Having disposable cameras at parties is one of the best things you can do. It’s super fun and everyone looks awful in photos – what isn’t to like? No matter how great or terrible we look, you can’t deny that the photos are natural and that they capture the moment.

All photos were taken on Fujifilm ISO 400 disposable cameras.

View more from the Disposable Diary series here.

On Saturday night I hosted a Christmas party with my high school friends.

It was so good to catch up with everyone in person as it’s been over a year since this group got together. I absolutely love hosting. Getting to create an atmosphere that will make for the most joyous and enjoyable experience for everyone at the event is really satisfying and fun for me.

As most of you know, these days it can be hard to truly connect with people on a human level. I often say that we are turning into robots – constantly relying on our phones, computers and self serve checkouts at the grocery store. It seems like basic human connection is not enough and we need to constantly be connected to the world at the same time, but this night proved me wrong. People still want human connection and friendships. We still want to laugh around the dinner table while taking pictures wearing silly glasses and hats. We want to create genuine memories and have honest conversations about life.  It’s a shame that this group doesn’t come together more often. I’m going to try to change that next year.

All photos were taken with either the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300, or the Lomo’Instant Wide. The Lomo’Instant Wide was perfect for this event thanks to the remote/self timer.

We need to live more.

These words that have been circling my head for the last few months, and honestly, I’ve been trying to do it, hence why I have been pretty inactive on this blog. I’ve done my best to leave fear behind and have been out in the world trying to find the things that fuel me and make me happy, whilst trying to achieve some of the goals I have that have always been a bit more difficult for me to accomplish. In doing that, I have become extremely drained and desperate to travel. Tangalooma Island is only 2 hours from where I live which was perfect as we were only able to go for a couple of days.

The first 2 days of the trip were great – exactly what we needed, but on day three is where things kind of turned for the worst. We went Quad Bike Riding and I accidentally went into a wall that has left a huge, nasty bruise on my thigh. Janice got a bruised foot from doing something that she doesn’t even remember. Then I had my first and only panic attack on Day 3 after I got off the Banana Boat. We managed to end the day with a lovely dinner at Tangalooma’s Fire & Stone restaurant which made up for the kind of crappy day we had.

We found out Donald Trump was elected President on the boat ride home on Day 4, which was the worst possible end to the holiday. I think his Presidency will stir up even more passion and fight in those of us who believe in a globalised world where every type of person is accepted. People have fought for generations to get to where we are and we aren’t going to stop or give up now. Everyone woke up feeling divided today, but I think over the next four years we will unite and come to understand that we can’t keep living the way we have been. We can’t keep on living out of hatred and fear. Love really is the only answer to all of this and I think it’s up to those of us who still believe in love to be the ones to make the change, and do their best to change the world for future generations, as those who came before us did for us.

There’s not a lot I can say to introduce this…

See more posts from The Typewriter Sessions here.

It took me quite a few months to finish this roll of film. I believe I started in early December and finished in February. Then it took me another 4 months to get the film developed. Sometimes that is the beauty of film – capturing something that is fleeting, forgetting about it, and then rediscovering it months later.

These photos were taken on a Fujifilm 400 ISO disposable camera.

View more from the Disposable Diary series here.

I finally got the film developed from a disposable camera I purchased in Sydney! I was so excited to get it back, and I still have another 2 cameras that I used in Sydney to get developed. I can’t wait to see the other photos.

Monia and I at bowling before The 1975

We played as Harry Styles and Zayn Malik

The 1975 at the Hordern Pavilion

Went to Luna Park with Dianna – it was really fun but I’ve got to say, Luna Park is not what it was back in the day haha.

Fortune Telling. He told me someone was jealous of me.

This must have been just after I cut my hair. My hair now is pretty long again but I really like the way it looks here.

Failed mirror selfie

Timezone with Janice

My brother aka my favourite person on the planet

Having dinner before Little Mix

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

Waiting for Little Mix

My favourite old boots. The insides and outsides are ruined but I will wear them until the day they completely fall apart.

Empty train

All photos were taken on a Kodak Disposable camera.

View more from the Disposable Diary series here.

Sometimes just three or four hours can repair something that had fallen apart over three to four months. Earlier this year I went down to the creek with my friends – Janice and Brittany wanted to go stand up paddle boarding, Sarah and I were happy to just chill out in the water.

Lots of little things had added up to a friendship falling out and this day was the first time seeing each other since hashing it all out. It was a nice Sunday – we swam for a bit and then got fish and chips for lunch. I hope to have more days like this in the summer.

All photos were taken on a Kodak Underwater camera with Kodak Color 400 35mm film.

View more from the Disposable Diary series here.

This time I accidentally make up a word and my thoughts are derailed.

See more posts from The Typewriter Sessions here.

I’m really trying to gain a bit of perspective at the moment and a part of that was creating a list of all of the things that make me happy. I experienced many, many years being completely unhappy and now that I experience happiness every single day, even as a result of little things, I wanted to create a list of some of those things.

What makes you happy? 

See more posts from The Typewriter Sessions here.

Dear Erin,

Eight years ago your dad was still alive, you were still living in Sydney (your favourite city in the world), you were interested in boys who were interested in you, and you were optimistic about the future. Then it all came crashing down around you and you lost it all. You lost everything you loved and everything that made you feel safe.

I know you are struggling in the present. Ever since that happened depression has been very much with you. You feel lonely the vast majority of the time, even in a group of all your friends where everyone seems to be having a good time. You think that their lives are so easy because their parents are alive and they didn’t have to go through the things that you have, and that’s understandable. Over time as you deepen those friendships and time goes on, you will see how they struggle, just like you. One of your gifts in this lifetime is understanding. You truly understand other people’s feelings, their struggles, and their pain. You’re a good listener, and you know how to help those people as you have gone through some really hard things too and can give advice. All kinds of people will open up to you over the course of your life because you’re approachable and likeable, even though you don’t see why.

You also find it hard to do anything that isn’t required of you. But I want you to know that life has so much beauty and wonder and growth in store for you. It won’t always be like this – you are strong and you are the one who will change your life for the better. I wish I could give you some practical advice as to what to do to get better faster, but being you, I realise that you won’t take that advice on board because you aren’t ready yet and that’s okay. You’ve always needed to do things in your own time and there’s nothing wrong with not following the crowd.

Eight years from now you will have accomplished so much and will still be working hard to overcome fears and to achieve goals you thought you never would. I don’t want to spoil it all for you, but I want you to know that you won’t always be hurting like you are now. You will be fortunate in keeping your high school friendships for many more years, and you will make some new friends who add so much to your life. You’re going to feel a little lost in your professional life but that’s normal. You might be surprised to find out just how happy you are on a day-to-day basis. What you thought wasn’t possible, truly is possible. I know you’re shaking your head as you read this and that’s okay, because it will be proven to you over time.

Just keep doing your best, sweetheart. Everything in your life has happened for a reason: to teach you about love and loss, the two most important things that we experience as humans. Hold onto that hope and optimism about your future buried deep inside of you – it will carry you through some of the dark times you will experience over the next few years.

I’m rooting for you.

All My Love,
Erin (24)

In December I purchased an underwater camera from a beautiful bookstore called Bookface. Sadly they aren’t available online yet as they have only got two stores so far, but they have everything I love. Mostly beautiful books and knick knacks that you don’t need.

Unfortunately my roll of film was exposed to water so the camera is ruined and I definitely won’t be purchasing another one in future (I’m after a Nikonos at the moment). I still managed to get a couple of decent shots out of the roll to my surprise.

* All photos taken with Sunny Life Underwater Camera with Lomography Lady Grey 400 film.

View more from the Disposable Diary series here.

I had a life changing conversation and wrote about it.

See more posts from The Typewriter Sessions here.

This roll had some hilariously embarrassing results that will remain for my eyes only. Shooting underwater is really fun but I definitely need to think a little bit more before taking a picture.

* All photos taken using this Disposable Waterproof Camera from K-Mart.

View more from the Disposable Diary series here.

I had such a great time in Sydney! It’s the city where I grew up and it has a special place in my heart. I took a couple of cameras there so you will be seeing more of my Sydney snaps in future Disposable Diaries.

All photos taken using a FujiFilm QuickSnap (Fujifilm Superia ISO-400 speed film) disposable camera. I got back 24/27 shots.

View more from the Disposable Diary series here.

There’s a particular sub-type of movie that I am addicted to. Movies where it’s all about one of those nights. One of those nights that remind you why you’re alive and what it’s like to feel so much – to feel free.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, I highly recommend Before Sunrise, The First Time, One Day, Like Crazy, and Serendipity as they are all movies that have an element of one of those nights.

See more posts from The Typewriter Sessions here.

So it was just Valentine’s Day and even though I am still single, it doesn’t mean I can’t fantasise about meeting the love of my life.

See more posts from The Typewriter Sessions.

I’m really happy to be able to share yet another one of my moments spent on the typewriter. I got a new typewriter ribbon so I’m hoping to be able to write more over the next few weeks.

See more posts from The Typewriter Sessions here.

In 2014 I bought myself a typewriter as a gift to myself for my 22nd birthday.

For a little while there I poured my heart out – tapping away on the keys – to the point where my fingers started to feel just as rough as they did when I first learned guitar back in primary school. I decided to share some of my typewriter sessions with you, now that they are far enough removed from me, as they live in the past, not the present.

I think I’m going to continue this series and also start writing on it again, though I will need to purchase a new typewriter ribbon as mine is all dried up. I loved being able to write whatever I wanted without fear – it really contributed to my current attitude towards fear – which is FUCK FEAR.

See more Typewriter posts here.

Today I hung out with my friends at Hinze Dam. We all hadn’t been there since grade 9 when our whole year level went so we thought we would go and check it out. We were all pretty disappointed but we managed to have a great time anyway. The most hilarious thing that happened was when we were eating. There was a lot of birds around and we could tell they wanted our food and eventually a kookaburra swooped down, scared the shit out of all of us and then we realised it had taken Janice’s meat off her plate! Kinda crazy. It freaked me out a bit so I went and sat on the swing for a while to calm myself down. Australian animals can be crazy!

After we left Hinze Dam we went to play putt putt. Sarah won and I lost but I did get 2 hole-in-ones!