I have been a bit MIA this week. Following Birth-iversary week I got struck down with a virus. Suckiest Maximus.

Last week Brad and I celebrated 5 years together. Five. Whole. Years. That's half a decade. It's a long time, right? When I think of how young we were when we first started dating, it seems such a long time ago. But, at the same time, it feels like just yesterday. We were seventeen, when we got together so we have both grown so much since then. We are now adults (weird).

"Up"

 

Thanks for that finger crossing. X

"Auld Lang Syne"

This New Years season was filled with great laughs and few sad moments too.

As I already mentioned, Brad broke his arm New Years Eve. We spent New Years Day in the Emergency Room. Then the next two days at the hospital as Brad had to have surgery to fuse his wrist joints back together. *Sigh. Despite playing the age old Hospital favourite "you wait - we tell you nothing" game, it wasn't all bad.

The few days we spent basking in the hot Wairarapa sun were fantastic. Even some of the moments shared on a Hospital bed, in the short stay unit were amusing. My favourite would have to have been when I swapped my wedge heels with Brads jandals as we waited for him to go in to surgery. Within minutes the nurse was rushing around signing forms and collecting his personal items to put in a big brown paper bag with Brads name on it. My shoes were amongst his stuff. The nurses hassled him about this all the way up to the surgical floor about his choice of footwear. Me and my comfortable feet found it highly entertaining.

"Celebrate good times"

This week is Birth-iversary week for me. That is my Birthday and our anniversary. A busy and exciting week! Brads parents are shouting us to the Circus tomorrow night. Super excited as it all about acrobatics and the like, rather than animal cruelty. Yay! I am not ashamed to say that i am also stoked for Hot Dogs and Candy Floss. Who wouldn't be, right?

Brad and I have a nice dinner planned for our Anniversary. More on the anniversary on Friday. We are also trying once again to go Hot Air Ballooning, a whole year of trying and no luck, so everyone cross your fingers (and toes) for Saturday morning.

I cannot wait to get out with some friends and dance the night away (as well as my annual photo booth tirade). Scandalous photo's to follow I'm sure. Also filtering in some shopping and a great big family BBQ on Sunday. I am just so excited. With all the fussy stuff aside, I am looking forward to spending time with great people who I love the most.

"All in good time"

Just like Johanna, I too am feeling a bit anti-blogging. Probably for the same reasons, being that there is so much going on in day-to-day life. 

Despite my lack of enthusiasm to post right now, there are lots of great things to come for me and for In My Shoes this year. Over the next few months you will begin to see a new look for In My Shoes. I will also begin to "share the load" by inviting a few guest blogger's along. These lovely ladies will be sharing with you great tips from areas of life that I have no experience with, namely motherhood and the beauty industry (coincidence?). I am so grateful for these lovelies and excited for you all to get to know them and share in their journey's and in their fab ideas.

For me personally this year is going to be a big one. I will graduate this year. I. Will. Graduate. This year will also mark the beginning of a great adventure for Brad and I, as we save for our O.E.

Twenty-eleven will be a year re-claimed for me, and for many members of my family I suspect. The year that Cancer did not consume.



So with all these morsels to look forward too, and many other joyous occasions to celebrate, this looks to be a fantastic year. Well...it must be if I'm finding it too much fun to make time to blog.

"This festive season"

Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and New Years. It feels so good to be home. Brad & I have been zipping round the lower North Island since Boxing Day.



Here are a few highlights and lowlights of our Holiday period:



           Blingin'

• An easy, virtually stress free Christmas Day, filled with great love, food and presents - The majority of my presents were food related. Score! Kitchen post lovelies to follow. A great mixed family breakfast at our place. A scavenger hunt at Brads parents house. Knowing that next year there will be a brand new little person, Brads cousin and his wife have a bun in the oven. Oh...and food, food and more food. 

• Sunshine  - sweet, sweet sunshine.

• Hawkins-family time in Halcombe - Eating cheesecake and trifle at any time of the day. Pretty Ponies. Shopping, mooching, painting and watching family videos. 

• A nostalgic New Year in Martinborough - Sun, friends, family and amazing accommodation. 

• JENGA the drinking game -  Just when you thought JENGA couldn't get any more heart-attack inducing. You were wrong. 

          Mingin'

• Budget highs and lows - Damned STAT day bank closure. 

• Heavens Doors open - Knowing that people you love are suffering loses, and imminent loses.

• Brad vs. Ditch - Drinking games + a game of Spotlight + a ditch = A broken arm for Brad. 

• Parting with Family and Friends - such sweet sorrow.