Emma Watson, the elfin beauty

It's no secret that I absolutely adore the gorgeous Emma Watson, so you imagine how excited I got when the August issue of Harper's BAZAAR UK landed on my desk this afternoon. The elfin beauty is one of the only young actors of our generation who I respect for both her personal and professional choices, although admittedly, who else is classy enough to demand even a tad of respect? The celebisphere is filled with Mileys, Parises and Kimmy Ks but there's only a handful of proper young ladies like E Watz, Dakota and lil' sister, Elle.

She is probably one of the reasons why I went to bed at 8pm on Tuesday night to wake up at 10pm to watch the midnight session of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.  Hmmm... maybe not. My love for the film franchise stems only from my love of the books but have you noticed how much her acting skills has improved from the days the poor acted with her eyebrows in The Goblet of Fire?  Didn't notice? This clip highlights my observations and takes it even further. Regardless of her previous tendencies to partake in the occasional constant bout of eyebrow-acting, I love this girl.

So now to the very important questions. Has anyone else seen the final HP film? And if you haven't, why haven't you? And if you have, what are your thoughts?  Did it make you laugh, cry, clap, cheer, groan and cringe like my HP obsessed self and my nineteen friends who I saw one of the first screenings in Oz with?

The Harry Potter countdown is on...

That's right, Australians, there's only nine days to go until the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II is in cinemas.  I actually couldn't be more excited! 

Those of you who follow me on Twitter, have read my writing or actually know me in person, you would already be aware of the fact I am a mass-ive HP fanatic. You would also know how I love to fit in a Harry Potter reference whenever I can - whether appropriate or not. Call me a geek, but I don't care, I can't wait for the epic conclusion of the film franchise and I'm going to keep those lame Harry Potter jokes and references coming until I'm at the midnight screening on July 13. Weeee!

The year that was

Abbey Lee in a crown, because she's conquered this year like nobody's business

In this issue of Frankie, in a story of the same name, the Editors, Jo and Lara asked a bunch of well-known and very much loved contributors, "What did they get up to in the past 12 months?" Myf Warhurst, Sally Seltmann, Karen Walker plus many more, give an insight to their lives by revealing 20 events which occurred during the year. In this story, we have a simple list of things  people hold dear to their hearts -  their achievements, their struggles, their loves and heartbreaks, their observations as well as what they call their everyday.

You've read theirs, now you can read mine.

1. Graduated from uni.
2. Found a new job.
3. Made some beautiful new friends who I wouldn't be able to get through a work day without!
4. Turned old acquaintances into friends.
5. Enjoyed picnics and sunbaking in the park with said new friends.  
6. Visited the hill tribes of Mae Hong Son and Pai in Thailand.
7. Started watching Gossip Girl again and subsequently continued to get annoyed at the characters' stupidity.
8. Developed a shoe fetish.
9. Decided to listen to the doctor's orders 14 years later and started drinking soy milk.
10. Realised the wonderful possibilities of online shopping.
11. Had too many dreams about another Harry Potter book coming out and waking up terribly disappointed.
12. Tried and failed to disapparate home after a long day at work (numerous times).
13. Danced around like an idiot without a care in the world until my feet could no longer take it. 
14. Became more open to trying new things.
15. Went on a road trip with my amazing uni peeps.
16. Toned down my unnatural obsession with Alexa Chung.
17. Ate a diet of Japanese food at least twice a week and longed to be Japanese.
18. Became obsessed with velvet.
19. Declared it was "The year of the pants" after refusing to wear them for two years. A month later, I saw that same statement in a magazine.
20. Finally rocked the orange lip that for two summers had been too afraid to do so.

So tell me, what did you get up to in the past 12 months?