I have been fortunate enough to travel around the country with work over the last few months and now have a new found enthusiasm for travelling during autumn. Sunny afternoons and crisp mornings, beautiful textures and rich warm colours. Now need to work ‘living in the South Island’ into the life plan.
In other exciting news, I am now a graduate and in full time employment. Once I settle into the corporate routine I will endeavour to post less sporadically and more frequently x
Some notable dishes of late.
Fried Haloumi with Pine Nuts, Raisins, Chilli, Lemon, Mint - The Boat Shed
Fresh Fejoas - Mum and Dad’s House
Bruschetta with Tomato, Basil and Buffalo Mozzarella - Domain Ayr
Pistachio and Cranberry Nougat - Vudu Cafe
Wonder breakfast made by my beautiful friend Justine.
Ripe Strawberry Cupcakes - Petal
North to South
and everything in between.
High Tea at the Langham to celebrate graduation.
Opera cake, chocolate mud cake and brandied cherries.
A few snapshots of summer in the top of the North Island.
So lucky to have paradise as my homeland.
Look at this cutie I spotted in a trough basking in the Easter sun. So teeny he still has his tail!
Some of you will know that I have recently been on an organic skincare and cosmetics hunt. This began after I read the book Living Green: The New Zealand handbook for an eco-friendly, toxin-free, sustainable life. I highly recommend it, if you are prepared to make a change. Doing so in all aspects of your life is a hard task, one I am tackling in stages as I am just an all or nothing kind of girl. I get really interested in New Zealand made, organic, locally sourced, nontoxic products. Thankfully for us there are a lot of companies out there that are doing an amazing job. I have both Earthwise and the Ecostore to thank for providing well priced plant and mineral based household products.
However the skincare, haircare and cosmetics transition has been somewhat more difficult. Not only are these products more expensive than your common cleaning items, but every girl knows once you find something that works well, you usually stick with it. But what if that something happens to contain toxic chemicals? Or just as important, is damaging our ecosystems?
I have lined up several products from different brands that I am very excited to test and briefly review on my blog. First up are the current products in Karen Murrell’s organic skin care range. I was fortunate enough to buy them all due to the amazing sale currently on at karenmurrell.com. The Absolute Luxury face moisturizer usually $50 is currently $7. You don’t need a much better reason that that.
I will be sure to let you know how I find the skincare after using it for awhile. As a designer I can’t deny that her packaging is also fantastically sustainable, beautifully designed and the mix of grapeseed, franckincense and rose oil is truly divine.
Finally.
Long awaited reading collection. Can’t wait to get lost amongst the pages.
across the Tasman for some real sun.
Best midweek-weekend ever.
Being out on the water, catching snapper for dinner, kneeboarding off Onetangi, swimming at Oneroa, dinner with friends, sifting for treasures in Paeroa, riding a V-Rod on the open road, picking wild blackberries, banter with friends, breathing the country air, late night Harley rides. Incredible Sunsets. This is life.
