Summer Wrap Up

So summer has once again come and gone in the Southern Hemisphere, so here is my high and low points of summer for 2013/14:

High points

1. I had another four months off from university, which was a much needed break after a very stressful year.
2. I got to spend the entire summer down in the South Island with my family and friends, it was wonderful.
3. All my hard work paid off and I got into the major I wanted. PR here I come!
4. During summer I worked the entire time and managed to save up a bit of money which will come in handy after uni.
5. I finally got my retainer off! No more braces or wires or dentist visits, success!
6. My sister and her boyfriend of six years got engaged! So excited.
7. I got to spend a lot of time with my friends at home, which was great! I miss them already.
8. Went speed dating, which turned out to be a lot of fun, despite the nerves before the event.
9. Meeting new people who I worked with, truly fantastic people that I can call friends.
10. I got to explore so much of the countryside in the South Island. Yes I've seen some of it before, but having a new camera made it so much more exciting.

Low points

1.  I had to move out from a wonderful flat. It was such a great place to live and all the flatmates I had there were amazing!
2. I craved sushi so much when I was home. Nothing compares to some of the sushi in Auckland.
3. I didn't save as much money over the summer as I would have liked to.
4. It was so hard to find a new place in Auckland! What made it worse is when no-one replied to emails, texts or calls. SERIOUSLY! did you want/need a flatmate? Oh wait you won't answer that questions since you don't respond.
5. Spending nearly four months in my hometown. To long, far too long.
6. I still have my job at BK. Need a new job ASAP!
7. I haven't been running as much over summer as I would have liked to. Time to change that.
8. One of my closest friends left the country and deserted us all for Germany. Miss her face!

So as you can see a pretty positive summer. I really loved being home for the summer because after this last year of study who knows where I will be at the end of the year. So getting to spend so much time with my family and friends really was a great way to spend my summer and in a way to say good bye to a town that helped made me the person I am now.

So goodbye sunshine, heat, relaxing and my tanned skin and hello falling leaves, new colours and crisp mornings.

2013/14 Summer Nature Visual Diary

Some snaps I took whilst being home in the South Island for the summer. The photos vary from the Mackenzie Basin to Lake Coleridge. Thanks to my mum for getting me a camera for my birthday, best gift ever!

My summer in a nutshell

This post has been a long time coming now, but with unforeseen circumstances it meant the delay in this post. However I am here to give you a list of my highs and lows for summer, as summer is now officially over in the southern hemisphere and autumn is slowly making itself known here in Auckland.
So here we go:

The Highs

• Having four months off Uni to enjoy the summer months was spectacular and possibly a very rare occurrence so I tried to soak up as much of it as I could.
• I turned 21 this summer!
• My birthday wish came true, that was for my family to spend my birthday in Auckland with me and half of my family surprised me by coming up which was AMAZING!
• Moving house and meeting my amazing new flat mates who are from all over the world, so I now have even more connections for when I travel.
• I read an inspirational book that has changed my life.
• I have become a more healthier person and do regular exercise which has resulted in me losing weight.
• It was my first summer away from home and I managed to support myself (with some help from my mother now and then) by working hard, and I feel I am a more independent person because of it.
• I only got sun burnt twice which is a new record.
• Going home for Christmas was a major high point as I miss them dearly.
• Getting to know all the locals who come into work was an unexpected bonus.
• My childhood friend came up to see me for a weekend, it was a great weekend.

The Lows

• Working for a majority of the summer meant I didn't get out as much as I would have liked.
• Spending New Years alone was a buzz kill night, and having to work the next morning made me feel even more lonely.
• Moving out of my old apartment was sad as I loved the place and I miss my old flat mate at times.
• Catching the worst flu right at the end of summer was not fun! (that is why this is being posted late)
• Getting sun burnt is never fun!
• Realising that I do not own a bikini because I am unsure about my body.
• Did not save as much money as I was hoping to. 

For my first summer in Auckland I would say it was a pretty successful one. Of course like anything there are low points but I'm becoming a more positive person and focusing on the positives in life and embracing what surrounds me.
I have to say that I am grateful for the amazing summer I had, but I am looking forward to some cooler months that are ahead as well.
So goodbye summer and hello autumn!

Beach and Lanterns: Another great saturday

I was lucky enough to have a whole weekend off work, so I took the most of it by visiting Mission Bay and going to the Chinese Lantern Festival.

Mission Bay is such a beautiful place and the weather was stunning. I collected some sea shells which now I will be googling what to do with them, I relaxed in the sun (got a little bit burnt) and of course went to Kiwiyo and treated myself to some amazing frozen yoghurt.

That night my flatmates and I ventured to the Chinese Lantern Festival which is held to celebrate the Chinese New Year, and it was crazy busy I was shocked and a little overwhelmed. We even got half a watermelon and managed to eventually finish it off, it was amazing but I think I ate my weight in watermelon! The lanterns were beautiful and there were so many, my favourite is the last photo.

Flat bonding, beach, lanterns and such a beautiful day it was a very good Saturday.

Wine, Zoo and Fire: What every weekend needs

This weekend a friend visited me from my little hometown in the South Island, and for the first time in what has felt like months I had the whole weekend off. So I made the most of it by doing what any normal person would do, which is going to the zoo. It has to be one of my favourite places to go to in Auckland as the animals always have a way of making you happy, excited about life and also makes you feel slightly like a child. 

Other than the zoo we of course had some wine, went out on Friday night, ate far too much food (but who can resist Movenpick) and early this morning (Sunday here in NZ) 6am to be exact, the fire alarm went off which meant evacuating the building while three fire trucks pulled up to turn off the false alarm.

So you could say it was a pretty eventful weekend.

Laneway Festival at Home

Top to bottom: ALT-J, Bat for Lashes and Of Monsters and Men.

So today in Auckland is the Laneway festival, a perfect way to spend Auckland Anniversary holiday (if you live in Auckland) as it is a day off for the region. But if you are like me and could not afford to attend this great festival at Silo Park why not throw your own Laneway Festival at home.

All you need is some of the acts who are performing at Laneway on your iPod, either a dock system or headphones and some room to dance and move around. Now is that so hard?

Just because you aren't there doesn't mean you have to miss out on hearing some amazing tunes. Okay so the environment might not be the same as actually being there, but just make the most of what you have got and loose yourself to the music for a while.

Ketz-ke Summer 12

Although designers are starting to bring out their winter collections for 2013 (since I live in the Southern Hemisphere winter is coming) I still would rather look at the summer collections as the weather is still beautiful over here.

Theses are a few of my favourite pieces from Ketz-ke Summer 12 collection, I love that you can easily see yourself wearing these pieces with what you may already have in your wardrobe. The outfits are fun and casual with a streetwear edge to them.

Ketz-ke Website

21st Birthday Weekend

So a couple of weekends ago I turned the big 21! but deciding to be different I didn't throw a big shin dig (otherwise known as a party) instead my sister, mum and her partner came up and surprised me in Auckland for the weekend. My nana and grandad I knew were coming up but what a shock it was to see my sister standing outside my apartment building and later that night to turn around and see my mum, it was the nest 21st present ever! 

My sister and I walked to the Auckland domain and ventured around the wintergarden pavilion and the museum on the friday before the rest of the clan arrived. On my actual birthday my family and I ferried across to Waiheke Island and spent the day walking around the hilly island trying to find a vineyard, which we everntually did, but I was worried my nana or grandad would have a heart attack, but they are still fit and strong. That night we went out for an amazing meal and later drinks (which ended with just me and my sister and a few shots)

I remember my mum asking me what I wanted for my birthday present and I said: " For everyone to come up to Auckland and we can all go to Waiheke Island" I was so happy that this actually happened, I love my mum, sister, nana and grandad so much they are my rocks and without them I don't know where I would be today. 

So remember to tell your family you love them as you only have one family so treasure them well!