Blog Birthday!

Hi all, how was your weekend? We had a SCORCHER here in Wellington, it was great. And a former colleague of mine was passing through the city with his girlfriend on Saturday (he's on hols from Wales) so the bf and I hosted a bbq for them.......which turned into cocktails and me managing to spill red drinks down two outfits, my bed and various tiled surfaces which I keep discovering! Oops!

This was my REAL bday cake from a few weeks ago - which reminds me that I still have to post photos of the day!Eek!

Well this weekend was the 'blogiversary', to coin a term that my friend Cait at Sailing to Nowhere used recently (I liked it!). AND wow - what a year it's been. (Here's where it all began if you're interested!)

I'd never even considered starting a blog until a few days before I actually just went for it, and am so happy that I did. I've made some wonderful 'blog friends' and love each and every one of you. I also have learned so much about life in various parts of the world - so it's a useful hobby too!

I just wanted to say a big thank you to you all - and in no particular, a big thanks to some of the lovely friends I've made over the last 12 months - 

Ilana, Cait, AJ, Aprilia, Jaclyn, Kimberly, Shasie, Angel (come back to blog land, I miss you!), Sophia, Adele, Sarah and Sarah, Francesca, Trees (also my friend in that thing called 'real life').... 

and to anyone I have missed, that's not intentional, I am just that ditzy type of person sometimes!

SO thank you everyone, and here's a little quote I heard today: 

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I'm Possible." :)

What I won! Shoes shoes shoes!

Hi all - TGIF! This week seems to have flown by and all of a sudden it's Friday and I haven't posted since....umm I don't remember, maybe Monday?! Tut tut.

So I have some exciting news to share - I WON SHOES! And not just one pair, but TWO PAIRS! Those of you who follow me on Instagram (@sadiesadiesadie BTW), will think this is old news, haha. But yes, two Fridays in a row I won fabulous shoes.

Here's pair one:

Brand: Kandee. I was VERY excited to win Kandee shoes as I have drooled over them for a year! If you haven't heard of Kandee shoes - check out their website. But BEWARE, it's way too tempting to buy a pair (or two!!).

How I won them: By Tweeting like, 350 times! Yes, seriously! Luckily I can multitask (or should I say, multi-Tweet?!) and I did it whilst working over about three hours. And Mr Kandee chose the winner - ME! YAY. They arrived a week later and are utterly fabulous and came with a gorgeous dust bag, a small packet of popping candy and a fab business card holder. YAY. 

Down side: They are too BIG :( They are my size (37) but way too big. I asked to exchange them but rather unhelpfully they said I was too far away and to try an insole!I'm not keen on the idea of an insole with a peep toe?! So I think I will have to put them on eBay :( So sad.

And here's pair two:

Brand: Jeffrey Campbell from Shoe Connection

How I won them: By uploading a crazy shoe photo and poem to the Shoe Connection Facebook page (yes both pairs were won via social media!). I could choose which colour / print I wanted from the store and originally decided to go for the cat print ones (below) which were AMAZE but looked majorly clumpy on the ends of my (clumpy) little legs. So classic black it was!

You can see why I wanted these ones, right?!

Down side: None, except the fact that Wellington has been gloriously sunny since I won them and so I haven't had a chance to wear them yet... :)

 

So there's my news! What's the most exciting thing you ever won? :)

Mid week wining and dining

Buenos dias amigos!

Last week the bf and I used a voucher I'd received for a three course lunch with matched wine at the Hippopotamus restaurant. We'd had the voucher for almost six months and could never find a time to use it (the bf is ever-so-important(!!) and never takes a work lunch break!!) so last week he managed to find a slot in his diary and we went to lunch. UNFORTUNATELY, that morning I woke up feeling crappy with a cold! Typical.

We did have a lovely lunch though, despite snotty noses and congested heads.

Hippopotamus is within the Museum Hotel in Wellington

The outside (and inside actually) of the building is fabulous!

Look closely and you'll see a hippo in my glass ;)

A view of the harbour - and my house on the far right in the distance!

 

I ordered the veggie option - roast carrot risotto with beetroot foam for my main. I loved how pink it was (SUCH a girl, huh!)

And my dessert was raspberry panacotta. I'm not much of a dessert person, but I loved the presentation.

 

The bf scoffed his lemon and pine nut tart

As an art hotel, there are fabulous exhibits and pieces everywhere - including chairs

And motorbikes in the lobby!

And this little fella greeting you from the elevator!

Paris Take Two!

Hi all, how's your weekend going? I have very exciting news about some NEW SHOES to share with you soon! (YES I mean THAT shoe competition!!)

Here's part two of my February trip to Paris (part one's here)....

My sister took this photo. Shame she couldn't manage to get the whole Arc in!!!!! Duh!

 

Bella being naughty on the tour bus! Ahahahahah!

  

We had some Parisian snow!

The Ritz where Princess Di left before she was tragically killed

 

I love the frames in Instagram!

The Moulin Rouge - it was a lot shabbier outside than I'd imagined!

I mastered the metro for my family and I! First time I'd ever been brave enough!

Uncle Buck and I ready to go home!

Have you had snow this year? :)

I heart Paris...

...and I don't mean Ms Hilton! :p

I have finally sorted through my photos of my Paris trip back in February - it seems like a million years ago (and miles away!).

We were in Paris for four days and it was SOO COLD! Like, FREEZING COLD! Here are some of the pics of the first two days....

My niece enjoying her cuppa and croissant on the first morning <3

Me and Bella :)

Notre Dame

Frozen fountains at the Louvre

Bella was scared having this photo with the statue!

Front of the Louvre

My sister, Dad, Mum and Niece :)

Inside the Notre Dame

Freezing on top of the open top tour bus!

 

I NEVER wear hats (except woolly hats and beach hats!) and bought this one for the trip - then Beth kindly called me Uncle Buck in it!! And put me off it a fair bit! How rude!

 

As miffed as I was at the comparison, I tend to agree! I'll be accessorizing with an electric drill next time!

Stay tuned for Paris part two tomorrow!