It has been a hot minute since I did a monthly journal as I took a break over Christmas but they are back! I am going to slightly combine my Christmas break in with this month because to be honest it was a big blur.

The Lows

It feels right to start with lows this month due to the events of this month. Over the break I must admit I was pretty ignorant to what was happening in the south of the country. I was away & not consuming much media at all which meant I was able to be ignorant. It wasn’t until the weekend I got home that it hit like a tonne of bricks, the weight and significance of the bushfires. I am so incredibly sad for those who have lost homes, pets or family. I am so proud of those who are risking their lives to save homes, land & lives of both people and animals. I am so angry at our leaders response and attitude towards it. For more information about the bushfires, resources are at the bottom of this blog post.

There are no lows that even come close to the devastation of the above but life does go on and funny little shitty things still happen. I thought I found the perfect beach spot until my biggest fear came lurking out of the rocks - a water dragon. Had to vacate immediately. Jan is a short work month so that with the combination of rainy days knocking out shooting & last minute changes to briefs meant I was under the pump more than usual.

The Highs

I had about a week and a half by the ocean with my family over the Christmas which meant a whole lot of eating, swimming & getting my dog fix with my brother’s dogs. After months of what seemed like zero rain, we woke up on Christmas Day to a heavy pour which was so lovely to hear & smell. While I was away I really stayed off socials, so I would only come on to post then put my phone away which allowed me a much needed break after the end of year craziness.

Then it was back to Brisbane & back to work. Unlike other years, January was already booked out with work so I knew I had to snap out of holiday mode pretty damn fast. We had a content shoot that had been in the works for a few months on location which was so much fun to create. As exhausting as this month has been, client feedback has really been keeping me on a high this month. I am so stoked that I am typing this on January 30, managing to meet every deadline considering the set backs and delays we had. To make it even better, I had no major panic moments throughout the month even though some hurdles were thrown my way.

Finally bought a film camera so I no longer have to buy disposables & I even found a dress that I have been obsessing over on eBay!

Holiday Reading

I read two books over the last month. Firstly I read She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey. They are two of the women journalists from the New York Times that investigated and broke the Harvey Weinstein story that birthed the Me Too movement. Sexual harassment & assault is a topic I find extremely interesting so I really enjoyed this read. It gave great insight into the systems that allow abuse of power to exist & lack of justice for victims.

Then I read Expectation by Anna Hope. It is a fiction novel with the points of view of three female friends. It explores the complexity of female friendship and the expectations of the women our younger selves thought we would grow up to be and the reality. Just like the book three women, I found that I needed to get used to the book not only being split into 3 character’s point of view but also a timeline that skips around. Other than that, I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it if your mid 20’s or older.

What I Bought This Month

Let’s just say that I definitely am not currently doing a No-Buy! First up I bought a film camera with the help of Michael (the researching expert). We ended up going with the Konica Big Mini which is comparable to the Olympus Mju ii but I preferred the design of the Konica. Don’t take this as a recommendation because I haven’t got any extensive use out of it yet. I went a little full on with magazines this month, picking up Love Want, Design Anthology, Lula & sourcing a Vogue Italia. Fashion wise, I only yesterday won a dress on eBay by the brand Aje that I had been eyeing off last year. You know what eBay is like though so I am holding my breath until it arrives. On the home front I also made a wine glass purchase. I have been wanting some Ferm Living glasses for ages and I finally took the plunge while Design Stuff had 15% off over the long weekend. Now I just need to buy wine!

Monthly Favourites

Skincare product… Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF 50+
Makeup product… Clinique Chubby Stick in Amp’d Up Apple
Nespresso Capsule… Flat White Over Ice. Stocking up so that I don’t miss it when it sells out
Song on repeat… Gimme all your love - Alabama Shakes
Watch… Terrace House Boys & Girls In The City
Podcast…A Grown Up’s Guide To Heart Break ep from After Work Drinks

Speak soon, Jasmine

Resources.

For an overview on the bushfires I’d recommend listening to the following podcasts on your way to work:
Why Australia is Burning - The Daily (NYT)
’It’s unimaginable’: The Australian Bushfires - Today In Focus
Our House Is On Fire - After Work Drinks
To find out how you can help, read this article.

January Journal