Where has all the time gone aye?

The Residents is coming up to its one year anniversary next month (well, officially one year since I re-launched it). I am stoked that I began this blogging journey because it's given me so much. Blogging is SO MUCH hard work, especially on top of a full time job, boyfriend, cleaning etc, but so worth it! I thought it might be fun to take stock of some of the cool thing's I've enjoyed over the past 3 months, and take a moment to appreciate how far the blog has come.

So in no particular order, here are some of my highlights from the past quarter....

1. Meeting Karla from Koncreto

I loved meeting the beautiful architecture student/ homeware entrepreneur, Karla from Koncreto. I had been having a bad day when she contacted me to ask about my blog and since then I've loved her. She's so passionate about her small business and she makes really amazing objects. If you like cool homeware, check out her home poured stuff from Welly.

2. Going to have high tea at the Intercontinental Hotel Wellington

A very special afternoon in July. My pal Megan, who recently has been inspired to start her own fashion blog (www.modeandmethodology.com) and I had the high tea to end all high teas thanks to the wonderful Intercontinental Hotel in Wellington. Like so many other posts I've written, I loved sharing my own personal story about how we used to come here as kids when my Dad worked in the same building (what spoilt brats!). We had a very funny time taking photos of cakes, mini sandwiches and drinking tea, before stuffing ourselves so we couldn't move. Classic lady-like behaviour.

3. Going along to the opening of David Jones

OH. MY. GOD. This night was SO much fun. Opening night at David Jones was truly the spectacle to end all spectacles. I was handled so prefessionally as well by the marketing and PR team at DJ's Australia - hat's off to those guys! The whole evening was orchestrated to perfection, from the catering by Logan Brown, to the bubbles, to the incredible lust-worthy brands. John Key, Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester and Jamie Ridge came out on show. But none of this would have meant anything if it weren't for the lovely girls I ended up with on the night. I finally met Emma, one-half of the epic trans-Tasman Instagram account 'A tale of two city's' and re-connected with a friend who recently started working at Wellington City Council who was covering the night. You can watch the somewhat silly vlog I made here. The moral of the story is that luxury and glamour are no fun without friends, both old and new, to share it with.

4. I finaaaaaaally paid off my Okewa Rainwear Coat

Guys - I layby'ed this coat from Okewa Rainwear back in June and I only paid it off in September. It may seem ridiculous to get such a pricey coat (around $700+) when I'm only 27 but there are a few reasons I can rationalise this purchase. (1) I WILL HAVE IT FOREVER - these coats are like your Grandmother used to have - they actually are designed to last a lifetime. I'm not THAT into fads - I prefer stylish things that are made to last. SO when I bought this coat I knew I would end up wearing it for the next 20 years. So on a cost per wear basis it kind of made sense. (2) My boyfriend had one and I'd seen how useful it was for him the Wellington weather walking in the rain (3) Nick and Nevada who make these coats are really hard working and talented. I wanted to give them my money, rather than some other company where I had no idea where it was going.

5. I met the Chronesthesia Dudes

After the premier of the only Wellington-based film at the Film Festival, I approached Simeon and Hayden and awkward-turtle style gave them my blogger card (I know, I know - keep laughing tough guy). They turned out to be super friendly and we had an amazing very long lunchtime chat where they told me everything that went into making their movie. I then turned around their interview to go up the next day AND edited a short video of them answering my either/or questions. It was one of the toughest posts timing wise I've ever done but was SO rewarding. These guys made my New Zealand Film Festival in August very special indeed.

6. I saw some Art

Despite having studied Art History, in recent years I'd been rather slack when it came to the Art scene in Wellington. This year, since joining the City Gallery Foundation, I've really been lapping it up. From the exhibition 'Jealous Saboteurs' by Francis Upritchard in June (go see it - it's ending soon) to 'Sister Corrita's Summer of Love', our City Gallery has been a hive of activity this year, not to mention all the amazing education programmes and drinks they put on. I've really loved my experience so far this year being a City Gallery Foundation member. Find out how you can be one too - it pays in other ways when you support your Arts.

7. Matt's Birthday Dinner at Capitol

Although you might think I blog about EVERYTHING in my life, I do keep some parts a bit more private. One cool thing I didn't share at the time, but feel more comfortable sharing now is the amazing spread my boyfriend Matt and I enjoyed for his birthday on 3 August at Capitol, right next to the Embassy Theatre. We had an absolute feast at one of my favourite Wellington restaurants. Everything was done to perfection and I would definitely recommend going along and having dinner here if you are looking for a bit of a treat. The food is super seasonal and they have a very good wine list.

8. That time I got send an entire case of Lemmy Lemonade from Karma Kola

OK - so during the New Zealand Film Festival, I went to some films on my own. On the first night where I did this, I was waiting in between movies and I randomly tweeted Karma Kola, a super cool Wellington company who make organic and fair trade soft drinks. I was saying something along the lines of 'Lemmy is cooler than me' (because I was sitting on my own in the Paramount drinking Lemmy Lemonade). They were so lovely and kindly delivered a whole box FOR NO GOOD REASON! Needless to say, I irritated all my workmates by putting the box under my desk and kicking it by accident every twenty minutes so the bottles rattled. An amazing gift considering I already LOVED this product. Cheers, Lemmy!

9. That other time Wellington Photo Legend Ashley Church aka Dinosaurtoast took my photo's

Ashley Church may have been bribed by sushi and orange juice to go with me to Oriental Bay and take some windswept photos of me prancing in my Chucks and a favourite Red Dress. I loved the way these photos came out and how the whole landscape made me think about why I love Wellington weather. Noticing Wellington's landscape and the way the city meets the sea always makes me feel grateful. And I think Ash did a bloody amazing job!

10. That crazy cold snap we had and how someone wrote a warning in stones on the bridge at Chaffers Dock

It's the little amazing crazy things that make you wonder about the world - like "Who found all those stone? Why did they write ICE?" And then you realise you just have to appreciate the world and all it's sadness and beauty and intricacies. And then you take a photo for Instagram.

11. Amazing massage times at OM clinic

This lady set my body back to normal when I was having film fatigue after the 10 movies I watched in 17 days for the film festival. She knows her stuff. It made me all fascinated by aromatherapy as well. You can read more here.

12. Those perfect Wellington crisp days

When the weather is still in Welly it can be truly amazing. There were some nights in August where the weather was frigid as f**k! But then there were lunchtimes where you step out onto the harbour and you see this. Suddenly everything else is a bit better. Words don't do it justice.

13. Dinner at Shepherd

This year I've made friends with so many new people, like Lucy formerly of Crave Cooking school. She's the great human to whom I will ever be grateful for selling me her old DSLR which has become like another limb. That night we went to Shepherd I wasn't planning to blog. But when Lucy took her camera out, I did as well. Crazily, the blog post I wrote about Shepherd is my most viewed post EVER! Just goes to show Wellingtonians are MAD for restaurants and bars. This post has been really encouraging and made me think about focusing some posts more on food and places to eat. Let me know if you would like me to do more food and drink posts!

14. All the meetings at Prefab

This year I've met so many new and very different people. But if there is one commonality, that is everyone LOVES meeting up at Prefab. From PR people to marketing and tech folk to interviewees, Prefab has become my go-to place to find a happy place where everyone is comfortable and the menu never disappoints. Hurrah for Prefab and especially it's great value long black's. Who else's default meeting place in Wellington is Prefab?

15. I dabbled in Flat-Lay

Libertine Blends is one of the first brands that I collaborated with on The Residents. So I had a huge amount of fun in August experimenting with a mode of styling called 'Flatlay' which has been popularised on Instagram. Basically, you take products and lay them flat and take photos from above at a birds eye view. I'd decided to get some coloured paper to lay underneath and when I shot this I tried to bring out the essence of each tea. This was a very fun activity and one you can actually do quite quickly. I took these photos in just 30 minutes between jobs. I was very happy with how it turned out. Whenever these pop up in my photo's app, I give myself a mini pat on the back for a job well done.

16. I got a haircut and colour finally

Hair today, gone tomorrow! I was thrilled with how my hair turned out when I visited Loxy in Wellington. I'd been being cheap and avoiding getting my hair done for ages (arguably years). After finally taking the plunge 6 weeks earlier at JAM in Wellington, the team at Loxy fine tuned my look and gave me a new confidence. I really loved the Loxy experience and I would highly recommend this Wellington/Auckland Salon if you are after an immersive feminine hair experience. I also love my new look!

17. I've continued to fill my handbag with more and more lipstick

Does anyone else do this? Just keep filling their bag with more and more lip product until they can barely lift it? No - just me then?

Right, moving on...

18. Wellington on a Plate

Wellington on a Plate had me run their social media for 3 days during the festival which was a real busy job but a memorable one nevertheless. It was intense but very cool to be able to visit many of the best places in the city to eat, drink and social media. Highlights include the Food Truck Rally (that's Matt carrying cups above) and visiting Noble Rot wine bar. I also loved this snap I took after the L'Affare event 'Cafe Gourmand' with French CanCan of Newtown, under their Roastery on Adelaide Road.

19. Keeping on going with Coffee

But first...Coffee is a huge part of my life and I feel so grateful to live in a city where there is such an amazing supply of it. Nothing beats those days where the coffee really hits the spot. I'm so spoilt for choice in Wellington. It's impossible to pick favourites.

20. EPIC Wellington Scenery

Nuff said...

21. The WONDERFUL people I meet

The best thing about the last three months is all the wonderful people I've gotten to know. It's such an honour to hear all their stories ane then to share them. It feels like you take a little of their magic, from cocktail making to dress designing to dance. I'm so happy I started this project and have now interviewed FIFTY PEOPLE! Wow! I can't wait for the next fifty more...Let me know if there is anyone you want to see on the blog and I will do my best to make it happen.

Those have been my best bits from the last 3 months - oh, and turning 27. I wonder what the next three months will bring?

Let me know what you liked or didn't like from the posts over the last three months. If you liked something I will do my best to do more of those type of posts. I'm so grateful to my amazing reads - that means YOU. You always support me and share my posts on Facebook. It really helps because I don't get paid for this blog and I really need the support some days. So from the bottom of my little Welly heart - THANKS FOR READING.

GIVE ME FEEDBACK SO I KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE! This blog has always been about Wellingtonians and our community. Your thoughts matter so much to me. Also subscribe your email because it really helps as well! Once again, have a great weekend!