A candle rainbow, candle rainbow!

I love the coloured candles at Design Denmark. Like, crazy love them. I want them in every colour.


I never understand people that own beautiful candles but never burn them! My favourite thing after a long day is turn off all the lights and burn candles instead, there is no more relaxing (and flattering) light. Even better, at this time of year I get to turn on my fairy lights too.


Which are your favourite candles to burn, Beaunz belles?


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Bare Beaunz : Zoe

It's funny how you create an image of someone in your head before you meet them, and how completely opposite the reality often turns out to be. 

I have been coveting Zoe & Morgan jewelry since I spotted them in London a few years ago, and recently had the opportunity to meet one third of the sibling team, Zoe Williams. I immediately said yes, then freaked out that she would be so cool, hip and chic that I would make a complete nonce of myself. Well, in this case it was half true. Zoe is cool, hip and chic but she is also so welcoming and lovely that I immediately felt like an old friend. 

True to form, Zoe's Bare Beaunz is like a beam of sunshine on cloudy day (okay - that was a little noncey...sorry). Over to you, Zoe.

I just bought...?
A huge amount of stationery from a Japanese shop on Queen St.

I'm about to buy...?

A yellow bicycle! Can't wait to get the wind in my hair and sing a little 'good morning coffee here I come' sing-a-long song.

I wish I could buy...?
An Olympic sized swimming pool for my garden.

When I was a kid I wanted to be...?
A stress free adult that ate peaches all day!

I never leave the house without...?
Jewellery on of course!

If it wasn't so naughty I would...?
Take a 4month holiday every year.

At home I am usually...?
Cooking for my children, working in my office, and planning fun and games.

My fashion sense at school was...?
Understated cool. I used to get asked to help strangers do their shopping. I guess I was quite particular from a young age, and only wore what I felt really comfortable in.

If I had one magic power it would be...?
To create happiness.

The last time I (really) laughed was…?
With my son Ace on the weekend.

My secret pleasure is...?
Facials and massage therapy.

I'm happiest when...?
I'm traveling the world

If I died tomorrow I would be remembered for...?
The smile on my face.

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My happy place : Bridgeway Cinema

When I have a spare couple of hours to myself, there are few places I would rather be than tucked up inside the Bridgeway Cinema in Northcote Point, with an ice cream and a glass of wine. I'm quite happy going on my own too, which is such a different experience to seeing a film with a friend or loved one. 


I love the tiny cinema, the carefully chosen films and the proximity to one of my favourite Auckland restaurants, the Engine Room (now open for lunch a couple of days a week too). 


The only downside is the grumpy woman I assume is the owner, but I'll coax a smile out of her one of these days.


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Sunday Sounds : John Lennon

Every year on the 8th of December I have a quiet moment and think of John Lennon. Strange as it sounds for someone not of the Beatles era, I have always felt a real sense of sadness and loss. His songs fill little holes in my heart, and are as ingrained in my childhood memories as nursery rhymes. 


I'm a huge Beatles fan (Rubber Sole is my desert island album), but it's Imagine that I sing to my daughter in the bath, and that I hope she grows up knowing. The lyrics are 40 years old yet they still find relevance today, and although I can't watch this video clip without cringing, I love its gentle optimism. I can think of a few politicians who should listen to a little more John Lennon.


Wishing you a sweet and sunny Sunday.


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Saturday Scrapbook : Dreaming of a white Christmas

Miss Marc Headphones from Shopbop.com

One of the things I feel nostalgic about is the cold, sometimes snowy Christmas you get in Europe. Wrapping your hands around a steaming cup of mulled wine and perusing the Christmas markets is so traditional it feels like you're in a Hans Christian Anderson fairytale.

The last Christmas I spent in London, it was so cold and snowy we finished a packet of toffee pops and a bottle of Champagne before even getting out of bed, and that was just to stumble up to our local pub for a 7 course Christmas lunch. Needless to say, we were in bed again by 4pm (it was dark anyway, and Santa Claus the Movie was on - the real one, with Dudley Moore). So, although my photos of the day are beautiful (it was the only snowy Christmas Day I spent in London), I actually found myself wishing for strawberries and cold chicken salad in the sun. 

So, today's Saturday Scrapbook celebrates a different kind of white Christmas. One that can be enjoyed wherever you are in the world; the white Christmas wishlist.  

White bag from the Saben colab with Madeleine Harman

Moochi Hideaway Hat

Snowberry Instant Deep Cleanser from MyBeautyStore

Karen Walker Double Frill Cuff Shirt

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It's a swing swing thing

I have been spending a lot of time swinging lately, thanks to my daughter who never stops moving, except to sleep and swing. For a few peaceful minutes a day, she snuggles into me and we just swoosh through the air, back and forward, back and forward. 


I forget I'm an adult with bills to pay and deadlines to meet, and almost convince myself that there's a lime k-bar and some Garbage Pail Kids cards in my pocket.


Sometimes it's good to be a kid again. 


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I'm naked in front of a crowd

Film still from 'Hope's War' courtesy of Gainsborough Films

Okay, so that post header is a little dramatic, but it's how I feel at the moment, as I wait to see the finished result of a short film I wrote (the above image is a still from the shoot). 


The last I saw of the script was a couple of months ago, before it went into production in the safe hands of Craig, from Gainsborough Films. Craig approached me with the initial concept for the story, which was to highlight the 'enemy alien' camps used in New Zealand during both World Wars. My first reaction was that it couldn't possibly be true, but after just a minute of research it became clear that he was right. You can read about one of the camps here, and there is plenty of credible information all over the internet, not to mention a whole book written about it by David McGill. It's fascinating, and unbelievable that it's not more openly spoken about.


The reason I'm suddenly feeling vulnerable is that it's almost time to view the finished short film, called 'Hope's War', and I already have butterflies. Putting yourself out there creatively is terrifying! The film budget is more than some people make in a year, and  when it's your name on something, there's nowhere to hide. Even though it's only a short film, if it is well received, it's hopefully a stepping stone towards having my feature films produced too. 


You might see my name in lights yet...but then I'll feel even more naked than I already do. What's more naked than naked?


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