Reading slump OVER! :)

Since Tony has been a big part of my life I feel like I've done less and less of the things that used to be imperative to me. I mean, I  have an awesome time and feel so satisfied with the way I spend my time. We discover things together all the time and I have a whole new set of things to love so I'm not complaining . The one thing that I really do miss though is reading. I have never, in my 36 years, read as little as I have in the last 6 months or so. I used to blow through 1 or 2 books a week and I don't think I managed a single chapter in January!

Tonight it was so hot when I got home. The thermostat thingy said it was 29 degrees inside so I decided to take advantage of my time in this lovely little hood adjacent green oasis. I took my  book and a Fruju-Snow ice cream down to the park to chill out (literally ) under a tree. It was such an good decision because despite the grass being insanely itchy I managed to finish half the book before I even looked up. 

The book is just a fun 'chick lit' paperback that my mum got from the Library sale but I feel like it's broken the reading slump and that makes me so happy. The quality alone time that is provided by escaping into other worlds is invaluable and OMG I'VE MISSED IT :)

I think Tony is going to have to entertain himself for half an hour a day so that I can get back on that train and once again be the little book nerd he fell in love with 

YAY

:)

Friday night is but a drunken haze of awesomeness

It's summer time and as I am currently... between appointments... I've been enjoying myself like crazy. Last night my friend Janelle and I went to Wynyard Quarter and had a fabulous drink (or two) in the sun at the fish market and then an AMAZING-Send you to church- Best food EVER dinner at Miss Clawdys. I mean ... seriously the person who thought of combining rhubarb and pear cobbler with rum eggnog is a freaking genius! WOW

I 110% recommend the wonderful Miss Clawdys with awesome drinks and better food all in a cool restaurant with a great vibe. GO GO GO!!!

The cocktail list all sounds good so for that reason alone Ima go running back! LOL I want to try all of them! I had the punch (pictured) which was delicious and a hurricane which was fine but not amazing.

The desert was the hi-light of my week. SO.DAMN.GOOD

of course, being summer the night markets are on at Silo Park. They were a fantastic place to clear our (read my) drunken haze and full tummies. I always enjoy the markets and actually purchased something this time. Loving my little skull bracelet. Great for summer and weirdly my first skull purchase.

Even though I've spent the day recovering I had an awesome time and totally recommend both beers at the fish market and dinner at Miss Clawdys. The whole precinct is just bursting with awesome and more is coming all the time. 

Just one more awesome thing about this city :)

xo

 

Christmas is coming to The Big Little City :)

I love this video!!!

It shows off my fab city as the Christmas decorations go up. I know it's a little early for Christmas ... I try not to even think about it until my friend Sheri has had her birthday on Dec 8 Buuuuut it came through on my Facebook feed this morning so I had to share.

:)

The beginning and the end

I took this photo on Thursday. I took the same photo 10 months ago on my first day of university! Thursday was my LAST DAY and it's so fun to think back on who I was then and who I am now. I've learned so much about myself and also, of course about how to be the best teacher that I can be. I wont miss the university even a little bit but I am grateful for the chances that it will hopefully afford me.  I took this snap as I was walking out of the campus for the last time on my way to my mothers beach house for a weekend in the sun that I was completely desperate for :P

I met this guy while I was hanging out on the beach. He would waddle around and just stand about a meter away from me and just stare at me. He never approached me or tried to steal my food or anything... just staring! hahaha I think he's my spirit animal or my new best friend or something. I decided to call him Gary. 

I had a fantastic weekend with my mother. She let me have my fave meal 

(salad + sausages + boiled potatoes) each night and I just relaxed, read three books and applied for teaching roles. It was insanely relaxing. We went Pipi hunting and I managed to have my first swim of the season. A perfect weekend and now the future awaits!

x

2013 Parnell rose festival

My friend Sheri and I walked to the Parnell Rose Festival yesterday. It was about a 12k round trip which was good training for the half marathon I'm walking with my sister in a couple of weeks. It was super hot but absolutely worth the walk. The festival was busy enough to feel like a successful event but organised well and spread out well so you didn't feel caged in. I cant say enough good things! from the go carts and juggling pins for the kids to the whole 'compostable straw' culture of the event it was AWESOME. I cant believe I've never been before. I shall certainly return!

10/10

These ones are the randoms :) Some of my faves from the jewelry sale that I went to a couple of weeks ago. Love the dog broaches and the rings with 'emeralds'. Take note future husband... I like old things with a story!

This weekend I walked through the marina for the first time and I just thought that the boats in their dry dock getting ready for summer looked pretty cool.

These ones are from the Parnell rose gardens. I LOVE the views down to the port which happens to be one of my fave parts of the whole city. Not sure why but I really love the whole idea of it :)

The fairy queen looks a little dodgy for some reason...

It was just so beautiful to be among the lovely flowers. It was calm and orderly and the air smelt beautiful! 

x

Procrastination moi? ... yes OK definitely moi...

Here's a random pic of me feeding Nakuru at the zoo this summer. Such an awesome day. OhMiGosh. It was a zoom tour that my mum gave me for Christmas and I got to feed the lions and pat the Rhino. I was on cloud 9 for about a week. Who would have thought that the Rhino would have been cuter than Nakuru? Not me but he really was awesome. I don't have any pics of me that are particularly great with him so I'm not gonna post them...

Why am I posting this pic of Nakuru's cute face right now? ... well.. um... no real reason. It's a great way to get my assignment finished right?? hahahahaha. I am procrastinating so hard this afternoon. 

I'm trying to impress my friend Mike and actually be organised and get my assignment in early so that I can start my placement on Monday with one less stresser. The placement is gonna have more than enough stress attached. I have one assignment done and good to go but let me tell ya dance education is not exciting. Not even a tiny little bit exciting. *yawn*

OK fine. I will get off the internet (except for spotify) and finish this assignment. I am thisclosetodone! just hit a wall. 

I will show Mr M that I CAN pull it together occasionally. 

:)

The last few weeks

(l-r)* Mt Maunganui Beach (my fave place in the world)

*Lone Star Tauranga tribute to Elvis

*Mt beach

*Surfer statue @ Mt Shops

*Mt Bar

*Library bar @ the Mt???? 

*Astrolabe

*My adorable nephew

*The train mercifully empty on a Monday morning

(l-r) *attended the documentary film festival with my friend Michael. Great and very thought provoking doco on American media.

*got a new cell!! yay

*read this 'The Rosie project' Couldn't appreciate it fully as the protagonist could never be anybody but a slightly better adjusted Dr Sheldon Cooper....

*Gala night at the theatre = free glass of wine!

*saw a show with my dad. "Wife after death" at the Dolphin theatre in Onehunga. Would have made a great novel perhaps.....They should stick to Shakespeare. Its something they do phenomenally well.

*drought = broken

*I totally cooked a yummy miso-ish soup. 

*Girl Guide biscuits are a right not a privilege!

(l-r) *Starbucks. busy busy always moving but it still takes so long for my tall soy latte!

*Sparkle cowboy at the Gow Langsford Gallery

*Andy Warhol #1 @ Gow Langsford

*Painted windows by the Library

* Love the new All Blacks in their Suit and tie adverts! They're finally interesting to me!!! Could watch them shop all day :P

*Andy Warhol #2 @ Gow Langsford

*Iron Man 3. No words to explain the awesome. Go See IT!!!

The best summer ever