My minds organised mess

I have resisted for as long as hard as I could, but alas, my crazy organisational urges have given in. I'm talking about Pinterest people. I heard about it middle of last year, and thought there is no way I need one more online 'thing' to occupy my spare time that is already split between my business, blog, and other social media sites. I resisted, I really did. Sure I used it, constantly, for inspiration, ideas, pretty pictures, but I never wanted my own account where I would see my hours slip away. That all changed a few weeks ago when I couldn't resist any more. I know we all love Pinterest, so I thought I would start a weekly segment where I put up my favourite 'finds' in 5 categories - Fashion, Home Decor, Quotes, Recipies and DIY's. This is my first week so from one Pinterest fan to another, here are 5 things I'm currently l.o.v.i.n.g.

I love everything about this picture & need that bright orange clutch and divine fur coat

[Source]

Mr M & I have just bought a blackboard for our kitchen, so I'm loving this inspiration for my future kitchen

[Source]

I fell in love with this quote as I realised me wanting to give up on my big dreams sometimes isn't a sign of weakness, just a sign that they are big.

[Source]

I have to make these - Caramel Brownies, I found a good recipie here

[Source]

I'm making these for my office at home & loved finding colour inspiration. Step by Step DIY here

Everybody has a love story

And this is mine.

I met Morgan when I was just 17 years old (I'm now almost 24) and the night didn't provide a story that we ever thought would turn in to our love story .. but it did. I had arrived to a big house party in my area with my best friend and as we were walking in I walked past a guy (Carlos) I knew from school who was 3 years older and happened to be standing with 'some guy' aka Morgan, I didn't know. We had stopped to say hey, and that was that, off we walked. Morgan had thought I was cute, and had given Carlos instructions to pass along his number if and when he saw me next, a promise Carlos saw through and an offer I took up. Within a day of us texting he had whisked me off on our first date - playing pool and watching a movie. One date turned in to a few and I knew I had found someone special. Things got in the way though - travel, ex's and age and we never became serious but always stayed in touch (whilst I held a secret flame for him the whole time). Then something changed. I was 19, he was 23, and we were ready to give 'us' a good go. I remember him rocking up to my door with a bunch of flowers asking me to officially be his girlfriend and inviting me to watch his cricket game. We were both completley smitten and it was the start of something amazing.

That was almost 5 years ago and we've never looked back. Sure we argue, we get angry, we've had doubts and had some incredibly tough times, but at the end of the day that is what makes our imperfect love perfect. So like any relationship, there is and has been trials, but here is the good. I have never met anyone like Morgs and count my blessings when I wake up to him each morning and mean it every night when we both say how grateful we are for one another.  I love that after 5 years I still smile and get excited when I pull in to our driveway and know his inside. I love that we support one another as individuals and encourage independance as much as working on us as a couple. I love that he without a doubt, can make me laugh no matter what. I love that we 'get' one another and support each other no matter what. But most of all, I just love him, everything about him.

We were so lucky recently to have an amazing photographer - Belinda - who knew of our crazy little love want to photograph our 'essence' & for us to have some pics of us to treasure. These are the pics I'm sharing with you today and we loved them, I mean loved them. Belinda made us feel so at ease and directed us through the whole thing if we needed it. She operates out of Perth, WA, and does couples shoots and mums and bubs (or new families) - if you have been wanting or thinking of having some special pics recently I can't encourage you enough to do it. You can contact Belinda here if you want to enquire in to a shoot .. she even comes with her own make up artist!

Beach Getaway

[Footprints along the sand - I was sitting watching the world go by]

With everything that's been going on recently Mr M & I decided to get up early Sunday morning and spend most of our day at the beach. I had never been to Floreat before (a beach North of Perth) so it was an easy choice when trying to pick which bit of our beautiful coastline to visit. I have always said how lucky I am to not just live in Australia, but live in beautiful ole' sunny Perth, WA as I truly believe we have some of the most stunning beaches (aka coastline) in the world - note: this may be a bias opinion. It was exactly what we both needed however and between collecting shells, swimming, body boarding and relaxing, there was lots of laughs and quality time catch up. What did you get up to on the weekend? Is it sunny in your part of the world?

p.s I'm not sure what to do with the shells yet, I'm thinking of putting them in a vase with a candle or something similar.

[Reverting back to my childhood days - collecting shells]

[Mr M catching a wave]

[Coming in after being dunked one too many times]

[A snapshot of my collected shells]

Making a difference - Kony 2012

Something remarkable is happening around the world that I am excited and inspired to be a part of. I am sure that most will have already heard of or seen the video already but the people who started it all want it shared, and share it I will. What I'm talking about is bringing down the 'Lord Resistance Army' through capturing a man named Joseph Kony who for over 20 years has avoided capture and criminal charges. He has gotten away with kidnapping innocent children, some 30,000 of them - and turning them in to murderers against their own will. But not anymore. The revolution has begun and the organisers of Kony 2012 are asking to share this video below, to make it viral, to keep pressure on politicians which will keep army advisers and soldiers in Africa tracking this monster down. I believe he will be caught, and I believe it will be done because of just a few guys dream to change the world. It is a 30 minute video but I beg and implore you to watch it. ALL of it. The change starts with us - and it starts now. Share it to family, friends and through your blogs and be a part of this worldwide community to bring this monster down and change these kids lives.

A little part of me that means a lot

I celebrated a very important milestone recently on the 23rd of February this year, something I haven't shared before on the blog. You see, 2 years ago, on that date, I had a major surgery that I had wanted since I could talk - almost - Corrective jaw surgery. I had lived with my whole life, quite a bad under bite (& it affected my teeth) and although it didn't dictate who I was, it was a major source of insecurity and general unhappiness when it came to who I saw when I looked in the mirror. As with everything though, I won't complain unless I am fixing something so mum -  (who was my biggest support) - & I got me on waiting lists for the top surgeons and orthodontists in Perth to fix it. The process was long, and the surgery that resulted is major (they break your top and bottom jaw and re align them with bolts) but the final result is me today and the happiness and closure I feel from it all. My top jaw was broken and moved down and forward to it's correct position and my bottom jaw was broken and moved up and back in to it's correct position. I've always been positive, but the best way I can put it is it made my outsides match my insides. I have ashamedly, shy'd away from talking about it publicly in the past as after my surgery and subsequent changes physically and emotionally I had some negative reactions from 'friends'. 2012 for me is the year about embracing change and living my best life and with my jaw surgery being such a major part of my positive, happier change I'm not ashamed of it anymore or worried to talk about it. Yes, it made me happier, I didn't hate so much anymore. Yes it made me look different, but it's who I was meant to be, and Yes I have more confidence, but this is the life I was born to lead. So on my 2nd year anniversary instead of celebrating quietly, worrying about what past friends think, I am celebrating loudly and excitedly. Mum & I made a book on the whole journey and experience as I wanted to keep the reminder of what a major part of my life it was, and will always be so below are the photos from the book I'm sharing today.

So here's to embracing change. Here's to always celebrating who we were and who we become. Here's to living the best way you know how. Here's to knowing who you are and not being afraid of judgement and criticism. And here's to life. We only have one shot at it so why not take it by both hands and be exactly who you were born to be.

xx

p.s you know the best part about it all? I actually finally, after 23 years, look like my sister and my mum, before I looked like some distant relative.

[Just out of surgery & in to ICU]

[Day 4 in hospital, out of ICU and in to my room, incredibly swollen & sore]

[Day 3 - so so so swollen but happy]

[First hand look at the changes as the swelling lessened]

[Before & After shot. I never smiled with my mouth open prior to surgery]

Not sweating the small stuff

[source]

I have been holed up in Intensive Care this week as tradegy has struck one of Mr M's beloved family members. It has been a long and tiring week and will continue to be so for awhile to come but as we wait and hope and pray, I have been learning some powerful lessons in gratitude. It's not until you're thrust in to a situation like this that advice or quotes seem to resonate with you more than ever before and a sense of gratitude seems to sit with you no matter where you go - that you're here, not on life support. That Mr M is here, and not on life support. Here is what else I'm grateful for.

• The fact that I can run, skip and walk with two legs that work.
• That I can breathe big full breathes of air, by myself.
• That I can tell Mr Mr every night how lucky we are to have found one another.
• That I can hug my family, kiss my neice, talk to my mum when I need too.
• That I can choose to go outside and sit in the warmth of the sun.
• That I can drive my car and listen to music really loud and sing at the top of my voice
• That I can pick up the phone and call my friends & remind them how much I love them.

But most of all....

That I'm alive.

Tell me, what are you grateful for?