What's in a name..

You're probably wondering what this is going to be about and I don't blame you because I would probably be as well ;) But I'm going to be talking about my blog name because I promise you that there is a reason behind it..
So what's in the name 'Life Through the Eyes of the Young'? If I put it simply, I wanted a blog that people around my age could relate to but I also wanted something that showed what real life can really be like for someone a few short years away from their twenties. I know that you're thinking that there are heaps of blogs out there that are written by people my age but majority of them are written by those that are travelling or are from really privileged backgrounds so I wanted to give people an insight into what I like to think of as the ordinary life lived extraordinarily.
On top of all of this, I also think that a large number of blogs about life are written by people who are in a relationship or have their own little family and as a blog reader, I can actually find it quite overwhelming to look at how accomplished some people are. I know that there's a bit of an age gap between myself and everyone else who has a life blog and I still have to remind myself that and that it's okay to be where I am in life today because everything always happens for a reason and things will eventually work themselves out and prove to me why certain things didn't work out.
And the last main reason for this name is that I really do think that this age group is majorly marginalised! We're at that awkward stage where we're treated like children but expected to act like adults; for goodness sake, last year I had to ask for permission to go to the bathroom but now I'm expected to know what I want to do for the rest of my life so how is that even fair. It's that age where people tell us that we have no reason to complain and say that life is awful because we just "haven't experienced enough of it" and believe me when I say that I really understand that but life still can be difficult and we're allowed to say that.
Truth be told, I know that this name will eventually change as I go through different stages of life but for now it will stay.
So this is our place to be real and for everyone to understand and also be a part of and even though this blog is hidden in a sea of others, I really do hope that one day it'll be a place for people to sit back and relax, laugh and enjoy because even though life can be hard... it can really be very beautiful.

Lots of love

Jordyn xx

Life Lately - December Edition

Like I said in my last post, I haven't been able to post anything for a while because of the internet and I sound like a broken record saying that but It's seriously driving me bonkers! Given that it's been a good couple of weeks since I last wrote something, a lot has happened so let's get started....


Well I can honestly say that I had a really uneventful end to my November. My sister and her partner, Kyal, went to Melbourne for 10 days so my mum and I babysat their not so little puppy Bebe. Even though during her stay we had to say good bye to a remote control, a cane draw and 5 pairs of shoes (I cried real tears guys) it was really quite fun but mum would definitely beg to differ..

On the 27th of November, I had to get up at an unreal time to catch a bus into the city so that I could get my first aid certificate for before my course starts in late January. I was really dreading it because it was 8.5 hours but it actually flew by and I met some amazing people and we had a great instructor as well who made it interesting and fun..

The teacher would give us cards and we would join up with a partner and someone would act out what was on the card while the other one had to treat them. I was always given the ones that required either a head wrap or a seizure, which wasn't the easiest thing to act out and the teacher actually hung around me so that he could watch me act it out haha 

That night I went out with my cousin to "Christmas shop" but we really didn't buy any apart from one haha what we did do was eat at Pancake Manor and my goodness, it was so good. We followed that up by a holiday drink at Starbucks. Bonnie took photos but I literally took none, woops

On December 4th, I went over to my nan's place to wish them luck on their holiday because my nan, auntie and two cousins were going on a two week cruise to New Zealand so jealousy kicked in haha I did however have plans that day to head over to my Baba's place for her to teach me how to make baklava...

This was the end result and it tasted so good! 

That night I went out with my Dad and his fiance for dinner and a movie. I failed at taking pictures again haha but it was such a fun night! We watched Mockingjay Part II and it was worth the wait, I actually got teary in a few parts of this movie because I read the books and was just so happy with actually seeing how things worked out for the character.

On December 8th, I went out with a close friend to shop for a dress that I needed by the next day for a photo shoot with my sister and I actually bought a gift for someone so that deserves a round of applause ;)

The next day, my sister and I had photos taken at Currumbin by two photographers, Mandie and Bec. Let me just say that if you're looking for photographers to capture some beautiful moments then definitely get these two to do it because they create such a comfortable and funny atmosphere and it just makes the whole process effortless. And on top of all of this, they have amazing prices


Just a sneak peak before a separate post later on...

On the Thursday, I got out of bed with a spring in my step and attempted to brush the teasing and hairspray out of my hair and went out with one of my favourite people in the world for breakfast and a stay-at-home movie.
The morning took an unexpected turn when we were driving along laughing and singing and then all of a sudden we found two dogs just wondering the street so we saved some dogs and drove them back to their worried owner..

I didn't get any photos of our breakfast because we were so bloody hungry but we did get this one before we decided to watch 'If I Stay'..

Even though I didn't exactly do much on Saturday after I finished work, I did have probably one of the best nights because I did nothing except for watch TV, which ended up having my two favourite Christmas movies: 'Elf' and 'Deck the Halls' one after the other. This was when I snapped this shot that I gave an explanation for in the last post ..

This photo will never get old, just zoom up on his face and thank me later ;) 

I hope you all are having a fantastic December filled with everything merry and jolly.


Lots of love

Jordyn xx

Tis' the Season to be Jolly

How on Earth is it half way through December?! Am I honestly the only one who feels like it was just April? Now let me share a secret with you...... I LOVE Christmas!!! I LOVE the atmosphere! I LOVE the decorations and the cooking and making your house oh so sparkly! I LOVE the music and I type this exact line while I listen to 'Baby it's Cold Outside', which is kind of ironic considering that I'm inside in front of the air conditioning because it feels like I'm experiencing the full fury of hell if I take a step outside! And most of all... I LOVE spending time with my family and friends. It's around this time of year as well that everyone starts to reflect back on their year and look at everything that they've been blessed with. Sometimes this can be hard though especially if you feel like the year crumbled beneath you and if I'm being honest with you, I thought that until yesterday when I was driving home; I don't know what came over me but all of the sudden I felt so thankful for everything that has happened this year, both the blessings and the lessons. I got my license, I started working, I found myself and started to understand what career suited me the most, my faith in the Lord strengthened and I started to trust him and his plan for me, I got accepted into a course, which is starting next year and  relationships/friendships strengthened and I became closer with the ones I love more than anything. I guess what I'm trying to say is that everyone has something to be thankful for and I guarantee you that if you stop whatever you're doing for a moment and think about your blessings, you'll be able to name a few and that means that you're already an incredibly lucky person. So if you're ever feeling overwhelmed and knocked down, just take a deep breath and think about your blessings and just think to yourself that what doesn't kill you will always make you a stronger person.
Let's get back to the post about being merry and jolly...
I know that I haven't posted anything in a while but our lovely (read: incredibly frustrating!!!!) internet decided shut itself down for a few weeks but it's up and running again now so all is good haha
Anyway, we'll definitely be talking about all things Christmas now ;)

My Christmas tree has been up since the 2nd of December, which is actually when I wrote this post haha

This photo will forever be my favourite, he looks so unimpressed with me but I swear that he is a very happy cat because moments before I took this photo he was lying under the Christmas tree watching the lights! And as for the Christmas excitement, I think it's safe to say that I'm excited enough for the both of us haha

You're seeing this right, I am indeed 18 years old and my Nan still buys me an advent calender but in my defence, my sister's 20 and still gets one

This year I decided to make my own wreath for the front door and two and a half hours later, I had this and it is so big and I LOVE it!!!! 

As well as all of this, I also put these swoon-worthy figurines on the dining room table that I also LOVE!! Are you starting to see the pattern yet with my love of anything Christmas ;) 

Even though the Christmas season is definitely well upon us, I'm still way WAY behind on my Christmas shopping, I have tried to finish it but I keep getting distracted by clothes and shoes and anything else haha 

I've also been privileged to go out with friends a lot this December, which I've adored and will be doing a life lately post within the next couple of days so stay tuned for that! Also, my sister and I had photos taken, which I'll also be sharing with you all when I get all of them :))

HAPPY DECEMBER!!! 

Lots of love 

Jordyn xx

Dealing with loss

This is a post that I've been holding onto for a while and has made me question whether or not to publish it but I decided to because I feel like it's something that we can all relate to whether it be now or something that has happened in the past.
Dealing with loss is something that we'll all experience at some point in our life and that could be the loss of a family member or a friend. By loss, I'm not just referring to death but also including things like the loss of a friendship or relationship. Previously I've said that this year has been filled with a few obstacles and if I'm being openly honest with you, it all kind of began last year. When I was attempting to complete Year 12, I was also dealing with a sick family member so that made my year a little more "bumpy" than I would've liked but I got through it and I finished my schooling life. At the beginning of this year, I unfortunately lost that family member and that led to a few other family problems and personal problems that I'll keep private and this is basically the reason why I decided to not study this year and that's okay. I truly believe that I made the best decision to hold off on university because my idea of the 'ideal career' has changed and I feel that I now have a better grasp on how I want to spend my life work wise. I know for a fact that if I had begun studying at the beginning of this year, I wouldn't have finished it because I had so much unfinished business and other things to deal with and I used to be completely against taking a gap year but now I would actually recommend it.
Anyway let's get back to the point, loss and grief is something that is swept under the rug and people don't talk about it and that makes it a lot worse because you end up bottling everything up and then exploding, which can push people away when you should really be keeping people close. I think people get the idea of "quick mourning" from movies and TV series because if you actually think about it, a large number of those shows show the initial stage where they're all in disbelief but seem to skip the rest of it and it's so wrong!
I've also realised that after you've experienced the loss of someone close to you, the loss of another person is a lot more emotional and you get more worked up over their death than what you typically used to. As I've said before, I'm an avid blog reader and one of my favourite blogs to read used to be 'A Blonde Ambition' but the writer of that blog recently passed away in July and I took her death a lot harder than what I ever thought was possible considering the fact that I had never met her. She unfortunately left behind her husband, Stephen, and two little girls, Caroline and Ainsley who were just babies. Leslie had made her readers aware of her health problems but I know that everyone was so shocked when the news came out and I pray for her family every day. Leslie was and still is such an inspiration to me, I found her love for the Lord and the unconditional love for her family to be truly amazing and she touched my life just like she did to many others and I'm truly heartbroken by such a tragedy. A GoFundMe account has been set up to start a college fund for Caroline and Ainsley and it'd mean so much to their sweet family if anyone even considered donating.

Even though people claim that society is improving when it comes to support and comfort, I beg to differ. I think people should be able to openly say that they're hurting because it's a part of life and people need to stop acting like it's something that doesn't matter. So ... I'm Jordyn and I am comfortable telling you all that I'm still hurting from the loss of both a beloved family member and sweet Leslie and I still miss them more than words can ever describe but do you know what.... that's okay

Due to a little of this post being dedicated to Leslie, I think it's only fitting that I end this post the way that she always ended hers.

Be Blessed Lovelies

Something New

Am I the only one that automatically started singing the 'High School Musical' song when reading this title? I know you all did so let's just move on ;) Anyway, if you read my confessional Friday yesterday you'd see that I made a tiny little announcement at the end in which I said that I got into a course that I've been wanting to be a part of for about 6 months now. I am so thrilled about finally starting the next chapter of my life; I've been working full time since I graduated school a year ago (still blows my mind by the way haha) and even though I love earning a bit of money, I was starting to feel like I was at a stand still and I needed a change. So long story short, being accepted into this program couldn't have come at a better time! To get into this program, I needed to submit an application and pass that stage, I then got asked to sit an exam and I needed to reach a certain level for each section to pass the exam and be offered an interview; after spending a week stressing, I finally gave in and called them, because apparently I have zero patience, and got offered an interview. After sitting through the interview, I was offered a place in the course on the spot and so began this wonderful change in my life. I'll always be amazed at God's sweet, sweet hand in all of this and I feel like after a long year filled with many obstacles, I can really appreciate any blessings that come my way and I feel as though I am much more grateful.

So now the countdown is on and in nine and a half weeks, I'll be starting a once in a lifetime journey and I cannot wait!! I am also so excited to share this experience with you all and I hope to support any of you that are also going through the same thing. 

Happy Saturday to you all! 

Lots of love,

Jordyn xx

Confessional Friday

Hello ladies and gents! What great week this has been and I am welcoming the weekend with open arms as I'm sure you are as well. But as I always do (besides the past two Fridays haha), it's time to confess so take that filter out of your mouth and spill the beans...

1. I confess that the only way that I convinced myself to get up on Monday morning was by telling myself that I could take a nap in 8 hours time. What can I say.... I obviously wasn't ready for the week ;)

2. I confess that I actually changed tops in a busy car park where I could be seen at every angle but I managed to do it without showing skin; I will admit that I felt like I was on top of the world afterwards haha

3. I confess that I actually cried this morning when I realised that it has been exactly one year to the day that I graduated! I don't know why it's so sad because I certainly haven't lost any of my friends from school but it just hit me hard.

4. I confess that I got my Baba to pack extra food for me when I visited her on Tuesday, I shared it of course ;)


That's me done! So you know what that means, start your confessing!

Also, I'd just love to announce that I passed my exam with flying colours and will now be studying nursing starting January 2016!! This should lead me to midwifery, which is my ultimate goal but I am so thankful to be 1 of 50 that were accepted into this unique program so thank you for all of your prayers! God is good :))

Lots of love

Jordyn xx

Life Lately....

Well..... long time, no hear! I hope you  all have had a blessed couple of weeks and that it has been filled with love from your family and friends. I feel like it has been a quiet fortnight here but when I look back on it, it was really quite action packed.
To start off this catch up, I'm gonna flashback to the weekend of the 6th of November. A couple of months ago, my friend Rach and I planned a weekend away with the girls to celebrate Tamika and Olivia's recent birthdays (one on October 7th and the other on November 5th)  so we booked an apartment at Burleigh Heads and the four of us (we were missing Heidi!) headed down on the Friday afternoon. What a fun car ride that was! I nominated myself as designated driver because I'm not a big drinker so watching the girls muck around in the car and singing so so so loudly on the way down was priceless! The weekend was filled with hanging out in the apartment, time at the beach attempting to get a tan (this didn't work out well for someone *cough* Olivia *cough*) and a night out that may have been filled with too many drinks haha.

Rach and I when we were out for dinner on the Saturday night. By looking at the next two photos, you can see that taking nice photos together is not our strong point ;) 

Mika and I waiting for the other two to wake up on Saturday morning 

I sent this photo to my mum after she told me that it was hailing back in Brisbane, what a change in weather!!

You can't see it on all of us but for a couple of us, this was the first time that we got "stamped" at a club

A few of the Polaroid photos taken that weekend  

There were quite a few other photos (and a few videos) taken but I think I would lose my friends if I ever posted them haha.

The week after the weekend away was filled with normality for me so that means that I spent my days visiting members of my family or catching up on things around the house and working as well so nothing new there but on Thursday, I got a call from my Dad while I was at a work meeting saying that he had a ticket for ACDC and if I wanted it then I need to get my booty to his place quickly so I high tailed it straight out of that meeting and went straight over. I was so thankful for this opportunity because it was incredible!! All I can say is that when I'm their age, I hope that I can move around (read: run around) as easily as they can, it blew my mind!! Anyway, it was a great night out with my Dad and his partner, Vicki. 

Dad and Vicki

Vicki and I

Dad, Vicki and I

Don't mind me in the picture but look at all the people! An incredibly busy part of a street was shut down completely for a couple of hours that night so that people could walk to where they needed to go safely. It was such a sight, if you actually click on the picture, you'll be able to see it better!                             

The next day I had to do a glorious open but that was because I had to leave early to sit an exam that will hopefully get me into my dream course so everyone please keep your fingers tightly crossed :)
However, that night my friends and I decided to attend the pre-drinks for the year 12 formal (a.k.a prom for my American readers :) ) and then out to dinner afterwards so I was oh so excited to dress up and put on my heels to go somewhere other than church haha.

Rach and I 

Heidi and Mika 

Mika and I

Olivia and I 

Sinjin and I and he is tall!! I was wearing 5 inch heels that night and I'm 5ft7in without the heels! So thank god for the heels or I would've been wedged in his arm pit haha 

Heidi and I

This is the first time since April that we've all managed to turn up to something that we'd planned so it was so good to be "re-united" again :) 

Mika and Heids again

Heids and Olivia

Rach and I! This is probably one of my photos from that night 

Right before dinner and Rach was so ashamed that Mika turned that camera to selfie mode in front of everyone haha 

I have no way to caption this but can you tell that her feet were sore haha 

We all claim that this photo is "tumblr worthy" haha I did feel like the odd one out being the only one not wearing black heels haha

The weekend was filled with nothing too special, I did however get to babysit this little gem so that made my heart happy 

My goodness, she's so cute!! 

And on Sunday, my cousin and I met up for lunch and ended up walking around the shops for a few hours and happened to get a photo with the man that needs no introduction....

4th time's a charm when it came to getting a good photo haha we were the only people in the line that had no child with us but you're never too old to get a photo with Santa even if  we are 18 and 23 ;) 

Anyway y'all, this has been my life lately and it has been action packed but I have loved every minute of it! And thank god that it's the holiday season because now it's socially acceptable to start the Christmas decorating and repetitive Christmas carols ;)

Lots of love

Jordyn xx

A 21st Celebration

A little while back in September, my step-sister Shannen turned 21 so in her honour, Vicki decided to throw her a little get together with lots of friends and family as well as a lot of food!! If you know me well then you'll know that I LOVE food! My sister and I grew up around a lot of food and I don't think that'll ever change so the first thing that I ask when I hear that someone is throwing a party is "what type of food will be there?" Sometimes I don't even have to ask because people already know that I want to know what to look forward to. Anyway, let's get back on track shall we.....
Shannen was showered with a lot of love from her family and friends and her Dad drove down from Rockhampton and surprised her, it was actually quite an emotional moment to witness. I definitely didn't fail at taking photos this time so get ready for the a little spam....

The birthday girl and myself with some seriously full bellies!

Vicki and me

Dad and I finally taking a decent photo

Al and I cheesing away

Alex and Kyal with one of the cutest little puppy's ever! 

Shannen's cake that tasted oh so good! And yes, that is her dog made of fondant on the top of her cake haha

Shannen with her parents

I can't exactly remember what happened at this moment but all the other photos taken around this time caused a big ol' belly laugh from me 

What a great night this was filled with so many friends and food! And I can't forget about the presents, she received a massive wooden chest filled with a bunch of goodies for when she moves out and everyone kept saying that it was her eviction notice haha Well at least she's prepared for her eviction ;)

Lots of love

Jordyn xx