Europe here we come

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I have been jumping out of my skin with excitement the past few days as the past Sunday Mr M & I sat down and officially started booking our Europe Accommodation. I was squealing like a 5 year old on Christmas morning as we hit 'book' on hotel and hostel again and again. We aptly finished the day off sharing a bottle of champagne in celebration and toatsing our upcoming adventure. We are by no means finished yet, but to me, the 'hard' work - who am I kidding I've loved every second of it - is done, we have done weeks of research and picked our destinations and accommodation we just have to finalise each booking - which we have started doing. Having locked all places in, and shared on this blog from the start my Europe planning, I wanted to update you on the final itinerary.

I'd LOVE to hear from you if you've been to these places, lived in these places or just dreamed of these places. I want to hear your own experiences or tips on what Mr M & I should be doing once there.

So here goes...

p.s we fly out 1st August 2012 and home 5th December 2012.

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[England]
London

[Wales]
Cardiff

[Ireland]
Belfast
Dublin

[Scotland]
Inverness
Elgin
Aberdeen
Edinburgh

[Netherlands]
Amsterdam

[Belgium]
Brussels

[Greece]
Athens
Santorini
Rhodes

[Croatia]
Split
Hvar
Trstenik
Dubrovnik
Mljet
Korcula
Makarska

[Austria]
Salzburg
Vienna

[Czech Republic]
Prague

[Hungary]
Budapest

[Italy]
Rome
Naples
Capri
Postiano
Amalfi
Florence
Venice
Milan
Cinque Terre

[Monaco]
Monte Carlo

[France]
Paris
St Tropez
Cannes
Nice
Toulon
Nimes

[Spain]
Barcelona
Madrid
Valencia
Mallorca
San Sebastian

[Portugal]
Porto

[Luxembourg]
Luxembourg

[Germany]
Berlin
Frankfurt
Heidlburg
Munich

[Switzerland]
Zurich

Your's in love & light,
Anna xx

Passing it on

I mentioned last week my blog was honoured to receive the Kathryn Ingrid creativity award from the gorgeous Jennifer over at Cote' Writes. I also mentioned in the post that I wanted to pass on the award to others whose blogs I feel inspire and that I love and well today is the day I get around to that. As I have previously said in many posts, what I have come to love most about blogging is the incredible connections you make with other bloggers around the world and inspiration you are able to draw from extraordinary women in the virtual world. I wanted to just chose a few girls today, but to those not listed, who's blogs I comment on or who comment on mine I thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me in to your worlds daily and for coming in to mine. It is through these connections that we are connected to the world and I love that. I hope you enjoy the 3 blogs below as much as I enjoy them.

Hope in high heels - My day wouldn't be complete without a visit to this gorgeous girls blog and I really mean that. She packed up her bags and moved from Melbourne Australia to big ole' New York City (amazing huh!) and documents her new life over there. I love everything about her blog from her lively posts, to her gorgeous photos and hold on to hope that I will get to NYC soon and can share a hot dog and cup of coffee with her.

Eve. H - This incredible lady hails from the Czech Republic and blogs about her daily life be it studying, love, happiness or sadness from her part of the world. I have loved getting to know Eve through our comments and emails and look forward to many many many more posts from her. If you want to share a new experience from a different city in the World Eve is your girl.

Cubs, Carbs & other love affairs - This is my sisters blog which I have discussed before here, but from a genuine - and I truly mean that - point of view, it really is a burst of freshness in the blog scene. B became a mother unexpectedly at age 20 and shares on there her new life on her new journey. She writes incredibly truthfully and with a rawness I had not found before she started her blog.

So there you have it. I know Lot's of people stop by blogs skimming through loving what they read but not always acting on it, but I challenge you today to take up my suggestions on paying a visit to the above blogs, I know you won't regret it.

Fairytale Love

I have mentioned a few times before that up until last November, at age 23, almost 24, I had never been to one wedding. Since November until this March, I'll have been to 5. As they say when it rains, it pours. Having been a wedding 'virgin' so to speak I am still overwhelmed and humbled with gratitude at what an incredible honour it is to be invited to watch two people promise their forevers to each other. They chose you to make their promises to one another and celebrate their love for ever after. It's just beautiful. I was particularly excited for the wedding I am sharing with you today as it was a 'family' wedding so to speak, Mr M's brother and his gorgeous fiance' (now wife) tied the knot! It was a beautiful ceremony which led in to an incredibly fun reception. Mr M was Best Man and I was so proud when he got up to give his speech - what a guy xx So here are just a few snaps from the day that I hope spread you some love wherever you currently are in the world.

This day I will marry my best friend, 
the one I laugh with, 
live for, 
dream with, 
love.

[ The groom patiently waiting in Mr M & I's room for guests to arrive ]

[ My handsome Mr M - & his 'Best Man' socks ]

[ The groom helping his groomsmen get ready ]

[ The stunning Bride & Groom - Laith & Laura ]

[ Mr M & I sharing a cuddle & a laugh at the reception together ]

[ Me waiting with the groomsmen before guests arrived ]

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread

As I've mentioned previously, I unfortunately am not a massive sweet tooth, I am however a massive fan of baking which leaves my household in a conundrum when it is just Mr M & I and he is left with all the sweets to eat. This all changed however when I made some Chocolate Dipped Shortbread over Christmas for friends - I ended up having to make 2 more batches as everyone loved it so much, including myself. It's so so simple to make so I thought I'd share it with you if your ever in the mood for a little baking.

YOU NEED:

1. Rolling Pin
2. Cut out shape (I used a heart but you could use whatever you wish)

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups (260 grams) plain flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (226 grams) salted butter* - room temperature
1/2 cup of pure icing (powdered) sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 block of your plain chocolate (I used Cadburys which worked fantastic)

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a separate bowl whisk the flour with the salt & set aside
Place butter in electric mixer & beat until smooth & creamy (hand whisk if you don't have an electric mixer) approximately 1 minute
Add the sugar and beat until smooth (approximately 2 minutes)
Beat in the vanilla extract
Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated
Flatten the dough in to a shape disk on a smooth bench
Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in fridge for a minimum of 1 hour

... Dough has now been chilled for minimum of 1 hour...

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F)
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper
On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough in to a 1/4 inch thick circle
Cut in to shapes using a floured shape cutter (i.e. heart/animal/circle/)
Place on the prepared baking sheet & put back in fridge for about 15 mins (VERY important, this will firm the dough and make sure the biscuits maintain their shape when baked)

Bake for 10-15 minutes or until shortbread is lightly browned**

CHOCOLATE DIPPING

Fill large saucepan with hot water and bring to boil on stove
Place chocolate in a heat proof bowl and place above boiling water in saucepan
Stir constantly until all chocolate has melted
Dip shortbread in to chocolate until desired coverage and place on baking sheets
Place back in fridge until set

The result??

* The higher the quality of butter, the better the shortbread turns out I have been told, I used higher quality (i.e. more expensive) butter and was happy with my taste/aesthetic results so that is my little tip to you too.

Thankfulness

I started this blog 8 months ago when actually looking in to marketing possibilities for my dating website Possibly Maybe - I had always heard of blogs, and had my few favourite I'd pop by daily for bursts of inspiration, but never had I realised until looking in to blogs, the true extent of the blogging community, and more so, the amazing connections you develop with other bloggers and readers. What started out as some business investigation led me in fact to a new passion for a space I could go where I could share life's excitement and inspiration - yes I'm aware journals are also for that, but life's about sharing right? I learned recently that Cote' Writes had awarded Lifes Shiny Pretty Things with the Kathryn Ingrid Creativity Award which I was extremely grateful for. Jennifer from Cote' Writes is an incredibly gifted American gal who writes like no other and I adore visiting her blog daily for her always inspiring musings. You never expect your posts to be read by anyone but when you do get comments from lovely readers you realise what a privledge it is to be part of other people's lives through sharing experiences.

In honour of the award I want to keep Jennifer's tradition going of sharing with you some facts about myself that I haven't let you in on before....

1. I am still completley scared of the dark
2. I hold a uni degree with a double major in Human Resources & Management
3. Mum was told by 2 scans when she was pregnant with me that I was a boy (she already had 3 boys - my brothers) and my name was to be Steven Isaac, when I was born she screamed so loud from excitement I was a girl they called extra Doctors to the ward thinking something was wrong (See I was always destined for excitement & drama!)
4. My last name was changed by my father 4 times and my now last name is made up from a Cult back in the 70's (yeahhh so his kinda crazy)
5. Up until I was 23, I had never been to a wedding (I've since been to 3 & have another 3 this year)
6. Popcorn & Fireworks are 2 of my favourite things.
7. Mr M is the first 'boy' I've ever said I love you too
8. I hate cake or pretty much anything sweet (except plain ice cream or plain chocolate)
9. I can't watch Scary Movies and will even have to leave a room with my eyes shut & hands over my ears if a scary movie trailer is on tv.
10. When I was 4 I went through an attempted abduction. The man got me in to his car from our front lawn but I got out & ran home.
11. I've grown up half my life in Victoria and half my life in Western Australia.
12. I will avoid at all costs getting wrinkled hands or feet when emersed in water too long - I hate the feeling.
13. I almost seriously drowned when I was 6 but mum saved me just before it went from terrible to nightmarishly bad.
14. I can't go to sleep with doors or cupboards open in the bedroom.
15. My sister and I have moles in the exact same spots (one in our ear, and one in the crease of the elbow on both arms).

So there they are - a few fun facts that I hope you enjoyed. Stay tuned because I'll be sharing with you the blogs which I love in the next few days.

2012 The year that will be

2012. To say I am excited about what lays ahead for me would go down as the understatement of 2012, and we haven't even really started it yet. I am beyond excited. I have just returned from a week long holiday with Mr M & family feeling relaxed, refreshed and ready for all that this year promises. I have never gone in to a year so certain and sure before and it's all thanks to aforementioned week long holiday. I was able to sit and write out my goals, decide on big decisions I need to make, re evaluate my values and remind myself of the standards I will accept in life - the result equalled a new passion and excitement that I hope to share with you all year long. I am as motivated as ever to tick things off my "25 before 25" list, and already have started organising almost half of the things on the list. I have just booked a yoga holiday in March that will see me off to a remote part of Bali to fill my days with Yoga and aligning my body & spirit further. A post about 2012 wouldn't be complete either without special mention of Mr M & I's 4 month European holiday that begins 1st August and see's us travel to cultures and destinations unknown and where we'll get to know ourselves, each other, and of course beautiful new countries even more.


So here's to incredible times and adventures ahead.


Yours in love & light as always,


Anna xx


psst - here are some of my fav holiday snaps for the week away (3 hour drive from Perth) that I went on to say goodbye to 2011 and welcome 2012 in.

[ Mum & I on the balcony of the house we stay in that my Great Grandfather built in 1947 ]

[ Fishing & drinking wine, multi tasking as women do ]

[ The view of some of my daily walking route - bush meets civilisation ]

[ My gorgeous Great Aunt - Pauline, My Aunt - Anne and my Mum - Jenny, amazing women ]

 [ Happy New Year!! Mr M & I's kiss was caught welcoming 2012 in ]

[ A normal dinner each night - delicious fish & salad ]

[ Me splashing about with my adorable 6 month old neice Delilah ]

[ The coast line 1 minute from our house on an overcast day ]

2011 The year that was

I think with every year passing I am beginning to learn more about myself and what's truly important in this life and as with all my years, 2011 was no exception. Although it flew by and I felt dizzy with the speed at times, I had and have so much to be grateful for what the year brought me. Although I lost my greatest love, my Pop, I take with him not just in to 2012, but every year after his beautiful memories and zest for life. Travel wise I got to Sydney & Bali, both trips supplying me with some of the most fun and cherished memories of the year and with each passing day I got to learn more and more gratitude for being alive, having a beautiful and supporting family and the opportunity to fall more in love with Mr M than ever.

So 2011, thank you, for letting me live the life I wish to lead and for supplying me with sun after cloudy days and rainbows after rain.

I hope you all had an amazing year and got to reflect on what is really important in this life as we counted in the New Year. Here's to another year of all getting to know one another more, and sharing life's experiences.

xxx