Procrastination 101

I have 3 essays and 1 big exam looming... And, I really *should* be writing the said essays, but instead I am finding so many other projects that really MUST get done! ;)

Procrastination 101:

4 kilos of tomatoes soon to be pasta sauce... 

Sewing projects that just must get done...

Birthday parties that must be attended... 

And, pages that just must be colored! 

See we are FAR to busy out here! Hope the start to your week has been a good one!

Things I'm loving on FRIDAY!

Linking up with Paisley Jade for Things I'm loving... on Friday!!

I'm loving that Miss G was a bit unsure of New Zealand hunting legend and Swazi founder Davey Hughes. I bought his book Untamed for my brother Dan, who is also a bit of a hunting guru ... Take notes Dan - keep a journal.. and grow your hair long! ;) PS the book is hilarious - great adventures! My husband knows Davey from back in the day (pre-Swazi), so we had quite a fun visit with him.

Myself, Miss G and Davey Hughes

I'm also loving the hat I bought for $5 at the Central Districts Field Days (as above)... 

Loving spending a couple quiet days at home with Miss G. Had lots of fun baking in our aprons! Yummy banana muffins, cookies, etc. Yum! 

Miss G is loving her baby - and basically all babies she comes in contact with. Sooo cute! I think we are missing our cousin, Miss K!! ;) 

What things are you loving today - take a peek at Paisley Jade's list and join in the fun! 

Things I'm Loving - 1 March

Linking up with Paisley Jade for Things I'm LOVING on 2 March!

LOVING the photos that Morwenna @ Keepsake Photography captured for Miss G's first birthday and cousin Keira's 4-week photos! Of course, we had to sneek in some photos of all of us girls! Aren't they great? LOVING them!!

Miss G 

So Big!! Me and Miss G! :)

Me, Miss G, Gma, Baby K and Sissy

LOVING that Gma spent 2 months with us in New Zealand! Loving that she takes the opportunity to leave a Minnesota winter and come visit us girls in the New Zealand!! Miss G LOVED having Gma stay - and so cool they have so many fun memories together now! Yay!! LOVED having her here and we were all super sad to see her go home yesterday. But, looking forward to visiting the USA this summer! :) 

Check out what others are loving at Paisley Jade. 

Baby K's Baptism

This Sunday, 26 Feb was my sister and brother-in-laws first wedding anniversary! This was us a year ago - what a fabulous wedding! So fun - and very friends and family orientated - it was a great day to catch up with loved ones!

Dad, Mom, Jen, Sam, Miss G, Edan and Dan

To celebrate their one-year anniversary, they decided it would be very special to have Baby Keira baptized in the church they were married in - by the same pastor - one year later. It was very appropriate, being the first Sunday in lent, with the discussion being about baptism into the church.

Proud Godparents - with Baby K and Miss G

Parents and Godparents - Loving Baby K! 

Manic Monday

Well, my mental health essay is DONE and handed in! I finished it in the wee hours of the morning. Okay, it was 12:45am when I got to bed. So, really not classed as an 'all-nighter'...  But, still. Phew, done and dusted! Brought it into school this morning and then had coffee with a couple other fellow nursing friends. I had two back to back 6-week placements (surgical and mental health), so we haven't been in class since October last year! Shesh! Back in class on Monday, 5 March - over half way to becoming an RN!! yipee!!

My next two papers/classes - are on ethics in nursing practice (always interesting!) and healthcare in the community/world/country. Should be interesting - although they have quite close essays for assessments... Must not procrastinate!

Now I have the rest of the week off to relax, hang out with mom, sissy, Miss G and baby K up in Taupo! Good times! Mom flies back stateside on Thursday (boo!) so it will be great to have a couple days of 'girl time' before she heads out.

Last week, Jen and baby K came down for a visit - we had such a good time. Did some shopping, walking, visiting and laughing! It's great being on maternity leave!!

Trio of backrubs - Gma, Sissy and Miss G

SKYPE'ing with Gpa! Jen and baby K!
Dad must be a bit dull for baby K! 

What I'm Loving this week...

Once again, linking up with Paisley Jade for Things I'm loving...

Loving that Te Kawau netball season has started up - looking forward to another great year!! And, really loving the fitness aspect! Go Greens!

Loving how the 2012 Rangitikei District GirlGuides is shaping up - we have great leaders and awesome girls! Looks like it will be a fun year! Get ready for BISCUITS! Coming out 1 March - yay!!

Loving having this week off to spend with my mom, sister, niece and fabulous Miss G!

Miss G sporting her American swim style!

Loving the fabulous wood shed E built for the winter - now we won't run out! It is now completely full - fantastic! :)

Loving that Miss K's baptism is this weekend - really looking forward to being her godmother! *More pix to come! She's a gorgeous wee poppet!!

Things I'm Loving - 21 Feb...

Things I'm Loving on 21 Feb 2012... 

Linking up with Paisley Jade for Things I'm Loving... Check out some of the others if you have time - fabulous lists!! :)

Loving this cute girl! On the beach at Napier for the Art Deco Festival last weekend! Yay for great weather, fun costumes (on others), good fun with family and cheeky monkeys!! :)

Loving that Grandma (my mom) has been here in NZ for 2 months! Yay for escaping Minnesota winters to come visit her daughters and granddaughters!!

Loving that we've been using our pool! Miss G loves the water!

Loving that I just finished two back to back placements - 6 weeks in surgical and 6 weeks in mental health. Loved them both! Now, I have an essay due next week to get done RE: mental health, one week off and then back in class! 54.16% on the way to being a Registered Nurse!! (Thanks Amanda!)

Things I'm Loving - 3 Feb edition!

Linking up with Paisley Jade

Things I'm Loving...

I'm LOVING that it's FRIDAY and I have a 3-day weekend. 

I'm LOVING that I've really enjoyed my surgical and mental health nursing placements. Although, makes my decision on where to focus my career so much more difficult... 

I'm LOVING my new niece Miss K. Sooo adorable!! 

I'm LOVING spending the summer with mom! Two months with no winter for her! yaya!! 

I'm LOVING that the fabulous Miss G had such a neat birthday party! It was such a wonderful day with so  many special people celebrating her first birthday! 

Birthday buddies - dad and Miss G!! :)

Playing with my friends! 

Yay! My first candle and everyone is singing to me! 

Yum! Yum! 

Back to the stone ages...

Last week, we were happily using our point and shoot digital camera - Nikon Coolpix S210 (but in purple). Not the flashest camera, but did a good job for our daily needs.... Then all of a sudden, 'lens error!' came up literally 5 minutes after my husband took a pix and then I went to take a pix! Ugh!

Source

So, a quick google search and I've tried nearly everything recommended to fix the issue with no luck... Next step, I'm taking apart the camera and cleaning it. Will see how this goes!

I was a bit distraught, wondering how I was going capture Miss G's first birthday with no camera! It was then I remembered I have a Nikon N65 complete with all the bells and whistles. I even found a role of 400 speed film! I actually really enjoyed this camera back in the day, and semi-mourned the introduction of digital cameras that replaced the film versions. I loved developing my own b/w film - watching the picture form and being in the darkroom was such a good time.

Source

However, I do realize how much more people can do with the digital cameras - and how many more people get joy out of creating their photos now too. Which is great. But, I still miss film. :)

Sooo, long story short - any good recommendations on a point and shoot digital camera? Ultimately I want to replace my N65 with the digital version, but for now, will stick with the cheapy. I'm not really particular on any brand, I just want good pix for everyday use. :)

A Year in Review - 2011

Kia Ora and Happy 2012!

Sorry I have been MIA for quite a while - we have been quite busy in the Meyer whanau. Between my surgical placement (LOVED!), Edan's work and being on-call and Miss G just being her cute self - we were *busy* to say the least!

From 17 Dec - we loaded up the Outback, dropped the dog at the kennels and off we went on our north island adventures! But, more of that below.

Here is a review of 2011:

January
*Miss G arrived!

*(My) mom was here for 7 weeks!

February
*Dad and Brother came down to NZ as well.
*Welcomed Sam into the family as he married my sister Jen in Palmerston North!

March
*Learned to make grape jam with my friend Annaliese. :)
*My brother stayed with us for a while. Had fun doing touristy things!

April
*Netball season kicked off!
*Auntie Tracey & Uncle Murray babysat Miss G while we went out for the evening!
*Had an impromptu Easter dinner with some good friends - was wonderful! Lots of adults and lots of kids - very crazy, but very cool! :)

May
*Released balloons in memory of Degen's 2nd birthday. xx

June
* Started back at work - 1 shift/week.

July
*Started back at Nursing school - year 2!

August
*Helped friends move into their new house.

September
*Celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary.

October
*Edan's brother - Blair's and Joanne's wedding in Tauranga. Welcomed Jo into the whanau!

November
*Began surgical placement - LOVED it!
*Competed in the Taupo Cycle Relay - with Megan and Nicola!

December
* Spent week in Rotorua in memory of Degen, courtesy of the Ronald McDonald House Charity. Had a wonderful time! Saw the lions, G and Edan went for a helicopter ride, walked thru the redwoods, explored the Buried village, wandered the shopping centres of Rotorua, played on the luge and enjoyed the thermal areas.

*Spent Christmas eve and morning with Jen & Sam in Taupo. Miss G loved the lake!

*Had fun spending time with the family in Tauranga/Papamoa. Enjoyed the beaches, shopping, learning to play bowls and just relaxing!

This was actually really hard to remember the year! I had to check my calendar to see what has gone on! :) I'm sure lots more has gone on - and obviously it has - I just can't remember dates or details!

Here's to a great 2012!

Things I'm Loving - 19 November

Things I'm Loving - 19 November...

I'm loving the Handmade Tilda Christmas Swap I just participated in. I didn't know Tilda existed until now and I LOVE it! :) So cute! And such fun ideas for Christmas, etc. Yay! 

I was paired with Fiona, who I might add, is a brilliant sewer!! Her work is gorgeous - so I was sooo excited to see what she had sent me. I was too excited so I opened the package before I even got into the house! I can't wait to start on the next Tilda project courtesy of Fiona. :) Love, love, love! Thank you so much! 

Gorgeous angel wings. 

Beautiful, Beautiful, beautiful! :)

Now, my sewing skills are nothing compared to Fiona. But, I did have an absolute TON of fun making these cute little penguins!  I'm thinking I may have to make some more - aren't the adorable? I also sent Fiona some Kiwiana fat-quarters, jingle bells to use (on the penguins?) and some kiwi Pineapple lumps. Yum! Very, very fun swap! Will have to try another one at some stage! :)

And, of course I'm loving this little darling! 

I'm loving my placement - I'm in a great ward and I'm learning to much. Amazing preceptors. Loving! Four more weeks to go! It's going to be BUSY, but wonderful! First exam on Monday - better get cracking!! 

Adios! 

things i'm loving...

Linking up with Paisley Jade for Things I'm Loving...

I'm loving that I had trick-or-treaters today - a rarity in New Zealand. And, of course, I had no candy for the occasion... so, off they went with a bag of Pineapple Lumps I had sitting in a package to get mailed out tomorrow... Guess I'm off to the grocery store for more... ;-) And, quite possibly some more candy!! I really enjoy Halloween, and I'm sad it's not celebrated here like in the USA - but it is ever increasing! Now, to find a costume to put Miss G in for photos... 

I'm super duper loving that pretty soon I will meet this little bubba!! Can't wait!!! 

rosebud (27 wks), sissy, me and miss g (9 months)

And, I'm loving that my (3 hour!) mental health exam is over - and that I am off on (2) placement(s) til Feb!! Fun!