I’m not making any New Year’s resolutions this year. I looked back at my 2012 resolutions and I met some of them, but a lot of them didn’t make sense as the year progressed and they were appropriately put to the sidelines. I think that, instead of making a big deal about setting goals and… Read More 12 Months, 12 Things… 2012 in Retrospective
Some photos of my birthday celebration at the park and of our Christmas day… My birthday was pretty low-key, which was alright with yours truly. We visited a local park where I took photos and video while Chris and Joe played. The day ended with – what else – cake! Christmas Day was a little… Read More Birthday and Christmas
Twenty weeks – the halfway point! As expected I feel like the first half of this pregnancy has gone fast. I remember feeling the same way at 20 weeks with Joe, and then feeling as if the remaining weeks dragged on. Here’s hoping that life with a toddler will keep me so busy that I… Read More 20 Weeks, And We’re Having A….
After writing my rather Scrooge-y post last night, I decided to do some Christmas decorating. I know that you’ll all be impressed. Yes, that is a Fisher-Price manger scene, sans Mary. She apparently decided to skip out on all of the guests and well-wishing animals in order to take a post-delivery nap. Much needed, I’m… Read More Update to Christmas: I’ve Decorated!
It’s less than 5 days till Christmas here in NZ and you know what? I have yet to buy a single Christmas card, put out a single Christmas decoration, wrap (or even buy) a single Christmas present for the immediate family, and I’m not all that stressed out about it. Christmas feels different over here. … Read More Christmas, or lack thereof
I’m enjoying being back in a proper kitchen. One with a decent amount of supplies, cooking utensils, a full-sized oven and stove, and a freezer that will fit more than an ice cube tray. It’s also nice to be back in New Zealand with familiar ingredients, familiar brands, and my usual recipes. Yes, flour is… Read More It’s nice to have a real kitchen once again.
It seemed as though something like an 8th wedding anniversary was a long ways away back when we got married in 2004. And now it’s here – 8 wonderful years have flown by in such a short time, and I’m already looking forward to the next 18 years… the next 25 years… and so on… Read More Eight Years
Hello, my lovely readers! I was recently interviewed for ExpatsBlog.com. If you’re interested in reading what I had to say about living in New Zealand, the positives and negatives of life over here, my “tips” for other/future expats, and some background information on why we moved here, then head over to their site to read… Read More ExpatsBlog.com Interview
We’ve been spending the last week or so in Wanaka. Where’s Wanaka? Good question. Wanaka is represented by the “A” on that map. If we were to drive from Auckland to Wanaka, it would take between 20 – 22 hours, involve a ferry ride, and cover just under 1,500km (~930 miles). We decided to fly… Read More Wanaka in Photos
I was recently informed that this little blog of mine made the list of 100 Best Nontraditional Nursing Sites on OnlineLPNtoRN.org. I was surprised and honoured – I love being a nurse and have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences in healthcare in New Zealand. I’m glad that my blog was nominated and that it’s been a… Read More PracticallyPerfectBlog.com named as one of the 100 Best Nontraditional Nursing Sites
We spent Wednesday – Friday in Queenstown last week. Let me share a little bit about our trip with you… Our “side” of fries at Pub on Wharf… more like a giant bucket ‘o chips! Somebody was very happy about all those carbs… Actually, I think he was just happy to see some food. We… Read More Queenstown
The results of the ExpatsBlog.com awards are in and, guess what? I won an award! Thank you so much to those of you who have supported this blog and to those who took a little extra time to leave a comment on my ExpatsBlog.com listing. I was so encouraged to read your thoughts and to… Read More ExpatsBlog.com Awards – I won!
My goodness, but time is flying. I remember it seeming this way during the first half of Joe’s pregnancy, too. Weeks 1 – 20 practically zoomed by and then the rest of the pregnancy d-r-a-g-g-e-d. I have an inkling that most women feel that way when they’re expecting 🙂 So yes, today I’m 18 weeks… Read More Baby, Baby ~ 18 Weeks
We’re in Auckland again, but not for long! After 5 days of being home, we’re about to set off for the South Island to explore Queenstown and Wanaka for 9 days. I can’t wait! image via You might think that we’re slightly mental to head out on a trip to the South Island a mere… Read More We’re Back, and Now We’re Leaving Again!
There’s still time for you to leave a review of my blog on the Expats Blog site! It doesn’t have to be long-winded or fancy, and I’d appreciate it 🙂
I don’t know why, but it never crossed my mind that train service in England might not run according to schedule. Oh sure, a few minutes late is no big deal, but a 2 hour round-trip getting turned into 7.5+ hours?! Never saw that coming. My sister and I decided to take a morning train… Read More Bath: A Very Abbreviated Yet Very Loooong Trip
My sister Valerie is here for a visit! Hooray! I know that I’d talked about her and I taking a trip to Paris but, as it turns out, there’s plenty to see and do right here in England. The only time that would have worked for her and I to go was also basically immediately… Read More Oxford to Bournemouth
I’ve been delaying this for months… Joe got his first haircut. Wah! I would go back and forth saying, “He needs a haircut… no he doesn’t… yes he does… no wait, he doesn’t!” The truth was that I just didn’t want to have him lose those baby curls and go from “baby” to “little boy”.… Read More First Haircut
There’s still time for you to leave a review of my blog on the Expats Blog site! If you’ve found my blog helpful or interesting, regardless of whether or not you’re an expat, then please head over to my listing to leave a few kind words. It doesn’t have to be long-winded or fancy, and… Read More Expats Blog Award – Help a Blogger Out!
In case you didn’t know, C.S Lewis spent a good chunk of his life here in Oxford. image via I like C.S. Lewis, but I wasn’t prepared for some of the traveling advice that we got when we told people that we’d be living here for a few months. Suddenly, people started practically threatening us… Read More C.S. Lewis, “The Eagle and Child”, and Narnia in Oxford
