Things I'm Loving

#1 - the news of the month!!

Goodbye wordpress!!!!  HELLO blogger! :D

I managed to find quite an easy way to import all my old wordpress posts into here.  It's a brand new site, but if you feel the need to back track on any of my old stuff - it's all here - even under the same labels.  And your comments remain!!  (what a snazzy thing the internet is when you can be bothered investigating!!  Even if it is at 1am)

Better still - you can "follow" me!!

Wordpress is pretty boring overall, and not very useful when it comes to customising etc.  Blogger is way more user-friendly!  So I am back!

#2 - I'm also loving....

Princess Adelaide - who is somehow convinced that putting a pair of pants on your head (usually PJ pants) is a "hat" - and wearing the hat always involves dancing around.  Usually at bedtime.

Favourite song: the "move it" song from Madagascar.  Now that is a trick her daddy taught her.

She wore this particular "hat" for about 2 hours the other day.  She especially likes it when it  slides down and scrunches up her eyes.

#3 -

Lemonade scones, with jam and cream.  YUM!

#4 -

This little guy measures 30 weeks and he's supposed to be 25.  Little miss measured 5 weeks behind.  How ironic this baby growing thing is.  Here's hoping he's not going to be massive!

#5 -

The various ways a necklace can be worn.  Or stretched.

#6 -

Outfits that she's been waiting nearly 2 years to wear.  A friend gave me these tights and pink top not long after Princess Adelaide was born.  I discovered them the other day - she looks pretty cute I reckon!

Have a great weekend everyone!
x

Things I'm Loving...

Every year about this time - I really look forward with great anticipation - to these:



I dunno, maybe it's the novelty of pulling the things apart segment by segment and devouring them - but I am certainly eating a tonne while I'm pregnant!!  I will truly feel sad when the season ends!



My wee sidekick.  We sometimes fight over who gets to eat the mandarin mummy just peeled.  When I offerred her the first fruit of the season, she loudly proclaimed "NO, YUCK!!!!!"  Until she saw you could peel them apart - then she remembered how delicious they are!

To be honest, I'm feeling a tad sad that in just a few short months she won't be my one and only anymore...  (apart from the hubster - who is of course the more important one and only).  We have a lot of fun together and I totally adore her - particularly when she's not stamping her feet, screaming "NO".



This is "us".  We lovingly call each other "goose" at times like the above.  It was raining and windy so we pulled out the dress up box and got a bit entertained.  I hate it when he pulls this face for photos - which is pretty much all the time.  He is my hero.  I love our secret little world of "us" that no one else can get into or invade.  I love that he believes in me and my dreams.  With his craziness, he truly puts the "oose" in "goose".

Enjoy life everyone & have a great weekend!

Things I'm Loving

Making these from scratch - several batches - some for us, a whole lot to give away



The best part, of course, was smothering them in butter and sharing them with two special friends as our Good Friday tradition....



More makings.....





Turning this space



Into this... (which has been almost 2 years in the making)...



We've had the dishwasher sitting boxed in our lounge since August 09.  Finished the main renovations in the kitchen, so now, it's installed!  Perfect timing if you ask me.

Also loving....

• plenty of chocolate!!


• sleep in's with hubby till 9.30 (because miss 'almost 2' was at Nana & Poppa's for the night)


• late night drive thru mc'ds


• Long weekends which feel like a very much needed mini holiday

 

Don't forget to think about the real reason for Easter.  Jesus gave everything for us.  It is well worth celebrating!

x

I've gone and done it now....

Life will never be the same.......

Miss "almost 2" now knows the sound of that truck, whirling its greensleeves tune all over the suburb.



she took the bottom off the cone and ate that first....



 Then promptly told me she was "all done now" leaving what is above remaining...



I put the rest in the sink - and hot water wouldn't even dissolve it.... oh dear!

Things I'm Loving....

Just a few pics from some of my most recent ventures....  (a few from a couple of weeks ago).

I'm still recovering, so most of these are things I can do at home...

Home-made finger paints, feathers, glue and beads..... as well as leaves and herbs for brushes...



The finished product....



 Washing up with warm bubbles and towels (we almost had more fun with the water)



Turning balls of wool into this.....



which included the first ever booties I've made -

and - these -



 latex gloves... confession is - I've been a bit freakish since being sick - so I have used these for some things (like eliminating my house from 5 bunches of old flowers from hospital)....

windy, cheeky and rugged fun -



ps. it was a warm sunny day when we did this

x

Things I'm Loving

So I'm joining in with my beautiful friend Paisley Jade in Things I'm Loving....

Honey Oat Cookies - these remind me of this icecream my mum made when we were kids!  Recipe at bottom....

[caption id="attachment_265" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="YUM!"][/caption]

 

This amazing lady - she is my Oma.  She turns 80 next Sunday.  She is one of the most beautiful and courageous women I know.  She has so much to tell me.  I have recenlty been making an effort to see her once a week - and I am so rewarded by this special time... and she loves it.

[caption id="attachment_268" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="with her great grandbaby - my little miss"][/caption]

 

These are in my garden!!  I grew them - yes I'm amazing!! (haha)

[caption id="attachment_267" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="pretty pink hibiscus!! might paint this someday..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_266" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="sunflower remnants - the plants have one big flower, but then produce all these babies!"][/caption]

I got out my crochet hook earlier this week...... ready for winter -

[caption id="attachment_264" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="The first hat I've made that actually has NO mistakes! YAY"][/caption]

And buying this - in preparation for some teeny-tiny hats for a teeny-tiny I'm expecting in August :D

[caption id="attachment_263" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="loving the warm earthy coloured wool!!"][/caption]

I'm also looking forward to a few things:

• 
  
  celebrating a special little girls 1st birthday next week


• 
  
  Young Mum's night out with my girlfriends TOMORROW!!

 

Now for the recipe:

Honey Oat Cookies - Edmonds cook book

125g butter

1/2 c sugar

2 T honey

1 C flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 c rolled oats

Method: cream butter, sugar and honey until pale.  Sift flour, cinnamon and baking powder and add to dry ingredients.  Add rolled oats and mix well.  Roll tablespoon amounts into balls and place on well greased oven tray.  Flatten with a floured fork.

Bake at 180 for 15 minutes or until golden.

YUM!!  they'd also be nice with choc chips in I reckon!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Festival of Lights

So, if you want a holiday in an amazing city - where over summer they run a 6 week long festival - with family friendly entertainment EVERY NIGHT, activities for kids, an amazing park, friendly people and nearly everything is FREE - FREE - I kid not.... I do recommend New Plymouth. 

[caption id="attachment_231" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="the girls danced to the excellent singers...."][/caption]

My brother and his family relocated there a year ago - and to sum it up - apart from being away from their family (her's are in Ireland, his are north NZ), they LOVE it!  I was told of free sausage sizzles, free entertainment, free parties for kids with face painting, the free zoo...... lots to do!

[caption id="attachment_232" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="the beautiful changing colours waterfall - amazing"][/caption]

Each summer from mid December to end of Jan, they host a 'Festival of Lights' - where the features of their main Pukekura park are lit up. 

[caption id="attachment_233" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="dragonflies on the bridge..."][/caption]

It means a late night, because it's only dark enough around 9.20pm, but it's definitely worth it.  Even miss 1 and miss 2 got a good time out of it.

[caption id="attachment_234" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="punga tree..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_235" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="this had these pirate birds, making a heck of a noise, good times..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_236" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="wow"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_237" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="this is the reflection in the lake of the actual feature - hanging above"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_238" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="palms and ferns..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_239" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="and my favourite - the 3D balls and ultra violet lights"][/caption]

Holiday adventures....

We went away for a week recently, for a wedding and to catch up with family who live far away. 

[caption id="attachment_220" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="practising for her big day ;-)"][/caption]

Here are some highlights (haha) for all you mums out there......

It was a typical family holiday.... it rained with the remnants of cyclone Wilma the first weekend.  The wedding day it just poured, so it was quickly changed from a beach wedding to indoors.  There was flooding and slips and major roadworks along the road on our way to Hamilton then New Plmouth.  Lily vomited all over herself, her blankey and her carseat.  It was a beautiful day the next day, and she was sick... ALL DAY.  She was better the following day - it RAINED all day.  We left for home on Friday, got stuck in rush hour traffic which took 2 hours to get from South Auckland to Albany.  We left for Whangarei, another cyclone was making its presence well known, so we turned back.  We turned back again on Saturday morning, when thousands of others were trying to make the same trip north and the main part of State Highway 1 north was closed.  We finally got home at 9pm that night after a long detoured drive north.

Thankfully, our animals were all alive and well fed.   Our house was intact and tidy (thanks to my epic cleaning spree the day before we left) and our car made the trip!

We really did have a good time.  A sense of humour on holiday meant that we found most of the above chaotic things funny.  Here are some real highlights....

I got to play/dance/read-to and hang out with this princess....

[caption id="attachment_221" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="my beautiful niece"][/caption]

 

I met for the first time, and got cuddles and loads of grins from this handsome little man...

[caption id="attachment_223" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="gorgeous nephew!"][/caption]

watching cousins play...

[caption id="attachment_222" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="People actually thought they were both mine.... and that I was crazy! (they're 8 months apart)"][/caption]

we killed some time on Saturday at Auckland Zoo...

[caption id="attachment_224" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="the zoo! oh, the Harris' - at the zoo"][/caption]

 

We got a visual treat at New Plymouth's festival of lights...

[caption id="attachment_225" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="waterfall - it changed colours...."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_226" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="ultra-violet lights and 3D balls!"][/caption]

 

That's all for now... stay tuned for highlights of the zoo and the lights over the next couple of days - got some awesome pics!

Hope you're all good out there!

We're all going on a summer holiday.....

So we as a family, are going away for a week.

Most of that will be galavanting the countryside....

Tonight, we hit Auckland. Tauranga tomorrow..... Hamilton Monday..... Tuesday brings us to New Plymouth and Friday brings us somewhere on the way to home...

We'll be going to weddings, catching up with family and meeting the new nephew for the first time.  Promising for a good post on my return!

Ciao!

Weekend in the City!

oh the life of a mum!  I've been exhausted lately, no exercise being done here this week.  Miss 1 is running a fever today.

At the moment, I'm surrounded by people with desperate needs - and my heart of compassion longs to reach out and touch them all.  If only I was a super-woman.

On the weekend, we had a much needed trip away - and saw some beautiful things.  Highlights....

[caption id="attachment_175" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="My husband's client built, and owns this marina"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_176" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="a beautiful day for a child-less meander..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_177" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I snapped this of the city from a moving vehicle..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_179" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="a beautiful wedding...."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="the simplicity, was breath-taking"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_178" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Istanbul street pizza... Turkey in Auckland City"][/caption]

 

 this very available, handsome man, is my brother! (in law)

[caption id="attachment_181" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I found these people.... hitch hikers....?? hehe"][/caption]

 

Summary, YUM food, great company, special family, high-rise hotel, adventures - just the two of us... good times.

[caption id="attachment_190" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="he hates it when I snap pics... I do it a lot"][/caption]