"Happiness Just Happened" Photo Challenge

My Personal "Happiness Just Happened" Photo Challenge for 2015

Everyday I plan to post a photo of something that made me happy! 
My daily photos will be posted on my instagram account @andreakroll,
on my blogs Facebook page, and here as a blog post at the end of each week.

I want to find something happy in every single day, as a way of Living Laughing & Loving Life! I also believe that this challenge will help support my mental health & Atypical Depression. (I was diagnosed with Atypical depression back in 2011)

Feel free to follow me on Instagram and join me with this Challenge!

Andrea xx 

#HappinessJustHappened 
#LiveLaughLovingLifeBlog
#HJHPhotoChallenge
#PhotoChallenge  

Wedding Bells

Okay maybe not wedding bells quite yet but they are now in the plans ...

That's right .. We're engaged!!! 

On the 13th of December 2014, our 5 year anniversary Grant proposed!!! 
And of course I said YES!!

We hadn't really planned to do much for our anniverasy except go out for dinner, to one of our favourite restaurants Aqaba, and then maybe to the movies. Only because it was 5 years, as we are soo not the type to celebrate every bloody month!

I made us French toast for brunch, with Bacon, Banana, Strawberries & Blueberries. 

We headed to dinner at 6pm and took our gifts with us (as per Grants request). We had the dips & spreads (Toasted pita breads with sundried tomato dip and basil pesto) for our entrée .. and ultimate BLTs for our mains (Bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, camembert, cranberry sauce and aioli on toasted focaccia), with a side of Fries & Aioli). We were going to have dessert but we were both full from dinner!

While we were waiting for our mains we exchanged gifts ..
I got Grant a Skull Case, a JB Hi-Fi gift card & filled the rest of the case with his favourite sour lollies (Toxic Waste & Warheads).

I then unwrapped my present, on the outside of a box was a printed voucher for my next tattoo, which I was very excited about! until opened the box - then I was just speechless!! The note inside the box said "I am not going to kneel and embarrass us both but I would like to know ... Will you marry me?" and of course I said yes!! 

Once we had finished our main & paid the bill, we headed to my parents house to tell them the news. Grant had told me that Dad already knew, as he had asked him! So it took the initial surprise away for them, but both my parents were very happy. Apparently Mum already knew too, she said Grant had told her, however Grant does not remember telling her. 

Dressed up for dinner!

When we left my parents, I called my brother in Australia, while Grant called his family in Australia. My brother was soo excited, he was screaming & I could hear him jumping around! Grant's family were also very excited, we could hear his twin 16 year old sister screaming, and they were at the other end of the house! I also txted my Aunty, Uncle & Cousins to tell them the news.

Once we got off the phone we decided to end our night by going to the movies.
We went and saw "The Hunger Games - Mockingjay Part 1" - which was awesome!  

The next day I called my grandparents and my Aunty & Uncle in Australia to tell them the news, while Grant called his grandmother and his Aunty & Uncle. I then Facebook messaged and txted my closest friends to tell them the news before it would be posted on Facebook.

On Monday night, Grant changed our relationship status on Facebook and it all became "Facebook Official" - for the rest of the night our laptops and phones were beeping with notifications of likes and comments. A week later I posted a close up photo of the ring on Facebook and Instagram.

And now all those 100s of wedding pins on Pinterest can be put to use as the planning begins!  PS - if you have a wedding blog or page comment below!

Andrea xx

Old Photos Of Me

Day 8 - Old Photos Of Me!

Properly one of the easiest blog posts ..
a bunch of old photos of me :)

1987

1990 - 1991

1997

1993

2007

High School Ball - 2003

Grant's 30th Halloween Birthday Party!

This was going to be my very next post, but I have been waiting on photo's from Grant's Dad who is more of a photographer than I am, still haven't got his photos but thought I would post this now anyways :)

The Birthday Boy - Grant 

  Grant only decided on his costume the week before his party. He originally wanted to go a Gomez Addams, but we didn't know if the costume he found online would fit, so he decides to go as "Michael Corleone" from the movie "The Godfather" he bought the Hat & Spenders on Trade Me and the Suit, Shirt & Tie from Hallensteins all the week before his party.

 

The Cake - Simply Scrumptious

The Cake - I had been a liker on Simply Scrumptious' Facebook page for a while when I saw her post a Wedding cake that had white skulls & red roses on it, so I contacted her about making Grant's cake, but instead of been a white 3 tier cake, being a black 1 tier cake. Isn't it amazing!!

ME ... Jewellery - Jane's Jewels NZ
 Hair, Make Up & Photography - Toxic Tina Creations

Now Me ... I decided and arranged my entire costume about three weeks before the party. I found these amazing wings online, which arrived two weeks before the party, I planned on wearing these with my black lace City Chic Dress and then made my necklace, and bought some new black studded high heel shoes to complete my outfit. 

I found Toxic Tina Creations on Facebook ages ago via a friend and just loved her make up and photography, so messaged her and arranged to have my hair and make up done, I thought that if I'm getting all done up I may as well get photos taken too, and I'm so glad I did, I just Love them!!!

& here are just a few more photos that were snapped from the party :)

My Bestie Nikole & I

Our Friends - David & Rachael

A Few Of The Decorations

Atlas Sound Asleep The Next Day, Completely Shattered From The Party
& Still Wearing His Bow Tie!