In the summertime

Its summer here in New Zealand, although we haven't had too many of those long hot days that just epitomise summer yet. I haven't done much blogging lately, but this is what I've been up to:

• Having date nights. We love nothing more than snuggling up with a platter full of food and a nice glass of wine. 
• Gardening. This is the first year I've been in charge of the vege garden and I'm loving it! We are eating lots of home-grown strawberries and tomatoes at the moment. 
• We've been making omelettes most weekends with fresh veges from the garden, and eggs from a friend's hens.
• Baking bread. Having a bread maker is so handy for making everything from loaves of bread to pizza dough, cinnamon buns and focaccia. Soon I'll be making hot cross buns again!
• Buying new makeup. This year I'm on a search for my holy grail makeup products (and slowly becoming addicted to beauty gurus on YouTube).
• I just bought a lion mane online for Smudge, can't wait till it arrives! I'm not usually one for dressing up pets but I just couldn't resist.
• I've also been flying! My brother has his license so I've been lucky enough to see New Zealand from the air. That second-to-last picture is just one of many beautiful beaches we flew over.

What have you guys been up to lately? I have a lot to catch up on.

X

Molly

Winter

EIGHT REASONS WHY A NEW ZEALAND WINTER IS THE BEST:

1. Some days I can enjoy my morning coffee on the back porch looking out onto this beautiful blue sky, and I can pretend its summer


2. The odd cold and windy rainy day gives us an excuse for this:

3. Tamarillo pie, poached tamarillos in red wine sauce, tamarillos on my porridge...



4. The beaches are empty

5. Smudge stays inside more, which means more cuddle time

6. I get to sleep in while the hubby makes breakfast

7. Then the next day I let hubby sleep in while I make him breakfast

8. One last reason a New Zealand winter rocks? Because it gives me a reason to look forward to summer, bare feet and floral dresses!

What do you love about winter? 

X

Molly

Weekend getaway

Recently the hubby and I had a lovely weekend getaway to Wellington. We had lovely Autumn sunshine and NO WIND so it was such a pleasure to stroll along the footpath in Oriental Bay. Anyone from New Zealand will know how lovely Wellington is on a good day (there is even a song about it!) and how rare it is to have a still day with no wind. 

While we were there we shopped up a storm (new outfit for hubby, nothing for me!) and wined and dined at our favourite haunts. We also caught up with some friends and took a drive around the bays.  

It was so nice to get away!

X
Molly

Frosty morning

I  love waking up to a frosty morning when my hubby has lit the fire for me and I get to spend an extra few minutes in bed. 

It's the first frost we've had since we got Smudge and it was so cute to watch him walking over the crunchy grass!

X

Molly

Date Night at the Park

What I'm wearing: Skirt, belt and sunglasses from Glassons (Yep, most days I'm a walking advertisement for that store), top from Temt, sandals from Wild Pair.

These photos were taken a while ago now, back when the days were longer and bare legs were a thing.  The hubby and I shared a pizza in the park and then took a walk around the rose garden.  These days we're struggling to find interesting things to do together as it gets dark not long after hubby gets home from walk and its too cold outside to be enjoyable.  

Anyone have any ideas?

X
Molly

Scenes from Summer

1. Our peach tree

2. Yummy berry smoothie

3. Summer cocktails

4. Loved watching Monarch butterflies emerging!

5. Last of our tomatoes

6. Mmm couscous

Summer, oh how I will miss you....

The endless sunshine, long days, fresh fruit and yummy smoothies... until next time.

X
Molly

Afternoon in Napier

What I'm wearing: Dress by Temt, Sandals by Wild Pair, Necklace by Vintage Rose Boutique, Sunglasses by Glassons.

Last weekend we had a lovely afternoon away in Napier.  We had a picnic lunch in a rose garden, had a look around the shops and finished off with fish and chips and a walk along the beach.

Perfect afternoon!

X

Molly

Life lately

Spiralwise : * Salmon on creamy fettucine * Healthy summer dessert * Smudge hanging out with the washing  * Tomato and basil penne * The beach we camped at over New Years *  Enjoying a cup of tea al fresco * Making sushi * Smudge doing what he does best *

I love summer food.  Salads, pasta and sushi.  Its so much easier to eat healthy in the summertime, don't you think?  As you can see, life lately is pretty good.  Lots of eating and hanging out with my furry friend.

Ahh, summer.

What do you love (miss?) most about summer?

X

Molly