by Johanna Osborne

I spoke at our wedding. I stood up, microphone in hand, all fluffy white dress, big veil and happy shiny face, speech notes jittering in my hand. It was all recorded on video, so I know now that I spoke very slowly (for fear of speaking too fast) and tisked and make funny clicking noises with my tongue, which I can only put down to nerves, as I don’t belong to a remote African tribe.

I’ve talked about our wedding and even how we met on previous blogs, but I guess there’s always a new angle, a new story, a new memory that sparks some happy recollections. And today marks another chapter in our story.

I said a lot of heartfelt things at our wedding which I meant from the bottom of my heart and still do. But I wish I could rewind to that point in time, and add a few more things. You see, on the 5th January 2006 my darling Stephen and I had been together 7 years. I knew him well and was head over heels in love with him. Now, a further 7 years on I know him as well as I know myself and I am not only in love with him, he is my heart. Our love has gone from being “young” to becoming something more profound, something more adult, something even more durable. The first 7 years saw our eyes meet across a crowded bar, a meteor shower erupting (or so it felt) and thus the first breathtaking exciting whirlwind of our relationship began. I was 21, turning 22 and never felt so sure of anything in my life. If they could bottle that stuff, this would surely be the most desirable drug in the world, nothing, absolutely nothing, could ever feel that good! We never spent a moment apart after that and it wasn’t long that we left the safety of our respective family homes (bye Mum and Dad!) and moved in together. After 2 months together I got my first ring, engraved with “forever my princess”.

A tiny but lovely little flat in Mount Cook became our home, and saw us slowly grow up and become adults together. It was where Stephen finished his degree and where I farwelled him off to his first big job interview in his newly purchased first suit. It was where we realised that our life was to be together. We started small and we dreamt big. We wanted to travel and to see the world and enjoy the good things in life together. We instantly valued the same things. We were not the type of couple that would have to compromise on what sort of holiday to take, which restaurant to eat at, which film to see…. because we liked pretty much the same things. We were (and still are) people who like excitement, action and fun. Stephen always made me laugh, from the minute we met to this very day. He has a lighthearted, relaxed way of seeing the world and that is to me the saviour of all things, for being relaxed is not always my forte. He didn’t make me go camping and I thanked my lucky stars for that. He drove me places and picked me up and opened car doors for me. He bought me nice things and took me out on amazing dates. I knew secretly I was the envy of every girl that crossed our path. It was hard to believe he had picked me, as he really could have had anyone. I felt so lucky!

Fast forward a few eras and time zones. We got engaged in 2005 and it was a fairytale come true. “Finally” was the response we got from Stephen’s family, but no matter how long we’d been together it was still a surprise and a huge high. We were older now and had just bought our first place, the inner city apartment that would bear witness to many a fun party, as well as lazy Sundays on the couch cuddling with our bunny rabbit Scooby, eating junk food. It was our haven and we loved it. We didn’t move overseas. Stephen wanted to at first, but I explained to him that I wanted to stay near my beloved family, which he accepted and agreed with. Hence he got just as close as I was to my Mum and Dad, and he counted my father as one of his best friends. We spent a lot of time with family and we grew to prefer having dinners with my Mum and Dad over boozy nights in town. We had such fun, playing rowdy Pictionary which only got better fuelled by several bottles of wine (I shall confirm my Dad and I always won, but not how we did it, as that would be telling!).

We travelled – and we did it in style, even in the early years when we couldn’t afford much. It was the simple things like lying on our sun loungers in Mykonos enjoying a giant Greek icecream, the decadence and enjoyment was out of this world. Or the time we sat in the priciest cafe in Santorini way up high perched above the azure sea, and as students all we could afford were frappes, much to the dismay of the waitress. We enjoyed the same things, and we still laugh about the same stories, over and over again.

Our wedding day was awesome, and it was filled with the essence of family and friends that truly make up who we are as a couple. We are a warm loving family and all our guests said they really felt that. That to me was the highest compliment of our wedding day, as ambience, feeling and emotion is everything.

I always knew Stephen was awesome, and he showed me again and again. When some so-called friends betrayed me, he not only supported me, he did everything he could to fix it. I saw then that anyone that messes with me messes with him, he had my back and would fight for me. I was not alone and never would be. If anyone did anything to me, he would be my number 1 supporter. And when my beloved Father was taken from us, much too soon in a totally unexpected and tragic way in 2009, the night before Father’s Day of all days, Stephen suffered as much as I did. We had been through loss before, but this was a tragedy we were not sure our family would survive. 5 months pregnant and excited about telling my Dad we were naming Milan after him (Alois would be our son’s middle name) the following day at Father’s Day brunch, we never got the chance. It was all taken from us too soon in a cruel twist of fate. We were devastated, but despite his own grief Stephen held our family together and put each one of us slowly back together.

When Milan entered the world Stephen was there to catch him and I’ve never seen such love in a person’s eyes. Milan stole Stephen’s heart the moment he took his first breath and there is nothing that could make me happier. You see that is something I have only recently learnt, Stephen is an amazing boyfriend, partner and husband, but he is an even better father. He loves with all his heart and protects his son with all his might. There is nothing Stephen wouldn’t do for his little boy. I couldn’t be prouder.

And that is something I wish I could have foretold or mentioned in my speech all the way back then. That my husband was made of the real stuff. He has what it takes. He can stay strong through the tough times, he knows how to love within an inch of his life and he will not crumble and wilt when the going gets tough. We’ve had some fights and disagreements along the way and we are by no means “perfect”, but Stephen would never once say a word to me that he would later regret. He never insults me or puts me down. He has the most amazing respect and I can only dream to be as good a person as he is. We know we belong together. We have found unconditional love. Nothing can break us.

Basically what I’m saying is that we don’t know how strong our relationship is until it’s tested by life’s trials. Gone is some of the nativity of youth and along has come a bit more wisdom and maturity of age. It’s easy to say I will love you forever when you are surrounded by champagne, rose petals and mountains of gifts. True love shows itself over the years and gets stronger with the test of time and the hurdles life throws at you. It won’t be a walk in the park or a fairytale (like I so foolishly compared it to in my wedding speech!). Love is more like a badge of honour that you earn – you work for it, you defend it and you wear it with pride. For when all is said and done, there is nothing more important than the person you love and them loving you right back. And it is my great fortune that I am Stephen Jason Osborne’s wife… I could not be luckier.

Our first photo, 1999

Our wedding day, 2006

Fiji

Venice 2007

Monaco 2007

8 months pregnant, ready to welcome Milan into the world

Milan Alois Osborne, born 13th January 2010

Once Milan arrived it was all about him

Happy Birthday Milan Alois!

Our wedding anniversary 2013

Mother's Day 2013

Us

Beach time Australia

Love!

by Johanna Osborne

It’s your wedding and you’ve probably been dreaming about it for a long time. Make it unique and personal by adding the things that you love, that make you happy and that you will want to look back on with pride and joy. It’s possible to create almost anything these days… the world is your oyster! Enjoy the ride, planning your big day is the coolest journey to embark on with your man by your side. We’ve rounded up a few things that have recently caught our eye and made us swoon a little. Or a lot.

1. Distinctive pops of colour – add your own personal touches. Colour always looks great on film and since it’s your day, do it your way!

2. Adding “PINK” in new ways, mixed and accented by other colours. It’s not the hue of romance and style for nothing, a touch of pink can be so cute and gorgeous! There are countless ways to incorporate pink into your wedding day whilst still keeping your fiancé happy.

3. Going global and adding worldwide traditions to your wedding feast – your guests will love feeling like they’ve had a cultural experience with something new different for them to sample and enjoy. Profiterole towers are particularly cool and easy – the French sure know to celebrate in style!

4. Cocktails – personalised cocktail drinks, coasters and swizzlers – so chic!
Not only are divine drinks trendy, they set the tone and mood for a real party, and personalised coasters make fantastic keepsakes.

5. Kids stealing the show for all the right reasons and raising the cuteness factor! Don’t be afraid to use children in your wedding, they will guarantee great photos, happy moments and plenty of laughs.

6. Wedding favours that are personalised, affordable and cute – if you are imaginative then this is one way to let your creative juices flow. And if you are not, then there are many who are and who can help you dazzle your guests with lovely trinkets.

7. Summer ideas – warm temps might seem like a long, long way off to us right now, but we just love these refreshing and cute ideas!

8. Night caps! Make a lasting impression with delicious late night snacks that will make your guests leave with a full belly and a smile on their face! Remember food is a big deal to guests, so make sure they don’t go hungry.

9. Different locations and venues – nothing like mixing it up a little. Nowhere is “off limits” now. Whether it’s a carnival wedding, an aquarium party or a zoo do, there’s a venue that can suit you.

10. Distinguished and dapper- looking striking is not just for the girls anymore. There are tons of options for the boys to wow us these days. Whether you are the groom or merely a guest, lads, don’t be shy to go a little debonair with a bow tie and fedora!

by Johanna Osborne

Victoria Beckham once famously said that she is “nothing special”, she just makes the best out of what she’s got. And whilst her definition of nothing special and ours might differ somewhat, she is most certainly on to something there. Really that is the mantra most of us girls go by, isn’t it? We do what we can to feel good – and with a few tricks and zaps of a wand we can all look a little more glamorous and presentable! Of course it’s part of the unsaid pact of sisterhood that we must share our beauty tips and secrets, a bit like a legacy key that is handed down. Few things are more exciting than finding a good product that works and has actual visible results. And likewise it’s equally awesome when someone recommends something you’d never normally use and it turns out to be your new holy grail of cosmetic. Want to know what we are using at the moment?

1. Antipodes – This brand has taken not only our little hearts, but the whole of NZ by storm. The divine natural, organic ingredients make this range something you look forward to applying morning and night. Our favourite right now – the Organic Avocado and Rosehip face oil. Evangeline Lily once said “it will take years off your face” and we think she’s spot on. That stuff feels GOOD! But let’s not forget the skin plumping Apostle or the Joyous night serum, both of which are pretty amazing. It’s a smorgasboard of the senses and we are truly converted! Food for the skin. You can literally feel it soaking in. Each night when we apply the Pear and Avocado Night Cream it’s like we are having a mini-facial, right there in our bathroom!

2. Nivea – We grew up with Nivea and it’s something that we recall from early childhood years. Raised from an early age to moisturise always, it would be impossible to go to bed without a face like an oil slick these days. Whilst Antipodes has our heart, Nivea will always have a place too, and luckily we can fit them all into our daily routine. Personally we love Nivea as an all-over face moisturiser in the morning, before applying sunscreen and then of course foundation.

3. Sunscreen – Admittedly we were late joining the bandwagon, having wasted our teenage years with sunbathing and sunbeds (heaven forbid!) but hope and pray it’s not too late to undo the damage inflicted by the ignorance of youth and the big round ball in the sky. Neutrogena Sport Face SPF 70 works a treat for us, you can’t sweat that stuff off and it lasts all day. Sunscreen is a must all year round, not just in summer. Cloudy winter days can do UV damage to your skin too, beware!

4. Foundation – We fought it for a long time, resisting the “mask like” effect everyone talked about, but now that YSL has done a Le Teint Touche Eclat, well there really is no reason not to wear a light cover that evens out the skin tone and hides away those blemishes.

5. Hard night? Then Le Touche Eclat (the little sister of the Le Teint Touche Eclat) is a must for those under eye circles, amazing what you can hide with that cute little golden wand. A zap here, a zap there, those dark circles are gone!

6. Revitalash – Carl from Salute tipped us off at a photo shoot that this stuff really “works”. We rushed out to buy it immediately, and lo and behold, we have indeed experienced some significant lash growth. Not sure what’s in it, but boy, it seems to work!

7. Diorshow Mascara – Tried and true, we just can’t get away from this magic thick black potion. It’s not used on catwalk models for nothing – it really has a rather full-on effect. Granted, the result is not subtle but if you want to last a whole day without touching up, then sometimes more is more!

8. Body Shop Vitamin E Body Butter – This magic potion saw us through pregnancy without as much as one single stretch mark. If you like to feel soft and subtle all over, then this is your friend.

9. White teeth – Nice chompers make a huge difference to any face and smile. Your teeth don’t have to be perfect, just the right shade of white will make all the difference. We love Lovely Smile Whitening Pen, it works! Also Pearl Drops Hollywood Nights (ooh la la) whitening toothpaste and liquid is a big fave, but that’s hard to get in NZ and we get our stash in Australia. Many whitening products work (to differing levels) and of course the most va-va-voom effect is achievable from your scary friend in the big white coat, aka your friendly dentist (but be prepared to pay a small fortune for the privilege).

10. Bronzer and Illuminator – Find a product that works – something with a little sparkle and colour, and you will instantly look more alive and awake. There’s tons on the market, and even in winter a wee bit of bronzer works wonders.

11. Chapstick! Cracked lips are common in winter, but ladies, if you want to stay kissable, a good chapstick is a must at all times. Gloss, liner and lipstick can go on top, just don’t forget to keep your lips in good condition. A good time to give them a little scrub is after the shower, rub them gently with your towel and they will be soft like a baby’s bottom. And on that note, a little colour on your lips, whether it’s pink or red, will work wonders in giving your overall complexion a “boost”.

12. Hair – Salon shampoo and treatments really do work. It’s worth spending that little extra on your mane… after all if you spend time, love and money on your skin, you should do the same with your hair. It’s all part of the package. We recently had an in-house hair treatment at a salon with hot towel and heated massage chairs – the full hog! It was totally and utterly blissful.

13. Fragrance – You don’t have to smell like you fell into a perfume vat, but a light every day fragrance will transform your mind and mood instantly. At the moment we are loving the Vera Wang for women fragrance but really there’s far too many good ones to name!

Just a few of our favourite things, there’s always more where that came from! Any of yours you want to share with us? Leave your tips in the comments section! xoxo

by Johanna Osborne

I remember when I was a little girl and all these old people used to say silly things like “My, how time flies” and “Look how you’ve grown” and “When you’re my age you will think where did the time go?” I couldn’t believe someone so old would think time had gone fast, when to me it seemed they’d clearly been alive for centuries already!

As a kid I remember Christmas taking forever to come around and watching the clock at school thinking it must be broken, as the day seemed to be at a standstill. I recall the days leading up to my 12th birthday feeling like they would never end. I remember wishing High School was over already so that I could stop wearing that horrid uniform and finally be free to express myself. At university I couldn’t wait to get my degree so I could be finished with school and join the real world. I remember counting down to our big Europe trip feeling like it would never roll around, and then the same with our wedding, which we spent 11 exciting months planning. In general I feel like I’ve spent a lot of my life wishing for things, and fortunately many of those things eventually happened, but it just never felt fast enough. But why the rush? It’s not like life is some giant fast food chain, and all we need to do is drive past the window and collect.

Sometimes the things we have to wait for and earn are the ones we appreciate most. And as I always say, looking forward to something and the anticipation of what’s to come is the best part of all. It gives us hope, joy and something to strive towards. And since childhood things have changed a little… these days we are firmly in the clutches of frantic adulthood and these days one can’t help but exclaim “Whaaat, Christmas again? No way!” Or perhaps currently more fittingly “Not rates time again, surely?!” The older we get, the faster it all seems, the more hectic our lives become and perhaps the blurrier the memories get… and maybe that’s why it’s all a bit of a haze when you look back from your rocking chair.

Try explaining that to a child though. It’s a known fact that an adult’s perspective of time and a child’s are totally different – what may seem like a few minutes to us can seem like a painful eternity to a child. Children live for the moment and enjoy what they have, but also have a childish greed for the good things to come. We should never lose that. Whilst patience is a virtue, excitement and happiness are equally important spices required to inject vital ingredients into the big soup pot we call our lives. If only everyone could hold onto their mojo and joie de vivre, the world would be a happier place.

So what am I trying to say? Time is a funny old thing. Treasure it, and don’t wish it away. Enjoy the happy lead up to things, but remember the old adage that “This too shall pass” if you happen encounter a particularly rough patch in your life. We all do at some point, and we all get through it. Sometimes with a little (or a lot of) help from our friends, partner, fiancé or husband. But remember if things are bad, they won’t always feel that way. Time is pretty good at washing away the sting, just as it is brilliant at bringing new and happy moments our way. And just because someone else you know seems to have it all on the outside, the reality might be very different on the inside. The grass isn’t always greener. It’s important to be happy with what we have.

Time isn’t something we can control, but it is something we can use to our advantage, make the most of and get the best out of. It’s just a matter of making it count!

 

“How did it get so late so soon?” – Dr. Seuss

“I think that it’s a crime to say you are bored when time is so precious” – Karl Lagerfeld

by Johanna Osborne

It was a somewhat chilly and blustery evening, but that certainly did not deter the well-wishers from attending the 25th anniversary party of the capital’s much loved Hanne Andersen jewellery store. 1 Grey Street was packed with plenty of smiling faces, trays of food and lovely champagne. Besides admiring all the gorgeous glittering baubles in the cabinets, everyone in attendance could not help but share their part in the impressive 25 year history of this iconic shop. And it seems there are many who were there right from the start, when it all began back in 1988. Hanne herself could not believe just how many of her loyal customers and supporters came along to join the festivities, and shared with us that it’s thanks to these special people that her business has thrived. It’s clearly Hanne’s enthusiasm, passion and people skills that have made her so magnetic to Wellington’s discerning shoppers, not to mention the beautiful and constantly changing pieces in her cabinets which draw in admirers far and wide. With many loyal clients returning again and again for repeat purchases, Hanne Andersen has become the go-to store for boyfriends, partners and husbands who like to be sure they get it right. The feeling is very much of a community when you step into Hanne Andersen Jewellery; the staff are all so friendly, helpful and genuinely lovely.

On a personal note, I am lucky enough to own a Hanne Andersen piece myself and I must say it’s one of my all time favourites! We highly recommend stopping in and saying hello when you are in the area and guarantee you will be impressed by the relaxed ambience. You are also bound to be pleasantly surprised by the beautiful and unique ranges on display. Magpies beware: you may never want to leave!

Hanne and her lovely team, including daughter visiting from the UK!

Johanna, Hanne and Paula

The store at the end of the night - the red carpet was a path well travelled that's for sure!

2 beautiful ladies, our Paula with Hanne