It’s been six months to the day since my last blog post which was titled ‘I’m Pregnant!’, boy have things changed.  Pregnancy was HARD. I had constant nausea that took over my body and made everything a challenge for the better part of 2021. On the 21st of September, one day after my due date,… Read more »

Hi readers and friends! Some big changes have been happening over here which is why I lost my weekly posting streak back in February and haven’t posted since then.  I’M PREGNANT.  I’m 20 weeks with a baby girl, half way, and have been battling with chronic pregnancy sickness for months. People kept telling me it… Read more »

With so many classic kiwi summer get togethers over the season, we all need a couple of go-to salad recipes to throw together to impress and feed our mates. Here are my favourites! Pesto Pasta Salad My absolute summer BBQ, shared-dinner classic. Everyone who has attended one with me has tasted this salad, and I… Read more »

Stumped for what to do for / with your significant other for valentines day? Don’t sweat it! I’ve got you covered with a bunch of handy ideas. But first things first, the most romantic thing you can do is to tell them you’re organising the day/evening, tell them to keep some time free and to… Read more »

Finding yourself in a bit of a slump? Here are some quick and easy ways to feel better almost instantly. Save this list for future reference if you need to! Cuddle a pet Retail therapy – enjoy this in moderation, don’t blow your savings but honestly a little bit of ‘treat yourself’ even if it’s… Read more »

New year, new you! There’s something about the 1st of January that feels like the freshest fresh start there ever was, the best time to start new habits or turn your eyes towards new goals. But how often do we start off with big goals and great intentions that get forgotten by March? Here are… Read more »

New page, fresh heart Clear mind, ignited spark She talks in dreams She has no fear She’s moving forward Happy New Year

As Christmas approaches and New Years Eve is just around the corner I’ve been reflecting on the year that was, and here are some thoughts. 2020, the year that changed our modern world, the year that changed everything. Why this year? Why did it happen now? What is the greater lesson and meaning in this… Read more »

My husband and I have done a bunch of travelling this year and in previous years, and each time we travel we always stick to our budget. We definitely still dine out every day and don’t count pennies a whole lot, but there are just a few key things we’ve implemented that are really easy… Read more »

To mark the official first week of Summer, I’ve jotted down some simple ideas of things you can add to your Summer Bucket List! -Have a picnic in the park -Spend the whole day at the beach -Road trip somewhere new -Sleep under the stars -Go camping -Give a thoughtful gift to a friend -Host… Read more »

Stuck on ideas on where to take your significant other?! Look no further! Whether you’re looking for ways to save cash on date night or you’re just after a cute/chill Sunday arvo activity, you’ll find something to do in my little list: -Visit a local museum and learn something new together -Find a beachside bbq… Read more »

I’d heard of Milford Sound before, but I didn’t know any details before I went there myself in August this year. It’s an absolute slice of heaven on earth and a MUST see place if you’ve never been.  Milford Sound is renowned for its incredible sceneries, waterfalls, film locations and its rain! She usually rains… Read more »

Everyone loves a good cheese platter, and they’re perfect for any hosting occasion, or just for dinner if you’re like me. The downside is that cheese platters usually cost a pretty penny to prepare, but I’ve slowly but surely mastered the art of creating a beautiful big cheese platter for 4-6 people by spending less… Read more »

Buttery Bacon Pasta – A simply indulgent and delicious classic in my home, Takes less than 10 minutes to whip up! Fry up some bacon bits, cook the ravioli and melt some butter to toss everything through. I usually top it with chilli flakes for a kick.  Chicken Salad – Easy and quick and healthy!… Read more »

I’m a lazy girl on the best of days, and even though I love putting on a full face of makeup, 99% of the time I don’t want to wear anything except moisturiser. I have recently discovered the perfect no-makeup product that has a light-medium coverage but doesn’t feel like you’re wearing anything on your… Read more »

To mark the first day of November, and with only 54 days until Christmas, here are some cute and affordable gift ideas for your special someone! These are also great for mates and secret santa at work. Can you tell I’m already way too hyped for Christmas?! Popcorn and Movie Gift Box This one is… Read more »

I am definitely one to shop around and try new skincare/makeup/hair products. I love getting recommendations from mates and buying those cute handy tester combo packs (the value for money in those packs is real!). But I have a short list of tried and true personal holy grails that I don’t stray from and keep… Read more »

Recently my husband and I spent a month in Wellington and we didn’t want to go absolutely broke (to be honest we just mainly love spending all of our money on food), so as we always do when we travel we looked for the epic cheap and free stuff to do. Here are the things… Read more »

Needing some weeknight dinner inspiration or just like having a squizz at what other people eat? Here’s all the goss from my meals last week! MONDAY Spaghetti Bolognese – A classic that you can’t do wrong with, to make it better than your mums make sure you add in a bunch of herbs and spices and… Read more »

If you’re a creative or pursuing a creative project, whether it’s writing a book or piecing together a song, you’re probably familiar with creative blocks or funks. It’s that feeling after you’ve got into your groove for a while and then suddenly hit a wall. The words on the page start looking weird or the… Read more »

If you follow me on instagram you’d know that my hubby and I spent a couple of weeks in a campervan driving around the south island of New Zealand last month. It was the first time that I’d personally done this, and after two long weeks I definitely have some tips and thoughts to share!… Read more »

I spent a month in Wellington recently and made a point to visit as many cafes and restaurants as I could! After visiting over 50 recommended spots, here are my absolute favourites: Harbourside Markets Held every Sunday at the waterfront, this market is home to some delicious food trucks. We came here a few times… Read more »

I love a good romantic comedy with a cup of tea and a candle burning, and I’m sure there are so many others that do too. Save this list to your phone for when you need a quick movie idea for a cozy weeknight at home.  Oldies but Goodies: Sixteen Candles The Breakfast Club When… Read more »

I love seeing and hearing what other people eat, so I thought I’d document my day in meals a few weeks back for y’all to enjoy!  Breakfast: It has to be oats, the classic winter warmer breakfast. Currently I am loving Uncle Toby’s creamy honey with an extra sprinkling of brown sugar on top. In… Read more »

I love cooking at home, so am always looking for fresh inspiration to mix up my meal times. Here are a few of my favourite food bloggers, youtubers and content that I have been loving lately. Hopefully you find some recipes that inspire you! Hot For Food I started following Lauren Toyota from Hot For… Read more »

I am by no means a sleep expert, but after years of late and sleepless nights I am now able to competently get a good nights sleep, whatever the circumstances! This is thanks to implementing at least two (or all) of the following tips every single night. Prepare Tidy up your kitchen, turn the dishwasher… Read more »

I recently had the lovely opportunity to pop over from Wellington to Martinborough for a spot of wine tasting at Hamden Estate.  Martinborough is a part of the country I had never ventured out to before, there are miles and miles of vineyards in the area which makes for an epic wine tasting weekend.  We… Read more »

I recently spent a week in my hometown, Taupo! I hadn’t spent that much time there in over five years so I made a point of doing a bunch of the classic tourist activities as well as visiting some new and old favourite food spots, here are my highlights! Spa Park Natural Hot Springs Free… Read more »

Winter is undoubtedly my favourite season for many reasons. Snow trips, cozy cups of tea with a hot water bottle, and layering up in comfy clothing! Here are my favourite trends and non-trends for this season: Puffer Jackets Never thought I’d be a puffer jacket wearer, and have always rejected them, however here I am!… Read more »

Habits are defined as a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. If there is something that you’re wanting to add into your daily routine then you need to create a habit out of it, otherwise it can definitely be easy to give up.  Make A Plan, Write… Read more »

I recently spent a whole month staying at a dreamy beach side cottage in Mt Maunganui, and because my husband is working from home we were able to get out and explore what Mt Maunganui had to offer. We went to loads of food places for brunch, lunch and dinner, we went everywhere that google… Read more »

By this stage my husband Jeshua and I are master packers, and before our ‘long term travel’, whenever we went for a trip we would ALWAYS only take carry-on. There’s something about not having to wait for your luggage at baggage claim that always led us to packing so light. We even only took a… Read more »

This year I have really shifted a focus on my fitness and have gotten into running. I mentioned a little while ago that I have a 21km running goal this year so I am really determined to get my distance up. A lot of people (myself included) find it hard to get started with running… Read more »

My 27th birthday was a couple of weeks ago and I feel as though I am in a transitional phase of life, heading into my late 20’s and facing some big changes. I jotted down some thoughts on the eve of my birthday to mark a few things I’ve learnt along the way, things I… Read more »

Ok so I’ve seen loads of these posts and videos before, and for some strange reason I always find them so intriguing. It might be because I’m nosy or it might be because I love to see what people keep close to their hip to see if I’m missing any essentials.  My monogrammed bag is… Read more »

We all have time now, we’ve cancelled our plans Slow down Put your feet up Drink some wine Paint a picture Don’t let these moments end  When the world speeds up, don’t go with it Stay slow —Brooke Sharkey

In prepping for my big move overseas (which then got delayed due to ole mate covid), I’ve gotten pretty good at saving money and cutting costs in the past year or two. Here are a couple of things I’ve learnt along the way! First, Set A Budget Of course this is always going to be… Read more »

To celebrate my third wedding anniversary I thought I’d share some of our beautiful autumnal wedding which took place on the sixth of may 2017. This date was special for us to choose because it was Jeshua’s grandparents wedding anniversary, which we celebrated by asking them to sign the registry at our ceremony. It was… Read more »

For all us normal people who LOVE avocado on toast, here are some classics and some non-classics to inspire your morning go-to: SIMPLE SPICY Sliced avo with chilli flakes – to keep it simple just add salt and pepper, but spice it up with some chilli flakes for a good lil kick. THE CLASSIC Sliced… Read more »

So we’re already nearing the end of April which means we are already into the second quarter of the year. January is a distant memory at this stage, and if you’re like most people then your new years goals might’ve fallen on the back burner. One thing I have implemented in my life is quarterly… Read more »

We’re currently entering week 3 of isolation here in New Zealand and you may be really starting to feel affected by cabin fever or losing motivation quickly. Here are a few simple reminders on how to pick yourself back up. Do remember that it is okay to feel down especially during this time, be gentle… Read more »

During these lockdown times you might be one of two people. You’ve either become an absolute chef whipping up magic in the kitchen or you’ve been eating the same thing every day and need some inspiration on how to spice up your meals. Either way, have a read through these recipes I’ve thrown together and… Read more »

Here are a few tips that have helped me stay motivated over the past little bit whilst being at home. It’s always best to do what works for you, however if you’ve been struggling with working from home lately or losing motivation to get out of bed and get your to-do’s ticked off each day… Read more »

January we were excited New decade, new me February we were unsettled Maybe this won’t last, lets see March we were scared Forced to stay home April we are hopeful We’re isolated but not alone -Brooke

Here’s the scenario: you’re inside for lockdown and you stocked up on pantry items but not enough treaty items, also you finally have some spare time. Here are the simplest but oh so delicious three ingredient cookies to help curb that craving. Please note that these are not healthy, but oh they are goooood.  For… Read more »

With the current state of the world (looking at you covid-19) we all have a lot of spare time at the moment, whether social distancing or quarantined. Some of you might still be working full time however with no commute and no possibilities of dining out with mates, we could all do with a few… Read more »

Since everybody has been asking me about my skincare routine (absolutely nobody has asked me); about 6 months ago I started to really prioritise getting my skin clear and allocating 15 minutes in the morning and evening to my skincare routine. It’s not only worked wonders for my skin but is super therapeutic *self care… Read more »