You're so sweet to me...

I'd been a little blue lately...
Just a mixture of homesickness over the festive season, worrying about my residency application and a handful of other things so Dean surprised me yesterday with a little 'just because' present to cheer me up...



He said they are meant to be korus and they symbolize new beginnings.
They are there to remind me that every day is a new day and a chance for me start over, no more looking into the past or trying to predict the future..just begin...at this very moment..because that is the only moment you truly possess..

Oh my dear boy, you are so sweet to me...i heart you!

Kraftbomb 6

Hello lovelies...
Big hugs for you if you stopped by last Sunday to say hey! And big hugs to you if you couldn't make it too 'cos we missed you! We especially missed the adorable Bee & Niella of Random Kits & Pieces, sweet Karen of Luxford St and of course Freddy and his awesome lemonade!
I have to admit that it was a tad slow that day as many people must've gone away for the long weekend. Good to know that people are taking it easy and enjoying the sunshine! It was wicked to finally have the chance to actually chill out and chat with the other sellers though! Normally we're all rushed off our feet and the 3 hours disappear in a blink of an eye! I was seated next to the lovely chickas and chico from The Oblong Craft Collective on my left:


Rachel had the most gorgeous handmade notebooks displayed...drool drool drool! And those fans were pretty and the perfect accessory for any lady!

On my right was sweet Heleen of Ruby in the Dust, (i heart her 'blogger' embroidered badge) and on her right was the adorable Saira of Paper Fish - who i'm adamant about adopting one of her loan sharks! Luigi in particular!

Look at how cute this picture is! And they were all shy and worried that it wouldn't turn out! :)


It was such a pleasure to hang out and chat about everything...comparing notes about the best places to buy supplies, recommending websites to each other and attempting to plan a crafty blogger tea party! Squeal...

Oh and of course, a quick snap shot of my stall set up:




I decided to make my table display yummy enough to eat...hehehe...complete with a wee specials menu! What you see: Bottom right - red and blue felt bead stud earrings, middle right - a plate of light and dark brown felt beads and top left - 3 plates of reversible headbands made from vintage and new materials perfect for keeping hair off ones face or for when the paparazzi come-a-calling...queue relevant photo...hahah


I get no peace even when i'm pigging out on french fries...sneaky things, they wait patiently in the glove comparment of your car and spring out when you least expect it...hahahaha



Anyhoo, if you missed out this time be sure to get your K-bomb fix next month! Last Sunday of Feb, 11am-2pm at the Grey Lynn Community Centre.

Kraftbomb 6 complete, Miss Deb over and out!

Ciao for now sweetness!
Miss Deb

Pre-Kraftbomb Chaos

Why is it that although i know K-bomb is the last Sunday of the month i somehow always leave a whole bunch of stuff to the last minute! Gah...worst still i found out that both people who i normally call on separately when i need a ride to the Grey Lynn Community Centre have bailed, one's at a wedding and the other is going away with his girlfriend...am now left with the task of figuring out if it is indeed possible to catch a bus there while carrying my big purple box of goodies. Alternatively i can attach the box to my scooter but it may be quite the balancing act. Hahaha...

Oh well these things happen...

But, my dear little good samaritan :) if by chance you're heading past my place in Remuera en route to the bomb at around 9.45am, i'd forever be in your debt as well as shower you with baked good for the rest of your life if you gave me a ride? :P Tee hee hee...

When there's a will there's a way right? Not to worry...by hook or by crook i will be there tomorrow!

xoxo
Miss Deb

Go shorty, it's your birthday...we gonna party like it's your birthday...

Well actually it is...blush...i'm 24 today!

I thought i'd start posting up bits of the festivities...

So, some of the fun began yesterday as my sister and her husband were going to be real busy today, think they are going away for the long weekend. My sis sprained her ankle on Wednesday so lucky for me she had to cancel a business trip which would've made her absent on this auspicious day. She was convinced that i put a spell on her...hahaha! So she instructed my bro-in-law yesterday to make my 'birthday lunch'. It consisted of (made from scratch) barbeque pork and stir-fried red cabbage on rice. Yum!


In Asian terms, it is very rare that a bro-in-law (Chinese word for it is Che-Fu, not like the famous guy..think his name could be Che like Che Guavara tee hee hee) would do anything for a younger sibling so it was very sweet that Joe went through all the trouble.

They also got me some pretty roses for my desk!


Then early this morning..i got a call from my friend Sin How all the way in Brunei wishing me! You were officially the first one my dear! Teeheehee!

As soon as i got off the phone i wanted to open my first pressie! This arrived a few days ago...


But it said this...Jo know's me too well...


It so cool that Jo and I still keep in touch...i met her when i was still studying in Palmy. She's like a second mum to me and one of the coolest people i know!
Ta da!


It is the cutest dustdarling wristband made from a vintage tie! Unfortunately there isn't a website i can link to so if you're the maker of these beautiful wrist accessories please get in touch! The card was spot on too...i am ALWAYS complaining that the weekend is too short...even had this huge discussion with my flatmate the other day saying that i wouldn't mind working 6-7 day weeks if i got 3-4 days for the weekend. :P Thank you Jo!! Big hugs for both you and Tom.

So i was already at work when all this was happening and was in the middle of reading my emails when i suddenly hear my sister and Joe bellowing Happy Birthday down the corridor to my office! Cute...Joe had a big bouquet of lillies and my sister had made me a card. Flowers were actually from mum and dad and the card was from my sister and Joe.


So cute, she even made pink blinds for the window!

Close-up of the door and mail-box:



They got me...


Yeeyah! That's only like the best magazine on the planet! And i was just saying to Dean the other day that i should really just subscribe seeing as i virtually camp outside the bookshop a day before i know it's coming out! Thank you guys...i love you both truckloads!

Anyhoo lovelies...I'll post this up first but check back later, i'm sure there are lots more festivities to be had!

xoxo
Birthday Girl Miss Deb

Look what i made...

Blush....
What d'ya reckon?
Still a little rough round the edges but for a first try i'm pretty stoked. Bought the paper-pattern/instructionable from the lovely Jaqueline of mylittlesweet!

Wanna know the coolest thing about them shoes though?
They are reversible...



Also, i took a photo of these perfect strawberries i was munching on yesterday to share, yum-o!


See you at Kraftbomb my lovelies!

xoxo
Miss Deb

Bonjour Mon Ami!

How is everybody doing? I hope all is well with you.

Sorry for being a bit slack with the posts, i know i'm usually a lot better with keeping in touch. I've recently discovered exercise so that (you should know by now that it's not my thing but going for walks in such lovely weather isn't as bad as i thought hehehe)....added to working late and the sun being out til 8pm everyday i haven't had the chance to sit on my behind! There's rays to be soaked, fun to be enjoyed and barbecues to be had!


Yes that's Andrew my flatmate in the background sitting on the deck making homemade burgers...i know that doesn't sound very hygenic but this photo proves otherwise...



Hasn't the weather been absolutely glorious! It's been so much fun riding around on my scooter! On a wet rainy day it is the worse mode of transport because droplets actually hurt when your going at lightning speeds but in the summer, i long for work to end so i can hop on and ride off. This is a wee picture of my Yamaha Vino...he's precious isn't he?



I made some vanilla custard peach tartlets for dessert at Dean's mums the other day and they turned out so good! Unfortunately i forgot to take a photo. I did however want to share the recipe because it was so easy!

Vanilla Custard Peach Tartlets
2 sheets short crust pastry cut to fit each muffin cup
(I just used a mug as like a cookie cutter to get a round shape)
3 tbsp custard powder
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
- Peaches & icing sugar to decorate

Small metal pot (for cooking up custard goodness)
Wooden spoon (to stir with :) tee hee hee)
Measuring jug (to measure as well as pour custard mixture into tartlets)
Muffin tray (to make tartlet base)
Baking paper cut to fit each muffin 'cup'
Lentil/Rice or Ceramic Weights


- Get a muffin tray and line make the tartlet base using store bought pastry (i've tried making my own pastry but its so labour intensive for something you can get so cheaply at the supermarket) cut into the right size. Don't worry if you tear the pastry by accident, just patch it up with more pastry. I like getting it as thin as possible because i'm not a big fan of pastry so squish it til you're satisfied with the thickness.

- Blind bake for 10 minutes with rice/lentils/ceramic baking weights holding down baking paper in each tartlet. Remove weights and paper before baking for an additional 10 minutes or until golden brown.

- Meanwhile...take 3 tablespoons of custard powder, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence and mix into 600ml of milk. (They say to first mix a small portion of the custard powder with a small amount of milk to form a paste, then and only then should you add the rest of the milk and stuff. I think it prevents lumping but i like straining custard before pouring it and letting it set anyway.

- Anyhoo, stir your custard constantly on the stove until it reaches boiling point, it should also start to thicken slightly. Take it off the heat and place in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes to cool it down. Once that's done, you're ready to strain the custard (only if you can be bothered) and pour them into the tartlet cups that have now finished being blind baked.

- While it is setting, cut slices of canned or fresh peached to sit on top of the tartlet in a pretty leaf pattern before dusting with icing sugar. Then it's time to sample your handmade treats and sing yummy yummy yummy i got love in my tummy...:)

See if only at this point i could whip out a picture to entice you!
Don't worry though, i'll definately be making them again!

Oooh, before i go...am happy to announce that we'll be at Kraftbomb 6!! Woot woot...

xoxo Hope you're enjoying the sunshine!
Miss Deb

When you stop and look around, this life's pretty amazing...

You know...i only moved to Aucks a year or so ago...it seems like such a long time now...
I'd been studying and working in good 'ol balmy Palmy for so long that it was quite a drastic change moving to the big smoke and definately a huge shock to the system. After hearing all the negative stuff people said about Auckland and its inhabitants i was pretty sure i'd hate it and hacked a plan of escape...i would befriend a nakedbus employee so that i could zip up and down the island cheaply each weekend. But alas things don't ever work out as one plans...a relationship of almost 3 years fell apart and i had to toughen up and take on the big bad city all on my own.

What happened was thoroughly unexpected...

As soon as i gave up all the preconceived ideas i fell in love with a place that was teeming with possibilities and buzzing with creative people. Auckland makes me feel like i'm standing on the edge of a cauldron that's bubbling with so much gusto and attitude..

Do you do that too? Make up your mind about something or someone only to find that you were totally and utterly wrong?
Despite the fact that it happens ever so often for me i still need frequent reminders that i don't give my abilities/instincts enough credit...

Just the other day...Dean and i went to Mount Maunganui for New Year's. The day before we were to drive back to Auckland he boldly suggested that we trek up the mount...his 'convincing' argument was that the view would be amazing because it was such a clear scorcher of a day. I almost instantly started feeling ill and began freaking out since so many people had told me that it was a hard trail..to top it off i figured i'm not fit, i wouldn't be able to do it and Dean would think i was a total loser. WHAT??? When i actually took a step back and looked at the big picture i realized that none of that internal dialoque was correct and more importantly it wasn't the slightest bit helpful. So i tried my hardest to re-program...you know, like how Thomas the tank engine said "i think i can i think i can...i know i can...i know i can..." And guess what...i made it to the top...and it wasn't anywhere near as hard as i thought..And of course, the view was breathtaking.

Why are we so stifled by fear? Fear is essentially in our heads...we're scared of failure, we're scared of what people think of us. I had a deep and meaningful with a good friend the other day and he really switched on a light bulb in my head. He said we judge ourselves so harshly...and a lot of the time we assume that others will do the same because we can only go by our own standards/experiences. Judging is negative...no matter how well we know somebody we still aren't them and cannot fully predict how they think or will react to something..comparing, judging and assuming are all recipes for disaster i reckon. :)

That is my new year's resolution...to refrain from those 3 nasties. I forgot how freeing it was...i remember after Discovery camp last year. I felt perfectly balanced, supported and at peace with everything...in that environment i knew i could and was totally being myself and the people around me fully loved me for it, i did the same for them. Being a team leader for Discovery was probably one of my favourite moments in my life thus far and probably a defining one for me too. To bear witness to the transformation the teenagers went through was such a precious gift. Watching them deal with their demons made me think of how crazy it is that we harp on the negative stuff/people we encounter but just shrug it off when our loved ones tell us how awesome we are. It's amazing to see people flourish when they feel supported...i know i did. When you know that the people around you will love you regardless of whether you win or lose, triumph or fail, you will give it your all fearlessly, you have nothing to lose! You let you hair down and be silly, you banish those self conscious inhibitions and simply exist as you are!

So i'm going to tell you this very moment that you are awesome...you're loving, caring and such a pleasure to have on this planet. Thank you for being you!

xoxo
Miss Deb

It's the New Year after all..

(adapted from 'It's a small world after all"...you know the tune, sing it with me...)
"It's a new year after all, It's a new year after all, It's a new year after all...it's a new new year..." :)

Yes, the silly season has that affect on me...am back at work and trying my hardest to be all sane and responsible today though!

So how was your Christmas and New Years? Fabulous i hope! Mine was chocked with so much fun stuff that i don't even know where to begin..

So Christmas Eve was spent with the boy...we both had family stuff to do separately the next day so we thought it was a good idea to get our pressies out of the way...tee hee hee

Our loot...I made it a point to minimise packaging for all the gifts i was giving this year so that big box covered in the fancy Lush Times wrapping paper (reuse, reduce, recycle right?) is from me and the other 3 gifts were FOR me...


Dean ripping into his pressie...


I got him a fancy silvery grey patterned fedora from Marvel in Ponsonby...


And...because he's quite a Mario fan, this cool shirt from Noisebot...


Now...my turn...if you've been following my blog...you'll have a rough idea as to the reason behind my high level of excitement...see cheesy grin...


Because...i got a COOKIE PRESS!!!!


And yes, i've tried it...takes a bit of practice that's for sure! So ladies, who wants to borrow it for a week or 2? (Psst...Bee you get to be first in line :) )

Next pressie...I wasn't sure what to think...


Then i realize what it was! Yay, Singstar...i've wanted it for ages...we were still hoarse days later after playing it...


I hope you'll excuse the same pose...i don't move much when there's present opening to be had tee hee hee...

And finally...this wee box...


Dean got me this gorgeous greenstone necklace...I absolutely love it...(normally greenstone has to be 'blessed' by the person who gives it to you so Dean wished for happiness for all the days of my life...I wear it together with my love pendant nowadays so i've got love and happiness wherever i go, yay!)



Woot woot...next day i scootered over to my sisters...

We went to Christmas morning mass at St Michael's in Remuera...


Then home for present opening!

Stockings first...Santa must've dropped in when we were out!





Mmmm...real pressies...


I got Joe this wool sweater and a book of smoothie recipes by Innocent...


And here's my sister with her loot...she'd been wanting a y-front purse from Luxford St for like forever!


I also got her one of lilysmakebelieve's gorgeous sushi charm necklaces! (I stole the piccie from Olivia's FB page...)



Woah...i haven't even started on Christmas at Dean's mums place yet and this has turned into an essay! Might save it for another day...

Hugs hugs hugs
Miss Deb