I just recently discovered the wonderful Australian blog, Smaggle and have been enjoying reading Carly’s daily posts about life in general. This week she posted the list below with her answers (which was originally inspired by Pip from Meet Me at Mike’s) and invited other bloggers to take the challenge and complete it themselves. I thought it would be a fun way for new readers and old (hi family!) to get to know me a little better. So here it is: taking stock in April 2015.

Making: money freelance writing.

Cooking: Mexican, my favourite. The fact I am cooking at all is a big deal, because I don’t enjoy it much at all (sorry future husband and children).

Drinking: Pepsi Max. It’s an addiction.

Reading: plenty of books for my 2015 Reading Challenge (January and February and March).

Wanting: to see my Vancouver friends again. I miss them all and our weekly adventures.

Looking: forward to life in Melbourne. I am excited to find a new job, meet new people and experience a new city life.

Playing: with my computer because it has basically become my child since I purchased it two months ago.

Deciding: what to pack for Melbourne is very difficult. You’d think I’d be used to moving by now as this is the fourth city I’ve lived in in five years, but it doesn’t get easier, no matter what anyone says.

Wishing: that summer in Townsville wouldn’t last so long. My parents thought I was exaggerating that the hot weather here lasts forever, but it has only just gotten slightly less humid, but the temperatures are still above 30°C every day.

Enjoying: LIFE.

Waiting: for all of my favourite TV shows to finish in May so I can binge-watch the latest seasons. Anyone else doing this? I am excited for Arrow (Amell is gorgeous), Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and Nashville to name just a few.

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Liking: yoga. I have been doing regular workouts at home and have found myself slowly getting more flexible, which is awesome!

Wondering: how I can get famous and be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Her celebrity interviews are just the best.

Loving: my parents for putting up with me after coming home and spending nearly five months parked at their dining room table daily.

Pondering: what I am going to wear to a wedding next weekend. I kind of want to buy a new dress.

Considering: purchasing a FitBit device, or something similar, to track my steps as I walk my way around Melbourne.

Buying: probably a lot of autumn/winter layering clothes when I get to Melbourne because my wardrobe is pretty sparse.

Watching: way too many TV shows, because I am not addicted to enough already. I finished watching How to Get Away with Murder and Season 1 of Reign recently. Can Shonda Rhimes do wrong in TV land? I think not.

Hoping: I find a job quickly in Melbourne.

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Marvelling: at the sexiest man alive, Chris Hemsworth. I am loving the fact he is doing a lot of press currently for Avengers.

Cringing: over chin pimples, which won’t leave me alone. Damn you, hormones!

Needing: to finish writing my last assignment for my Travel Writing Course, but I have been procrastinating.

Questioning: what my next blog post is going to be about.

Smelling: like Sarah Jessica Parker. Her perfume is the right amount of sweetness and subtleness.

Wearing: the same denim shorts for too many months.

Following: too many bloggers probably but I love reading about other people’s travels, and picking up fashion and beauty tips too. I look forward to reading new blog posts each morning — am I the only one?

Noticing: my weight slowly decrease after enjoying my time overseas a little too much.

Knowing: I will be reunited with my extended family in May at my cousin’s wedding makes me happy. I haven’t seen many of them for two years (including by brother), so it will be a great catch-up.

Thinking: too much. My brain never shuts off sometimes.

Admiring: my team, the North Queensland Cowboys, who started the rugby league season with three losses, but followed this with three wonderful wins. Go boys!

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Sorting: my life and packing it away to begin another new journey. If I begin to talk about moving again, you are all allowed to stop me.

Getting: shorter hair even though I told myself I was going to grow it. I change my mind too often.

Bookmarking: blog posts I have read recently about podcasts. I have not gotten into podcasts yet, but I think this is about to change.

Coveting: a new handbag. I am hunting for one that is comfortable for walking and carrying my DSLR.

Disliking: packing and trying to sort through my massive pile of clothes. I was ruthless and you should have seen the bags I took to Vinnies.

Opening: my backpack and suitcase when I get to Melbourne and thinking “this is my life.”

Giggling: at Lip Sync Battle. Anne Hathaway’s rendition of Wrecking Ball was amazing, and then Anna Kendrick lip synced to One Direction’s Steal My Girl. If you haven’t discovered this show yet, subscribe to their YouTube channel now and make sure you also look at Emma Stone versus Jimmy Fallon.

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Feeling: excited about the future and what opportunities it holds for me.

Snacking: on Natural Confectionery lollies now I am home in Australia. It is funny the things you miss, but these delights and Promite were the two things I was happy to have back in my life.

Wishing: that Vancouver could just move its pretty self closer to me so I could live there forever, happily ever after.

Helping: my community by giving blood as soon as I get to Melbourne. It has been too long between donations (obviously, cos I wasn’t here!) but I need to get back into the rhythm of donating once every three months.

Hearing: Mumford and Sons’ new song Believe and getting excited for their album release now. Those men can do no wrong.

If you want to “take stock” yourself, click on the Smaggle or Meet Me at Mike links above!