I have a great weekend. It started off slow on Friday night with the movie American Gangster, which I did not enjoy. Then on Saturday I went shopping with my sister and bought new jeans and some cute shoes - totally love my new purchases! We also stopped for sushi and coffee for lunch.

On Saturday night we went to Rob’s sister’s boyfriend’s (I know a mouthful) 30th birthday. He had a 70s/Hawaiian Beach theme. Unfortunately I don’t own anything in either category. So turned up in my dressy gears and was then got given a leis. It was a fun night, mostly made up of Rob’s family but we had fun dancing and socialising. It wasn’t too much of a late night, we were home about 1.30am.

Today (Sunday) I’ve just got back from lunch with my sister and a few friends. We went to a Mexican cafe in Orewa. Oh wow! So yum. Instead of snapping photos of the meal I ate I took a couple of Ella. Ella is my sister’s boyfriend’s sister’s baby (yes, another mouthful) and she’s three months old and oh so cute!

After lunch four of us headed to the new luge in Silverdale to have a go. Quite fun I must say. We were so lucky to pick such a beautiful day!

The girls.

My cute, new shoes. You do not need to see a photo of me in a helmet. Not a good look!

But yes, a pretty eventful weekend… considering I was supposed to start studying management accounting for exams. Ahem. I missed that bit out.
Now we’re off to my dad’s house in about an hour for his birthday dinner. It’s his birthday tomorrow, but we’re going tonight because my sister is out of town for work tomorrow night.

I hope everyone else had a brilliant weekend!

I bet you never knew, because I didn’t that Brazil is the world leader of the sugar industry. Brazil produces vast amounts of sugar every year, the majority of it is unrefined centrifugal sugar which is then shipped to buyers who turn it into the refined sugar we know and love. Those seeking Brazilian Sugar (highly refined sparkling white sugar) may find it difficult to obtain, as very little sugar is actually refined in Brazil. Quite interesting to know, huh?
Much of the sugar produced in Brazil is actually also consumed in Brazil. Brazilians are well known for their love of sugar, and they consume vast amounts of the product every year.

Brazil is on my list of countries to visit. Now that I have learnt more about the country I have to go and see the sugar canes growing!
If you’re after more information about sugar in Brazil check out the website I linked.

I read in the paper today and online that the original von Trapp villa located just out of Salzburg, Austria, you know… from the story behind the movie The Sound of Music, is now being turned into a hotel! You can stay there for 100 Euros a night, very tempting. Mind you, I’m not fussed if I don’t stay the night, but I’m definitely going to visit! They also have a chapel for people to get married in! Very romantic.
The von Trapp family lived there from 1923-1938. So it’s an old building with a lot of history and so beautiful! I love those sorts of things!
While browsing I also found that you can take a Sound of Music tour! Oh. My. God. I’m going on that too. Good luck trying to find someone who’ll go with me… hehe.

I haven’t watched The Sound of Music in ages, but as a kid I loved it. I know all the words to the songs and love the whole idea of the movie. It’s so magical.

Yes sorry, another nature macro shot. They just seem to be the best. Plus this one red leaf in a yellow-leaved tree looked awesome.

I am not a mother myself, yet, but have heard that to organise your child(ren) and get them out the door and off to the store can be a mammoth task. Let alone actually trying clothes on them or carrying around the store for hours!
Thankfully there are wonderful people out there who make baby clothing stores available online!! By the time I finally have children I wont ever need to leave my house to buy them clothes, toys, bedding or bath needs. I’ll be able to shop for them while in my pjs! Sounds like heaven to me.

Online baby store has now also come up with a product review page, so you can check out what other parents have written about products before purchasing. This is a great way to build confidence for the customer so they feel comfortable buying a product they may have never used before.
They’ve also set up a blog so you can read about their latest news and products. Definitely a great site to bookmark if you have young children or an expectant mother.

I have heard of many celebrities who have had a Colon Cleanse. There was also a TV show recently which talked about a health spa offereing them. They seem very obtrusive compared with taking a capsule that has a cleansing powder in it.
You always want your body to be healthy, clean and detoxified, so it’s good to drink a lot of water and exercise regularly too.
But every so often your body needs a bit of a push in the right direction and there is no easier way than taking a capsule to help regulate your body. This can help make your digestive system healthier to keep away many irritations.
I’m feeling very healthy these recent weeks, I’m exercising daily for 30-40 minutes as well as trying to drink two 750ml bottles of water a day. I am feeling great because of it!
The old saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’, so true! Try it.

Oh My God Westlife were good. Their concert was absolutely amazing! They sang lots of old and new songs. Some so new that we don’t even had the album here in New Zealand. Friggin’ typical! I’m now tempted to buy it online from the UK. I wonder how long until it’s here in NZ? I’ll have to go find out. They have put out a Best of CD which comes with a DVD of the tour, so I’m tempted to get that too.
But their concert was awesome. Their accents were even better. They talked to the audience every so often in between some songs… oh the accent just makes you melt. They could be telling you the weather and it’d still be a turn on!
For the record my favourite is Shane. He’s the best singer of them all anyway. Mind you, had never liked Kian until last night, he’s so much hotter in person than photos! Nicky is cute too, but Mark? I’m not a fan of his. Plus he’s gay, so he wouldn’t be a fan of me!
By the end of the night I’d almost lost my voice and had a sore throat from the singing and screaming. But it’s a small price to pay.

Their opening act was Annabelle Fay, a Kiwi girl. She was awesome! Her song Strong was used on the Heroes series. I never even realised she was a New Zealander!

Today is Mother’s Day, so my sister and I headed over to my other sister’s house with my Mum and Nana for a champagne brunch. After brunch we headed out for some shopping for a few hours. Our day was more like ‘girls day out’ rather than Mother’s day. We had a lovely time.

Westlife said they’d be back in NZ within 2-3 years. I’m planning to be in the UK then, so will have to see them in concert there.

This morning I had a blast from the past when I pulled into the petrol station to fill up my car with flowing gold. I spotted a guy as I drove in and thought “mm he’s cute”. Didn’t think anything more about it until I got out of the car and turned to see him smile at me and then I realised who he was.
My “boyfriend”/crush from Intermediate (junior high school, I was 12). Oh. My. God. I just smiled back. Yes, I probably should have said hi, but I think we were both slightly in shock. I’m now 23. Over ten years later!! Come on, that deserves shockness.
So I’m sorry but there is no delicious scandal to write about this topic… that’s the end.

But this leads into my Thursday Thirteen for this week; celebrity childhood crushes. I had a huge thing for the pretty-boys I am noticing.

1. Brad Renfro

2. Devon Sawa

3. Zac Hanson

4. Jonathan Taylor Thomas

5. Brian Littrel

6. Nick Carter

7. Justin Timberlake (from his N*Sync days)

8. Leonardo DiCaprio

9. River Phoenix - Stand by Me

10. Andrew Keegan - Camp Nowhere

11. Mark Paul Gosselaar - Zack Morris - Saved by the Bell

12. Austin O’Brien - My Girl 2

13. Elijah Wood

Thank God I am over that stage now… and I must say Justin Timberlake has just got better with age.

thursday-thirteen