Monday, January 25, 2010
When I think of our feathered friends, this is my reaction:




I hate them. I hate their wings. Their feathers. That they fly. The smell. Their beady eyes. Everything about them. Euw. I feel weird just thinking about them flying around *shudder*.

However, because I'm very contrary (just call me Mary!) I adore anything with a bird motif. I've got t-shirts with bird prints on them. I've got vintage bird prints on the wall. Necklaces and rings with birds (Meadowlark Swallow necklace is my current fave). Feather earrings. Anything birdie, I love it.

Just not an actual real one.

Tart at 8:02 PM | 2 comments
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
As I mentioned recently, I lost my make up bag travelling. Talk about pain in the arse.

I spent some time (and considerable money) replacing the items I lost. I know I haven't got everything, but I'm slowly getting there. Thankfully, my travel insurance will cover the costs of the replacement items.

Yesterday I picked up some stuff by Chi Chi, which is a brand of make up I have seen (in Farmers) but not used. I thought the names were cute, so picked up "Maneater" (cheek colour) and "Major Hissy Fit" (eye shadow) LOL. I also like that the products are "only tested on family and friends"






The Chi Chi cosmetics remind me of Benefit, which I really like (and wish you could get here in NZ!). I especially like Benetint, Dr Feelgood and High Beam (but think BadGal mascara is a waste of time LOL). I knew I should've stocked up when I was in Singapore. Oh well. Next time.

Tart at 9:15 PM | 1 comments
Sunday, January 17, 2010
It has been such crap weather the past few days that I decided I needed cheering up. So I baked some chocolate cupcakes.

These are fantastic cupcakes, I can't remember where I got the recipe (somewhere from the internet) but these are really moist, not crumbly and so choco-lovely! I get many compliments on these (and many requests to make them, in fact, have an "order" for next week, for my friends son's 2nd birthday party).






They're easy to make and because I like to spread the love, below is the recipe.

Chocolate Cupcakes

¾ c cocoa
1 ½ c plain flour
1 ½ c suga
1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
2 eggs
¾ c warm water
¾ c milk
3 tablespoons safflower oil (or canola)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Heat oven to 180°C (350°F). Line muffin trays with paper patty cups.

In one large bowl, sift cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

Add eggs, warm water, milk, oil and vanilla essence.

Mix until smooth.

Fill patty cups (not quite to the top) and bake for about 15 minutes.

Cool on wire rack and then ice with chocolate butter icing.

Scoff.

Should make about 18 medium-sized cupcakes.

Tart at 7:45 PM | 2 comments
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Today I had lunch with some of my favourite people... and their mums.

I met up with a few girlfriends who have all had babies in the past year. It wasn't like the lunches we used to have (booze, ciggies and more booze) but it was still fun and great to see some gorgeous wee faces.

However, I was mocked by my friends who seemed to think the bag I carried (my good old faithful Calvin Klein) contained more than their handbags and baby bags combined. I beg to differ. Take a look.




The bag is about 30cm across, so not a huge bag. But manages to fit everything I need on a daily basis.





Here's what I carried in it today (from top): notebook (new purchase, from Wanda Harland, a great new store only a few hundred metres from my house), diary, two pens, bus timetable, business card holder, Summer City programme, small notebook, USB, purse, pair of earrings, OPI nail polish "I'm Not Really a Waitress", Clarins 3-in-1 creme colour, Prada glasses, Prada sunglasses, iPod, keys, cellphone, sunblock, hair tie, lip balm, liquid eyeliner, tweezers, three lipglosses, mascara, another lipgloss, FACE Stockholm blush.

Just the essentials folks. Okay, that's quite a lot of shit to carry around. I didn't photograph all the junk either (receipts, bus passes, random coins and keys LOL). And to think this is my "holiday" bag, wait till you see my "work" one (which always includes another pair of shoes LOL).


Tart at 9:51 PM | 1 comments
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I planted a small vege garden yesterday.

I'm so proud of my patch of dirt. It's a small garden with only a few plants. I want to see how I go with these before I add any more. If I manage not to kill anything, I'm going to plant potatoes (but not until October), rocket, tomato, chilli, aubergines. Basically anything I like to eat, I'm going to try and grow.





I won't bore you with lots of updates, but I hope to take a picture each month of my "babies" to chart my progress.

Tart at 6:51 PM | 0 comments
Monday, January 11, 2010
So I’m sure you don’t want to hear much about my beach holiday with Will. There was sun, sand, BBQs and beaches. Not a great deal else to report LOL. Reading, chilling out and trying to relax, although kind of difficult when you have about 28 people staying with you!

My sister and her tribe came for a few days too (they were in Auckland visiting her partners family). Great seeing my family again (especially as I wasn't with them for Christmas or New Year) and they got to meet Will.

My sister told me that I am again "keeping to type" LOL. I guess she means that I am attracted to sporty, intelligent, blonde men (which as I type this I realised could also describe my father, euw LOL).

What I like about Will is:

  1. He looks unbearably sexy with stubble
  2. He is an enthusiastic and very good cook
  3. He didn’t complain when I insisted on playing a Dolly Parton CD I found repeatedly for two days
  4. He can do the crossword… in pen! (Unlike me who needs pencil because of all the mistakes)
  5. His smile
  6. He was very good with my 3 nieces and nephew who followed him everywhere
  7. He doesn’t care that I don’t like to surf, kayak, dive, fish or have anything remotely to do with the water (except look at it or lie near it reading LOL)
  8. His hands
  9. His back (and the nice bum attached to it)
  10. He didn’t seem to mind that my idea of “strenuous exercise” was walking from the deck to the refrigerator to get a drink
  11. He didn't put any pressure on me or us to define what we are together
  12. He let me drive his car
  13. He is cute and grumpy in the mornings (just like me, well, the grumpy part anyway)
  14. He likes to read books (this is a first, I have never been with a guy who liked to read before LOL)
  15. He can filet a fish
  16. And cook it perfectly
  17. He seems to like me
  18. He looks good in a towel
  19. And out of one
  20. He is sweet and thoughtful
Okay, that's enough. I'm making myself barf LOL.

In unrelated news, I got a haircut today, it's shorter and asymmetrical curly do. I like it. Very sassy.

Tomorrow I am going to plant a vege garden! I'm terribly excited and nervous about it. I hope I don't kill them and I hope that in about 2 months time I'll be able to eat something from my very own city garden. Will keep you updated on this riveting project of mine LOL.

Tart at 8:28 PM | 1 comments
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Hello. Tap. Tap. Is this thing on? Hi.

I'm back, not sure if anyone even realised I was gone LOL.

I'm on holiday at the moment, I was in Vietnam/Cambodia for all of December and had a great time (apart from the 5 days in hospital in Cambodia).











































































Highlights of the trip were:
  • wandering around the quaint, quiet streets of Hoi An
  • getting two gorgeous dresses, two jackets, two leather bags and two pairs of shoes made for $250
  • catching up with awesome friends in Phnom Penh and their incredible hospitality
  • doing a cooking class in Hoi An
  • jumping on the back of motorcycle taxis and zooming around Ho Chi Minh City
  • air conditioning
  • amazing food (I kid you not, not one dud meal the entire time)
Some lowlights of the trip were:

  • spending 5 days in hospital in Cambodia
  • losing my camera in Ho Chi Minh City
  • constantly getting ripped off in HCMC (exaggerated tourist prices in the markets were the worst)
  • leaving my make up bag and other stuff on the plane
Once back in NZ, my sweet new man picked me up and whisked me away for a week at the beach at his parents beach house. I had thought it was going to be relaxing and quiet, but after one day together, we had visitors for the remainder of our time there. For 3 days we had 28 people stay! Thankfully, the house was large enough to cope with the numbers. Actually, the beach house was amazing, gorgeous views, great furniture and art work. But also very comfortable (so I didn't feel so bad when I tracked in sand or put my feet on the sofas).

We came back from the beach yesterday and spent today just mooching around Auckland and catching up with some friends. Tomorrow I'm flying back to Wellington. Can't wait to get home. Hopefully Wellington weather will be good. I've got a week hanging around before I get back to work on Jan 18. It's not going to be easy, sitting behind a desk for 8 hours after I haven't been working for over 6 weeks.

Ugh. And now I just imagined the number of emails I'll have.


Tart at 10:57 PM | 2 comments