:: The Day I Met Hanson ::

Back in late August, when I was in hospital with pancreatitis, I checked my email on my phone to find out I'd won a meet and greet with Hanson. It totally made my year. I told pretty much everyone who visited me - nurses included. The last Hanson tour in Australia was seven years ago, so I was super excited for this concert! They've been my favourite band for fifteen years now. If nothing else, I'm loyal, right?

The meet and greet happened before the concert and the boys were so lovely. I talked with Isaac for the majority of the time. We walked about how he really liked Brisbane because of the unique experiences he has had here - like holding a koala. Taylor then came over and took my CD out of my hand (I had 'Middle of Nowhere' with me to get signed) and asked what my name was, I was impressed he spelt it correctly (most people leave the 'e' off the end). I then went to say hi to Zac. We talked about how he held a giant snake that afternoon. All in all they are really nice guys - really down-to-earth and genuine (and tall!).

Meet and greet winners were allowed inside the venue before the rest of the concert goers, so I managed to score a front row spot in front of Taylor's piano. I really wish we were allowed to take big cameras to concerts, but every concert I've ever been to won't allow it. Instead I borrowed my Mum's point and shoot and it did a pretty good job!

Enough talking. Onto the pretty ...

Matt Wertz - the opening act. He was amazing!

Have you ever met your favourite band/celebrity? I met Hanson once before, back in 2004. It was purely good luck that I managed to get a meet and greet that time. My sister and I flew down to Sydney for the concert (they weren't performing in Brisbane) and while we were waiting in line a girl in front of us said, "Our friend just called us to say she was sick and couldn't come. Do you want her meet and greet pass?" Did we? Of course! I let my sister have it. And then, my friend came over to me and goes, "I pre-ordered ten meet and greet passes and the lady miscounted and accidentally gave me eleven, do you want one?!" Um, yes!

I'm in the green shirt on the right, and my sister is in the back between Zac and Taylor. And, coincidentally - the girl in the "I fancy the drummer" tank top won the spot of reporter for the meet and greet for this concert! Small world! So, thanks Hanson, for bringing us back in contact with each other!

:: A Life Update ::

As some of you may have realised lately, I've spent a fair bit of time making BFFs with the hospital. Back in May I had a bunch of tests and scans done which found my small bowel was rolling up on itself. So, in August off I went to have it fixed. Since then I've slowly been getting sicker. At first I thought it was just my body complaining about the operation, but a little over a week ago I landed myself in hospital again - this time with pancreatitis. I was in hospital for a week in crazy amounts of pain. I have had pancreatitis before, back in 2007, and we couldn't figure out what the cause was, but this time the specialists finally figure it out! It would seem my pancreatic duct doesn't work properly, and spasms when I take anything stronger than paracetamol. So, all the times I've taken codeine for my stomach pain I've actually been slowly making it worse. Whoops!

I'm back home now, slowly recovering and trying to catch up on everything I missed. I've been away from work for almost five weeks, so going back will be fun (not). On the upside, I lost 10kg while I was in hospital! There is a silver lining to everything, my friends.

And, because I can't help myself, I Instagrammed my stay.

I finally got to see the city views from my room on the morning I went home!

And speaking of silver linings, here is the best news I have had in ages. I won a meet and greet with Hanson!! I am beyond excited. They have been my favourite band for 15 years! Yay!

:: Blog Award ::

A few months ago (okay, back in October last year :/) the lovely Jess from the beat my heart skips passed on the above award to me. Thank you so much, Jess! With this award I am supposed to share with you ten things that I love. So, in no particular order, here they are!

1. Weddings

What's not to love about weddings? The whole day is full of love, laughter and frivolity!

This photo was from when I was maid-of-honour for my younger sister.

This photo is from when I was a bridesmaid for my sister-in-law.

This photo is, obviously, from our wedding!

2. Stationery

I adore stationery - stickers, pencils, pens, journals, writing sets - you name it, I love it!

This photo was taken at a bookbinding/stationery store in Melbourne. They had journals in every colour of the rainbow - I was in stationery heaven.

3. Photography

Over the past few years I've slowly been getting into photography. I have a long way to go, but I'm loving every second of it.

This photo was taken for a local ballet studio. I have recently found out that my photos will be used for advertising their new studio!

4. Mr LG

When I say I love him, I mean it. Those three words have my life in them.

5. Sunrise

In the sunrise vs sunset debate, I'm definitely a sunrise girl. The serene stillness of the world during a sunrise calms me for the rest of the day.

This photo was taken at Golden Beach, Caloundra overlooking the tip of Bribie Island.

6. Hanson

I am still a huge fan and they are still my favourite band. I'm a lost cause!

This photo was taken in 2004 after their Sydney concert. Everyone in this photo flew down from Brisbane to see them. I'm in the green top on the right, my younger sister is up the back on the left between Zac and Taylor.

7. Messy Curls

My favourite hair style, it looks goods on everyone!

8. Photo booths

Yay, photo booths!

My brother and sister-in-law had a photo booth at their wedding and it was SO much fun! One strip was given to the people having their photos taken, and one strip was put into a guest book that we could write next to! Such a great idea.

9. Collar Popping

I have a soft spot for popped collars. A few years ago I went through a huge popped collar stage, so much so that people I'd met through blogs would start taking photos of themselves with popped collars for me!

Pop it like it's hawt!

10. Random Hearts

I love finding love hearts in random places. As Love, Actually tells us - Love really is all around us.

I'm passing this award on to:

K from The Body Electric

Claire from My Little Life

Karina from Ramblings of a Simple Girl

Happy Monday!

PS. Thank you so much for the positive support for my new gluten free blog :)