I’ve been so busy I feel like it is time to check in and say a little “Hello!”
When life gets crazy, it feels like everything suddenly is thrown up in the air. I’m not really sure what to write about but I think I will start by letting you know what’s just been going down in The Residents world and what I’m loving right now, as well as what I’ve been trying/testing and what I am looking forward to.
What’s been happening in August?
Wellington on a Plate: I’ve been attending Wellington On a Plate Previews which is so much fun. It is a great chance to get out and try some things that I’d never normally get a chance to, like eating as an Monet did at 'Dine With Monet' at Hippopotamus or eating a Cronut Burger at Portlander.
The most amazing thing by far which I've been lucky enough to experience is Virtual Reality Dining at Thistle Inn which I was lucky enough to preview last night. It truly is a feast for the eyes, taste, smell and senses. Without wanting to give too much away, this is definitely one event that you should book for during the festival. It is incredible and really amazing value for money at $65 but so much work has gone into it. If you want to do something different that doesn't blow the budget, you HAVE TO come to this event.
AND, of course I can't forget MY OWN WELLINGTON ON A PLATE EVENT (with Lucy Mutch Food Photographer and Zibibbo - this is DEF my pick of the festival ;-)). There are still a few tickets to our added session (the first two sold out in record time and we had people banging down the doors so we didn't want to disappoint). Get your ticket to 'Looking Good: Food Photography and Blogging Workshop' for Sunday 27 August at 11 am here.
The New Zealand International Film Festival: Last year I went to over 10 films for the Wellington Film Festival - which may have been slight overkill. This year I’ve seen 4 which has been a good amount. I caught My Life As A Zucchini, Faces Places, Dries, House of Z, Kim Dotcom: Caught in the Web (Amazing! Go see it) and Risk (which I reviewed here). The Gala evening was amazing. I met Emily Writes, one of my favourite New Zealand bloggers, through the lovely writer/cool dude Chris Tse and ate lots of canapes! Ooh La La.
Pop Up Shops & Fashion: It was so wonderful to see our pals Nick and Nevada Leckie of Okewa open their third, and most beautiful pop-up shop yet this month. Their store also had awesome accessories label ‘Kept’ who I love and a new brand I’d not heard of but adored, 'Revie' in store. You can still find their coats online. As everyone knows, I am rarely without my Okewa Birmingham Trench Coat.
Life Stuff: Matt started his new job, which is in Wellington working for a tech/finance start-up (hurrah!). You may not know but not long after we collaborated with Rembrandt he found out he didn’t make the final cut for 2 different big firms he applied for. One of those jobs meant we’d have had to have moved to Auckland. So getting an email from his old boss telling him about his new place was an absolute godsend. We will be continuing to live in our tumbledown villa Oriental Bay, documenting our lives and the lives of the Residents of Welly for the foreseeable future (with occasional visits from Timmy). Matt also turned 27 and we celebrated with his family by going to Whitebait.
Awards (?!): Back in June I was very, very grateful to find myself on stage with Justin Lester! Somehow, I was nominated for and won an Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian Award. This was an amazing thing and I think my parents were more blown away than I was. How could my little blog get the attention and even approval of Wellington City Council? WTF? Even more excitingly, I found out 2 weeks ago that I am a finalist in the New Zealand Social Media Awards (I’ll be flying to Auckland overnight to go to the awards night – aghhhhh – red-eye-Revill!). Some of the finalists include superstars like Nadia Lim and Shannon Harris (aka Shaaanxo – who I dabble with on YouTube from time to time). I am so stoked! Fingers crossed.
The Blog: Well, I passed 100 resident interviews!!! Whew! Honestly, this was weirdly weighing on me. I really cannot believe that I passed this milestone. I got quite tired up to this point, really de-energized so it took a lot to keep going. I somehow found the strength to get over the line and now it is all over, I feel much better. I also did 5 days of giveaways over on my Instagram to celebrate. Hurrah! There are some really awesome people who won. I also sold my first products – a tee with my logo on it, all made locally and from organic cotton (because ethics, yo).
Current Beauty Obsessions: I am absolutely foaming over the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Series which I'm trying out. I haven’t yet used the masks (I think in my head I am saving them), but I’ve been adoring the eye serum and face serum. I especially love the face wash which I am using with my Margaret Hema Facial Cleansing Oil as step-1 in a double cleanse process. I do a first cleanse when I take off my makeup with the Estee Lauder cleanser and then follow with a more nourishing cleanse using the Facial Cleansing Oil. I then follow with the Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum and Advanced Night Repair Face Serum before going to sleep. People have commented that my skin looks brighter and more rested (win!!).
Matt also got an electric toothbrush by Oral B which I’ve stolen a head for and am using to brush my teeth with. I wish I could say I think it is just placebo effect, but the electric toothbrush really does make my teeth feel cleaner and fresher. I’m also VERY excited to take my Tailor Skincare Mini’s up to Auckland for the NZSMA awards evening. As much as I love the above products, they’re just too bulky to take out of the house. I know, trust and LOVE Tailor Skincare so this is the perfect solution to needing a quick and reliable natural brand that works to look after my skin for such an important night. I also finally finished off the Josie Maran Argan Sugar Scrub which I loved and would fully buy again! My Tom Ford Black Orchid scent is also still going strong.
Home: I’m currently obsessed with having flowers around the home and I’ve been trying out a subscription from Juliette Florist in Wellington. They do a great service where once a week you get delivered a fresh, seasonal bunch of flowers, no fuss. The flowers change each week and as mum says “You’ll get what you’re given”. It is such a great idea and a great gift too (which isn’t too pricey). So far, 10/10. I have been buying a second sneaky bunch of Lilies from Moore Wilsons as well. I just love the scent they give off and have been having them sit next to my bed for when I drift off to sleep. Also recently acquired from Moore’s are my new placemats which have a certain Scandi vibe going on. I love it!
Health & Wellness: Somehow, we got really lazy with eating this month but this week Matt and I are back on track. We’ve been doing salads and stuff which is way healthier than sneaky Burger Fuel 4 days a week. We also are taking Magnesium supplements again. If you have trouble sleeping, I would definitely recommend Magnesium. It helps you sleep sounder, and stay asleep, even if you fall asleep easily like me. I seriously love the stuff.
I’ve also moved Yoga studios for a while, back to my old stomping ground Yoga For The People. I was loving Hot Yoga, but I am a bridesmaid in October and I know that personally Bikram knocks off the weight for me like nothing else, helping me get toned. I just know it, it isn’t for everyone, but my bestie (the bride) and I are back there are we’re enjoying it. I supplement this with Yoga at home when I can’t make a class from Beginner Yogi’s online membership course. It is very handy when I can’t get to class (which is more often than I’d like to admit).
TV & Movies: Genuinely embarrassingly loving ‘The Handmaids Tale’, ‘The Wizard of Lies’, ‘Titantic’ and 60 Minutes. Excited for when ‘Top of The Lake: China Girl’ is released for streaming.
Trying to improve at: Drinking more water, staying off Instagram, not just liking photos as a strategy but to actually not feel pressure to play the Instagram game, care less about rude people.
