Don't Tell the Guests

Without a doubt, the hardest decision that we have had to make in planning our big day is who to ask to be in our bridal party.

From talking with others who have been married, we certainly aren't the only ones!!!

For some, the decision is easy; they either end up opting for their brothers and sisters or they have a particularly close set of friends who they've always known, and everyone has always known, will be chosen.

For others, particularly with large friendship groups, with close friends and family, or with friends from different stages in their life, the decision is a lot harder.

Just how do you pick?

Do you take the term literally and think about who would serve you best as your maid on the day?

Do you chose just one friend out of a group, or the whole group, or none in the group at all?

And how do you tell the people who you haven't picked, without crushing them or making them feel any less special to you?

Is giving those who aren't picked another special role a 'cop out?' Will they be grateful or still disappointed?

How many is 'socially acceptable'? 3? 4? 10?

Do you have to repay the favour and have people in your wedding who had you in theirs?

Ohhh and then, once you've decided who will be in your wedding, you have to think about a best man and maid of honour. To be honest, I just couldn't decide....so I'm not having one. Mick has chosen a best man, who will do the best man duties, like embarrassing him during his speech and creating a I-don't-even-want-to-think-about-it-crazy-bucks-show!!! But me, I'm just keeping my group of maids (giggle).

 

I remember at one stage telling my father in law that we weren't going to have any because the decision was just too hard. He told me that deep down I knew who I wanted, and that I'd regret not having any.

My partner asked me why it was so hard to decide? What was worrying me? And if it was that I couldn't decide between a certain number of girls, then why not just have them all?

Why should we limit the number of people who we truly wanted because of what others might think? After all, it is our day, and therefore we get to choose what we want.

I think it was so hard to decide because in my eyes, it is only one day of your life, and I didn't want to threaten friendships or hurt anyone, for one day.

I guess I had to change my mentally and just hope that people would respect my decision and that picking and choosing bridesmaids did not mean that those who weren't, weren't any less or more loved.

So how do people choose?

Sometimes it comes down to a number of different reasons, like how easy it is to have dress fittings, who has physically been closest to you at the time, who you have known the longest, who has been closest to you in the years leading up to the wedding, whose wedding you have been in, the number of people your partner picks, who you can picture in your future, who has made the effort to get to know your partner and whether you choose to have friends or family or both.

Mick and I have decided to go completely unconventional and have different numbers of people in our bridal party. Mick is having 5, and wait for it, I'm having 8. Yes, 8. I know, ridiculous, crazy, OMG I don't even know that many people, 8. But I just couldn't decide on any less because each and every one of the girls are super special to me, and all for different reasons.

We're going to do a couple of things differently, like the girls are going to walk down the aisle 2 by 2 holding hands, and Mick and I are going to sit on the bridal table by ourselves so that we can enjoy some quality time together and so that the bridal party can go back and sit with their partners.

So drum roll...I'm going to introduce my bridesmaids!!!

As you are about to see, each and every one of my girls are absolutely gorgeous...so yes, I am considering making a paper bag over their head a compulsory accessory for the special day. I don't think they quite know what they've gotten themselves into when they said yes to being my maid, because damn straight I'm taking it literally (look our bridezilla)! Just tricking, well....sort of! I am expecting massages, and not having to do anything but rock up and look beautiful on the day hahaha.

 

I've chosen 4 of my school friends, who I have known all of my life, and who I've been through university, my adult life, my depression and well, everything with. We share a special bond that I know will last forever, no matter where our life takes us. It's crazy to think that two of the girls and I were born in the same hospital, in the same week, in the same year and have gone all the way through life so far together. 

I have also chosen a great friend from university, who I was lucky enough to stand beside on her wedding day. I truly feel like I have known her my whole life. We've travelled together, partied together, lived together and cried together.

We first met outside of a gender studies lecture and bonded because she felt ill just talking about abortions. She warned me not to go inside if I was also weak at the knees with icky things, so I took her advice and comforted her instead!!! Since then we've carved up many dance floors to the tune of 90s music, road tripped, travelled, laughed and cried together!!!

Another is a girl who I met through my netball club. I've known her for 6 years now and we just clicked right away. We've also lived, worked, travelled and partied together. I had honour of standing beside her on her special day. She truly is something special, and has the kindest heart. AND, as I found, you can't let looks fool you (I thought she was a snob because she was gorgeous hahaha), she truly is beautiful on the inside and out (and actually a real goofy goober!)

My lucky last friend is a girl who I've known since school, but only really gotten to know when we both moved to Adelaide, and travelled through Europe together for 6 weeks. We formed a group called the awesome foursome during our uni days, and spent many a nights staying at one particular venue that played 90s music until it closed. This girl has been a huge part of my life, and I know we'll always be friends and will always laugh at our memories while travelling.

And then, of course, there is my sister. To be honest, I wasn't sure about having my sister in the wedding because Mick wasn't having any of his brothers; to us our family already played a special part in the day because well, they are family. But after moving home, and becoming even closer to my sister, I realised that I couldn't imagine not having her there with me during those special moments. I remembered just how special it was to spend the night before her wedding, laying in bed chatting and giggling with her after a pampering session and I knew I wanted to share the night before and morning with her too!

I'm not going to personally introduce each of Mick's groomsmen, but he's having 3 great friends from school, an old house mate who he shared his bachelor days with before we moved in together and a legend who he met in Adelaide.

So there you have it, the decision has been made and we're super excited.

As for our other close friends, we're finding special roles for them too.

How did you choose your wedding party?

Any tips and tricks for others?

I guess the thing I learnt is to hell with tradition and what others may think, you have to go with what you want.

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

What are your unspoken rules?

Is this one of your unspoken rules? Via

What the hell do I mean about an unspoken rule?

 

They're rules that we *live by*, whether we are aware of it or not! Yup, that's right, either subconsciously or consciously, each and everyone of us has created little mantras and rules in our brain that we use each and everyday to make decisions.

 

These rules were only recently bought to my attention by Gretchin Rubin, the writer of the Happiness Project (which by the way, is a MUST read!).

 

A couple of her rules are:

 

'My children are my number one priority.'

 

'I know as much as other people know.'

 

'Never eat hours d'oeuvres, and never eat anything at a children's party.'

 

Obviously everyone's 'rules' are going to be different but it got me thinking about mine.

 

What rules had I made up, that I probably hadn't even given a second thought to, that I follow in my day to day life?

 

Do I even have 'rules?'

 

I was amazed at just how many I had once I started thinking about it.

 

Before long, my list was as long as my arm!!! 

 

Here's a sample of some of the "rules" that I have created for myself over the years.

 

My health is the most important thing to me.

 

It's okay to say no.

 

Try to exercise every week.

 

Try to blog daily.

 

Don't let dollars and cents control my decisions.

 

Don't forget important dates, like birthdays.

 

Call friends on important dates, and not just text or Facebook.

 

Never blog because I feel like I have to.

 

Always try to give people the benefit of the doubt.

 

Eat out once a week.

 

Have a date night once a week.

 

Eat tea at the table at least once a week with no TV.

 

Be kind to myself.

 

Try to make healthy choices.

 

Love myself.

 

Keep the house clean and tidy.

 

It's okay to fail.

 

Never stay inside of my comfort zone.




These of course, are just a few!

 

Do you have any the same as me?

What unspoken rules do you tell yourself?

Why do I think that it's a useful task to think about your "rules"?

 

To become more mindful. As Gretchin says 'part of the challenge of mindfulness was to keep myself from falling into mechanical thoughts and actions. Instead of walking through life on autopilot, I wanted to question the assumptions I made without noticing' (page 240).

 

Once you are aware of your 'unspoken rules', then you'll know what you use to make decisions and to set your priorities.

It might even help you to identify what unhelpful thoughts and rules you may have, and even question why you think those things.

 

So, what's on your list?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx



 

 

Look after yourself and those around you,

 

Kirsty xxxx

 

What Makes You Happy?

To be honest, before I was sick, I never gave much thought to what made me happy - I guess I just took my happiness for granted. 

It wasn't until I found myself completely miserable, that I was forced to think about what usually made me happy, in order to try and dug myself out of my hole.

At the time, thinking of things that made me happy felt like an impossible task; it felt easier to wallow in self pity.

 Now, I see the true value in thinking about what makes us happy when we are feeling healthy because then;

A) We are less likely to take these things for granted.

B) We are more likely to make time in our life to do the things we love, instead of always doing the things we feel like we should be doing, or what others love.

C) We will feel empowered to be able to say 'no' to things that we don't love doing.

D) We have a strategy to know what to 'do' when we find ourselves stressed, or 'unhappy' that even for a short period of time, can make ourselves feel calm, at ease and feeling content, and stops things from blowing out to bigger and worse problems.

So my question to you today is, what makes you truly happy?

When I asked myself this question I came up with a list:

1. Having the time to sit and read a book of my choice, without interruptions or feeling 'guilty'.
2. Sitting in a candlelight room, snuggled up with my partner on the couch.
3. Writing a blog post because I want to, and not because I feel like I have to.
4. Creating awareness about topics that usually go undiscussed.
5. Taking a long bath full of bubbles.
6. Eating out for date night, where I get to spend quality time talking with my partner.
7. Sunshine.
8. Calling a friend instead of texting or Facebooking.
9. Getting enough sleep.
10. Taking on a challenging task (and trying to give myself praise for giving it a go, even if I fail at the outcome that I'd first sought out to achieve).
11. Full belly laughs.
12. Eating chocolate.... in moderation...if I ate too much then I end up feeling guilty and 'fat'.
13. Playing netball.
14. Making something special for someone.
15. Going to the beach and lazing around on my blow up bed in the water.
16. Drinking a nice glass of wine and savouring the taste.
17. Playing board games with friends and family.
18. Giving myself permission to have alone time and empty spots in my Calender.
19. Buying something new, but within reason and within our budget.
20. Having a full tummy.

Some of the things that make me happy may seem very simple. 

Some of the things that make me truly happy, might make you screw up your noise and think 'ugh', as you couldn't think of anything worse!!!

But I guess that's the point.

Not everything you like, others will like. Happiness doesn't have to be anything 'big' like buying a new car, or going on a massive overseas adventure.

Often when we think about it, the things that truly make us happy are the little things.

Want to put that to the test?

Well I know that I am incredibly unhappy if I haven't had enough sleep, my belly is rumbling and I haven't spent enough time with my partner, nor if I haven't given myself the chance to breath because I'm too busy!!!

So your challenge is to think about what truly makes you happy. You might write these down on a piece of paper, or in your phone, or you might just make a mental note of it.

Whatever you do, I think this works best if you have something to 'refer back to' when you feel overwhelmed, stress or unhappy, or even when you are feeling 'happy' and you're looking for something to do from your list!!!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

What Makes You Happy?

To be honest, before I was sick, I never gave much thought to what made me happy - I guess I just took my happiness for granted. 

It wasn't until I found myself completely miserable, that I was forced to think about what usually made me happy, in order to try and dug myself out of my hole.

At the time, thinking of things that made me happy felt like an impossible task; it felt easier to wallow in self pity.

 Now, I see the true value in thinking about what makes us happy when we are feeling healthy because then;

A) We are less likely to take these things for granted.

B) We are more likely to make time in our life to do the things we love, instead of always doing the things we feel like we should be doing, or what others love.

C) We will feel empowered to be able to say 'no' to things that we don't love doing.

D) We have a strategy to know what to 'do' when we find ourselves stressed, or 'unhappy' that even for a short period of time, can make ourselves feel calm, at ease and feeling content, and stops things from blowing out to bigger and worse problems.

So my question to you today is, what makes you truly happy?

When I asked myself this question I came up with a list:

1. Having the time to sit and read a book of my choice, without interruptions or feeling 'guilty'.
2. Sitting in a candlelight room, snuggled up with my partner on the couch.
3. Writing a blog post because I want to, and not because I feel like I have to.
4. Creating awareness about topics that usually go undiscussed.
5. Taking a long bath full of bubbles.
6. Eating out for date night, where I get to spend quality time talking with my partner.
7. Sunshine.
8. Calling a friend instead of texting or Facebooking.
9. Getting enough sleep.
10. Taking on a challenging task (and trying to give myself praise for giving it a go, even if I fail at the outcome that I'd first sought out to achieve).
11. Full belly laughs.
12. Eating chocolate.... in moderation...if I ate too much then I end up feeling guilty and 'fat'.
13. Playing netball.
14. Making something special for someone.
15. Going to the beach and lazing around on my blow up bed in the water.
16. Drinking a nice glass of wine and savouring the taste.
17. Playing board games with friends and family.
18. Giving myself permission to have alone time and empty spots in my Calender.
19. Buying something new, but within reason and within our budget.
20. Having a full tummy.

Some of the things that make me happy may seem very simple. 

Some of the things that make me truly happy, might make you screw up your noise and think 'ugh', as you couldn't think of anything worse!!!

But I guess that's the point.

Not everything you like, others will like. Happiness doesn't have to be anything 'big' like buying a new car, or going on a massive overseas adventure.

Often when we think about it, the things that truly make us happy are the little things.

Want to put that to the test?

Well I know that I am incredibly unhappy if I haven't had enough sleep, my belly is rumbling and I haven't spent enough time with my partner, nor if I haven't given myself the chance to breath because I'm too busy!!!

So your challenge is to think about what truly makes you happy. You might write these down on a piece of paper, or in your phone, or you might just make a mental note of it.

Whatever you do, I think this works best if you have something to 'refer back to' when you feel overwhelmed, stress or unhappy, or even when you are feeling 'happy' and you're looking for something to do from your list!!!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

Is Marriage Outdated?

Via

Is marriage a 'thing of the past'?

Has it lost it's meaning?

Is a lifelong commitment in sickness and health, the good and the bad taken seriously anymore?

Is there a 'need' for marriage in today's society?

As sad as these questions are, the skepticism around marriage exists.

In order to understand how and why society's views on marriage have changed in this generation, I've decided to interview both my Nana and my mum, to see what the social norms were around the time that they were married.

Nana (71 years old, baby boomer)

Every ones life followed a cycle; you courted a boy or girl, started a relationship, became engaged and planned your wedding. People rarely moved in together before they were married, as that was looked down upon. Children were only 'allowed' during marriage. Having children outside of wedlock bought shame to your family. I remember one girl from my town who fell pregnant to a married man. She was whisked off to Adelaide to deliver the baby and forced to give up her child for adoption. Upon her return, no one ever talked about it.

Mum (49 years old, gen x)

Getting married was something that you 'just did'; no one questioned it. Many people married younger because there wasn't a push for women to have a career. It was only after I had been married for 10-20 years that I started hearing people referring to marriage as 'just a piece of paper.' Having children outside of wedlock was a definite no no. Many people also didn't live together until they were married.

So what has changed in today's society that has bought marriage into question, in just  one short generation?

After talking with both my Nana and Mum, it stood out to me just how much of a shift there has been in our thinking, expectations towards the progression of an intimate relationship, and what is now 'socially acceptable' behaviour.

It is now more then ever, socially acceptable to have children outside of wedlock. You would rarely hear of a woman being whisked away and forced to adopt their child these days, if she happened to fall pregnant outside of marriage. In fact, forced adoption is now looked down upon.

People no longer have to be married in order to have children by social standards. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 'marriage as the traditional social institution for family formation is declining'.

There is no longer 'one right way;' to life; somewhere along the line chapters have been skipped and skimmed over. New books, with changing formats are emerging, and what was once acceptable and the 'must read and obey' is now being bought into question, and all in the time space of a generation. 

People are now left wondering what, if any, is the 'right way' to go about life. This grey area of expectation can be a case for anxiety and stress for a lot of people, particularly when different generations expectations upon them are different.

Couples are buying houses and moving out from their parents before they walk down the aisle,  and that is okay, if not even expected these days. In fact, if you are a 30 + year old, dating man or woman still living at home with your parents then people would question your motives, credibility and sanity (very tongue in cheek).

But seriously, now, if you don't live together before you are married, it is almost frowned upon. Many would think that you should live together before you married, just to make sure that you can live together before making a major commitment.

You get the picture; times have drastically changed our perceptions, social norms and opinions; but has that change transferred over to the idea of marriage?

Is there a need to be married anymore?

Why would you want to marry someone when you can 'do all of the things' that were once only accepted if you were a man and wife?

Does this new found 'freedom' to breed, live and love under the same roof before marriage, under value the reason for choosing to marry someone in the first place?

All of a sudden there is less urgency to get married to 'take the next step' and move in with your partner, because chances are you are already living together, and therefore, getting married is just an 'unnecessary cost and waste of money that you couldn't afford anyway.'

So why bother about marriage if everything in the past that it stood for, is now being accepted outside of this commitment?

I think we need to open our minds even wider to understand that marriage is more than just a set of rules, expectations and acceptable behaviour within it.

Marriage is taking the next step in the level of commitment that you promise to make to another human being.

It's about making the decision to share your life with another person, who you love unconditionally. It's about devoting your actions, feelings and thoughts towards the future you picture with your beloved, while respecting each others needs to achieve their own dreams and desires.

Marriage is about putting what you want, second to what your partner wants and needs, but still sticking to your core values.

The commitment means that you are not willing to 'give up' when the road gets bumpy. Instead, it means that you want to be there to smooth the ride.

To me, marriage means that you will share the same last name as the children that you create together out of love.

To be honest, I think it is sad, that society now questions marriage due to the perceived affordability, alikening it to 'just a piece of paper' and using excuses like 'we're practically married anyway'.

Let's face it, there's a difference between a marriage and a wedding. For starters, a wedding is one day in your life, marriage should be FOR life. Marriage does not put you out of pocket, nor is it always full of glitz and glamour. 

Marriage doesn't make life any harder, nor any more 'expensive' (although some would say that a happy life is a happy wife and therefore money is concerned), and it certainly doesn't just include a commitment on paper, in fact, many married couples probably wouldn't even know where that 'bit of paper is!' 

And, if marriage is 'outdated' then why are gay couples continuing to fight for this right?

If we take a step back, and take away the bells and whistles of a wedding, the idea that every marriage ends in divorce, and the negativity towards people 'giving up too easily', then I think you could agree that marriage certainly isn't outdated.

Yes there are changing pressures on a marriage. Yes, every marriage is different. But from my experience with close friends and family who have married, every single one of those people without a doubt have entered into marriage 110%, and certainly not thinking about their 'next husband' or how they'll do things differently at their future wedding.

No, these people still believe in marriage, respect the vowels that they promise to their partner, and see the value in marriage; the security, the love, the commitment to another, and the pure joy of starting a new chapter in their life as man and wife, just as someone who was married 100 years ago did.

What do you think? (I'm aware that this is only my opinion, and I'd definitely love to hear yours!!!)

****By the way, I thought that I should add here that I definitely don't 'judge anyone' who chooses not to marry, or who have children outside of wedlock; each to their own, and in today's society, we can make that choice and it is still supported by society.

Do you think marriage is out dated?

Why do you think views have changed so much?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx

Don't Tell The Guests

I made the "ultimate bridal mistake".

Yup, I bought the first dress that I ever tried on (okay, well technically the second dress, but it was in the first shop and the first time that I had ever looked!).

Even though I didn't whip out my credit card on the spot to have the dress sign, sealed and delivered, as tears welled in my eyes when I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I just knew that it was the dress that I had to have.

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Definitely one of the most exciting things about being the bride is knowing that you get to go shopping for THE dress!

Yup, the most expensive dress that you will probably ever own, all for that one moment as you walk down the aisle and your groom catches a glimpse of just how breathtakingly stunning you look on your special day!

The one that makes you feel like a princess.

Some girls have a secret wedding book hidden beneath their bed, with pictures of their faces cut out and glued over the top of models, in elegant looking dresses that they fantasize about one day wearing! 

Others like me, have more idea about what they don't want, which is only confirmed when they trawl through wedding magazines, sticking out their tongue and saying 'errrgggg' at some of the dresses that they see!

For me, I didn't want a strapless stress, nor one with shiny material, or glitz and glamour, I just wanted something simple, yet elegant.

I seen learnt that what you want, and what suits your body, can be two very different things.

I mean, how often do you hear brides saying 'when the shop attendant picked it out I screwed up my face but when I put it on I fell in love!'

Tip number 1: shop attendants know their stuff!

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It was one of my best friends who suggested going for a sneak peak at dresses just 2 months after we became engaged (and 18 months before the wedding!)

We both picked out a number of dresses for me to try on - all in different colours, materials and designs!

I remember the first dress that I put on was a super puffy, frilly, meringue looking one, with intricate beading over the bodice. While it looked lovely, and my friend became a blubbering mess at seeing me look like a 'real bride', we both realised that it just wasn't 'me'.

I guess that's my second tip when looking for the 'right dress'; most dresses will probably look beautiful on you - after all, for the price attached to the tag, they'd want to look nice- but you have to make sure that the dress you are trying on is 'you!'.

As soon as I had THE dress on, we just knew.

 They say that you have a moment when you put on the 'right dress'. My moment went for a good half an hour where I didn't want to take the dress off - I just kept owwwing and awwwing over all of the details, just how perfectly it accentuated my body, and I started to tear up at the thought of Mick seeing me in it on our special day!

So tip number 3 is being aware of 'the moment'. It sounds lame, but trust me, you'll know which one is the right one by how you feel. Be careful not to be swayed by other people's opinions. You will know which one feels right.

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It took me 6 months to go back and buy my dress.

Several champagne and cocktail induced bridal expos, along with me bursting out behind the change room curtains describing to friends how I would change this and that on the dress to make it look exactly like the one that I had fallen in love with, confirmed my decision!

For me, the hardest part was that my Mum wasn't with me when I bought me dress. Maybe it's lame, and maybe I have Hollywood movies to blame, but I had always pictured my mum being there when I bought THE dress!

After a choked up phone conversation with my mum (while still in THE dress AT the SHOP), and convincing the shop attendant to let me send a photo through, Mum insisted that I buy the dress without her, as she too, thought that it was perfect!

I almost thought that it was 'silly' buying my dress still so far in advance (12 months before my wedding), but I soon learnt that most bridal places encourage girls to buy their dress at least 6 months before the big day, to give the designer time to make, and alter your dress to fit you perfectly!

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 I guess the next big thing was rather gingerly, looking at the price tag to see whether I'd have to sell my arm and leg to be able to afford the dress! Fortunately for me, I was rather shocked, in a good way, at just how affordable the dress was (here I was thinking it'd be $2000 +).

$1400 - BARGAIN!

I'd done my research and asked my fellow been-there-done-that-brides, and had found that the average dress cost between $1500-$2000.

While I had full intentions to try on a dress in a shop, and then compare the prices online, or to wait for a second hand one (I never wanted to spend a HUGE amount on the dress), as soon as I had the right dress on, I couldn't-possibly-wait-to-get-home-and-spend-time-searching-just-in-case-my-dress-was-sold!

I guess another little tip here for brides is to make sure you factor in any additional costs like having to have the dress altered. I know one friend who had intricate lace details on the bottom of her dress had to spend $600 to have the dress taken up.  

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Finding the perfect dress definitely made it all feel 'more real' to me.

While I'm not going to post THE dress on here (hey, I have to keep some things a surprise), I will help to eliminate some possibilities!

I am going to try and avoid looking like a human meringue! Via

And while I think that this one is just LOVERLY (spew), I just don't think it's quite me! Via

Um - while I LOVE wedding cake, I do not want to look like one! Via

I do NOT intend on having my girls out for the world to see! Via

Do you have any tips for brides out there searching for THE dress?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx

Couch to 5k's

I hate running.

I love sport.

Sounds like an oxymoron?

Well not to me.

The reasons?

I love my sleep, and my nice warm bed, so the chances of me setting my alarm an hour early to roll out of bed and into my sneakers just isn't going to happen.

The other problem is that by the time I get home from work and stuff myself silly all I want to do is slink down into my self imprinted place on the couch, beside my glass of chilled wine, and flaming candle. So booting my booty off the couch at night time to feel my bum wobble uncontrollably as I pace the bitumen isn't one of my favourite past times either.

The solution to trying to stay healthy (or at least burn off the chocolate that I have eaten?) 

Team sport.

I love netball, in fact, nothing excites me more then the smell of deep heat, the sound of whistles blowing, and the knowledge that I'll be back in Lycra before I know it (jokes).

Butttttttt I have come to the conclusion that I just can't enjoy netball unless I am fit ( otherwise I spend the whole time on the court secretly praying that my team doesn't stuff up and manages to score a goal down the opposite end so that I get the chance to catch my breath for the next centre pass!!!) 

Sooo.... I've had to come up with a solution to conquer my extreme wesziness, legs-moving-slower-then-my-brain, heart pumping out of chest unfitness on the netball court, while attempting to make running "fun and motivational" (through very sarcastic gritted teeth).

That's when I heard about the app, from Couch to 5kms.

It's a 9 week challenge where you exercise 3 times a week (sounds doable) with the help of a hypothetical trainer.

One mistake that I usually make when trying to get fit is going from zero to hero ie couch to Mount Everest and then wandering why I'm so physically scarred from not being able to squat to wee, and chuck the towel in.

The bonus with this app is that it slowly increases the amount you exert yourself by breaking up walking and jogging.

Ie the first training session is a 5 minute walk for warm up followed by altering walks of 90 seconds and jogs of 60 seconds for 20 minutes, and then a 5 minute cool down.

The beauty?

You can still listen to music while receiving advice from your trainer and once you've finished you can write comments and tips to yourself ie I should stretch before starting to avoid shin splints to motivate you for next time and track your progress!

So...the couch to 5km challenge is accepted!

Bring it onnnnnnn!

Track my progress every week for the next 9 weeks (hopefully writing this blog post will keep me even more accountable).

In the meantime you might want to download the app and join me.

Starting weight: 75kgs

Goal weight: 66kgs

Current fitness: can jog a dismal 700 metres without getting a which or shin splints...

Optimal fitness: surviving and even...gasp..enjoying 4 quarters of netball (60 minutes).

Have you done the challenge or something similar? Any tips?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx

I'm A Super Proud Aunty!

Me and my gorgeous niece! 

My best friend once told me that being an Aunty was 'the best thing since sliced bread'.

Let me tell you, I'd trade all of the chocolate in this world to be able to spend a few moments cuddling my little niece while looking into her big beautiful eyes and wondering what she's thinking (obviously, wow, how am I so lucky to have such a wonderful Aunty haha?!).

Yup, that's right, I am currently experiencing a love that up until Friday, I didn't even know existed.

Meet Ameika Sian (pronounced Sharn)  Kaye, the most precious bundle of joy who has bought so much love into this world. She graced us with her presence on Friday the 5th of April, weighing 7lbs 12 ounces (fatty boom ba) and was 51cm long (how on earth that fits inside my sisters belly is beyond me!). Needless to say, I have a whole new level of respect for my sister!!!

Isn't she just edible? 

Nawww I just want to pinch those cute little cheeks!

Of course, there's some massive bonuses about being an Aunty.

You get to:

1.Bask in the glow of a new precious life, the heart warming tenderness of cuddles, and the feeling of love literally flowing through your blood without having to deal with ice packs melting between your legs (don't ask), bulging boobies as the milk comes in, and stitches down yonder.

2. Cuddle the baby until your heart is content, and then when you feel a rumble down under and the slightest stench threatening the very existence of fresh air, you can say 'cuddle over, mummy's turn' and secretly giggle because you've palmed off the dirty nappy duties to someone else.

3. Tickle, play and wander what's going on beyond those big blue eyes, until the little bubs starts a yawning Mexican wave and you know that you get to race home to a nice warm bed, and drift off to sleep with a smile of happiness and contentment on your face, while the mummy and daddy spend the night wondering what the different cries mean, ripping out their hair after feeding, changing, burping and soothing their little bundle of joy with no success!

4. Browse through the baby section in shops and then race around to their house and change her 15 times until you find the most adorable outfit, and in the meantime, bubs has spewed, drawled and pooped over every single item and you get to admire how cute she looks while the mum is busy washing the clothes (haha I haven't told my sister that this is going to happen yet!)

5. Feel an overwhelming sense of pride not only towards the bubs, but also to their super doting parents. I am so incredibly proud of my beautiful sister. To see the look of love, amazement and joy in her face lights up my world (can you tell that I'm still in the mushy, super proud phase!?) She's such a natural!

6. All of a sudden, feel like you have become a macho woman who can take on anyone who threatens the very happiness of little Meiky Moo! (giggle). *Puffs up shoulders and tries to put a dont-mess-with-me-face-on!*

7. Tease your parents about becoming a 'granny' and 'grumps' (mum and dad both HATE those words - "it's Nan and Poppy!') The words grey and hairs also appears in this tormenting!

8. Giggle to your partner about becoming an uncle and aunt! Tee hee! I can't wait until she says 'Aunty Kirst is the bestest in the world!'

9. Watch in awe and amazement as she changes each and every day, and knowing that you aren't responsible for the 'serious stuff' just the 'fun stuff!' (while paying out your sister and brother in law about the different features and characteristics that she has taken on from both of them in a friendly family banter - ish type of way!)

10.  Cuddle and kiss and love and cherish until your heart is content and then hand them back (very reluctantly but in a she's so cute NOT I want one of these pooping machines way lol)!!!

Very proud Aunty and Uncle!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx