well, see ya

I can't think of a single thing to say that will sum up how amazing this month has been. It has been a month of growth and discovery for me and I hope you've enjoyed coming on this journey with me.

My exams start tomorrow, and yes, I will be wearing shorts.

I'm ending the month with a reminder of a very special day in my life. This is my bridemaid dress from my sister's wedding way back at the beginning of the year.

Thank you to the nzgcf for allowing me to do this and supporting me. Thank you to Natalie, Asia, Victoria and Mum for lending me dresses. Thank you to those who convinced me to wear a different dress every day, not just the same dresses over and over. But most of all, thanks to all of you for your extreme generosity.

I'm ending the month with $666 in donations, but I will obviously still be accepting donations even after the challenge is officially over.

Love you all

xx Grace

we are all ninjas

A ninja is someone who comes out of nowhere to kick butt. Did you know that in real life, ninjas do not, in fact, dress all in black. Because the point of a ninja is to go unnoticed, and nothing is more noticable than a guy dressed in a ninja costume. If you ever encountered a real life ninja, they would look just like you or I.

Well here's what I think. I think we're all ninjas. Sooner or later, we're all going to step out of our real lives and kick butt. We're going to go ninja by getting A+ for an essay. Or go ninja by getting an interview at your dream job. Or go ninja raising over $600 for the NZGCF.

That's you guys. That's why you're ninjas. You kicked butt on this. I'm blown away by your ninjaness.

Just today and tomorrow left. And guess what? I DON'T HAVE A DRESS FOR TOMMORROW! Can you help me out please?

This one I bought when on holiday in Wellington with the lovely Laura (check out her new accessory brand Elle Elvish) from a shop called Indeja. It contains the most gorgeous and exotic clothing. I think this dress matches my henna tattoo.

xx Grace

fake last day

I am officially sick of my fringe. You may have noticed that over the month it has been getting longer and messier. I was trying to grow it out, to give myself some more options next time I get it cut. But I'm sick of it. So we'll see how long I last before I just cut it myself.

This is the dress from the pink 'logo' picture to the left. I thought it was time to bring this one out. I actually really like this dress, but never have anywhere fancy enough to wear it to. But today I am working in the Box Office, which means I need to wear black... and this is my last remaining black dress!

I've decided that after seeing the gorgeous tomboy Danielle win New Zealand's Next Top Model (unfortunately beating my favourite Elza) that I'm going to enter the next cycle of the show. You've seen from all my fabulous poses that I'd be a perfect model, right? Never mind that the minimum height is 170cm and I barely reach 159, I'd still beat everyone else. I wonder if NZNTM would put me on as a social experiment... what would all these skinny rabid girls do if they were competing against a short 'plus-size' model?

Only two more days to go after today... you'll remember that I'm doing the first two days of November too, because I missed the first two days of October. I'd like to say another huge giant thank you to everyone who has donated so far. The donations have been far more than I ever thought possible, and it's because of the generosity of you guys. So thank you. I'm absolutely ecstatic that together we've raised this much for NZGCF, but it's not just about the money, it's about awareness as well. Girls, I'd like to ask again for you to head to the website and check out the symptoms of gynaecological cancers.

I will, of course, still be accepting donations online after the challenge has finished!

xx Grace

P.S. Happy Halloween! No costume for me today...

P.P.S What a long blog today!

festivals of lights

Cabaret was a.ma.zing, but with some usual Auckland Theatre Company ick moments. If I described any of them, anyone with Net Nanny would no longer be able to view this blog. It was only the second night, so there were some dodgy moments with singing and sound, but I'd say that'll clear up as the season wears on. Go see it and find out for yourself, please.

This dress is best known for its appearance at the 2008 work Christmas party, a night of drunken bliss and inappropriate superiors. After that day it was put away in the wardrobe, never to be seen again... UNTIL TODAY...

It seemed a bit to dressy for sitting around studying, so I've paired it with these gorgeous grey slippers all the way from a London supermarket.

I have to find just three more dresses. My days are numbered. We're counting down. Not long to go now.

Tonight is Diwali Festival and Brooke Fraser... do do do do do do do do do do.

xx Grace

what good is sitting alone in your room?

I raided Mum's wardrobe again for this maxi dress, which is of course way too long for my short self.

I'll be tripping over it all day!

Tonight I'm saying goodbye to a friend of mine. Clare's heading back home to the UK, and we'll miss her at work! I'm also seeing the musical Cabaret... that should cheer me up, huh.

xx Grace

a brownie does a good turn every day

 I promise to do my best to love God, to serve the Queen and my country, to help people at all times and to keep the Brownie law.

Back in the day, I was a Brownie Guide. This super brown dress reminds me of those days dressing up in my brown tunic and heading off to Brownies. I still shake hands with my left hand instead of my right, because you'd be doing the Brownie salute with your right hand and shaking hands with your left.

Last night I got home (very late) from catching up with some old and new work people, to discover a pile of Flagstaff's (the local paper) on the stairs. I was interviewed for this last week and the paper has just come out this morning. I've included it below for your perusal.

xx Grace

the picture palace

So last night Natalie and I headed out to the official opening of the Victoria Theatre in Devonport, and saw the first movie to be played there.

I'm looking forward to seeing this become a great landmark in Devonport, because it is an absolutely gorgeous building and deserves the attention it's now getting.

There is one thing that makes me sad. When I was growing up, the Vic was a bright pastel flag welcoming you to Devonport. I've always remembered it as being painted bright yellow and blue and pink. A couple of weeks ago, however, it was painted a very bland whitish colour, which makes it seem a lot more blah than when it was multi-coloured. I definitely don't think it has the same appeal as before.

I think the change in colour probably has some historical reason behind it - perhaps this was the original colour of the theatre?

This dress is another Melbourne jobby, notable for the time I crazily danced in the Speigeltent to the sound of a Slavic five-piece band with the wonderful Kinloch and the gorgeous Mauve... both of whom have left me for far shores.

xx Grace

Then

Now