10 reasons why I'll always be a perth girl...

1. The beautiful beaches - clear skies, blue waters and white sand - which are only about a 20 to 30 minute drive away from my home.
2. The gorgeous sunsets that turn the sky purpley orange.
3. The ridiculously clean, fresh air that I get to wake up and breathe every single day.
4. The wide open spaces - so many parks and fields EVERYWHERE. I always remember as a girl running down to the local park with my sis and neighbour kids playing on the swings or running around the oval making up silly games.
5. The random little gems of shops and cafes that you can find tucked away across Perth, each with their own uniqueness and flavour.
6. How friendly everyone is - every time I bring my gorgeous meggy for a walk I am greeted by other dog owners, joggers, families etc. who are out and about too.
7. How laid back everything and everyone is - I love how most people finish work at 5 and get to go home, relax and spend time with those they love best.
8. How close everything is. Nowhere - city, airport, beach, shops etc - is really further than a half an hour drive away.
9. How quiet the city is. I love how still the streets are after 9pm with barely a car in sight because most people are tucked away in their homes with loved ones.
10. The fact that Perth is my HOME - the place I grew up, where I built sandcastles by the beach, went to school, spent my uni days, met some of the most amazing friends a person could ask for and most importantly met my mister, fell in love and got married.

Perth, you've stolen my heart and I will always be yours :)

looking back...

I am really enjoying being on summer holidays. We had a lovely Christmas with just the mister and me and celebrated the new year with some wonderful old highschool friends. I have loved relaxing, sleeping in, catching up with friends, spending time with the mister and just doing nothing.

I've also had plenty of time to look back at the amazing year that I had. I got married, moved in with the mister and started a whole new life as a wife. It's mind boggling to think that the year has already gone and 2012 is here.

As amazing as 2011 was, it wasn't exactly the easiest of years. My parents moved away to Melbourne, I had a pretty tough group of Year 3's (particularly my boys), all the stress and hustle of planning a wedding for 150+ people and the huge commitment of knowing you are getting married to someone forever.

I've set myself 3 goals to try and make 2012 a much less stressful year:

1. Living healthier - eat out less and eat healthier, get more regular exercise, drink more water and get enough sleep.
2. Keeping in touch with family and friends - calling my dad and mum more, making time to spend catching up with friends and regularly emailing, messaging and calling friends who have moved overseas.
3. Being more organised - planning my teaching programs in more detail, doing housework on a more regular basis, saving more money and keeping track of appointments in a diary so I know where I need to be.

Here's to an even better 2012! :)