Instgramming my way around the countryside....

One of the things I enjoyed about our holiday was the big change in technology from our last trip 5 years ago and with it the ability to snap and post pictures quickly via Instagram which in turn posted to Facebook too.

I know that my parents back home in NZ felt they really were able to keep track of what we were up to in real-time and even family here in the UK could see what we were doing on some of our mini-trips away from their home.

Much has changed for me in the past five years since our last trip - now I find myself burning with desire to really capture on camera the experiences and unique sights we have seen in a meaningful and memorable way.

Whether that's medieval spiderwebs or a priory caught in sunflare.

Impressive bridges spanning countries or ornate ceilings.

School children on just another school day or happy echinacea faces.

A stolen mother and son moment or the welcome of a seaside cottage.

Rocky shores or dappled light in the forest.

I am still in awe looking back on all I have seen and the ability to capture it so candidly. Rich colours of stone contrasting with lush, green grass and dull thatched roofs contrasting with bright skies has almost brought me to my knees just so I can feel that same grass beneath my touch.

I have seen views from historical windows looking out on modern times.

And views revealing hundreds of years of history within its walls.

I have captured the feeling of racing down narrow country lanes - a straight out of the camera shot with no fancy editing.

It was such a privilege to have been in those moments, to have seen so much in just those short few weeks. More than I ever could have anticipated. I have to admit it's not quite the same being back at home right now. Of course there will always be daily life to instagram - baking, the boys' funny antics, and local scenery on early morning walks which are often my go-to style of pics.

But nothing, nothing like this. The depth and breadth of autumn colours, amazing cloud formations, history and architecture here provided unparalleled opportunities on a daily basis.

And for that I am eternally grateful.

How about you? Are you an Instagram fan and how often do you find yourself using it? Do you keep a real-time journal or just snap a pic as when and when you even remember you have the app?!

Things I'm Loving :Those Quirky Brits {the weird and wonderful}

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is.

This week I wanted to indulge in a little bit of reminiscing. It's funny how you can go to a place halfway round the world that feels like home, but still find some things so totally alien to you. I never HAVE understood some of the quirky things that the Brits do but I thought it would be fun to share some of the weird and wonderful things that I noticed while we were away.

Hardcore hand-dryers

Times sure have changed since the last time we were in the UK. These days a journey to the bathroom means you will probably nearly lose the skin off your hand.

Put your hand under one of these babies and you can actually see the air blow the skin sideways - Xlerator is definitely an apt name for them and there's no excuse for walking out of the bathroom with wet hands that's for sure!

Paint the town black

Everywhere we went around London there was black. Black lamp-posts, black bollards and black rubbish bins. Despite living there for 3 years I don't think I had ever really paid any attention to this phenomena.

So it was news to me when I found out on the bus tour that apparently all railings and lamp-posts have been painted black in London since Queen Victoria went into mourning over the death of her beloved Prince Albert in the 1860's. It is certainly a way to ensure the city looks very smart at all times, and there's never any fighting over what colour to paint things!

Washing up bowls

In England it is still customary to use a plastic washing up bowl inside the sink to wash up dishes. It's a tradition that has lasted for quite some time and it makes sense back in the day when you only had a single sink as it allowed you to pour away any yucky stuff down the sink whilst not getting the dishes all dirty.

 

However in this day and age, there aren't that many houses around now that don't have at least another half-sink for disposing of food waste etc so why does the tradition remain I wonder? I guess old habits die hard - though I think I'd find it frustrating washing up in such a small bowl all the time when you definitely can't fit as much in there!

Bathroom light pull-cords

This one always got me. Why on earth is it necessary to have a pull-cord for the light switch in pretty much every single toilet or bathroom? I asked my sister-in-law, and asked good old Google and it turns out that there is some method in the madness.

Apparently it is to reduce the risk of electrocution from someone with wet hands or wet feet touching the light switch and getting zapped, and reduces the possibility of condensation getting into the light switch. Apparently it was even the law until 2001 to have a pull-cord in the bathroom. I find this whole subject fairly fascinating because we don't seem to have any such concerns with electrocution here - perhaps we aren't as potentially able to conduct electricity over here in NZ?!

And then there's....

Crisps vs chips

Sweets vs lollies

Cling film vs glad-wrap

Tippex vs Twink

Iced lolly vs iceblock

Trousers vs pants

Pants vs undies

Tops vs jerseys

Corner shop vs dairy

And the list goes on....

Have you ever been to another country where the traditions there baffled and amused you? Or am I just easily entertained?!

Here's how you can join in this week:

Link up below with your blog post telling us what you're loving, and grab the Things I'm Loving button below for your post too. Don't forget to share the love by visiting all the other lovelies who have joined in - the linky is open till same time next week!

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50 hours on a plane = a lot of movies

If there's one thing long-haul travel is good for, it's catching up on all the latest release movies. And with over 50 hours of flying you can bet I watched A LOT of movies! At least 15 and that's only the ones I can remember that actually stuck with me. So here's my picks:

White House Down

This is a take your brain out and enjoy the action and eye candy of Channing Tatum in a singlet kind-of movie. It centres on a group of paramilitary invaders taking out the White House, Airforce One and the Capitol with the intention to kill the president (Jamie Foxx). Channing Tatum is a local police officer on a tour of the White House with his teenage daughter when all hell breaks loose and he finds himself caught up in the middle of it.

My impressions: big action, big bangs, big thrills
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Now you see me

I thought this was an extremely clever film and enjoyed every minute of it. The only thing letting it down was the twist at the end that was a little lame but otherwise it kept me hooked. The story is a group of 4 illusionists (including Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg) performing bank heists whilst on stage and rewarding their audience with the money whilst an FBI detective (Mark Ruffalo) tries to take them down with the help of an old hand (Morgan Freeman).

My impressions: clever plot and great action

Star rating: 4 out of 5

The Great Gatsby

Like all other Baz Luhrmann films this movie is a visual feast and Leonardo DiCaprio - as he does in all films he's in - steals the show as Gatsby himself. The story revolves around Nick (Tobey Maguire), Gatsby's neighbour and his developing friendship with Gatsby which in turn allows Gatsby the opportunity to rekindle an old love affair with Daisy (Nick's cousin). The downward spiral of events that transpires is both inevitable and saddening.

My impressions: visually stunning and moving despite the inevitable sadness of the storyline

Star rating: 4 out og 5

The Expatriate (also known as Erased)

Maybe I'm being a little unfair to this movie as I was busy blogging a post while on the airplane watching it, but I did think this was just another film of the same ilk as so many others. A CIA agent finds himself on the outer and marked for termination as part of a wide ranging international conspiracy. Starring Aaron Eckhart.

My impressions: yawn.

Star rating: 2 out of 5

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

This isn't a new movie but it's one I'd always wanted to watch. It's got an unusual storyline - the very difficult role of a consultant convincing a fisheries expert that the task of transporting 10,000 Scottish salmon to the Yemen to bring fly fishing to the region is not an impossible dream, and is supported by a superb cast - Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott-Thomas. It's also humourous (very dry English humour) and has just the right amount of sarcasm and sadness to keep you on the edge of your seat. The unlikely friendship that develops between Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor and the Sheikh funding the venture adds to the journey of faith they are all on.

My impressions: one of the best movies I watched on the plane - I loved it.
Star rating:5 out of 5

Stay tuned next week for more picks......

Have you seen any of these movies? What did you think?

Safe and secure: 3M Command Hanging Strips Review and Giveaway

A few months back, we had a couple of big quakes in this city of ours. Big enough to make us all sit up and pay attention. Big enough to make a few things fall off our bookshelf at home, and to make me a bit nervous about how secure some of our hanging pictures were on the walls.

And none more so than the 2 gorgeous Tigger and Pooh embroidered pictures that hang above Mylo's head in bed made especially by his Nana that I hadn't been able to bring myself to put back on the wall since the earthquakes. The thought of glass raining down on his sweet little head if another quake struck in the middle of the night was unthinkable, so the walls have stayed bare, until now that is.

The opportunity to review the 3M Command Picture Hanging Strips solved my dilemma of what to do with Tigger and Pooh immediately.  These strips are crazy good. And crazy strong. They work a bit like velcro - only they sound way cooler when you snap on and pull apart the strips. Believe me I should know, I got quite addicted to snapping them together and pulling them apart just to hear the sound they make, it's the interlocking fasteners that make them so strong.

The instructions on the back are very easy to follow, it's as simple as placing the strips on your picture frame and fitting it to the wall - no tools and no fuss needed. And if you change your mind, they come off cleanly for damage-free walls - so no holes and no ripped paint or wallpaper to deal with.

The strips come in small (holding up to 1.8kg), medium (up to 5.4kg) and large (up to 7.2kg) packs so you can hang anything from a lightweight portrait like I did up to a giant canvas print, and are available from all leading homeware, hardware and other retail outlets across NZ. 3M Command™ Picture Hanging strips are available in both white and black and RRP start from $8.49 for 4 strips.

And for you, my lucky readers, I have a prize pack to give away valued at $24.99 so you can try out this great technology for yourself. I bet you all have a photo or painting or two hanging around the place that you just haven't quite gotten around to putting up yet - and now you can!

Leave me a comment below telling me what you'd hang up with your own set of 3M Command strips and the lucky winner will be drawn in one week. Sharing this post on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter will get you another entry for each share (but do make sure you put another separate comment here letting me know that you've shared it). 18/11/13 update - a big ongrats to commenter number 2 - Tanya Edgar - some picture strips will soon be heading your way!

In the meantime, I'm off to go hang more stuff securely to my walls - like this great wooden block gift we brought back from the UK which now sits firmly against the wall thanks to the genius of 3M strips!

This is a sponsored post for 3M Command and Digital Parents Collective. Command Picture Hanging Strips provided complimentary samples for this post, however the opinions and content expressed within are completely my own.

Things I'm Loving: That it Happened At All

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is.

I'm trying hard to find things to love back here at home this week. But in reality I have the post-holiday blues big time. I was awake at 3am Monday morning dreading the thought of going back to work at all. It's been a looooooooong week so I'm pretty thankful it's Friday! So this week it's a pretty random mix of loves so please bear with!

London love

Despite the rainy day we had on our bus tour, we totally embraced all there is to love about this amazing place. The kids just soaked up every experience and didn't complain once about walking miles and miles all over the city. I love that we had this 3-day adventure to remember for all time.

I hope that in years to come we still can remember it with as much fondness as we do right now!

Middle Eastern love

I'm not quite sure what we expected of our time in Abu Dhabi - all I know is it far exceeded all our expectations for being a decadent and luxurious stopover (but pretty fantastic value for money!), one that nicely framed the beginning and end of our journey. I'm not sure if we would deliberately travel Etihad Airways again unless it was by far the cheapest option for us like this time, but I definitely wouldn't hesitate to go back to Abu Dhabi again - and next time would be sure to get to the Ferrari World theme park as well!

Spidey boy, spidey boy

On the flight from Abu Dhabi to London, we enjoyed our best Flying Nanny experience of the whole trip on Etihad Airways when Noah got a trip down the back of the plane for some face painting.

And the flight attendant kindly sent me the photo of Noah rocking his spiderman moves with the crew via Whats App afterwards. That Spiderman face sure made for an interesting conversation when we got to passport control at Heathrow.

Mixing it up

Back in the day we used to do sticker charts for rewarding good behaviour with a money value at the end once the sticker charts were full - usually $10 for 100 stickers. The thing I didn't like about this was that a) it was dollars driven and b) it was always done on an individual child basis. So we changed this a while back and got the kids to fill up button jar together instead to put towards a family treat together - much nicer to have family time as a reward than dollars spent on some material item I think. So the boys had pretty much filled up the jar before we left but then we ran out of time to do anything so it was great to be able to look forward to our first ever trip to Carlucciland when we got home.

It's actually a super hard course to play, and I had a terrible round - even Noah beat me, but the boys loved the funny hidden holes and places where the ball could get caught up by wire pipes and carried along so the fact they loved it is really all that matters!

Getting back to baking basics

I soooooo missed my healthy baking while we were away, so it didn't take me long to want to get back into the kitchen - try less than 24 hours back in the country. This recipe for carrot, coconut and chia seed muffins is simply divine and you would NEVER know they are gluten, dairy and sugar free!

Happy mail

Look what came in the mail this week! I was so thrilled to be quick enough off the mark to get a limited edition copy of the The Little Tree book and matching crochet tree from Faery Sarah. This is Sarah's first foray into children's literature and I just LOVE LOVE LOVE the storyline of the Little Tree searching for his place within NZ's native tree heritage. This is being squirreled secretly away and kept as a gift for my boys for Christmas this year - although I think I may just have to get it out and read it to myself from time to time in the meantime - it's that awesome!

You can get your very own copy of The Little Tree book on Felt here. It would make a fantastic gift for someone you love this Christmas. Friday update: scratch that they are now ALL sold out, but you can still get the e-book version here!

Here's how you can join in this week:

Link up below with your blog post telling us what you're loving, and grab the Things I'm Loving button below for your post too. Don't forget to share the love by visiting all the other lovelies who have joined in - the linky is open till same time next week!

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