Date Night: Parade

I love this time of year in Hamilton. When you wake up in the morning you'll often catch sight of a hot air balloon drifting along. It's startling and beautiful. This is the time of year for Balloons over the Waikato. There's lots of hot air balloon festivities, and best of all, lots and lots of hot air balloons.

Friday night Phil and I went on a date! We drove out to Cambridge to see the parade. They drove around with the baskets on trucks and fired off the flames. You could feel the heat standing far away. The sun was setting and it was the perfect backdrop for fire. In some of the pictures, it's hard to tell where the sunset begins and the flames end. Gorgeous.






All in all though, there wasn't much to the parade. It was neat seeing how the fire worked for the balloons, but it was a bit lackluster. Still, it was so nice just standing next to Mr. van der Wel and holding his hand. Taking a few photos. Hanging out with just Phil. I love that man. Date: success.

After the parade, we decided to go to Burger King. A treat! A favorite spot of ours.* We ate burgers and fries until our hearts' content. And talked. And laughed.

It was really nice. I love that man.






Early next morning, we drove to Hamilton Lake to watch the balloon competition. IT WAS AMAZING! I took a billion photos. Easily.

Also. Just noticed how awkwardly I hold hamburgers. Awesome. haha

xoxo
Talia Christine


*Note: BK is different in New Zealand than it is in the States. It's better. Trust me.
.... Also. I really like fast food. Don't judge me.

Sushi Date

Me and Phil often have little stay at home dates where we make a meal together and cozy up on the couch and watch a movie or one of our favorite TV shows. I love our special nights together and cherish them as the last moments before we make our family a little larger!

Last night we had a little sushi date and watched a little Survivor on the laptop! I knitted a blanket for the Baby while Phil rubbed my back (Bless that man!!). We both cheered and got angry at the show's villains. It was a really nice night.




I love that man and our little dates together!

xoxo
Talia Christine

One Year

Today we celebrated our 1-year anniversary of when Phil proposed!

Firstly, I can't believe it's only been a year. It feels like aaaages ago, in a good way. I feel so blessed and lucky to be married to my lover and best friend. Phil is the MOST wonderful man anyone could ever ask for! Being married to him is the best thing ever. Better than cheesecake.

Secondly, our anniversary was actually yesterday, but we sorta forgot and had a whole group of people over and I made Mexican food. It was super awesome and so much fun having friends over but not the romantic evening that we had been planning for. So we celebrated today!

The Mister finished work early so he could come home and spend some time together. He surprised me with some gorgeous flowers and strawberries. YUM!



It was so unexpected and so nice! I can't stop looking at the flowers that are currently sitting in front of me on the coffee table.
They look so perfect sitting there.



We planned on going out to a restaurant for pad thai, my favorite! Since we are often tight on cash we seldom go out, so tonight was very special! I felt positively spoiled the whole time. It was fun getting dressed up and going to a nice restaurant. I wore my fancy pearls and everything.



We got an appetizer to share and we both got pad thai. I ordered coconut milk and it came in a coconut! A REAL COCONUT! I got really excited and the waitresses thought it was funny.







Tonight was amazing. It could not have been better, and it was a wonderful time to spend some special time together and reminisce about our not-too-distant honeymoon. I love being married and I love being Mrs. van der Wel. I love just spending time with my husband.

Now if you will excuse us, I've made a cheesecake for me and Phil along with some homemade blueberry jam to spread on top.

I love you, Phil.

xoxo
Talia Christine

My 24th birthday

Happy Birthday to me! I am one year older (totaling 24 year here).


image source: weheartit

My birthday was sooo lovely, an incredible birthday to remember always.

I woke up in the morning and started getting ready to go to work. As I was brushing my teeth and combing (sorta) my hair I realized that Phil had been missing for some minutes. I went downstairs to find him and found him I did! He was making me breakfast for my birthday! Eggs and toast. Mmmm!

He packed my lunch and left me a note which I found later at lunchtime. He is so sweet and makes me feel so special.

I got to go home from work early and was able to relax. I knitted and watched a few episodes of Battlestar Gallactica (don't judge me). Phil's mum came upstairs and asked if I wanted to go along with her to the grocery store and to the chocolate factory. With the mention of chocolate I threw down my knitting and was ready to go.

Little did I know, that Phil had rigged the whole thing to get me out of the house to set up my birthday surprise!

More on my birthday surprise later ;)

That evening, me and Phil went on a date and he took me to an incredible Indian restaurant. We got the most gorgeous chicken tikka masala curry with a bowl of basmati rice, garlic naan, and mango lassi's. ngfhs;jlfskadhjadfh It was amazing.

It was so fun to dress up and go on a date with Mr. van der Wel. I did my hair and wore my favorite necklace that he bought for me awhile back.


Yum! Mango lassi's!


The birthday girl


Phil looks unimpressed in this photo, but his moustache is amazing.


Drooooool.

Sorry folks about the poor quality of the photos. I didn't bring my camera (doh!) and just had the cell phone handy.

Thank you everybody for all the birthday love!!
I received over 100 Happy Birthday messages on facebook!
You guys are truly amazing. You sure know how to make a girl feel loved!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Talia Christine