Random tag thing

Here's a random tag thing that I got from here:

http://www.alwaysmadewithlove.co.nz/20-things-might-know-blog-tag/


Question 1: How tall are you? 175cm

Question 2: Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what? Nope

Question 3: What’s your biggest blog-related pet peeve? Bloggers who don't put arrows to go from one post to the next.

Question 4: What’s your biggest non-blog related pet peeve? People who break promises.
Question 5: What’s your favorite song? Glitter in the Air by P!NK

Question 6: What’s your favorite Etsy shop that isn’t yours? I don't really go on Etsy, maybe I will when I have more money.

Question 7: What’s your favorite way to spend your free time when you’re alone? Watching youtube videos

Question 8: What’s your favorite junk food? Chocolate. Don't care what kind. Any chocolate will do.

Question 9: Do you have a pet or pets? If so, what kind and what are their names? Unfortunately not. Though AJ and I are big kids with lots of stuffed animals.

Question 10: What are your number one favorite nonfiction and fiction books? I don't really read much non fiction but favourite fiction would probably be anything by David Eddings. I'm currently re-reading the Belgariad (for like the 5th time) and absolutely love it.

Question 11: What’s your favorite beauty product? Mascara

Question 12: When were you last embarrassed? What happened? I really can't remember. I get embarrassed so often and normally blush that I lose track.

Question 13: If you could only drink one beverage (besides water) for the rest of your life, what would it be? TEA!!!

Question 14: What’s your favorite movie? The Notebook. And I cry every time.

Question 15: What were you in high school: prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, valedictorian, band geek, loner, artist, prep? I was myself. I was in the clique that didn't really fit any of the stereotypes.

Question 16: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Ireland or Scotland. Somewhere in the countryside.

Question 17: PC or Mac? PC

Question 18: Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boy/girlfriend, spouse? Bringing me home chocolate :)

Question 19: Favorite celebrity? Right now I really like Wil Wheaton and Felicia Day and am obsessed with Geek and Sundry

Question 20: What blogger do you secretly want be best friends with? None. As much as I would like to be friends with lots of them, my best friend is and always will be; my husband (corny I know, but it's true!)



So there's a random tag thing. I tag whoever wants to do something random like this on their blog or whatever.

Lament to my Favourite Tree

When we first bought this house, one of the things I loved was the flowering cherry tree that was hanging over to our side of the fence. It also gave some privacy from the neighbours.

The house next door was sold recently and the new owner decided to chop down the beautiful tree. Apparently it was too close to the house or something. Nothing trimming the occasional branch wouldn't have solved.

So here's some photos in memory of my favourite tree.

Yes, I have an overgrown yard (we're working on it - bit by bit).

Now that the beautiful tree is gone, I want to find something to replace it. I'm thinking of either a jacaranda, pohutukawa, or another (possibly fruiting) cherry tree.

Thoughts?

Last Night's Dream

Last night I had an amazing dream. I can only remember one part of it but that was enough to make an impact on me. 

I remember carrying a little girl - only about 2-3 years old. She looked like a cross between me as a toddler and my little cousin Riley. I was wearing sparkly shoes and the little girl was saying 'pretty! pretty!' Then AJ said to her "Let's go get you some pretty sparkly shoes so you can match Mummy". The little girls smile was amazing. My heart melted.

Then I woke up.

Sexism in Sport

Sexism in sport has been on my mind for the past few months. I live in New Zealand, a country who loves its sport and treats sportsmen like heroes. Note I said sportsMEN. We currently have the best mens rugby team in the world and second men's cricket team. These guys get so much attention and glorification from the media and general public.

But what about the New Zealand women's teams? Our women's rugby team were world champions in 2010, but did they get parades or any sort of recognition by the media? Not that I can remember. In comparison, when the All Blacks won the men's rugby world cup in 2011, there was a huge celebration. I'm surprised the government didn't declare the Monday afterwards a public holiday there was so much fuss made about it. The website that I got the below picture from makes some very good points about gender inequality in sport (see link below).

Source: http://www.teara.govt.nz/files/40408-pst.jpg

Earlier this year, New Zealand was joint host with Australia for the men's cricket world cup. There was so much fuss made about the men's cricket team and all the matches being held (the fact that our cricket team were doing well helped as well - but that's another story). At the same time, there were several international women's cricket matches going on in this country. Did they get any media attention? No. Despite the fact that they have previously been world champions (the mens haven't).

I remember a few years ago, AJ and I went to Eden Park for a day watching cricket. There were two games on and you didn't have to pay any extra. There was an international women's game first, which was very entertaining cricket. There were a smattering of people in the stadium - despite the fact that it was a nice close game. The further on in the match, more people started to arrive to see the men's match that was on afterwards (in which NZ got demolished).

I just don't get it.

Another Update

Here's another update on things in my life right now.

I finally have a new computer! It's very exciting. Now that I have things worked out, I'm going to try to stay up to date on things again.

As for my goals that I set at the beginning of the year, here's how I've been going.

1. I'm still hunting for a teaching role, and relief work hasn't been cropping up as often as I'd like.

2.I terms of cleaning, I've been kind of naughty with this one. The last couple of weeks I've managed to keep up to date with the washing, dishes, keeping benches clean and I've been putting away at least 50 things a day (that proves how much of a mess things have been). We've got friends coming to stay at the end of August, so I'll have to get the place tidy by then.

3. As for my crafting, I've made a few cards. I made my sister one for her birthday and my Mum one for Mothers Day. Then I ran out of card when I went to make her one for her birthday so I used one out of my stash. Rest of the year will have handmade birthday cards though.

4. Budgeting just hasn't worked out for us the way we'd hoped at the beginning of the year. We've been trying. We really have. But a few spanners have been thrown into the works. In addition to the things I mentioned in my last update post (see here) my old laptop crapped out completely. So getting a new one is the latest big expense. We also need to replace the car stereo (I really miss music while driving) that broke last month. Also, the weather has been very cold the past couple of months, so the power bills have been higher.

5. Because of extra expenses we haven't been able to pay back much.

6. I've finished and passed all the credits for a Diploma in Business from Massey University! :D :D :D Just waiting to receive it in the post. I've gone through two graduations already, I don't really want to hire the gown etc again.

7. In terms of exercise it's been hit and miss. For a while I was doing well, then I stopped. I've recently started up again and let's hope that this time I can make it last.

8. I haven't been eating the healthiest. I really need to get better with this.

9. I've caught up with a few of my uni friends in the past month. My friend Jess was visiting from Australia and because of that I caught up with my friends Elke and Febe as well which was nice :) I'm also going out for dinner with some old Farmers friends on Saturday and next month we're having a Hower (from John Howe forum) friend and her bf stay.

10. I enjoy blogging and hope that now I have a new computer I will post more often. Initial goal will be once a week. Probably Fridays. But will also post on other days as well if I have posts ready. I do have a few in the works.

Quick Update

Just a quick update to let you know what's happening in my world right now.

1) My laptop stopped working. So I'm using AJ's old one which is really slow and irritating. Hopefully I can get a new one soon.

2) I have an assignment due next week. I'm one assignment and one exam off finishing my Diploma of Business. A busy few months ahead of me.

3) I've been getting occasional work relieving. Not many opportunities to teach full time locally - I'm still looking though.

That's about all that's been happening in the last few weeks. Once I get a new laptop, and my course is over I'll start posting regularly again (or I'll try to).

Update on Goals

So at the beginning of the year I made some goals for the year. I thought I'd do an update on how I've been going so far with them.

1. I'm going to continue the hunt for a full time teaching role and hopefully be successful.
I'm still on the hunt. There's not a lot available in my area right now. So I'm applying whenever one comes up. For now, I'm relieving in the local schools (well, only one seems to ring me - but hopefully other ones will hire me too!).

2 - I'm going to endeavor to keep the house clean - need to get it that way first.
I'm still cleaning! I'm trying to get into daily and weekly habits etc. Been mostly successful. I'm also tackling one room at a time. I've so far done the Master Bedroom and the Bathroom/Loo. Next up is the Kitchen and then the Dining/Lounge. Then will make my way to the Spare Room and the 'Room of Doom'.

3 - I'm going to start crafting again - hopefully making cards for some birthdays etc.
I haven't really done anything crafty since the end of last year. Been pinning heaps of ideas but haven't got around to doing/finishing any.

4 - We're going to make a budget and stick to it.
We've been doing our absolute best but things keep coming up. At the beginning of the year we had travel expenses for the two weddings we went to. Also, just before that the alternator in our car went so we had to get that fixed. Then when we got the Warrant of Fitness (WOF) on our car we were told we needed new rear tyres. So had to get those. Also, AJ's power pack on his computer crapped out so he had to get a replacement (because a geeky husband with no computer is bad for everyone). And on top of all that we had to pay my fees for uni because Studylink is annoying and won't let me put it on my loan because I'm only doing one paper. Oh, and the car needs servicing this month.

5 - We're going to finish paying back our parents money that we've borrowed.
We're trying. See previous goal to see why we haven't managed to pay anything back yet.

6 - Finish my Diploma of Business that I started years ago and never completed.
I'm currently taking my final paper in this. First assignment is due a week tomorrow :S It's about Equity and Diversity in the workplace. So far I'm finding it quite interesting.

7 - Start an exercise routine and stick to it. I'm way too lazy right now.
It's been on and off so far. Some days I do it and some days I just go back to my lazy ways. I really need to focus on making this a habit.

8 - Try to eat healthier.
I started the year well. It helped that we had a lot more fresh fruit and veges thanks to our vege garden and Mum and Dad dropping some stuff off. But unfortunately I'm getting into bad habits again. I went through all our cookbooks at the beginning of the year and labelled things with post-its. It's all very organised but I'm getting back into my lazy cooking again (which isn't too healthy).

9 - Make an effort to catch up with friends that I haven't seen in ages.
I haven't really done much about this yet. I'm trying to wait until next month when we might be able to afford a meal out with mates.

An additional goal that I've decided to try and do is to blog more often. Believe it or not, I have quite a few drafts that I haven't finished yet. And heaps of ideas for posts. So I'll be sure to finish those eventually.


So that's how I've been going with my goals so far. Some are going better than others, as can be expected. I'll try to update these every few months.