9 months on...

I stood at the harbour at the port of Yeosu in South Korea and watched the sunrise in the distance and decided it was time to put into action something I had been thinking about for a while. I have always enjoyed watching both the sunrise and the sunset. Each signalling an important time of the day... A sunrise, a new day with new beginnings possible.... A sunset, a time of reflection of the day that was...

January 1st, 2017 ~ Sunrise at the harbour in Yeosu, South Korea. 🔆💛🇰🇷 . #iphone5 #lpfanphoto #photooftheday #picoftheday #wanderlust #travel #traveller #travelling #instapic #instatravel #visiting #instago #instagood #tourism #tourist #southkorea #instatraveling #mytravelgram #travelgram #igtravel #sunrise #sunrise_sunsets_aroundworld #foreignfocus #sun #kissfromtheworld #instapassport #january #travelpassage

A post shared by sunrise.or.sunset (@sunrise.or.sunset) on Dec 31, 2016 at 3:34pm PST

The one that started it all.... my first sunrise picture.

for a $50 outfit challenge

So this weekend I got a jump start on the event planning by seeing the 10 things to do this weekend on Friday night via a link on Facebook and was a little disappointed to find little there that interested me! Three of the 10 suggestions were markets and I really couldn't do that to you again (I swear there are more to do in Toowoomba on a weekend then go to Markets!)

Sunday morning my sister and I did head down to the Margaret Street Markets to visit Scarf Girl to pick up a few Christmas gifts. 

Afterwards we headed to the main shopping centre in Toowoomba, Grand Central, as I had decided that this weekend we would complete the Ms Mystery Case $50 outfit challenge! 

 

The challenge set by Ms Mystery Case is to buy a complete outfit under $50 and I decided to rope my sister in and make it a challenge within ourselves. 

I set the rules that all items had to be bought from within Grand Central and that we only had an hour to do it. 

So we synchronised watches and headed our separate ways in search of the perfect (aka bargain) outfit! 

We had discussed tactics first and thought the bottom half of the outfit would be the most expensive and difficult to find. I headed straight for Temt. Dresses are very difficult to find when you have a body shape like mine and I knew that would take way too long so I opted for some pants and a skirt, and I was shocked to find that a skirt I never thought I would ever wear fit perfectly and, if I do say so myself, looks pretty darn good! But this took me a good half hour to discover leaving my just another half hour to find the whole rest of the outfit! 

I decided my next biggest expense would be shoes so I bolted to the opposite end of the centre to Target as a friend had mentioned they were having a shoe sale. What I didn't calculate into the one hour time limit plan was the queues at the checkouts which were a bit crazy.

After getting some shoes I went on the hunt for a top! I had just 15 minutes left! I couldn't believe how hard and under pressure I felt! 

I dashed in and out of shoes but ended up back at Temt grabbing a top and some bracelets and before I knew it time was up, actually, I confess I went 5 minutes over time as Linda was already back at our meeting spot waiting for me! 

She did however let me go and grab some earrings as I still had $8 left! 

We hid our bags from each other, dropped them in the car and then went to a new cafe that has opened across the road from the shopping centre.

Primal Pantry is a new health food cafe with a full Paleo menu and we were keen to check it out! 

We both opted for the Monkey Fuel Smoothie (banana, cinnamon, nutmeg and almond milk), I grabbed the choc caramel slice and Linda chose the banana bread. It was so good!! 

After morning tea we headed home to compare outfits......

Linda used Derby Day as her inspiration after spotting this gorgeous skirt and I think she did a fab job! 

The breakdown: 

- Top from Valleygirl $14.95

- Skirt from Paper Scissors $16

- Shoes from Target $10

- Earrings from Target $2.50

- Head chain from Equip $5

Total = $48.45

My outfit:

The breakdown:

- Top from Temt $9.95

- Skirt from Temt $14.95

- Shoes from Target $7.00

- Bangles from Temt $9.95

- Ring and Earrings from Equip $2 & $5.99

(The earrings actually came in a set of 3 pairs and were the only things not on sale)

Total = $49.85

We were both pretty chuffed with our outfits and impressed with our bargain buys! It really was a lot of fun! I was especially chuffed at how good I felt in a high waisted figure hugging skirt!!

What do you think? Who wins your vote? 

Head over to Ms Mystery Case to check out other people who have attempted the $50 outfit challenge and link up your own attempt!

Also linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT! 

for another challenge!

As if my reading challenge wasn't enough (as well as my fitness bootcamp challenge and working full time), over the weekend I decided to sign up for a blogging challenge!!!


I stumbled across this one whilst catching up on my blog reading over at Over Cups of Coffee.... Psych Babbler is also joining the challenge.

So what is it and are you going to join me???

The Blogging From A-Z Challenge runs for the month of April, where you blog each day from the respective letter in the alphabet. What you blog about is up to you and some people find it easiest to have a theme. With some help from Psych Babbler I am blogging about...

I think it's kind of perfect...given that my blog is a bit of a random mix of ramblings about my life it seems to really fit. There was the suggestion that I also do stories from my teaching career so will weave that in as well.... I know what you are all thinking... "How awesome crazy is this woman?, she's always complaining about not having enough time!".. Well in response to that, I have now learnt how to schedule posts (Thanks Ms Mystery Case!) and I have 2 weeks off in April so SURELY I can get organised!

So...are you up for the challenge? I know Flood Proof Mum is also joining us...anyone else???

Linking up this IBOT with Essentially Jess of course!

for a new smoothie recipe!

I have joined the Finding Myself Young 52 Weeks of Memories - It's a 'once a week photo challenge' for those of us who find the photo a day challenge a little bit overwhelming!

This week's prompt is "NEW" and this morning I tried a new smoothie recipe! Frozen Berries (I used a frozen single pack of blackberries, blueberries and raspberries) 1 banana, cup of yogurt (I use Greek Yogurt), 2 cups of Spinach (which I only ever considered a salad ingredient!).

Check out the weekly prompts here. You don't have to have a blog to join - link up on instagram using the #fmy52weeksofmemories

This photo challenge will be live every Wednesday which is also perfect as it coincides with my Wordless Wednesday link up! (I know I haven't been very wordless today but I promise to be in the future..

Check out who I am linking with today... Finding Myself Young...My Little Drummer Boys... Twinkle in the Eye

to say farewell to 2013...

As far as years go 2013 has not been without it's challenges...if I'm honest I'd say it's probably up in the top 5 of crappy years, for a variety of reasons - some I've blogged about, some I haven't.

It's been a year where I have questioned a lot....questioned my life, my past, my present, my future...questioned my beliefs, my friendships, my values, my dreams and even my career.

It has been so easy for me to focus on the negative this year with each challenge that has been thrown my way but I know that that is not helpful or productive so today I want to look back over my year and focus on the good things that have happened.....

1. I started my blog!

Of course this is a positive! I have met so many wonderful, inspiring people in the blogging world through doing this. It has not been without it's challenges, time being the main one, but I have enjoyed learning and sharing a part of me with you all. There is that fine line between becoming an oversharer and writing from the heart which I am sure I will continue to struggle with in 2014 and while I consider myself still such a novice and my blog completely still under construction beginning this blog is definitely something I am glad I did

2. I completed 2 rounds of 12wbt!

This link will take you to the blogpost of when I reached my goal weight! I have blogged a lot in my early blogging days about my 12wbt journey so if you are interested scroll back to the beginning. Again Michelle Bridges 12wbt was something that I had thought about for a while but this year just felt like the right time. It also was not without it's challenges and overcoming a lot of those was a challenge in itself and while I am a little heavier now than I would like to be (far too many treats!) and I will admit that my goal weight didn't hang around for long, I know that it's possible and I know that I am MUCH MUCH fitter and stronger than I was 12  months ago - and that I am proud of.

3. I got a new job!

It has been a job that has given me many challenges and much enjoyment at the same time. It has allowed me to meet some wonderful new people and learn so much! Still not quite convinced it's my dream job but I have enjoyed it and something that I had been working towards for many years.

4. I met one of my favourite Australian bands!

I will shamelessly admit that when it comes to meeting celebrities I could be mistaken for a teenage groupy and meeting the boys from McAlister Kemp when I went to CMC Rocks North Queensland was no exception! I have loved their music for a while now and had been wanting to see them in concert for ages. They were such lovely guys and it helps that they look mighty fine as well! Was such a fun day!

5. I sold my house!

I was so disappointed in how my house was left when my tenants were evicted that it felt like selling it was really my only option. Being a landlord was beginning to feel like more like a burden than I wanted/needed it to be. Couple that with the dramas I had with my real estate and insurance company and I am happy to say goodbye! It has held mixed emotions for me but selling my house has taken a big weight off my shoulders! Technically it does not settle until next week but the paperwork is all signed and now it's just a matter of time..

Looking back over 2013 it was actually a lot easier than I thought to come up with 5 things, I could probably have kept going but don't want to bore you too much!

A lot of people have talked about their dreams, their resolutions and even their theme words for 2014... I am not going quite to that extreme at this point, I am not necessarily convinced that 2014 will be any different or better that 2013 but what I do know is that almost everything that will happen for me will be a direct result of a decision that I will make, so it will be what I make it... and I am going to try like hell to make it a good one!

Image Source

Til next year!

Linking up for the final time for 2013 with Essentially Jess for #IBOT!

for a final outfit update

Well I did it......a whole term of not wearing the same outfit twice....

A little hard to see I know but you get the picture!

I am secretly not surprised that I achieved this challenge, I know I have a lot of clothes. Another friend of mine told me this was a challenge I should not be proud of succeeding in..


Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys and Twinkle in the Eye for Wordless Wednesday

    

for Wordless Wednesday

I moved towns a few months back and a ruthless friend of mine helped me sort through the endless suitcases and bags of clothes I have....far far more than one person needs she tells me.
So she has set me 2 challenges.

1. I am not allowed to buy any new clothes during term 1 (2 weeks down 7 to go!)
2. I have to wear a different outfit to work every day (and as she lives a long way away I have to send her a pic every day!)

So far so good....

Today I am linking up for the first time with My Little Drummer Boys and Twinkle in the Eye for Wordless Wednesday!