Hannah's Ramblings

Hair Do I'm TOTALLY Over-Doing

2011-08-29T19:23:00.001-07:00

The bun.

Seriously, I have a mane of hair... Exhibit A:

and little kids.

Read: Fingers that like to pull hair. Or which are sticky. Or both.

I really ought to be more creative, but I'm thanking the GODS that this up-do bun thing is all the rage.

Throw on a bow and it looks like I cared.

I'm totally overdue a hair cut (but I go mental after hair cuts) and have one booked for Sept 10. I've decided (but things change) that I'm ready to do SOMETHING to my hair that is more than a trim. Watch this space. Or not.

Have, Want, Need

2011-07-18T20:38:00.000-07:00

I just bought (Have) this rug for my kitchen area

I eyed this up at the same store but didn't like the price tag... so I want:

and I really need to clean this gunk up in the cupboard I store the cleaning products...

Which I did. I'm not that filthy.

But in all honesty, the WANT part is the thing I think most about...

Haves and Needs are good and a must, but WANTS tend to stick around ya brain the most huh!

Floating around in Shoe Heaven

2011-06-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

I'd forgotten what it feels like to walk away with not one, but 3 pairs of shoes...

For no reason other than shoe love.

I didn't go in for shoes.

But somehow the gravitational pull got me.

And got me good... Despite being a US6 foot size, I had (yes I was forced) to get the only pair left in the animal print heels. A 7. I'm hoping shoe inserts make them fit me, because I couldn't leave them behind...

To be honest, I have NO idea when I'll have the chance to wear them as I tend to be a 'flats' girl but I still dream and imagine myself wearing them none the less.

This pic is blurry I'm afraid, but these wee wedge heels are more practical and I'll definately get wear out of them. From the front they look like a suede pump but they have the wedge heel. Love them.

And these floral shoes were too cute to resist. Easy to walk in too. All the little girls in my Mothers Group think I have pretty shoes so that's a win (Yes, I take my fashion advice from 3 year olds). They're what I call ugly cute shoes. Floral has come back in a big way for me!

Now it's time for SPARKLES

2011-06-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

So I shared with you my love for all things Animal Print yesterday...

Now it's time to share my new(ish) delight with sparkles! My inner little girl has come out I think. Once upon a time I'd have stayed VERY clear of dimanties, sparkles and anything 'girly'... but I'm changing. Subtly. Slowly. It all depends on if the sparkles are done right. In just the right way that appeals to me.

It all started with these ballet flats. They were definaetly the turning point.

This was my outfit today. Looks pretty standard, nothing particularly noticeable... especially with the poor quality iphone pic and bad lighting in my bathroom...

BUT, at the bottom of my skinny jeans were these flats (of course):

On my ears were these sparkly hearts:

And the detailing (subtle) on my black singlet tank was.. you guessed it.. Sparkles!

Something about sparkles in dark colours has got me hooked. I'm not into pink or purple or any such nonsense... just dark and edgy. Maybe it's that naughty but nice element??

Ever the rebel ;)

I don't do things by halves... My ANIMAL PRINT obsession

2011-06-14T01:58:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm heavily into Animal Print and Sparkles.... I've been into animal print for some time - my sparkle obsession is fairly new.

This post is just a way to share some of my favourite animal print things!

Now I have a LOVE for shopping, but I have a LOVE for bargains. I hardly EVER EVER EVER pay full retail price for any item. I pass things up easily even if I love them, if the price tag isn't right. So the following things are all found on my Hannah Budget...

That IS pink leopard print pj pants paired with tan leopard print slippers.... Granted, that's a whole lot of MEOW but I found those PJ's for $12 and I couldn't resist! That's animal print layerered upon animal print. It's a good thing I like things tacky!

I love this animal print summer dress. Very simple. Comfy. Lightweight. And was a bargain in a sale rack! (obviously)

My swimsuit sports the leopard print top over the chest area.... As soon as I saw this I had to get it. It was at a Clothes Swap party I attended (every girl takes 10 items and we get 2 mins to pick out an item at a time etc). These are fabulous parties to attend. Good food, wine, chatting and you come away with clothes you love (while getting rid of the ones you had tired of!). So in essence, this swimsuit was FREE.

My head scarves. The above one I scored for $1 at a garage / yard sale! Woot!

I wear my tank tops constantly. They make an easy option - just layer with a cardigan and I'm good to go!

These two tanks/singlets were both from SUPRE (kinda Forever21 type shop). They were $4 each in a sale rack. Worth every $

The $5 rug I scored from The Warehouse (In a sale... in case you haven't worked that out. Down from $40 I think... noice)

and if you hadn't noticed it sitting there on the vanity, my cosmetic bag.... Which will be very handy this upcoming trip

What can I say? I get a bit over the top with things I love (STORY of my life). In fact, there is MORE to be bought, more to be sourced and more animal print for me to own!!! The fact that Mink Zebra/Cheetah animal print blankets were on sale here in NZ for $29 and I didn't buy one (cos I"m saving for my USA trip) shows what utter restraint I had. Cry me a river seriously! I've regretted that decision but it was a 1 day sale.... You live and learn!

RRROOAARRR

Is it for you? or do you find it gaudy/tacky? You can't offend me so don't worry :D

Falling in love with a polish you once hated

2011-05-17T03:14:00.000-07:00

Does this happen to anyone else?

I hated China Glaze For Audrey back when I first tried it. View here.

Then I reached for it this week. And whadya know??? I liked it!

With flash:

Without flash:

I suprised myself. I must try more of the polishes I'd assigned to being for my toes...

I didn't get away with it...

2011-05-06T03:10:00.000-07:00

Remember this post, where I put on a fabulous pink creme polish without using a base coat???

Yea well...

The nails got stained. That'll teach me.

AT LEAST the pale pink colour looks 'healthy' so I added a layer of China Glaze Moonlight to make it look 'milky pink' colour on.... That was a tip from my friend Miss J. Cheers for that!

You can see I've put the creamy layer on the pinky and ring. It did make it look like I had a pale pink on rather than the 'dipped in red food colouring' thing I had going on.

I must've needed a reminder to

ALWAYS USE A BASE COAT (Nail Tek Foundation II for me!)

The WINNER of the Karmin Flat Iron is...

2011-05-06T00:54:00.000-07:00

Momtodc!!

The winner of the Karmin G3 Salon Pro Flat Iron was drawn using the random name picker "THE HAT"

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I will contact you to get your details!!

THANKS TO ALL THAT ENTERED AND GOODLUCK NEXT TIME!

Last Chance to Enter my Giveaway (for Flat Iron)

2011-05-04T00:54:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder to people that the giveaway closes tomorrow.

Last chance to enter!

Enter Here

My weekend in pictures!

2011-04-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

Hangover Food:

(Hannah healthified version of course, coming in at under 400cals)

New Slippers...

I love all things tacky and animal print

(Miss Ann if you're reading this, a pair of these in your size (I got you L) are making their way to you in Canada with a few other things. Here's hoping you love all things tacky and animal print too ;) ) xx

$5 Dress

Who needs short shorts if dresses suit me more....

2nd Hand Shopping Toy SCORE

This Little Tikes Mountain Playset retails over $100!!! I got this for $19. WOOT

Fascinated with Fascinators

2011-04-30T01:43:00.000-07:00

and all things Royal (Grand excuse for an alcoholic tea party I thought!)

I sipped my vodka out of a tea cup with my fellow Royalist friends as we watched the wedding all unfold.

Yes, Beatrice's hat was awful - my friend Miss J had a positively elegant hat in comparison that she picked up for about $3. WIN Miss J. FAIL for Beatrice. Perhaps that was the plan all along...

Hmmm.

Anyhow, I wore this fascinator for fun, but yanno what!?? I think I LOVE it and shall wear it to all future occasions. And I'm a fan of the red lips too. Why don't we dress up like this more often?

Some more photos from my evening...

Quirky, fun, themed parties are the best aren't they? Can't wait till the next one...

5 days wear is not bad people, not bad...

2011-04-26T00:47:00.000-07:00

That cheap $2 CR Hot Pink polish I blogged about 2 days back finally chipped...

But I'm happy with 5 days wear. This stuff held up so well (showers, washing dishes, constant use/cooking).

Gonna be my top favourite Pink. I'm over polish that chips the first day. I'm gonna be all about LONGIVITY now.

I'm a busy momma of 3- daily manicures are a luxury!

Feel the LOVE people

2011-04-25T04:30:00.000-07:00

Feeeeel the love, for 2nd hand, patent navy, T-bar Wedges... That are in AS NEW condition.

For $8

I'm feeling the love. I know it's approaching Winter here, but these will come in handy for my holiday to the states and I doubt they'll be dated by this summer. Do wedges ever date? No.

I'm constantly shopping at our 2nd hand shopping outlet here in Wanganui and many a time I'm told "I can never find anything there".

Seriously????

It's a treasure trove. I never leave without some score. In fact, I get nervous mentioning I shop there in case all of a sudden I have all this competition from all the Wanganui folk making a mad dash there ;)

This cheap CR polish just won't chip!

2011-04-24T02:12:00.000-07:00

Plus it's making me happy to look at it - so bright and cheerful. I've been ignoring my nail polish the last wee while, I think this is going to change!

CR No name HOT PINK from Coin Save (next to Burger King)
$2
Brilliant thing is, that this is day 3 and I've had showers and loads of dishes and it hasn't peeled.
*Whispers* (And I didn't use my base coat or top coat either....)

GIVEAWAY: Karmin G3 Salon Pro Flat Iron

2011-04-21T04:29:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I received a Karmin Flat Iron which I blogged about here

I LOVED it. LOVE it. <3 it.

Is that enough ways to spread the LOVE?

ANYHOW, good news!! I have been contacted by them again and HAIRTOOLS has one to send to ONE OF YOU GUYS, which I'm thrilled about. It really IS a great flat iron.

What you will receive:

you can find more details at the following link:

http://karmin.ca/karmin-g3pro-wh.html

I've personally been using this flat iron for a while now. It makes my hair silky, frizz free and glossy. Seriously. For Realz. The proof is in the pictures as seen in my original post.

And the bonus is that it heats up in like 1 sec! Which is ideal for a busy mother like myself. When I just want to flip it thru my bangs, I can do it and get out the door in less than 10seconds. WIN.

THE RULES:
They can only ship to USA or Canada - Boo hoo for my New Zealand readers :(
You MUST be a follower of my blog and you MUST also 'like' their facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karmin-Hair-Tools/139756419422514

To enter, please leave a comment with your email address so I can add you into a Random Draw. One entry per person. Extra entry for 'retweeting' the giveaway link (provide your twitter name in your comment for me to verity). The winner will be requested in private to provide their facebook name so that verification of the 'like' can be made. You can find their facebook in the link above.

GOOD LUCK!

The draw will be done 2 weeks from now - Thursday (NZ Time) 12am, 5th May and I will notify the winner as soon as possible :)

My Favourite Things

2011-04-21T03:01:00.000-07:00

(Right now that is)

* Indian Cooking
* Ballet Flats with Black Skinny Jeans
* Darker Shades of Lipstick
* Watching "I used to be Fat" & "Biggest Loser"
* Running
* Sleeping. Being in bed. Lazing.
* Oranges that are juicy and sweet
* Kisses from Mr10mths
* The roaring fire
* New PJ's and Slippers
* Merino wool

I'm NOT into:

*The current price of petrol
* Jersey Shore
* Early mornings - broken sleep
* Housework - never ending
* Whinging children

And speaking of Whinging Children, I've had quite a clingy Mr 10mths the last couple of days I'm just LONGING for a tooth to pop thru so I can write it off to teething.

Good thing he's still quite adorable....

You can't beat $10 ballet flats

2011-04-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you Farmers. (For all non-NZ'ers, Farmers is our equiv to Macy's)

You met the brief.

*Sparkly - TICK
*Affordable (On sale for $10) - TICK
*Comfortable (Meaning I can wear them while lugging my Mr10mths everywhere or during a Ben10 battle with my Mr3 -quite a common occurrence in my house)- TICK

2 THUMBS UP by Moi

I don't often pay full price for anything. It ruins my enjoyment of finding a score to be delighted with. If I paid the original asking price for these flats ($39) I wouldn't be looking down at them with a smile on my face. I'd be viewing them entirely differently and I'd be anal about making sure I never lose a sequin... Who needs that?

New crushed metal earings

2011-04-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

For all you Wanganuins, you really have to get yourself down to Trafalgar Square on a Thursday. There is a lady who sets up a table outside the Number1 Shoe Warehouse with earrings/necklaces/bracelets.

I am in LOVE with most of the earrings. All light-weight crushed metal type earrings. I also love her long necklaces with pendents like Owls, Birds, Charms, Watches. Very cool. A lot of brass type colouring which I love. I can see myself hunting her down should she not be there on a Thursday. NB: SHE ONLY TAKES CASH. Actually, it's kinda good she's only there on a Thursday as it minimises the damage I could do. This is good.

Anyhow, her necklaces are about $28, but the earrings $13 or so. I got this pair for $13. I'm going to go back next Thursday to get an even grander pair. I wanted to see how heavy they were on my lobes. They were hardly noticeable! I've worn them twice now. Once with a dress with my hair up to a more 'formal' occasion and then to a less formal occasion with my hair half down. I think these earrings work best when you can see them. If I was wearing my hear entirely down, I'd not have worn them.

Anyhow, here they are: (don't ya love my montage of pictures getting closer and closer and closer to the earrings for more detail... I thought I was a clever chook)

I threw that pile of clothing in the corner for effect....

Simple but nice. I'm a sucker for big earrings.

and it can be said I'm also quite partial to Mr H too ;)

Bringing Hannah's Ramblings back to life

2011-04-17T20:08:00.000-07:00

Yanno, it's so much nicer to clothes shop when you are smaller and the clothing looks better. Just Sayin'...

Now I have 45+ pounds of lard off me I'm rediscovering all the joyous things I used to enjoy and used to blog about. So while Hannah's Reductions is still going, I can see myself wanting to get my Hannah's Ramblings back up and going.

I feel better about myself therefore take the time to look better and therefore, I am rediscovering the excitement one can get when one gets:

*pretty shiny new things
*pink things
*shoes
*nail polish
*earings
*dresses
*has a good hair day

etc etc

Remembering that I choose to blog about certain things in my life I choose to share (and that these small glimpses into things I enjoy don't define my character), I will get back to writing trivial posts about how much I love things such as a new pair of heels... Superficiality is ok in moderation don't you think? :P

It really does make a change from the groundhog days I sometimes have and distract me from the insaneness that can sometimes hit me while I'm running a household with 3 colourful boys.... and one Mr H.. all while trying to look good, keep fit and have fun in the process!

xx
H

A Gift From an Old Friend & a Stroll Thru Memory Lane

2011-03-02T17:53:00.000-08:00

I am always astounded by the generosity of people whenever I receive anything due to a connection via the blogesphere/internet. It's so heart warming.

Today I went to collect my mail and saw a package in there. A book gift from an old highschool friend of mine, who now resides in Canada, and who has a fabulous detailed book blog you can check out here. She is a talented writer along with being a fabulous person. All her book recommendations have fitted me well, and she should see that despite my very very limited book collection (I sold most of my books) I still have the very first book of a triology she got me HOOKED on. She'll recognise it when she see's it :)

This new book she has sent me should be one I'll be wanting to put alongside this, it's apparently THAT good.

'The Tea Rose' by Jennifer Donnelly - you can read my friends review of the book here. Although I'm planning to get thru it in 2 days, it sounds EXACTLY the type of response I want it to have on me... Bliss. You see, she warns that it renders you incapable of functioning in daily life until the book is finished... suits me fine as I'm off for a rendeveux to Wellington for 2 nights while Mr H has a work conference. I plan on taking this book. And wine. And little else.... I will come out of my cacoon simply to be wined and dined by Mr H when he returns to the hotel at the end of each day. Match made in heaven. It's not often I get the time to read books - kids really put a damper on that hobby!

Thank you greatly Ann. I really appreciate. I also thought this was the perfect opportunity to take a little walk down memory lane with you ;) (I bet you never realised I had some of this stuff)

This is my friend Ann. Age 12/13. At our first 'dance'. This is obviously Ann in her days of NOT being a fashionista, but alas *cough*, I don't fare much better in my photos either. I love the colour on you Ann, and may I just say that collar just makes it... It really is ... striking... HAHA. Omg, the things I've saved. I (again it shows you that I'm not much different now) scrapbooked, journalled, diary-ed EVERYTHING. I have books on my years at high school. I've cut out pictures of all my friends, kept the notes that were passed in class - I have them. In a box of stuff I can't get rid off (tho I sold all my fiction novels). These things are sentimental to me, and I love a good chuckle at all of our expense! It truely is hilarious to read the things that were so important to us at the time.

Remember this magazine we made in 3rd form (year 9). J'AHK - which stook for Jenny, Ann, Hannah and Kelly. We thought we were sooooooooooooo cool going to Raglan and photographing cute boys...

One cute boy (he really was very yummy) made it as the 'cover' of our magazine (which was a school project)

(Kelly, Jenny, me, Ann). Oh my Gawd. This was the jeans and baggy t-shirt days. I was chubby. Good times.

It makes me smile to see the content of my journalistic input. I'm writing about recycling items in your wardrobe and fashion (what's changed) and Ann has serious content about animal testing and whale fishing.... Yep... that would probably how it would go today ;) (if you are interested in reading or viewing closer up you just need to click on the picture)

I was also wondering why I got to keep the magazine... then I saw that it was because I pretty much 'put' it together. I was always a whiz on the computer and creating layouts and bloglike stuff. And I was a touchtypist. What's new?? I'm so typecast I realise into my adult years. Seeing the effort I put into documenting thing reminds me of blogging. It's not that much different, just a different framework of technology.

An example of the 'serious' matters we encountered together. One particular bad one was known as "the hairbrush' incident. Our good friend Jenny has long red hair, and would often brush her hair throughout the school day. Somehow or another (and the details are hazy 17years on (OMG SAY IT ISN"T SO), her hairbrush ended up in a mud puddle and Ann and I were to blame... tho it really was a joke gone bad... We got a telling off. Oh the intensity.

I documented this, like I documented most things in my life (I live in a glass bubble.... it isn't just facebook that makes me do this it)

Ann & I discussing the incident.....

"does my typefont look cool"? hahaha. OMG we are funny as 13yr olds aren't we. There was no Justin Beiber. There was "hey I've changed my writing style... me so cool"... I think I was trying to write like you Ann... I got it way off.

Bet ya reading this blog post makes ya wanna get into my circle of friends huh huh???? You know you want to. I've always been this ~~lame~~ cool. It's obvious. I'm also so very glad I put (me) under my own name, lest I forgot that....

PS: Kelly, if you read this, I have some CLASSIC journal entries I wrote when you started dating Matt (cos I was so heartbroken for 24seconds as I'd crushed on him)... Quite hilarious to read now as a happily content married woman but I can't say you were my favourite person at the time ;)

I can't believe it's been that long since were were at school...
Anyhow, I am getting a little bit sidetracked. I really wanted to say THANK YOU for the book. It's been nice to have more contact lately. You remember why you were friends in the first place ;) Facebook me your address and there will be some goodies that may or may not have pineapple lumps involved coming your way very shortly...

xx

2nd Hand Wardrobe LOVE

2011-03-02T00:13:00.000-08:00

I could not walk away from this either.... first shoes now wooden wardrobe.

BUT I truthfully had been keeping an eye out for a free standing wardrobe for our hallway for some time. We have just one inbuilt cupboard in our house (we live in a villa, which doesn't often have inbuilt storage closet space). 2 out of our 4 bedrooms don't have wardrobes.....

So there was a real need for a wardrobe / closet down the hall for me to use to store our linen.

AND I fell in love. Has only taken me 8mths to find one that was in my price range and which I loved. I only buy 2nd hand furniture if I LOVE it, otherwise I walk away. It also has to fit the feel of our house, which is a renovated Villa. Think tall ceilings and wooden floorboards in areas, so it had to be something that was of the right look to fit.

It's not perfect - it's missing part of the trim on the side and has had a bit of borer at some stage, but it's perfect to me!

Swoon!

New Shoes

2011-02-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

How could I resist? I had to have them once I saw the price tag (on special for $14.99NZ ($11us)...

I'm a sucker for shoes... even tho I wear flats during the day because of the young kids, I still feel the pull for heels!

6 days to come up with a Fancy Dress Costume...

2011-02-09T12:46:00.003-08:00

Inititally I had thoughts of going as Snooki - from The Jersey Shore. I'm short, have the long hair and thought it *could* be funny.... till I was trying on the clothes she would wear (errr I look like a trashbag... probably the whole point).

I'd do it IF the party I was attending wasn't a 50th - no doubt none of them would even know who she was and I'd just look like a hooker. Ha. I don't watch The Jersey Shore, but I've seen her in the tabloids and on the news (does E news even constitute as news?).... AND also, it didn't help my love handles were showing :D - Damn my hips ;)

There was no theme for the party so I could come up with anything.

I've decided to go as a Fallen Angel. Or you could call it a Goth Pixie. Whatever you wanna call it, I'm dressed all in black.... lol. I like to have a play with makeup and it's an excuse to do something funky! Plus it's cheap - all I needed was a wee black skirt and these feather wings:

Aren't these wings fabulous?!! I can't wait for them to arrive. I'm hoping today!

I bought this skirt:

To go with this top (which I already owned) and which is flowing so hides those love handles much better:

I am pretty happy that I fitted this skirt. It's fairly small! And I have the confidence to wear it. The black stockings help. I'm not a fan of my legs without stockings on yet. Plus I'm as white as they come. The stockings can hide 100 sins.

Throw on some stockings, boots and jewels and I feel organised!

I had a play with my makeup last night and decided to go with the RIGHT eye (when looking at me):

Ha, you just paint the eyeliner in your natural 'smile' wrinkles and it takes 20years off ya ;) Think I'll wear this look everyday.... WHO NEEDS BOTOX?

I'm no makeup expert so I think I could perhaps make them a bit more extreme, but I don't want to muck it up. This was pretty simple and easy. I was considering false eyelashes but I think I'll leave them. No doubt they'll fall off or I'll muck it up and regret it.

Not 100% sure how I'll do my hair. I'm thinking frizzed and teased BIG hair.... OR, a slick tight high ponytail - maybe with the Gwen Stefani Rock Poof. Ideas anyone?

If I had a crimper I'd perhaps do a mixture of straight, teased and crimped hair.

And the hoop earings may need to be replaced with black huge feathers or something.... which I don't own. SO it all depends if I can find some that aren't to expensive (and if I have the time).

If you had just 6 days to come up with a costume idea for a Fancy Dress (I got the invite Monday), what would be your ideas?

China Glaze Secret Periwinkle on Short Nails

2011-01-16T15:27:00.000-08:00

I wore this quite some time ago, before my #3 baby was born and when I was rocking super long nails! OMG I'd forgotten how long they were until I checked out what this colour looked like on them for comparison.

http://hannahbananasramblings.blogspot.com/2010/03/china-glaze-secret-peri-wink-le-letting.html

Anyhow, I haden't worn it since then, and randomly reached for it when painting my nails this week. OMG, I fell in love AGAIN. Seriously, this colour can do no wrong. It suits my skin tone, it's a refreshing blue without being 'blue blue'.... It's opaque in 2 coats. Lasted 5 days. Brilliant. On my short nails, in this beautiful summer weather, it looked more 'blueish' than when I wore it in the winter. Depending on lighting, it does switch from bluish to grey bluish/purplish (BLURPLE)

Here is what it looked like on my super short nails - which I am considering growing again now that Mr7.5mths is getting older. I won't be so scared of scratching him during nappy changes because he is one tough moving cookie! But I don't think I'll grow them as long as I had them. Looking back at past pictures I'm thinking they were encroaching on 'talons'...

Ahh I just love this colour. Think I may just go and put it back on (wearing purple at present, but it's chipped).

It's so nice when you get to fall in love all over again huh!

Something I've learned in the last month (Blog Starter #3)

2011-01-14T01:18:00.000-08:00

I've learned that you can't have a portable steel framed home pool without it costing a lot of money...

Sure, the pool costs $200. Score.

Then factor in:
Fencing
Chlorine/Treatment
Council Consent Fee
Bolt for door, plus 'self closing' latch
Ladder for pool

AKA, the stuff you have to do in order to have the pool up to council regulation, costs WAY more than the pool itself.

I'm thinking maybe the trampoline would have been the better idea lol.

Ahh well. Still loads of fun and that's priceless right?

Something that makes me happy... (Blog Starter #2)

2011-01-13T00:13:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in a blogging challenge where topic starters are given. It's to encourage blog posts when the creative juices aren't flowing....

I wrote my first one yesterday (on my weight loss blog) regarding what would be in my purse, but from now on I'll stick to writing them on this blog. It is afterall, a place for my ramblings.

So, something that maks me happy:

A bath.

Warm. Deep. In low lighting, with candles. A.L.O.N.E

That last bit, the ALONE bit, has to be the best bit. No pressure, no demands, no requests from any of my little people. :D
Preferably for a minimum of 30 mins too.

Ahhhh Bliss. High score on the happy radar.

Are you a bath person?

My KARMIN Hair Flat Iron arrived.... in WHITE!

2011-01-11T17:18:00.000-08:00

Why is it that anything that comes in either
a) Baby Pink
b) Zebra/Leopard Print
c) White

is THAAAAT much cooler than it's 'normal' coloured counterpart?

I was happy to have my Karmin G3 Salon Pro Flat Iron arrive today, but when I saw it was in white?? I may have done a happy dance. Maybe. The fact that this particular flat iron is one of the best top hair straightnersaround was overshadowed for just a second while I drooled at the white colour. Awww, it matches my iPhone.

Is this a sign I need to get out more???

Anyhow, moving on.

The straightner arrived this morning while I was enjoying my morning coffee in my pj's and robe. I'm super pleased the courier man delivered it to my side door and knocked - and that I didn't need to sign for it and risk anyone SEING me. Ahhh. Let's just say it arrived at the perfect time. I looked a mess. I had bed hair. How fitting I could try out the flat iron RIGHT AWAY. I popped on a Dora Explorer episode for Mr3 and set to it. I don't get a lot of time and I wanted to see how this worked.

Firstly, I liked the sleekness of it. Very easy to hold. On/off switch with a red light to show you when on. A dial for heat temperature setting. I have course/thick hair so I can have my setting high. This puppy heated up in less than 5 seconds. NO WAITING around at all. I did spray my hair with protective spray as I would always do, and then set about to straightning this: (Me first thing in the morning... haha..)

I did 1 inch sections at a time. Just once over. I didn't need to clamp down superhard like I do with my current (now obsolete) straightner. It worked a charm! And actually, I totally did see my hair looking way more sleek/shinyafterwards. I wonder if that's what using good plate does... I'm guessing yes! The info on this flat iron say "The ceramic plates are infused with tourmaline which together work to produce more negative ions. Negative ions work to seal the hairs cuticle for smoother, frizz free results as well as lock in moisture, protect color and add shine to your hair". I would have to agree.

This is my hair half way. You can see it has straightened it a lot, and I have way more length on my right side. My hair easily covers my boob now (hehe, I measure how long my hair is by how far past my boobs it gets. I could SOOOO be a mermaid).

All done:

This is my hair at the end. It took me 15 mins - Dora Explorer was still on.... unfortunately (Gawd she has a horrid voice). I didn't go super slow. I was definately pleased with the results. I wanted straight hair and I got it. I'm next (tomorrow) going to try using it to curl/wave my hair to see what result I get. I love beach wavy hair (I have hair like that naturally usually, but I get frizz as you can see in my before pics, so I'd like to use the iron to get the same result de frizzed). I love having a new toy to play with!

Now.... I'm contemplating whether I should be packing this for my camping trip. Yes I'm in a tent. But we have power. Oh the Dilema! ;) I know I probably shouldn't.... buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut

JENNA: If you are reading this, did you take YOUR straightner on your trip? and if yes, did you use it? lol

Oh, and GOOD RIDDENCE to my old flat iron. So long peice of crap!

Disclaimer: I received this product for review, but the comments and opinion are my own.

5 mins from my door

2011-01-05T01:53:00.000-08:00

Is this:

That's us, in the distance. On a beautiful sunny day. It's summer here so that means most days are sunny. Sooooo hot.

We live in a city that has 3 beaches, all within 5/10 mins of where we live. This is my favourite because it has a river mouth leading into the ocean and this is where we play. I don't have to worry about the young ones in the waves or going deep. We simply play in the ankle deep river stream!

Holidays are bliss aren't they?

My Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T02:43:00.003-08:00

It's 11pm Christmas Eve and I hope to get this post out and dusted and in bed by 11.30pm, so I'm pretty much leaving it to pictures to give an overview of my Christmas Eve 2010! Since I live in New Zealand we wake up to Christmas Day while most of you are waking up to Christmas Eve!
So with Christmas being a holiday that really does feature a lot of food, let's just assume my day involved a lot of cooking/prepping...

You can't have Christmas in New Zealand without a Pavlova. Which is basically egg whites beaten with caster sugar until stiff (with some vinegar, vanilla and cornflour for stability). Slow cooked. Think soft merringue inside with a crispy outer shell. DELISH.

It takes some time to beat it tho - you gotta have some patience. I have a pic of me holding my bowl of whipped egg whites over my head. It won't move one iota!

(I really do have whipped egg whites in that bowl

Of course I made a traditional pasta salad - always a favourite.

and I made a beautiful mild curry Wild Rice Salad (Thanks Carolyn)

Isn't it so colourful? I'm bias of course, but it tastes devine. Gee modest much Hannah?
My baby unfortunately gets his Christmas lunch in a pulp. Next year it will be much more exciting.

Tho as you can see, it's not alllll that bad. Some pumpkin, Carrot, Courgette and Ground Beef, pre pulp ;)

I made Brownie

(as well as the little holder I put it in)
By 4pm I'd have enough of the kitchen (I'd made other things not pictured here) that I went out in the rain and wind for a 40 min walk. It was bliss. I so needed that walk - to relax. To think. To be alone. Sometimes walks really feed the soul.

I also got to hang with my brother who lives in a different town 4 hrs away. He bought his 'home brew' with him - which was very tasty I must say. This is his "Would you like a glass of home brew face" - I captured it perfectly.

This is my husbands "Why Yes I will" response

I had another treat for me when I was at our family Christmas Eve gathering in the evening. My nearly 7mth old baby fell asleep on me. This hardly ever happens now. Very rare. He must have been particularly tired as it was early and he should have been 'awake' and perky. I made the most of it and cuddled him for the whole 30mins he snoozed. What an early Christmas Pressie for me. <3

This little face is oh so precious to me

The Santa Sacks are all placed in front of the tree - I think I can hear Santa now!

Oh My - I totally just had Santa in my house! Crazy! I went into the lounge and saw the milk gone, and the cookie half eaten (maybe he's on a diet?) and the sacks are all there. There is even a present for Mr H and myself! Ooooh Thank you SANTA!

So with that, I bid you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS! (Eve for most of you when you read this). I can't WAIT to wake up tomorrow and watch my kids enjoy the day! Oh - and eat a slice of Pav!

I'm turning into my mother...

2010-12-17T16:05:00.000-08:00

She used to wear cheesy xmas earings and xmas colours. And I swore I'd never do that. Ok, so I'm not likely to sport cheesy singing santas from my ears, but I am TOTALLY into wearing Red/Green and sporting the festive colours for every xmas related function.

Do you dress in red and green for Christmas? Do you have a Christmas Day outfit?

Something about playing dressups and enjoying the fun it entails has come to me after the age of about 23. Before then I thought I was too cool for school (most likely self esteem issues) and was pretty borning. Now I love ANY excuse to play dressups! I don't care how silly I may look!

I've even contemplating finding one of those awful knitted jerseys with kittens wearing santa hats on. You know the type - the ugliest christmas sweater jersey.... Yea, I want one! Maybe I will be rocking singing santas from my ears in 10 years afterall!

Finding my inner pretty

2010-12-05T02:16:00.000-08:00

Something happens when I wear red lipstick. Something happens when I wear a dress. Something happens when I wear my hair down.

The first 2 things don't happen very often but this is going to change.

Blame Mr H for the blurry pics ;)

*sigh* I looked at this pic and thought, WHY is the laundry door open in this shot. Ha! At least my bucket looks colour co-ordinated. Totally planned that. And that chair. Not.

I am on a journey to find my inner pretty. My feminem side. My soft side. Pretty dresses - both modern or vintage. High waisted skirts. Mary Jane shoes. Bows for my hair. Floral prints. Things in chifon. These things make me feel good yet I can't say they've been staples in my wardrobe. I think I didn't have the confidence to wear them.

Aren't these wee bows just sooo pretty?

Is it possible I'm a nicer and kinder person when I wear a dress? I've heard that on many 'dress loving' blogs.

My kids seem happy to see me in skirts and Mr 7 tells me I look pretty when I do. Mr 3 comments on my 'dancing shoes'. I get more compliments too - even when I think I look more chubbier in a dress. I can hide my body shape in jeans more than a dress. A dress usually highlights my wider hips, or thicker legs, or larger and softer upper arms. But yanno what? I don't give a rats ass. As I'm losing weight now, pants and jeans are forever getting too big. A dress tends to fit over a range of sizes. When a skirt is too small, I high waist it. When it loosens, I change the way it sits and pull it down. There is just something about the way you feel like such a girl, especially when I don my apron and greet my husband when he comes home from work. And I can sex it up a bit by wearing heels ;)

Do you FEEL pretty? Do you think it's even important? I have lately been drawn to quite simplistic types of dress - and of how pretty 1940's women looked. You don't need a lot of makeup when you wear red lipstick. That's enough (along with some mascara). Maybe they were onto something? Because the 2 mins of time I get to myself to get dressed does allow me time to put that on. I'm hoping it distracts from the undereye tired bags!!

I was *almost* tempted to chop my hair to shoulder length because my hair down often 'hides' pretty necklines. Baby Steps. Once I finish losing all the weight I'll decide if I want to do that. My face shape will be more defined then and I'll get a better picture of how I'd suit that. But otherwise, I think I will go with shoulder length (above the shoulder tho) bob that I can curl!

Any skirt and dress lovers out amongst you all?

Defrizzing my Mane... with a Karmin Titanium Professional Flat Iron!

2010-11-25T13:04:00.000-08:00

As you know I have long hair. And I have a lot of it. It's not that it's particularly thick - it's just that I have a good head of hair on me. I'm not complaining tho, and admittedly, my long hair is one of the things I love the most about me. I'm a tad attached to it, and every trim or haircut usually leads to a few days of over the top "did I do the right thing" self torturing... :D I have issues. Hair issues.

Buuuuuuuuut it does mean I have to take care of it. At least attempt to. And being a busy mum = not always getting longer than 5 mins to do that. Yes, I tie it up in a top knot on the top of my head, simply to keep it out of the way of little sticky fingers, but otherwise I really like to wear it down. I have a natural wave and like most hair, I get a bad case of frizz. For years (ie at high school) there was nothing I could do about this. And then came hair straightners. Ahhhhhhhh, what DID we do before those? I know I could never wear bangs/fringe because the kink in my hair would cause my bangs to split and go out sideways. Not a good look. A hair straightner allows for this, blunt bangs. YAY... so many more looks are acheiveable!

I was contacted by the company that make the Karmin Titanium Professional Flat Iron – Rated #1 Best Flat Iron, and offered the chance to review it. More flat iron reviews can be read here (just click the links). And here she is in her glory: *Drools*.

I'm excited to review this for a few reasons
a) I have a lot of frizz to my hair and this iron is meant to reduce this and not damage it. It is not meant to pull or crease the hair. WIN.
b) my current hair straightner is a peice of crap... Sorry Tresemme, but you are. The plates have browned /burned and I can see the damage to my hair. Plus it heats up so hot that I can't really hold it properly or use it to make my hair curly. FAIL.
c) I've never reviewed a product before, and I love trying new things. Especially products that are relevant to myself and what I'm into.

So keep your eyes open for when I get it and can show the word my (hopefully) lovely, silky, glorious mane! It looks like a great product! The amazing benefits of Titanium combined with ceramic and tourmaline makes for one of the best selling flat irons on the market! And I get to try it! WOOT.

***
It's probably about now that I need to add a disclaimer to my blog like most of the other blogs I read. This is where I put the super small print that says all comments and reviews are my own, but the product is sent to me. :D hehe, can you read this? Am I a bit of a moron for being happy I need to put this here? Most likely...

A small make-up storage idea (for lipsticks)

2010-11-21T01:18:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd share how I store my most used lipsticks!

I take a simple business card holder plastic container, then I pop my lipsticks in with their labels showing. That way I can see what lipstick I want without taking the lids off.

The container is the perfect size for storing them 2 wide!

Just a little simple idea I thought I'd share in case anyone else had a business card holder floating around!

Am I developing a nervous habit? Polish Picking?

2010-11-15T16:41:00.000-08:00

aggggggggggggggggggh - what has become of me?

I had on this "Bourjois Parish" polish called "Bleu Mysterieux #32 for about a week. It wore very well - very minimal tip wear and no chipping...

TILL I CHIPPED and PICKED away at one nail. Why? Why? Why did I ruin my nail polish by doing that? I haven't picked my nails like that for ages.

Am I developing a new nervous tick?

Gotta try and overcome this new urge to pick my polish off.... cos I gotta admit, once I'd picked it off this nail, I then let loose and starting picking at all of them! And it hadn't even worn bad, I should have just left it alone...

The polish was a creme, the colour was 'almost black' blue. Techincally a blue but it didn't really look like a blue at all. I wanted a dark colour last week and this fit the bill. I prefer these almost black colours over an actual black. Suit my skin tone more but give off the same illusion.

I was impressed with the formula, 2 coats. And I was impressed with the wear. In the top pic where I show my bare nail where I picked it off, you'll see cuticle growth and minute tip wear. That was after about 6 days of wear..... Pretty good....

Do you pick your nails?

I'd cook just to wear this apron!

2010-11-09T23:09:00.000-08:00

Doesn't this sweet wee thing make you want to grab your wooden spoons and whip up a batch of cookies????

My sister gave me this for my birthday. I LOVE it! It's got the pintuck detail on the bodice, front pockets and a flared skirt - very 1950's. I feel like I could step out my door to find a white picket fence wearing this. It looks like a dress!

I wore this today making dinner while Mr H played soccer with the boys. I felt quite the domesticated goddess, enjoying this gender role moment!

Better late than never!

2010-11-09T00:17:00.000-08:00

Here are a few old Nail of the Day pics of 2 polishes Selina from pretty clever sent me! I'm so far behind with my nail polish pictures! They are terrible pictures, as I wasn't swatching.

Barry M - a vibrant purple creme. 2 coats. There was no name to identify this polish! I wonder why Barry M don't name their polishes!

OPI - "Puerto vallarta violeta" - a pale creme with a slight shimmer. 2 coats. Long lasting! Lasted nearly 4 days on me without chipping! I loved this for it's neutral go with everything capability and it's flattering tone!

Fashion Trend I'm Loving Right Now

2010-11-07T15:12:00.000-08:00

The SHIRT!

Simple, comfy and can be dressed up and down! Wear with black footless leggings and you're away!

NOTD - I am LOVING this neon corol/orange

2010-10-26T01:50:00.000-07:00

We have a new store open in Trafalgar Square called the $1,2,3 shop... yep, you guessed it, this cost $3

I liked the look of the colour in the bottle (confession I liked the shape of the bottle too) and decided it was worth a try. I'll go back for more now that I know the quality is ok and the coverage great.

This is #28, a no-name brand with the $1,2,3 logo on the front of it. It looks slightly more pinkish in the bottle. However, once I realised it was a neon coral/orange and saw it against my skin tone, I forgave my expectations of a more pinkish coral.

2 coats.
Creme.
Easy to apply - no cuticle mess at all for me!

Neons never photograph for me, so imagine that this has an extra bang on neon-ness to it!!!!! Definately notieable from a distance!

Do you show cleavage? or legs? or neither?

2010-10-21T00:51:00.000-07:00

I have this thing where I think it's ok to show one area... but no more.

If you want to show off your legs in a short dress, tight mini or short shorts, by all means, go for it! But I wouldn't have cleavage out... I'd just show off legs.

If you wanted to have a cleavage enhancing top on, that's fine by me, but I'd pair it with jeans.

Why? Well, I kinda think it can look a bit hoochy/tacky to have too much skin showing. But I'm not against showing skin. And I'm meaning for 'every day' - not a ball gown or cocktail dress where it's ok in my opinion to show both ;)

For me, I don't particualrly like my legs. So you can gather that I tend to go with cleavage if I'm going to show skin. I'm comfortable with that. God gave us boobs and I don't think I need to wear turtleneck skivvys everywhere. Of course I don't go crazy to where it's like I'm walking out the house with no bra on and a tiny tank, but I do wear tight clothes that show shape, or wear tops that have v necks, or have cleavage... or I'll wear strapless tops, etc.

I know others may not be comfortable with that, but then they may wear short shorts or mini's - and I'm not comfortable with that.

But I am turning 30 in 8 days....

Tell me, am I too old to show a lil cleavage? am I past the age where this is appropriate?

This is a fairly modest peice of clothing in my opinion, but it has a mesh overlay up the top....

Is this too much visable boobage for you? My Mum doesn't think so, she likes this top. But I have a couple of sisters who would say it was too much boobage. And I have friends who wouldn't show any cleavage themselves - not that they're against me doing so. I just think that we live in a small town like Wanganui and perhaps they don't see that many people showing a lil cleavage... I reckon if I was living in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch - or LA, California or London - then this would be positively modest in comparison.

So I'm curious what others think. Is this too much?

Do YOU show anything?

My blog taking ages to load...

2010-10-04T02:52:00.000-07:00

This blog (not my other blog, my Hannah's Reduction one loads fine) takes forever to load for me. I'm impatient. It's annoying me. Hence I'm not posting here much - which isn't that bad considering I'm preoccupied with my other blog at present. But I want to know if this blog takes ages to load for you too. If you leave your comment below letting me know if it takes ages to load, semi loads, or loads quickly, it will help me know if it's an issue with my computer hardrive/space, or something like html I have loaded on my page...

Thanks in advance!

What makes you feel attractive when you only have 5 mins?

2010-09-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

I was reading a blog entry a facebook friend shared which has tips on helping you feel like a 'hot mommy'.... it got me thinking about the things I do because they make me feel more attractive. Some of the things on the list I did but not all of them. And then there were things I do, which weren't on her list.... The list had 'wearing mascara' as a staple, whereas I forgo that and reach for lipgloss....

So here is MY list of things I do to make myself feel attractive in a rush. Remember, these are things we do when we DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME. It's amazing what 5 mins can achieve!

My Top Feel - Good Quick Tips:

Oversized Handbags
Just great for putting in lunchboxs, nappies, cardigan if it gets hot....
A cardigan - for warmth/layer
Lip Gloss - I personally don't wear foundation on a daily basis or have time to do my makeup. Coloured/Tinted lipgloss is a MUST for me. I feel like I'm 'made' and 'completed' when I have this on..
Breathmints... (I admit, I don't always get to brush my teeth till noon :X)
Big Earings - Hopefully distracts from everything I'm not doing right...
A Funky Hat - covers many a bad hair day...
A side Plait/Braid - makes it look like I tried!
Painted Nails - A reminder that I'm doing something for myself. It makes me happy to have nice painted nails and get complments on the colour/length. If they're chipped, remove!

These are my standard things... If I have a bit more time I would do

Hair Straigtner thru my bangs
Eyebrows

What do you do on a standard day?

Trying my newly gifted nail polish!

2010-09-26T02:03:00.000-07:00

I gotta say it's nice to have a big bag of polish to try. Each time I go to paint my nails at present, I'm reaching inside the newly gifted bag of polish I received from Selena, as I shared the other day. Of course, I'm going for the ones that I like the most first ;) If there are any I'm not too keen on I'm definately going to put those aside and forward the love on!

So this week I managed to paint my nails twice. You have NO idea what a luxury that is when you have a baby. With my first baby I remember a time when I thought I'd never get a minute to paint my nails EVER again....

First up:
My first BB Couture polish! I've wanted this brand for a long time. It's all over the nail polish blogging community (what???? You didn't know their was a community of bloggers dedicated to nail polish? lol). This one was called Paradise. It nude / tawny type colour with a sometimes 'pinkish' sometimes 'purplish' tone to it. I've always had a thing for taupes and nudes so I was excited about this. To others, it must seem like a 'non colour'.

And, just like most nudes, I did like it! Easy, not intimidating neutrual colour. Looks nice on short nails and helps to give that 'manicurist' "I look after my nails" type finish. Matches everything. A+ for me.

Next I tried H&M "Miss Stone Heart". A grey cream, 2 coats. Although I thought I would love this one, because I'm a real fan of China Glaze Recycle, I didn't. I think I'd reach for China Glaze Recycle each and every time. There is a warmness to Recycle that this one lacks. Still, beautiful application. One coat! So if you're a fan of one coaters, I'd be wanting to check out other H&M colours. I know I would be if I could get them!

I'm growing my nails out again. I thought I had got there, they were semi long 2/3 weeks back. But then I broke 2. So short they went again. THIS time I hope they'll grow again - they should with the amount of water I'm drinking. *wonders if water is good for nails* - anyone know?

I created a new blog

2010-09-25T23:11:00.000-07:00

I figured I would leave this blog as it was - for nail polish, food, shopping, random, kid related entries and create a new one solely monitoring my weight loss journey I'm embarking on.

IF that is something you would like to follow, or join in with, feel free to follow that blog.
http://hannahsreductions.blogspot.com/

So now I have 'Hannah's Ramblings' & 'Hannah's Reductions' :) Figured some of my followers here don't need to hear all about that part of my life if they're only my nail polish addict type followers! (tho of course they're welcome should they find that interesting).

Fish Pie

2010-09-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

FISH PIE:

1 Large can Smoked fish/Tuna

1 Onion Diced

1 Carrot Diced

1 Cup Peas

Brine from the canned fish

Flour

Milk

Butter

4 Slices White Bread

Parsley

Preheat oven to 180C(360F) degrees Fan Bake. Fry onion in some oil (in a saucepan) until translucent. Add enough butter and flour to that to make your traditional white sauce mixture, using the brine of the can as your liquid. You still need to add milk to thin it out a bit but it forms a really nice base to the sauce. Add fish. Add peas. Add Carrots and continue to heat until nicely combined. In food processor, add your roughly pulled apart bread. Add parsley. Add about 50grams melted butter. Process that to make a rough breadcrumb. It won't be 'fine' looking - leaving it slightly thick is fine. Assemble fish pie mixture in dish. Sprinkle over crumb topping and bake for about 30mins. Voila.

This recipe makes 4 serves, with each serve 400cals roughly. That's not bad at all!!
Serve with Salad or steam veges and you have a low calorie yet nutritious meal!

This chilli lime vinegrette is DEVINE and simple for a lettuce salad!

This recipe calculator is fabulous for working out the calories for homemade items!
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-calculator.asp

Midweek Update - Weight Loss Journey

2010-09-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hey fellow weightloss journey people! :D

So I've been successful in drinking my water. I can't drink it cold, but lukewarm. Definately helps me to drink it faster. I prefer not to 'sip' it, but just down the whole glass as quickly as possible.

Everytime I've been going to the toilet, I follow that with a glass of water.

I'm looking forward to WEIGH DAY - Monday! I hope to God I lose something. Even just 100grams. I don't want to stand on the scales until Monday so it's kinda exciting waiting - just I'm anxious at the same time.

I've walked twice so far. Just a 45min brisk walk around the bridges in my neighbourhood. I am not setting any goals with that yet, I'll set the challenge for walking next week. For me, it's quite nice to get out of the house, kid free, while MR H comes home at lunch. It makes going for a walk very attractive to me. It's a time to not have the responsibility of the children, lets me walk at the pace I want, and get some 'me' time. I do need to get out with the kids but the weather just hasn't made me want to. I don't have a rain cover for the double pram so if I have Mr nearly 3 with me I can only go when it's fine. ROLL on Summer...

I'm going to post a few recipes where I've calculated the calories. I love food, and I love to cook, so as I do each one, I'm working out the calories in each thing. It will help me when I start to watch the caloric intake each day. Right now I'm doing my water, while I set/design the goals/actions needed, and next week I'll talk about how we can monitor our caloric intake.

Until then, drink up! And check back here for recipes or more entries.

Haven't I been spoilt by a fellow nail polish addict

2010-09-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

I had a courier parcel arrive today. Thanks to fellow nail addict and blogger Selina McEntee (and woot for also being a New Zealander... *insert national pride*). She is just so loverleeeee. And she blogs about lots of pretty things. And nailpolish. You can access her blog via this link

She got me a gift... This was the unassuming box with the goodies hidden by packaging (which I might add was stellar)

Under that layer was an unassuming brown paper bag...

it was like pass the parcel.

In that bag were two parcels and a card. The card was gorgeous...
the wrapping of the parcels were gorgeous (I love the design on the icecream one)... and insides those parcels were individually bubble wrapped nail polishes.

Lots of shimering, creamy, colourful pottles of goodness.

Does she get the 'A+' Packaging Reward or what!? She seriously knew what she was doing. Green cellotape meant I could open each polish up easier and not try to find it if it was clear...

But packaging aside, check out the goodies! I got a parcel of new polish all the way from the UK after her recent holiday there. And I also got a parcel of polish from her stash she had only tried once/twice that weren't her colours. How exciting. I can't wait to try them all out. I have coverted BB Coutour polish and Barry M polish... and low and behold, I got some! Out of the UK polish I am super excited to try these 3 below

New nail polish related blogging here I come!

*Mwah* Selina. The nail polish blogging community are full of wonderful people, and you are NO exception. xx

I've got some of my own stash (doubleups, wrong colour for my skintone) and next time, I'll be sending YOU a wee love parcel ;) At least I can send polish around my own country. Have you had any luck sending polish overseas from NZ yet Selina?

Water Water Water

2010-09-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

When we're thirsty, it's delicious. When we're trying to drink it as part of a 'healthy diet' plan, it can seem torturous.

Every glass seems like a struggle to muscle down.

So my challenge this week was to drink your quota of water. (Take your weight in pounds, divide by 2 and that gives you your 'oz' quota). Some sites will say we should all be taking in roughly 90oz of water regardless (roughly 2660mls), which ironically enough is about what this calculation is for me.

This poses the question from many - what counts as water? food? our hot beverages? can my coffee count as a 'water'? how about if I made it black? etc etc

So time to find the answers!

If your diet is like mine (I'm not a total reform yet despite my intentions), I like breads, cereals, grains..... there is not as much water in these foods compared to other foods, like fruit and veges. So each person needs to think about the types of foods they would eat in a typical day to gage what type of water intake they could claim from these foods. If you are a fruit loving lettuce chomping carrot eating person, I'd probably hazard a guess you could reduce the amount of 'pure water' you would need to drink by 2 glasses or so....

I've actually measured how much water our household glass holds too. 250mls is a cup. My glass holds 1 1/2 cups! So this helps. I no longer have to physically drink 10 of my glasses... just 6/7glasses. Get your cooking measurement cup and fill it with water and pour that into your own standard household cups/glass. You'll gage, most likely like me, that your glass/cup holds a lot more! and who wants to drink more than we have to :D I've also put a glass next to the sink in the bathroom. Once I go (and come on, this week is going to be an adjustment drinking so much so I imagine I'm going to be 'going' a fair bit) I aim to drink 1/2-1 glass of water after each toilet stop. It will hopefully be a good reminder for me and get me into the habit.

Anyhow, this site (8 myths about water) was FANTASTIC for providing the answers. Moderate intake of caffinated drinks are ok - but I wouldn't drink 8 glasses of those a day and then say I'd had my water quota... I'd be more inclined to allow myself 1 or 2 coffees/teas and then do my best to drink my water on top of it. But that's a lot of water!! So it's a tough slog. I'm going to really try to drink my 10glasses of pure water a day this week. I'll no doubt have coffee here and there, but I won't be counting it. Then again, I don't mind decaf. So perhaps I'll just stick to decaf coffee and that will help... With coffee/tea it depends on how much caffeine is in it, plus how much else. Hot chocolate - same story, especially if it's made on all milk. As soon as you add milk, you're adding other things too which slow down transit time. So while there is SOME fluid benefit, you can't count it all...

Read more here: http://healthyhighway.wordpress.com/2010/08/21/8-common-myths-about-dehydration/

A Weighty Issue...

2010-09-20T00:57:00.000-07:00

Week 1

The story thus far:

Time to get honest and real. I've been avoiding the camera because I don't like the way I look and don't want anyone seing me on facebook....

But I don't want to look back in a couple years time and regret not having any pics of me taken with Charlie. If I have put up a picture, it's probably just a head shot I've okayed, or I happen to be standing in such a way as I think I can pass off as being slender in it. It's getting old. I used to have no problem smiling for the camera, now I want to run and hide.

This is me at a steady slender weight. Comfortable enough I can enjoy treats but always need to exercise to maintain it.

I'd like to be here again in 2 years time....

This is me today (on a good day). Believe me, you can't see all the wobble under my shirts. I will take a worse 'before' pic tomorrow.

So while I'm not going to be extra hard on myself, I have decided that I would like to journey my progress back into the realm of slender. Not skinny. But slender. I have a pair of size 12 pants I'd be pretty darned stoked to fit into. (For those that are in the USA, I'm pretty sure a size 12 equates to a size 8). And I'd quite like to reacquaint myself with my old face. Albeit older.

My aspirations to reach smaller than that as I have in the past, may come as I get further along. But for now, this is a good enough a goal as any. I've actually GAINED weight since giving birth. 5kgs.... Each kg = 2.2lbs. I have no excuse other than it's a phase and my body likes to horde fat. It always has and it always will. I have to commit to maintainng a small weight. It's never ever been a breeze for me. I don't have a naturally fast metabolism. I'm 5ft2 and any extra weight really shows. I was chubby all through high school. I lost 14kgs (over 30lbs) after I finished high school. The weight flew off me. I was young and just changing my eating habits and doing weight watches was enough. Now I simply have to look at food and it goes to my hips. I swear I'd gain weight eating nothing but lettuce... And I gain it everywhere. Face especially. My tummy (after 3 kids) is my most horrendous area. I'm not aiming for abs. I'm keeping it real... just something small enough to tuck into my jeans so it's less visable. I am excited to not be putting my body through pregnancy again, so whatever weight I lose, I get to KEEP IT OFF. Woot! - well that's the plan. And that's why I'm going to go slowly with this. I didn't lose weight after my other children until they were over 1 year old. I don't want to wait that long to get started. If anything, I would like to HALT the 'gaining' part that I seem to be doing.

So, lets get honest. And anyone that wants to join me, sign up to blogger and join me! Leave comments on my threads to keep me updated with your progress. I'm going to be very honest! I may fail at times, but I hope I jump back on the wagon!!

MY CURRENT WEIGHT: *drum roll*

86kg... (189.2lbs)

Height: 5ft2

I've picked 79 kg as my short term goal.... anything with a 7 in front of it is getting me excited at this point!

THE CHALLENGE:

The first week of my challenge to you (we'll do challenges along the way) is this:

1 - Weigh yourself and disclose it

2 - Pick your short - term goal

3 - DRINK WATER to match your weight.

A good estimate is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. I need to drink 95oz which is roughly 2661mls of water... which if you divide by 250ml (a traditional cup measurement) = 10 glasses a day. I got this info from: http://nutrition.about.com/od/hydrationwater/a/waterarticle.htm

To convert your kg weight into pounds, multiply by 2.2. Then divide that number by 2, to get the amount of water you should drink. To convert oz into mls, visit this site: http://www.convertunits.com/from/oz/to/ml

The reason I put drink water down as our goal, is that it is an easy and simple way to start. If we set out tomorrow to exercise, eat healthier, drink water and avoid all temptation we'd fail.... or I would.

So, for one week. DRINK your quota every day - or aspire to! Let me know how you get on! Then after week 1, we'll add a new challenge and we can work our way into making more lifelong sensible choices and not some 'get skinny' quick routine.

Many of you have said you'd like to join me but not disclose your weights etc. That's up to you! I need to put it all out there. I'm sick of hiding it all. When I lose it, it'll look that much grander huh ;)

Eggplant, Goats Cheese & Pesto Stack

2010-09-18T01:20:00.000-07:00

My mother emailed me a recipe she stumbled upon on a NZ Cheese website. She said she was going to try and make this sometime....

Our email exchange went something like this:
Mum: I'm going to make this *insert recipe*
Me: Is this an invitation for me to come to dinner?
Mum: Haha, when I make it... got to get Eggplant first
Me: Well.... I can get some if that sweatens the deal... (actually, Mr H can get some to be precise)
Mum: It's a date. Your house
Me: I'll make it

Something about the recipe just shouted YUM which is suprising as no picture was with the recipe. I'm often inspired by pictures. I love eggplant tho so I think that was the draw card.

Eggplant, Goats Cheese & Pesto Stack:

Firstly, preparing Eggplant:

I thought I'd share the recipe because it gives me a chance to teach/show people how to prepare eggplant. Many of my friends don't cook eggplant because they have no idea how to do it. Eggplant is soooo good. Just a word of warning, only buy it when it's in season cos it can break the bank balance otherwise.
Eggplant needs to be salted and left to rest. The salting and resting allows the impurities to come out. It draws out the liquid. Don't be scared about using a fair bit of salt. You pat it off with a handy towel after soaking. If you don't use salt and do this process, the eggplant is bitter.

Anyhow peel the eggplant and cut into the desired slice/shape. For this recipe it was for round slices 2cms thick.

I then put the eggplant into a big collander after salting each peice (both sides). Let it to rest for 2hrs if you have the time.

You'll pool a lot more liquid out of the eggplant. Let it sit on a plate and the liquid will drain out. I only had 45mins to rest my eggplant which is ok. You need at least 30mins.

See the liquid on the bottom? That's what will happen. After you've rested it, dry each peice with a handy towel. This removes excess salt and liquid.

Next Fry your eggplant in some oil. Make sure the oil is HOT before you add it otherwise eggplant soaks up excess oil... Fry eggplant until golden both sides. Remove and soak up any excess oil via a handy towel. YUM. Eggplant like this is devine without any extra bits and bobs! But anyhow, back to the recipe!

RECIPE:

2 eggplants

sea salt

oil for frying

goats cheese (I used GOATS FETA)

2 red peppers, roasted, peeled and sliced into strips

basil pesto

1 bunch rocket leaves

METHOD:

Slice eggplants to get a total of 12 slices around 2cm thick. Sprinkle with sea salt and leave to sweat for at least 30 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels. Heat enough oil in a saucepan to enable the eggplant slices to fry. When oil is hot add eggplant and cook until both sides are golden. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. To assemble place a slice of eggplant on each plate, a thick slice of Goats Cheese and cover with a few strips of pepper, ½ teaspoon pesto and a drizzle of balsomic vinaigrette. Top with another slice of eggplant and then a few rocket leaves, another drizzle of vinaigrette and pesto. Serve immediately. YUMMO. The very top pic shows how it looked once I'd stacked it. Pretty simply but attractive.

I really want to try this with Blue Vein Cheese for that extra sharpness.

Oh, and I didn't roast my pepper in the oven. I chargrilled it on the stove in a pan, then peeled it. Same thing really....

And here is my Mum sitting in my kitchen, holding Charlie, while we sipped wine and I cooked. I LOVE doing that. You are welcome back another night Mum.... bring me some more inspiration!

Returning to blogging

2010-09-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

I feel like my life is gaining familiarity again. Routine. Predictability.

Some may hate that in their life, but I thrive on it. I feel powerless and vulnerable without it.

The first few months with a newborn are all over the place. Feeds and naps at irregular times. Eradic behaviour. A lot of time sitting on the couch breastfeeding. Life seems to go on for everyone around me, but I'm in my own wee bubble.

And then the fog lifts. And I realise that I couldn't tell you in an instant just how many weeks my wee man is (where in the past I know it down to the second) because I've stopped dreaming about when he'll be 'that bit older' and no longer need to be doing 'a b or c'. And I realise that he's gone down for all his naps no problem for the last 2 weeks and I've not had to feed him to sleep at all. And I realise that he's returned the 'evening' to me and has a set bedtime... And I can enjoy a glass of wine or two, some good food and even watch 3 or 4 masterchef episodes in a row without interuption.

And life is good.

Don't get me wrong, the newborn stage passes by so quickly and I have enjoyed Charlie the most out of all my babies because I KNOW that, but my most favourite of stages is from 3 months onward. Oh how scrummy and delightful babies are at this age. Where the relationship is a little more 'give and take', not just give give give to the baby. Does that make sense? The first 3 months is an investment and the baby HAS to come first. And it's a sacrifice I'd happily make, but boy, isn't it grand when all that hard work pays off and you can simply relax into enjoying and delighting in your baby. The rewards come in abundance.

Unfortunately tho, there is no manual into getting here. And I've learnt some mothers don't seem to care about getting here, they excel and enjoy the newborn and chaos. They tend to have more 'go with the flow' attitudes about things. I'm an over-thinker and don't like curveballs. I am always hoping and working towards 'getting here'. Tho I wish I could say exactly how I did it so I could help other women to get there if that's the type of personality they have too...

Alas, I'm there.

And this is what greets me

September Splurge - Glass Glass Glass

2010-09-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

Days roll into weeks and weeks roll into months...

and it was my turn to win the $100 Splurge money. YIPPEE.

I want to start using my splurge money to purchase things I'd not otherwise justify (either decadent, expensive non essential items) so that when I see them, I smile. And they'll last forever. Last time I got pregnancy jeans, and nail polish - which were great, but see, now I'm no longer in those jeans.... in a years time I'll forget all about them.

Sooooooo I love love love glass, and glassware. Vases, lolly jars, kitchen things... and I love baking. I'd been eyeing this beautiful glass stand for some time. I have smiled each time I've walked into the kitchen today.

I'm lucky to have a kitchen layout that allows me to have things like this. You do need decent bench space. I've since baked cupcakes to fill the container and filled the lolly jar with lollies (candy). I am a happy woman. I love that I get such satisfaction for seemingly small purchases - wouldn't it suck to have to buy a boat, or a car in order to feel this way?!!

We had a huge earthquake in New Zealand...

2010-09-07T19:57:00.001-07:00

On saturday morning, 4.30am, a 7.1 earthquake struck. I felt it in my city (Wanganui). I was up feeding Charlie at the exact time and heard it first, then felt the house shake and then watched as the door I had left ajar for some light, sway as it faded. It wasn't particualary bad. I went back to bed once the feed was over and wondered if Mr H had felt it and thought nothing more.

Then I woke up to the news.

The reason it wasn't felt so bad in my city, is because it was felt HARDER in the city it struck with it's full force. Christchurch. If you know New Zealand, you'll know we have a North and a South Island. I currently live in the North Island. Christchurch is in the South Island. For me to feel it in my city is a demonstration of how serious it was. I have lived in Christchurch myself so I know the city well. Mr H and I just recently came back from our vacation there. It is very weird to go thru our holiday pictures and know that many of the landscapes are now severely damaged.

My heart goes out to Christchurch - which is being rocked daily by aftershocks. 30 aftershocks a day. People are feeling anxious, scared, tired. Schools are closed, roads are blocked, the central business district is down. Flooding is still happening, sewage pipes are not repaired. There is no power or clean water for many. 30% of people will lose their homes. I'm amazed no-one died.

This above photo..... well.... Mr H and I stayed in a hotel right at this point. This is cathedral square. I'm pretty sure that hotel was evacuated.

Mr H and I also 'punted' down the Avon River...

This is directly opposite the hotel we stayed at.

Many of the heritage buildings (which there were many) have been badly damaged and will be torn down. Christchurch was rich with these types of heritage buildings... it's such a shame.

But a big YAY to our infrastructure and the fact that were no casualties. It could have been a different outcome.

Wishing you a speedy recovery Christchurch!!

Thing I'm into right now... (Baby Wipes Case!)

2010-08-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

I just had to have one of these - and they are SOOOOOOOOOOO easy to make!

I got one off ebay to see exactly how they were done. It is simply a HUGGIES Travel Wipes Case. Then you pick your fabric, ribbon and any embellisments you need. Oh, and a glue gun/glue spray. You can 'pad' it out by putting some quilting padding on the top part of the case prior to putting the fabric over. Then you glue the fabric on (one part for top, one part for bottom). Hide the ends of the material by gluing ribbon around the outer edges. VOILA! Easy as! And you can add beads, bows... anything! I'm definately gonna obsess over wipes cases for the next wee while...
If you can't be bothered making them yourself, I got this one above off ebay and had it shipped over from the USA for approx $12NZ.

Baby in Red

2010-08-15T02:27:00.000-07:00

Time is positively racing by.... Charlie is 10weeks in this picture (now 11 weeks).

I'm obsessed with baby hands... not so much the slobery, drool infested hands of other babies, but with the tiny (chubby) fingers and nails of my own offspring. Nothing melts me more than his wee fingers wrapped around one of mine, or sprayed out on top of my chest while feeding. It is precious.

Thought the red for my nails today went well against his bodysuit....

This is Sally Hansen Royal Red Creme. 2 coats. Nice application, very nice brush. Must buy more Sally Hansen. My friend gave me this (not your colour Jenna?). I haven't worn a red for a while and I love it. I have always liked red on short nails. I'm excited for summer as I'm picturing nautical themed colours everywhere so red nails will be very 'in'. Not that I care about that tho, just like the colour!

Blurry I know. I think I need to clean my lense.

Welcome back nail polish blogging!
I feel a bit of a splurge coming on with new colours to purchase and try!

I lost 6 inches today...

2010-08-05T01:12:00.000-07:00

Off my hair... in some areas I lost more (I got some shorter layers)..

They are pajama bottoms not pants.... I tend to get into my PJ's when I'm at home... so much more... COMFY...

Plus I don't have a whole heap of options for my bottom half. I'm terribly fat.

Honest, I think I have 2 pairs of trousers right now....

So I got my hair cut today. I had hair down to my butt. It was in desperate need for a trim... but I went a bit further. Usually I'll demand they take an eighth of an inch off and no more.

I like it, I like the bangs, but I do miss that ultra long length I had. This is far manageable while I have a young baby, so for now I'm embracing it. When Charlie is 1 and no longer pulling, grabbing or throwing up in my hair then it should have grown out some. I feel a little less attractive without my long hair. My mother and sisters would still call this long hair and think I'm being silly but it's like a little security blanket I guess. I just need a day to adjust and then I'll be fine. I do this after every haircut. Even a little trim. I'm boring myself worrying about it so *thankfully* I think the ordeal of 'my hair is short' moaning will be limited to this blog post. YAY. I really was growing sick and tired of doing the top knot everyday and you should have seen the beasty KNOTS I was getting in my hair.... Tis sooooooooo good to feel like I can run a comb/brush/fingers thru my hair at any time without needing an hour to work it thru.

My hair is naturally wavy, and the wave comes out more when the heaviness/weight is gone. So I'm going to enjoy embracing some more curl in my life.
This above pic I included cos of a few reasons...

a) I'm skinny!! OMG, this pic was before Mr 2.5 and Mr 2 months! This was when Mr 6.5 was Mr 2.5.... do you follow that??? OMG my poor body has taken a battering. I don't like it much right now.

b) I took this pic because I had just had a hair cut at the time (on the right) and was crying and carrying on all dramatic like and saying SEE HOW MUCH GOT HACKED OFF... ha.... changed much??

c) *sigh*

Anywho, I do like my hair thankfully and no tears have been shed. I do however want to throw out all my skinny mirrors. It's not fair. I look in my mirrors at home and feel semi ok then go out to shop and only look 10x fatter in those mirrors. My mirrors are lying.

btw, I'm allowed to moan. I've just had a baby. I'm not trying to be fit and fabulous overnight, but I am allowed to moan a little about the toll 3 babies, breastfeeding and labour have taken on my poor, short, blessed (yes I'm blessed) body....It is all but a season, and in 2 / 3 years time I'll probably be a few sizes smaller and all will be well, but until then... bah humbug.

But I'm not ready to give up the cake and treats yet. I'm breastfeeding. I'm hogging this maternal fat for a good 9 more months I feel. And I just made lemon cheesecake slice.....

Lemon Cheesecake Silce

2010-08-04T22:08:00.000-07:00

LEMON CHEESECAKE SLICE

This is sooooo easy yet sooooooooo good! Once you make up a batch of Lemon Curd, this has definately got to be on your to make list! (I use the previous Lemon Curd recipe I posted yesterday (less 1 cup) for this Lemon Cheesecake Recipe. The reason I leave out a cup is because I like a wee bit in the fridge to use as a drizzle over icecream or on pancakes etc.

So, starters - make Lemon Curd (see previous post). Wait till it's cool if you make the curd the same day as this. I made up a double load of lemon curd the other day, so to make this recipe was very easy as I had everything ready. If you make up a lemon curd batch it keeps well in the refridgerator.

Slice Base:

1 packet of Wine Biscuits (tea cookies or vanilla waifer cookies or Graham Crackers)

165g melted butter

Blast in the food processor till the mix is crumbly and moist. Press down into a slice tin. Refridgerate 5/10 mins if you have time.

Lemon Cheesecake Filling:

Mix your Lemon Curd with one pottle (250g) Low Fat Sour Cream.

Pour this onto the slice base. Bake at 150C (you'll need to convert that to Farenheit) for 35 mins until the filling is set.

Place in the fridge to further set this. Should be ready to cut and serve after 20 mins.

Dust with icing sugar.

It is soooo good. Creamy yet lemony.... sweet with that hint of tart.... The filling is like you've added condensed milk to it.

Crazy for Lemon

2010-08-01T16:57:00.001-07:00

Below is my lemon tree. Ignore the weeds and such growing everywhere else, and focus on that beautiful lemony goodness! I love lemons but with my life being so busy and sleep deprived lately, my cooking and love for baking got put on the back burner somewhat. Now that Charlie is (bless him) sleeping better (aka LONGER) at night, I am rediscovering old delights of mine.

Lemon Curd Time. Thought I would share this recipe for those that love Lemon Curd. It's great on pancakes. It's great as your slice fulling base. It's great as part of Lemon Meringue Pie dishes...... Personally it's great just eaten off a spoon ;) My sister has given me a microwave version too which I shall add soon. I don't know that recipe off by heart and my iPhone (on which it is stored) is in the babies room as a white noise machine at present.

The following recipe is for Lemon Curd done on a stove, in a sauce pan.

Ingredients
4 large juicy lemons
200 g butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs ( beaten )
Method
Wash Lemons then finely grate the rind and squeeze the juice into a small saucepan. Add the beaten eggs, sugar and butter cut up into little cubes.
Constantly stir with a wire whisk over the gentle heat until the sugar dissolves and mixture thickens, keep the heat very low and don't be tempted to speed it up or to stop stirring.
Pour into a plastic container and store in the fridge.
Variations: Replace lemons with limes or oranges

Quite simple, and it makes quite a lot. I only use once cup of curd in my Lemon Meringue Slice dish, so I have plenty left over to make Lemon Slice (plain on a tart base) as well.

And here is a glimpse of my Lemon Meringue Slice (on a cheesecake base) that I will share soon
So yummy I'm afraid there is none left :(

French Manicure with a bright twist...

2010-07-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

This is a variation to brighten up your typical french manicure.

Doesn't get much brighter than neon orange either! Sometimes seing that white tip is just annoying. I get 'over' it. That's when a colour tip makes a great change!

Just.... wrong

2010-07-21T01:15:00.001-07:00

This is a high heel CROC... I just can't, can't, can't join the bandwagon of CROC lovers. I just couldn't, couldn't, couldn't ever wear this shoe.

Do you like?

If so, you can buy this beauty from here

Fuschia/Raspberry Pink - to brighten your winter!

2010-07-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

To all of you currently enjoying summer.... you suck!

I am experiencing frosts, wind, lugging wood in from the garage for the fire, shivering, heaters..... brrrr. In New Zealand it is winter. And it's really getting cold now. The lawn is white. The cars need water poured all over to clear the windows in order to see. You want to start the car 20mins before you get in to make sure that hot airconditioning is on full force. Showers, as nice as they are, also mean the dreaded 'getting OUT of the shower' and getting a towel and trying to warm up as fast as possible. I tend to race to the fire, open the door and let the intense heat hit me and airdry me! It's about now I start to think Australia wouldn't be such a bad place to live ;P ... almost... lol

So, to brighen up my day I am wearing a beautiful pink from Coin Save. It's a brand called CR. A no name brand. It's a raspberry / fuschia bright pink. In some lights it is very hot fuschia pink, but then in other lights you can see more raspberry. These two pics (flash and no flash) show such a contrast in colour. It was hard to capture accurately but there are times it does look like both these colours but for the most part, it looks like the brighter picture. Very bright but not neon, and not a straightforward plain pink. Definately has a visable fuschia element!

In low lighting, without flash.

And here it is more true to colour:

You do have to forgive my dry cuticles. After having Charlie (who is now 6.5wks) I don't have time to really care for my nails as well as I used to. I still paint them, but only about once a week. And I still use Nail Tek treatment and moisturise my cuticles, but again, only once a week. Not everyday like I usually do to keep them in tip top condition. I'm still keeping them short. Easier this way for now.

Speaking of Charlie, time is starting to race by. He's a happy baby - always smiling. Already rolling *sigh*. Yep, my #3 baby and my last is the one that is growing up the fastest. Typical huh! I'm smitten with him. The one good thing about the cold is that he looks too damn cute all rugged up in warm snuggly gear.

What could this be?...

see - my own wee snuggly bear. *YUM*

xx

Guest Blogger - Rebekah Brittain - Body Issues

2010-06-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

I asked my friend if I could share her blog entry on Body Image and she said yes, so I'm pleased to have my first guest blogger!

I can't link to her blog because this was written as a Facebook Note, which is set to private, but below is the word for word transcript:

Three (plus) Positve Messages
By Rebekah Brittain

One of the things that I really noticed in the response to my post about battling insecurities, was that all of you who commented either on the blog, facebook, etc represented a real range of body types (those of you I know, anyway) and yet unsurprisingly we all struggle with the same body issues.

Like I mentioned in that post, I've been familiarising myself with the fat acceptance movement over the past year or so. As a feminist I was pretty well aware of things like The Beauty Myth and general body positivity, but the idea of fat acceptance seemed so contrary to every message and everything we're taught about fashion, health and who is (or isn't) beautiful. I'll be honest and say that it was a real paradigm shift for me at first, (and in terms of my own self image something I still struggle with, there are days I just want to be skinny and to be able to shop at 'regular' stores) as while I guess I could academically say 'This is who I am, it is ok to look this way', the idea that I shouldn't still want to diet and lose weight was totally foreign to me.

The reality is though, I have never really been happy with my weight or how I look. Not when I was 60kg, 80kg or whatever. Which is crazy, because I'll look at photos of myself as a 15yr old and get nostalgic for being that slim, when the reality is I wasn't happy with my body then anyway. I still thought I was fat.I think the reason that I've been drawn to the fat acceptance movement is because that is how I and most other people would view my body. Not everyone would though, and I realise that I am still privileged enough to be able to by some clothing from straight sized stores and the way my body seems to hold its weight is in such a way that I might not look as big as the scales would say. Like most people, my weight, body size and shape also fluctuate and so where some might consider me fat, others would see me as curvy** or in between, or whatever.

So while I think the fat acceptance movement is vitally important on a personal level, and on a broader level because the way fat folks are viewed and treated by society, the realisation that my own body size and shape represents different things to different people (including myself) and seeing the range of people (representing a range of bodies) on my last post, reinforced the idea that it is not our bodies that are the problem but the messages that we're given.Awhile back I came across the resultes of this experiment on Plus Eyes that was really eye opening (and depressing) for me. I mean, I guess I always knew it to some extent but I honestly didn't expect things to be that bad. Of a total 1061 messages in the media about her body each week, she found that only 3 were positive. While she was looking specifically at plus size or 'overweight' bodies, I'm pretty sure we could apply the same or a similar message to all of us. Especially in light of the idea that what constitutes fat seems to be so subjective. 1058 negative messages. And that was just in the mainstream everyday media, not dieting sites or get fit for summer type magazine articles. Is it any wonder we're not happy with our bodies? How do you compete with that?

Well, like Plus Eyes mentions in her post, one way is counter attack. Providing more and more positive messages and images of varied bodies. One of the things I've noticed most when reading fat fashion and body acceptance blogs, is how empowering it is to see women who have bodies that look like mine in positive, fashionable and sexy lights. I enjoy fashion, but have often felt a little strange about blogging about it when there is very little room for anyone over a size 6. Im hoping that this can become a space where the images and messages I post about represent a range of bodies, challenge what is usually accepted as beautiful and empowers us all to see ourselves in a whole new light.

** I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this word as I find it is often used as a euphemism for fat, a more sanitised and sexy version if you will. I also really dislike the oft quoted 'real women have curves' that comes with it because, what is a real woman anyway? I understand wanting to build up and deem fat, curvy, plus size women sexy, but to say that women without curves are somehow not just defeats the overall purpose."

Dear John...

2010-06-20T22:03:00.000-07:00

Dear iPhone: Your pics are crap in comparison to the ones above. Thank you to photographybymegs for capturing these moments of Mr3 weeks!

Dear Nipples: I'm still waiting for you to toughen up to the vacumne suction that Mr 3 wks has when he latches. So it's not as toe curling as it once was, but when you are due a feed it's still painful

Dear Mr 3 Wks: You can help things by NOT tensing your little fists up near your face and paralyse me in fear that a rogue fingernail is going to scratch my nipple

Dear Shower: Your spray is hurting my nipples. Get your act together.

Dear 8 hrs of Sleep: Oh how I miss you

Dear 7 hrs of Sleep: You aren't so bad either

Dear 6 hrs of sleep: I'd be happy to have you in my life

Dear 5 hrs of sleep: Ditto above

Dear 4 hrs of sleep: I greedily accept you when you are given to me.

Dear 3 hrs of sleep: I'm not your biggest fan, but... you'll do.

I think it's fair to say that Sleep and Nipples are the two major things on my mind at present. And the two things, funnily enough, are related to each other.

My life at 3 Wks in.

(PS: Notice I still have short nails in the pic of my hands holding Mr3wks feet and face.... They're growing inwardly it feels)

We survived the 2nd week as well

2010-06-15T18:55:00.001-07:00

(Yes that's a 2 week old baby SMILING - full ear to ear grin... amazing. My other two didn't smile till over 4 weeks, I'd never have believed it if someone else had told me their baby smiled this early. I'm now a convert)

Gee - my blog posts are frequent aren't they? and so very rivetting. And my pics aren't that much better - I really have to stop snapping them with my iPhone and use a camera.

I can't wait to look back on this time and marvel at how quickly it all went and cluck over OTHER PEOPLES newborns, but in the meantime *yawn*....

Charlie is a good baby - thus far. He is fairly quick to settle as long as I give him a wee 5min top up boobie before hand to make him milk drunk. Unfortunately his default internal clock is set to 3 hrs, day AND night. This is perfectly expected for a newborn, tho some lucky parents get those newborns (I am not sure if they exist to be honest) who sleep longer stretches at night.

So if Charlie wants a feed at 12.30am, then give me 30mins to feed him (not complaining, it used to take an hr), then 10 mins burp/nappy change, and allow me 20 mins to dose back off again only to be awaken at 3.30am, I get my sleep in 2 hr increments. Precious 2 hour lots. Could be worse. I'll take em.

My nails are missing the protein and hormones that pregnancy gives. They are short and peeling and in terrible need of some TLC. I'm sure if I had the time to do my usual nightly oil, massage and nail tek treatment they'd be ok, but I haven't done that since the birth. And Charlie is officially 2 1/2 weeks old now (17days). I'm gonna bet that by about day 100 I will do my nails ;)

Anyhow, the fire needs another few logs put in, the washing needs to be put away, the dinner needs to be made, the bathroom cleaned, Mr 2 needs to be played with and I need someone to do all the above!

We survived the 1st week

2010-06-09T00:14:00.001-07:00

and am now approaching day 11. Week 2 will be over before I know it. Time is definately going by faster third time around!

Breastfeeding is going well - other than the time it can take (I take about 20mins-30mins each breast each time. And I usually offer both breasts...) So I can be feeding for 1 hour. Then baby takes 1 hr nap and wants to feed again. From 4pm - 8pm I can be feeding non-stop (Cluster feeding). But it's enjoyable and other than the fact I'm bound to the couch, I'm going with the flow. I feel a bit sad for my other boys who must constantly see mum feeding the baby, but in just a few weeks I know that these feedings will change into a new phrase and more sleep will be had during the night and more alert time during the day. 'This shall pass' is definately something I understand now, and I think that has helped me not feel stressed, anxious or experience the blues 3rd time around. Cross fingers Charlie doesn't develop reflux tho!!!

I wanted to express my gratitude and thanks to those that have made us meals and puddings - thank you so much! My sisters, mum and friends have all chipped in and delivered us food. It's exciting finding out what we're gonna eat at night and it's definately a huge help when I'm sitting feeding at 'dinner time'. It's amazing how good I am at eating one handed with a baby on my boob!

Mr H goes back to work next week so I'll be thrown back into the run of things - but in a way I'm looking forward to seing how I go. I'll be forced to cope and perhaps things will go smoothly because I'll be doing everything my own way and can't rely on anyone else to help me. I will miss how he always gets my food and snacks ready and brings it all to me on the couch - that will be my biggest downfall. I'll find it hard to eat and I need to eat to keep my milk supply up.

Anyhow, baby talk = boring for some, so I'm not going to go on.

Hope you've all had a good week and I'm off to look at some of the polish blogs I love to read and see if I can catch up on all that I've missed!

Almost impossible to capture

2010-06-09T00:05:00.000-07:00

My camera hates Neons. It tends to lose a bit of focus and produce slightly blurry results. But it's the only way to capture the true brightness of the colour!

This is Color Club Electro Candy. A hot pink with a shimmer. It's not a creme, and I find that it wears longer. My cremes tend to chip before a shimmer does.

Color Club can be found at Unichem pharmacies (well I can find it in Wanganui Unichem so I'm assuming it is carried at all Unichem pharmacies around NZ). They are about $14. You can buy them cheaper via eBay as well which is where I buy my nail polish from as I refuse, did you hear me say REFUSE to spend the money NZ slaps onto nail polish. (Unless I've found it scurrying thru the bargin bins at Postie Plus!! or at the Dollar shop stores).

and then there was Charlie

2010-06-01T19:56:00.001-07:00

Meet Charlie :)

He is 5 days old. Old huh?! Considering I started writing this blog post when he was 3 days old, he's positively ancient.... Does this show you how little time I have, (aka sleep deprivation), to follow anything thru other than shutting my eyelids.

He was born (NZ time) Sunday 30th May, 6.07am, weighing 9lbs. I started contractions at 2.30pm Saturday 29th May which intensified over the course of the day/evening until I went to the hospital to suck like a mad woman on gas at 1.45am.

He arrived 6.07am, no epidural and no tearing. Yay to no tearing!

Ironically, I had removed the pale blue mani colour I was going to wear during the labour the day before. I had it on all week and had no sign of baby so thought I would change my mani and do it again in a few days....

So Kleancolor Colbalt Blue was the labour mani on the day!! I didn't have the ability to change it once contractions started.

My absolute last belly shot, right before we left for the hospital. So long big belly! As this was my last pregnancy, I'll never have to endure this again! Ahh tummy sleeping here I come. That is, when I get to sleep. Charlie is definately a snack feeder during the night. It's early days, we will get there. I remind myself this will pass. This will pass. I have to enjoy the good times, the cuddles, the little sighs, the total dependency on me as much as I loathe the unsettled times, because the good times unfortunately pass just as quickly as those bad times.

The boys don't understand why he hardly opens his eyes tho. They want cuddles with him ALL the time, but as I'm usually feeding ALL the time, there isn't much time for cuddles. He's either feeding, crying or sleeping. I do think they wish a 6mth old laughing baby came out my tummy. Not an overcooked alienish peeling skin lump that doesn't do much (in their opinion)!

Anyhow, must dash. Sleep to be had and all that.

PS: He was born without any complications/abnormalities

Confession...

2010-05-25T01:39:00.001-07:00

I've just been eating christmas lunch every day for the last 10months. That and some bad gas. I'm not pregnant....

*sigh* - some times you wonder lol.

I KNOW I shouldn't moan. I'm trying hard. I really am. I'm not really complaining. Just a small complaint. I am really enjoying this pregnancy, really I am. I am Sam. (I feel like I could write a Dr Suess book). I'd enjoy it more if I wasn't feeling like a baby is about to fall out me twanger. I swear I could feel a head if I so much as bent and felt around. Bending is hard. And I don't feel like feeling around. But I swear I would.

Aint my nails still looking a bit sad? I've painted them the labour blue mani colour but they're still a bit sad. Grow nails Grow!

I'm sad I am. So mad am I.
I wanted short, or so I thought
This takes the cake
Twas one mistake
I'm almost contemplating fake...
But no I won't. I'll hold on strong
I know that they'll be long
again
my friend
it's not the end
these mingly nibblens will eventually mend
they'll grow and grow and grow some more
till they grow and grow right out my door
and down the lane, and up the road
to tickle a most annoying toad

... ok I'll stop. I don't know why I'm doing Dr Suess in my head about everything. Insane I tell you. Insane in me Membranes!

I have on / off contractions that don't go anywhere. I'm tired and want to lie on my back and I keep thinking "Tonights the night" and go off in song.. "Tonight's gonna be a real good night, tonights gonna be a good good night"....

Sorry everyone. Hopefully you only have to bear with me another day or two.... Legs crossed.

Oh that's not gonna help me.

It would have 9mths ago but..... alas.

My poor nubbins....

2010-05-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

So take a nesting woman, aka me. After she weeds everything from her front garden, weedmats part and tanbarks another; after she clears her front porch and stacks firewood closer to the house; after she pushes all her furniture out of the lounge and bedroom in order for her carpets to be professionally cleaned, the following happens:

A nail tears right down to the nailbed. It can't be filed or salvaged. It needs to be cut or it could be incredibly painful should it rip into the flesh.

It was the gardening I think that was the evil that caused this. So now I know why I have such lovely long (usually) nails. I don't garden. I will be sure never to do it again after I hatch...

And because I have a pet hate for leaving one nail super short amongst all my other nails, I got clipper happy. I had to cut them super duper super duper did I say super duper short. To the point that my nails have hurt. Ached. Am I having invisiable growing pains from where I once had nail? I mean, I cut them pretty short anyway in preparation for labour but this just takes short to a whole new level.

* a moment of silence is appreciated *

But in other news, my nest has been laid and now I'm just waiting to release the eggs... Well, after the weekend cos I want to finish the weetmat and tanbark first.

xx

A Date with Mr 6.5

2010-05-13T00:49:00.000-07:00

I'm still here and in one peice. I am not officially due till the end of next week, and if I go over, I could be here for a few more weeks still! You just never know when it's all going to happen....

But with the time fast approaching, I wanted to take my Mr 6.5 on a date. I value individual time with each of my children. So does Mr H. We adopt a 'date' philosophy in our family, where we will do things with each child individually - along with all the things we do as a family. Dates can be anything from a fluffee (hot chocolate) at a fancy cafe, movies and popcorn, swimming, hiking, bikerides etc etc.

So he skipped school today. I rang them in the morning to let them know, and they were more than happy for him to enjoy a 'date' with his Mummy. He goes to a smallish family school who all know that he is about to be a new brother all over again and gave their support for him to have a 'recreational' day.

I chose a week (school day) over the weekend as Mr 2 goes to kindy at 12.30pm on a Thursday and I wanted alone time, one on one time, to do whatever it was Mr6.5 wanted to do. It was a time for him to have some quality time, special time with his Mummy before my attention and energies will be focussed on the new addition and where Mr 2 couldn't mess up whatever it was he wanted to do. And it just so happened that Mr 6.5's choice of activities was to be within the home.... best Mr 2 isn't here! So after we had breakfast together, went to Mr2's music class and dropped him off to kindy, Mr 6.5 and I could embark on our date....

What do you think he chose for his date?

He is a good soul. All he wants is me. (oh and food and lollies of course). He had the pick of ANY food he wanted for lunch and he chose Sushi (good man!), a small frozen coke (only the 2nd time he has had this and oh such a treat) and pineapple lumps/lollies. I was really thinking he would have picked McDonalds but nope, Sushi it was!! And I was thrilled - cos I love sushi too! We got loads! All types.

Here is the load:

(Mr H helped eat this tho so don't be too alarmed)

The next request was for us to eat it in his bed! Again - it's funny what they deem as luxuries/treats. We don't eat in bed often, so was quite sweet that his idea of awesomeness is to sit with me top and tailed in his bed and eat our food! Ahhh I love kids. So we did. We sat in bed and chatted and ate.

Pure indulgence...

We then told stories, snuggled under the blankets and learnt about things. We talked about animals and watched some youtube clips of animals doing wonderous things. We made funny faces, played eye spy. This was what he wanted to do on his date. I asked him what else he wanted to do - he thought some more. He said "Let's take a 10 min snooze and then play LEGO and drawing". We rolled over, spooned and had a wee rest and then we got on with creating! I wonder just how long I'll be allowed to spoon with my son before he gets all grown up on me. I don't get cuddles and kisses at school anymore, I barely get a mumbled bye and a wave these days. But yanno, when no one is watching and he's not wondering if his friends will laugh at him, he's the most affectionate cuddly boy and you know he really likes it....

I was really digging my LEGO creation (on the right is my masterpeice).

And he had a grand time. He thought it was perfect and told me he loves going on dates with me. He took the letter I gave him thanking him for such a perfect date and celotaped it on his wall next to his pillow.

Bless my son! I'll treasure this date because one day you will be taking some other special lady in your life on a date and I'll have to let you...

Look what I did!!

2010-05-10T01:13:00.000-07:00

Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop

I cut em! Yep, lots and lots. Now I am sporting nice shorties again. SOOOOO much easier to type - I forget how easy it is to type with short nails. I know I could have probably left them long with a newborn but I just didn't want to poke my baby :x And I'm so clumsy when trying to dress newborns as they're no help whatsoever, that I think it's safer to have these short!!

Plus, all my friends who have short nails who read my blog get to see the polish colours on short nails and be inspired! (aka no excuses :P )

I am feeling like labour is imminent. But I could be way off. By cutting them now, they'll have a chance to flatten and lose the 'sharp' edges and be just perfect. That, and I've also put in my order for a 2.5hr labor so won't have time to file/cut them down during the early stage...... I am going to be annoyed if I have to remind the labor Gods to fulfil my request.

I love how I can be lame (it's my blog afterall) and talk about my nails like they really matter in the scheme of things :D Of course they do. Don't ya know my nails are going to make my labor go that much smoother! I won't hear of it otherwise. I have to occupy my thoughts the next couple of weeks - and I have decided that it's far healthier for me to obsess with nails and polish than it is to think of all the things that could go wrong with my baby and outcomes I don't know for sure. We'll deal with that when it/if it happens. I've done the research, and I needed to do that, but now I gotta relax and prepare my energy for coping, thriving and welcoming labor.

I am wearing GUPPY #32. A purple Creme. 2 coats. Nail Tek on base, and Nubar Diamont Shine & Seal Top coat.

Lovely colour. Doesn't it match my dress oh-so-perfectly and is just right for doing nothing but laying on my bed resting and feeling the baby move and kick.

Oh, and for looking lovely as I pick up chocolate pinwheel scones and scoff into my mouth? Yep, my nails looked lovely doing that too.

Some views from my perspective...

2010-05-08T17:19:00.000-07:00

I have had a few people ask me to update my belly pics album on facebook so this post is really going to be wordless but fill of pictures :D

I've spent the last week getting some issues out of my system - fear, stress, tears. This meant I didn't post here because it's hard to post when you are just not feeling 100%. Anyhow, I'm doing well, other than the fact that I'm now at a place where I'm so damn uncomfortable and really... unable to be trendy anymore. Waaaaaaaaaaa.

Someone pass me a kaftam, a full body pillow, a heat pack, a footrub, suspend me in a bath and let me sleep....

Oh, and an ice coffee to make me feel (for 5 mins) that I have energy.

I'm counting down now! :D

Excuse the background mess in any pics - I can no longer bend in the middle. It's far easier to walk around the mess then it is to clean it up.

Michelle W : If you're reading this, recognise the belt? :)

My belly orb isn't as big as it was with my now Mr2. I was a lot more freakishly big with him. This one seems to me to be more within the realms of big but not a circus act.

In a couple of weeks when I look down like I am below, it will be one scary sight. Right now it's a firm belly, but this will be flabby and squishy and it's unlikely I'll EVER take a pic of it again!!! No more pregnancies for me! I will however see my toes again :D
xx
What a nice way to end. Cleavage. Sorry Mr H. (just quietly he wasn't too keen I put that pic up... I'm like, ya... I'm real sexy with a big bump I'll have men lining up to send me filthy messages). He's sweet. Bless him. Protective of me at 38weeks pregnant. Priceless.

Don't Worry (Yeah Right)

2010-05-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

I haven't shared this with very many people. But as I've come to a place of inner peace regardless of outcome, I feel like talking about something.

I am 37weeks pregnant with my 3rd boy as many of you know. Not long now *I'm happily anticipated*.

At a 35 week ultrasound to check on my amniotic fluid levels it was noted that the femur bones on my baby were on the 5th percentile. I didn't know what that meant, so I googled. Bad mistake really.

Short Femur Bones can be completely normal - on any bell curve there are going to be those of us that are in the top measurements and those on the bottom. I have never had late scans with my previous two babies so couldn't even compare to where they sat on this percentile. All other measurements were measuring 1 week ahead and the femur bones 2 weeks behind. Doesn't sound like a big deal to me. If anything, I'm short (5ft) and I totally get that my baby might not be a basketball player. Plus, late scans can be 3weeks out this late in the game, very unreliable, so could also mean nothing at all.... My 20 week scan was 'bang on' and apparently that is a more reliable scan. I've had no indications of any type of complication up to this point. And overall, baby's birth weigtt is indicated at 62 percentile.

"Don't Worry about it" - what my midwife said when I questioned her on what problems short femurs could present.

Famous last words.

So as I said, I googled. "Femur measures 5th percentile". Countless and countless pages spat back at me. All with references to Down Syndrome or Dwarfism. I learnt that short femur bones (alone, or with a short humerous) was a 'soft marker' for both these genetic chromosonal disorders. There were so many message board references of worried women seing the same thing and seeking reasurance from other women and amongst it all there were loads of positive stories. Many women are told their babies are at high risk for down syndrome etc by short femurs and many go on to have healthy babies - many who wind up tall!

But what's 'normal' anyway? There are all sorts of conditions (autismn for eg) that will never be picked up so early and where you think you have a 'perfect' baby.

It got me thinking.

About how I would be if I happen to be one of the women where the 'happy ending' doesn't happen and I do deliver a baby with down syndrome or dwarfism. The finding of the short femurs DO alter my rsk factor. Yes I had a great NT scan (Nuchal Fold measurement) and had an adjusted risk of 1:2990 but with the appearance of shorter femurs, this does increase my risk somewhat. That's a fact.

When I've tried to voice discussions on the outcome people are telling me 'not to worry'. They almost want to cut me off from the 'posibility' - telling me to save any thoughts to when and if this happens. I am struggling with that. Of course I dont' listen, and I do what I need to do.

My personality type likes knowledge. I like to research. I would rather learn about these conditions now, and be prepared. I want to be strong if it happens. I'd like to know what I was in for. I want to hear that it is all ok. That these children lead happy and fulfilled lives. It helps me so much. NOT doing this, is what causes me anxious worry. Doing this, fulls me with inner contentment that all is ok.

And I've found in my heart that all will be ok. I love this child already and I will love it no matter what. I know you all mean well when you say "Don't worry", but to me, researching and discussing and sharing is NOT worry. Worry implies stress. And I'm not stressed.

I can't wait to meet my son. I'm excited. I'm not 'worried' about these conditions, but I DO admit I want to read about them in the meantime. It won't be wasted knowledge should (and odds are still in my favour that all will be 'normal') everything go ok. Knowledge is never wasted. And I'll have more understanding and compassion to take on in the future.

I just wanted to share this bit of my journey with people because I want people to not feel sorry for me IF I do happen to have a special needs child. I want people to congratulate me regardless. To ask to hold my baby. To know that I am okay and have griefed everything prior to the birth and that the baby will be a blessing.

And please don't leave me a comment telling me 'not to worry'

xx

NOTD: Guppy #04 (Teal Blue) - Dupe for OPI Suzi Says?

2010-04-29T16:56:00.000-07:00

Here is Guppy #04 - A Teal Creme. 2 Coats. I personally do not own the OPI Suzi Says Feng Shui, but I remember seing swatches over at alllacqueredup that look similar. Unfortunately I can't show you the pics side by side, and I don't want to uplift her photo, but here is the link to her swatch of Suzi Says Feng Shui

It looks very similar to me, but then again, I've also seen swatches of Suzi that seemed more 'brighter' and less cool.

The following 3 pics of my Guppy #04 are in lower lighting, with the rest in more sunny lighting (me grasping the steering wheel while I was waiting for Mr6 to jump in the car after school :D )

I hadn't massaged my beeswax into my cuticles at this stage so excuse the dryer cuticles and the fact I have some of my clear top coat on the edging.

and here it is in more direct sunlight:

It's nice enough. The formula is fine. Just not really my cup of tea in terms of colour. I think it's a tad 'cool' for me. I like warmer colours or softer colours. It seems a very 'autumy/winterish' colour however.

A few Hannarisms...

2010-04-28T22:04:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard of 'truthisms', well, here a few of them Hannah Style.

1 - Sandwiches taste better when cut into triangles

2 - All cold drinks (bar wine) taste better thru a straw

3 - Baths are not for cleaning your body. If you want to wash yourself, get out AFTER your bath and go to the shower. In the meantime, full bath with bubble bath, light some candles and soak for a minimum of 30 mins. THAT's how you take a bath.

4 - Coffee tastes better out of a 'take out' cup with that special lid

5 - McDonalds French Fries are always satisfying... (unfortunately)

6 - It is harder to spend/part with cash, than your plastic card.... carry cash and you'll spend less or stick to your supermaket budget at least.

and these are the facts of life....

NOTD: Guppy #16 (Coral Orange Creme)

2010-04-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

First to try from my latest Guppy Haul was the #16. The polishes come with no name, and since I'm super creative, I came up with this totally original name: Coral Orange Creme.... (just don't abbreviate this)

If I was feeling creative and and had to apply an OPI type name for this polish, I'd go with

"Impossible to Ignore"... or "Notice me Coral"... so something gay like that...

Like all Guppy's the opaque-ness is acheived in either 1 or 2 coats. This being a Creme, it needed 2 to even up my uneven first layer. But the formula was great and I got no cuticle mess. The pics here are without 'cleanup', just a steady hand. Lovely vibrant colour. Not a neon but definately a bright stand-out tone.

I had to include the pic below cos that's my Mr6's iddle widdle hand in mine. He may be 6 but he's still my babbbbbbbbbbbbbby.

and I have to specifically give props to my friend Shanel for identifying this polish from a random facebook picture where my hand happened to be in shot! You go girl! You got good memory/identifying skills. She had read my post stating the colours when I received the polish and assumed this was what I had on in my pic. Stealth. You could be a Private Detective with those skills ;))) (and how are your nails / or lack of these days?)

Another 2nd hand furniture score

2010-04-24T16:35:00.000-07:00

Doesn't the chair look like it was meant to go there? :)
Well, I thought so. I have a Character Villa type house, with large rooms and tall ceilings... The design of the house lends itself well to antique-y, wooden furniture, so I constantly have my eyes peeled for things that I think will fit. I buy things as I see them, which is fun, but it means you have to keep adding bits that 'fit' with all the other bits. Sometimes I think about winning lotto and going on a huge spending spree and buying all my furniture at one time and think that would be cool. But then I wouldn't have the memories and stories behind each individual thing I buy or the satisfaction of finding items that match the other items. My room is all a dark/cherry wood theme - I personally don't like having light wood mixed with dark wood, so I will only buy cherry/dark wood for my room. Other rooms if I started with a light wood peice, I'll want to continue that. I guess I'm a symetrical, theme based type person.

ANYWHOOOOOOOOO the last antique 'sitting chair' I got was floral - and looked great in my dining room. I frequently get comments on it and everyone asks how much it cost me. That one (as I blogged about here) cost just $49. A score. And my friends were grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr they never find items that cheap. I don't know how I do it. I'm never 'looking' for them. I just randomly stumble onto them.

This new chair, although a slightly differnent stye - not floral, has been reupholstered and has some old borer holes on the arm rest was $39. SCORE BABY. I promptly picked that up and put it in my trusty MINI VAN (whoooohoo can fit furniture in there and not pay delivery fee!) DOUBLE WIN.

I know, too many pictures of a chair, but I'm terribly in love with it right now...

Guppy & Thin Lizzy

2010-04-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

I'm on a crusade to collect all the GUPPY nailpolishes. Considering they're $2.50 each I feel ok about this!

Today in my mailbox I had the following delivered:

Guppy #16 (CREME Coral Orange)
Guppy #04 (CREME Tealish Blue)
Guppy #32 (CREME Purple)

Again, the link to the seller can be found here. A lot of other very cool makeup (coastal scent type) can be purchased from her too, at fantastic prices.

I LOVE opening my mail box and finding little packages... Like Christmas even tho I know what should be coming.

The other thing that arrived

was this THIN LIZZY set. We ordered one specifically for my sister in law who lives in Iran. They LOVE New Zealand Thin Lizzy makeup and she really wanted us to send one over. So when I ordered, it had a 'buy one get one free deal'... Not bad for $39. So I kept one set. I've always made fun of Thin Lizzy. It's one of those 'tv advertisement' type makeup deals where they state the set can do 6 things - be a foundation, be a bronzer, be an eyeshadow, be a nailpolish (ya right), be a lipgloss colour (mix with the gloss) etc. I've always joked that MacGuiver just needed his Thin Lizzy on him and he could do away with his trusty pocket knife...

It comes in two shades - Light or Dark. I had heard reviews that it is VERY Pigmented so went with the Light. I got a compact, lipgloss, dual black/brown eyeshadow and the brush. It loooooks good, and it's been working for me as a bronzer. I have yet to really try it as a foundation.

Anyone from New Zealand tried this product? If you wish to see what I'm talking about, and see this 6 in 1 product the link is:

http://www.thinlizzy.co.nz/6in1/index.htm

I'll soon see 'if it really works' ;P and I'll be sure to update my view on it in time!

The gift of ommision

2010-04-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not one to complain and hate coming across like I'm dumping all my issues on to other people.... And I'd hate to come across as whiney, BUT that's why I haven't blogged since Monday.

but never fear, I'm sure I'll suck it up in a day or two and I'll find it within myself to write something upbeat ad cheerful :D

My hormones are out of whack the last few days you see. One minute I'm crying over something TINY - (like I haven't packed a bag for hospital, or the floor isn't vacummed... ) and the next I'm in great spirits and 'what's a bit of amnio leaking? I'm sweeeet'

Today I refused to be 'that heavily pregnant woman' constantly bemoaning the situation she put herself in. You know the type - we've all been her. The one who insists for sympathy from those that have been here before, and forcing those that haven't to suffer every detail of what she's feeling so they can better visualise the horror of what she's going thru...

Tonight, my friends, in this blog, I promise you... I am NOT going to be THAT woman.

You're welcome...

I am LOVING right now...

2010-04-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

My new Breadmaker....

Ok, so the first loaf had me worried as I *ummm* ate nearly the thing in one sitting... loaded with butter (the real stuff not that margarine pretend stuff). I worried if I could really handle owning such a thing. Such a marvelous thing. Such an oh-so-yummy this is devine MUST consume more type of a thing.

So I vowed to give myself a quota. 2 slices a day. Maximum 4 on certain days if I have toast for breakfast (I tend to eat cereal). So far so good! The desire to wet my pants the minute a loaf finishes cooking has disappeared and I have my carbo cravings in CONTROL. *puffs chest out in pride*

I'm very impressed with the size. The large seems very comparable with store bought bread. It tastes devine, has little sugar and salt (1 tsp) and we can play with recipes and make all sorts of variations. LOVE.

Next on my list is our new car. Some call this type of a car a Mini Van. Others a "Breadbin on wheels", "Brethren Wagon" or "People Mover".... I unashamedly love Love LOVE it.

Tinted Windows. Sliding doors both sides. 8 seats. I'm in car heaven.

Plenty of boot (trunk space) with all seats up, and the seats are on runners so fully adjustable.

Now when the new baby arrives, we actually have somewhere for it to fit in the car. We may have had to tie it to the roofrack of our previous car.... (more like it would have had to hold on for dear life from the door frame considering we didn't even have a roof rack).

Despite it not being quite cold enough, next thing I'm into right now are my new New Zealand made leather / sheepskin slippers. YES they are grandma-ish looking BUT they are oh-so-warm and snuggly. Can't beat em.

aannnnnnnnnnnnnnnd last but not least (and I'm kinda expecting to cop some flak for this admittance), I am L.O.V.I.N.G milk powder! We made some up because the bread recipe called for some milk powder. I bought a HUGE ass bag for $10 which makes like 20litres (saving me so much $$$$) and I got lowfat/skim, and yanno what??? Ya can't tell the differnece. No one has noticed. Mr H doesn't mind, I've given it to friends/family and no-one has said they can taste a difference!! YAY. Making our own bread and milk has meant no more trips to the diary for these two things during the week where we inevitably spend more $$ then we intend! I whiz it up in the blender to get a good mix, and chill it in the fridge for at least 30mins before using. It's very yummy.

So in the land of Hannah, these things are my current favs/fads.

I KNEW I recognised the bottle! BICHUN

2010-04-19T01:02:00.000-07:00

I went into Coin Save today to pick up a new Opoola Nail Polish when my eye gravitated to a new polish brand I had not seen in there before - BICHUN.

I instantly recognised the bottle to be similar (if not identicle) to my GUPPY nail polish (which I order via eBay). I picked up a lovely soft apricot/salmon/pastel pink/peachy colour (no name) to try and took it home to compare. I'm terrible - I'll be going back to buy more of this most likely based on appearances. I like the bottle. I recognise the bottle.... So as you can see by the very top photo, Guppy is on the left, Bichun is on the right. Apart from the fact that the Guppy has a black band where the Bichun is left clear, they are the same large bottles!
The same on the top.... I wonder if it's the SAME formula, or just two manufacturers using the same bottles
The colour is very pretty. I love it. It's more peachy than some of the photos suggest. The camera has really brought out the pink tone, but think of a warm peach. One coat. Nice and thin. I should have done 2 coats but I had to go and pick up Mr2 from Kindy so was in a hurry.

The pic above and below are more accurate to reality. You can see the peachyness of the colour in these pics.

Very work appropriate colour. Looks good against my skin tone. Not too loud (considering the NEONS I've been wearing lately). The bottle is lovely and large and I'm going to go back to get more colours now I've tried the formula.

My Top 5 Lipsticks - #2 "Bronze Star" - Clinique

2010-04-17T01:47:00.000-07:00

So I started a 'top 5' lipstick blog post back in March, and have so far, just told you one favourite Lancome "It Girl"

Was about time I added #2.

So, Second up, my all time favourite 'bronzey goldish tanned and golden' colour. Bronze Star by Clinique. It's a bronzey brown (not dark) that lends itself nicely to bronzed cheeks and that summer tanned look.

When I choose to wear this colour, I virtually ALWAYS do bronzed highlighted cheeks, brown eyeliner and neutral/no eyeshadow. It's a nice cleaned toned down look without over-doing it.

And that's #2. I'll bring you #3 in another month or so most likely! I'm slack huh!

The perfect 'labor' pale blue mani colour!

2010-04-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks soooooooooooooooo much to Nihrida for sending me this polish - all the way from Slovenia! She was super kind to post this to me, along with a green colour from the same brand, after I gushed that I found the particular shade the exact shade of blue I was looking for - for when I go into labour and deliver my baby boy.

A tad lame, to be considering my nails when I'm going to be in pain, but ahhh well. I wanted to rock short pale blue nails in labour and I love this colour. And it will give me something to do in the early stages of my labour...

This was my first ever gift to receive from a fellow blogger. I can't express my gratitude enough. xx

You can see her blog, and her original post of this colour here

She found the application and brush a PITA (pain in the ass). I agreed with the first coat, was streaky and a tad thick. The brush holder is small but I didn't have any mess when I painted so it was ok. But I added a few drops of Restore and my 2nd coat was fine. This is 2 coats, whereas she did 3. I'm happy with 2 coats. I used my Nubar Seal & Shine Top Coat on top and I just love the thick creme glass look it creates.

The next 3 shots are in more light:

Thanks soooooooo much Nihrida! I'll be thinking of you in approx 6 weeks time when I look down at my nails ;P

Some Light Amusing Viewing for your Pleasure :)

2010-04-11T23:54:00.000-07:00

A friend posted one of my favourite television Ads on her facebook to show her Australian friends and it reminded me of a couple of other fun ads from New Zealand. I figured I'd post them here to share.

(they're all short, bout 30-45secs long

Simplifying New Zealand Summer:

By the way, 'TOGS" = Bathing Suit in New Zealand lingo :)

Insurance Ad 'Someone is always stealing ya stuff!" - Australian/New Zealand have a love/hate relationship

"Lift Energy Drink - Sharpen Up!"

I Heart These

2010-04-10T02:37:00.000-07:00

To brighten up an outfit of black what more do you need than wee fluro pink neon hearts???!!!!

I'm very into earings at the moment. My accessory of choice! I'd have liked to have had a similar matching colour on my nails but I had on Neon Green.... kinnnnda clashed but hey. Ok, they didn't 'kinda clashed' they DID clash but I needed some bright colours after the last few days of doom and gloom!

This is a $2 asian polish from Riccarton Mall. No name. Neon Green. Jelly. 3 Coats.

I've had a thing for Neons lately. A month or so ago I was anti Neon. I love how things come full circle. And 2 months ago I thought I wouldn't wear green. I didn't like it. I should probably try my 'For Audrey' again, because I HATED that. It may become my new fav. What is wrong with me liking things I once disliked? Is this normal in the polish world?

I'll probably REALLLLLLLLY get into glitter or foil or something over the coming months just because I'm not into them at the moment.

A little insight into Strep Throat

2010-04-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

I cooked dinner tonight.

I require a standing ovation. No, not because my food is worthy of such an honour (which we all know it is lets be honest ;)) but because I actually succeeded in doing a task. The physical act of cooking dinner. Admittedly in my pj's that I've been wearing for 3 days straight, hair in the strangest messiest up do it was in 3 days ago... I can't guarantee teeth have been brushed.... but still....

I first went into chronic pain mode 1.30am Wednesday, and felt like I was coming out of today, at 3pm Friday.... sooooo that is what, 61.5hrs of me doing nothing more than breathing - and even then, barely. I wasn't succeeding with this basic function all too well. I had Strep Throat - a bacterial infection. Don't know what that is? Don't know what that feels like? Well - I'm going to enlighten you all.

It is only as I've passed my first solid food between my lips (goodbye weight loss) that I can laugh at other peoples Strep Throat/Tonsil Infection stories and share my own. Not laugh at their sorrow, but laugh at how oh-so-truely I can relate. And in case my facebook family have somehow missed knowing I was sick (are they under a rock? I was constantly complaining) I'm STILL caught up on reading everything I can about this viscious bug, the symptons, the pain, the remedies that I will continue to bug them some more on this topic. This afternoon as I felt some relief after 48hrs of antibiotics I googled "Worst pain ever" instead of "how long before antibiotics work for strep throat?" and came across the following: (excerts taken from http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic63674.html)

_____

"it was terrible! I dont even want to talk about it. But I will because I vowed that if I ever got better I would just want to go around helping people who were suffering incurabely like me, especially sore throat victims. This is no laughing matter, even though most people cant really understand how bad having a sore throat like this really is, and they cant really do anything for you anyways"

"Everyone seems to have some advice that they want to give you. You know, some herb or secret that I wished they would just shut up. Ginger, garlic, licorice root, cayenne pepper gargling salt water gargling. Yeah those are all great for minor sore throats, but will not solve the problem! They are just annoying!"

"I speak from my experience. You see, there are some sore throats that just cannot be cleared up that easily, and I think their pain and duration are the only visible signals of their viscious nature.

May 15th: late evening minor sore throat. Night one of excruiating sore throat May 16th: woke up in the morning suffering heavily. Tried tea, cayyenne pepper gargling, ibuprofen, not much help. My right tonsil was swelled, filled with yellow stuff ( I could see it bulging and wanting to come out of a little slit in my tonsil, they usually call these things crypts) another night of terrible pain (body shaking every time I had to swallow)

May 17th: the pain gets worse in the morning. Woke up in the night every hour with a dry mouth urging for swallows that would reply with unbearable pain. Hell. I just wanted to die. Spent the whole day being miserable and trying not to swallow (see below for tips on how not to swallow). Visited health center at 2pm. Good idea doctor checked for strep. 30 min test showed negative strep. Sent home on prescription of 2 ibuprofin and half a vicodin 4 times a day. This is a good idea because it will help you get through the days until the throat heals. Felt better after a smoothie. A night of pain much worse than the previous nights. My god. Again, I just wanted to die and end my life, especially with no cure in sight. Very depressed. It was my birthday.

May 18th: woke up, determined to walk around because that was the only thing that seemed to save me during the days.... I got a lot done that had to be done because I expected to pass out/ die / become completely invalid within the day. It was that bad. 4 o clock: went to the er good idea the nurse practitioner suspected an abscess in my right tonsil, which had swollen so large that it filled half of the back of my throat. They decided to numb up my throat and stick a needle in the tonsil to drain it of puss and put me on anti biotics. I am scared of needles. I hate them. They gave me a relaxer pill and an antibiotic, and 30 minutes later they did it. Sigh, I still feel traumatized, but I was willing to do anything at that point, even killling myself seemed like a great option. Anything to stop the ceaseless suffering. I went back to my friends house and took a nap in the car while she was getting ready to drive me home. I woke up in terror, not knowing who I was, where I was or knowing what was inside of my mouth. It felt like wings of an airplane sideways in my throat, choking me. I panicked and ran upstairs, and was scared shitless for a half hour, trying to figure out what was in my throat. I broke down and cried an hour later. It felt no better and I couldnt swallow or even tell the muscles to swallow. It was really scary especially because I hadnt eaten in 5 days, since sunday night. But I buckled up after a half hour of desperate crying and forced swallows of "recharge" lemonade and the liquid vicodin that they gave me at the er, 2 ibuprofin and started to chill out. It still hurt but at least I chilled the medical question out. By the time I went to bed at 12pm I put two sets of pain dose (1 pain dose= 2 ibuprofin, 1/2 vicodin every 4 hours) for the night and was feeling better already. The doc had made holes in the tonsil when he poked in there for draining. I was in good spirits as I went to sleep. This was the first night of no pain. No waking up with a dry mouth. No screaming or freaking out. Thank god. Thank you doctors everywhere. Praise jesus himself. I am so doing it thankful I cannot begin to relate it in words. Maybe ill write a song about it. I will definately help people suffering in the world to show my thanks.

May 19th: today. Woke up feelin allright. Been feeling happy and chipper all day. I can finally eat and swallow without pain! Praise the lord! Hallelujah! Im so happy to be alive. I am going to take the half vicodins 4 times a day for the little pain thats left until its gone, and take a 10day set of antibiotics to make sure its done right and doesnt come back. Antibiotics are amazing, and I am so thankful that we have them today, they really are a miracle. Make sure you dont be foolish with them, finish the prescription all the way to the 10th day.

** tip for not swallowing. Gently press your tongue up to the roof of your mouth, creating a sliding angle for saliva to go down your throat. When meditating for hours on end, swallowing can be a serious distraction. So monks figured out that if you point the tip of your toungue to the roof of your mouth and roll the tongue a bit, the saliva will just slide down your throat and you wont feel the urge to swallow so often. Youll only need to swallow about once every 15 minutes, or hour if your sleeping. This is so crucial in avoiding those heartbreaking moments before and during each swallow.

_____

I don't know why I feel so passionately with sharing this all with you. I think it is because I've never known such pain as an adult before (or even as a child) but we tend to think we can suck up most things. I absolutely did reach that point, like the write abover, where I said to Mr H I think I'd rather be dead then feel like this. It was just as I read above. I cried out of desperation. I boiled up onions and mashed them then forced them down because I read that it could help (it didn't). I salt gargled. Nothing works! Cold cold ice water with ice-cubes were the best thing to saying something helped, and it was very minimal and it's due to the 'numbness' it provides temperarily. If I could have slept with an icecube permantly attached to my tonsil I would have. I would spit my saliva out so I didn't have to swallow. I couldn't even take the ibuprofen to help (not that it does much by the look of things)... Drinking water hurt. My left side of my face felt like I'd been smashed. I could barely move my head from the pain. It is that overwhelming.... all the while you're thinking "it's a sore throat for goodness sake". I know I'd have thought that before experiencing this. I think (but I have the option of disagreeing in another 6 weeks of course) that this is actually MORE painful than child birth... big call I know. I had, up till now, inwardly thought people who were sick got to lounge in bed under the duvae, have the odd pain killer and enjoy the no kids while someone looked after them. Hell, I think I wanted to sign up for some sickness at times, who wouldn't? Give me a headache, 2 panadol, my bed and a hot water bottle and I'd call that bliss....

God bless you if you do get Strep Throat or bacterial / tonsil infection. Know you have my truest sympathies. I still have it of course, it still hurts me to swallow, but NO WHERE near where I was. I can pinpoint the exact moment I felt a tangible improvement, 48hrs after antibiotics. Some have improvement in 24hrs, others 72hrs. I know this cos I googled :D

Peace!

A pretty much wordless post

2010-04-08T18:12:00.000-07:00

I have Strep Throat / Tonsilitis (hard to distinquish between the two) and am on day 2 of my antibitics *praying* for some relief from the 'swallowing glass' feeling everytime I swallow. It's so bad that you spit out your excess salivia because it's nicer to do that than to feel this pain. Throw in the mix that you can't eat, or barely drink, and due to being 34wks pregnant you can't take ibuprofen to help with pain management you have one seriously sad sick and unhappy girl. That would be me. Bonus I've lost 3kg (about 6.5lbs) but I know that the minute I munch my way thru a McDonalds Combo when better I'll get that back ;)

Anywho, today I've managed to open the laptop. Progress. I'm not up to writing much so thought I'd post pics from a photo session I had done to capture me pregnant in the last stage of this pregnancy. I got my disk of photos yesterday and usually would have been all over it, but man alive, illness is enough to drain you of all happiness.

Without further ado, and thanks to Photography by Meg, here are some of my favourites:

Anywho, I had do a post to prove to myself I really was alive and not in a state of subconscious coma due to the pain.....

Hopefully I will come to you in a happier place within another 24 hrs.... I'm clock watching every minute.

Be blinded by China Glaze Celtic Sun

2010-04-06T01:39:00.000-07:00

This is China Glaze Celtic Sun. It was hard to photograph due to the ultra blinding NEON. This colour - seriously - think yellow highlighter. It's that. If you got your highlighter and coloured in your nail, it would look like Celtic Sun! It does have a very faint green tint when photographed, it's the fluroescent coming thru. Fluro Yellow. I strangely adored it. If only... If only... If ONLY it didn't need 5 coats to get it to an opaquness I was happy with.

*sigh*

This was 5 coats, and I was happy with the visable nail line still present by this stage. I wasn't going to keep going with more coats.... But to see such visable line AFTER 5 coats just goes to show you how thin this polish is. When you first apply it, it dries to a silky matte type finish (neons tend to). It's looks like it soaks into your nail. A high gloss top coat (I use Nubar Diamont Seal and Shine) brings out that shiny glassy glossy finish. I love thick glassy glossy finishes so I stick Nubar on top of everything.

But ultimately it's a shame. It's just so thin :( boo hoo. I love the colour.

I tried applying it over white - you get a thick opaqness yes, but it's not the same colour.

I tried applying it over a nudish colour (country club khaki) and it made it murky.

This colour is best applied on your bare nail. Just be prepared to put 5 plus coats on!!!

I've excited to see that the new neon yellow out by China Glaze (yellow polka dot bikini) which looks very very very similar is a lot thicker and opaque. Will try that for comparison.

Easter Reflection

2010-04-04T01:49:00.000-07:00

It is Easter Sunday here in New Zealand - most of you will be waking to your Easter Sunday soon. It is 8.50pm here and so the day is nearing it's completion.

I had such a mellow but enjoyable day today. Filled with nature, simple pleasures and loads of time to think.

Not only did I have time to think, but then I had time to re-think the thoughts I was thinking.... It was one of those days.

It started off with fears. Of giving birth. To be more specific, of the pushing stage of labor, where the intensity hits at full force and you feel as if your body is being ripped from the back of your jaw down to your butt. Not so much the labour as that moment you are physically pushing the baby down the birth canel. I understand that it's at this stage that holding the baby is sooooo close and the pain will be instantly forgotten. I know this. But as I am suffering from a little constipation and the pain associated with it (sorry, I know it's too much info, but I'm on iron pills and unfortunately this is a side effect) I knew it was just a smidgen, a fraction, of what I would experience soon. I felt scared. It really does feel like you are pooing a watermellon when you push that baby out.

But the day brought about some clarity and the fears have displaced somewhat. As I lay in the bath this early evening, I marvelled at my belly and thought about how this could quite possibly be the last time I lie in a bath pregnant. I don't bath that often. With this being my 3rd and last pregnancy, and there only being 7 weeks left of it, it is highly unlikely I'll be lowering my self into a bath again... So I had to make the most of it. And thinking came easily to me. First I thought about the enjoyment I had gained from today. It started with a lovely walk around Virginia Lake with Mr H and Mr 2 and the feeding of ducks. A picnic lunch of egg sandwhiches, fresh picked grapes, watermellon chunks, yoghurt and of course a small caramelo chocolate bitesized easter egg. The afternoon brought a slow paced walk and paddle along the beach, barefoot with my trackies rolled up, watching the pleasure Mr2 had from jumping in the shallow puddles and marvelling at how quiet our New Zealand beaches can be. It was just us. No one else. The calm before the storm. Moments captured in my brain and stored away as the time Mr2 was the baby and youngest family member. Because he won't be soon. And I needed to celebrate it before it is gone and he becomes the middle child. Mr 6's place doesn't change this time, but I remember feeling similar when he was no longer going to hold the title of 'my only child'. He still holds the title of my first born.

A mothers love doesn't divide. It multiplies. I get that. I'm not worried about the addition of #3 but I wanted to honour the memories I have where Mr2 is my baby...

As I'm nearing the end and the start of a new life in my family, I'm also realising that this is an end to an era. My childbirthing days will be over. My child carrying days will be over. My fertility will be no more. I'm excited and nostalgic at the same time.

Oh ye pregnancy - Oh how I've loathed you at times - Oh how I've enjoyed you at times. I lay you at rest.

Oh ye Fertility - Oh how I'm grateful to you for visiting me so easily - Oh how I'd never take you for granted. You have been good to me and I am blessed. May you continue to visit and bless other women.

and goodbye Easter Sunday! I look forward to seing how you play out next year!

In my Shopping Cart, Out my Shopping Cart, In my Shopping Cart...

2010-04-03T00:23:00.000-07:00

I couldn't decide if I liked these.

I was 2nd hand shopping and found these. Fit perfectly. Fantasic near new condition. Super comfy despite a heel...

In my cart they went.

Then out they went - would I wear them?

They were too loud

They were patent leather and I've been going off patent leather....

but something about them said "buy me, you will most likely regret it if you don't"

And for $11.99nz (approx $8.50US) they jumped back into my cart again.

I'm hoping the animal print fashion trend still rocks on this year.

I'm now sporting the Square Edge on my nails

2010-04-03T00:04:00.000-07:00

I filed my nails down - I did it! They look so much better don't you think?

Are there any tips/tricks for easy square filing?

I think I've managed ok, but I found it quite hard to get the square look - had to concentrate. It's almost as if I had to leave the outsides slightly longer and file in the centre of the nail to created the square look I was going for.... It's cos usually I don't file my nails that much and they naturally grow with a slight

curve/rounded end. (Not an oval nail, but like a square edge that is rounded off) I really wanted that sharp square edge this time.

Would nail clippers give a better result?

How do you like to shape your nails?