The closing moments of 2011

Suddenly its the final hours of 2011, so I'd better finish the year up with some reflections.

A perfect end to 2011...sharing Moet with a wonderful friend

What an amazing year I have had, I've heard lots of people saying how glad they are that the year is ending having been through lots of crappy times- but I have been so incredibly lucky, I feel like I am ending the year on a high.
I've been thinking a lot today about some of my highlights of the year...

• Deciding in February to become fit and healthy
• Brisbane trip with Nat & Tatum
• Becoming the very best of friends with my little sister...she totally rocks <3
• Melbourne trip with Tatum for Blogopolis
• Getting all distinctions at Uni
• Visiting Sydney for the very first time
• Going back to Sydney in December
• Escape2Create retreat
• Losing 40 kilos
• Buying clothes from a 'real' shop...not "plus sized" fashion
• Ending toxic relationships & spending time with people that make me happy
• Melbourne weekend with the College girls
• Loving exercise and the challenges it gives me
• Building new amazing friendships
• Learning that I am not invincible and need to look after my mental health too
• Embracing red lipstick and short hair

NYE 2010

NYE 2011

2012 is already looking like an exciting year and I can not wait to get in and enjoy it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I hope your coming year is as exciting as mine is going to be,
Now go celebrate...I'm off to bed and will be at work at 4am ready to play cards with all the over partied, drunk peeps of Adelaide :)
xx Lauren

Pinterest Friday Find: Pride

I've been in my current job for 6 years and 7 months. I have always tried my best and thought that I was pretty good at it. Recently I applied, for the 6th time, for a promotion to Supervisor and was knocked back...again.
Missing out on the promotion I can handle- ultimately I think the job is highly underpaid for the potential responsibilty it can hold- but what has really effected me is the massive punch in the heart at my pride. I feel like crap...a bit like I really mustn't be any good at my job, even though I do it to the very best of my ability...and time and time again people that get the promotion are no better than I am.
Perhaps it is the writing on the wall for me...I am better than just working there, I have much better plans and things to do in my life and this was a very big kick up the arse to get these plans a-moving.
5 months till I'm eligiable for pro-rata.
8 months till I give notice.
10 months till I'm travelling into the great unknown.

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Good times are ahead...and my skills are going to be put to much better use!
Happy Friday,
xx Lauren

Thankful for new friends

2011 has been a pretty big year for me.
I've travelled a reasonable amount, read some stuff, practiced sewing and making friends with the sewing machine, studied plenty, formed a solid friendship with the gym and changed my life for the better, more than I would have ever thought.
I am happy with who I am.

One of my highlights of this year has been 3 fantastic friendships I've made. Each one has been completely unexpected but then I suppose what friendship is ever predictable?

Nat has seriously been a god send! Super fun, creative, inspiring- so many random things we have in common and everything just seems to click together. I feel very lucky that Nat works some bizarre hours so that I can drop in and annoy her any time I want, and for some reason she puts up with me.  Another case of the world is such a small place...Nat grew up in the same town I did too.

Ahh the beautiful Kate.
I can not put enough words to how grateful I am to this woman. She has taught me so much, encouraged me to no end and being in Kate's company is just peaceful. Massive highlight for the year was the recent plane flight home from Sydney sitting next to Kate- so many problems of the world can be solved by the two of us I'm sure!

My last amazing friend, I actually feel pretty lucky that I'm calling him that. Stefan is my trainer at the gym- I pay him plenty of money and he makes me work freaking hard...but at some point in the last 9 months it got better than the trainer/client relationship. I happily accredit Stef to some of my commitment to the gym- he helps keep me motivated, he proves to me that I am fitter, stronger, tougher than I would've ever believed. He manages to make me smile most of the time and most of all the 45+ minutes we spend training fly by because I'm having a good time. I can not thank him enough for helping me change me life for the better.
If you are in Adelaide and looking for a personal trainer I highly, highly recommend Stefan- the guy knows his stuff and is really good at it too! Let me know and I'll happily hook you up :)

I am very lucky to have lots of people in my life and I'm so happy that these three people are apart of my life now too.
xxx Lauren

Pinterest Friday Finds- The Truth

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This time last year I was in denial about how unhappy I was.
This year I really really love who I am becoming/the person I am creating and that makes me kinda proud.

Happy Friday,
xx Lauren

John Lennon- Happy Xmas (War is Over)

Its only a few more sleeps until christmas day and it seems fitting to share a christmas carol with you. So many to choose from, but Tatum reminded me of the beauty of Happy Xmas a few weeks ago and I wanted to remind you of it too.

And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun,
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.

A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one without any fears.

 

I am so looking forward to sharing christmas day with my family in Port Lincoln- relaxing, eating and drinking lots of 'hophops!' 
Whats one your favourite christmas carols??

xx Lauren

12wbt finale disappointment

A couple of weekends ago I flew to Sydney for the finale workout and party for the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation.
I can not speak highly enough about her program, it takes a straight forward, no nonsense approach that to lose weight you need to eat restricted calories and exercise hard. She offers a fantastic range of menu plans and so many different exercise plans that there is no excuse not to give it a go, the mind setting lessons that she teaches through out the twelve weeks are so invaluable to creating a healthy, happy life.
In saying that I was so disappointed in my experience in Sydney.
From hearing about previous experiences the workout has been, fun, exciting, challenging and most of all different!
A body attack class with 1000+ people in the park was not what I was hoping for. It doesn't help that I'm not a fan of body attack...I think that 'running man' should run far away, it just wasn't the experience I had hoped for.
The party was also something left to be desired...the lack of food was disappointing, along with the fact that we had to line up at a bain marie to get it, after the speeches Michelle Bridges was nowhere to be seen. I had the feeling that the whole she-bang was about the $$ rather than celebrating every ones hard work and successes. It also sat strangely with me that there was an open bar...seems wrong at a health and fitness party, in saying that I certainly had my fair share of champagne- figured I needed to get my $75 worth!

Aside for the 12WBT disappointments it was lovely to get away. Exploring Sydney some more, checking out the markets at the Rocks and spending time with Kate & Jane and meeting Karen made for a brilliant time.
The highlight for the weekend was the 2 hour plane flight home, Kate and I chatted for the whole entire way- despite my plans of reading and Kate's plans of sleeping. Its awesome to get to know her better.
I have decided not to do another round of the 12wbt- I was undecided before I went away, but the disappointments certainly helped me make my decision. I have learnt everything that I think I'm going to learn in the program, its time for me to do this on my own!

Have you ever been let down by something built up to be amazing?? What did you do about it??

Happy Wednesday
xx Lauren

Couscous & Broccoli

What do you do when dinner time is fast approaching- all that you have in the fridge is a head of broccoli and can't be arsed going to the shops?? Re-invent a new version of the broccoli salad!
Easy, quick and super delicious, I was very happy with how this one turned out.

Packet of Ainsley Harriot Instant Couscous (Roasted Vegetable)
Broccoli
1/2 Red Onion
Red Capsicum
Sun Dried Tomatoes
Danish Fetta
Dry roasted almonds
Pepper

Cook the couscous according to the packet directions.
Cut the broccoli into florets and finely slice the onion. Place them in a microwave safe container (I use a pyrex jug) and nuke for 2-3 minutes until the broccoli is just cooked.
Finely slice the capsicum, halve the tomotoes and stir through the warm broccoli.
Add in the couscous, chopped Almonds and crumble over the fetta with a good grinding of pepper.

Add as much or as little of each ingredient as you want or have on hand. We made enough for 3 serves- although it was probably more like four, but it was so delicious it was hard to stop picking at it! It think it took me a total of 10 minutes to whip this one up- quick and easy!

Do you have a favourite easy salad recipe??

xx Lauren

For the love of boxing

I have always taken a bit of a liking to boxing. Something about the skill, the strength, the man-ly-ness of it has held my attraction...strange seeing as I am such a girly-girl who loves the ballet!
I think its pretty fitting that by coincidence my trainer has a passion for boxing too and yesterday he pointed me in the direction of this training video featuring Floyd Maywhether Jr. It is incredible- the speed, strength and agility he has and works hard for is phenomenal!

It is so inspiring to watch- it is unbelievable how fast he skips, it makes me want to get up and move!

Have you come across anything lately that's left you feeling inspired?? Please share with me, love seeing new inspiration!

xx Lauren

Four Sisters

Photography by Curiouser

I am very lucky to have three sisters.
For the first time in my life, all our lives actually, we live within 5 minutes of each other.
Which is both very special and cool.
We now have the opportunity to spend time together, getting to know each other and being a family, which I suppose is a pretty unique position to be in.
I am looking forward to that!

xx Lauren

Pinterest Friday Find- Be Yourself

Wise words from Oscar Wilde.

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Have a fantastic weekend,
xx Lauren

Foo Fighters- Everlong

I haven't blogged here in a week... the week has disappeared rather fast but I have also been very busy blogging on the Green Dandelion blog. We are creating a Christmas Special, blogging lots of inspiring festive bits in the lead up to Christmas!

Monday night Tatum, Jess, the Landlord and I went to see the Foo Fighters play at Adelaide Oval. It was amazing, they played for 2 and a half hours, Tatum has blogged about it and shared some of the amazing photos we captured already, so hop on over and read allllll about it!

Today I wanted to share one of my favourites, Everlong.

 "And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again"

 

Enough Said.

Hope you are having a great week,
xx Lauren

The Mighty Might Bosstones - The Impression That I Get

There were so many fabulous one hit wonders in the 90's its almost impossible to pick my favourite, but up near the top is most definitely The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I first heard The Impression That I Get on Clueless and instantly loved it! Its still a song that makes me jump up and dance around like a buffoon! Too much fun :)

 

Do you have a favourite tune from the 90's??

xx Lauren