Monday, December 20, 2010

Does is snow at Christmas?


Only if you live in the northern hemisphere, or if you hang out in a life-size snow globe. I really should have taken a pic from the outside so you could get the full effect. It was a bit of festive fun in the lead up to Christmas.


BTW, it was colder outside the globe than inside!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas baking


I've been getting all domestic and have done quite a bit of baking of late. Home made treats for the teachers and sweet things for friends who've invited us over. I'll even be lugging some to Oz (if they last that long), I just hope they let me through customs. If not, I'll cry. :(



Saturday, December 18, 2010

O' Christmas tree, o' Christmas tree


No green branches here. There was no way I was going to drag out the tree and decorate when we're off to Oz tomorrow! But this little twig was my compromise.


And after a spot of shopping and wrapping, there are now even a few surprises under it!

Monday, December 13, 2010

A personal touch


Now, I'm not suggesting you print all your wrapping paper on your home printer 'cause that could prove to be rather expensive and leave you with empty ink cartridges. But this is a cute idea for one or two small pressies.



PS. I hope my kids don't see this because I happen to know Santa had the same idea!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Yesterday's news


I've got nothing to say really. I just got sick of seeing the pic of me showing off my full briefs!

Hope you're having a nice day :)

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Walking home


The silly things you do when you're walking home after a big night out!


Monday, December 6, 2010

A fabulous night


I'm sure Sarah has a few good pics on her camera but this is what I have for now! This one was taken very early in the night. [Note the gorgeous necklace which was a present from Steve.]

And what a great night it was. Very civilised and grown-up with a nice selection of cocktails that kept coming throughout the night. I was a bit worried that people would make an appearance then disappear early but it wasn't like that at all. The pic below is of the "stayers". We finished up at about 12.45am and I think that was mainly in consideration of babysitters.




A class act!

It's really not that serious!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

A day out with Sarah


I certainly got a surprise last night when Sarah M magically appeared just after midnight. A lovely birthday gift indeed.

After breakfast in Mt Eden village we headed to Ponsonby for market day.






Objects of art:




A view from the top:


Friday, December 3, 2010

Metamorphosis


A year ago I had high hopes of looking fabulous at forty but last week those hopes were quashed when I looked in the mirror to see a plain woman with a slight jowl and bad haircut staring back at me. How did I get here?

The bad haircut is self-explanatory. After having the same hairdresser for about ten years in Brisbane, it has been hard to find a replacement. I gave my current cutter one last chance a couple of weeks ago and even though he did as I asked, I'm still dissatisfied. Unfortunately when you ditch your hairdresser you're no better off as you still have to put yourself on the line again when you try a new one.

Need a spare tyre anyone? I think this can be attributed to my nightly ritual of chocolate and Black Adder. AND a completely hopeless case of no self-restraint when it comes to food. I joined a swim squad this term which I thought might help. And I think I'm making progress because the last couple of week's my legs haven't turned to jelly after the session. Or maybe that just means I'm not working hard enough?

Two days ago I was shopping for the perfect frock for my cocktail night. Needless to say it ended in tears and blubbering down the phone to Sarah. "I think the 40-thing has just hit me. I can't find anything to wear because I'm not 20-something anymore!" Or something like that but probably far less coherent. The following day I managed to pick myself up and find a little black dress that will do quite nicely. (I'll post the best pics of the night here – stay tuned.)

Anyway, I think SOTH may actually be the devil in disguise and she may very well save me from myself but I best not be too premature about the results as it's only Day 3 of the challenge.

Thank you for your birthday wishes today. Here's my song of the day – a nice little reminder that life isn't a dress rehearsal.

m, xox

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

A cunning plan


But totally insane too!

My dear friend SOTH (not her real name) came up with the following plan to survive the silly season and has challenged her friends to join her. Anyone who knows SOTH also knows she loves to torture herself and now she is turning on us with this challenge to be healthy which includes giving up alcohol at a time when we need it the most!

The plan (challenge), as set by SOTH (The red bits are her response to our initial complaints):
  • You must eat three healthy meals a day. Not very hard really.
  • You must eat breakfast before 9am. Not very hard either.
  • Snacks are fruit only. More difficult, but just bloody try!
  • No alcohol!! You may, however, choose two occasions between now and Christmas Eve where you can drink in moderation so you aren’t being rude or loose friends forever. Other than those two occasions, it’s NONE AT ALL. There are so many issues here, I don’t know where to start. Have three AFD’s a week. EASY.
  • You must do some kind of exercise three times a week. Doesn’t include sex. You do this most weeks anyway.
  • You may not have seconds on ANY meal. Not negotiable.
  • You may not eat anything after dinner – EVER. Neither is this!
  • You are to attempt to be in bed before 10am each week night (or at least have a good average). All over this one.
  • You must have sex once a week (more if you like). Don’t want to know the details. Go for Gold for all I care.
  • You must drink as much water as you can each day. Cure alcohol related dehydration if nothing else.
  • You must have some kind of beauty treatment/massage/hair cut in this period. Bet you’ll do this one without complaint.

There was special dispensation in the contract which excludes ME from the contact for the 48 hour period around the weekend of MY BIRTHDAY – phew!

After a pretty crap day of which I will spare you the details, I fixed myself a fruit salad frappe with added wheat grass powder, hence the weird colour! Dinner was tuna and butter bean salad. I'm almost through Day 1.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Choir girl


Last night Ruby performed with a massed choir in the Town Hall. The performance was part of the APPA (Auckland Primary Principals' Association) Festival of Music. The school choir put in hours of practice including several practices throughout the year with other participating schools.


The choir began with the New Zealand national anthem sung in both Maori and English – it gave me goose bumps!

Friday, November 19, 2010

< $2 top


I have been itching to get back into sewing and was looking for an[other] easy project (post wrap-around skirt). And this is the result – a top I made last weekend.

I bought the fabric eons ago at the Pepito closing down sale. Ruby must have been 1 year old at the time. I got a fairly large piece for $2 thinking I'd make Ruby a pretty little summer dress (sorry Rube). The pattern came from Selvage in Mt Eden. I bought it a couple of months back when they were closing down – notice a trend here?

The pattern needed some modifying as it was for a dress and the sleeves had a seam down the middle which I thought would look a bit odd. It's always a bit risky to modify a pattern when you haven't been behind the driving wheel for a while. I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with how it turned out though. And the badge*, just tops it off.

* Made one weekend a couple of months ago when Ruby and I were playing around.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Summer's early arrival


Summer is officially two and a bit weeks away but today the mercury was really rising – peaking at 25 degrees C! Actually, it was hotter in the kitchen where the thermometer hangs.


Yesterday I took the electric blankets off the beds and today I am wearing shorts for the first time in months. Argh! My white legs are a ghastly sight! (I'll spare you by not including a pic of them.) I know my Queensland friends won't be feeling sorry for me at all; let's just say I've acclimatised to the milder weather. Just make sure the ice bin is full and the G+Ts are waiting for me when I get there!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Stocking stuffer


At this time of year I am madly trying to think of Christmas gift ideas. My kids want lots of "stuff"; not much of it useful or practical. I am stealing this idea from Frankie. It's cheap, easy, cute and when they're all eaten – that's it. No little pieces to lose or stand on in the middle of night for that matter!

I just hope my kids don't see this post!

Please share your Christmas gift ideas with me!

School photos


I just love the idea of a sibling photo. I remember having them taken when I was at school. And, the up side is you don't have to buy three lots of school photos to get one of each child. Of course, it is hard to get everyone looking their best in one shot!

For the curious, here are the individual ones...



Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Covet


I have wanted a Nicola Cerini satchel for sooo long. When this one came up on Trade Me the price was too good to refuse.


And in patriotic green and gold -- what more could an Aussie girl ask for?

Sunday, October 31, 2010

The games people play


We've just spent another weekend in Ruakaka playing on the beach, and stuff. Naturally, we worked up an appetite and indulged in a healthy afternoon tea – who needs a lazy Susan when you've got skateboards lying around. Here's a snapshot of what we got up to...

Beach soccer


Dune tumbling (a.k.a. sandy orifices)


The stick game (which way is it going to go?)


Uno (a serious game?)


Pass the hot Halloween pinata (and the goodies)




Four square (A fun game for the whole family. Sorry, no pic available.)

Duck feeding (meet Betty)


Candle swiping


And a strange thing we saw along the way