Hello 2014! I'm a failure!

Last year I challenged myself to 52 goals to complete. I didn't complete them all. Here are my failures and my excuses (LOL!). Luckily for me I'm a firm believer in 'if you're not making mistakes you aren't learning'.

1 Choose one thing from Pinterest a week and do it.
 Now I definitely did some of this....but somewhere during 2013 pinterest didn't become as all encompassing and appealing to me as it originally did. I got on the pinterest bandwagon very early in the piece (around early 2011) and although I think it's very useful and full of great ideas, I just don't use it the way I used to...or have found other things to replace the obsession at the moment. Now don't get me wrong - I definitely did use it for baking and making ideas and love searching it for help with things, but I must confess that #1 on my list, was a fail.

2 Make an emergency binder - see 52 to 52 pinterest board.
Thought about it... and then decided F**k that! hehe

4 Make Leah a pillowcase dress 
I have bought everything I need for this and am looking forward to making it over the next couple of weeks. This was just one where there was no way I was getting it done in a very busy Term 4 when the weather was getting hot enough to wear it.

9 Use my giant pile of recipe mags somehow.
I'm actually really pissed off to have to call this one a failure, because I'm so close. I've used about 85% of my magazines and am just working through the last few now and it's done! It's been a really rewarding experience as my and the people around me and their stomachs will testify to!


12 Build up a basic wardrobe - see pinterest 'my style' board for list.
I just keep putting this off. I shouldn't, but I do. I use the excuse that I want to lose more weight before I get clothes otherwise it's a waste of money. It's a valid excuse but my wardrobe is looking very lackluster currently. Ho hum!

16 Learn more about photography using my photography tutorial pins.
Why oh why won't I do this? No time, that's why! Need to make time for this, but I am doing OK without it. OK being the operative. 

17 Watch star wars films
How easy was this one and I couldn't do it? Slap on the wrists time. Planning to over the summer.

20 Restore nana's china cabinet
I did look into this right back at the beginning of 2013. The wood at the top is fairly cheap and has an overlay on it so it wasn't as easy as sanding and varnishing, hence, no dice.

21 Learn how to use photoshop.
I am sad to say that I made no attempt to do this. I did although purchase a year's subscription to picmonkey.com aaaaaaand managed to be awarded 'Top digital image of the year' at my photo club with a photo that I enhanced on there. Not too bad for a beginner and a fairly basic editing suite! This is the photo.

25 Read/do something with all of my books. Any ones that haven't been read/used by the end of the year will be sold.
In the process of culling these books during the holidays.

26. Get a stamp book and present all my stamps nicely.

Another one I'm pissed off I couldn't cross off. I'm about 3/4 of the way done with this.

36. Create and order a necklace from Origami owl

I got one all ready to pay for and send and then thought to myself that 'this is way too overpriced for what it is... I'd rather spend my money on geek stuff on etsy'... so I did.

38. Save all my spending money for 2 pay weeks and then blow it all in one go.

I couldn't do this. How sad is that? I'd really like to be able to. I did although manage to save up over $2000 for my mixer and my phone this year so I can't really be too grumpy at myself. I'd still like to try and do this one in the future.

47. Do another drawing challenge. 

Almost done! Hoping to finish over the holidays.

So that's what? Like a 75% pass rate. I'll take it. Especially because there are a few that will still get done and I had so many great successes with the list....Like...

• I have made a real conscious effort to try new recipes this year and because of this I've found some yummy new family favourites.
• I went to the Matakana markets and made my way over to Waiheke which are both things I've been wanting to do for a long time.
• My vision board is truly rockin'.  
• I got my full driver's license. Something that was a very long time in the making.



Yes, my hello kitty glasses are greater than everything you own combined!

• I saved up for my kitchenaide AND my iPhone. Now that's financial goals making a difference right there. I love both my big purchases so much and I'm so proud of myself for making the effort to do it on my own.

 

 And there's also a bunch of other little things that I'm truly happy I've done, or have begun to do.

But alas, as much as I love my lists they will be used in a much more down scaled attempt this year (perhaps with a resurgence at the beginning of next year with a 30 things before 30 theme) with only really using the 'Weekly 10' and concentrating more on myself.

Happy new year everyone. I hope that your year is full of failures and that you learn and grow from each and everyone. They're a necessary part of life, don't dwell on them, grow from them.

xox
 

 

Matakana Markets

Finally made it!

We had such a great time too. The markets were fun, packed, yummy smells, beautiful colours and very lively. Matakana is so beautiful too. We had a great time down the road closer to Leigh playing at a fun place with farm animals and a crackin' playground.

We'll definitely be going back.

Made it finally

I'm soooo happy to cross this one off my list. I had it on my 101 Challenge for last year and just never got around to it (not for lack of trying either. When I got around to looking into it, it was just too hard basket and too costly for me, hubby and bubba to go).

But about 2 months ago a lovely work colleague and friend sent an email with a 'groupon' deal to go on a wine tour. Now I don't drink wine, but the pull of the island and a fun day with friends away from the day to day was too much to turn down! The Bach, Wild on Waiheke and Peacock sky on the island were amazing, I had fun at all of them and even bought some cider home to share with my lovely husband who watched baby and held down the fort at home while I was out.

We had a wonderful time and even though I still don't particularly like wine, I do like wine and food pair tasting, quite a lot. I would thoroughly recommend the pumpkin, coconut milk and ginger soup at Peacock sky. Oh nom nom.

Thanks to Lynn from Moments, Memories and Musings for most of these pics <3

How's the 52 goals in 52 weeks going Kate?

Well I'm glad you asked.

As of today I have completed 26 of the goals, so just over half but there are a lot that I have begun or are year long goals that I am chugging my way through quite nicely.

Plus the holidays are coming up soon so watch this space for some brilliance in the goal crossing of banaza that is the Term 3 break. Trust me, it'll be worth it!

Marbled Cheesecake Brownies

100g dark cooking chocolate, chopped
125g butter, chopped
1 cup caster sugar and 1/2 cup extra
3 eggs
1 cup plain flour
250g cream cheese
1t vanilla essence

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees celcius and grease and line a 30x20cm slice pan with baking paper extending paper at long sides for handles.

2. Combine chocolate, butter and cocoa powder in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup sugar and 2 of the eggs, stir until combined. Sift flour over chocolate mixture and stir. Set aside.

3. Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, extra sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth and creamy. Add remaining egg and beat until well combined. Place large spoonfuls of chocolate mixture and cream cheese mixture in prepared pan, alternating mixtures. Using a knife, swirl mixture to marble.

4. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a skewer inserted at centre comes out clean. Remove from over. Cool in pan. Cut into squares.

Vision Board

Using this tutorial I made myself a wicked cool vision board. All up it cost me about $30 and something like this would go for $50 - $100 in stores so I'm rapt! What makes it better is that it isn't some boring old design either, it's mine.

SO happy with it.

At the moment it just has a few bits and pieces on it including a tonne of my 'Bucket List' cards.

Annnnnd it's another thing crossed off my 52 in 52 list! YUS!

Malteser Slice

 Malteser Slice


280g packet of maltesers, Chopped
400g digestives biscuits
180g butter
1/4 cup caster sugar
1/3 cup golden syrup
1t cocoa powder
180g white chocolate, melted

1. Line the based and sides of a 18x26 (or there abouts) pan with baking paper. Crush half of the maltesers and combine with the biscuits in a large bowl. Set aside.

2. Place butter, caster sugar and golden syrup into a small saucepan and stir over a medium heat until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat, stir in cocoa powder.

3. Pour butter mixture into the biscuit mixture and stir well to combine. Press into prapared pan and spread with melted white chocolate and remaining chopped maltesers. Cover and chill until firm. Cut into slices to serve.

“You are the closest I will ever come to magic.”

As you can see, it was supposed to be a 'plain silver band', and as you can see below... I went with something a little prettier.

My best friend can attest to the fact that I did (very half heartedly) go to the jewellery shop and ask for a plain silver band, but they had none. Then the Pandora shop caught my eye. Sigh....it was a done deal before I even knew it!

So pretty though isn't it? The photo doesn't show terribly well but it's a purply colour. On the inside I engraved 'Leah' 3.9.2011

It sits on my right hand ring finger and I love it!

I know... I know!

I've been very neglectful of my blogging fans. And I'm very sorry.

.... but I have good news, well, a couple of good newses (is that even a word?) actually!

#1. We sold our house! And we bought a new one! Which we absolutely love. So if you must know where I've been, this photo illustrates pretty well where I've been.

#2. And to be honest I don't know which I'm more excited about...

Looky at what I have here. Still haven't used it yet. It's going to look so so awesome in my new kitchen. Swoon! It's a new colour called 'espresso' which is like a chocolate brown. So in love!

Lasagne Bolognese

BEST.LASAGNE.EVER! Make it, I dare ya!

Lasagne Bolognese:

6 slices of pancetta (I used standard bacon and it was delicious)
1 large white onion
1 medium carrot
2 celery stalks
1 kg Mince
2 cups milk
60g butter
2 cups beef stock
1 cup wine of your choosing
410g can tamoato puree
2T tomato paste
1/4 cup chopped parsley
8 fresh lasagne sheets
2 cups grated cheese

White sauce
125g butter
3/4 cup flour
5 cups hot milk

1. Cook pancetta in lightly oiled large pan, stirring until crisp. Add onion, carrot and celery. Cook, stirring until the vegetables soften. Add mince and cook until mince browns. Stir in milk and butter and cook until liquid reduces by half. Add stock, wine, puree and paste; simmer, uncovered for approx 1/2 hour or until liquid becomes thick. Stir in parsley.

2. Preheat oven to moderately hot (200 degree celcius)/ Grease a deep 26x35cm baking dish.

3. Make white sauce ( melt butter in a medium saucepan, add flour; stir until mixture forms a smooth paste. Gradually stir in milk; bring to boil, stirring until sauce thickens). Spread about 1/2 a cup of the white sauce over the based of the dish, layer 2 pasta sheets, one quarter of the meat sauce and one quarter cup of the cheese and about 1 cup of remaining white sauce. You will have four layers like this in total. To lasagne with remaining cheese.

4. Bake lasagne, uncovered, in oven about 40 minutes or until top is browned lightly. Stand 15 minutes before cutting.

Day 4: Favourite photograph of your best friend

Day 4: You favourite photograph of your best friend.

Source

I have a few best friends. I don't have many 'friends' but the ones I have are here because they've stuck around and they actually make an effort.

My favourite favourites are Rachael, Nicola and Damien (of course!). Here are my fave photos of them.

I'm in the process of cleaning out my house currently (another of my 52 goals in 52 weeks). In this process I found a box a stuff I kept from when I was at high school - yearbooks, notes between friends, diaries and photos. In that I found a bunch of photos that I'd had taken with my friends in the sorts of booths you see at arcades. Basically it's, take photos, choose favourite, put in frame and embellishments, print. I love that I have these. I scanned them all, put them on facebook and had a huge laugh with the tagged people that were in them. This one of me and Rach is my fave. It shows how long we've been mates for and that we haven't really changed that much! Hah!

Nicola has been my friend FOREVER. We met each other when I moved from Clendon to Hill Park when I was 9 and was the only person who talked to me on my first day in a new school. For those 18 years that we've known each other I don't think we've ever had any major fights. We sometimes haven't seen each other for months on end but every time we get together it seems like no time has gone by. It's an effortless friend ship and for that Nicola, I thank you :).
Nicola LOVES Leah. She thinks she's adorable (don't we all) and it the best thing ever. I tell her she shouldn't say this until she's put up with screaming, stubborn Leah... but she doesn't believe it. There are lots of pics of Nicola and Leah like that that Nicky takes on her phone, this is my favourite.

And lastly, how could I forget my bestest friend. The one who knows me through and through and who I couldn't possibly live a day without. This photo was taken up north one year. I love us in it, I love how happy we are, I love how skinny we were(!!!) and I love how in love we look. LOVE.

Day 3: Your perfect date

Day 3: Your idea of the perfect date

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I'm am in all ways a homebody. I pretty much always have been. I have a few years around my later teens where clubbing was the big scene for a while but other than that, I've just enjoyed being home with the company of people that mean the most to me.

It is for this reason that my perfect date would be at home, so it most definitely wouldn't be a first date, that would be a bit weird - you have to meet on neutral territory for the first date, right? So at home, lots of good conversation, perhaps a movie on the TV at home (a scary one of course so I could feign being scared and get a cuddle, lol), or even a duel at Mario Kart or Mortal Kombat... now that would have to be a pretty awesome dude.

I always thought it would be good to have a date cook for me at home. Mr. Man cooks for me now and again but I was never cooked for on a date - always taken to a restaurant. I think that would be rather romantic.

I also always imagined that I'd end up with someone who lived far away from where I did... not sure why? But having married someone who has lived in the same place as me all his life didn't lend itself well to my third perfect date - being shown around an unknown city or showing someone around mine. Showing all my favourite places, and making some new ones together. That'd be lovely.

I really struggled with this topic. What would your perfect date be?