Things I find during tidy up time

Hey guys,

So I didn’t intend to post today but while cleaning out one of my drawers, I came across some random stuff which I thought would make for a pretty interesting blog post. 

Here’s some of the more peculiar and cooler stuff that I found:

My high school tie

Idk, I guess my sentimental self never wanted to part with this. But now, five years out of high school, maybe it’s time I did. 

My grade 11 sports day tshirt

For our high school sports day, each class was a different ‘house’ and each house was a country. We’d make banners and tshirts representing our house. In grade 11 my class was New Zealand. Here’s a pic of my personalised golfer:

An album containing photos of my 13th birthday 🎈

I couldn’t help but laugh as I looked back at my brace face self smiling awkwardly into the camera. 

Magazines

A couple of magazines I bought in high school for the sole reason that One Direction was on the cover and inside were their posters. Yes, I went through a directioner phase! #SorryNotSorry

Baby books

You know those generic, computer-generated baby books we all have? The ones where they just alter a few things like your weight and your parents’ names and voilá, you have a baby book dedicated to you and you’re thrilled until you grow up a few years and realise it’s not all that special ‘coz practically everyone has them? Yup those ones.

Above: My not-so-unique storybook

But my parents also created another book for me in which they recorded my personal milestones. Turns out my first word was ‘ma’ and at 9 months I got my first tooth. 
A Disney princess sticker book

I have no idea when or where I even got this from but they’re so cute! I especially love the Snow White ones (duh!).

Farewell and birthday letters/cards from primary school friends

These are always fun to re-read, a wave of nostalgia overcoming me with each letter I unfold.

A rope

Not just any rope, I got this one from a magician named Arthur when my local library hosted a magic show. He was looking for an assitant to perform a trick and little me was the lucky girl dressed in pink whom he called up. The trick was having to hold both ends of a piece of rope and tying a knot without letting go of either end. He let me keep the rope as a souvenir afterwards. 

Surgical gloves and a mask

I’m pretty sure I got this from a podiatrist who gave it to me just for fun. Tbh this reminds me of high school bio lab experiments, back when holding a scalpel between your gloved fingers and dissecting an animal heart made you feel like a potential scientist. I guess if law doesn’t work out maybe I can dabble in science or the medical field…

Whenever I’m cleaning my room I think of this pic:

That’s why what should have been a 20 minute cleaning sesh turned into an hour🙈. 

That’s it for today. Until next time,

Hara xx

Movie Review🎬: Jumanji- Welcome to the Jungle🐆

Hey peeps! Hope everyone’s having a great new year so far!

Last week I kicked off my 2018 with a trip to the movies. I finally got to watch Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the much anticipated sequel to the 1995 film.

When I first heard that there was going to be a second Jumanji movie, I was quite the skeptic. Tbh the first movie frightened me and I didn’t think I wanted to re-live that in a followup. 

But then when I went to watch Overdrive, I saw the trailer and I knew that I would soon be returning to the cinema to watch Jumanji 2.

I like the fact that Jumanji transformed from a board game to a video game. Don’t get me wrong, I personally LOVE board games and in the opening scene when Alex remarks ‘Who even plays board games anymore?, I felt insulted and inwardly screamed at the screen saying ‘ME!’. But I like the technological spin on the board game we’d become so familiar with. I like that the film acknowledges technological advancement but at the same time keeps the spirit of Jumanji alive. 

I like how realistic the whole gaming concept was: each character having strengths and weaknesses, each character having a limited number of lives which are visually depicted, the NPC’s (non-player characters) and their repetitive monologues, the different levels, each presenting different challenges and obstacles. 

The cast (both the actual characters and their avatar counterparts) was talented and well-suited to their roles, especially The Rock who portrayed Dr Smolder Bravestone perfectly. 

The movie was the perfect blend of action and adventure with just the right amount of humour, guaranteeing you a laugh in even the most intense situations. 

It actually kind of reminded me of the Hunger Games in a way: trapped unwillingly in unfamiliar surroundings, desparately trying to figure a way out. But of course, it wasn’t as wicked or perilous.

Owing to the film’s popularity, the cinema was packed so we had to sit towards the front but I learnt that for a 3D movie that’s as action-packed as this one, the experience is a whole lot more immersive if you’re up close. 

My overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Until next time,

Hara 🌈

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 30- Letter to my 2018 self

December 30th, 2017

Day 30: Letter to my 2018 self

Dear 2018 self,
I hope your year is filled with happiness, joy and prosperity. I hope that success follows you with every step you take. 
Set new goals and achieve them. Never be afraid of dreaming too big. Know that the sky’s your limit so reach for the stars. Push yourself and develop a zest for life that can’t be dimmed.

Continue to look at life through the same optimistic lens that you always do. See the glass as half full and not half empty. Always find the positive side of any situation. 

Grow, grow and grow some more. Mentally, spiritually, emotionally. 

With a new year comes the possibility of change. Embrace it. Venture out of your comfort zone, try new things, be hopeful of new possibilities. But at the same time be yourself, be true to who you are.

Dear 2018 self, all the best for the year ahead, I hope it’s the best one yet!
Love, your 2017 self

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 29- the best thing that happened this year

​December 29th, 2017

Day 29: The best thing that happened this year

It’s true that there’s a Disney quote for almost anything and this year bears testament to this particular quote. 

The best thing to happen to me this year was completing my LLB. After all those early mornings where sacrifice came in the form of choosing studying over sleep, after four gruelling years of law school, hundreds of cases learnt, infinite student protests, countless mental breakdowns and one absolutely nerve wracking moot, my hard work, dedication and perseverance finally paid off. 

Though this chapter of my life is now closed, it’s opened many new doors for me, behind which endless possibilities await. And as I sail off into 2018, I can say with confidence that completing my degree was the best thing that happened in 2017. My dream has come true. 

Until tomorrow,

Hara

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 28: Throwback to my favourite post

​December 28th, 2017

Day 28: Throwback to your favourite post

Since it’s the last Thursday of the year and the last Thursday of my 30 Day Challenge, I thought I’d do a throwback to my favourite post of the year. 

My favourite post would have to be my very first one, ‘And at 20 she realised there’s no greater love than travel’. That post marks the start of my blogging journey and is the one I most enjoyed writing. Also, last year yesterday was when I got back from my trip and I’ve been feeling rather nostalgic lately, desperately wishing I could teleport back to the U.A.E. But since I can’t, I’ll do so vicariously through my blog post. 

Here’s the link:

https://herechoedthoughts.wordpress.com/2017/07/06/and-at-20-she-realised-that-theres-no-greater-love-than-travel/

Hope you like reading it as much as I liked writing it. 
Until tomorrow,

Hara

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 27- my favourite Disney quotes

​December 27th, 2017

Day 27: Favourite Disney Quotes

Here’s some of my favourite Disney quotes:

1) The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all – The Emperor, Mulan 

2) You’re never too old to be young- Happy, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 

3) You don’t have to be timid, you must be bold and daring- Lumière, Beauty and the Beast 

4) Life’s not a spectator sport. If watching is all you’re gonna do, then you’re gonna watch your life go by without ya- Gargoyle, Quasimodo 

5) If you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true- Cinderella, Cinderella

6) The human world, it’s a mess- Sebastian, the Little Mermaid

7) When life’s got you down, you know what you gotta do? Just keep swimming -Dory, Finding Nemo

8) You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think- Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh 

9) Don’t just fly, soar -Dumbo, Dumbo 

10) The only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work- Tiana, the Princess and the Frog 

11) Never look back darling, it distracts from the now -Edna, the Incredibles

12) Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one- Grandmother Willow, Pocahontas 

13) Always let your conscience be your guide- Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio 

14) Venture outside your comfort zone, the rewards are worth it-Rapunzel, Tangled 

15) I remember daddy told me “fairytales can come true”. But you’ve gotta make them happen, it all depends on you! -Tiana, the Princess and the Frog

Until tomorrow,

Hara

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 26- my favourite childhood movies

December 26th, 2017

Day 26: My Favourite Childhood Movies

Here’s some of my favourite movies I watched growing up:

1) Cinderella story 

Who doesn’t love a spin on a classic fairytale?😍 This film is all about masked identites. Once upon a time there was a guy named Nomad and a girl named Princeton Girl. But when they meet IRL, the road to Happily Ever After is anything but smooth. 

2) Princess Diaries

Admit it, at some point we were all jealous of Priness Amelia “Mia” Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldi. 

I’ve also always wanted to mattress surf.

3) Big Fat liar 
This movie reminds me of Pinnochio but with a much cooler storyline. It will have you in stitches with all the pranks and the great sense of humor. I love Big Fat Liar as much as Marty Wolf loves Mr Funny Bones. 

P.S. I recently discovered there’s a Netflix sequel to this called Bigger Fatter Liar. Why was I not informed about this?!?! But apparently it doesn’t feature the original cast 🙄.

4) Lizzie Mcguire 

“Hey now, hey now, this is what dreams are made of!🎤”. I said it before and I’ll say it again: I LOVE Lizzie Mcguire. Her dual performance in the movie was superb. I loved the whole secrecy thing and her sneaking off like that while the class was on tour. I really wish Miranda was in it though. 

5) Spy Kids 

Hands up if you wanna be part of the O.S.S. 🙋🙋🙋. 

Carmen and Juni’s gadgets were the coolest and so was their tree house. Can I get an uncle like Machete please?? 

6) Parent Trap 

Ah the classic switcheroo. You gotta love twins Hallie and Annie and their devious scheme to reunite their parents. Everytime I watch it I flinch at the ear piercing scene and I can’t help but wince when the lizzard goes into Meredith’s mouth🙈. 

7) Sleepover 

Alexa Vega and Sara Paxton take sleepover fun to a whole new level! A little school rivalry and competition for the fountain lunch spot. Scavenger hunts are always cool!

8) New York Minute 

My list of favourites would be incomplete if I didn’t include at least one Olsen twins movie. Let’s go with New York Minute since that’s the one I’ve watched most. This movie is full of madness, misfortune and mayhem, all for a single computer chip. True to it’s name, the film is fast-paced and will have your heart thumping with anxiousness as Roxy and Jane try to get themselves out of the sticky situation they’ve accidentally landed themselves in.

9) Freaky Friday 
A whole new take on stepping into someone else’s shoes. This movie is all about love, laughter and perspective.

10) The Perfect Man

Hilary Duff’s attempt to play Cupid whilst dodging the arrow herself makes this film a must see. This movie also inspired me to start blogging so of course I love it. 

What are some of your fave movies? Let me know💫.

Until tomorrow,

Hara

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 25- Lessons learnt from the Animal Kingdom

December 25th, 2017

Day 25: Lessons learnt from the Animal Kingdom

Yesterday my 6 year old cousin spontaneously adopted a cockatiel and, while playing with it, it got me thinking. 

Here’s 5 lessons I’ve learnt from the Animal Kingdom:

1) Have faith in yourself. A bird sitting on a branch isn’t afraid of the branch breaking because it’s trust is not in the branch but in it’s own wings. 

2) Never give up, always chase your dreams. I’ve never actually seen a dog catch it’s tail but that doesn’t stop them from chasing it. 

3) Sometimes change is good. If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.

4) Giraffes taught me that you should always reach for the sky. 

And finally…

5) Ants taught me the value of teamwork. It reminds of the Hellen Keller saying, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much“. 

Until tomorrow,

Hara

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 24- My not-so-realistic bucket list

December 24th, 2017

Day 24: My not so realistic bucket list

Here’s a list of practically impossible things that I’d like to do:

–set a new/smash an old Guinness record. I love watching Guinness Records Smashed or even reading about new world records. My idea for this post actually came while watching the show. 

–go on the Amazing Race. I absolutely LOVE the Amazing Race. I’ve been a fan since I was little. It combines my love for travel with my competitive side and the adrenaline junkie within me. I don’t know who I’d want to race with though. I need someone likeminded and whose competitive spirit matches my own.

Ironically though I did a quiz called Which reality TV show would you lose? and I was told the Amazing Race!

Clearly Zimbio doesn’t know me well 🙄

–go on Who wants to be a millionaire/The Chase/The Weakest Link/Pointless/Tipping Point… practically any general knowledge quiz/game show there is. I love learning new things and putting my general knowledge to the test. I often find myself playing along with the contestants and shouting answers at the TV screen. Needless to say, I’m a huge Trivial Pursuit and 30 seconds fan.

–go on total wipeout. Tbh the wipeout zone terrifies me. But I’ll be happy if I at least make it past the qualifier. 

–become a stuntwoman. I’d love to perform in some adrenaline pumping scenes, to experience the thrill and excitement that comes with being a stuntman/woman.

–be a Disney princess for a month. I previously mentioned that part of my childhood hasn’t left me. My childlike fantasy of wanting to be royalty is one such example. I’d love to know what it’s like to be a Princess at one of the Disney theme parks.

–be part of a flashmob. I blame this one on my sister for making me watch all those dance movies with her while we were growing up. 

–be an extra on a movie set. I think that extras are really important and give a scene a more realistic effect. I love how they add to the bigger picture. Also, I wonder what they talk about and how they make it all seem so natural.

–be a secret agent (no not like Perry the platypus, more like special agent G. Callen). My love for crime shows is no secret. It’s created this desire to become a special agent, flashing a badge, holstering a gun and screaming ‘federal agent’ or ‘FBI’ right before you kick down a door and take down the bad guys.

So there you have it: my not so realistic bucket list. 

Ciao for now,

Hara

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 21- What I ate today

​December 23rd, 2017

Day 23: What you ate today

I’m not one who’s big on eating. In fact, I often forget to eat lunch or supper and, when I’m studying, that takes precedence over food and I find myself eating breakfast around midday. 
Anywho, here’s what I ate today:

Breakfast:

Peanut butter toast

Lunch:

Chicken nachos + nutella mikshake

Supper:

Chicken and mushroom sub + ice cream for dessert
Until tomorrow,

Hara