Today marks another year older for me and I can't say I'm exactly thrilled about it! Long gone are the days I'd spend the whole of September dying in anticipation for my birthday, but hey, at least it's an excuse to treat yourself and splurge on presents! I bought myself some Bose noise cancelling headphones and I am so in love with them! They made my flight back to Perth so much more enjoyable (I actually love flying though) and I'm so happy to be back home for the first time in almost a year. I'll most likely be moving back in 2017, though I will miss Melbourne so, so much. I wish it were possible to live in two cities.
This month also marked the beginning of spring, but it sure as hell hasn't felt like it. I expect dreary weather in Melbourne, but I did not expect to come back home to Perth's coldest spring in 22 years! It's so sad. I actually regret not bringing more jumpers with me; I was feeling a little too hopeful with the warm weather outfits I packed!
Earlier in September, I met Divya of The Conscience Fund during her travels around Australia and we had the loveliest evening together! I'm not going to lie, I always feel a little nervous meeting online friends for the first time, but when I actually do, I can't remember why because it never feels like you're only just meeting this person. It feels like you're catching up with an old friend who you haven't seen in a long time and it's always so nice. It was the cutest thing when she told me she was fangirling and I'm so happy she could make the time to squeeze in a meet up with me. It was my first time meeting a blog friend from overseas too and I can't wait to go to India one day and catch up again!
It really is incredible how you can become friends with the people you talk to from behind a screen. I met up with Jennifer of Amour JNFR just a couple of days ago and in the few years I've known her, she quickly went from a blogger I talk to on the Internet to being one of my closest friends ever. This woman absolutely spoiled me for my birthday; Jo Malone and Tom Ford goodies, a visit to The Cat Cafe Puurth (I love that play on words!) and a delicious lunch at Architects and Heroes. She was at my house until midnight and in the 14 hours we spent together, I don't think we stopped talking once! I feel so lucky and proud to have such awesome girls in my life - I love that my friendships are so easy and effortless.
Music
September brought about some solid new music releases. My housemate got me into Lust for Youth, whose Compassion album was a really good listen, as was Still Corner's, Dead Blue, and S U R V I V E's new record, RR7349. If you love your electronic, synthy and '80s-sounding music, I can't recommend these albums enough! Two of the four members of S U R V I V E, Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, are actually the masterminds behind the insanely good music featured in Stranger Things, so if you dig the haunting music of this show, you'll definitely dig this band too.
How to Dress Well's new album, Care, and Local Natives', Sunlit Youth, were two really impressive releases as well. In fact, I liked Local Natives' album so much more than I expected to, especially because their previous album wasn't all that memorable. I also really enjoyed Warpaint's, Heads Up, though I can't say it's my favourite album of theirs. I'm going to feature all my favourite songs of the month in October's playlist because today I bring you my spring playlist! I was so excited to bid farewell to winter by putting this together. Unfortunately, it's not very fitting with the weather just yet, but nevertheless, these songs make me dream of bright blue skies, flowers blooming and the sun peering through the green tree leaves. It's got chilled out vibes because that's the kind of music I'm into and if you give it a listen, I hope you enjoy! I'm also already working on my summer playlist because I'm absolutely fanging for beautiful 30 degree heat!
Film and television
I didn't watch any movies at all this month because Stranger Things and Orange is the New Black consumed me for the whole of September. I'm now all caught up on both shows and I need new seasons now! I really can't get enough of the music on Stranger Things; I listened to both Volumes 1 and 2 of the score and I'm even thinking of putting together my own playlist of songs that remind me of the show. I love me some '80s-inspired synth. I love how the show is so authentic to the era, both aesthetically and musically, and it's incredible to see how it's already developed such a cult following. I have high hopes for season 2. I find my feelings for Orange is the New Black always chopping and changing. Sometimes I love how hectic this show gets, other times, it's quite difficult to watch the oppression, misogyny and racism these women face. The sad thing is that this is real life for many people, but I guess it's also good that these heavy issues are being depicted in mainstream media. Without trying to spoil anything, how insane was that finale?! My favourite character!
The fabulous cast of Will & Grace reunited to play their former characters in a nine minute skit all about the 2016 US Presidential Election just a few days ago! This show ended in 2006, but watching this was like literally no time had passed and even ten years on, the actors slid so easily into their old characters. Also, the photos they all posted on social media had my fangirl heart screaming. I miss '90s/early 2000s television so much!
Speaking of early 2000s, my housemate and I finished rewatching The O.C. this month too. Upon my second watch, my feelings towards the show haven't changed too dramatically, it's still my favourite teen drama, though Julie has surpassed Seth as my favourite character and I love Summer so much more than I remember. Her "Ew!" catchphrase is still so iconic even after all these years. I love Kiki and Juju as BFFs more than Marissa and Summer, and Ryan and Taylor ending up together still makes no sense to me. It felt so forced and Taylor actually makes me miss Marissa! Also, we can't forget the great music of The O.C., which was almost like a whole other character itself.
Around the web
- 12 Extremely Satisfying GIFs of Things Being Cut by Knives on Buzzfeed.
- Sydney band, The Preatures, released a new song called I Know a Girl and it's so good!
- If you dig the music on Stranger Things as much as I do, take a read of Pitchfork's Inside the Spellbinding Sound of "Stranger Things". Wiz Khalifa's sample and the fan-made Childish Gambino mash up of the theme song are dope too.
- Still on Stranger Things, the theory that Steve Harrington and Jean-Ralphio from Parks and Recreation are father and son is hilarious. I love when fandoms collide!
- Chet Faker is no more and is now going by his real name, Nick Murphy. His new song, Fear Less, is awesome and I'm all for the new direction in Nick's music.
- Röyksopp have a new song out called Never Ever and I am forever in love with everything this band does.
- Anna launched her new blog, This Last Moment, this month and it's absolutely beautiful.
- Maddie of Whisky Tango Flat White and Coline of Conflicted Beauty expressed their sentiments on self-care/life advice blog posts and I'm so glad to see bloggers speaking up about how problematic they are. Read their posts, Three Reasons Why Self-Improvement Posts are Ridiculous and Why Self-Care Should NOT Be Your Top Priority, respectively.
- Rebecca of From Roses wrote about The Fear of Being Boring, which I feel is something a lot of introverts can relate to. My idea of fun changed dramatically from my early twenties to my late twenties, and if staying in is my going out, then that's no one's business but my own.
- Chairlift are touring Australia in December and I'm so excited! I found this cover they did of Beyoncé's, Party, and it's so full of joy.
- Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox played a bonus round on Celebrity Name Game in the category of Friends. This show and this cast will always make my heart explode and make me feel like a crazy fangirl.