Things I love...

The past six (almost seven) months have taught me a lot...but most of all, they have taught me that you can go without a BUNCH of stuff. Ben and I got rid of most of our belongings because 1) most of it was hand-me-down, college furniture that we weren't really attached to and didn't want to keep in storage for the next 4+ years and 2) we were too poor to afford to have it shipped over here! Fun fact, it is crazy expensive to have your belongings shipped overseas. I thought maybe $1000, $1500 max....no! Several estimates later were in the $4000+ range for a small amount of stuff. So, after arriving in New Zealand, we have had to acquire everything over again. Since our move into an unfurnished flat, we have gotten a lot more of the bigger stuff (sofa, bed, etc.) but are still working on it! So, stuff you don't need...

1. You don't need a microwave...if you have an oven/stovetop! This was one of those things that I went to the shops to buy and didn't want to fork out $200 for. And I have been meaning to get one, but at this point, we do just fine without it! I even have to get out the saucepan to heat up milk for my coffee in the morning ! It's a little extra step but just part of the routine now. So, it's on the back burner for now...

2. You don't need a frying pan...if you have a saucepan! This may sound like a no brainer but everyone has at least one frying pan...maybe 2 or 3. There was one in our furnished apartment, so I got used to having one and then one didn't come with the set of pots and pans we bought so we've just been doing without. The only thing we haven't been able to make is fried eggs...which I kind of miss...so I might be going to get one this week! That being said, Ben is a pro at poached eggs :)

3. You don't need a TV, if you have a computer! A good friend "donated" a TV to us (thanks, Vasana!!) when I told her we weren't going to buy one. Honestly, we haven't turned it on once :/ We only have a couple of shows that we actually watch together and I have been addicted to The Vamprie Diaries (vampire shows are a no-go for Ben) so we watch movies...which we need the computer for anyway. Plus, all the shows and movies are online nowadays :)

AND, of course, there are some things I cannot have lived without the last couple months :)

1. Skype/Facetime...so we can see all our lovely friends and family back home. We are so lucky to live in the age of Skype and Facetime! I don't feel like I've been gone for 7 months because of how often I am able to talk to my loved ones. Sorry Rachel, I had to :)

2. Kiwi Friends...Ben and I have been lucky enough to find some great friends here in New Zealand! We would have been so bored and probably killed each other if we didn't have those people! In fact, we are heading away for some camping next weekend and I am super excited!

3. My Hubby...As cheesy as it sounds, he is my best friend and I don't know how I could have moved across the world without him. Because those first couple weeks, it was just me and him...all day, every day! He is easy to travel with. We share the same interests (for the most part). And most of all, we have fun together, no matter what we are doing! I don't think there's anyone else in the world I could spend 24 hours a day with and not want to send them packing at the end of the week :) Okay, done...

4. My iPhone...on the opposite end of the cheesy spectrum...I am so thankful my iPhone was able to work on one of the New Zealand networks. And that I was able to unlock it (without too much hassle) to use on that said network! Living in a new place, at first I had to get directions EVERYWHERE! I mean, walking to the store, I had to get directions. Don't get me wrong, I still use it when we are going somewhere new (to pick up something I bought online...) but it was so useful when I had no clue where I was going. I also used it on a daily basis when I was riding the bus thanks to the handy, dandy bus app! But...done with that sucker! How did we get directions before mobile internet???

This is a rather wordy post so I'll leave it at that. Today I started a 10 day "clean" eating cleanse in preparation for said lake trip in a couple weeks! So far so good...I have gone one whole day! Be proud :) I'll let you know how the next 9 days go! Cheers!