have been pretty crazy - a good kind of crazy! First, I had an interview at a local cafe and may soon be doing a trial shift, fingers crossed! So yay for employment(maybe)! If one positive piece of news wasn't enough, the next day I got another - I've been accepted to study Public Relations at RMIT University starting mid-year - one of the best uni's for PR and communications courses!

A bit of a background on my study life - I graduated high school back in November of 2013. I enrolled into a Journalism course up at USC but ended up deferring and switching to ACU in Brisbane city because I couldn't get up to the Sunshine Coast for class. So in July 2014 I began Arts (Journ & Comm) at ACU, but after some major family and personal issues along with realising I found Journalism boring and dirty (just my opinion, no hate on journos!!), ended up leaving that. Then I travelled to Europe and the UK for a while, came back to Australia and moved down to Melbourne where I joined my part-time acting course. Obviously, I'd missed the first semester's intake so I've just been settling into the city, job hunting and doing my acting course lately. Then it finally came time to apply for mid-year intakes, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I love communication, social media, etc etc, and public relations was the perfect course. So yeah, here I am, about to begin PR at RMIT!

And then to top off a good week, I got another piece of good news - I scored myself a short Social Media Internship with a new Melbourne based design company. So that happened!

So yeah, it's been an eventful two weeks to say the least! I'm in a pretty great mood right now with everything that's been going on, and I can't wait to get busy - having nothing to do is surprisingly depressing to be honest!

How has your week been, receive any great news? Let me know in the comments!

xx Chontelle Louise

5 Reasons To Travel While You're Young!

You don't have any major responsibilities right now. As you get older, graduate, get a full time job, get married and have kids, or whatever path your life takes you - you're going to have a whole lot more responsibilities that'll tie you down. You won't have the same freedom you used to, to just take off and see the world and not have to worry about anything else.

You're never gonna have this much energy again. You're young and full of energy. You've got the freedom now, and you're only gonna get older from here on out. Why waste your youth sitting back home, following the daily grind, bored out of your mind? Take this opportunity to travel to every place on your bucket list. Hiking, swimming, skydiving - whatever it is, this is your chance to be able to do anything you'd like, while you still can!

You can see the world on a students budget. Even if you've recently graduated or aren't studying, you're still eligible for those fab student budget holiday deals on offer. STA Flights, Black Market, Contiki, they all have some amazing flight and tour deals all over the world and a huge portion of them have age restrictions, generally 18-25/30 years of age. Not to mention, you're in ripe condition to go to youth hostels and backpack your way around any continent you like!

You'll grow in ways you never could back home. Travelling is an incredible growth experience that you simply could not have by staying in the same one place. Seeing the world, discovering both yourself and whole new cultures, exploring cities and traditions... all of this will allow you to see the world in a new light. The experiences you have while travelling will change you as a person - for the better - and you'll come back with a refreshed perspective on life. Or maybe, you won't come back - you may fall in love with a new city or a new someone and carve out a new future you'd never have without travel!

If you don't go now, you may never go. Because the truth is, quite often, life gets in the way. There's always a 'what if' or 'but' or 'later', but that's no excuse not to travel. If you can travel now, forget about the 'what if's' and just go. It's now or never!

xx Chontelle Louise

I've been nominated for The Liebster Award!

Hey everyone! So this is a bit of a delayed post seeing as though I was nominated almost a month ago when I was just under 200 followers, and I'm now sitting on almost 300 - but I've finally gotten around to doing my Liebster Award Tag post!

The Liebster Award Tag is basically a fun way to discover great new blogs with a following of 200 or less lovely readers, and get your blog noticed! I'd like to say a massive thankyou to Ema from All The Good Blog Names Were Taken (Everyone should check her blog out)! Thanks so much for the nomination, and I loved reading your blog and your Liebster post! <3

Anyway, let's get started.

If you're nominated - the rules are:
1. Thank and link the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the nominators 11 questions.
3. Nominate 11 small blogs who have less than 200 followers. You should believe that they deserve the award and include their link in your post.
4. Create 11 new questions for your nominees to answer. Notify these nominees via social media/blog.

QUESTIONS

♥ 1. What's the one thing you're most proud of?

This is actually a pretty difficult question. I guess the thing I'm most proud of right now anyway is that I've just been accepted into uni for mid-year entry this July, so yeah, I'm pretty proud about that!

♥ 2. What is your biggest fear and why?

Actually I have three big fears. Mirrors, water, and darkness. I've seen too many scary movies and learnt too much about ghosts and portals and other worlds and demons etc and mirrors and water having reflections/being pathways to the other side scares the shit out of me! And darkness, well, if I can't see what's around me then I can't feel safe!

♥ 3. Before you die what are the five things you HAVE to do/achieve?

Okay. 

1. I need to visit almost* all of the countries in the world - I say almost as obviously, there are several that are just not safe to visit unfortunately, some that you cannot visit, and some that I may not really want to get around to.

2. Write and publish my own novel. This has always been on my bucket list.

3. Live in London for at least a year, if not forever!

4. Learn to speak both French and Dutch!

5. Create my own fashion sleepwear label - it's a massive dream but who knows what can happen!

♥ 4. Do you have any scary/cool ghost stories?

Actually I have quite a few, in fact more than enough to create an entire post (or two) about them - which has given me that great idea! If you'd like me to make a post on my own ghost stories then mention that in the comments below and I'll get on to it! But anyway, one that stands out began around 10 years ago when we moved into a new house. It always felt like there was someone (or several someone elses) there with us. The most notable thing from that house is a 'magic fairy wand' I used to have, which was kept in the rumpus/back room of the house. It was battery operated but I hadn't used it since I was like, 6 or 7 (so 3 years before we moved in). Late at night, between midnight and 4am, it used to go off, making it's 'fairy ding' kinda sound. We couldn't find it for a while, but when we eventually did, it didn't work (despite going off the night before). We opened up the battery case and lo-and-behold - the batteries had exploded, long ago! That night, it went off again. And continued to do so for years.

Very creepy.

♥ 5. If you could go right now to anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I'd buy a one-way ticket to Paris, France! Paris is my absolute favourite place in the world, I just loved it there and miss it so much! Amazing atmosphere, people, food, scenery, architecture, culture - everything about Paris is perfect! 

♥ 6. Where would you like to be n 5 years time?

I'd love to be living and working somewhere in the UK or Europe, in an amazing job and earning a good income to be able to support myself and my mum too, travelling a lot and enjoying life!

♥ 7. What is your idea of the worst first date imaginable?

The worst first date.. hmm.. as far as location goes, they'd better not take me to Maccas or somewhere cheap and nasty. No, you don't have to spend heaps of money on my but you do need to respect me, take me somewhere decent please, even a walk in the park and a picnic (next to free to do) would be fab! And please, nobody rude or self-centred or mean. Deal breakers.

♥ 8. If you were sent to a deserted island, and could only bring 3 things, what would you bring?

My camera, my laptop, and a journal.

♥ 9. Sweet or savoury? 

I'm definitely more of a savoury kinda girl. Don't get me wrong, I love sweets and all but I can only handle it in small amounts. Savoury stuff on the other hand, I can't get enough!

♥ 10. What couldn't you live without?

Honestly, there are several things I couldn't live without. Coffee, for example, is like the elixir of life for me. I need it, daily. Or else :') And then there's my baby girl Jasmine, my mum, and her girl Angel. <3

♥ 11. When do you think you'll be officially old?

I have no idea really, I think for me '30' feels like it'll be old. I mean there's a perceived change between twenties and thirties from fun and adventure to settling down

I really enjoyed answering these questions, so thankyou Ema! <3 

I have nominated the following blogs for the Leibster Award:

Manon

Elly

Eden
Nat

Okay, I know the rules call for 11 small blogs but honestly, I've never been that good with rules and all! I have seen so many blogs both big and small and so I'd like to nominate ALL of you with 200 or less followers reading this for the Liebster Award tag! <3

These are your questions:

1. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

2. Why did you start your blog?

3. Cats or dogs (or both)?

4. What was your favourite subject in school?

5. All-time favourite movie?

6. Growing up, what was your ultimate dream job?

7. Have you ever been bullied? Share your experience (if you want).

8. Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?

9. What is your least favourite food?

10. What do you want to study or do when you leave school / what are you studying / what did you study?

11. Describe the qualities of your perfect match.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Thanks for reading <3

xx Chontelle Louise

Khaki & Plaid

My Outfit:

Khaki Jacket - H&M

Oversized Plaid Shirt-Dress - Melrose Ave

Stockings - Big W

Black Boots - Famous Footwear

Yesterday was a pretty great day, albeit a cold one! Mum and I went in to the city for the day for some shopping & lunch (see my previous post on Gekkazan, the best Japanese food I've had in a long time)!

Let me just say, the shopping in Melbourne is amazing. Of course it is, though - after all, Melbourne does hold the title of Shopping Capital of Australia! I picked up some amazing bargains, with all but two of my purchases being dramatically reduced! *happy dance* I grabbed myself a new pair of black suede-feel boots reduced from $60 to $20, and a huge bag full of sale items from H&M for both mum and I, including the fab Khaki Jacket/Coat I'm wearing in these pictures! I'm actually considering doing a Haul post (or maybe even a Youtube video?) so if you'd be interested in that, please let me know! :3

Anyway. So the jacket is from H&M, and it's already one of my favourite pieces. I've wanted a khaki jacket for years now so I'm so so happy that I've finally gotten myself one! It's so comfy and surprisingly very warm considering it's not that thick! Perfect for layering!

My oversized plaid shirt-dress is also a relatively new purchase, from Melrose Ave. I've wanted one of these for a while now (ever since Kylie Jenner bought the shirt-dress look to my attention via good ole' instagram), and this one is just perfect! Super comfy and warm, lovely thick flannel material and (imho) looks great on! And of course, once again I've paired my outfit with my staple imitation doc's, my favourite and comfiest shoes!

You may not be able to tell, but it was super cold and blowing a gale when these photos were taken, to the point that I almost didn't bother! But then I spotted Melbourne's Parliament House and thought how great the photos would look taken on those stairs, and here we are! #priorities right?

What do you think of this look? Love it, or hate it? Let me know! 

xx Chontelle Louise

Gekkazan, Melbourne | Review

This was the first time I'd ever had udon, something I'd actually been wanting to try for so long now, so I was really excited to try it! We'd just had a long morning of shopping, shopping & more shopping, so we were eager to find somewhere to relax and have some lunch (and be able to put down all our purchases and rest our arms)!

We had actually just finished at H&M and were on our way out, when we looked to our left and notices people eating in a small enclosed laneway on the back side of H&M. We decided to go and investigate, and I'm so glad because that's where we found Gekkazan! 

Gekkazan is a Japanese chain-restaurant serving mostly udon and ramen dishes, but also sushi rolls, dumplings, bento boxes and a few other bits and pieces! Mum went with the winter special 'Curry Udon' which along with the udon noodles, had a mix of vegetables, tofu and beef.

I decided on the Chicken Udon ($12), which was a lovely choice. It was nice, clean, fresh & simple. The chicken was perfectly cooked and the noodles were so delicious!

There was a deal on where if you bought a meal then you'd get the Gyoza Special (dumplings) for only $5.95 with it (usually $9.90), and since we were starving we took them up on that offer! I grabbed the vege dumplings while mum chose the pork dumplings - both were amazing!

Gekkazan was definitely a hit for us, and will surely become a regular haunt on future trips to the CBD.

Have you tried Udon before? Love it, or hate it? Let me know in the comments below! x

xx Chontelle Louise

6 Helpful Tips for a Job Interview

                                

This morning I woke up early, got dressed, and made my way into the city. Phone and Myki (travel) card in one hand, neatly folded resume in the other, I walked, trammed and walked again until I reached my final destination. It was interview time.

Usually I'd be seriously nervous about a job interview, but since settling down in Melbourne and beginning the job search process I'd been eager to find a job and so the excitement of possible employment outweighed any nerves I may have otherwise had. And that's actually an important thing to remember when going to a job interview - be excited! You want the job, and they want an employee who is excited to be there!

Anyway, I spent a bit of time reading up on tips in preparation for todays interview as well as using some of my own advice, and thought it would be a great idea to share some of this knowledge with you lovely people! So I've put together a list of 6 helpful tips for a job interview - I hope you enjoy this post and learn something that could be of use to you!

1. Do Your Research. It's always a good idea to do a bit of detective work when preparing for a job interview. The company wants an employee that cares - even for small, seemingly unimportant positions. The fact is, if you haven't done your research it shows that you're not that interested in the position, and theres probably more than a dozen similar employees that have done their research. A few minutes finding out who's interviewing you, what they're all about, and what the position requires could be the difference between getting the job and having your resume thrown in the trash.

2. Review Your Resume. I think a lot of people fall into this trap. You've sent/handed in your CV and Resume, you've scored the interview, and you think that's that. Only to arrive at the interview and be questioned on specific aspects of your resume that you may or may not be able to recall in detail. That job you listed from 2 years ago? They might want to know the managers name, duration of employment, etc. If you stutter or stumble, you can look unorganised and trust me, that can be a deal breaker. So always go over your resume and be ready to be questioned on it!

3. Show Up On Time. And by on time, I mean early. About 5-15 minutes prior to your interview minimum gives you time to make sure you've got the right place, alert the interviewer of your arrival, hand in your resume, and fill out any forms if necessary. Not to mention, you'll already have made a good impression before your interview has even begun!

4. Be Presentable. The amount of effort you put into your presentation shows a lot about you and your dedication to work. Showing up in daggy, creased, dirty, or casual clothing shows an utter lack of interest in the job and is really quite disrespectful to the person who has taken the time to have you in for an interview. Your clothing should be neat, clean, tidy and smart (obviously dress with your chosen industry in mind). For those with longer hair, have it tied back. Don't go overboard with makeup, and make sure there's no B.O going on!

5. Listen and Be Courteous. During your interview, smile, pay attention to what the interviewer is saying, and be polite. You're there to get a job, so you should be listening to what the interviewer has to say about said job and not looking around, fidgeting, zoning out and looking bored. It seems obvious, but you wouldn't believe how many times I have seen people do this in interviews. I'm not even sure if they're aware of it, but trust me, the interviewer certainly notices.

6. Don't Stress. Really, there's no need! If this is the job for you, you'll get it. If it's not? Well, when one door closes, another one opens. Just be positive and relaxed, the interviewer will pick up on your good vibes and remember you for it. You've got this!

Did you find these tips useful? What are your top tips for a job interview?

xx Chontelle Louise