Summer Roadtrip

I took a long holiday after Xmas which involved nearly two weeks of road-tripping around the North Island with some of my oldest friends. The six of us bought an old van a couple of months ago especially for the trip, crossed our fingers that it wasn't going to break down, and worked out where we all wanted to go.

We spent a few nights camping in the Coromandel, went to Waihi Beach for New Year's to see Gin Whigmore & Dave Dobbyn perform, and ended up in Mount Maunganui for a couple of nights before heading back down south.

Highlights

• Spending time with some of my favourite people
• Lots of great summer weather
• Chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone
• Lounging on the beach for a whole day
• Making elaborate meals with minimal cooking equipment (and discovering that French toast works well on the barbeque)
• The van not breaking down at all!

Lowlights

• Waking up to a minor ant infestation our first night camping
• Thinking that the tent was going to blow away on a couple of windy nights (everything was fine though!)
• Slow holiday traffic on the way home

Xmas Treats

I've always preferred chocolate over cards, and I'm sure there's a lot of people around who share my sentiment! For this reason I attempted a batch of oreo truffles to share with friends and spread some holiday cheer.

Very good for a sugar hit (as if I don't eat enough chocolate over Christmas time already!) Here's the easy to follow recipe if you're so inclined.

What to Wear on an Adventure

Shenanigans & High Jinks
My favourite type of adventure! This may involve playgrounds, guerilla art, getting outside your comfort zone, treehouses, food fights, exploring, elaborate practical jokes, scavenger hunts, road trips, dares...

Product Information

• Long Sleeved Top to keep warm when the sun goes down
• Tshirt or Singlet bonus points if it's themed for the adventure!
• Comfortable Pants in a dark colour and durable fabric
• Change of Clothes because going on an adventure can be a messy business
• Sneakers are most practical for walking long distances, running, and/or climbing trees
• Large Bag to hold all your supplies
• Disguise to aid in an escape if necessary
• Camera for recording all the fun!

Romanctic Rendezvous
An adventure with a touch of romance could involve a ride in a hot air balloon, a picnic at the beach, drive-in movies, photobooth escapades, dancing until dawn, a fireworks display, decadent dessert...

Product Information

• Shrug because being cold is no fun at all
• Dress of a style and length compatible with sitting on the ground
• Shoes which you can walk in comfortably
• Statement Jewllery
• Handbag for all the essentials

Surprises!
If you're not quite sure what your next adventure will bring, then it pays to be prepared!

Product Information

• Warm Coat in case of inclement weather
• Light Jersey suitable for a variety of situations
• Singlet as an extra layer (also suitable for swimming)
• Comfortable Pants in case strenuous physical activity is involved
• Sneakers for sneaking or walking long distances
• Sunglasses for sun protection and an air of mystery
• Mobile Phone for emergencies and/or recruiting friends
• Large Bag with additional supplies
  

Engaged!

Owen & I celebrated our ten year anniversary last Friday (we've been together since we were sixteen!) and he completely surprised me with a proposal!

Photo Credit

Since it was our anniversary we exchanged gifts (a pocket watch for him, a pair of diamond earrings for me), then Owen said he'd also bought me another present. I thought it would just be something little, and was stunned when he handed me an engagement ring!

We hadn't really talked about getting engaged, and I was sure that I would've known if Owen had been planning anything. But he managed to keep everything a secret, and I absolutely love the ring he chose!

We haven't set a date yet, but are thinking about this time next year so we can keep the same anniversary.

Exciting!

Amazing Cheese Fondue

On Wednesday night I went round to Sorrel's house for cheese fondue. She'd been promising to make me some for ages, so I was very excited!

The menu included:

• Three kinds of cheeses (or maybe it was four?)
• Bread lightly fried with garlic
• Chicken cooked with herbs
• Mini sausages
• Chicken & basil raviolli
• Perfect roast potatoes
• Lightly cooked broccoli
• Raw carrots
• Corn chips
• Crackers

Best. Meal. Ever.

A fondue set has now made it to the top of my wish list!