I resolute...

This year I considered not making any new years resolutions, I never manage to fulfil them and then I just end up feeling lousy. However, I have decided that I am going to make a few and hopefully achieve them. I feel really good about 2010 for some reason, so this might be my year to actually put words into action. This year I am going to write down my resolutions and hang them somewhere I can see them so that they seem real, not just little thoughts bubbling away in my head.

My first resolution is to be fit and healthy. I havent been to the gym in four months and in that time I have eaten and drank whatever I wanted, and now I am paying for it. Ultimately I have about 14kg to lose but I have decided to break it down to 7kg and than I will attack the next 7kg later. I have joined Weightwatchers and am taking up jazzercise so am already taking steps towards my goal. Unfortunately I live to eat not eat to live so will not be able to completely give up chocolate and all those good things but will cut back on my indulging.

Secondly, I want to finish uni (hopefully with 1st class honours) and get a full time job. I am sick of being a poor uni student so this year I am aiming to finish uni and have a job before 2011. I have already started putting my resume together and researching jobs.

Lastly, I want to broaden my knowledge in terms of books, music and movies. So please feel free to recommend anything you see, listen to or hear all your suggestions would be appreciated and I will endeavour to do the same.

What are your resolutions for 2010? How are you going to achieve them?

Wishing you all a safe and happy New Year!

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Dear 2009

Dear 2009,

What a year you have been, you have broken my heart, you have lifted my spirits but most importantly you have let me grow.

In January my house was broken into and while nothing major was taken or anything of sentimental value was lost, I lost my feeling of safety. Home is where your meant to be able to hide from the world to feel safe, it is you little part of the universe. To this day I have not been able to get this feeling back, I still cant sleep when I am home alone and every little creek makes me anxious. I hope 2010 restores this for me.

In February you let me celebrate 2 years with the man I adore and love. Thankyou for giving me such a loving and caring partner to share this year with.

In April you nearly took my much loved and admired grandmother away from me. Luckily she fought back and is still here with us today.

In June you once again took away my faith in the human race when my little car was stolen and trashed. It broke me to see my little car smashed to pieces. My first car that my parents gave to me when I turned 17.

In July and August you gave me the most amazing adventure a girl could ask for, 5 weeks travelling around Europe and the UK with one of my very best friends. This was a life changing experience and opened my eyes up to a whole new world.

In December you gave me a birthday that I got to celebrate with many important people in my life. You let me have three weeks away from work and uni to enjoy the simple things again.

Most of all you are giving me a new start. 2010 is set to be a big year there is alot I need to achieve and want to achieve and after the challenges and amazing experiences of this year I feel I am ready for anything!

Love Megan x

Brendan and I 2009.

When its all said and done

It has always amazed me how much effort we put into christmas for weeks beforehand and than it seems to end so quickly. It is all worth it though to have a day with family, friends, yummy food and of course pressies.

We got up yesterday morning and opened our pressies. Nothing makes me happier than the look on someone's face when you have got them the perfect gift.

My dad and sister opening their presents.

We than had an amazing lunch with all the usual yummy food plus huge prawns for entrees (prawns are my favourite so this was a huge treat for me).

Delicious christmas food

I than headed out to Brendans parents house were we had more presents, more food and scrabble. It was a pretty low key day but really made me appreciate all the amazing people i have in my life and how its the simple things that really make life worth living.

I thought i would share some of my favourite pressies with you, as however materialistic it is I love seeing what other people got for christmas.

My FOUR pairs of Peter Alexanderpj's, yup I love them!

Scarfs, headband (does it look familar?), Ray Martins autobiography, tree of life necklace, my Kiki K 2010 diary and make up bag.

Than the electronics; electric salt and peper shakers, set top box and digital photo frame!

Overall, it was a wonderful christmas and I was very spoilt. I am spending boxing day in my pjs reading my book, writing letters, catching up on blogs and later watching movies with my sister. I hope everyone had a truelly magical christmas and  I look forward to hearing everyones stories. Now bring on the NewYears celebrations!

Christmas time at home

I arrived at my parents house in the country for christmas, this afternoon. Its so lovely to be somehwere peaceful, no reminders of work or uni.

When I got home mum and my sister had already decorated the house. All the decorations mean so much to me because they represent 22 years of christmas memories. '

This little guy is as old as me, I remember him being on the tree since I was knee high to a grasshopper.

Santa on his park bench, too cute.

I remember my sister picking this out as her Santa stocking when we were just little girls.

And the amazing tree!

I wish everyone a very merry Christmas, full of love, family and friends! Travel safely and I look forward to hearing everyone’s Christmas stories.

Being in the country means I also have very slow internet so not sure how often I can post in the next two weeks, all depends on how much my patience can handle.

Happy Holidays!!!

New Stationery store opens

Typo, a new stationery store opened in Canberra last week. Stationery shops are like therapy for me, they make me feel relaxed and I could honestly spend hours just looking at all the different little things in there. I went in there yesterday and bought a few little things.

Cute stamp!

Pens and a calender that I am going to turn into postcards and envelopes.

A card to send to a special someone.

Most of all I love the packaging!

How to start a bookclub?

The news that my friend is starting a bookclub in 2010 made the little nerd inside of me jump for joy! The goal is at the start of each month someone chooses a book and we than have a month to read it, than one Friday night we get togethter discuss the book, eat some cheese and biscuits and drink some wine. Sounds splendid to me! The first book is "The reader" by Berndard Schlink which I have aleady read but am more than happy to read again. I think the book I will choose is the colour purple has anyone read it? I have heard that its good.

Does anyone know of a blog that incorporates some type of bookclub? I think that would be great, maybe I will start one if there isnt already one out there.

Please share any great books that you have read lately so I can pass them along! Are you part of a bookclub any tips or pointers for how one operates, were only new at this!

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Incomings and outgoings.

This week I received some amazing postcards.

This one is from the lovely Belen who manages to find the most beautiful postcards. I was so excited when I received this in the mail. Even B has been showing it off to all our visitors.

This one is from the beautiful Bianca, from her recent trip to Tassie. I have been admiring Bianca's letterwriting creations for awhile so loved receiving one of her postcards. The reverse side was decorated so beautifully.

This one is from postcrossing from Anna and is a postard of Thomas Jefferson's house.

And this was another postcrossing one from Viola in Finland.

My boss is a photographer and gives us a calender each year full of his photos. I decided that it was too nice to throw away so have turned 2009's calender into postcards. These are two I sent off this week.

A beautiful sunset at Brighton Beach.

The view in one of the Forests he visited. The cirles are diamontes I stuck on to make it sparkle but they kinda just look like blobs here.

I sent out a few other cards and so forth this week but forgot to scan them :-(

I highly reommend you check out Bianca and Belen's blogs as they do fantastic mail posts.

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend! I am off to make cakes and salads for the party tonight x

My first tag!

Shell from Chapped lips and all tagged me to take part in 'Cassie's Therapy video Tag'. I am so excited as this is the first time I have been tagged for anything. I feel like I am really part of the blogging world now, thanks Shell.

The task: fill in 12 likes, 1 love and 8 hates like Cassie in her therapy video. Below, the bolded things are what you MUST include. Also, please link it back to me, and link it onto 3 other blogs you admire!

Abracadabra, Wow!

I like boys who make me laugh and girls who like to have fun.

I like skim mocca's.

I like laying in bed and reading books on lazy afternoons.

I like the look on peoples faces when they open presents.

I like the idea of living in New York

I like it when it rains.

I love my fanily and cannot wait to see them at christmas time.

Today is my last day of work before three weeks of holidays.

In some ways, I love everything.

Its less, of a thing to like, its less distinct, its less particular

I like things that I like but I love everything

There’s more choice in like

Cos even the worst things have things you love in them

I don’t know what you mean about things I dislike

I dislike people chewing in my ear.

I dislike when I forget my healthy morning tea and end up buying a chocolate bar.

I dislike that I havent been to the gym in months.

I hate that I still have one assignment left to do before christmas.

I hate when the bus ride home takes too long.

I hate when there is no mail in my mailbox.

I hate when there is no bread left for breakfast in the morning.

I hate when I make spelling mistakes in my posts after I have already published it.

I hate this, wow. . .

Sorry.

This tag was perfect for me because I love Cassie from skins. I pass this tag onto Chloe at Butterfly, cupcakes and daffodils, Gracie Bella Butterfly and Callie from the magical bean and anyone else who wants to play along.

HaPpY bIrThDaY tO mE!

Yesterday I turned the big Two - Two! I had such a nice day. I worked in the morning and got a big box of chocolates and cheesecake. Than I had lunch with a friend, she was also graduating that night so it was a double celebration. Than I went shopping in the afternoon and spent some birthday money from the parentals. Than B and I headed to our favourite chinese restaurant for dinner and as per usual it was delicious. So a pretty quiet day but it was really nice overall. Were having a bbq on Saturday night as well so that should be fun!

I have to say this is the first birthday were I have actually felt my age yesterday I felt 22, I hope that doesnt sound silly. I think 22 might be a good year for me (touch wood). My friend also bought me a coffee yesterday and I usually hate coffee but yesterday I loved it, definately maturing.

Birthday outfit from mum and dad.

My friend that I went to Europe had the phtos we took made into books, it was such a lovely thoughtful present.

Eyeing of the birthday cupcakes.

Homemade chocolate pods

I am such a lousy blogger! I said last week I would share my homemade pod receipe after I made them on the weekend and I forgot to take piccies. So unfortunately you will have to use your imagination and hopefully the ingredients themselves will be enough to entice you.

"Homemade chocolate pods"

1. Take three sheets of shortbread pastry crusts. Using a muffin/patty cake tin mold the pastry into little cups. Than bake in the oven for 10 -15 minutes until golden brown. Take out and let cool.

2. Melt a block of chocolate in the microwave for 2 minutes and than fill the pods half way up with chocolate

3. Either make caramel or cheat like I do and buy the already made caramel by Nestle and fill the pod up to the top.

4. Than thinly slice your favourite fruit and place on top on the caramel. My favourites are bananna, kiwi fruit or strawberries.

5. Than whip up some thickened cream and place on top of fruit.

6. Than crush a flake and sprinkle on top.

7. Eat them all up. There best served straight away but can be made a couple of hours in advance, the chocolate just goes a bit hard. This receipe makes about 18 pods.

Once again sorry for the lack of photos but trust me these are delicous!!

Where the wild things are...

For my friends birthday we went to see 'Where the wild things are' and I absolutely adored it. I have never read the book, I know deprived childhood hey? So I dont know how the movie fares in comparison to the book, but by itself the movie is wonderful. The imagery and graphics are really well done and the use of light is very clever. The characters are distinct and all have their own identifiable personalities. But apart from that it was hilarious, I was that awkward person in the cinema laughing way to loud. If your looking for something to do this weekend I definately recommend that you see it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

xox Packages and postcards xox

This week has been a really great week for mail. Today I received this lovely package from Gracie at 'Gracie Bella Butterfly'. It contained the adorable moleskin notebooks that I won in her giveaway and some lovely little cards that she made herself. Thankyou so much Gracie, getting your package made my day even more wonderful!

These are the postcards I received this week from postcrossing.

This one is from Daphinia in Berlin

Ruth in Holland designed this herself, I just love it.

And finally this one from Tarnia in London. Tarnia is an Aussie girl who has been living in London for 6 years, lucky thing.

I also wanted to share this great quote that Tarnia had on her profile,

"To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart."

~Phyllis Theroux

Today is a wonderful day.

It is my best friend, Nichole's birthday. The lovely lady turns 22 and tonight we get to celebrate.

I am finally getting my haircut, its been awhile (like 6months).

It is one week until I am on holidays and dont have to work for three weeks, god bless paid holidays.

There are lots of presents at home waiting to be wrapped.

Pre - christmas dinner on Sunday night with all the neighbourhood friends. I am making delicous chocolate pod slice (receipe will follow). You will seriously go into a sugar induced coma after eating one of these bad boys.

Why is your day wonderful?

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Ornament swap arrives!

Today I received my Ornament from the ornament swap, hosted by Micaela from Dolce Vita.
My ornament was from the amazing Belen, whose blog I have been following for a couple of weeks since Micaela blogged about her here. I was very excited when I found out that she was my swap partner and I was very spoilt and got two ornaments! This was such a fun swap and I am so glad I got to participate.

I got this fantastic crocheted tea cup which is just perfect for me because I love tea. Belen made it herself, this girl is amazingly talented!

My second ornament was a bejewelled bauble that Belen decorated herself, I feel so lucky to have got ornaments that had so much effort put into their creation.

These ornaments look fantastic on my tree, thankyou so much Belen!!!

First Etsy Purchases

I finally got to make my first etsy purchases. Well actually Brendan made his first purchases but their christmas gifts for me, I am a very lucky girl.  Here is what we ordered....

Postcards from PattiBacker

Gorgeous crocheted headband from Belen's Boutique

and finally earrings from Withlove2

I can't wait till they all arrive. I think this etsy thing could be addictive!

Dreaming of PARIS

Today I had my first croissant since I had been to Paris. I LOVED Paris, it was one of the my favourite cities that I visited. I love the bread, the language, the people, the buildings, the parks, the dessert, the champagne - I could go on forever. I had a little reminisce through my photos and thought I would share my favourites with you.....

I'm not sure when I will see you again Paris, but I will be thinking of you.

First ever trip to Ikea

On the way back from Sydney we stopped in at Ikea, and oh my goodness have I been missing out! I could have walked out with whole displays, I just loved walking around looking at all the different things, things I would never have imagined I ever needed but now I do.
I didnt end up buying much but I have a wishlist for things I hope I can go back and get one day.

To use as a bookshelf in our loungeroom.

Magazine Rack

Lazy Susan for dinner parties.

Tin Garbage bin for the office but in a lime green.

Bouncy chair, so relaxing!

There was also an amazing desk that I want but I cannot find a piccy of it unfortunately.

                                                                                          Megan xx