Dumped!

Yeah -- it's sad. Poor blogger.

But I dumped blogger a week or two ago.

My writings and ramblings can now be found at

www.steffanywillis.wordpress.com

Optimism

I got this brochure in the mail today for an event the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane is holding called 'Optimism'.

That's a fairly striking title in itself, I think we could call use a dose of optimism.

But what really caught me was the picture on the front of the brochure.

'Yes I wear a superhero costume. I thought I needed to be someone... why not a superhero?'

Arlene TextaQueen

I think that, I really agree. In this world we're all searching for that person we want to be. We try and better ourselves all the time, better our looks, our skills, our personality. We think we need to be someone..

She makes a good point.. why not? Become a doctor.. Travel overseas.. Start something new no one else has tried before... why not be a superhero?

One of my favourite quotes..

I read this book last year "God Chicks: Living life as a 21st century woman" by Holly Wagner and the chapter The 'Whatever it takes' chick was one of my favourites. There was the quote in it that made the slightly tacky "chick" references worthwhile.

When women around the world told Holly how much they wanted to have her life and how could they get it.. this is what she would reply with.

"Study hard... read a book a week.. stay married when you feel like leaving.. write a letter to a friend when you'd rather shop.. play with your children when you want some time alone.. write when you feel like sleeping.. work out when you feel like playing.. control emotions when you feel like screaming.. forgive when you feel like hating.. overcome limitations when you want to quit."

Thoughts I stole from Mr Max Lucado

In my opinion. Max Lucado is a brilliant man. He wrote one of my favourite books of all time.. 'You are Special'. This book is essentially about self esteem issues and I read it as a child. I think it's interesting to know whether music, art & books truly impact people - but I know this book is a big part of who I am today. The notion that no matter my achievements, what I look like, what people think of me, I am special because the creator of the universe designed me this way. My Dad bought it for me, my brother and sister and I will definitely purchase it for my children when I have them.

Currently though, I'm ready 'No wonder they call Him the Saviour'. And I love this thoughts from Max Lucado.

"Any serious study of the Christian claim is, at its essence, as study of the cross. To accept or reject Christ without a careful examination of Calvary is like deciding on a car without looking at the engine. Being religious without knowing the cross is like owning a Mercedes with no motor. Pretty package, but where is your power?"

Pure brilliance.

Adversity

Adversity is the diamond dust heaven polishes its jewels with.

– Robert Leighton

To chop or not to chop?

That truly is the question that I have been trying to answer for nearly a month. To chop or not to chop?

I know, pretty high class problems I have right?

For over a year I have been sporting slightly different variations of the slanted bob/regular bob. And I am now reaching that stage I always reach after about 6 months of the same hair-do.. where I start to send myself crazy due to lack of hair inspiration.

Help!

There are both positives and negatives to having short or long hair. Short is 'trendy' and apparently suits my face shap. Long is better for doing pretty things with and is better in summer because I can just pull it off my face.

If you do read this blog, suggestions and opinions are not only appropriate, they are welcomed and wanted.

Weddings..

By the end of this weekend I shall hopefully come out alive after I completely immerse myself in the wonderful weird world of weddings.

I'm going along to check out the future Mrs Aiton's wedding... but afterwards... I will be attending.. the Brisbane Bridal Expo! Yikes!

One of my best friends Rebecca is getting married in 2010 and so we are going along to the expo to pick up ideas and inspiration and hopefully a free gift or two.

Apart from supporting my friend, and enjoying pretty dresses etc.. I'm fairly excited about spying on some crazy BrideZilla's. I'm sure they will be out in full force. I'm also on the look out for groups of ladies without engagement rings. Just wondering whether people who aren't engaged rock up to these kind of things and just.. plan their wedding in advance. They'll find the husband later.

Experts from Women's Entertainment have identified the following signs that the blushing bride has become a weapon of mass exasperation:

1. She wonders why the mean ol' mayor is being such a jerk about the tickertape parade.
2. Spray-painting 100 doves gold is not "over the top," but necessary.
3. Vendors are instructed never to make direct eye contact and to always address the woman in question as "Her Majesty, The Bride."
4. The reception involves speedboats, hot-air balloons, fireworks, or clearance from NASA.
5. Both Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio call to voice their concern that the floral arrangements will affect Earth's fragile eco-balance.

Fashion Tips for men at work

Top Five Style Mistakes for Men make at Work

Who knew??

A very happy un-birthday..

Today I arrived at work to a chorus of Happy Birthdays. 'Aww -- that's nice'. Except that it isn't my birthday today. Today is the 28th of August and my birthday is the 28th of September. I normally organise the cakes.. but instead of me organising my own cake.. another staff member was going to. Accidentally entering the wrong date into her work calender.. meant that the office got to enjoy black forrest cake today for no particular reason..

A very happy un-birthday to me eh!

But also -- an actual real Happy Birthday to my brother Pierson who turns 18 today. Happy Birthday little brother.

Office Etiquette - A thorough guide

After nearly 3 years in an office admin position (Yes -- I'm suprised I'm still here too) I've learnt a few things about how an office does and doesn't run smoothly. The one key to avoiding stressful deadlines, cat fights and overal office mayhem is and maybe always will be, office staff.

I've developed a few key principles that if adhered to -- could solve almost all workplace tension.

Obey and enjoy.

Principle No. 1 ~ An awareness of office smells

This principle pertains to any smells that arise in the office.

• The food that is consumed by staff members on site. Garlic, tuna etc should be avoided at all costs. While you may enjoy your tuna sandwhich, 90% of the staff HATE the smell of tuna and you will remove yourself from their 'good books' for the rest of the afternoon while your lunch stinks out the lunchroom and perhaps the rest of the office.


• Ladies, even though your killer stiletto's are giving you blisters -- you might be unaware of the peutrid odour which your workmates can now smell after you have kicked off your shoes under your desk!

Principle No. 2 ~ An awareness of stationery supplies and people's attachments to said stationery.
Something to note.... For some unknown reason people are very fascinated and attached to some, if not all, stationery items. While you may not give two hoots about pens, or bulldog clips, or staple removers or post it notes -- others do.

• Keep an eye on your own stationery requirements -- it's not the receptionist's fault if she hasn't come and given your stationery a personal audit every couple of days. If you are about to run out of pens -- do something about it. And don't be upset when the stationery company has something on backorder. You should have handled this a while ago to avoid being without staples.


• In regards to borrowing/stealing others stationery. Depending on your relationship with the colleague the general rule is to NEVER BORROW STATIONERY. Unless you are adament about returning your borrowed items -- most people find it frustrating to have post its stolen without their knowledge and people are still frustrated if you asked to borrow a pen, but still never returned it.

Principle No. 3 ~ An awareness of people's feelings

We all know that feeling when you walk into a room and you can tell that the conversation topic has just been altered because of your presence and it's not a nice feeling.

• If you must gossip about other people in the office -- always always do it outside of the office, on a lunch break (not in the tea room). NEVER on email.


• There is no reason to treat people "below you" as if they are below you.


• Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Being sensitive to political, religious etc discussions as your "views" could be quite offensive.


• Being aware and considerate of staff members dietry or similar conditions when you offer chocolate/lollies around


• "Fundraising" Lollies and chocolate etc -- please do not peer pressure us into buying them.

Shouldn't be too hard to follow right?

P.S Keep desk mess to a minimum... you will send your neat freak colleagues crazy just by looking at what you call 'an ideal working condition'.

Jealous much?

Jealousy typically refers to the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that occur when a person believes a valued relationship is being threatened by a rival. This rival may or may not know that he or she is perceived as a threat.

Jealousy is nasty.

That's all I have to say.

No Air

I was watching So You Think You Can Dance on t.v on Wednesday night and there was this once dance that was just so amazing that I'm still thinking about it now. Katee and Joshua did a routine to that Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown 'No Air' song. I'm beginning to like the song more and more now, despite that it's very sappy. And the dance was sappy. But I liked it.

Cute lyrics.

But how do you expect me to live alone with just me 'Cause my world revolves around you It's so hard for me to breathe

Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air

Can't live, can't breathe with no air

It's how I feel whenever you ain't there It's no air, no air

Got me out here in the water so deep

Tell me how you gonna be without me

If you ain't here, I just can't breathe It's no air, no air

Strange.

One of my best friends is engaged. I'm so excited and happy.

Yet it's so so weird. This is the second of my great friends from High School to get married/engaged. And I have the feeling this is the start of all my friends getting married. And while wedding's are super fun times, expensive and all that. It's just so strange.

But this post is mainly to say -- Congratulations Bec & Nathan. If anyone deserves happiness -- you guys do. :-)

Frustrations.

Well it's been a while since I last posted but I feel I need to vent and this is a good place to do it.

What frustrates me is bad drivers. Recently I've been honked at or flashed by some angry drivers because of me cutting them off or entering a round about too quickly. But -- if they weren't speeding, I would have had plently of time to enter the round about safely. Don't honk me, or flash your lights at me if you were just obeying road rules -- I wouldn't be in your way!!

Things I've learnt from QR

I started my new job on Monday - and part of the whole "getting out of my comfort zone" thing meant that I was going to be taking the train to work. It's approximately a 45 minute train ride - which is enough time to observe several things about people, train travel and life.

I find it entertaining to watch people while I'm riding the train. However I don't always watch people's facial expressions - I find their footwear fascinating. You can tell a lot about a person from the kind of shoes they wear on the train. I've realised there a 3 kinds of people - well women, because men don't wear heels.

1. Women who don't really care what their shoes look like - as long as they are comfortable and can wear them all day long.

2. Women who care what they look like at work - but either have to walk long distances or prefer to be comfortable on the train - therefore wear sneakers or thongs.

3. People who constantly care what they look like and so wear painstakingly high or uncomfortable shoes on the train.

I am yet to decide which kind of person I will be - I started off as a 3 type of person, as most women probably do and have now become a mix of both 1 & 2. I think however after a month of changing over my shoes in the lift thing - I'll probably end up as a 1. And buy some ugly flat shoes.

Love

My thoughts on love..
I borrowed them from Coldplay's 'Swallowed in the Sea'. I bolded the bits I love most.

You cut me down a tree
And brought it back to me
And that's what made me see
Where I was going wrong
You put me on a shelf
And kept me for yourself
I can only blame myself
You can only blame me

And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well, that's where I belong
And you belong to me

And I could write it down
Or spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
Or swallowed in the sea

You put me on a line
And hung me out to dry
And darling that's when I
Decided to go to see you

You cut me down to size
And opened up my eyes
Made me realize
What I could not see

And I could write a book
The one they'll say that shook
The world, and then it took
It took it back from me

And I could write it down
Or spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
And you'll come back to me
Not swallowed in the sea

Ooh...

And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well, that's where I belong
And you belong with me

The streets you're walking on
A thousand houses long
Well, that's where I belong
And you belong with me

Oh what good is it to live
With nothing left to give

Forget but not forgive
Not loving all you see

Oh the streets you're walking on
A thousand houses long
Well that's where I belong
And you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea

You belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea
Yeah, you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea

Alone - A quote.

A quote about loneliness from Donald Miller's book, Blue like Jazz.

Loneliness is something that happens to us, but I think it is something we can move ourselves out of. I think a person who is lonely should dig into a community, give himself to a community, humble himself before his friends, initiate community, teach people to care for each other, love each other. Jesus does not want us floating through space or sitting in front of our televisions. Jesus wants us interacting, eating together, laughing together, praying together. Loneliness is something that came with the fall.
If loving other people is a bit of heaven then certainly isolation is a bit of hell, and to that degree, here on earth, we decide in which state we would like to live.

The Very NEW Year

Happy New Year!

This year will bring in a lot of changes for me, which I am excited about.

Highlights from last year -

Anberlin Concert - Special Mention to AMinda for giving me her ticket. Maybe the best night of 07.
Hillsong Conference - Special thanks to Laura, Casey and JD for making it a splendid week.
Scatter Groups - I will never play taboo again without remembering that crazy night with my Scatter girls.
Tegan's Qld Visit - Special mention goes out to Tegan.
My Birthday - Special mentions to Tegan for coming up for it - and to my lovely friends who bought me Phantom of the Opera tickets.
Car Crash - wasn't really a highlight.. but it was in some ways.

Things I'm looking forward to this year -

Fusion
Phantom of the Opera - Woo!
Moving into my new house with my new housemates!
Starting uni and finally being able to join in on the uni stress conversations. Being able to say "no I can't come out - I have to study"
Getting a new car - that uses much less fuel! Yay!

Things I'm not looking forward to this year -

Deciding on who take with me to Phantom of the Opera
Paying rent for my new house
Actually having to study
Not seeing my family very often

BUT..
I am looking forward to more things than I am dreading - so it's going to be a good year.