I play indoor netball every week. Alas at this weeks game I was a feeling a little off and instead of playing Nee (the very young son of one of my teammates) and I sat on the sideline and cheered. But we did something I hadn’t done before. Nee taught me to cheer in Maori.

And it was awesome!

There was lots of “haere whero!” (go red!), or “kia kaha rōpÅ« whero!” (be strong team red!). There was even “he hako te rōpÅ« kākāriki!” (the green team is dumb!).

Usually I’m itching to get on the court, and watching others play a game I want to be playing is a little grating.

But that game? Best time I’ve ever had on the sideline.

Haere Whero!! :)

It appears that this post about Glacéau Vitamin Water vs Nutrient Water has been getting a fair amount of attention. I’m sad to say that my initial premise for that post was wrong: Nutrient Water IS NOT Vitamin Water rebranded and released in the NZ market. Vitamin Water is way better.

Glad we got that all cleared up.

Anyway, after the initial comment debate with Betty, I mostly forgot about that post. But then I got an email from the fabulous people at Glacéau’s PR company to say that they had seen it (and more importantly the comment debate where I PWN Betty). They were very, very kind and now that Vitamin Water is OFFICIALLY available in New Zealand they sent out some ‘Rainbow Samples’ of their Vitamin Water. Woo!

And on a gorgeous, gorgeous day like today – who could say no?

PS: No, Glacéau didn’t pay me to write this post. Rock on Vitamin Water!

Woo! After many missions through fabric stores, after many emails, last minute txt’s and quick discussions at netball – the plans for the bridesmaid dresses are now FINALISED!!

We have found the three fabrics (one through K’s wholesale connections, one in a little store in Australia, and the other one I discovered while procrastinating in Newmarket), two of three of the bridesmaids have been measured up. And we have a fairly firm design which has been made up in mock form.

I am so glad things are moving forward! I’ve never, ever been so intimidated by a dress, nor done so much running around for one!! Trying to find the right colours was a bitch, and I must’ve looked through SO MANY WEDDING BLOGS!

Okay, I think I’m talking it up a bit now. In truth, it hasn’t been that bad. All the real work was done by the fabulous fabulous Kirsty who has always had time for me, even when we made so many changes. She came on fabric trips, found the pattern, and made up the mocks and has just been so absolutely fantastic.

If your ever in a position where you or your friend are getting the bridesmaid dresses made, find a decent dressmaker who will go the extra mile for you. It’s important that you have someone who is happy to talk through any changes you make and happy to tactfully tell you when changes are needed. A decent dressmaker is worth their weight in gold – for serious! I think we got lucky.

And the best bit? At all the fittings, and all the fabric meetings K let me bring Quinn to the party. Best. Dressmaker. Ever.

I’m sitting at work, listening to the news on the radio. Sadly, when the newsreader reads out the words ‘Prime Minister’ I still expect to hear ‘Helen Clark’ appended to the end. It’s still a little nauseating to hear ‘John Key’ come out instead.

How slow could the next three years *possibly* go, and how much damage could be done in that time?

Sigh.

Helen, you were an unbelievably fantastic Prime Minister. Possibly the best we’ve ever had.

I received this txt today, which is another example of why I love and adore The Square so much . . .

“Drinks at The Third Quarters at 6. Be there, or be . . . “

*grin*

Last weekend The Boy and I got our first sunburn of the summer – right across the backs of our necks. Usually I’m pretty pissed that I was silly enough to get sunburnt. I usually lather myself in sunscreen in attempt to avoid the pink painful glow of sunburn.

But right now? I don’t mind so much. Because I got it at the Grey Lynn Park Festival, and no place could have been better to get sunburnt.

Imagine, perfect blue skies, loads of people, stalls filled with cute exciting things and side caravans of polynesian and asian foods. Imagine bands going hard on a stage surrounded by people just hanging out and enjoying the sun. Imagine kids rides, and dogs! SO MANY DOGS! All just hanging out, having a good time!

It was an epic afternoon, and I enjoyed myself no end. So sunburn be damned. Nothing could dent the fabulousness of the Grey Lynn Park Fest. :)

As the Southern Hemisphere snow season draws to a close (or rather goes under protest – this past season has been PHENOMENAL – it was open till mid November, and there are Summer Snow rumors!) it also makes me a bit nostalgic for the Northern Hemisphere.

Around this time every year I often wish that I was heading back to the States to teach, and every year I tend to think ‘Next year I’ll go back’. Alas, I haven’t yet. Perhaps next year . . . :P

Anyway, I came across another fabulous etsy store dubbed Avril Loreti, that do fantastic bandanna’s with Mo’s on them. I go through several bandanna’s a season – I prefer them to balaclava’s or fleece covers.

And with these super cute mustaches on them, who could resist?

Appropriate for Movember too, I thought. :)

I was having a hard time last week, and ended up piking on a Square date, where I was to make incredibly yummy pie. But oh, how I adore the Square:

From: The Second Quarter
To: The First Quarter
CC: The Third Quarter; The Fourth Quarter
Subject: URGENT: pie

Dear First Quarter,

You are hearby summoned to The Square Flat (hereafter known as “the flat”) for the purposes of making a spinach, feta and sun-dried tomato pie (“pie”). Should you be unable to attend to this duty within a reasonable period of time you must immediately divulge all relevant pie-making secrets to the inhabits of the flat so they may attempt to construct said pie themselves.

Yours sincerely,

The Second Quarter
Chief pie-eater

Needless to say I shall NOT divulge all relevant pie-making secrets, and shall instead answer the summons. :)