THINGS I LOVE: Doughnuting Behind a Boat

Rewind a few years back to 1999 and there's Michaela and I screaming and clinging onto a double doughnut at 3rd Form camp, both eager to save face and stay afloat.  It was one of my first experiences doughnuting and proved to be the best.

Skip forward some six or so years and a bunch of us cousins at the Barrier went doughnuting in the harbour by Flat Island.  The driver of my Uncle's boat wasnt terribly experienced and on top of that it was an overcast day and the water was deep and black, but still our excitement was undeterred.  When warning bells rang our laughter rang louder and each of us had turns zipping along the surface and jumping the waves with glee.  The only time a hint of panic ever disturbed the fun was when our doughnut overturned and we were left bobbing by ourselves while waiting to get picked up.  When it was my turn, I remember looking down and realising the water was so dark I could hardly see my feet.  I recalled many a time when I had seen sharks and even orca in that very same harbour that I was doggy-paddling in and it was a tremendous relief when my cousins eventually hauled me back aboard.  Yet did I have another turn that day?  You betcha!

*Sigh* The things we do in our adolescence!

A doughnut combined with deep, dark water where shark sightings are regularly reported do not a good combination make.

Stations of the Cross 2011

Stations were first established in Northern Italy in the early 16th century.  The intention was to re-create the sites of the events of the Atonement, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The worldwide renewal of Stations as a way to engage with the content and emotion of the last week of Jesus' life began in New Zealand less than 20 years ago.  Here artists are charged with reflecting on the biblical text that describes the event they have chosen, and interpreting that story in contemporary art. 

This year's Stations was held at the Hamilton Gardens in the week leading up to and during the Easter holiday.  For dramatic emphasis it only ran between 8pm-10pm and the way was lit with small candles while visitors carried tiny torches to read each of the scriptures that the artists interpreted.  There were many interesting creations such as a huge metronome that swung faster and faster until it stopped and a spotlight from within flashed on three doors labelled 'Death' to depict the inevitable deadline and lack of choices the Saviour had. 

My favourite was Station 6: 'Jesus is Mocked and Beaten'.  It was based around Matthew 27:27-31.  The artist, Geoff Wall, named his piece Mortar and Pestle and featured a large basin with stone lions surrounding it.  Inside the basin was a mixture of fresh herbs and a few wooden bats.  People were invited to crush the herbs with the bats while reflecting on the following: "On account of His love to ALL peoples He was mocked and beaten.  Is this the way we treat those that love us?"  As I crushed the herbs, the air became deliciously fragrant with rosemary and thyme, yet it was only by grinding them that I could receive the pleasure of their scent.  I thought how it was only through Jesus Christ's immeasurable suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and later crucifixion that the beautiful gift of the Atonement was brought to pass.

More Opshop Finds

If Hamilton is good for one thing, it is the quality of its opshops.  A recent trip with a friend from work uncovered one of the most exciting finds I've ever made:

1.  A New Zealand made, genuine leather high-waisted pencil skirt with ruched sides.  This will stay in my wardrobe forever!

2.  Turquoise and blue long skirt that my friend convinced me would be beautiful as a dress.  I think she might just be right:

3.  Large leather clutch in an eggshell white shade:



Bieber Fever Anyone?

Ok I admit it!  I went and saw Never Say Never 3D last night with an unnamed companion (to protect her dignity).  We snuck in like tweenagers and sat in the 3rd row from the front.  People, before you judge, I wasnt much of a Bieber fan before I saw the movie and thought it would be a good documentary along the lines of Michael Jackson's This Is It.  And it was GREAT!  You've got to respect Justin Bieber and all of his management team for how hard they've worked and the sacrifices they've made to get him to where he is today.  He is really really talented, a bit immature and pampered but also strictly looked after like any 16 year old millionaire living in the limelight should be.

We had a good laugh at his female followers that are head over heels in obsession (some might call it love) with him.  There were some crazies too, fully capable of sending death threats to JB's current girlfriend and sneaking into his hotel room as maids - true stories!

I recommend Never Say Never if you want to appreciate good talent.  Commence scoffing now.

My Thoughts on This Season's 'American Idol'

When two of my top three said byebye on American Idol I thought that what started off as a promising season slowly started slipping.  Thia was my third favourite because her voice was so silky smooth and controlled.  Admittedly it wasnt the most exciting nor her song choices the most creative, but for a girl of 16 Thia showed so much talent and reminded me of those pitch-perfect singers of Walt Disney songs like Part of That World and Colours of the Wind, the latter which she belted out on stage beautifully.  What eases the disappointment is the fact that she is so young and has time to find her feet and work on adding variety to her voice and performances.

My second favourite was Pia who almost always took my breath away.  Not only was she aesthetically admirable with perfectly groomed hair and makeup, an infectious smile and personable character, but that voice!  Her rendition of Tina Turner's River Deep Mountain High actually gave me shivers it was THAT GOOD.  I guess America got bored of her ballad choices week after week and when she did finally mix it up it was a case of too little, too late.  Such a shame!

My number one fave and who I'm hoping will win American Idol this season is Haley.  Say what you will but I think she performs really really well - there's an element of sexiness and a carefree attitude that makes her enjoyable to watch on stage.  She has the ability to use her voice to do all sorts of tricks too, from yodeling to jazzing it up.  There's nothing she cant do, no song she cant conquer!

The bottom of my list would have to be that useless, arrogant rocker guy that sucks.  I dont even know his name he sucks so much.  When he sang While My Guitar Slowly Weeps I was happy that the world could finally see just how bad this guy was.  Instead, the judges praised him for getting in touch with his emotional side and for not being afraid of shedding some tears!  Whaaaaaaaaaaat?  He was crying because even he knew how bad it was!  And yet week after week he is safe and for that he is a walking miracle.

Who are your top picks?

Interior Decorating

I dream of having my own house and being able to play around with decorating it.  I once saw a piece in Marie Claire that had some amazing ideas including rooms where the ceilings only are painted rich red, and floral furniture mixed with stripes - how inspiring!  Pretty soon all I wanted was a study room completely painted in turquoise green and an entire wall in my lounge devoted to books from floor to ceiling.  Here are some other ideas:

1.  Pretty wallpaper that tells a story:

2.  French furniture:

3.  Finishing touches:

...and Dresses 4, 5 and 6!

It occurred to me after I'd written my previous post that it is impossible to choose only three favourite dresses worn by celebrities on the red carpet, so I will be blogging my other picks on an ongoing basis and grouping them together into different categories.  First up is the bridal edition:

4.  Rachel Bilson in 2008 wearing Christian Dior.  This is a fairly modest dress with lovely details like tassles in the front and button loops on the side.

5.  Olivia Wilde also in 2008 wearing Reem Acra.  Rarely do I see a dress so pretty it hurts, but here you have it.

6.  Sienna Miller in 2007 wearing Marchesa.  This colour combination never gets old.

My Favourite Celebrity Dresses

My guilty pleasure is checking out celebrity style on the red carpet.  Sounds innocent enough, but it actually unleashes a ferocious critic inside of me who somehow thinks she is this seasoned fashionista that can judge what's hot and what's not!  Oh the shame. At least these three dresses get her top vote:

1.  Penelope Cruz in 2003 wearing L'Wren Scott.  Not your usual black dress!

2.  Florence Walsh earlier this year wearing Givenchy.  The detailing and burst of orange transforms this dress into pure art.

 3.  Eva Mendes in 2010 wearing Atelier Versace: sexy and fun with a shimmering colour to match.

The only thing they're all missing is the modest edge - hello!  Less is always more people!  Oops, there she goes again.

6.9/10 for 'Just Go With It'

Grudgingly do I give this movie a 6.9/10.  I usually dislike Adam Sandler's silly humour and think some of his previous roles have been just plain stupid (i.e Click and Funny People, the latter of which I walked out of), but in this film he seemed to throw in some unscripted humour that was actually funny for once.  Ok, there are some sexual references to be aware of and it is in no way a deep, intellectual type of film AND it has a predictable ending, but as long as you go into the cinema expecting a light-hearted flick then you wont be disappointed.

I thought Jennifer Aniston was great and her body (reminding all that she is 42 years old) was way hotter than her 24 year old co-star's!  Even Nicole Kidman had abs.  Age aint nothin' but a number, right ladies?  Plus they were both funny and Nicole Kidman even had a hint of her Moulin Rouge character in there which was exciting to watch.  You will surely laugh out loud to this one folks!

Destination HONG KONG

I love Hong Kong!

It is smelly, it is wild, it is fun, it is great for shopping, it is so completely different to what I'm used to but the fact that they speak English is a relief, especially when you're asking for directions.

My best friend and I travelled there in 2009 with my brother and we had a blast.  The food was incredibe but surprisingly the nicest thing I ate there was the simple dish of kailan (also known as chinese broccoli) steamed with butter and garlic.  Yum!













The best experience was haggling at the Ladies Market and in Shenzhen mall just across the border in China.  We quickly learnt what was expected of us: fake laughs of outrage, eye rolls, pretending to walk away before grudgingly accepting their price (which was ridiculously cheap anyway).  I also found the best opshop I've ever been to on the side of the Ladies Market behind all of the stalls - keep an eye out if you're ever in the area.

Shenzhen Mall with my trusty fanny pack

Would I live there?  Yes, because it's got the city and the beach as well as great food, friendly people and plenty of work opportunities.  There is also the chance to immerse yourself in a unique culture without feeling too out of depth or uncomfortable.  Now to convince my husband...


My brother and I checking out HK at night



THINGS I LOVE: Playing Pool

There's nothing like the crack of a break to incite the thrill of participating in a game of pool.  Contrary to what some might think, pool is a sport.  We grew up in a house with a pool table in the lounge and that's where my passion for this sport began.  Gone are the days when pool tables were only found in seedy bars amid unsavoury characters - the pool joints of today are clean and well-lit with minimal drinking and great music.  The local Billiards Club that Presley and I go to sells snack foods, has flat screen TV's and big couches to lounge on.  Plus our Bishop is also a regular there, so if it's good enough for him then it's good enough for us!

If you've never played before and dont know the first thing about how to get a ball in the pocket, here's the simple way to do it:

1.  Find a ball you want to sink that has access to both the white ball and the pocket
2.  Stand behind the ball and line it up to the pocket you want to sink it into
3.  Find the middle of the ball and, without taking your eye off that spot, move back to where the white ball is
4.  Aim the white ball for that spot, and shoot

If you get that down then you're on your way to becoming a pool shark.  The technical side of pool (spin shots, snookers etc) takes practice and concentration, but to become a true predator of the pool table you need to be able to use methods of sports psychology to visualise your game strategy, block out everything around you, and just go for it.  Good luck!

Lyrical Magic: Bic Runga

Dear Bic,

Thank you for sharing your talent with the world.

From Raihi

I'm counting stars
Lying under
Watching you through my walls
All the lights have gone out
I know you're listening now
You've been spinning around
Turning slowly
Orbiting 'round my house
It's a feeling I guess
I know you're listening now

Warm me today
Warm me today
Filter in my lonely room
Warm me today
Warm me today
Look outside the sun it's
Bursting through
Bursting through
Oh it's filling up this room

Now my fingers are cold
But I have touched you
You're all I need to know
Don't fade from me now
I know you're listening somehow

All you can give
All you can give
Twisting bright
It's more than light it's
All you can give
All you can give
Look outside the sun it's
Bursting through
Bursting through
Oh it's filling up this room

Warm me today
Warm me today
Look outside the sun it's
Bursting through
Bursting through
Oh it's filling up this room

- Bursting Through, Bic Runga

DVD Day: 'I Am Legend'

My hobby is collecting books that have been converted into movies.  Until five minutes ago I thought the movie I Am Legend was a stand-alone film unrelated to any written work, but that was naiive of me.  Much of the film industry these days are adaptations of novels but I am always surprised and delighted when I come across a new one. 

Presley and I rented I Am Legend last night and I think it is a fantastic movie.  What makes it even better is that I just found out it is based on a novel by Richard Matheson of the same name!  My fingers are itching to peruse TradeMe and Amazon in search of it.  But anyway, Will Smith has to be one of the only actors who can portray subtle touches of humour in an utterly dramatic and thrilling tale, and pull it off well.  What draws me to I Am Legend is the same as what I enjoyed about I, Robot and A.I (Artificial Intelligence) - humans interacting with mutated future versions of ourselves, whether they be in the form of monsters or machines, that have been created by humans.  Eventually our own egos and unethical approaches to "bigger, better, faster, stronger" turn on humankind and we become the underdogs to our own horrific creations.  These films also test the limits of human emotion and make you think, "What would I do in that situation?"

I relished all of the small details that I'd either forgotten or didnt pick up on the first time I saw I Am Legend such as the behaviour of the monsters and the extreme lengths Robert Neville goes to protect himself.  I recommend a second (or first) viewing of this movie, and while you're at it have a think about these questions:

1.  Why is Bob Marley and his music used throughout the film?
2.  What is the significance of Shrek being on TV, and the lines that Robert knows off by heart?
3.  What is the symbolism behind his only companion being a dog?

THINGS I LOVE: 'Winter of Fire' by Sherryl Jordan

Winter of Fire is my most favourite book and was written by a Kiwi woman no less!  Some may recall one of her other novels, Rocco, as one that was studied in English at high school, and I believe it is very deserving of this honour;  Winter of Fire however is relatively unknown but in my opinion her best work ever. 

PLOT SUMMARY:

Elsha is a young girl living in a bleak, cold future where world-wide cloud cover has permanently blocked out the sun. Humans have split into two classes - the Chosen and the Quelled, of which Elsha is the latter. The Quelled are doomed to spend their lives in servitude to the Chosen, mining "firestones" - the only means of warmth on the planet. A rebellious girl, Elsha causes trouble for herself - even going so far as being considered for execution - until she is given the highest position available to a woman - Handmaiden to the Firelord - the leader of the Chosen. Elsha uses this unlikely position to fight the stigma and oppression of her people, eventually inheriting the title for herself and changing the course of the planet's history for the better.

She may not have written it with adults in mind (but neither did J.K.Rowling when she wrote the first Harry Potter book I'm sure!), but an avid reader of any age can appreciate a unique storyline, fantastic imagery and thoughtful writing that Sherryl Jordan captures wonderfully in Winter of Fire.

To Chop or Not to Chop?

I've had long hair since I was about nine.  When I have managed to pluck up the courage and ask for more than the usual trim at the hairdressers (which is very rare), my hair has never ventured shorter than my shoulder blades.  I think that long hair is feminine and pretty, but some girls out there can pull off a pixie or bob cut beautifully.  I admire their boldness and confidence and, as we all know, with confidence comes sexiness.  The ugly truth is that I am too attached to my hair and it is due to vanity, which is why I would love to chop it off and prove to myself that the unhealthy 16-year attachment can be cut along with my locks...plus it will always grow back right??  Here are a few possible replacement styles:

1.  The lob (long bob) like Ashley Olsen:

2. The sweeping bob like Keri Hilson:

3. The messy bob like Victoria Beckham:

I'm also desperate to try a bombshell blonde colour, but that's another story!

Glass Half Full in Calvin Klein's

After years of reading in the dark, squinting and straining to read each line while the light switch was just a few feet away, my eyes are getting their revenge.  I got them checked out on Saturday and the optometrist said that the reason for my tension headaches was because of extra strain my eyes had to endure every time I focussed on things close to my face.  Ugh, I'm getting old!  But the upside was I got to choose some fabulous frames - how's THAT for turning lemons into lemonade!

There are a few different features that must be considered when choosing frames including face shape, hair and skin colour, and jewellery.  Being the type of person who likes to match, these clear DKNY frames would've been my ultimate choice:

Also being a leopard print lover I saw these funky D&G frames online that would clash with everything except my star sign:

Sadly the shops in Hamilton had neither of these styles, but I did manage to pick up some lovely red Calvin Klein's.  This colour is VERY different for me, but I like that about them.  I couldnt find a picture of the actual frames I brought (they're going to take two weeks to arrive), but these are close enough:

My Shoe Wishlist

If Cinderella was ever remade to reflect this day and age, instead of a glass slipper being placed on her foot a brand new Christian Laboutin would surely take its place.  On my rather extensive shoe wishlist are these three gems that I would happily let my Prince slip onto my feet:

1.  Christian Laboutin Lucifer Bow Pump.  These manage to be both both edgy and classy at the same time (a pity about the name though):

2.  Alexander Wang Alla Leopard Wedges.  There's something about leopard print that, when done in moderation, can liven up any outfit:

3.  Yves Saint Laurent Grey Suede Tribtoo Pump.  As far as I'm concerned grey is the new black when it comes to shoes:

THINGS I LOVE: Comfort Food

Oh, the joy of lifting a fork to one's mouth and having a multitude of flavours dance on the tongue before exiting the stage through a satisfied swallow of the throat!  Who has played the game that goes along the lines of "If you had to eat one dish every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?", and has mmm'd and aaah'd over choosing just one answer?  Let me choose three:

1.  Pumpkin Soup with Bacon Bones.  Thick and chunky with beautiful flavours, this wins hands down.

2.  Magherita Pizza.  The infatuation with this pizza came while reading Eat Pray Love, where the protagonist ravishes two entire ones in Naples.  I wondered how a pizza with only cheese, basil and tomato could be so tasty as to induce tears?  Well my friends, it's because the cheese is no ordinary cheese but a mixture of buffalo and fresh mozzarella, the basil is picked fresh and the tomatoes crushed with salt and pepper to create a rich sauce.  The base must also be thin yet chewy, sweet yet salty, crisp yet soft.  Presley and I enjoyed our first taste at Osteria Del Toro in Wellington and with the addition of prosciutto ham I was sold unequivocally to this most simple of dishes.  Since then we have tried another one in Rotorua that had fresh tomatoes on top (not as good) and the worst version from Piccola Italia in Hamilton - no buffalo or even bocconcini cheese, mixed herbs straight from the packet, and a floury base.  So if you're going to try a Margherita pizza then make sure it's authentic Italian, otherwise you'll be disappointed.

3.  Bouillabaisse.  This is a classic French seafood stew that is usually served with chunky bread to mop the sauce up with.  It originated in Marseilles and now has many variations, but as long as it contains a good mixture of the main ingredients of fish, mussels, prawns, calamari, crayfish, and crab, then I'm happy!