Recently Nat, Sharon, Sue and I ventured down to Melbourne for a "girls only, shopping, cocktails, yummy food and general girly fun" weekend. We spent most of the weekend shopping but we also managed to squeeze in afternoon tea in St Kilda, dinner at Lygon St and a night out at the Casino. I think we all had a great weekend. It was fun spending time with the girls and I made many bargain purchases. Something we'll definitely have to do again. Maybe next time we'll head to the beach!

Spending Summary:

• Jess - 5 tops, 1 skirt, 1 pair of shoes, 3 potential Christmas presents, 1 phone cover, 1 pencil case, 1 bangle, some stickers.
• Nat - 1 tshirt, 2 bags, 1 necklace, some stickers.
• Sharon - 1 pr of shoes (discounted care of Annie's discount Esprit card), 1 pr of boots, 1 bag, 1 leather jacket.
• Sue - 4 tops, 1 pr jeans, 1 skirt, 2 prs shoes, 2 bags, 1 present, 1 belt.

Don't forget to check out the photos!

Ok people, it's "do something good for somebody else" day! World Vision are currently holding their 10 000 Appeal, hoping to register 10 000 sponsers for 10 000 children struggling to survive in some of the world's poorest countries. I've been sponsoring a girl in Bangladesh for a couple of years now and it's a really good feeling knowing that you are helping to change someone's life, helping their family and even their whole community. And, it's only a $1 day! One dollar is nothing, it's less than a coffee ($2.50), or a mars bar ($1.70) or a bottle of V ($2.90). So go on! Go check it out...do something to help make a difference...

On Saturday night I threw a party for my 25th Birthday. I figured that reaching quarter of a century was as good a reason as any to celebrate!! The theme was Under the Sea and people had the choice of dressing up as something marine or wearing blue. I went as a Starfish and Andrew went as a Blue ringed octopus. Most people took the wearing blue option but there still some good costumes.. Alice (Queen of Atlantis), Skip (Atlantis power source), J (sleeping with the fishes), Sue (Pearl), Nat (Ocean), Simon (Submariner), Ben (kelp forest), Patrick (Pirate), Luke (Pirate) and Andrea (seaweed), to name a few. It was a really fun night! Lots of dancing, eating and drinking...

I'd like to thank my parents (for paying for it), Nat (for making my costume, helping make the decorations and helping set up), Ashleigh (for helping set up and organising the fish nets), Sue (for helping set up), Karen (for making my wonderful fishie cake!) and Andrew (for helping keep my stress levels at a minimum). And thanks to everyone else for coming!!! Check out the photos here.

Last weekend was my Birthday and Andrew planned a special surprise weekend away as part of my birthday present. It was a wonderful weekend! Andrew picked me up from work on Friday and then we headed North towards the Hunter Valley. Our surprise destination was Eaglereach, a wilderness resort at the top of a mountain in the Hunter region. Our cabin had an amazing view and we had our own private jacuzzi. Andrew planned a perfect weekend - Friday evening, Andrew had arranged for a massage therapist to visit our cabin to give me a 45 minute massage, on Saturday we went for a bushwalk and then went horseriding and on the way home on Sunday we visited a number of boutique wineries and bought lots of wine to fill a our new winerack. I'm very spoiled and very lucky!!! View the photos here.

*sings*
Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday dear Jeeeeeeeeeessssssssss!!!! Happy Birthday to me!!! Hipbip, Hooray! Hipbip, Hooray! Hibip Hoooooooooray!!!