Easter

I found this neat silicone chocolate spoon mold while we were away. I've been wanting one for ages. So I thought for Easter decorations it would be perfect.

Look how cute these are! They'd make really cool little gifts wrapped up with a bow.

I added the little eggs for Easter, but these could have anything on them. 

For me Easter has always been an important family time. These last few years it also falls on the anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. Three years as of the 30th of March, two days from now. It feels SO good to be this far. This time three years ago I was nervously awaiting biopsy results. Nowadays I'm awaiting a surgery date to fix me all back up again. Its a MUCH better feeling!
Things are moving forward, I had my CT scan for the surgeon to plan my operation last week, so a date is coming any day now.


For now though, I'm trying to find the perfect mint marshmallow and chocolate combination to satisfy my Easter cravings...

Chile Parte Dos: The Wedding

This was one of the best weddings I've ever been to.

My beautiful girls were flower girls and of course loved every moment!

Johnny played it cool until the music played and then the dance floor was his. In front of 150 people he kicked off the dancing at the reception about 45 minutes before everyone joined him. Then we all carried on dancing until 4.30am!

The service itself was held in a beautiful little chapel overlooking the entire city of Santiago on San Cristobal hill. Conducted in both Spanish and English by the priest it was a beautiful ceremony and one of the most meaningful I've ever been honoured to attend.

My brother was beaming with pride and love for his beautiful bride and there were tears in my eyes as I remembered how far he's come to find true love in his Monica.

We are so pleased to have this stunning, sweet, hilarious and cheeky woman in our lives.

I'll leave you with the rest for your visual pleasure...

(and if you want to see more photos, particularly of the party after with some pretty choice dance moves, see this album here by Arenafilms Chile, the official photographers).

Chile Parte Uno: Santiago

John Key in da house!

Chile is a land of contrasts.

In the hot city of Santiago you look up and see the snow capped Andes mountains peering down on the city. There is a lot of graffiti (even on 400 year old fountains in the middle of the desert.)
It's a modern city but has a useless sewerage treatment systems, requiring people to not flush their toilet paper away (eww).

There are a lot of HUGE malls, some amazing shopping to be had if you want to (and what woman doesn't want to?!). There are also a lot of parks in each suburb. Some are set up with umbrellas and chairs for you to relax in while the kids play in the massively well organised playgrounds. 

Smog is throughout the city, but once up in the north it is one of the most pristine clear airs you will ever find. Seeing the stars at night is breathtaking.

Dry climate, warm people.

They like to sleep late, drink and eat well and laugh late into the night.

They REALLY like their meat.

I ate the best sausages I've ever eaten while there. I'm very sad I couldn't bring them home with me.

They love hosting, being a perfect host is of utmost importance.

Sarcasm is wasted on them.

Chileans smoke. A lot.

The red wine is GORGEOUS, white...not so much.

Our first night was spent meeting our new family over empanadas and red wine. They are such cool people. And we got to have baby cuddles.

The night before the wedding, while my delicious sister in law to be ran around like a headless chicken making sure all her jobs for the wedding were done before escaping to her hotel room for a good night's sleep, us Farrells were sucking back the red wine and dancing up a storm. It was so good to be together.

There are hundreds more photos to come, these are just the beginning. I'm in the middle of processing the wedding photos, our AMAZING trip to the desert and the seaside.

This holiday was so amazing, meeting such wonderful people and having precious family time that we'll never forget. I'm so proud to share these moments with you all.

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