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Showing posts with label bliss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bliss. Show all posts

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Are you Living Your Dream Life? Part Nine: Jessica

Who are you and what is your life like now?

I’m Jess, a 22 year old, I study full time, I work 1.5 jobs, and I have a serious boyfriend and some seriously amazing friends (family included). My life right now is probably not as bad as I think, but it seems pretty hectic. I have classes Monday to Friday for my Bachelor of Hospitality Management majoring in Event Management. In my long four hour breaks between classes I work in a Call Centre, then in the evening (how often depends on how busy we are) I work at a theatre/conference centre as a Food and Beverage Supervisor. Most days I’m on the go from 6am till 11pm… does that seem hectic to anyone else?

On top of this all, I have the Uni assignments to complete and exams to study for… can I please have three more days in the week? Oh, and not to mention seeing my friends and family and paying attention to my two gorgeous cats… who crave more attention than babies!

What would you do all day, week or year if you were living your dream life?

Not working would be the easy answer, but it’s the boring answer…I would get way too bored! I’ve done it for two months before and that was too much! So maybe, having the ability to have a week off whenever I wanted would be great, but having something to keep me busy would be essential. Seeing as I just mentioned I’m studying hospitality and events you may have gathered this is what I want to do in life… correct.

So, right now, I would have to say…

Dream job - Event manager for my own company (it would have to be super popular and successful) and working from home or an awesome office on the North Shore or Auckland City. Doing amazing music events (my main interest at the moment) and any other fun event that came our way.

Dream living situation – A new, modern house with the boyf (with all my own furniture!), right next to all my best mates and family… like our own little community.

Dream money – Right now I rarely pay my bills (apart from rent) on time, only have a big food shop once every couple of months and don’t have any emergency money or savings… this way of living sucks! So, dream money would be a lot of it….I don’t care about the amount… I just don’t want debt, I want a nice car with a full tank of gas (and one for boyf), I want food in the pantry, I want a glass of wine with the girls when I want to, I want taxi money so I can dance/drink the night away, I want dinner out at a nice restaurant whenever I feel the need, I want my cats to be able to go to the vet when they need to, I want to go to the doctor when I’m sick, I want my appendix out! (Another story; another time maybe?), I want clothes that match the season I’m in. I’m assuming all of this would add up to millions… but I don’t necessarily want to be a millionaire…like I said, I just want things taken care of so I can work, love, play and laugh.

Dream health – Minus the six broken wrists I had when I was smaller… this has all happened in the last 5 years… I’ve had two laparoscopic surgeries to remove ovarian cysts (so many internal examinations because of this, I can’t tell you a number… I would guess 40), I’ve had a trip the hospital for bruised ribs (guys should not kick girls in the stomach!), I’ve had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy to investigate bowel and stomach problems and I’ve had a near miss with my appendix (yes, I should have got it removed but I couldn’t miss Penny’s 21st party) and one extra week in hospital with about 10 blood tests and lures (I don’t do needles!), two ultra sounds, a CT scan and no results found (I don’t have cancer, yay!). Four hospital visits in the first three months of 2011 by the way! So what you might have gathered that I’m trying to say… I want to be healthy (I’m sick of being sick)… or just know what is causing these issues (seeing as I wasn’t diagnosed with anything in March I’m still in pain nearly every day). 

So what's stopping you?

Nothing is really stopping me from all of the above… I’m just being ‘held up’ by obstacles… they’re obstacles because I know I will achieve all of the above one day.

My dream job (not my own company, but working towards Event Management) is definitely in the near future (even sooner than I think if I get some luck my way very soon)… but in the industry the obstacle I have to face is my experience… I know I can do it, but people need proof, especially because I’m only 22.

My dream living situation won’t happen until I’m earning enough money to pay a lot of rent for the brand new, modern house I crave. But I will be living with the boyf in the near future, which makes me all giggly inside, and lets me breathe a sigh of relief… no ‘who’s house do you want to stay at’ every night, more time spent with my gorgeous kitties, everything will be perfectly set in its place and I don’t have to clean or try and ignore other people’s messes!

My dream money situation won’t happen this year at least (unless I win lotto?), but I will be super happy and satisfied when I’m earning enough money for a nice house for me and the boyf, lots of food and bills being paid on time.

As for the dream health situation… this is the one thing I don’t think will actually ever happen… because of all the issues and tests I’ve already had (once again, yay no cancer or serious illnesses!) there’s not much else to do but wait… wait for my appendix to burst and find out that was the cause? Wait for an alien to burst out of my stomach and admit to inflicting all this unwanted pain? Wait for another ovarian cyst then eventually not be able to have kids?

I can handle not becoming a millionaire or living in a penthouse suite until I’m much older but the one thing I can’t handle is this pain… too much fast walking at work when we’re busy and I’m bent over grabbing my stomach with tears in my eyes, having to stop half way through sex because the pain is too much (scar tissue maybe?), it’s all not normal and should f*** off.

In conclusion, after all this babbling…I guess, right now, my dream life would be $5.00 in my bank account to buy a coffee when I get tired at work this afternoon and no pain… is that too much to ask for? Am I selfish for asking for no pain when I’m still so much better off than others?



Thanks so much Jessica for contributing to the Dream Life series! 

If you would like to participate, I'd love to have you on board. Use the Contact Me tab to email me your answers to the Dream Life questions. I'll reply to get your photos and let you know when you will be published. All I ask in return is that you link back to Dancing in Barefeet on the day you appear.

Are you living your Dream Life?


Sunday, May 29, 2011

Are you Living Your Dream Life? Part Six: Nurse B

http://brandonsneed.com
Who are you and what is your life like now?

I am Berny aka Nurse B, and right now my life is almost how I want it. I am a home owner, I have a dog and a cat, I have the loving man and I am a nurse. Nursing is my chosen profession and I can’t imagine doing anything else. And as you read this I am doing a month long trip through Kenya, Uganda and climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with a couple of days stopover in Dubai.

What would you do all day, week or year if you were living your dream life?

If I was living my dream life….  I would like to be more self-sufficient and eco-friendly. I’d have a bigger house with solar panels for electricity (Ideally we’d be off the grid). I’d have lots of land so I can have at several dogs, a few more cats and maybe a guinea pig. I’d have a big vege garden, lots of fruit trees, and couple of pigs and chickens (for eggs and to eat eventually, if I don’t chicken out).  

I think I’d keep the loving man, hehe. We’d be married and eventually we’d have a couple of kids. The kids would be taught to enjoy the great outdoors, instead of being stuck inside glued to a TV set. I’d be quite happy to not have a television, but I’d still like to be able to watch movies occasionally. I’d love to have a swimming pool, big enough to do laps (and slightly warmed), and an indoor spa pool to relax in.

The house would have to have a dedicated music room, for my piano (big enough to fit Mum’s grand piano in when she can no longer keep it) and the man’s guitars. It would need a big, well equipped kitchen so I can bake and cook more often, so I would no longer need to buy things like bread and biscuits.

I would take from Mid-December through to Mid-February off every year to enjoy the summer and school holidays with my kids. We’d explore New Zealand and spend all sunny days at the beach or going for bush walks. I’d hope the husband would also be in a position to join us. Also every year we’d take a month off to explore different areas of the world (which month would depend on which was the best time of year to visit whichever country we’d planned on seeing that year).

What would your job be?

I’d still be a nurse because that is my passion. In fact the only true downfall to my job is the long and unsociable hours. Nursing is not a 9–5 Monday to Friday job. Nursing is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and I have to be able to work any one of those hours and days.

In my dream life I would like be able work only one or two days a week (enough to keep my registration current). The rest of my time I’d spend being a home maker. If I was good enough I’d maybe make a little extra cash by baking bread, cakes and biscuits and making preserves (jam, sauces and relish) to sell at a local market.

Why would it make you happy?

This would make me happy because I would love to watch my kids grow up and discover the world first hand. I’d be able to spend more time with friends and family, go to parties and gatherings without having to clock watch or worry about getting to bed on time for my next shift of work. I’d have more time to do the things I love such as cook, bake, and garden, do handcrafts and listen to music. I’d also have more time to do the other household chores that I don’t love so much, so they would not reach a point where I feel overwhelmed by them. I take pleasure in a tidy, clean home, but at the moment often do not have to time or energy to achieve this.

So what's stopping you?

At the moment we don’t have to money for a bigger house and wouldn’t have to time for the upkeep of the gardens and animals. The area of nursing I am working in allows me to earn a reasonable wage, which is an evil necessity to be able to pay the mortgage and bills and be able to eat. It is reasonably flexible (just as long as I work 7am–7pm or 7pm-7am, 3-4 days per week). It is a good area to be in while I am still young and will probably be a good area to remain in when I have young children, as I’d probably be able to work less days (or work nights) to allow for child care. It offers the opportunity to earn extra money by paying penal rates for night shifts and weekend shift and pays double time for public holidays and allows the opportunity to do overtime during busy periods. This means that if we need a little extra cash for travel or other luxuries it is not too difficult to earn it. 


Thanks so much Nurse B for contributing to the Dream Life series! 

If you would like to participate, I'd love to have you on board. Use the Contact Me tab to email me your answers to the Dream Life questions. I'll reply to get your photos and let you know when you will be published. All I ask in return is that you link back to Dancing in Barefeet on the day you appear.

Are you living your Dream Life?

Saturday, May 28, 2011

What Can You Do Today To Make Your Life Happier?

I love this post and I think you should read it. Nothing I write today will top it, because it says everything I could hope to say. Even though I try to live the same way it describes, it was awesome to have a reminder all set out for me and I’m posting it here as much for myself as for you, so I can read it again and again.


Sunday, May 22, 2011

Are you Living Your Dream Life? Part Five: Soul Buddy!

This week I am honoured to have my own darling Soul Buddy guest posting. This makes me warm and fuzzy. I also love her more now than I did before.

Who are you and what is your life like now?

Hi fellow DIBF Lovers, you may have read about me once or thrice, for my name is Soul Buddy. Who am I? I am the Queen of Fluffers, who lives a very content life with Mister Soul Buddy, and am lucky to be the soul buddy to our Blog Queen. My life is pretty great really, I can’t complain a whole lot. I am very fortunate to have found the Most Amazing Love to share my life with (and gotten to marry him) I have the best parents in the world, my own little home full of my own little things, all lined up just the way I like them. I also am lucky to have a little group of pick of the crop, drama free, proper friends, and 3 (soon to be 4) fur babies.


I do still complain though, I complain constantly about my weight – yet never do enough to make a difference, and as 70% of the working population, I do like to complain about my job.

Don’t get me wrong, I do love my job most of the time, it has its perks and has gotten me into the Recruitment Industry which I genuinely enjoy. It takes me no more than 15 minutes to get to and from, no one cares if I’m late, or take a bit too long browsing the shops at lunch time, my boss is supportive, yet cheeky, and I have a small team of girls I can have a laugh or a bitch with. 

This all sounds pretty cool, but it doesn’t leave me feeling particularly satisfied. I had (I suppose it hasn’t gone anywhere) the potential to do great things with my career, great marks all through school and all that, but I dropped out of school the second I turned 16 as it was making me miserable. I was promptly accepted into a pre-degree course at one of our universities here in the big smoke, in the hopes that I could continue my education in the field of business and not have to suffer being at school for 2 more years. 

Of course this didn’t happen as I found the amazing world of being responsible for your own actions! No one at Uni cares if you don’t turn up everyday, no one rings your mother or locks you in a class room with the delinquents at lunch time. This was freedom! Soon enough I ended up leaving with no qualifications and a sizeable student loan, and ended up in full time employment, earning a whopping $285 a week as a receptionist, and so began my working life. In the last 8 years I have drifted from reception to admin, customer service to sales and have found myself in a junior recruitment position, assisting with anything and everything to a recruitment team in a big boring company. Crikey, 8 years of drifting sounds like a long time doesn’t it.

I am quite the optimist though, and I genuinely believe everything happens for a reason. The reason that I have gained no formal qualifications and spent 8 years doing nothing important, is that I simply haven’t figured out what I want to do yet. If I had stuck to it, and gotten myself a business degree, I genuinely believe that I would find myself in the same predicament I am in now…but with a pretty certificate on my wall. Now that I am writing this I realise that I probably wouldn’t have been able to buy a house with Mister Soul Buddy at the age of 20.

What would you do all day, week or year if you were living your dream life?

So, I think it is time to move on and focus on the next question. What would I do all day if I were living my dream life. Dream life (and I’m seriously dreaming here) for me probably consists of swanning around in a spanking charcoal M Class Benz or BMW X6, running errands, shopping for gorgeous things, managing renovations, lunching, going to Pilates, and being generally fabulous. I don’t care how shallow that makes me sound, feel free to judge me! 

Now, to think about an actual dream life. I want to be someone. I want to be a something. Right now I am nothing in particular other than support for a team, some even call me an administrator which makes my skin crawl and not only because that’s not actually just my job. Even Births Deaths and Marriages didn’t recognise my job title as a “real job” when I applied for a marriage licence, how depressing! I digress, I want to be a something, I want a job that defines me in some ways, I want to be able to say “oh I am A (insert title here)”, a nurse, a psychologist, a lawyer, a chef. I don’t actually want to be any of these things, but hopefully you get what I am rambling on about. 

I also want to do something where I can see people, face to face interaction, but not work alone or from home. A job where people can make appointments to see me at my office, or where I can go and visit people during the day. There is nothing more motivating when you are feeling like you could pull a sicky, to know that you actually have people counting on you for something.


What would your job be? Why would it make you happy?

For a long time, at least a couple of years, I have been fascinated by the body, and nutrition, and how what you eat has its consequences, and how it ACTUALLY works, and why junk food is addictive and how eating sugar or vegetables can ACTUALLY increase or decrease your chances of getting cancer. 

So this fascination, teamed with it being A something, as well as being the kind of job that people make appointments to see you, seeing people face to face, getting out and about during the day and having real satisfaction when you help people do amazing things and turn their lives around, makes me want to be a nutritionist. I like it. I think we have come to a conclusion, I also think I have answered why it would make me so happy.

So what's stopping you?

So here is the hard one, or the easiest one, depending on how you look at it I suppose….what is stopping me. Well, firstly I do believe you require some formal qualifications to become a nutritionist, This I do not have……Ok so apparently that is the only thing stopping me.

The problem is, I work full time, earn a salary package in the late 40’s and roughly 80% of it goes solely to the mortgage repayments for the Soul Buddy household. This I cannot give up. Literally. It’s not a just case of living on baked beans and making ends meet while I quit my job and live off the government, it would be a case of selling my precious peachy home and asking wonderful Mister Soul Buddy to sacrifice his hard earned lifestyle for me. He is in his late 20s, works hard, like HARD, up to 80 hours all over Australasia, and what makes all his hard work, weird hours, and being away from home most of the week, is that the money is good. And with that, we can afford to balance it out by travelling a bit, owning our home and a few big boys (and girls) toys.

Basically my options are a) work hard at the little career I have already begun, jump out of my comfort zone, and keep on doing something I love doing (perhaps in a new company!) and use what my Momma gave me to create my own success. Or b) spend the next 10 years using all my spare time (and money) completing assessments. Hmmm, while I love the idea of going to labs and learning all about science, I do not love the idea of juggling a household, a job and intense study all at once while worrying about money and never being able to go shoe shopping.

The shoes have it; this is my plan, stop fluffing and put effort into making a successful career where I can properly contribute financially to my household. Watch this space!


Thanks so much my lovely Soul Buddy for contributing to the Dream Life series! 

If you would like to participate, I'd love to have you on board. Use the Contact Me tab to email me your answers to the Dream Life questions. I'll reply to get your photos and let you know when you will be published. All I ask in return is that you link back to Dancing in Barefeet on the day you appear.

Are you living your Dream Life?

Sunday, May 15, 2011

French Fries of Happiness

I am obsessed with this print from Dazeychic on Etsy, so much so that I got the little mascot tattooed on my wrist about a year ago. His name is Frankie and he's one of my favourite tattoos (as always thanks to Chris at Eastside).

I'll be proud to explain him to my kids one day and let him hop awkwardly into their lives like he has into mine. He's about to hop up to you, tilt his head and gaze at you with one eye, asking if you have anymore fries. He makes me happy, hopefully you like him too.



Are you Living Your Dream Life? Part Four: Lauren

Who are you and what is your life like now?

I'm Lauren, writer of the blog you're about to read. I started the blogging thing because I have a bunch of free time and it's a great creative outlet. My non-blog life is actually a disaster zone right now. My college degree is in TV/Video production which I love but have had a hard time pursuing as a career. I found myself a graphic design type job but it's overnights and I hate it. I hate the overnight part, not the job itself. I decided to leave that job to pursue... anything. Just can't do the overnight thing anymore because personal relationships are so much more important to me than any crappy (under paid) job at a crappy company. Currently seeking new employment anywhere that will have me and will pay me enough to not be homeless.

What would you do all day, week or year if you were living your dream life?
 
Not to rip off Office Space or anything but I would love to do nothing. I know I would eventually get bored of that, so really my dream job would be to a part of Conan O'Brien's production crew. That sounds a bit stalkery but I love him and I don't care who knows it.

What would your job be?
 
I would most like to be part of the pre-production process as some sort of producer or something but I would also love being one of the camera people if it paid enough.

Why would it make you happy?
 
I would be around and a part of something I already love all day, every day.

So what's stopping you?

Other than everything? Well, I'd have to move to CA which I'm not crazy about. And I wouldn't know how to go about getting in contact with anyone involved with the show. And no, there isn't any information about it on the website.

Thanks so much Lauren for contributing to the Dream Life series! 

If you would like to participate, I'd love to have you on board. Use the Contact Me tab to email me your answers to the Dream Life questions. I'll reply to get your photos and let you know when you will be published. All I ask in return is that you link back to Dancing in Barefeet on the day you appear.

Are you living your Dream Life?

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Guest Posting @ Life... Live It

Apologies for the lack of posting! Blogger was having issues and not letting any of us post anything new. In the meantime I've been hanging out over at Life... Live It and unable to tell you so! I meant to, really! Check out my guest post and add to the topic. Hope you're having a great weekend!





Sunday, May 8, 2011

Are you Living Your Dream Life? Part Three: Trista

This weeks Guest Blogger is Trista from Just a Family of Nuts. 

Who are you and what is your life like now?

I'm a 23 year old Canadian girl living in a Northern Alberta town who toils away working for an Oil company. I live with my boyfriend who is a pilot and our crazily hyper Mini American Eskimo, Bowie. My life consists of getting up at 4:00am in the morning to head off to work Monday-Thursday and getting home to spend time running around the dog park with the dog and doing various activities such as Photography, Fishing, Biking, and Gun shooting.

What would you do all day, week or year if you were living your dream life?

If I was living my dream life I would be spending my day and work week sitting in a classroom in an Elementary school teaching a new generation of students and kids to love to learn and realize that they can do anything in their life only if someone believes in them. And of course, my summers would be filled with fun vacations and crazy, wacky adventures!

What would your job be?

An Elementary School teacher because then I can play games with students and get paid for it! 

Why would it make you happy?

It would make me insanely happy because it's something that I have known I wanted to do from a young age when I had an elementary school teacher that really, really inspired me to learn and made me realize if I went looking for it the rest of the world could be laid before me. It'd make me all tickly inside to eventually do that to a student.

So what's stopping you?

Nothing is really stopping me, actually. I've doing my University work right now to work towards my teaching degree and I will officially be able to teach in about two years!

Thanks so much Trista for contributing to the Dream Life series! 

If you would like to participate, I'd love to have you on board. Use the Contact Me tab to email me your answers to the Dream Life questions. I'll reply to get your photos and let you know when you will be published. All I ask in return is that you link back to Dancing in Barefeet on the day you appear.

Are you living your Dream Life?

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

A-Ha Moments

Today I'm guest posting over at The Sunset Won't, about my most recent A-Ha moment, choosing travel and self-employed work over an easy 9-5. Thanks so much Heather for hosting me today :)



Sunday, May 1, 2011

Are you Living Your Dream Life? Part Two: Caitlin

Who are you and what is your life like now?

Hello Dancing in Barefeet readers! I am Caitlin from Diary of a scatterbrain. Who am I you're wondering? I am a 23 year old recent college graduate trying to find my place and purpose in this crazy world! I consider myself a dreamer, believer, sister, daughter, friend, & designer. So far the ride has been a lot of fun and very unpredictable. I am currently working in an interior design firm, getting ready to move to the beautiful Minneapolis, Minnesota, waiting for my U.S. Marine to come back from our first deployment and just learning how to be a "grown-up" one step at a time ;).


What would you do all day, week or year if you were living your dream life?

Oh goodness - just a great question. If I could live my dream life for one year I would pack up my life in one suitcase and move to Italy for one year. I would live just like Liz from Eat, Pray, Love and eat & drink my way through Italy! I would love to experience Italy, I think it is such a beautiful place and the culture amazes me. I really do hope to do this someday (sooner than later!).

What would your job be?

My job would be a professional wine/food taster! How amazing does that sound?


Why would it make you happy?

Why wouldn't it make me happy is the better question. The idea of traveling somewhere is always an amazing experience, you learn all about yourself while learning about a new area and new culture. I believe stepping out my comfort zone makes me a better, happier, and healthier person. Even if turned out to be a horrible experience, I would learn from it and become a better person because of it. Also, I can't image not being happy spending a year in Italy eating pasta, drinking red wine, and soaking it all in.



So what's stopping you?

 
Money. Plain and simple- I am broke. I am paying student loans back, saving for my apartment,  and I am searching for a new car, All these things are basic needs in my life right now so the idea of running away to Italy (as amazing as it sounds) is not super realistic right now for this time in my life. I wish that I could be one of those people who has NO fear, just packs up and leaves but that just isn't me. Once my life gets more settled and in order, I relaly do hope I can make this dream a reality!



Thanks for reading all about my dream life! :) Stop by my blog and say hi! I would love to hear from you and hear all about your dreams! 

Thanks so much Caitlin for contributing to the Dream Life series! 

If you would like to participate, I'd love to have you on board. Use the Contact Me tab to email me your answers to the Dream Life questions. I'll reply to get your photos and let you know when you will be published. All I ask in return is that you link back to Dancing in Barefeet on the day you appear.

Are you living your Dream Life?

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Forget A-Ha Moments, I'm About to Bliss-Out

Once again I failed miserably at following the Bliss challenge. But we already knew that right? Or at least made an educated guess to that effect. All was not lost however!

Monday: Nail Art Just Plain Nails

I absolutely love nail art. When I was 14 I owned yellow nail polish purely for painting the centres of daisies. I never considered myself a 'beautician-type' but when I needed some spare cash and decided nails would be a good side-income, those decorative inclinations came flooding back. A lot of my clients come especially for nail art and the chance of being one of a kind, so I do a fair bit of it on a regular basis, but what I really love are the big challenges, like a tropical island with real sand or a 3D Hello Kitty created directly onto the nail.

I didn't do anything spectacular on Monday but one thing that is really making me happy right now - I have real nails! Not the best thing to vouch for when I make my income from acrylics, but I am a nail biter from way back, so this is a big deal. I had acrylics on for awhile, so my nails had grown underneath. When we were in Napier 3 weeks back, I got bored and ripped them off (a BIG no-no, don't do it!). I borrowed a file from Courtney's sister and tidied them up, never expecting them to last. Although they aren't in the best condition due to how rough I am with them, I've kept them long for 3 whole weeks just by keeping chips and sharp edges filed. With nothing to pick at or play with, I ave no reason to bite them. You may scoff at the idea, but I'm super proud.

P.S. Monday was my darling Soul Buddy's 25th birthday and my nephew's first birthday, so big Happy Birthday's all round!

Tuesday Animal Rights 

Animal Rights are on the Bliss List because I love my furbabies and I'm a big supporter of the SPCA. Every year at Christmas I take a stash of towels and canned food down for them, so I thought I'd do the same. I'm a terrible person because I just didn't have time. That's a shoddy excuse, because out of everything I don't have time for, I should have made time for this. I guess I can start by telling you all to go here if you want to support the SPCA. A lot of family pets became strays after the Christchurch earthquake and SPCA branches all over the country are working to rehome them, because there aren't enough people in Christchurch that are in a position to adopt right now.

On the bright side, on Tuesday I did get to spend time with Squish, because we ended up doing her nails. We also did them in our winter pyjamas, which made me very happy. Winter pyjamas are as blissful as flannelette sheets, which is a lot.

Wednesday

...was a big old nothing day for me. I didn't do anything spectacular as a was mid-meltdown. Unless you call meltdowns spectacular.

Thursday Musicals

Oh how I love thee. I was thinking just today about London, one of our first stops when we get to Europe, and how we get to see Wicked at the West End. We're also seeing Lion King at the West End the night before we leave Europe to come home. I've already seen it in Melbourne and on Broadway. I hated the movie (Don't hate me, I just can't stand sad animal movies, which let's face it, all animal movies are) but I'm a little obsessed with the incredible spectacle that is the Lion King stage production.

http://www.chicagogigs.com
On Thursday I planned to watch the Sound of Music which I love almost as much as I love Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It didn't happen though, I was busy working with Miss Nails, but at least I had a good gossip. Thank goodness for day dreams, Wicked here I come.

Friday needed no reason to be Blissful other than that it was the end of a very stressful week. We went to a beautiful friend's 25th birthday drinks and made it home in one piece. Saturday was not much better. Pouring rain was lovely to wake up to but didn't help my chances of getting a hungover Courtney out to a Farmer's Market. I woke up feeling like I was hungover despite being 100% sober (and not eating the Cheesecake Factory mudcake that called to me at the party) and the day took a long time to pick up. I've been a ball of stress this week and topped with the headache I carried around all day, I decided to skip Courtney's brothers Welcome Home (from two months working in Noumea) party in favour of some much needed me-time. Courts was a bit disappointed but went off with his sister to the party without me. I'm glad I stuck to my guns. I got some more packing done, a bit of writing, and a lot of relaxing. Not the kind where you sit and watch TV or read a book, but the kind where you are left to your own devices, no distractions and you get stuff done. Bliss.

Sunday Roast

After talking about missing out on Sunday Roast's the other week, I bit the bullet and made it happen. I have a big-ass chicken to go with potatos, kumara, pumpkin and mushrooms. I'm making my world famous Chocolate Mousse and Blondie is bringing Feijoa Crumble, or so I've been told. Everyone who loved roast night when we did it every week will be there, along with a few new faces. Everything I love about life will be in one room this very evening and that is enough Bliss to cover my week in it's entirety. I can't wait.

What did you Bliss-Out on this week?