It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Despite a generally bah-humbug attitude towards Christmas, I could never be a complete killjoy. We have a tree... of sorts, and there are even a few pressies under it. I put up fairy lights over the window and along the bookshelf (I didn't take a photo sorry) and I helped Mr Jones make gingerbread men for his work Secret Santa.

Here's our 'tree', a little bit lopsided, but quite sustainable. Only thing missing is that pine smell. But apparently real trees have lost their scent due to genetic modification (see National Radio audio file, called Smell at about 36:36 in the file).

See if you can spot the gangster gingerbread man, the abominable gingerbread man, the corrupt corporate gingerbread man and the Mr Burns "I bring you love" gingerbread man...

I really liked the controversial biblical bed scene billboard put up by St Matthew in the City church this year. I thought it was brilliant AND it worked... if your looking for me on Christmas Eve I'll be at St Matthew in the City (I won't bore you with a discourse on my religious beliefs and why I would go to this church).

I'm dying to tell my Secret Santa story. Sometimes when you have an idea it just takes on a life of its own! So much fun, thanks to Mrs $1 Pies for organising it. I can't wait.

Roll on Xmas... I think.

Sneak Peeks

In 9 days we will be married. Here's what I did today.

Made pompoms for the hall in these colours,

ate my lunch in the sun,

and practised making vegan cupcakes (it was about taste not presentation at this stage):

Photos aren't great, but today I don't care.

Now I am off to some Architecture week events involving more cupcakes, and creations by 400 Architecture students.

My new favourite icey treat

Don't think I am trying to sell you something (just sharing, honest) but...

I can't wait for summer so I can fully enjoy Smooze. They are vegan, gluten free and delicious. I am totally addicted. Turns out I am not the only one either. My only hope is that the claims they make on the package are all true!

Source: New Leaf Vegan Society

Gardens make me happy

My garden is small, like really really small (I think about 2m by 4m) and it's a container garden. So when things grow I am amazed because it's actually quite difficult to garden on such a small scale.

Here are some photos of things that are making me happy in my garden at the moment:

Calendulas

Broad Bean flowers on my first ever broad beans!

A gorgeous Camellia in the driveway

Pita pocket pizza with rocket from my garden

My next garden project involves saving. I am coveting an outdoor table and chair set so I can sit in the afternoon sun and enjoy my little courtyard garden. So when/if the budget allows I would like to have something like this:

from Bunnings

or this from Recollections.

Belated highlights from the weekend

Kia ora!

I have been busy working this week. Even though it is only part-time (sorry to you real working people, who make me look slack) I am unaccustomed to how much time it takes up. And then I got struck down by my annual sinus infection. :( So that's why I haven't got around to updating this blogity, blog, blog.

So...I know it's now Thursday but the weekend just gone was so awesome! I am still reliving it now. Very indulgent and now I feel slightly lighter in the wallet area, although it made me happy, so what the hey!

Films and eating were the two concurrent themes (no surprises from me really) of the weekend. But there was also friends, birthdays, babies and children to entertain us as well.

Food highlights included:

• A chocolate birthday cake (not mine, but BTW mine was sooo good)
• A soysage dog with fries from Frankie's Wurstbude (they have the best aioli too)
• MP's mash and veg
• Coffee and orange almond cake at Mezze
• A fantastic quiche, followed by chilli chocolate

So many treats, all so bad for me!

I went to 2 more films in the festival (4 in total). I don't seem to be able to do more than four, maybe because I have the attention span of a midge.

Saturday was the 'world premiere' of Land of the Long White Cloud.

You could watch some bits on Youtube or you could lobby your local theatre to screen it. Which is probably a better option.

After the screening the 'cast' and crew got up and talked. It's a real treat to watch a film with the contributors in the audience. Everyone laughed and talked when they saw people they knew.

Anyway, the movie is lovely. Funny, amusing, and thoughtful. The scenery is stunning and the people are choice! The only not so great thing was I think they rushed with editing a bit (3 weeks!) and it showed.

The other movie I saw was Visual Acoustic which I mentioned last week. As a lover of modernism, and a person who LOVES to look at other peoples houses, it would have been a crime for me to miss it. And happily I can report it did not disappoint at all, not in any way. The film was incredibly well-made, the subject was fascinating and well explained. The houses were so drawl worthy. I was in heaven! And it is narrated by Dustin Hoffman, who has a really relaxing calming, steady voice.

So I am now planning a holiday in Palm Springs, so I can fully nerd it out and spend all day swooning over Modernist architecture and taking photos of amazing buildings.

And I would stay in this hotel (Source)

And visit the Palm Springs Art Museum (Shulman photo from Palm Springs Modernism Committee)

And maybe take a tour of some of the houses (source: Shulman photo from Taschen).

And as a memento I would buy this Taschen book set:

Source: Taschen

All this luxury living has left me feeling incredibly thankful for the things I get to do in my life.

Ah Monday

Quite a mixed bag it was.

The best bit had to be having cuddles with our friend's new baby!

Friday evening was a real mix. Went to a talk at the University of Auckland by UN Habitat Director Anna Tibaijuka. To be honest the talk wasn't amazing or anything. But it did renew my interest in development planning. Hmmm.

Also went to the Vegetarian Society Mid-winter dinner held at the Blue Bird Cafe, which if you are happy to hang with the Sri Chinmoy followers, has the most delicious vegan and vegetarian food. We felt a bit strange crashing their smaller than we expected intimate dinner, especially as only one the four of us was actually an eligible to be a member of the society! However, they were nice people and it was a good experience.

Did anyone listen to Music 101 on Saturday? Uni and her Ukulele were on it. We saw her play in the Domain last week. She rocks!

No pics today. But I may have some photos to post tomorrow...