Favourite Finds

Boy, it's been a while since I've done a "favourite finds" blog post, but I've been really busy pinning, posting, saving, coveting, discovering, watching and learning, so there's lots to show you. Friday seems like the perfect day to share some of these things with you, and you may even decide to try or check them out for yourself over the weekend.

I recently pinned this gorgeous kitchen and shared it on Facebook. The beautiful Morris & Co wallpaper was originally designed in 1876, but still looks amazing in this modern day space. I love it teamed with the crisp white tiles - green and white is a favourite kitchen colour combo of mine, it's so fresh. The wood and copper accents help to bring out the blush of the flowers. Old and new, it's the way to go.

In my job I use a camera a lot to take 'before' and 'after' photos of our clients' spaces, as well as pics for our Instagram feed. We have a large SLR camera that we use for work purposes, but more often than not it's just my iPhone that gets used for everyday snaps. I recently came across the Olympus Pen E-PL7, and it's now high on my wish list.

As well as looking super cute, it's small and compact enough to carry in my handbag, while serious enough to take some great photos. The LCD screen flips down, and can be turned around around making it the perfect selfie accessory (not that I'm a selfie kinda gal).

Definitely my favourite new app is PocketYoga. For just over NZ$5 you can download the app to your phone and/or tablet and be ready to practice your yoga anytime, anywhere. I absolutely love it! You can choose between different practices, different durations and different difficulty levels. Wherever you are, home or away, just roll out your yoga mat, make your selections and you're ready to go. With soothing background music, let a calm voice talk you through the practice. Once downloaded you don't need wifi to use the app, so it's great to take on holiday with you.

I came across these wise words earlier this week and I knew I had to share them with you. So true, and such good advice. Make sure you follow this link and read them all.

Every year on my birthday, I always ask for the same thing - no fighting from my kids, and pizza and bubbles for dinner (I'm easy to please). This Friday Night Pizza is the best, and since it's Friday you should make it tonight - everyone will love you for it. If you live in Napier, pop into Vetro for your prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, and other cheeses. They also sell the delicious Pizza Pazzi bases. Or if you can't be bothered cooking, just buy the whole thing from Pizza Pazzi.

If I'm not drinking bubbles with my pizza (sometimes I'm the responsible driver) I'll be drinking my new favourite, Höpt Soda. My friend Mandy introduced me to it, and it's so delicious. I like to pour mine into a wine glass or one of our crystal tumblers, and have even tried it with a splash of gin (when I'm not the driver, of course) - yum! There are four delicious flavours. I have now tried them all and my favourite is Pear & Basil.

I'm currently saving for a pair of Juliette Hogan Japanese Denim Ankle Jeans. I'm a huge JH fan, and these jeans are the perfect length, just above the ankle. They look fab with heels, ankle boots, sneakers, and even my fave pair of Havianas. Can't wait to get them in my wardrobe.

Last on my list to share with you today are my two latest TV obsessions. I had heard a lot of hype about the series Breaking Bad, so over the holidays I decided to see what all the fuss was about. I'm now midway into season 3 and am well and truly hooked. Sometimes I cringe, but you just have to keep watching to see what happens. 

And new to TV One and OnDemand is the series Blindspot. We've only seen one episode so far, but already I love it, and am intrigued to see the mysteries unravel each week. Check it out this weekend, and let me know your thoughts on it (and any of my favourite finds).

Favourite Finds

I keep a folder on my desktop of my favourite finds during the week, and this time they seem to have, unconsciously, fallen into two distinct categories - healthy & wellbeing, and cute & cuddly.

I'm a big fan of Lorna Jane activewear, and they usually have a free gift when you spend $150 or more. Currently you get this great citrus squeeze water bottle to give your water that extra zing. We all know that we're supposed to drink lots of water to keep us healthy and hydrated, and I always have my water bottle on hand. But for those who struggle to drink their quota, this is a brilliant idea - a bit of flavour may be all they need to make it more appealing. Be quick though, this particular offer only runs until 25th February, or while stocks last.

One of my young daughters is having trouble getting to sleep, with her overly active imagination fueled by a scary movie she saw at her friend's place recently. So to relax her before bed I've been doing a simple yoga routine with the twins. Although this is called 'good morning yoga sequence' it seems to work in the evenings to stretch out their little bodies and leave them with a sense of wellbeing. They absolutely love it - I may have created a couple of yoga addicts!

If you're looking for something beautifully delicious for you or your friend's baby, Coast New Zealand have created The Baby Mac. It's a smaller version of their Mackenzie Throw, and made out of 100% NZ wool, it's light and breathable while still being snuggly and super warm. You can also have your choice of initials embroidered onto your blanket turning it into a family heirloom.

I happily stumbled across the most gorgeous Danish online shop called De Winkel Van Woonblog (super cute name!). They have some some adorable products and they ship to New Zealand.

As the owner of two cats I can tell you they would love these cute hideaways - the CatCube and the Cat Tipi - and because of their cool design, I'd be happy to have them in our home.

Lucky last (my favourite), my Mum bought the book Quake Dogs for my niece at Christmas time, and my girls loved it so much she bought them their own copy this week. It's a collection of stories about dogs that were affected by, and survived the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. Some were rescuers, some were rescued, some of the stories will make you chuckle, and as a hopeless dog lover, some made me cry!

If you're a fellow dog lover I highly recommend this book by Laura Sessions with simply beautiful photography by Craig Bullock. Part of the proceeds from the book go to support HUHA, a national organisation that works to rescue and re-home animals around the country. They went to Christchurch three times to take more than 70 dogs, plus numerous other animals, to safe and loving homes elsewhere in the country.

Biking in Style

My very first blog post, nearly three years ago now, featured my beloved Hawaii 3 Speed Electra Cruiser. She is so beautiful - my husband (the mountain biking guru!) has tried to talk me into a smaller, faster bike, but there is now way, she's here to stay.

I initially fell in love with the Carrie Bicycle Basket, and bought that before I even owned a bike. Unfortunately, on a recent windy day, my bike was blown over and part of the Carrie basket snapped. The damage wasn't too bad, but it just doesn't sit securely on it's brackets anymore. So inside, as a magazine holder, it has come.

The key to riding a 3 speed cruiser is stick to mostly flat terrain, and make sure there are some favourite cafes on route. For this you need somewhere to store your wallet, keys, phone, lipgloss, and all other essentials. You can throw your favourite bag over your shoulder, but I prefer to ride unencumbered so have been searching for another alternative.

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My favourite so far is this cute handlebar bag from the Beatrice Holiday Etsy shop. It comes in a range of vintage fabric and there is even a matching seat cover if you want (I have a cool leather seat, so I don't want to cover that up).

On my travels to find the bag I came across so many cool biking accessories. I say, if you're going biking you may as well do it in style!

mobile phone bike mount | swing basket | nutcase pink cheetah helmet 
bike wine holder | double bike bag | hawaii handlebar mirror

And if I didn't already have an awesome bike, this gorgeous gold polka dot, limited edition Karen Walker bike would be at the top of my list.

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If you're a social biker like me, and know of any other cute bike bags I might like, I'd love to hear from you. Enjoy your weekend and happy biking.

Healthy Living

We are all very aware these days of our planet, and the need to take care of it. Being the mum of three young girls, it's really important to me that this world is safe and healthy for them in the future. So I was thrilled to receive a parcel full of natural New Zealand products last week from The Green House.

All of The Green House products are plant-based, free of harmful chemicals, and their packaging is 100% biodegradable. The are designed to be gentle on you, your home, and the environment. What more could you ask for?!

I started using the All Purpose Cleaner straight away, and I love it. In fact, I got into a bit of a cleaning frenzy, wiping down just about every surface in sight - benches, cupboard doors, the stovetop, even the windows. It smells divine - citrusy and clean with a hint of lavender. The Refreshing Room Spray and the Hand & Body Lotion are equally as beautiful to use, and I'm saving the Soap (the packaging is too pretty to rip open just yet!) for a special occasion.

I'm so impressed with all the products that I look forward to trying more. In particular, the First Aid Balm, and Aches & Pains Balm would both be really handy for our busy family. And the Dreamy Coconut Soy Candle sounds delicious!

Feeling inspired by The Green House's natural philosophies, I looked into some other companies who live by a similar motto. Matt & Nat (short for material & nature) make the most beautiful bags using eco/recycled/upcycled materials wherever possible, including recycled plastic bottles for linings. They don't like hurting animals and they care about the welfare of our planet, so that means no leather, and lots of vegan cupcakes for smoko.

They have even designed a range of bags exclusively for Apple, that are only sold in the Online Apple store.

And because we have to look after ourselves as well as the planet you should definitely check out Move Nourish Believe, a site by Lorna Jane, my favourite sport and activewear company. Lorna Jane believes in a three pillared philosophy of move your body, nourish from the inside out, and believe anything is possible. The new website provides daily motivation and inspiration, healthy recipes, interviews, videos and much more. Make it a daily read, right after you read my blog :)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all. I hope you're all rested and relaxed, and thoroughly enjoying these holidays. It's supposed to be summer here in New Zealand, but the whole country has copped a lot of rain over the last week. We headed to our bach in Kuratau, which is a great spot on the far side of Lake Taupo. It rained nearly every day we were there, but it was still pretty warm, so didn't stop us from getting out and about.

This huge puddle proved to be great fun for riding bikes through. We're back home in Hawke's Bay now, and thank goodness the sun is shining! I hope 2012 has many wonderful things in store for us!

Move, Nourish, Believe

I've mentioned once or twice what a big fan of Lorna Jane activewear I am. I have just treated myself to some more of her running clothes, and I can't wait for it to arrive. I have to buy online, as we're not lucky enough to have any LJ shops here in New Zealand, but it's always so exciting getting the package in the mail.

It's not only the clothes I love, but also the story of Lorna Jane herself - I am always inspired by stories of successful, strong women. So I'm really happy that she has just released a book about her remarkable journey. She shares the back-story behind the Lorna Jane brand, and how she went from creating one-off designs for friends, to now overseeing more than 100 stores, in Australia and world wide (just not in NZ yet!).

She also reveals her personal tips and advice to help people get moving, stay motivated and eat well. I love the answer she gives Amanda Rose about creating the life you want.

There are loads of delicious, nutritious recipes from her own kitchen, including this yummy Watermelon Sandwich. This would make a great Christmas pressie for someone who enjoys healthy living, so pop over and pre-order your copy now.

Bicycle Jewellery

Ok, so you know how much I love my Electra bike, right?! Well, imagine how excited I was when I discovered Simeli bicycle jewellery! These gorg hand crocheted pieces are 'dress guards', which are traditionally used to prevent a coat or skirt getting caught in the spokes. But why have one made from oilcloth or plastic when you could have one of these beauties!

Thanks to Fancy for alerting me.