Getting paid to walk?!?!

Today, my boss and I went on a walk at lunch time. It was amazing. Amazing how? You might ask yourself. Amazing because I actually did it, I didn’t do the normal “oh, maybe we should do this tomorrow.” And then continue the routine until the idea is not suggested anymore.

Walking has actually become a regular occurrence in my life. I go on a walk two to three times a week with my mum. It’s a 30-40 minute walk, but it is good exercise. We walk to a wharf “around the corner” from our house, and the view we get when we walk to the end of the wharf is just awesome.

My boss and I are going to do this walking at lunch time about three times a week. Just walking, at a relatively fast pace, along the beach. So, not only are we getting paid to walk the other bonus is we get to look out at the ocean, beautiful. Oh, and we are being productive with our time by using wasted lunch time minutes to exercise.

Day 14 - A TV Show You're Currently Addicted To

Day 13 - Your Favourite Musician and Why?

 

Ringo Starr

Why? I was brought up on the Beatles. My father was an avid fan and even had a sort of shrine for them, which is now mine. Why Ringo? He has written some awesome music and been Postman Pat. Now I could come and say Paul McCartney was my favourite or George Harrison or John Lennon but they certainly don’t have names like Ringo Starr.

Dark days

RE: this post yesterday

I have wanted to cry since I saw the first news headline. That is very selfish of me, but it is true.

This second earthquake to hit Christchurch is less in magnitude than the September 4th 7.1 magnitude earthquake, but it has been so much more devastating.

There have already been over 4000 aftershocks since the September 4th earthquake. This earthquake was originally pinned as an after shock, but has been suggested it is a completely different earthquake.

It has already become New Zealand's second biggest disaster (the first being the 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earth Quake) having already reported at least 65 deaths, of which only 32 have been named. I was watching the news coverage, which has been on all day since the quake, last night and we were being shown unedited, straight from the camera footage. The footage was showing bodies being recovered from the rubble. The bodies were pulled out, completely covered in a sheet or other covering and then lined up about 50 metres from the scene. It did make me shed a tear.

Due to the overload of injuries, there has become a lack of ambulances, so people have been using their SUV’s to help transport the injured.

It has been said to look like a war zone.

Here are some photos:

There were people in the steeple when it fell from the Christchurch Cathedral.

This building, the Pyne Gould Guiness Building, had the most reported trapped people. One lady survived by clinging for her life on the top floor. She was stuck on top of the collapsed building through some of the aftershocks.

People using their SUV’s as emergency vehicles.

Two buses were crushed.

These images we taken from nzhearld.co.nz and from wikipedia.com

My thoughts and prayers are with any one and every one effected by this horrible tragedy. I pray the coming days are better than the past and current dark days.

Day 12 - A Photograph of the Town You Live in

Auckland

I live on the side of Auckland that is at the bottom of the photo. It’s is called the North Shore City, but it is more of a group of suburbs. The majority of us refer to Auckland City as “the city” when we go out for the night or go into the city for the day. Auckland City is the main city business district for the Auckland Region.

This Sucks

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/8882353

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10707996 

It really sucks, which is the only world that really describes the feeling. It just sucks. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who are in Christchurch and all effected areas.

Day 11 - What's in your Makeup Bag?

I don’t actually have a makeup bag that keeps my make up 24/7. My makeup is kept in my dresser drawers. One drawer holds all the mascara, eyeliner and eye shadow and another drawer holds my brushes, blushes, foundation, concealer and misc. items.

If I had to pack a makeup bag for my normal day to day use it would consist of:

Mascara

Mary Kay Espresso Eye shadow which I keep in my…

  Mary Kay Compact

 

And lastly, my eye shadow brush.

Now if I were planning to go for a night out and needed to pack my makeup bag to take to a friends house to get ready it would include, the above plus foundation, blush, bronzer, needed brushes and some more eye shadows for a bigger selection.

Cold in the Summer Time

This weekend I had big plans. Well, decent sized plans. Doesn’t everything else seem so much bigger and more important when you’re sick? Better yet, how the heck can it be justified for anyone to get a cold in summer????? (Yes, it does deserve five question marks.)

After work on Thursday, I went and met my friend Natalie. She asked me to be one of her bridesmaid and I, of course, said a big happy YES! The first duty was going dress shopping on Saturday, so I added it into my schedule.

My schedule included going to the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival in the City and the to Farmer’s Markets in Royal Oak, both of which had been planned for a good month. But no, anything planned after the dress shopping on Saturday was not completed. Maybe if I had not gone out to visit friends on Friday night I would not have fallen ill. But I doubt it.

This time I actually took some time out. Normally when I am sick I continue on, I like to think of myself as a machine. Sickness is not a programme I like or that I have let myself become accustomed to. But for once I didn’t ‘Solider On’, I stayed home, I slept when I felt tired and I took medicine in four hour intervals.

I missed out on some really cool outings, that will now have to be added to my ‘To Do in 2012’ list, in return for feeling a lot better than I felt on Saturday. I wish I could say that I feel 100% better, if I am lucky I will be able to say this tomorrow or the day after.

The Great Who?!?!

After having made that column on the left side of my blog, over six months ago, called ‘Books I Plan To Read’, I have finally read one of the books. The book listed first in fact. ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F.Scott Fitzgerald has been completed over the last two weeks.

The book in a whole is actually a rather good read. That is after you get past the first two or so chapters. So, for a book that is only 180 odd pages long, the spell binding magic only happens after about 80 pages. Which is why it took me so long to read such a short book. It left me rather disappointed for a few days, I had to tell myself to continue reading, “If a book has been so highly regarded and put on so many must read lists it has to be an amazing book”.

As for something that highly intrigued me while reading the book. The “F” stands for Francis. Thanks Francis Scott Fitzgerald. You’re middle and ending turned your “masterpiece” into a rather wonderful story.

Day 10 – A Photo of your Favourite Place to Eat

Wingers. Yum… Yum… Yum…

Good night

So most nights I get “tucked in” by my Mummy. The exceptions are the nights I go to bed earlier than her and am to tired to call her and the nights I go out and get in when she is already asleep. Although, I always tell her goodnight and I love you, no matter what.

I love being tucked in. Although, I don’t really get “tucked in” in the sense of her tucking my blanket around me. My getting “tucked in” is talking with my Mum about anything and saying good night to her and telling her I love her.

Every time after she has “tucked me” in and she goes to leave my room I say, “Guess what?” And she goes, “What?” I say, “I love you!” She says, “I love you, too.” And then I say, “I love you more!”

Some nights if she is a bit tired that little scenario is cut to me saying, “Guess what?” And her saying, “I love you!” Which is when I say, “I love you more!”

It is one of the many things that I adore about my relationship with my mother. Not all the people I know have the same relationships with their parents that I am lucky enough to have with my mother and that I was lucky enough to have had with my father.

Day 9 – A Photo of The Item You Last Purchased

Obviously that is not me in the photo. But it is a photo of the item I last purchased, which is just now.

I am slightly addicted to online shopping, mainly from overseas stores. With the exchange rate being at a relatively good rate for the New Zealand Dollar to the Great British Pound, buying from overseas companies is turning out to be a lot cheaper than buying from a store.

Maybe that is just an excuse I have made up to make my addiction justifiable to myself.

Day 8 - A Song To Match Your Mood

Plans by Birds of Tokyo

This is one of my favourite songs at the moment, so I am going to say it is a song to match my mood.

I’ma make myself a Quilt!

I have decided that I am going to make a Quilt. I got the inspiration when I came across this blog and it postage stamp quilt along. Figuring you don’t have to be out of your twenties or from a different generation I have taken the plunge and committed to making a postage stamp quilt.

On Saturday, I went to the local craft store with my friend Nid. She had a blast, looking at all the things you could buy. I purchased two Jelly rolls. Instead of going for one patterned and one plain, I bought two patterned rolls. Both rolls have similar patterns, just one is on purple and the other is in green.

I have started the separation and cutting process. I have one more night of cutting to go and then I can move onto the collating and sewing together the patches.

This is not going to be a project that I zip up in a couple of weeks. I feel it may take me a month or so, fitting it in on my weekends and on nights when I am not doing course work.

Valentines Day Surprise

Although I had to Valentine it was lovely when my bestie showed up at my house after work with a soft toy and a card she had made.

Out of our friendship group she is the only one with a partner to share Valentines day with, so it was a very nice gesture from her.

I did feel slightly bad that she had brought a gift to me and I had nothing to give back to her. But that’s what friends are for, to brighten your day without expecting anything in return.

Day 7 – Your Dream Wedding

I like a mixture of these styles when it comes to the dresses.

The cake will be chocolate and it will be decorated and it will be three tiers at least. I am not sure whether it will be round of square, but I think the cake in the picture is kind of cute. The cake would also match the colour theme.

Really my dream wedding would be quite simple, my friends and family and all the people I loved would be in attendance. I would be marrying the man I love and the man I want to spend the rest of my days with. I truly believe that getting married is not about the wedding, it is about the person you are promising your self to forever and the marriage that starts after the wedding.

Day 6 - A Photo of an Animal You'd Love to Keep as a Pet

  

A Golden Labrador.

Day 5 - A Photo of Yourself Two Years Ago

At Bathurst Day 2009. 18 Years Old. Long Hair. Old Glasses.

They’re having a…

 

BOY!!

I am so excited. I have kept saying since day one it is going to be a boy and what do you know, it’s a boy!

I can not wait until it is born. I am going to spoil it rotten.

Day 4 - Your Favourite Photograph of your Best Friend

We had been out for lunch for her birthday and next door there was a pet store with a ride on Horse outside. We told her she had to do it.

The Sky Was On Fire

I stayed home sick from work yesterday. Did not feel well at all so my friend Nic came round to keep me company.

We basically sat on the couch watching TV all day.

After dinner I wanted to get out of the house so we went from a drive and along the way we noticed the sun was setting.

It looked like the sky was on fire, it was so beautiful so we raced, at the speed limit, to a wharf down the road from my house to watch the sun go down. Below are a few of the last glimpses of the sun, that Nic managed to snap, before it said bye-bye for the night.

The photo’s are the originals. No changes made to them at all.

Day 3 - Your Idea of the Perfect First Date

Mini golf followed by…

 

Tacos and/or any other Mexican food

Day 2 - A Photo of Something You Ate Today

A banana – just imagine it with more green to it.

Day 1 – A Photo of Yourself & Ten Facts

1. I can move my big toes and my middle toes at the same time without moving any of my other toes
2. I will not eat ripe banana, they must still have some green left on the skin for me to eat them
3. I was born longer than my brother who is now around 8 inches taller than me
4. I am a Red Sox fan
5. I have a half brother than I have never met
6. Happy Day’s will always be my favourite TV show.
7. I miss re-runs of Happy Days not being on
8. I have items in my closet I have never worn
9. I would wear Jandals all year round if there was no rain
10. I love the Royal Family (British)

Thirty Days of Me

Not that my blog isn’t always about me, but I think that Thirty different pre defined post about me would be extra awesome.

It won’t be thirty consecutive days as the only time I am really on a computer is when I am at work, so will have to be on days when I find a spare few moments. But I can’t wait.

Day 1 - A photo of yourself and ten facts.
Day 2 - A photo of something you ate today.
Day 3 - Your idea of the perfect first date.
Day 4 - Your favourite photograph of your best friend.
Day 5 - A photo of yourself two years ago.
Day 6 - A photo of an animal you'd love to keep as a pet.
Day 7 - Your dream wedding.
Day 8 - A song to match your mood.
Day 9 - A photo of the item you last purchased.
Day 10 - A photo of your favourite place to eat.
Day 11 - What's in your makeup bag.
Day 12 - A photograph of the town you live in.
Day 13 - Your favourite musician and why?
Day 14 - A TV show you're currently addicted to.
Day 15 - Something you don't leave the house without.
Day 16 - Your celebrity crush.
Day 17 - A photo of you and your family.
Day 18 - Something you crave a lot.
Day 19 - Another picture of yourself.
Day 20 - The meaning behind your blog name.
Day 21 - A photo of something that makes you happy.
Day 22 - A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.
Day 23 - 15 facts about you.
Day 24 - A photo of something that means a lot to you.
Day 25 - What's in your purse?
Day 26 - A photo of somewhere you've been to.
Day 27 - A picture of you last year & now. How you changed since then?
Day 28 - Your favourite movie.
Day 29 - Something you could never get tired of doing.
Day 30 - A photograph of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days – in my case in the last xx amount of days while completing this list.

Exploring the Blog World

On my journeys through the Blog World today I have come across a few items that I might just have a slight love for.

I am going to make one of these Magazine Bows. Or maybe a few, they are just so adorable and awesome.

Such a cool idea, adds colour to the room at the same time as adding some words you believe in or wish to have as a main focus in your life.

I did something similar a few months ago, just White words on black painted canvases. They are no where near as large, but do the job as intended; decorations and inspirations.

This is just adorable, I own a lot of jewellery but do not wear a lot of jewellery, mainly just my class ring a a few silly bandz (we are all allowed to be a slight child, right?) but I think if I was to purchase on of these awesome Plum Loving Rings I would most probably wear it, a lot.

I love Mexican food, I miss having it so local and being able to buy it from street vendors, which is why I love the look and sound of this Mexican Chicken Torta. I was speaking with a friend and he said it would even be nicer in a tortilla, and I think either way it would be scrummy.

I am in a rambling mood today so I think it is better I stop here before I have a list as long the day.

The Miracle of Life

This almost made me cry, so I thought I should share it

A Beach I Call Snells

This past weekend was a three day-er for all us Aucklanders as it was Auckland anniversary weekend. It is lovely having three days of relaxing, not having to get up for work. Better yet, not having to go to work.

Friday night I spent with my friends and then Saturday morning I cleaned my car, which is a great achievement. Please do not hold this against me, but it was the first time since I brought my car about two years ago that I actually vacummed it. My area in the car, the drivers area, has always been cleaned. It looks so nice now though and no one is to mess it up. It is going to be clean and stay clean. I have even placed plastic bags in all sorts of places so that people will have to dispose of their rubbish.

My next task was to pick Natalie and Cooper up and head to Snells Beach for the night. My friends Jaime and Carl live up there and it was so lovely to get away for the night. It is about an hour and a halfs drive north of Auckland.

We had a lovely barbeque and spent the evening catching up. The next morning we all went to the park with Cooper and Carls neices and then to a cafe. We left about midday and stopped in at my Grandparents. They loved seeing Coop.

Sunday I had a friend round for dinner and then Monday monday I went to see The Kings Speech with mum.

I really enjoyed my weekend. It was a blast. I LOVE long weekends.