New arrival!

More awesome news - my gorgeous friends Shirin and George welcomed their baby girl - Bella Layla into this world early this morning at 3am. I haven't seen any photos yet but I'm sure she is beautiful and she is so lucky to have such amazing and loving parents. Looking forward to meeting this wee one and getting a cuddle or two.

List of gratitude

1. drinking tea on sunny days and looking out at the gorgeous magnolia tree in my garden, which is in full bloom

(note: this is not my garden or tree, but looks something like this)

2. not having a hangover after a fun-filled 30th birthday party. not so sure that most of my friends will be able to say that today haha

3. awesome, vibing little bars that are popping up around the viaduct in time for the rugby world cup. love the industrial and stripped back look that most of these places have. i so want an exposed brick feature wall in our place

(Britomart Country Club)

4. 1 1/2 hour long full body massage and facial (which i'll be having in 2 hours). ahhh blissful

5. having such a gorgeous and amazingly talented husband

6. "me" time

a new world is born

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."

Anais Nin (1903 - 1977)

my new favourite website

Joshy, this is for you xx

http://pinterest.com/tonikarina/

This is where i get to create "pinboards" of whatever I want.

List of gratitude

1. mexican for dinner. my favourite.
2. free movie ticket hurrah!
3. cigarillos still tasting good after 8 years ha
4. good health
5. phone calls from my mum
6. fresh melon with yoghurt for dessert

Midnight in Paris

not to be confused with the sex video called "one night in paris". ..

Josh and i watched this delightful woody allen movie last night, and it awoke a longing in me to visit paris and walk the streets in the rain. it also compelled us to drink lots of red wine. and smoke cigarillos. why cigarillos and not cigars? because i remembered that i still have a pack that i bought for my friend Revadhi when i was in Munich, Germany, but never gave to her. 8 years ago.  yes! 8. years. ago. I am a hoarder! so we smoked one each. and they were still really good!

So was a fun night spent at home. smoky but fun.

excitement!

I received the most fabulous news today. my friends Drew and Nathania are now engaged! they are travelling around Vegas/Grand Canyon at the moment, and Nathania texted to say that he proposed this morning whilst they were hiking. so fabulous!!!! i can't wait to pass on my wedding magazines to her and to start hearing about the wedding plans. poor drew wont know what has hit him.

The alphabet

today I learnt my ABC's. in nz sign language. such an exhilirating feeling to be learning something new and to be part of the deaf world. it was the quietest class i have ever been to but one of the most fun and exciting. best of all, josh was there with me and it is the first time we have done a class together. here's hoping our skills improve within the next 8 weeks so i can start talking to my deaf friends a bit more. and maybe our fights will be quieter. Josh and mine that is, not me and my deaf friends.

In brief

we celebrated auckland restaurant month by going to the Japanese restaurant "Ebisu" in the city on Friday. fantastic japanese food and weird japanese vodka. followed by red wine at the hotel de brett which led to interesting conversations about the riots and religion and the government and traditions and education and the media. i love nights like this one where i am not only challenged by my friends, but also suprised and inspired.
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We stayed at the Langham hotel on Friday night and it was luxurious. Lovely, soft bed with crisp white sheets and lots of pink treasures. Oh the pinkness!
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shirin had her baby shower on saturday. it was so much fun to see all the gorgeous little outfits that she got. and the baby room is adorable. so excited to meet this little baby that is due to arrive in less than 4 weeks.
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it snowed in Parnell today. Apparently this hasn't happened since the 1970's or maybe the 1950's, depending on who you talk to. so. so. exciting. we rushed outside just to catch a few flakes in our hands but they melted as soon as we caught them. it was all over after about 10 minutes and we now have blue skies again. craziness.
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The snow would probably have been the highlight of my day except that I am going to Lisa and Manish's house for dinner tonight. and they are cooking us roti and lamb curry. oh.my.gosh guji lamb curry and roti. i'm salivating already and i still have two hours until they are expecting me.
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pay day!

List of gratitude

1. being able to meet up with friends for lunch because they now work in the same suburb as me
2. sunny days like today
3. coming home to a suprise "indoor" picnic, thanks to my scrumptious husband
4. wine!
5. hearing that friends and family are safe and sound in London
6. living in a safe and friendly place like NZ

London Riots 2011

We seem to live in a world these days where we are all becoming so isolated and disconnected.  It's not uncommon for people to live next to someone for year and not even know their names. It's a world of cubicles and units and little compartments. People now have hundreds of "friends" on facebook or twitter or other social networking sites, but instead of making us closer, these sites seem to be dimishing the true meaning or value of a 'real' friend.  A prime example is of Simone Back.  Her story was widely reported after she declared on facebook to her 100+  friends that she was "going to kill herself, goodbye".    For hours, not one of these 'friends' tried to contact her to stop her, even though they posted on her facebook wall.  Hearing stories such as this makes me wonder sometimes if this is the way society is destined to be.

There have been so many natural disasters around the world this year - devastating earthquakes in Christchurch, tsunamis in Japan, floods in Queensland, tornadoes in USA, etc.  Whilst these stories were always horrifying to read about or to witness to tv, it was the courage and sense of community that always blew me away.  Reading stories about strangers reaching out to other strangers in times of need was so inspiring.  Instead of reamining isolated and cut off, people started to reach out.  I felt it most strongly when the Christchurch earthquake happened.  People gave $$, the youth of Christchurch rallied round and started the xx army to help the council clean the city up (they also went on to Tokyo to help them out after the tsunami).  People in other cities offered accommodation anyone that wanted to move out and people contacted each other via the radio to offer things such as baby formula to mothers that couldn't get to shops and were running out.

The true extent of strangers love and support for one annother was brilliant to witness and be part of, this sense of community that was created by the simple gesture of reaching out to one another.

However, for the last 4 days London has been under attack. People (locals) have been rioting and looting in London - creating havoc and fear in so many areas.  They have destroyed buildings and cars and seem unrelentless.  Friends in London have been talking about hearing sirens non-stop and seeing or smelling smoke and it is as if society or communities have turned on themselves are imploding.

But then today, some of that brave, compassionate and community spirited attitude that I admire so much came shining through.  Articles have begun to appear about local communities (local heroes) fighting back.  Not with violence, but with strength and determination.  Neighbours, fellow shopkeepers and business owners are helping each other protect their businesses and homes from these hooligans, and they have also begun cleaning up the mess.

Sometimes there is so much chaos and havoc and wickedness in this world, but these brave people and their stories inspire me and give me hope. For our society and most importantly, for our future.

World Blog - With a show of force and prayer, London fights back

worldblog.msnbc.msn.com

List of gratitude

I like the idea of listing the things for which I am grateful, so will try to do this on a daily basis if possible. Sometimes I think I  get too caught up in..well, just life. Sometimes it is the monotony of it all (especially in winter), sometimes its the hecticness  (apparently that is not a word?? It totally should be) that gets to me, and I forget to sit back and think of all the things that are going right or make me happy.

This list will be a chance for me to do a bit of reflecting. And maybe a chance to send out my thanks to the universe, gods, mother nature, friends and family, or whatever it is that is out there. Because I don't do it often enough.


 6 things for which I am grateful
1. friends. good friends that I can pop in to see when I'm feeling a wee bit lonely and I don't want to sit at home alone.
2. tea! This kind of goes with number 1, but is also amazing for lots of things - when I have a headache or am sick. It is a miracle drink. Or when I am cold, or even hot, because I grew up in Fiji, which is pretty much hot all year round and I still drank tea. alot. When I am upset or when i just want to relax. Great for social occasions and also for alone times.  Okay, I think I may have to create a whole other blog just for tea...
3. sunny days. like today. everything is just better when it is sunny.
4. being able to talk to my sister every day. even though she lives in another country. apart from my husband, she is my best friend and I can talk to her about pretty much anything.
5. my GHD straightener. My mother in law has leant it to me indefinitely. I say "leant" but really, she gave it to me. and i was too embarrassed about taking another gift from her, so i insisted that she just lend it to me. even though we both knew that i would never give it back to her. And she was sweet enough to go along with it.
6. on that note, i must say I am very grateful for having such an amazingly sweet and generous mother in law. She has always been so welcoming and supportive, ever since i first met her.

Wise words from a dying father

My sister just sent me this link, which is an article about a father of two that was diagnosed with terminal cancer. After he passed away, his wife found a list he had made, titled "A Father's Rules For Finding Fulfillment".

I love this article and the Father's list and hope that I can put into practice his words of wisdom..except maybe being punctual. I think I may have given up on that. Dr Phil or Oprah said that being late was a sign of disrespect to your friends or colleagues or whoever it is that is left waiting for you. But I'm honestly not being disrespectful. I just have the worst sense of time management. in the world. And my husband is just as bad, so the two of us together are always running late. It makes for a stressful life, that's for sure. 

Anyway, here is the link:

http://www.matchmove.com/news/article/a-fathers-message-from-beyond-the-grave

And here are some of my favourite pieces of advice:

Be proud of who you are and where you come from, but open your mind to other cultures and languages. When you begin to travel (as I hope you will), you’ll learn that your place in the world is both vital and insignificant. Don’t get too big for your breeches. 

Make it your instinct always to say ‘yes’. Look for reasons to do something, not reasons to say no. Your friends will cherish you for that.

Always treat those you meet as your social equal, whether they are above or below your station in life. For those above you, show due deference, but don’t be a sycophant.

Always respect age, as age equals wisdom.

Being Married Is Making Me FAT...

but headlines like this give me hope:

Health News - MSN NZ Health Hub

All latest health news from New Zealand and from around the world from Health Hub.

A big butt is good for your health

2/08/2011 4:55:00 PM, Good Health Prev Next

 

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Hanging with Brits and 6 things for which I am grateful

I love wintery nights when we have the fire blazing and I get to hang with my favourite (and only) cat.  Her name is Britney and we usually call her "Brits" or "Britta" and although she is getting on a bit and is slightly on the tubby side these days, she still looks like a cute little kitten.

Tonight is one of those nights and it's lovely and snuggly in our little abode - a perfect night to finally create a blog!
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 Loving the life we are creating

1. our little abode, and the fact that it is ours
2.  the creativity that surrounds us
3. Britney and her cat snuggles
4. the travels and adventures that we are yet to embark on
5. My hot water bottle and the cutest  pink and white knitted cover that my husband found for me today
6. the fact that I get to share all of these things with the one that I love the most in the world, knowing that he loves me too