My Highlights of 2017

A new year, and new blog post. I hope everyone has settled back into the swing of things and for those who made resolutions – I hope they’re going strong. Personally, I’ve never been one to set New Years Resolutions, but I have set a few habits, hopes, goals and dreams in place that I’d like to achieve this year. If it’s anything like 2017, I’m so excited!

This year it’ll be SEVEN years on my health journey – seven years of eating clean and plant based, refined sugar free, gluten free, and for the most part dairy and animal product free (on top of managing Type 1 Diabetes – which is a full time job on it’s own and ultimately my main priority).

In this post I wanted to just take a moment to reflect on the highlights of the past year. It was a magical year, full of amazing memories! So I thought it’d be great to venture down memory lane and remind myself of all the goodness 2017 brought. Let’s go…

January

The beginning of 2017 was seen in by exploring Wellington, and Rivendell in particular.

We went on a beautiful long walk through Kaitoke Reginal Park and saw some of the set of Lord of The Rings which was epic!

I also share my fist What I Eat in a Day YouTube video. 

January ended in quite a bang when Nick got down on one knee in the most whimsical spot I’ve ever been and popped the question. I said YES! of course, it was magical and perfect in every way. I am so lucky to have him by my side and cherish what we have!

February

February started with one of my dreams coming true! I won a ticket to Wanderlust New Zealand. It was an amazing experience and got to flow with some of the worlds leading yoga teachers (like Elena Brower!).

I cannot express how grateful I was for this dream to have come true, and to this day I still can’t quite believe it happened. 

While in beautiful Taupo, I walked to Huka Falls which was mind blowing – gosh New Zealand is just so incredibly stunning!

March

This month was filled with lots of reading, walking, nature bathing and soul work.

Along with some delicious recipes like this Creamy Vegan Mushrooms with Spaghetti dish – Yum!

April

April was a fun time for the blog, and included some awesome collaborations with some incredible brands – notably Artemis and this delicious Lemon Thyme Tartlets recipe using their Lemon Thyme Tonic.

May

May was a bit of a transitional month as we ebbed into Winter, and snow became evident on the mountain peaks.

We went on a wonderful adventure exploring the Pupu Hydro Walkway which is such a great walk and highly recommended if you’re even in the area.

Also shared this delicious Green Tea Antioxidant Porridge recipe, which was another exciting collab with the lovely Artemis team.

June

June saw us head off to Kimi Ora Eco Retreat for a bit of R&R. It was lush! Such a wonderful space.

For the Blog I also did a photography collaboration with the amazing team CHIA in their Junk Free June Giveaway which was such fun!

July

This month saw the creation of one of my most favorite recipes of the year, and the funnest food photography shoot so far – the Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Chia Pudding recipe.

I also was lucky enough to be sent an incredible I Am Co Box FULL of the latest and greatest health foods and natural beauty products. So grateful!

This month I also celebrated 6 years of living and thriving with Type 1 Diabetes.

We also ventured up the hills of Cable Bay which was incredible – what an immensely beautiful view! 

August

Birthday month!!! The big 30! Still battling to wrap my head around that one as I still feel like a 22yr old.

Introduced my new kitchen gadget which since helped to create many many scrumptious foods.

This chilly month also brought our resident Tui to the blooming tree outside the kitchen window – so magical! He was so sweet – we named him Louie.

Lots of nature walks and of course, the delicious Broccoli Flatbread recipe (which I must make again, soon!) 

September

September brought flowering magnolias, along with Animal Farm adventures, nature immersion and the delicious Dark Chocolate & Orange Pecan Loaf recipe which was nothing short of spectacular in it’s entirety. 

October

This was such a fun and exciting month. From attending local product launches, to winning a competition on Facebook, to a slight obsession with My New Roots Life Changing Loaf recipe and Sugar Free Sunday’s Double Fudge Vegan Protein Brownie recipe.

It also led up to the pen-ultimate moments of the start of our South Africa holiday – and that, well, that was just incredible! 

November

South Africa! Family! Friends! Adventure! Full heart!!! Wow, what an incredible trip we had. Seeing all my people was just so incredible, and even though the trip definitely wasn’t long enough, it was amazing to visit our birth country. From delicious lunches, to hiking in the Drakensburg, to swimming in the Indian Ocean to spending time with loved ones.

It was just what we needed to end the year with a bang! We also visited Singapore on our way over which was an experience. Such a pretty, green city (and airport). The rooftop swimming pool was perfect after a 10hr flight from Auckland!

They end of November saw me celebrating 3 years in New Zealand – I can’t believe how fast time has flown by! 

December

December came and went in a flash! One of my recipes feature on the Lorna Jane website which was quite a biggie!

We also had an impromptu trip down to Christchurch which was fun.

Camping in the French Pass in the holidays was such a highlight! A spur of the moment decision – and we ended up seeing sting rays AND a shark!

I also shared the last recipe of 2017 – Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Vegan Mushroom Croquettes. 

So I welcome 2018 with open arms, and am so excited for all it has to offer. I feel immense gratitude for all the magic that the past year has brought. Hope you enjoyed coming along with me down my trip down the 2017 memory lane.