Category Archives: This one time

Complete Wash Out

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So with people moving out of the house, and spring knocking on the door, today was devoted to cleaning. Sunday, a day of rest? Not here (this week, at least).

9 a.m. I was at the supermarket to get supplies.

Dressed as a scatter-brained nerd come hardware store clerk in blue plaid, I roamed the aisles looking confused. I knew what I was after. I’ve done this before, I swear! But there were so many people! At nine on a Sunday. This part of the world’s never existed to me before (at least, not hungover).

To help with the weird looks I was getting, I loaded my shopping basket with thick rubber gloves, giant black rubbish bags, and what was apparently a year’s supply of bleach ($2 for 2L, people – bargain). Turns out that makes for a very suspicious grocery run.

Flash forward a couple of hours, the house is clean(er), and the bathroom is sparkling. The kitchen floor could do with clean… Cue bleach in the eye.

Bleach. Eye.
That mo-fo hurt. It burnt. My eye. MY EYE!!!
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Walking into walls on my way to fetch my water bottle from beside my bed, I collected a variety of new bruises, and eventually got to a water source to flush out my eye. Oh, sweet cold relief. Fresh, clean water, you are the best invention ever.

I sat on my porch pouring water into that eye for a good half hour, waiting for the pain to stop. I feel for my neighbours – it was like a one-person wet t-shirt competition (white shirt and all), but I sure wasn’t enjoying myself. Sorry guys.

Then I went about the rest of my day, with my right eye rocking a steady stream of tears. The human body is awesome, guys. Tears = boogers = more cleaning. Right? The whole keeping-my-sight thing made the boogers totally worth it.

My eye’s fine now, though my eyelid’s a bit puffy from where I’ve been rubbing it. It just looks like I’ve been crying, rather than fighting fire on my cornea.

Drama Queen? Me? Never.

More blushing

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I finally managed to set up my wi-fi here at the house (it crashed a couple of weeks back and time hasn’t been cooperative) so it’s high time I do the polite thing and respond to Kim’s award nomination.

Kim’s got an excellent blog – Girl of the Hour – which is definitely worth checking out. I look forward to catching her posts in my reader, and I’m sure you’ll love them too!

But back to business…

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11 FACTS ABOUT ME:
(Forgive me for any repeats from previous posts)

1) I hate it when my bare knees touch. Hate it. If I’m wearing a skirt, I have to wear stockings. I don’t wear shorts. Yet, crossing my legs is okay. Go figure.

2) When I was much younger, I pulled all the ashes off my upper eye lids and scared the sheebus out of my mother who rushed me straight to the after-hours medical centre. It must have been quite the sight. Sadly, there aren’t any photos.

3) I’m in my early twenties and still do not have my drivers license. I’ve had my learners license for well over 5 years now. (You can get your learners license at 15 in NZ)

4) I have a very particular morning routine, mainly focusing on my hair. It involves the use of two mirrors at the same time, and small amounts of spit when my hair doesn’t behave.

5) Toilet humour makes my life worth living. Farts are funny. Admit it.

6) I bruise like a peach, and I often turn up to work looking like my legs have been pummeled with a harvester.

7) I participated in a student-exchange in high school which saw me living on a fruit block in Red Cliffs, Victoria in Australia. It was a complete change from being a city kid. But at least now I can reference harvesters in lists of random personal facts.

8) I’m a strong supporter of New Zealand’s Family Planning association and related organisations around the world. I was lucky enough to work for them while I was at university and learning more about what happens behind the scenes only inspired further awe and support. If you’re not sure what they do, I highly recommend you give this site here a good read.

9) I believe in soul mates, but my take is a little different. I don’t think there is one person for envy one, and you’re destined to find them to live happily ever after. I believe that everyone has dozens of soul mates, that fate brings together to help shape who we are and how we interact with everyone else. So that arch nemesis of yours from high school? Soul mate.

10) I dance in my chair most days at the office. Especially Friday-Eve and Friday. I’m pretty sure it annoys some of the guys, and embarrasses the others. Psssh, boys.

11) I love to knit. And create. Almost as much as fart jokes.

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QUESTIONS FROM KIM:

1) Facebook or Twitter? Facebook, definitely. But then my friends aren’t big Twitter users, and I find it very… Public, without enabling more, erm, constructive contributions to the Internet.

2) Christmas or Halloween? Halloween isn’t a big thing in NZ, so Christmas wins by default (though, Christmas is of course awesome in its own right).

3) Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate. Need I say more?

4) Favorite Pizza Toppings? Since visiting Italy, I’m a margherita fan. Simple. Fresh tomato. Basil. Local cheese. Straight out of the oven. Heaven.

5) Favorite Movie? Oh, torn! I always have time for movies like Love Actually, and Crash. But I have a soft spot for Nicolas Sparks tear-jerkers like A Walk to Remember, and The Notebook, too.

6) If you could have dinner with 5 famous people who would they be? Okay, assuming that I can choose from those alive and dead… Ryan Gosling, Kate Sheppard, Dawn French, Dr. Margaret Sparrow, and John Mayer.

7) Where would you choose to max out your credit card? Burberry store in London. Yes please.

8) If you could have a super power what would it be? Ability to bend time and fit more into the day (why still slacking off as much as possible).

9) If your life was made into a movie what would the title of the movie be? Something truly inspired, like “WTF?!”

10) Who would play you in the movie? Emily Blunt. If she can make Queen Victoria pretty, then she’s my pick.

11) Which would you be a contestant on Survivor, Big Brother or Amazing Race? Amazing Race, hands down. Though I don’t know who with – would get way too competitive.

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MY NOMINATIONS:
Drumroll, please…

1) Healthehelen

2) Sweets and Brains

3) Wild Things RUN Free

4) Emmy Cooks

5) Better Read Than Heard

6) Run Monkey, Run!

7) Progress Always

8) Active Duty Foodie

9) That’s All Joy Wrote

10) Super Generic Girl

11) Cookie Hangover

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And last but not least…
11 QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED:

1) Why did you start blogging?

2) Hot, sticky weather, or cold and wet?

3) What was the last movie you watched that made you cringe?

4) What is one guilt pleasure you’re embarrassed to admit?

5) Cats or dogs?

6) What is something you will never do?

7) What is your most recent impulse purchase?

8) Jeggings. Yes/No?

9) Fitspo or Thinspo?

10) Name one famous person you idolized as a kid.

11) If you knew tomorrow was your last day on Earth, how would you live it? Why?

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Alright folks, the ball is in your court now – go forth and spread your nominations!
And don’t forget to let us know how you get on yourself.

Long Overdue

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Sorry all, it’s been a week since I last updated – not like me at all!

A lot’s been happening here, but all will be back on track soon – but until then (and because I’m too lazy to write a proper post), here’s some bullet points to help fill some of those gaps.

  • Alcohol.  There has been a lot.  But today’s been a day of (much needed) sobriety.
  • The Boyfriend’s now The Flatmate until he finds another flat.
  • Which means that the trip we had planned for the end of the year is now off.
  • So I’m going to rock on over for a whole month in the US instead.
  • The trip is going to be awesome (more to come).
  • I haven’t been keeping up with my running.  This gives me a sad face.  I will not reach my goal of 100km by 17 October.  See bullet points 1 & 2, above (I’ve been lazy).
  • However, 100km in one month is still a very achievable goal.  That I will achieve.  So my one month starts from midnight tonight (1 October – 31 October).  Eat dirt, running shoes!
  • I’ve spent the afternoon making my team mates mini bacon & egg pies for our celebratory morning tea tomorrow.  5 years old tomorrow!  (It’s an accountant joke).
  • Aaaaaaaaaand falling down stairs gives carpet burn, apparently.  So I’ve been walking around for the last day with some funky red-coloured elbows.  Don’t be jealous.  (Thankfully this had nothing to do with the first bullet point.  Or the second).

Watch out for a proper post tomorrow!

Private Confessional

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Forgive me Jeans, for I have sinned.
I have a confession to make. 

Yesterday I made the most of a very tasty, pretty, [insert adjective here] all-you-can-eat chocolate buffet.

Sorry, I’ll repeat that for you Jeans, in case you didn’t quite catch that.  All-you-can-eat chocolate buffet.  Oh, you did catch that?  What was that, Jeans?  You’re well aware of my enthusiasm for the platters and platters of sugary goodness?

I am sorry, I swear.

Okay, maybe not that sorry – you only live once, right?
I’d totally do it again.

(Yeah, the rum balls were totally the best part).

Springtime Cuties

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The weather at home is disgusting. We’re talking winds taking roofs for trips down the road. It’s no hurricane, but it’s definitely enough to ruin a weekend.

So I hopped on the train yesterday and head over to the Wairarapa. Where the weather is still bad, but there are fewer flying objects.

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Carterton’s Daffodil Day festival was today. The festival celebrates the start of spring and the fact that Carterton’s the ‘daffodil capital’. So though it was raining there was still plenty of pretty flowers, lamb and generally very cute spring-time stuff.

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There were stalls at the park, and a craft and hobby show at the town events centre. It was very muddy. And (looking at the bright side of things) I’m staying just outside of town without a car, so there was a lot of walking.

And the best daffodils were growing on the street outside people’s houses – right between the road and the footpath.

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New Records Ahoy!

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Wow, guys. Talk about a welcome surprise when I signed in today after work – two new records, of sorts.

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First off – 200 followers?! Y’all making me blush!

I’ve come to recognize a few of you as regular commenters – I love your comments. All of them! Especially the ones that disagree with me (who doesn’t love to hear another perspective?). Keep them coming!

But there must be a few people out there who are following who haven’t dropped us a line – we want to meet you (in the friendly, online sense – I won’t be throwing you lotion for your skin, I promise). So drop us a comment and let us know what you’re up to- even just a simple ‘hi’. I promise I’ll respond! Plus, everyone else will get a chance to check out your blog(s), too!

Secondly, yesterday saw a big spike in page views…

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That’s a huge jump! And seemingly attributable to yesterday’s post which I ‘umm’ed and ‘uhh’ed over for quite a while before writing (and again before posting). I’m glad I did post it in the end – not for the hits, but for the great comments that came from it! You guys have a lot to say, and it was great being able to hear your thoughts on the subject.

So, you all deserve a big thank you. Thank you. Thanks. Cheers! And for the Kiwis out there – Chur!

Deep Breath

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Today has been a big day.  The Boyfriend flew out of the country on a his Big Working Adventure (“BWA”) first thing this morning, looking as dashing as ever.  Trying hard to contain my please-don’t-go pouty face, I watched him head out on his BWA and sent tonne of positive I’m. So. Proud. Of. You! vibes his way.

And then napped a bit before prepping for a day in the office.  One word; pantyhose.

Today was a big day before it even started.  And it was raining.  Nay, pouring.

Getting soaked on the way to the office because it was too windy to use an umbrella – sucked.

Coming home to a busted pipe, landslip over our access-way and water flooding into our property (hillside, to aide the flooding) in the dark – sucked.

Realising I’d be sleeping alone tonight – sucked even more.

If it wasn’t clear enough already, I don’t always handle stress well.  At work, I can compartmentalise and stress makes me more efficient.  At home, everything tends to fall apart.  So I run.  And I love it.

But it’s raining.  Pouring!  Making it difficult to, you know, RUN.

So what could be better than a call from Mum?  Perfectly timed and oh-so comforting, I couldn’t have asked for better.

Except maybe Miranda Kerr’s butt (link contains nudity and not safe for work)

Wellington’s Finest

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Wellington city is full of fantastic restaurants.  Too many to try every single one.  But The Boyfriend and I are working through a list of the iconic Wellington restaurants.

Yesterday he surprised me with lunch at Logan Brown, one of the nicest places to dine in the city.

Don’t be fooled by Logan Brown’s location – you’ll find it in Welington’s Cuba Quarter, amongst some of the city’s quirkiest stores and cafes.  The Cuba Quarter’s fantastic and that kind of place where I’m at my most comfortable.

Logan Brown’s almost the exact opposite.  And I loved it.

The building itself is fantastic, the decor inside is perfect, the staff are immaculate and justice can’t be given to the food if I tried to describe it in words.

At just $45 for the 3 course bistro menu, it was worth every cent.  And then some.

To start: Logan Brown Baked Bread

Entree: Black Bean & Ham Hock Soup with Cumin Sour Cream & Pork Scratchings

Main course: Braised Lamb Neck with Garam Masala Butternut, Pepitas & Minted Yoghurt

And last but not least, dessert: Pumpkin Pie with Maple Ice Cream & Candied Pecans

Life’s a Ball

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In case it hasn’t been clear from some of my previous comments, I love working for my current employer.  Not only are they as invested in my career as I am, but they fully support the idea of a work-life balance.  We work hard, we play hard.  And it’s fantastic.

I’ve had a very busy week this week – staying in the office late on a number of occasions (which isn’t very balanced on me, I’ll admit).  But we celebrated well last night at our annual ball.

1920s themed.  Partners welcomed.  Every level of the firm encouraged to join in and get to know the rest of the team socially.

Open bar.

Everyone looked gorgeous.  Unlike last year, most people dressed to the theme.  We had ’20s mobsters, flappers and feathers galore.

The Boyfriend looked dashing in his pinstriped waistcoat and his black shirt/white tie combination.

I went for a (very clingy) black flapper-style dress with plenty of sequins and tassels.  Rocked the pearls.  Feather clip in the time-consuming up-do.  The fake nails worked a treat.

Also made use of the open bar, and sadly regretted it this morning.

But all in all, it was a great night.  And I can’t wait for next year.


Sidenote:  I realise now that these may be the first photos of myself that I’ve posted on this blog – I haven’t been consciously avoiding sharing, I promise.  I’m just not in front of the camera as much as I am behind it.