Love the message on the blackboard:

What will 2011 hold??

I did ok with my last years resolutions so here's my goals for 2011:

1. Keep running - complete couchto5k and Real Women's Duathlon (hopefully in less than 1 hour)

2. Read more books than last year (can I beat 40?)

3. Learn Maori - actually enjoy and complete the paper, not just find it and think about it

4. Pay off lots more debt

5. Plan and prepare for our wedding (!!!)

6. Do a photography course

7. Lose weight - sorry but it has to be done. I want to do it slowly and healthily so that I can maintain it once it's done. 20 kg would be ideal but 15kg would probably be just as good! I'm over 80kg right now and thinking about banning all reflective surfaces. Can't believe I'm writing this...but have to be brave and challenge myself!

8. Try something new

Pretty similar to my last years plans...let's see where I'm at this time next year! (I'll be 5 days from being Mrs Brown)

The end of 2010

It's New Years Eve and tonight we're going to The Bedford to watch Tahu's band Merchants of Flow open for Salmonella Dub. It's such an exciting opportunity for them. Can't wait!

This morning I finished the 40th book I've read this year. Not bad! I had wanted to read more than I read last year which was 31 books and I've passed it by 9! Can I read over 40 books next year? Let's hope so!

In this post I wrote the resolutions I had for 2010 so I think it's time to review and see how I did.

1. Start running - yes I did this! I completed the Real Womens Duathlon and then later this year started the couch to 5 K and I'm currently up to week 4.

2. Learn Maori - we did try for a bit but not really what I'd call learning the language. I did however find a course I can do by correspondence so will be signing up for that in the new year.

3. Do a photography course - no but I'm keeping it on the list!

4. Play soccer - my soccer buddy moved to Auckland so no I didn't do this. I did go to a few games though...does that count?

5. Pay off lots of debt - this we did do! Not all of it of course but we now own both our cars, all our house stuff pretty much and have managed to fit in 2 trips as well.

6. Read more than 31 books - Yes I did! 40 books as of this morning.

So that's 3 yes's, 1 sort of and 1 no. Not bad! Actually it's good because I may not have done all I planned but I did take up other things. I started 2 new hobbies, baking and chocolate making. Maybe not super cool but everyone who eats it likes it so can't be that bad!

Other things from 2010...got sick again, that wasn't fun. Had problems with my heart but think we're getting by with that. Got engaged (my favourite part!). Did well at my work, met new nephew Joshua, found an amazing house. Got rid of a couple of friends that just weren't improving me (painful but so much better now). Started planning our wedding. Went to Ausy and to the North Island. It's been a busy year!

Awwww!

Look ---->

A countdown to our wedding...am I excited? Oh yes I am. I won't get all soppy on it but I do love being with Tahu and how it's fun and easy and we go really well together and I don't feel like I've given up anything to be with him.

Also it's Christmas Eve...check out this video and seriously how can you not be cracking up watching it?

Happiness is....

Do we look happy?


What about in this one?


Is this two very happy people?


This might explain why we look so happy:

Friday 5th November 2012
Huka Falls

Kiwi Cakes: Silicone chocolate moulds at great prices

Seriously I want this so bad!! How amazing is the fashion mould?? I might actually cry if these sell out before I get one.

Kiwi Cakes: Silicone chocolate moulds at great prices: "It's not often I can source silicone chocolate moulds at great prices, so I was thrilled to find these 2 Silikomart moulds from Italy. Dino..."

Plan of Attack

As 278 suggested there was more to my holiday then just reading and relaxing...Tahu and I got engaged! It was lovely and perfect and he is by far the best thing ever and we can't wait to be married. I have so much more to say on it but my mind is on other things right this minute so that can wait for another post tonight.

Running. That's what I'm thinking about. There is 19 weeks til the Real Womens Duathlon that you may remember my family doing earlier this year. I completed in just over an hour and so this time I want to do it in less than an hour. And I think 19 weeks is plenty to train for. So here's the plan:

Starting tomorrow I will do Couch to 5K. This is a training program to get you from nothing to running 5km in 9 weeks. That will get me to 10 weeks til the duathlon and they have a training program that takes that long to get ready for it. They have 3 actually. Walk, Jog or Run. I will run this time.

Plan:
Weeks 19-10 I will do Couch to 5Km
Weeks 10-0 I will do their Run/Bike/Run training program.

Outcomes:
I will be fit
I will lose weight
I will achieve something
I will be back into exercising
I will have ACCOMPLISHED something

I really want to do it. I hope I can. I'm starting off super quietly so surely I can build up to it (typing with my fingers crossed here).

Keep an eye out for updates at the end of each week or so.