"Akaroa...have to buy here!!"

A 3 day weekend = a quick trip over to Akaroa for lunch!

Now I absolutely love, love, love this place, it is so peaceful, so tranquil & just absolutely beautiful & amazing. I love how you can go over there on a busy day & it doesn't feel busy, you can relax, sit back & enjoy everything around you.

We wondered in & out of some shops for a wee bit then headed to the Monteiths Bar "Bully Hayes" for lunch - we had Cod Burgers with fries - they were delicious. Not too badly priced either. We really enjoy going to Monteiths Bars/Restaurants - we frequent the one here in Christchurch in Avonhead. Have been to the one in Hanmer Spring a couple of times (they do a really ice garlic bread on ciabatta bread = yummy!!!)

It is so nice to be sitting by the beach & enjoying the magnificent God-created view of the Akaroa harbour.

After wondering in & out of a couple more shops - sorting scoping out for Christmas presents but not really trying - though we did find a mouse mat with a matching coaster with lovely cars on it for Simon.

Then we grabbed an ice cream & sat on the beach near this little wharf.

Simon took this cool photo from under the above picture wharf - it looks so peaceful - one could just sit under there & enjoy their current read or lie back & listen to music. 

Simon skipping stones

After our ice-cream we decided to tiki-tour round the harbour to the other side - to Wainui. You get an amazing view of the open mouth to the Pacific Ocean. Spectacular!!!

View of Akaroa from Wainui

This cute little church is situated in Gebbes Pass - a fun route from the Akaroa road to the other side, Lyttleton Harbour. We've passed it on a number of occasions but finally stopped to take a photo. I think if we hadn't of gotten married in Woodbury this may well have been the option to have used. It's so quaint nestled away in the side of the hill - nicely remote.

Simon took this photo as we headed out of the Lyttleton tunnel (which runs through the Port Hills)

It was a great day and I cannot wait to get back over there. It is such a great wee place & I do believe we will likely buy a holiday home there before we purchase land/house here in Christchurch. If we ever win lotto that would be our first purchase.

"Is it Saturday Yet?...."

Mona Vale Homestead

Yes it is. Saturday of a 3 day weekend for Labour Day on Monday. YAY!! I love this working concept of having public holidays off. While it was nice to be paid time & a half on public holidays when worked, I have to admit it's much nicer to have it off & to chill out & relax. So that is what I did today.

Pretty much nothing! While my Husband studied I lay on the couch, caught up on some TVOnDemand, read a blog, did some cross-stitch & yes of course got the washing done. A pretty successful day of nothing. And I really enjoyed it. It is quite nice to just laze about & not do a hell of a lot really. I haven't got a list of stuff to do & thought why not.

I did go for a wonder to Mona Vale Gardens after lunch for some air. It was very windy today, leaves & seedlings & everything being blown around.

A Red Rose

Mona Vale was really quite stunning in the sunshine. Sitting there you can hardly believe there is a bustling city surrounding it all. I remember sitting in the central library in the city, studying & amazed at how even on the wettest day in winter the city still bustled. It's what makes me love this place. Christchurch will not look the same again after the 10,0000+ earthquake/aftershocks it has had but the heart of it still beats & it will look amazing once again (when people in high places get their act together - but I won't go into my opinion of all that now).

After Jane Seymour perhaps?

Mona Vale Bathhouse

Avon River through Mona Vale Gardens

Tomorrow Church with some other house work thrown in there & then Monday a quick wee trip up & over the Port Hills to my favourite place in all of NZ AKAROA!! We'll nip over there for some lunch & no doubt plenty of photographs.

Finally watched 'The Hobbit' this weekend, I some what enjoyed it. Not so involved as the LOTR trilogy but not bad. I'm still curious as to how Peter Jackson has made such a small book into 3 movies. Split into 2 maybe but 3?? Oh well shall wait & see what happens in the following two. No doubt though it'll probably be a year until I watch the 2nd one on DVD. Who knows?

Ta ta for now..... will share Akaroa soon. Enjoy your weekend...!

"So there's an Us...."

20/10

20th October 2007 is when it all started - well it was warming up before then but this was the date when it all came to a head. When Simon said to me (after a slightly awkward talk) said '...so there's an us..." and the rest is history - now we're married & working & enjoying life together as it was meant to be....

1st Flowers from Simon

Simon's Graduation Dec 2007

Moeraki Boulders Jan 2008

1st Anniversary at Mount Cook

Our Engagement

Married now!!!

!st Wedding Anniversary Flowers

Maruia Springs - 2nd Wedding Anniversary

So on Sunday we've been together for 6 years...

"It's the Weekend... they're coming around quick..."

Hello!!

Today is a lovely sunny, spring day here in Christchurch. The expected temperatures are 20 & 21 degrees respectively, for this weekend.

So far I've done the washing. It is always a get up & get it done first on a Saturday. It's one of those OCD routine things of mine that I just HAVE to do before I can get on with anything else.

The washing our drying

As usual I have written a list of things to be done this weekend, I do this every weekend but more often than not, only the straight forward or must be done things actually do get done. But of course I tell myself I WILL get it all done, so this weekend is no exception.

Taj Mahal Cross-stitch

What I've done so far

I will endeavour to stitch some more of the Taj this weekend. I'm really liking the shades of oranges/peaches for the flowers along the bottom of the reflection. And the couple of shades of green just offset it all nicely.

I thoroughly enjoy doing cross-stitch - I take it to work to do while on my breaks.

Last night, while popping into the Warehouse to look for a nerf throwing thing (my husband has this idea we'll go throw it around the park this summer - this could happen....) we happened to walk past the baking area (whoops) and cam across this great little accessory that I had to have. 

It is a muffin corer - an awesome find, once you've cooked the muffins you use this to scoop out the centre a bit to then add a filling of your choice. I was quite stoked with this find, as I've quite liked the idea of adding fillings to my muffins but when I have tried the filling has just sunk to the bottom of the cupcake/muffin pan, therefore not having the desired effect. This'll be great because a teaspoon does't do the trick either. I'm not sure though when I will get around to using this. 

Among other things listed I have my Theophostic chapter to read & questions to answer. I've been studying Theophostic Prayer Ministry this year, along with receiving it and it is quite simply AMAZING. It is Christ bringing peace & truth to lie-based thinking that we all have. It is effective, I love the feeling of peace that washes over when Christ's truth has come to the ultimate lies I've convinced myself of in my younger years, that have just been built on through my interpretation of events. (we all do this - every single one of us). It is fantastic!!

Well that gives some idea of my current thinking for this weekend. I am hoping to blog a bit more regularly than I have been (considering I have been nagging a friend to update her blog on building their home that they're now in - so I must practice what I preach). I want to make it a bit more real is well, not just for when we go away or do something 'fun'. I do love reading blogs of what people actually get up to. 

Enjoy your weekend everybody. And I hope you too complete your lists of things to get done.

Take care...

"What have you been up to lately???"

.........................It has been quite awhile since I wrote an update, I'm quite terrible at this blog thing...............

So what's been happening of late. Well my husband has stopped working and gone to CPIT to study a graduate diploma in ICT. So while we have dropped to one income & had to tighten our belts a little/somewhat (ie I really must not go into shoe stores - but the catch 22 of that is that I need to replace my summer sandals that Dad's dog George ate in March = dilemma). However, the upside is that I am actually getting on and doing other stuff, stuff I've been listing to do for quite sometime.

Finance wise, we're doing pretty good, my husband gets the odd days work at his previous job, which is really good, because it means he isn't committed to set hours on a weekly basis and can say no if he has too much on study wise and were managing reasonably well  on just my wage (if this was a year ago it would be pushing it, probably not do-able but as I am now in a better paying job, thanks to God's grace & blessing, it is okay to do this now).

As mentioned it's lead to me getting on and doing my list of activities from this post. In fact I have completed the India scrapbook - it still has some finishing touches to be done but I've actually done it. I'm quite pleased with my effort with getting things done. The list still has a few things on it, but I have 8 months to get it all done.

Front Page of India Scrapbook

All pages - they're double sided

I was quite pleased with my effort in starting & completing it all within about a month - it is the biggest of the ones I have listed to do.

Spring Blossom

Spring is of course now in full swing, with warmer & longer days (yay - daylight savings has been & gone), of which the first indication of spring is blossom in full bloom. So we managed to finally grab some photos of the beautiful trees before they turned green. They looked just stunning.

Blossom Trees along Harper Ave in Hagley Park

And I've gone ahead & bought a couple of cross-stitch kits. The Taj Mahal with it's stature reflecting in the pond that runs in front of the wonder. Which from my very first blog we have been to see & have the photos to mirror the cross-stitch. I also bought a third cross-stitch, a Me-to-You teddies wedding one, with two little bears sitting on a swing. I saw it  a couple of years ago when I first went hunting for a wedding cross-stitch & put on the list to get, so I finally managed to get one a a good price from the UK.

A couple more projects

I have started the Taj Mahal cross-stitch, about a quarter of the way through it. I take it to work & sit on my breaks doing it. A lot of colours in it, less of large areas of one colour, more of the colours across & running into each other.

There we are an update. I do apologise to anyone who may read this blog on occassion for long delays between writings. Sometimes not a lot happens or goes on. Hopefully this summer will bring more things to share with you all.

"Our Wedding Day..."

Well I went into the The Drawing Room this afternoon to pick up some black card to add to a photo album & it reminded me & enthralled me all over again, the fun I had in planning our wedding day. How much I would so do it again & in do so again have our invitations produced through the Drawing Room.

So in thinking about this & reliving it in my mind;s eye I thought I would share our day with you all.

Simon & I were married on 11 January 2011, a Tuesday in the middle of summer. The date chosen over getting married at the weekend.

I/We spent all of 2010 planning & spending our way towards our day and I personally enjoyed every minute of it. Our Pastor said to us in the early stages "to enjoy the cappacino moments", something I whole-heartedly encourage all wedding planners to do because once they're gone, they're gone. Every part of planning it was documented too. A friend put together a scrapbook for us capturing the main points of the lead up to the month before our day.

I had lists & lists & lists, everything broken down into sections, months, final weeks, days & hours.  Every part was close to perfection & looking back I wouldn't change a thing.

I started looking for my dress on line, I remember having finished uni at the end of '09 & after having a drink with a friend, I was walking along Riccarton Road & realised that I could actually go into that bridal shop opposite & really have a look at things. So I did & so began the hunt for my wedding dress.

"The DRESS!!"

I officially started trying on dresses exactly one year till the wedding at Wilkin's Bridal, Cashel Street Christchurch. The second lot of try ons was at Brides of Merivale - this one started out with the idea that it wouldn't come to much. I looked at & tried on about a dozen dresses, but it was dress #11 that had possibilities. I tried on dress number twelve but went back to the other one. And it stuck. I'd decided that my decision on dress would remain a secret until the day, even from my bridal party. The one person who did know was Emma, who also played my mother-of-the-bride, her opinion I knew I could count on to be honest & direct. She was great.

I continued to think & think about "The Dress" over & over again; so in June I went & ordered it. After trying it on again of course. I was so in love with it. Even now when I look at I still love it, such a pity I can't wear all the time.

The rest of the year pretty much fell into place. As it went on I checked off lists. Even though not all things got done when I initially planned for them to do so but they did all get done. Every single thing. We got the invites stuck together & sent out by the August that year. We even type up an explanation sheet on how every thing from the invites down to the martini glasses on the tables all tied in together.

To give you an idea the invites were black with pink inlet, on top of a frame of grey/silver & tied with a white ribbon. The black to symbolise the black morning suits the guys wore & the dresses the girls wore, the grey to match their waistcoats, pink to symbolise the colour of the sashes with the girls' dresses & guys' ties to match (these we had made through Chantilly's at a place in Wellington at a really great price). The pink ran through into the pink buttons in the martini glasses which sat on pink table sashes draped with pink organza ribbon. The martini glasses were from James Bond, the only movies we can consistently agree on to watch.

All in all I enjoyed the planning & executing the whole thing - it was worth it all too, because the day was fantastic & thoroughly enjoyed by all, but especially us.

Doing my make-up

 The Day....

The day started early, though I slept well the night before, no nerves be cause I knew I was making the right decision. It was a misty morning but soon cleared. I was up & showered before everyone else in the house. I sat & enjoyed the peace.

We girls' got ready, it was great getting ready with my best friends & adopted sisters. Loved it. Shared a glass of wine, I monitored the progress of everyone getting ready. I got my hair done, then while the Bhavi & Kylie had theirs done I did my make up. No point paying someone to travel to our location when I could do it myself. Out MC popped round to get his final instructions. I got ready bit by bit, returning from the room with something more added, shoes, then necklace & earrings. Kylie & Bhavi got dressed first & between Emma & I we sashed them up. 

Emma lacing me up

Then it was my turn. I slipped into my chosen white dress & Emma laced me up. She started out with her jacket & shoes on but as we went on they both came off. Not too much of a mission but definitely worth having a lace up dress.

Phil helping Simon with top button

While us girls were getting pretty, the guys were getting handsome. Simon, along with Phil & Bryan were getting all dressed up in their suits. His friends had kindly cooked him bacon for breakfast & taken Simon out for Sushi for lunch. Other than that I can't really report on what happened as I wasn't there, go figure :) But I do know they arrived at the church when they should, as did the Pastor, who had been told our church was in Timaru when asking for directions the day before when coming to the rehearsal.

While the men were at h church with the musos setting up & Terry, our Pastor trying to practice to say my middle name (which he managed somewhat okay), us pretty ladies headed to my Aunt's garden for photos. After the photo shoot, we were on our way. A quick stop in the middle of the road for another photo op for me & we were at the church and not late.

The ceremony involved songs "Today is the day" & "We Declare", vows, declarations & prayers. We had some of the musos from our church come down so we could have live music. Wish though we could've had the drums, but oh well.

Photo taken by Steve - Husband of Simon's friend Nicky who came out from the UK to share in our day.
I loved this photo after Steve had put it on his Flickr account, that I waited to plan our Photo Album until I had their disc of photos.

After the ceremony we had family & friends photos outside the church. The bridal party went to Stonebridge (our reception venue) for group photos etc.

It was a fantastic day. The evening ended with dinner at Stonebridge. The tables were named after Formula 1 Grand Prix circuits. The head table been named after "Monaco". Dad started of the speeches, followed by Simon, Bryan, Bhavisha & then me. I had the last word of course :).

Simon & I had a friend design a dance for us to our chosen song "Leather & Lace - Stevie Nicks & Don Henley". The evening finished with a bit of dancing. Did I mention we even chosen all the songs to be played leading up to the ceremony, before during & after dinner.

I loved every bit of it & totally, thoroughly enjoyed the entire day.

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into the fun of planning & enjoying our wedding day!!! I know I sure did :)

"30 in 30 on 30"

Last month my wonderful Husband turned 30 on 30th June and I quite literally planned out the entire month for his birthday. Right from the 1st day on Saturday, Queen's Birthday weekend.

We took a wee drive south to Peel Forest, which is a wee village outside of Geraldine. Literally there is just the forest for taking walks, a cafe/dairy & a school. I packed together a picnic lunch, after finding a picnic blanket with the Union Jack on it, which was way cool. Simon's comment when he saw it was "they could see it from space". We enjoyed our picnic lunch in direct line with the sunshine, despite the cold. It was a fantastic day.

I also promised to make his sandwiches for work each day and to take the bins out each week for the duration of the month.

June - entirely planned out.

I decided o do this from about mid-April and spent May planning it out and finalising it, right down to mini lists for each of the more adventurous days/evenings.

The days that followed involved little gifts and on the 10th & 20th something more. Little gifts included Yorkie Bars, Double Deckers, cans of Dr Pepper, Sherbert. I made dinner a couple of times (which in our house is a rarity as Simon cooks dinner most nights - I'm not really a cooker). The first night I cooked on Tuesday 4th was Lasagne with salad & homemade garlic bread. I put the salad in ramekins to make it look a little more exciting and lit candles round the kitchen & lounge.

Gift Card - homemade

With each event or gift it came with either a gift tag tied/hung round it or a gift card, which would say a little message, explain out the event of allude to the evening's plans.

Gift Tags decorated & written out

I took Simon out for dinner & movies, up to Victoria Park for Ice Cream (though it was raining that night so we parked up to enjoy the view of our city at night). A couple of times I went out & got Moro Bar Cheesecake from Coffee Culture (which if you are local and haven't tried it, you must, it is melt-in-your-mouth amazing).

Simon had mentioned, that if he did do something for his birthday to celebrate, that he'd have a dinner at Styx & Stone at Northwood. So I organised that too, while he knew about it & chose the guest list & agreed to the invitations, I sent him an invite too. We held this on the Friday night before his birthday. It was a lovely meal with family & close friends. I also had a cake sorted too (from Divine Cakes of course). A chocolate mud cake with "Happy Birthday Simon" iced on it, with "30" number candles. It was absolutely delicious.

Simon's own personal invite to dinner :)

On the Saturday I took Simon over to Akaroa for the night. We stayed at the holiday park up on the hill & had a great view of the harbour, through the trees. We arrived mid-afternoon so enjoyed a relaxing earl evening, followed by pizza & chips at L'Hotel down by the water. Even in the middle of winter Akaroa is amazing. I feel we can never stay long enough (have decided we'll definitely have to purchase property there & as soon as possible). We walked out onto the wharf afterwards, pitch blackness + freezing cold, while wrapped up warm was just lovely.

The next day "B-DAY" Simon was 30....

After checking out, we strolled around the area, drove along further round the peninsula to where the marae is situated. Then parked up by the lighthouse & walked along beside the bay. It was such a lovely, mild winter's day.

Akaroa Lighthouse

My Father, Step-Mom & Brother happened to pop over to enjoy lunch with us (I'd arranged this of course). We had lunch at "Bully Hayes" - the Monteith's Bar there, which is just another example of how excellent these bars are to dine at.

View of the Bay from our Accommodation

The presents: well Simon was well & truly spoilt this birthday. He ended up with 5 bottle of whiskey, all different, both Irish & Scottish. I bought him a Seiko watch & had it engraved. Having received some pounds we finally purchased the James Bond 50th Anniversary book set of all the movies on Blu Ray from Amazon, which once we'd received was definitely worth getting. So now we'll start watching them from Dr. No all through to Skyfall.

One of the other great presents he received as the 30th Anniversary edition of Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' on vinyl.

Overall it was a fantastic birthday & I know Simon really enjoyed it all. I thoroughly enjoyed planning & executing out everything for his big birthday.

"New Accessories...."

Within the last month we have acquired a couple of new things for the lounge....

Our first new acquirement was this great set of Chair & Foot stool, which we ordered from Mocka. It was a quick and easy assembly, that was delivered within 2 days of purchase. The Red is just amazing, I think his will be a theme through out entire house (a compromise from not being allowed anything pink - red & white).

A fairly good sized set, if we had room would definitely get a second, may do in the future.

The second accessory for our lounge, is a heat pump FINALLY!!! We managed to get the landlord to have one installed and boy does it make a difference. Power bill is much the same from when using the heater. We run it 24/7, it is so nice to get up in the morning with no chill in the air and then to come home after work, darkness nearly upon us and the house is warm. It's fabulous.

While our little place is getting somewhat more crowded, we're warmer and have extra seating - perfect!

Blog to come next month: Husband's 30 things in 30 days for his 30th!!