A very special Monday..

Most Monday nights, we have a small group of very good friends come over for dinner. We all take turns cooking, which is a great break for me, but I love seeing what crazy things everyone makes. Anything from fondue to pork hocks, or coq au vin to spaetzle. It gets a little out of hand some nights. After consuming a ridiculous amount of food, we game. Like the geeks and nerds we are. 

But most of the time, the boys are already bathed and in bed and only hear of the stories of the dinners, or via leftovers. But on Labour Day, everyone came over early and got to hang out with H&W. They loooooooooooved it! And they loved the BBQ everyone pitched in for. 

Willem  trying on Aunty Jess' boots

And not everything had bacon! See!!

Aunty Jess having some boy-time.

Thanks guys for making our guys' day!
Love you all!!! xx

Another Sunny Weekend!

Life is good here in Wellington. We have lucked out with the weather. It's been simply stunning. Being able to play outside and get that fresh air makes all the difference in the world. 

We had a great weekend spent with family and spending the time to catch up on little things ie. tree trimming and mending dresses (that I can actually fit into again!).

Happy 22 months to these little flower children of ours!

Hanging with Opa!

Finally fixing some summery clothes. 

And school holidays are now over! Thank goodness! The boys and I were back at Playcentre today. I'm so happy they love it! 

Good times.

And happy Monday!

xx

The weekend catch up...

... not including my soon to be written love note to the All Blacks - who, yes!, won the Rugby World Cup on Sunday night! I think I'm still recovering... but here is the rest of the weekend!!

Chaos Kitchen. I can't wait to have bench space. And a pantry....

Running out of space. And the celebratory cake stencil!

Lemon Sour Cream Cake from the good old Edmonds Cookbook
recipe below for you eager beavers!

We are suckers for marketing.
Jacob and his Duff, me and my Dirty Granny Ciders (notice the crochet work?) - very nice btw!

Granny Squares. From now (top) and a couple years back (bottom). Such a difference!
And Halloween bunting!

Peabody you reckon? Jacob excited over his thrift find, Bruce being sleepy.

So, yes, a very lovely weekend. Catching up with some lovely friends, baking, thrifting, more pre-move de-cluttering and a bit of Rugby!

How was yours? 

125 g butter, softened 

2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup Edmonds plain baking flour
1 teaspoon Edmonds baking powder
1/2 cup sour cream
icing sugar

Beat butter, lemon rind, sugar and eggs together until light and fluffy.
Sift flour and baking powder together.
Fold sifted ingredients into egg mixture alternately with sour cream, mixing until smooth.
Pour mixture into a greased and lined 20 cm round cake tin.
Bake at 160°C for 45 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.
Leave in tin for 5-10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.
When cold dust with icing sugar.

via Edmonds Cookbook

The Weekend.

According to my iPhone.

Jacob working on our chairs. And a sniff from Timmy.

Fill in the Blank Friday...

1.   My idea of pure perfection would be a quiet weekend-ish day during the week, painting in the sunshine, maybe reading a book laying in the backyard and dozing off in the warmth of the sun.

2.   Love and Food make the world go 'round.

3.  If it weren't for  Jacob I'd  never have believed we'd ever be moving to NZ..

4.  Bloggers are  awesome. Even when they're whinging.

5.  If I had  ten cents  I'd buy you a piece of ten cent candy.

6.  I'm glad it's Friday because  this week has been physically demanding beyond anything that I've had to deal with in a while. Will be happy to be home, cuddling on the NEW couch with the boys this evening.

7.  Something I'm excited about is  that we will be back in New Zealand soon for the Rugby World Cup! (very very excited!!)

I'm always late on these. Maybe because our Friday ends before most. But from now on - I'll be playing catch-up a week behind. And you know... That's ok. 

Anywho. I hope everyone's week has been great! What do you have planned?

Wristcutters - A Love Story

Ok. Here is my movie recommendation for the weekend!

Zia: Being here with you reminds me of what I was like before my suicide. 

Mikal: What were you like? 

Zia: I was happy...

Yes, I know. A dark comedy about suicide? Yes. It is.

I really liked this movie. You should try and see it sometime.

And yes, the Gogol Bordello references are gold. 

Check out this review of it.

Have a good, happy and safe weekend!
xoxo

Another Anti-AFL weekend...

Apparently Collingwood won... 

What a gorgeous weekend for a BBQ! And friends, beers, and hanging out in the backyard playing Kubb...

Jackal's action shot

2kg of chicken wings

Timmy getting some cuddle action from Julie

Sleepy Bruce enjoying the sunshine

Bryan & Julie

I think Duncan and Jackal were dancing at this point...

Bruce in the field of play

Marshmallow & a fire calls for...

S'mores & Champagne

Friday night we were able to check out Erin's new Women's Circus venture! It was one of the best one's yet! It's called Ladies Prefer Brunettes (so true) ! It was cheeky funny, very well choreographed and just plain fantastic! I'm not sure when they will be performing it again, but if anyone if interested - below are the details...

So back into another week! Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend and has a happy Monday!!

xo

My first week back on the bike!

Happy Friday everyone!!!

I'm so happy! This has been my first week back on my fabulous bike after my accident. I've been taking easier than I would like - riding to work in the morning and PTing most of the way home out of the city - but it's amazing... I love the feeling of the wind and being outside in the mornings.

My new bell is louder than ever and I love it! Check out the Cycle Style shop if you can. They have some very lovely things for your ride... Especially the bags! But I'm a sucker for useful bags.

Anywho, not sure what the plans are for the weekend, but you should go and check out our show at the Brunswick Street Gallery! It's going for one more week! It all goes so fast, doesn't it..

I've started thinking about a few new projects I'd like to get started on, but one step at a time.

Well, have a good weekend all!! and thank you to everyone for their support this past week!
xoxo

*new buttons on etsy

I feel like I made these ages ago now... I've had them made, photographed and just patiently waiting to be uploaded online.

Go check out the new buttons for sale!!! 

So tomorrow is another Monday. Bah! Evil Mondays. I try not to have such a negative look on Mondays, but I can't help it. What is it about the doom and gloom of the being of the week that seems so horrible?

Anyway, before the weekend is over, I will do some drawing... I've started yet another one, she's pretty gorgeous ;)

Happy Sunday!

xo

*happy friday

found

found

found

found

 found

Have good weekend everyone!!!!

xoxo

*the weekend update

Image : D Sharon Pruitt via Flickr

 I love long weekends. Even though I've been battling hay fever and a cold, it was still great. We had a couple walks with the boys, I did some drawing, cleaning, lots of yummy cooking, some work out in the backyard yesterday...

One of the coolest things that we do, that I am really starting to see benefits of, is composting. We have been trying to improve the soil quality in the veggie patch for about a year and a half now. I think it was once a sandpit, but it was sectioned off and nice and close to the back fence, so it seemed perfect! But the soil was so sandy and horrible. Yesterday we turned it, got two wheelbarrows of dirt from compost, which was a gorgeous black, luscious dirt - if dirt can be luscious! - added some rooster booster and turned the entire thing. I hope I hope I hope it works. I planted some zucchini and eggplant and replanted my chamomile. The more I'm out in the garden, the more I love it - except for the allergies...

I think we have sorted out the Zombie costume for this year's Zombie Shuffle!!! 

Something along these lines...

All class!!

xo

*the long weekend

Is it really almost over??? So sad. But I was able to do heaps of stuff around the house. Cleaned. Rearranged my office. Did a little sewing. Lots of crocheting. I should have been drawing, but wasn't in the mood. Watched a lot of Rugby.. not happy about the Hurricane's game, but I'll survive.

Here are the random bits I did...

Got my toys together.

And painted some old frames.

The 'after' is much nicer now.

Fixed one of Timmy's old toys..

He's a happy boy now!

Worked on the Granny Square Monster Blankie.

And organised like mad...

And went a little nuts with the Blue Tack and some dodgy old samples from work. 
I love being able to use things that would just get thrown away.(*)


And last but not least.

Taking advantage of the fact it's still semi-warm enough to hang out the laundry. 

*So. Yeah. My work and a few other companies, I'm noticing, have so much wastage. I work with a few companies that go through constant retail display changeovers and the materials just go to waste. It's been really doing my head in. I'm not sure if I could ever do anything to change this, but at least I can take advantage of the throw away materials. Whether it be old samples, paper nobody will use, vinyl material that if misprinted, would just get chucked out. I'm trying... but having fun with it. 

xo