Congratulations... with love.. xo

In my high school group of friends, two of them ended up marrying each other. It was rather sweet and they were so happily in love. To top it off they were best friends. It couldn't get much better really.

I'm wearing:

Dress: Lover the Label

Clutch: Vangoh Shoes and Accessories

Headband: Alannah Hill

Earrings: Gift from Aunty

Shoes: Wayne Cooper

The bride is one of my best girlfriends and to see her all dressed up with make up and all looked breathtakingly beautiful. I have also never seen her in any make up so it was also rather strange (she doesn't need it - she has immaculate skin, gorgeous smile, big brown eyes and lovely curls). The groom, well I can say he cleaned up ever so nicely and was dashingly handsome in his suit. 

with the groom 

With my love

Selfie photo in the lift on the way to the reception ballroom at the Hilton Hotel

This photo of these two lovely friends was too cute not to put up!

Selfie photos at the reception is almost compulsory

The happy newlyweds cutting the cake

I wish them endless happiness and love.

I also hope they catch up more often with us too!

Double dates are called for!

 much love xx

Weekend delights

Weekend of delights...

Friday night watching Pixars latest animation, Brave with my younger cousins at the kids session, which was actually filled with adults and then my 10 year old cousin. Pixar didn't disappoint in it's animation, amazing! But unlike other pixar films it is a little childish and the story ended so quickly, felt as though the story could have been developed more (as other pixar films the characters were definitely more interesting and 3D).

Then the awesome waffle at Superstar waffles on Saturday afternoon with JJ. Sweet milk flavour - condense milk goodness with yummy warm waffles and lovely latte.



This was then followed by dinner at Steve's Cafe before laughing my head off at "Wilarious" Will Anderson show with Wells, MM, JJ and bf. Or as my mum says "OH the ABC guy from spicks and specks..." with me going "mm..no.. gruen transfer".... and then she goes.. "oh right from my generation game show on channel ten..he moved to channel 10 right"...Me; "umm.. no still on ABC.." OH dear.. all comedians look like Will Anderson??.. T_T

Then headed to my aunty's were we watched Liv wedding video. Finally! 6 months later. It was however, very well edited and very beautiful and sweet (and totally not boring at all!).

Of course my cold is getting worse.. Sniffles cough and sneezes!

But nothing bets cake after lunch on Sunday! Can even somewhat cure a cold. Red velvet cake for me and a lemon slice for the boy from Sherbet! yummo! Although boy ended up eating majority of my slice! Heh I am suppose to on a diet so he is helping.


Weekends like the one just past are amazing. Relaxing, indulgent and filled to the brim with friends and family.

100 years of family

Bf and I drove down a few Friday afternoons ago, after work to go to Manjimup for a massive family reunion for his family. A hundreds years since his family migrated to Australia from England. Not a bad achievement!

So before spending time with bf's family and before the festivities of the main event, we did a few quick "touristy" things. Mainly at my need to stock up on red wine (which I am ashamed to say is now down to one bottle - mostly because I didn't buy a lot and mostly because I have taken them along to friends' and family dinner parties). 

We ventured to Silkwood wineries. Amazing views from their cafe, which also doubles as their tasting area (I think it's great marketing! - you wine taste - you get whoozy so you stay a while and fill up on food - in our case coffee/milkshake).

Silkwood wineries was a rather peaceful, pretty and serene place. And as the cafe lady said, a favourite wedding venues, especially now that they have completed their gardens. We didn't see their garden because after tasting, buying of wine then having a coffee enjoying the views we had to make our way to our next destination - Wine and Truffle Co. for some truffle-filled lunch at their cafe, which I will talk about at a later time. 

Then the day ended with visiting bf's brother's house and watching Captain America, while the temperature outside dropped, but luckily there was a fireplace. God I love fireplaces on cold winter's nights. They just add a touch of romance and coziness. All that was needed was hot chocolate.

So, the next day, was the main event. I learnt a fair bit about bf's family history and I think he did too. His uncle did an awesome job finding the "descendants" of the family members that migrated to Australia. There was at least 70+ people. Luckily it didn't rain, although it threatened, because I don't think the marquee would have held if it pelted down. 

It makes me wonder what it would be like if my whole entire family were to gather. I know a few years ago there was a sort of family reunion and that was already like 70+ and it was still "immediate" family and people we know. If my family traced back the family tree I wonder what we would find. 

There was so much food, but I would have to say the thing that impressed me most was bf's cousin cooking BBQ on an open wood fire (of course there was a metal tray on top which held the meat). 

 

 

It gave the meat a bit of a woody flavour through it, which made the steak fantastic. I was a little disappointed in myself for not having more meat, or at least having the lamb. 

 

I have to say thought, the person or rather an animal stole the show, and it was a little golden Labrador puppy. So fluffy and such a cutie! Also rather into play fighting with another adolescent dog which was about five times the pup's size. He hasn't got a name yet though.

He is the softest thing you ever felt! So adorable. Totally like the toilet paper ad! Cuddly!

But before we knew it, it was time for us to head back home. With the colour of the sky changing as we drove home, we were both tired and yet felt slightly refreshed to have gotten away from work and everything else for at least 48 hours. Nevertheless, the colours were rather lovely.

Gift from my love

I got very spoilt on my birthday. Loved all my presents from my family. Got beautiful flowers from S.

And of course a little surprise from my other half.

It's just so delicate and pretty. Diamonds in a heart. What's more romantic, and symbolic of love than that?

missing you

winter bliss

Sometimes the best ways to spend a chilly winter's afternoon is to get yourself indoors at your favourite chocolatier (or cafe really) and get yourself your favourite drink.

In my case, nothing was better than spending a chilly afternoon with a few girlfriends in Koko Black drinking cinnamon hot chocolate and eating amazing desserts.

Complete winter bliss.


ps. photos were taken by my iphone and playing around with instagram.

Afternoon High Tea

A couple of weekends ago I attended a casual afternoon high tea party at one of my work mate's place. They live close to the city, near the Mount Lawley strip, the craziness of Northbridge in an apartment/villa complex. It was absolutely gorgeous place, cosy place.

She invited a few of us from work and baked us so much goodies! There were scones, rock cakes, nougat, banoffee pies, filo pastry etc. She's absolutely talented, making majority of the dishes, except for the sandwiches, tarts, butterfly cupcake and orange cupcake.

She also bought a huge range of tea from black tea, earl gray, green tea to darjeeling and this "smoky bacon flavoured" twinings tea which I actual surprisingly enjoyed, despite my friends hating it.

It was just a delightful public holiday Monday to spend with work collegues outside of work in a relaxed environment and get to know them.

Good food, good tea, good company what more do you need in life?

open letters and kisses...

As I get older, as my friends get older, as times change, as priorities shift and games that were played at parties such as the donut string game, the chocolate dice, the apple bopping, the made up games of Captain Planet, the chaseys and hide-and-go-seek disappear and turn into one of sipping coffees in a quaint cafe, of having dinner somewhere local.

It's good to know however that despite all that when we meet there is always laughter, each of us trying to out talk each other just from pure excitement of not having to see each for a while, the jibes that only we can give to one another, the support and shoulders that we provide, the friendship that we've maintained over the last 10 years is still there no matter how life and time change, no matter how long it takes for us to organise a catch up over good coffee.

For that I'm grateful.

I've never been more happy to know that I have true friends. If I take away anything from this life, it's understanding and being grateful for knowing and experiencing all the things I have with the people I know and love.

Here's to many more decades and many more adventures.

I just realised that we haven't had a nice candid group photo for too long. Must start collecting that agains.

words to live by..

Take time to think, it is the source of power.

Take time to work, it is the price of success.

Take time to play, it is the secret of being ever young.

Take time to read, it is the foundation of knowledge.

Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.

Take time to love and be loved, it is the privilege of God.

Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.

Take time to pray, it helps to live in Christ and be led by His spirit.

The Year that was MMX

I have always found new year's unbelievable. After 23 years of breathing, it amazes me how fast time can fly and it seems to be flying by faster year by year. The year that was MMX (aka 2-0-1-0)..

Achievements:
1. I started my career, the great love/hate affair that it is.
2. Bought an apartment.
3. Have a job I'm currently enjoying.
4. Social life, Love life, Life, all in all ticked.
5. Family - despite the ups and downs I love them.
6. Did a Barista course, am now officially qualified to make coffee (not necessary epic ones but is willing to practise to become epic - must buy an espresso machine).
7. Learnt/still learning to sail.
8. Started going to the gym/exercising
9. Appreciating wines
10. Learning to appreciate my family for everything they do for me.

Down falls:
1. Being a brat to my parents at times
2. Failing to cook or bake more
3. Unable to cut down on food
4. Reducing the number of outings I make to restaurants (epically failed to decrease restaurant eating)
5. Unmotivated to study
6. Not being able to travel overseas
7. Not being able to shop less (although compared to last year I did rather well I thought)
8. Not losing weight

The year of movies: (movies I've seen.. it's keeping the cinemas alive ok!)
1.  Valentine's Day
2. Alice in Wonderland
3. Green Zone
4. How to Train Your Dragon
5. Date Night
6. Kick Ass the movie
7. Iron Man II
8. Robin Hood
9. Inception
10. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
11. Avatar
12. Avatar: THE LAST AIRBENDER
13. Prince of Persia - The Sands of Time
14. Sex and the City II
15. Get Him to the Greek
16. Toy Story 3
17. Despicable Me
18. Salt
19. Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief
20. The Expendables
21. Wall Street II - Money Never Sleeps
22. Red
23. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 1
24. The King's Speech
25. Summer Wars

I think there may have been more. I'm pretty sure I spent most of this year going to the cinemas and watching movies.

Concerts:
1. Big Day Out
2. Lost Prophets
3. On the Bright Side
4. Birds of Tokyo
5. Bon Jovi
6. U2

Theatre:
1. Chicago
2. Mamma Mia
3. West Side Story

Comedians:
1. Will Anderson
2. Frank Woodley
3. Russell Peters
4. A mixture of comedians at Melbourne Comedy Festival

Holidays: 
1. Melbourne trip (10 days)
2. Sydney (4 days)
3. Rottnest (3 days)

Attended weddings, hen's party, housewarming, birthdays, high teas, girls nights, home dinner parties, homemade pizza making, cranium competition, laughed, cried too much, and is still learning to survive and kick my demons.

reaching quarter life crisis... (well close enough to quarter life...)

So my birthday was last Saturday, just turned 23, feeling like I've ticked off so many of life's milestones I feel rather old. I had an epic weekend of celebrations, starting on Friday, with dinner at C restaurant which offered great views of the city. Then a picnic at Floreat Beach with friends and my cousins on Saturday, a family dinner that night at Hyatt Hotel, before heading for High Tea at the George with the girls and a few guys on Sunday.

 Although on the day of the picnic, it was cloudy. Thank GOD that it wasn't too hot (like the days before werea) or cold, the water was beautiful and as usual I think I bought too much food, but I guess at least no one went hungry. And hey, I had the opportunity to wear my new swimsuit. I love it, so comfortable and ultra cute. Now to just keep committed with my workout lose those love handles. T_T

Me and my beautiful cousins with Floreat Beach and the skyline at the back

 

Chilling and eating at the park.

 

Hiding behind A to try be half the size I am.. T_T

 

T&J and Me with my boy..

I must say, thank you so much for celebrating my 23rd brithday, and for all the lovely presents, messages and wishes. I feel so privileged to have all of you in my life. In fact, without you I wouldn't have had such an awesome weekend, so thank you!

Lots and lots of love. xoxo