Over and Out

Well 2012 is nearly complete and Christmas is literally at our doorsteps so this is it. This will be my last post for the year as I'll be popping home for a few days over Christmas then finally have 5 days off work for New Years. I'll be heading to the beach with family and friends to relax and unwind {if I haven't done enough of that already.} 

Might even go swimming as the sun sets...

 

 Or jump off rocks? Who knows, but I cannot wait!

For those of you who actually take the time to read my blog, {or scribbles} thanks a bunch. Hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I've loved writing it. Next year I'll write a list of things to blog about and will hit it off in January. Suggestions welcome. 

In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and an even better New Years. Catch you lot in 2013! Kisses and hugs. Liv x

A Kiwi Christmas

I don't know if you're feeling the same way, but I don't think it feels like Christmas is literally one week away. One week?! Usually I'm so excited at this point and have wrapped up everyones presents and am now onto wrapping up everyone else's for them.. But this year, not so much. 

I am really unsure of why I feel like this, but nevertheless, Christmas is only seven days away and then before you know it, we'll be in 2013 starting a whole new year! 

A New Zealand Christmas is less about sleigh bells and snow, and more about sun, sand and barbecues in the backyard. Some may go to Church and others will be opening presents and eating all day long. For me, Christmas is just about spending time with friends and family, enjoying a pressie or two and relaxing! 

For those of you not from New Zealand, above is what we call the "New Zealand Christmas tree." It's a Pohutukawa Tree. But don't worry, we don't put a branch of Pohutukawa in our lounge, we're still the same as the rest of the world with out Christmas Tree and find a cute green one that smells delish. 

Wherever you are in the world and whatever you are doing, Merry Christmas. I hope you have a fantastic day. Enjoy x

Recipe: Chocolate Brownie

If you're at our family Christmas, you'll definitely eat the famous chocolate brownie. So scrumpscious 'cos it's not as rich as most chocolate brownie. Instead of only using cocoa, you melt the chocolate into it which I'll explain in the recipe. Hope you enjoy x

Chocolate Brownie

Ingredients

250gm Butter
125gm Chocolate Buttons
2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Flour
4 Eggs
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup Cocoa
1 tsp Vanilla 

Melt the butter and chocolate buttons in a double boiler. {Fill a small saucepan with hot water and heat on the stove. Put a bowl on top of the water and place the butter/choccy buttons in there and melt away!}

Beat eggs lightly together then once the butter/chocolate is melted, take it off the stove and combine the egg with this. Make sure the bowl is off the stove or you'll end up with scrambled eggs!

In another bowl, add all your dry ingredients then mix all the dry and wet ingredients together and voila!

Pour into a baking tray that's lined with baking paper and cook on bake for 30-40minutes at 180 degrees. Serve with a bit of ice-cream of natural yogurt and it will be delish!

Good luck little bakers oxo

Happenings

I had the opportunity to photograph Casabella Lane's first ever market day last Saturday which was lots of fun. Got to hang with Santa and capture the sunny Hamilton day. I need to get a few more stories published so that's definitely something I aim to do these summer holidays. 

Thought it was the perfect opportunity to write one for the Waikato Independent so check it out here if you have a minute or two. 

p.s. Christmas is so soon. Less than three weeks away! I'm on a serious saving spree (of sorts?) so if you know any cheap or DIY christmas pressies for family, let me know. oxo

Sydney Bound!

Recently there's been a lot of talk of going on a holiday (maybe months) but nothing had yet eventuated. A while back I was planning a trip to Thailand with the boy but December/January doesn't fit in with his golf tournaments and yardy yardy yar. Even in this post I talked about dying to get away. Great news, I've finally sorted myself out and am off to Sydney for five days in January. 

Need a wooohoo. 

#Yolo got the better of me and I saw myself at midnight on Sunday booking tickets to Big Day Out in Sydney with a friend from school. I've only been to Brisbane/The Gold Coast so it'll be fun to venture around a new place and get out of old Hamilton for a few days! 

That's Big Day Out in Sydney - all those people (and on Bondi Beach as well) hollly moly. I'll be one of those people in just over a months time rocking to Red Hot Chilli Peppers and The Killers!

Been to Sydney? Know of places we must visit? We're there for 5 days so suggestions of activities/tourist attractions welcome. Can't say I've ever been on a holiday just me and a friend - first time for everything. Let me know if you recommend places to stay/shop/eat/dance etc etc etc; 

Love oxo

Top 5: Online Stores

These days, online shopping is becoming a popular thing to do. It's convenient, sometimes cheaper, and means I can sit in bed and browse the internet. This weeks Top 5 are my top online stores at the moment. Although I haven't actually purchased anything from a few of them, I love being able to look at all the goodies I dream of having. Maybe you'd like to check these out next time you need a browse. Hope you enjoy xx

1. ASOS

ASOS is the UK's largest online fashion store and you will find anything and everything on ASOS. They have a huge range of men and women's fashion depending on what you like. They have the best sale items and I've bought a few bits and pieces off here recently. It's often a bit hit and miss with the sizing but if you had the patience, you could buy something off here, then take it to someone who will resize it for you! Best of all? Free shipping to New Zealand. What a deal!

2. Trade Me (Does this count?)

Ok so, it's an online auction site, but that still counts as shopping doesn't it? If your not from New Zealand, Trade Me is pretty much like Ebay or any of those sites where people sell their stuff. We've had to buy a few new bits and pieces for our flat and this has been the place to go. Two cream couches for $20. What a steal. 

3. Redcurrent

If you're a sucker for homewares and gifts, this website will keep you for hours. Redcurrent is a New Zealand store which has everything from gifts and home decor to clothing for babies! Although I haven't yet purchased anything from here, window shopping keeps me happy anyway!

4. Cotton On

Yes we have a Cotton On in Hamilton, but the one with the Typo bits and pieces isn't exactly on my doorstep, so this is the perfect place to window shop, then maybe go and purchase. This site is based in Australia so anything you do buy will cost an extra $20 postage, but sometime's it's worth it. 

5. Little Paper Lane

I recently found Little Paper Lane on Fat Mum Slims blog. If you live in Australia - you definitely have to check this out! The cutest store that sells invites, stationary, diaries, notebooks, the list goes on! It's times like these that I wish I could be older and getting married. One day. I'm not 100% sure how much shipping to New Zealand will cost, but when I decide I need/want something off here, I'll let you know! 

Those are a few of my favourite places to browse and sometimes shop, check them out oxo

Top 5: Things I Love

When in need of blog inspiration, I pop over to Fat Mum Slim's blog (Chantelle Ellem - Australian blogger who I've mentioned before) and see what she's been up to. She blogs a lot about food and recipes, and although I love food and cooking, because I'm on a student budget, I don't bake that often, and if there is baking in my flat, it's gone within a day. You may see a few recipes here and there (mums famous aioli which is here) but I'm going to start something called "Top 5." 

Once in a while, I'll do my top 5 on different things. Could be my top 5 movies, top 5 songs, top 5 shops, you get my drift. So todays "top 5" is things I love. Read on and you'll get a bit of an idea of what I love at the moment. 

One. Polka dots. 

How could you not? Anyone who knows me, knows I am obsessed with polka dots. Mainly red and white, but polka dots are polka dots. A lot of what I own is polka dots, including the cutlery in our flat, as well as half my wardrobe. I think I got the polka dot bug from my darling mother though, it's contagious. 

Two. #YOLO

Yes, I know it's overused and everyone is sick of it. But seriously, whoever came up with this saying had it all sorted. You do only live once, and although it shouldn't be an excuse to do anything silly, I think it's quite a relevant saying. Apologies to you if you don't. I may have even bought these wall letters the other day, but don't tell anyone. Yolo. 

Three. Typo

If you haven't heard of Typo, where have you been living? The perfect place for stationary, room decorations, calendars, the list goes on. Typo has finally made it to Hamilton's Cotton On store which I am so happy about, cos before this I would just get Typo things for pressies or I'd buy from Australia. So wooohoo Hamilton, wooohoo Typo. My lanterns, bunting and my yolo hashtag letters are all purchased from Typo, and it's not to spensy either which makes it so worthwhile. 

Four. Chuck Taylors

A must have for the wardrobe, Chucks are the perfect shoe to wear with anything, anywhere. I've had one pair of black chucks for the last year or so, but I decided I deserved new ones so these are my new babies. So comfy yet they don't look too bad either. 

Five. We Heart It. 

One of my favourite online photo sharing websites. Most of the photos I use are from we heart it. I find it easier and more simple than Tumblr and I can use tags to find photos. Whether you are looking for inspiration photos, Zac Efron photos {I have lots if you want them. What a babe.} or photos which make you want to go to the beach, you'll find it on we heart it. 

So that's my top 5 things I love right now. What are you enjoying? Summer? Holidays? Your camera? Asos? These things could be on my list next time. Til next time oxo

Life through Instagram

A person I follow on blogger just did a post called "life through instagram," and since I spend a lot of my time on that little photo application, I thought I'd do it too.

 

 

My first radio show ever / Inspirations off we heart it / A girl should be two things: Classy and fabulous / A note in my lunchbox from the best friend ever / Me and Luke dressed up for the Labour Day races /  Four of my favourite people in my double bed / Pretty fake nails / Editing my radio shows / Champagne for a party at the parents house. 

More instagram photos soon, in the meantime I'm trying to get an assignment finished and then I am free oxo

A pet peeve..

Hi all my little mymindonscreen readers {Is anyone actually reading?} Hope you're fab. 

Now, I think I'm quite a positive person, and people who make their lives so negative is something that I just don't understand. So when I meet people and I get the "the world revolves around me, I'm guna tell you all my first world problems" vibe, It kind of turns me off them a wee bit. 

Over the weekend, I saw someone I haven't seen in a few months and when I laughed about how rich I was going to be with my journalism career, {maybe not - but a girl can dream} this person made a interesting remark. This leads me to my "pet peeve" that is when people judge someone without any understanding of what they're doing or where they could one day go. Sometimes I think to myself, who are you to judge? What do you know about me? I could be the evening news anchor one day earning reasonable money, but you've already put me down. Why? I'm allowed to joke about myself but when someone else doesn't get the joke and add to it in all seriousness, I get a little confused. 

My boyfriend is in this situation way to often! He wants to play golf professionally one day and often when he tells people this, they laugh as if to say you wish boy. I hadn't really been in a situation where someone had laughed about what I'm studying so it did kind of knock me down a little bit. Annnnyway, main point of this blog {/small rant} is that even if people do laugh or comment on what you're doing, this should definitely not knock you down. Take it from Keri Hilson - "Keep rockin' and keep knockin!"

Take it as a "yo b!#*h you wait and see what I'll be doing in 10 years time, then I'll laugh at you." Brutal. Sorry. There's a lot of haters in this world but you just keep cranking it glen coco. 

Love to you all! Til next time oxo 

Need to get away?

Me too. I am seriously counting down the days until I finish tech for the year {10 days until I'm completely finished but 101 things to do in the meantime - blogging keeps me sane} and then before we know it, our New Zealand summer {that did exist once upon a time} will be here. Can I get a woooohoo!

Although it's all fine and dandy that I get three months off and pretty much get to do what I please... {I'm very grateful of this}... Sometimes I just wish I could literally book some tickets to some place hot where I could lie on the beach all day. I'm at a point where If someone gave me a few thousand dollars {anybody listening?} I'd book an overseas holiday right there and then.

In the six years that we've been together, me and the boy have never been overseas together so anywhere, like anywhere would be amazing. Australia, any of the Pacific Islands, Thailand or even Tahiti when I wish I was rich. Although my budget doesn't allow, I'm often very tempted to just book a flight somewhere, then at least I have to go. Wouldn't that be fun? Or does no one else get this feeling which is a bit like cabin fever?

Anyway money fairy, please be nice to me. If you are listening, drop me some money from your tree when you're looking over me. Even better, book me a holiday anywhere in the world! Would this be a good time to send the link of mymindonscreen to my parents and say I know exactly what I want for christmas? Seriously, just get me out of Hamilton. Lots of love, very poor student. Ex o ex o.

Summer's coming..

Which means i'm now in my last two weeks at tech - the few weeks when life is a little bit cray cray. One of my final assignments is to make a website {as I mentioned in my last post} So I've been a bit slack at blogging. 

I'm sorry I haven't blogged because..

1. I have school work to do, and making a website is by far the best assignment I've ever had to do therefore it's taking up a lot of my time. 
2. The Block Australia has started {Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday nights} and I already have my favourite couple. {Sophie & Dale if you watch it}
3. I spend a lot of my time singing to the Pitch Perfect soundtrack. 
4. Refer to above. 

If you haven't seen Pitch Perfect, you are missing out. I'm not a big movie fan as most of my friends will know so when I was busting to see this, it may have come as a surprise. The only movies I really enjoy are romantic comedy's or movies with singing/dancing in them, true to Dio girl form. Sitting in Pitch Perfect, us four girls were clapping and singing away {much to the embarrassment of the one boy who came with us, sorry Binney} Fat Amy is hilarious and it's just so much better than the normal dancing/singing movies 'cos it's a laugh as well. Even though I'm a poor student, I may have bought the soundtrack for $20 cos I enjoyed it so much. 

But seriously, stop reading this and go see Pitch Perfect. It's worth the $14. In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of my favourite bit in the movie. 

Not long now until I am finished at tech for a few months, summer will be here {I might finally get a tan} and all my bestest of friends will be home from university.  Hopefully I'll have some blog inspiration too, enjoy beautiful people oxo

In other news..

There is no other news, just a title to get you excited, hope you did. Saturday night and I'm home alone cranking some school work. Had a wee/major freak out last week because I realised how many assignments I have to do, in so little time. I don't have exams {thankfully} and I do sympathize with those who have to study for those yucky things. 

One of the assignments on my "to do" list is to make a webzine {an online magazine} so it's been my task to take photos for this website, which is based on Casabella Lane. For those of you who aren't from Hamilton, Casabella is a very cute side street with lots of cute boutique shops including Redcurrent which is my absolute favourite.  

Here's a few of my photos so far with improvements still to be made. 

Enjoy your weekend! Til next time oxo

When to say, he's mine?

When you were 12, 13, 14, your friends would ask boys out for you, true? After a few days when you were over it, you'd text them to tell them it's totes over babes, and that would be that. So when we're 19, 20, 21, how does one even get to the point where that guy you've been seeing for a while, is actually your boyfriend? Two friends of mine are both in this sitch, and everyone needs some advice. Since I did the "hey i've met you once or twice, wana go out?" text..(It kind of stuck and we've been together ever since - i know, don't judge) .. I'm not exactly the best person to give advice.

There's no rules on this kind of thing is there, which sucks. But what do you do? Is it the guys responsibility to take it for the team, spoil her and ask her to be his girlfriend? Or should it be a mutual decision where you both decide that you've been on a few dates, you may or may not have stayed over a few times so could it be more than a "thing?" Or, sadly, is it when you're official on Facebook? (So sad, but so 2012.)

Personally... (Even in my lack of experience) I say it should be a mutual decision whether or not you say you're "together." If you're too nervous to bring it up with them and ask where you stand and why you're spending so much time together, maybe it's not worth it? As long as you're happy and you're having fun, then it's up to you whether or not you even have a title. So what if they aren't your usual kind of guy, change is good, and you never know what could come out of something little.

Good luck girlfriends! 
You go glen coco xx

When you're having a freak out, blog.

I'm sitting here at the Wintec radio station having a wee mini, maybe larger freak out. My theory is when all else fails, blog. So at the moment I'm not failing, but In an hour I'm going to be a wee bit out of my comfort zone, which although I should - I don't often get out of. I'm doing a broadcasting class this semester, and to pass, we have to do four two hour shows on our student radio station. 

We've had to prepare all our own content, {mine includes the NZ music awards/words that have been added to the dictionary like amazeballs, the amazeballs bars I go to, and all this cutting for rhythm and vines stuff.} I have no one else to help me with the dock {is that what you call it?} and I'm just hoping I don't stuff it up. As long as I can hit the play button when I do stuff up and the music will keep playing, then this will be fine. 

Although it's not a huge radio station and there's not tooooo many listeners, this is still something I've never done before. I've never been on the radio on my own {apart from the time The Edge rang me 'cos I couldn't get tickets to Katy Perry! Does this count?} but on Chantelle Ellems blog today {that photo is hers} she wrote about public speaking and getting out of your comfort zone. 

So here goes. This best be fun. Love x

Back to the gym!

I've been a bit slack recently and although I've got a gym membership, (which I pay $18 a week for!!) I wasn't really using it to my advantage. Gym memberships can be, and are an expensive thing to get yourself into, but I've finally realised that you just need to get up and go! I joined Les Mills in May 2011 since that's where my boyfriend goes, and I thought I'd tag along with him. This worked for a while but guys do different things to us girls (they're all into weights when I just want to lose weight.) I would basically pay $18 a week to go and run on a tredmill. Everyone told me this was ridiculous and a few months ago I was going to cancel my membership. Not sure why I didn't, but now I'm glad. 

Les Mills have the most amazing fitness classes, and everyone was telling me to try them out so I bit the bullet and went to a Body Attack class on Wednesday night. I planned on going with a friend so I wouldn't feel so intimidated, but when this didn't work out, I ventured in there on my own. 

Body Attack is "A high-energy, calorie-consuming athletic workout that will push you past the limit with strong, simple moves and pumping music.'' Check out this video of it. 

My goodness, It was hard - yet so much fun! After 20 minutes I thought to myself, "this is so hard, you are dying, maybe you should leave." The moves are quite complicated to understand (and I'm so un-coordinated) but I stood behind a girl that definitely knew what she was doing which was helpful! I've never sweated so much but man it felt good. The atmosphere is exciting, and everyones there for the same reason. Hopefully once I've been to a few classes and learnt the right moves, I'll b able to push myself a bit more. 

If you have a gym membership that you aren't using, maybe set some goals and use it? Or think twice and cancel it if you can. The floor staff at the gym tell me that if I do cardio in the gym, a few weights, and attend the classes they have available, I'll see results.

Our New Zealand summer is just around the corner and we all want that bikini bod don't we? Will keep you updated with any other classes I head along to. Good luck xx

Before my mid-20's, I want to..

After thinking about what to blog about all morning, I thought I would share my ideas about what I want to do before I'm 25. Although I don't have a "top 10" and these are in no particular order, these are definitely on my "to do" list.

Ski - Whistler, Canada.

A few months ago I decided I wanted to do a working holiday on the ski fields in Canada/America but at this time of my life, my budget just wouldn't allow. Whether I head to Canada at the end of my degree to work on the mountains, or take a holiday and ski, this is definitely something I aim to do in the next few years.

Thailand - Floating Markets

Again, not long ago I was planning a holiday to Thailand, but this idea fell out the window too. Thailand is somewhere I am desperate to visit. It's such a different culture that I want to experience (and it has amazing beaches too.) I've heard the people are lovely, and although it's a third world country, it has character which I want to see.

                        Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge

From what I've heard, San Francisco is a gorgeous city. A few days here, even if I was passing through, would give me the chance to bike across the Golden Gate Bridge and do a quick bit of shopping while I'm there.

Rio - 2016

 Yes, the Olympics is commercialised so much now, but isn't it something that would just be amazing to experience? One of my best friends is an up and coming cyclist and has the potential to ride at the olympics in 2016. If she was riding, I'd be there in a heartbeat. {Hi Pepper Ann, don't laugh at this - you know as well as anyone you'll be there. No pressure :) xx}

I've also thought about following my golfing boyfriend around the world and being a freelance journalist/blogger - but this is a bit more frightening and I'm not sure I'll be confident enough to do that in the next few years. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

 Hopefully soon my budget will allow for atleast one or two of these dreams to happen. 

Till next time xox

Hi pretty people! Hope you have all had a fab week. Friday has finally arrived which means it's the weekend for me so it's definitely time to blog. Best part of your week? I went up to Auckland with my broadcasting class to visit all the radio stations. Was such a good experience to see what the studios at The Edge/ZM etc; all looked like. Seems like such a fun career to get in to so it's definitely on my list of "options for my life." 

Just on my favourite photo sharing site - We Heart It and found a few things that took my fancy. These all get me very excited for summer which is just around the corner!

Wow! So cute.

Looks delish, just what I feel like. 

Again, wow! Have a great weekend you little bloggers xx