Saturday, 27 July 2013

Cushions and the cupcake challenge......

I finally got out my sewing machine and made the cushions that I've been procrastinating about!!! I heard a good talk in church on Sunday and he said 'Procrastinators of the world unite.....tomorrow!' So I thought, right, I'm going to make those cushions and I did!





I'm very happy with the way they turned out.  Actually, they look exactly as I imagined them...which usually doesn't happen to me, lol.  The 'N' represents out surname and "92' is when Honey and I were married and started out N family.  I've made a couple of others and have more designs to do yet but these 5 are for our family room.  Then I was thinking.....how many cushions does one house need?????  I figure I'll sew them, swap them around, there's another lounge to cushion and a couple of beds!!!  All I know is that I'm enjoying sewing and being creative and the TV has stayed off the whole time. {the TV is enjoying the break ;)}  

So, I mentioned last entry that I would be introducing a guest blogger.  Well, here she is........


My beautiful daughter Macy.  I recently gave Macy a challenge that she accepted so we thought we'd document it here on my blog.  Macy loves to bake so her challenge is to make cupcakes each week for a year!!!!  She's made the cupcakes this week.............

The Cupcake Challenge
52 weeks. 52 cupcakes.


Week 1.
Vanilla cupcakes with nutella.


The nutella is put on the top when the batter goes into the oven so cooks into the cupcake to give it a nutella flavour with each bite.  Yum!  See you next week.....Love Macy.

Well, that's all for this week.  The school holidays finish tomorrow and it's back to work, school and routine.  What a fabulous two weeks I've had.  I hope you've had a good past couple of weeks, holidays or not.

Keep smiling :)
trudy_n xoxx

Thursday, 25 July 2013

Home and Away......

School holidays.....gotta love em.  I really love them and one of the perks of working in a school means....I get the school holidays off work!  Yippee.  And this holidays, two delightful friends and I planned a little girlie getaway down in Picton, in the South Island.  I also tagged a few extra days on the end of our trip and headed down to Mum's in Rangiora.

I've never been away with just the girls or maybe 'ladies' is more us!  Anyway, here's how it all went down.  Lorraine has a cousin.  The cousin and his family live in Picton.  They were going away for the holidays to a warmer climate.  They offered their home to Lorraine to use and she invited me {I felt very privileged} and Karen {and one or two who couldn't make it} to spend the week with her!  Karen and I said 'oh my gosh, we'd love too' {or something like that} and the rest is history.

We had an amazing time.  We caught the ferry down....don't panic, the sea only had swells of 3 - 3.5m and a storm warning!  We swallowed our sea sickness tablets and got on the ferry.  Macy came with us, as my mum and dad were meeting us in Picton to take her down to their place for the week {lucky Mace} so the four of us kept each other entertained and surprisingly, there was only really half an hour of big waves, thank goodness.  But we did sit by the kids playground, big mistake.

Mum and Dad met us at the ferry station {what is it called??? ferry terminal!! duh} and whisked Macy away for a week of farming, baking, sewing and grand parenting down on the farm.  She was so excited to see them and I knew she was going to have a wonderful time.  We were collected by our chauffeur {the cousin's friend} and delivered to our holiday home.  Hold the phone!!!!  Our holiday home was gorgeous!!!!  Views amazing!!!!  Spa pool!!!!!  Private jetty!!!!!  Might be easier if I showed off  {whoops}  I mean showed you with some photos.......

The view out the ferry window...once the ocean had calmed down.

Sunset from the jetty
Our spa.  So amazing sitting in a 35 degree spa while it's 2 degrees outside!  Looking at the stars.
Watching the ferry from the couch.  Would never get sick of the views.....but wouldn"t get much else done.
Perfect weather.
Crystal clear water.
Early one morning.....I kayaked all around that bay.  Believe it!!!!
}
I was in love with the private jetty.  {Felt like I was on Dawson's Creek!!!}
View down to the jetty from the front deck.
We spent our days lazing about, reading, shopping, going to cafes and second hand shops, sight seeing, eating, talking and lots of laughing.  Let me show you......

This is the car we drove around in!  I know right!!!!!
Lots of cool shops....'Now panic and freak out' should be my motto!!!
Hot chocolates and cafe stops.  We had some lovely meals at some gorgeous cafes.
Saw lots of beautiful buildings.....
Woke up first morning to a pod of dolphins in the bay and discovered I could speak dolphin!!!
Plenty of reading and relaxing in the winter sun.
Before I knew it and after an earthquake {freaky} it was time for me to catch the bus down to Rangiora.  Another adventure!  The scenery was beautiful and I had a peaceful bus ride until a smelly tourist {no judgement, true fact} took up residence in the seat next to me.  But I was happy when I got there and was able to spend some quality time with my mum and dad, and Macy who was there waiting for me.  It was a lovely and peaceful weekend.  And all too soon that was over too and it was time to fly home to Honey.  I'd really missed him over the week. And I was looking forward to being back at home with him, our pets and my blazing fire. 

On the way to Rangiora...before the smelly tourist got on!
Feeding the chickens.
Trekking around the farm in pj's and crocs.  Hahahaha, the animals didn't care!
Me, Macy and Mum xxxx {we missed you Drewe!}
Time flew and then it was time to leave the farm.
It was a great first week of the holidays, over too soon but so lovely.  Special big thanks to Lorraine and Karen.....I had a great time on holiday with you.  You are both remarkable women and hold a special place in my heart.  And as always, Mum and Dad....you're the best!! xxx

I'll be back over the weekend to show you what I've been up to this week and to introduce a special guest blogger to my blog!  Exciting!!!

See you soon

trudy_n xoox



Monday, 8 July 2013

Farewell June.....

I've said it before and I'll say it again!  This year is flying by.  June has gone and it's already the 8th of July!  We've had the shortest day so very slowly the days will get longer and brighter, yay!!!  But as another months ends, a good thing happens.....you get to see my photo a day photos.  That's 6 months in a row.  I'm so proud of myself for sticking to this......if only it was this easy to stick to a diet!!

June in pictures.
Day 1.  Something beginning with B
Day 2.  A moment.  Sneaking McD's into the movies.
Day 3.  On my table.  My precious white milk bottles.
Day 4 .  After dark.
Day 5.  Environment.  Our recycling!
Day 6.  Transport.  Macy's scooter, pimped out by her big brother.
Day 7.  Into the sun.  Beautiful winter sunshine.
Day 8.  An animal.  Demetri's elephant scratching post.
Day 9.  Down low.  Demetri hiding under the washing rack.
Day 10.  You!  {that's me!}
Day 11.  So funny!  Suddenly camera shy.
Day 12.  11 o'clock.  A foggy day.
Day 13.  Kitchen.
Day 14.  Texture.  Love lacy doilies.
Day 15.  From above.  Demetri the rugby fan.
Day 16.  Families
Day 17.  Centred.  Macy centre stage giving her winning speech.
Day 18.  Street.
Day 19.  Currently reading.
Day 20.  Cute.  The kids when they were little....cuuute.
Day 21.  Lunch.  Hot dogs!!!
Day 22.  Enjoying life......love my new jug!  It's the simple things.
Day 23.  Last.....last thing at night...check instagram!
Day 24.  Negative space.  Lampshade and floorboards.
Day 25.  Sharp.
Day 26.  Empty
Day27.  Into the sun. Check out the snowy hills...brrrrrr
Day 28.. Red
Day 29.  In my bag.  Essentials...inhaler and paw paw cream {and fizzy lollies}
Day 30.  Handwriting......little love post-it from my Honey.




 I just love taking these little slice of life photos and looking back over the past month.  Only 6 more months and I've achieved my goal of doing it for a year.  I might even get something nice to congratulate myself for doing so well so far!   Hahahaha.


Have a great Monday.

trudy_n xoxx