mmmmm chocolate

Monday, August 28, 2006

Apparently Im having a good year........

After a week of domestic bliss playing house with Anthony (which we still are...and its fantastic!) What the best thing is though, is that it feels completely normal. I dont miss my flat at all. I barely have any possessions here, but it doesnt matter. I feel at home :)


A trip to the Womens Lifestyle Expo on Saturday with Kate, Ange and Lauren confirmed that I am having a good year. Like last year, I went to the Tarot Lady.

This is a rundown of what she said:

General:

It is a bright, shining and creative time for me. I have a child-like approach to things in life. This is a time when I should do what I want. I create my life through my attitudes, thoughts, actions etc...

Money:

It is a potential area to grow through savings, lotto (I wish) or something else.
Career:

Keep working as I am.....things are good as they are apparently. I need to trust myself.

Family/Home:

There is potential for an idea. I need to capture it and build on it. This is about where I live currently.


Emotions:

Im in a relationship, and very much in love. Also very happy. I dont know if bounding up and down in the chair gave that one away ;)

Maybe a lot of that stuff is logical, but it is nice to have a stranger confirm it in areas that I wonder about.

While the expo is the place of the week. My purchase of the week there was the shammy. As seen in Not-Kates blog, Lauren and I went halves in a two for one. Like many an informercial that I was conned into when I was younger (Power-rider, Get rich, lose weight and be happy with cassette tapes, the Airwalker, Natural Glow amongst others) I was sold on the presentation. However, this super shammy is great. Cleans up messes (proved with a beer spill on Saturday night), takes all those marks off your computer screens and your windscreens, soaks up liquid leaving dry surfaces. Its great. Plus with what we got, they can also be cut up into smaller pieces if needed :) Very happy with the purchase, and maybe a little over distraught when I thought I had lost them. Man, I am getting old and domesticated. I'm ok with that...I think????

Four more weeks to go at school. Once again, Im sick with a cold that has gone into my chest. I feel like the kid off Malcolm in the Middle that has to take deep breaths to talk. School is very hard, and students are not at their best at the moment, and not always the easiest to deal with. I have to remember that this happens at this time of year every year, and it passes ( I hope). On the plus side, it was shared lunch day today at work, and Rani brought in Indian curries, dahl and rice....Yum!

Monday, August 21, 2006

The Great Saturday Night Dinner Party











Pictures speak louder than words.....A very successful dinner party, cooked by Chef Kitt. So much food and so little stomach room. However, it makes for brilliant leftovers. Great party, with great food and great people to share it with :)

However, once the masses had left....the left over dessert became weapons of mass destruction. It all started with Aaron trying to feed us the dessert with the airplane, and it ended like this...... in a war of banoffi and lemon meringue pie.


Product/Place of the week

PRODUCT - NESCAFE CAFE MENU SACHETS


http://www.nestle.co.nz/nescafe/productrange/products.asp?id=129

The Café Menu Range

Treat yourself to a deliciously frothy coffee from the NESCAFÉ Café Menu range.
The perfect way to enjoy café quality coffee in the comfort of your own home, everyday.
NESCAFÉ Cappuccino Frothed to perfection with decadent chocolate dust, enjoy an authentic café quality cappuccino at home. NESCAFÉ Cappuccino Skim Now you can indulge… and stay light! Enjoy a delicious skim café style cappuccino. Rich and creamy yet 99% fat free. Lusciously frothy but with less than 200 kilojoules per serve and made with the goodness of skim milk.

NESCAFÉ Sweet Cappuccino Enjoy your favourite Cappuccino dusted with chocolate, now lusciously sweet and frothy.

NESCAFÉ Cappuccino Decaffeinated Wind down in the evening with a deliciously frothy cappuccino, dusted with chocolate but without the caffeine.

NESCAFÉ Mocha Relax over a velvety smooth and rich chocolatey coffee that’s decidedly wicked and very inviting. NESCAFÉ Latte Escape with a deliciously mild and creamy cup of latte (MY FAVOURITE)

NESCAFÉ Caramel Latte Make time to rest on your laurels with a rich and golden caramel delight. A silky smooth and indulgent caramel flavoured latte.

NESCAFÉ Chai Latte A traditional blend of chai spices, including ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon blended with a smooth, creamy NESCAFÉ Latte.

NESCAFÉ Cinnamon Latte A creamy Latte - exotic and fragrant with spicy undertones.

NESCAFÉ Hazelnut Latte A nutty little surprise. A deliciously frothy Latte with a hint of Hazelnut flavour – a touch of the unexpected.

NESCAFÉ Vanilla Latte Succumb to a sweet, mellow coffee with a subtle suggestion of vanilla blended with a creamy NESCAFE latte.

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY:
NESCAFÉ Brief Encounters

NESCAFÉ Double Trouble Chocolate – Being naughty never tasted so nice. Give in to temptation and indulged in the ultimate chocolate mocha coffee. One kiss and you’ll be hooked…

NESCAFÉ Behaving Berry Badly – Being berry, berry bad never tasted so good. Give in to temptation and go wild with a delicious blend of berry and mocha flavoured coffee. One kiss… and you’ll be hooked…
PLACE - HUTT PET CENTRE

3 Pretoria Street - Lower Hutt
Now this place is cool. It seems to have everything you want in the pet world - plus a friendly black and white dog that just sits there waiting to be patted. I was on the hunt for an ant farm, which I found. But what was better were the PUPPIES!!!!!

They have an area gated off where the puppies roam and you can go in and picked them up, play with them, and basically just go ga ga (ok well I do...I love dogs) Any day can be improved by picking up a puppy and giving it a hug. I wanted to take at least two home. A definite place to go when you want cheering up.


Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Highlights of 2006

Since being sick for the last few days, and being basically stuck in bed, I've had a lot of time to reflect on things. Many things are personal, but I have found that all in all I have had a pretty good year thus far, so......here is my

Top ten highlights of 2006 (no particular order)

1. Meeting Anthony

- who has taught me a lot about myself, and has given me different priorities in my life. Discovered it was a very small world when I did meet him, he already knew Fish and Sam. A positive influence on me, my family and friends will testify to that. I didn't even fight with my brother once last time I visited home. I could go on....but I won't :)

2. Starting a New Job

- Moved from Paraparaumu College to Upper Hutt College. I love teaching again. I still want to be a teacher! The kids are generally pretty cool, and the staff are amazing and very supportive. I look forward to going to school...a weird feeling. Finally I realise why I went into the professsion. Well you know apart from the holidays..he he.

3. Girls Night in Martinborough

- In the first term holidays of the year, five of us went to Martinbrough for the night. We hired a house, went to wineries, and ate wonderful food. A great relaxing experience with great people including one of my teachers college friends Andy from Waihi Beach who came to visit.

4. Getting a New Car

-Once a car starts costing too much, its time to get a new one. My ol' trusty silver toyota sprinter Wolf needed a new cam belt, tyres, tail light (and plastic casing since I backed into a pole at school) replacement amongst other things, so off to the car yard I went and came home with a burgundy nissan pulsar. Although smaller than my old car, its a lot more grunty and can pick up speed quicker....woo hoo. Its called Merlot.


5. Going Home

-July holidays, decided to drive home for the holidays. Detailed in an earlier blog, I had a great time and came home feeling like I had had a real relaxing holiday. Great to see family and friends, and being happier than I have been in a very long time. A lot of people have their family on their back doorstep and can see them often. I often wish I was a little closer, and love the time I get to spend at home.

6. Summer

-A weird summer where I wasnt at my best mental or physical state, but the highlight for me was being able to spend a lot of time at the beach in Dunners (yes it does get hot there) and even getting sunburnt.

7. The Posse

- Although now we dont hang out as much together, you know you can always rely on the posse to be there when you need them. We've had some good outings this year. The Trentham Races, dinner at Eastern Sunrise, various drinking events and tennis and cricket matches. I'm very lucky to have such good friends.

8 Going Back to Study

- This year decided to do some distance study through Otago Uni. I've enrolled in a Diploma in Sports Studies. So far Ive done papers in Anatomy and Principles of Exercise. Have passed them both. Have also discovered its far better to only do one paper a semester. As Dad says the papers arent going anywhere. This semester am only doing the one paper in Physiology. Why am I doing it you ask??? I need to stimulate my brain again, and learn stuff for myself. I also want to get into Sports Nutrition in the future. Ive also been accepted into a Post Grad Diploma in Community Nutrition which Ill start once Ive finished the sports studies. I love it!

9 Being Asked to be a Bridesmaid

- One of my older friends from high school is getting married next year and she asked me to be the only bridesmaid. Im very excited! Its about time one of my friends got hitched! I also get choice of what I wear..woo hoo!

10 Having More General Optimism About Life in General

- Last year was my Annus Horiblus (sorry on spelling), finishing the year with not a lot of hope for 2006. This year I have become more excited about the future, my health has improved somewhat (berocca), Im exercising again, got a good job, good friends, and a fantastic boyfriend who takes me as I am and believes I should have more self confidence. I have had less down days and have managed my condition a lot better. Basically Im learning (slowly) not to sweat the small stuff, and it makes the world of difference.


So there it is....and there are still three and a bit months to go.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Product and Place of the Week

A new segment in my blog where I want to promote places and products that have made my life better, and to share with others!


PRODUCT OF THE WEEK - BEROCCA

http://www.berocca.co.uk/

Since having glandular fever last year, I have struggle with getting my energy back. My doctor recommended trying it as a cheaper alternative to xango ($60 a bottle) and health food store alternatives after her own daughter suffered the same symptoms. Now after taking BEROCCA for now about 6 weeks, I have noticed in the last couple of weeks that I have more energy and am no longer always feeling lethargic. Taken in the morning, as a pinky tablet in water - it gives me a boost. People have even noticed my increase in energy :) Well done Berocca!


PLACE OF THE WEEK - DAVIS TRADING - PETONE

Address: 20 Te Puni Street, Petone

Specialist: Bulk Foods

Although many people know about this place, I recently discovered it. Basically a bulk Asian Supermarket, its full of all sorts of great things. I picked up a giant bag of Jasmine tea - just like the tea you get at the restaurants. Plus also managed to get rice bowls, sauce dishes, and a tea pot. Even cuter were sample teas in mini caddies (awwww). My flatmate Lianne once bought sticky buns with red bean in them. I went for the BBQ pork ones, but was slightly disappointed as it was just flavoured, no hidden BBQ pork inside.

Anyway great place, very cheap, and a lot of variety! Lots of fun to be had in there!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Rats!!!!!












While I wait for parent teacher interviews, I thought I might blog. Im actually pretty up to date with my work, and even finished my uni assignment well ahead of schedule....I'm stoked!

I was going to write about my $150 bidding incident, however not-kate wrote it so well, I thought people could just look at her entry. What went through my head, well it was a rare bipolar moment, where I thought sounds awesome ....why not? Didn't think of consequences until long after and when Kate was physically restraining me from raising my hand again. He he he ...still funny. Same thing happened when I was outbid on Cash Battle.

Highlight of the week so far...the great rat dissection with my Year 12's. If you get grossed out by guts etc, dont look at the pics. Remember these are not students, they are butchers. Lots of fun anyway :) And just remember, us humans look very similar to that inside, we are both mammals afterall.

Something else that has amazed me this week. Everyone around me is getting sick, and Im not...is the curse finally over???? Coughs, sneezes, lost voices, running noses, and Im still all good..yay!

Also, while at the zoo on Sunday, I bought an ant farm for a Year 10 project. After three days, it leaks, there are more ants outside the farm and in another beaker - but the kids are persuing it, and have even made it a dark shelter, as apparently, ants like to chill out in the dark. Bought two blow up animals (cheetah and snake) to brighten up the room - the snake has a bell in it - high amusment for the students.

Well soups almost up and interviews are upon me, only one more set of interviews after tonight. I dont like them one bit. Someone suggested that teachers should charge $5 an interview since its out of work time. With 19 interviews, that would be $95. Not a bad nights work.

Just a note to not-kate. The skull and man in uniform are a huge hit at work. Mihail took it into House assembly this morning and scared the kids with it. Well done on the choices. The kids love the pig.

Friday, August 04, 2006

Awwwww.....

I just had the nicest compliment given to me by my Year 11 students

"Miss, I have to commend you on your teaching skills. I hated Science last year, but I love it this year. I always look forward to coming to class. You make it heaps of fun, and I've learnt heaps this year. Thanks Miss"

I almost cried, but took the compliment and said thank you.

Hokey Pokey is fun, and even better when the sugar high will hit in the next class. Dry ice makes for great air hockey :)

Warm fuzzies :)

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Blah blah blah

Its been one of those weeks, that to be honest I cant wait for it to end. Nothing in particular has gone wrong or badly...but I just feel like crap. I know it will pass, but just wish it would do it quickly.....perhaps its the midwinter blues.

Have started back at the gym and walking a bit more regularly. When its warmer I want to get into swimming again. Swimming is great, a great time to zone out and have me time.

24 hours later.....

Feel a bit better today. I realised I have had a really good teaching week. 2 heart lung dissections, 1 rat dissection, lots of fire and explosions, made pretty patterns with meths and fire, made hokey pokey, my years nines went hard out and made some great environmental creatures (crocodiles and glitter bugs amongst them), and building bridges. School has been all good. If I could just go and teach everyday without all the administration and admin stuff, it would be good.


Had personal training last night. Did me the world of good. My trainer is making me do high weights low reps. I finally feel like Im better. Cant wait till i get back to 300kg on the leg press. Did squats last night - great for your butt and thighs, chest press and shoulder press, and a little cardio. Got the good pain today, just have to remember not to sit down too long :) The gym has again become one of my feel good zones.

Made the bomb apricot chicken last night, fully impressed and got compliments too. Had a chilled night as well which has improved my mood and happiness level.

Found out last night, have no flatties this weekend...woohoo. I love those sorts of weekends. Got a couple of parties this weekend, a dinner and going to the Cultural evening at school tonight. Hopefully the weather is good too :)

Run out of time, thats all folks!