31 Things to Do Before I am 31??????

21 May

Jesus Christ. I had a heart attack typing that title in.

I cannot believe than in a few short months I am going to be 31. I know that people feel a bit stink as they get older, but you know what? I am actually enjoying it. I am enjoying this time right now. I am happy (mostly), confident, and more self aware than ever.

So, with that in mind, it’s time to write my list. I should have started sooner, but I am a procrastinator…

31 Things to Do Before I am 31 (July 1st).

1) wear decorative nails – leopard print or the likes

2) have a little experiment with some hair colour

3) get either a small finger tattoo ( I love Florence Welch’s birdcage) or the Audrey Kawasaki one I have been lusting after.

4) run 25 kilometers in one go (a-la half marathon without the pressure)

5) make something (anything!) on my sewing machine

6) bake macarons

7) take the husband out for an unexpected date

8) go to the dentist

9) make something arty

10) get my piano tuned

11) learn to play an epic piano piece

12) make a musical video project for you tube

13) send a care package to a friend

14) have a day of making soups and preserves

15) go out dancing

16) walk part of the kepler track

17) hula hoop with a friend

18) teach Cleo to do an impressive trick

19) give my time voluntarily to a charity     DONE

20) make an angel cake (12 egg whites!!!)

21) go to Dunedin for a weekend                      DONE

22) save enough money for airfares to the UK

23) lose a couple of kilos

24) write a song (not a children’s song for once!)

25) go to a class (cooking, art, photography, something like that)

26) get dressed up to go out for dinner

27) get a full body massage                 DONE

28) get our thank you cards done from our wedding

29) go to queenstown for a night out

30) make something for the house

31) downsize and simplify

It’s Been a While

17 May

And a LOT has changed.

We have decided to move. Again. Sheesh.

Actually, one step ahead of you there, Nic and Iliam are already gone!

I am excited to announce that we are moving back to Wellington.

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Positives/Negatives: Changing a Whinge into A Whinny!

30 Mar

As I first sat down to write this post I really wanted to have a vent. Lots of stuff is going on in our lives at the moment, and although I would love to spill my guts about everything, alas it is not to be. It’s not that I am totally in to keeping secrets, its just that some  of the things that are going on in my head are not overly positive or important.

This is a post about letting go and changing negatives in to positives.

Negative: I screwed up a friendship

Positive: I’ve learned not what to do next time…

I tried to fix a friendship a while ago.  It felt a bit like I had murdered something. I said something I regretted – which unfortunately came across as me being an insensitive bitch.  That’s all i’m gonna say about that.

 Negative: I lost lots of hours at my work

Positive: I started dabbling in music tuition

For a wee while I gave myself the opportunity to wallow in my own pain. I lost financial security and a lot of self- worth. With all that free time I had acquired, I got the opportunity to be in the right place at the right time (online, on facebook), and got myself a sweet teaching deal. Out of that, I have doubled my hours and am getting paid more and working less hours.

Negative: I had to cancel a few things for our wedding

Positive: I didn’t go in to debt!

my work fell through right before our wedding. I sobbed, cancelled that appointment for my facial, and cancelled the unnecessary cupcakes for the reception. What came out of that was more personal touches at the wedding, and not a lifetime of regret through getting a bank loan!

Negative: I wanted the designer dog

Positive: I got Cleo!

I love Cleo. Although I really wanted a french bulldog, we could not afford a $3000 dog. Enter Cleo, bargain price purebred bullmastiff. Light of my life. I love her so so much I couldn’t imagine not having her around. My walks have never been the same since she came along.

Negative:Life may be changing

Positive: Life may be changing…..

My lips are sealed on this one.

 

The moral of this post has been…

Sometimes life is shit. sometimes you are met with annoying things. If Lana Del Rey comes on the radio, switch the station. Look for the opportunities to make things good. Allow yourself time to grieve, but get on with it. No one likes a whinger and too many people spend too much time feeling sorry for themselves. There is nothing worse that spending time with someone that complains constantly. So, stop it. Make a change and start viewing things in a positive way.

 

Words Can’t Express How Much I love This

17 Mar

found on Sad and Useless

Vancouver photographer Dina Goldstein is amazing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a difference a weekend makes

4 Mar

Hi all
Well, I have been feeling a bit down in the dumps lately to tell you the truth. Life has been getting me down a bit, and I have found old insecurities shaking me up.
Living down at the butt end of the world can be hard, especially with being a social creature such as myself. I miss my friends, and they are scattered all over the world.
Nic doesn’t really like to go out much, and I don’t really have any friends here, but on the odd occasion that something social is happening and I am invited to partake, I am reminded that life isn’t always doom and gloom.
Invercargill is a small place, and that’s not always good. It can be a bit boring, but when you find yourself at the weekend being able to do the things you want to do with friends, then it really don’t matter where you live.
I went to a bar on Friday and ended up catching up with an old school friend and meeting a really lovely couple that we chatted to for hours. honestly, my throat was so sore from talking so much! I felt elated when I got home.
On Saturday the boys and I went for a 2 hour walk in the bush with Cleo. I loved it. I don’t think they did, but at least they were not whinging when we were walking! We came home and played risk for the rest of the day. Relaxing, and fun until I spat the dummy (there is only so many bad rolls a lady can take).
Today, I had the great surprise of an old friend coming over for coffee. She has got to be one of the busiest, creative people that I know, and after chatting with her for a while I feel SO inspired to do something creative. I don’t know what it will be, but I am going to investigate some ideas. I figure I am good at DIY, as long as I stay motivated to complete a task. I also think a makeover in on the cards. perhaps some new ink (I have had some ideas for a while now), although the last time I was tattooed I swore that would be the last time I would endure that kind of pain. It was on my ribs, though, and NEVER again will I get tattooed on my ribs. OW.

So, overall a good weekend. I have had a couple of possible job opportunities in the last few days, so I shall see if I can get something sorted and start taking control of my life.

Looking forward to the week and what opportunities it may bring for me.

Love from the deep south,

xx Em.

accessories

25 Feb

The year has well and truly started, and as the weather is changing, I think of outfit possibilities and events to attend.

I think this year my focus clothing wise is going to be accessories. I already have several lovely dresses, that I am going to fancy up, with a few cunning changes.

So far I have to attend:

Hubby’s 40th – we are going to go to Wellington, and have a fancy dinner out. Nic is not one to entirely dress up (although I am considering buying him a velvet dinner jacket for his birthday (!)

Here is some inspiration around some basics I already own.

#3 accessories

Fitted shirt
£60 - bruunsbazaar.com

Oasis button shirt
$70 - oasis-stores.com

Cotton skirt
$355 - orlakiely.com

Nine west shoes
$79 - macys.com

accessories #2

Stop Staring little black dress
$154 - unique-vintage.com

Dorothy Perkins pink high heels
$69 - dorothyperkins.com

Anniel ballet flat
$129 - stevenalan.com

Anya Hindmarch red clutch
$550 - my-wardrobe.com

Prada sunglasses
$290 - nordstrom.com

J Crew feather shawl
$23 - jcrew.com

accesories #1

Topshop boyfriend jacket, $80
Tipped Vest Dress, $45
Type Z tall heels, $90
FOSSIL owl handbag, $30
Tarina tarantino jewelry, $250
Ray-Ban folding wayfarer sunglasses, £140

Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

xx

Em.

Blue hair

17 Feb

Some days when I worry about having enough work I fantasise about dying my hair back to a festive colour. I have dabbled in pink and lavender, and I would LOVE to go blue.

All these images are from Tumblr and Squidoo. Hope I am not stealing anyone’s handiwork. If so, please let me know and I will adjust my inspiration board. Likewise, if you are NOT on the board, have blue hair and want to be, let me know!

EDIT: OF COURSE! Thanks Allie! The question is: Do you prefer the wig or the real thing?

 source

 source

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