Money Cant Buy .......

Ok so this isnt my post - I stole it from stuff.co.nz, but I found it amuzing :)

Confirmation that Graeme Hart has kept his top-dog status as New Zealand's wealthiest person, with a fortune worth an estimated $6.5 billion, has got Stuff thinking about money - a lot.

Hart could buy about 40,980 white lions worth $158,600 each or Fiji, which has a GDP worth $4.4b.
But what couldn't you buy if you had Hart's billions?
Here's our top 10 list (post your own suggestions in the comments below):

1 - Richie McCaw
To the disappointment of hundreds of Kiwi women, the All Blacks captain can't be bought for obvious reasons - he is taken. And he's just too upstanding.
2- Class
As the old saying goes, you just can't buy class. We're not talking about the snooty Upstairs-Downstairs kind, but people who get things done, who inspire us to do better. We're thinking Nelson Mandela, Sir Edmund Hillary. You get the point.
3 - Google
How fun would it be to own the internet giant? You could take over the Googlplex, which comes with pool tables, volleyball courts, assorted video games, pianos, ping-pong tables, and gyms. Unfortunately, it's way over budget as the company is worth $192b.
4 - The FIFA World Cup
Russia plans to fork out a whopping NZ$25.8b for the 2018 Cup. The Rugby World Cup, by comparison, is a bargain at $310m.
5 - The World
No, we're not talking about the planet, obviously. Think smaller. The World is an artificial archipelago off the coast of Dubai worth about US$14b. Don't know if it's worth buying though, as the islands are reportedly sinking back into the sea.
6 - A property in Antarctica
Besides the lack of basic amenities, the frozen continent is protected by a treaty which prevents, among other things, military activities, mining and nuclear blasts or power.
7 - The Mona Lisa
Put simply, it's priceless and not for sale. You could, however, fly to Paris and wait in an excruciating line at the Louvre Museum to see it. Been there, done that? How about getting a Chinese jewelery collector's replica. The fake comes with 100,000 carats of jewellery.
8 - Dance moves
Not everyone can be Michael Jackson or Beyonce. Let's face it, most people look plain rude dancing. If you don't get the rhythm, you just don't get it.
9 - Health
Money and the best doctors can't stop nature from taking its course in the end.
10 - Love
Money can't buy you love (thank you Beatles). Unless, you're Playboy magnate Hugh Hefner of course. Oh wait. Runaway bride Crystal Harris this week proved he can't either.

Wanna know something interesting about that story..... I had to google who Graeme Hart was!

Rub-a-dub-dub

My husband thinks I am bonkers...

90% of people I know shower daily, I do not. I hate showering and will only have to do it when I HAVE to. I know what you are thinking EEEWWWWWW. But the reality is I bath pretty much everyday! I dont know where this strange craving came from. I think it might of been from when I lived with my friend Kylie. I lived with her in her own home and it was the cutest old villa. It was a 2 bedroom villa and I loved living there. It had its down falls, the floor sloped, the windows only shut on a good day, the kitchen was pokey, and the water pressure sucked. This meant that there was no shower! only a claw foot bath which took half an hour to fill! Luckily I worked days and Kylie worked nights so we had a litte routine and got it down to an art. So for a good part of 6 months I had a bath every night and I loved it!

Lately, our bath hasnt been working - ok the bath is working but the plug has not! We have one of those push down buttons instead of a manual rubber plug. And all this week it wouldnt stay down. I swear I was going through withdraw symptoms of not having a bath for so long! - luckily my husband fixed it or I swear I was about to flip out!

A lot of people tell me that they can think of nothing worse than sitting in a tub of your own filth - which if you roll in filth all day is disgusting. However,  I do not roll in filth all day so I have no concern about having a bath.

In fact it has been proven that having a long hot soak actually has health and wellness benefits. Such benefits inlcude:
* Lymph node clearing
* Increased circulation
* Boosts immune system
* Reduces cramps and tension headaches
* Improves muscle elasticity
Not to mention the fact that it is relaxing, moisturizing and detoxifying.
There is also the psychological benefits - spending that half hour on your own in a quiet peaceful bath allows you to relax and unwind and clear your mind off financial and emotional worries allowing you to have a clearer head to tackle the world!

A good bath relaxes your mind, body and soul.

And of course you can add lots of yummys to your bath - LUSH is by far my most favourite place to get bath goodies from - Dont you just want to eat them! NOM NOM NOM

Same make you feel calm and relaxed, while some 'spice' up your day a bit. Then of course there is those that act as an aphrodisiac ;) I have my tried and tested favourites.

My favourite is The Comforter.
 

"This fruity bubble bar gives the feeling of being hugged by a jolly blackcurrant. When life is getting you down, crumble The Comforter under hot, running water for purple water and creamy bubbles. The warm aroma of cassis absolute is relaxing so relaxing that you’ll go to bed feeling happier and the world will seem brighter the next day."

And the Sex Bomb

"Jasmine- clary sage and ylang ylang to make you feel like a love goddess. The power of these aphrodisiac oils lies in their ability to relax you at the same time as warming your heart and other body parts. The ancient perfumers of the Mediterranean knew a thing or two about lurve and we're using the methods they used thousands of years ago for the same results. Whether you want to be calm for a big night out or a quiet night in- prepare to detonate a Sex Bomb."

And for some fun, I love the Space Girl - I think I love this one cos it releases glitter in the bath and what girl doesnt love glitter?



"Here comes a ballistic of astronomical proportions. We were inspired by The Imagined Village's intriguing interpretation of Space Girl from their second album, Empire & Love. It's shaped like Saturn with added space dust for our alien friends, and the refreshing scent of blackcurrant sweeties will make you hungry for your own space adventures. Space Girl is stellar, just remember your blaster and your freezer gun."

*sigh* I just want to go home and jump in the bath right now..................

Anybody else obsessed with baths as much as me?



Mana

So lately my Friday nights have been stolen by Sports. First it was the cricket, then the Super 15 and now the All Blacks.

Last Friday night was no exception. The All Blacks were taking on Fiji ( I didn't even know Fiji had a team??? ) and because I live with 2 males (we have a boarder at the moment) I didn't have any say in whether we watched the game or not!

In hindsight, I enjoy watching the All Blacks play, I know some of them and actually understand a little bit of the rules - not by choice.

So the game started with the NZ national anthem and I was very surprised to hear the boys singing along. Then came the world renowned Haka. I don't have a single drop of Maori in me but I am 1000% a New Zealander. Every time a Haka is performed it brings a tear to my eye, my heart tightens a little and I feel a great sense of Mana, Pride.

The Haka has been performed by the NZ All Blacks since 1884, but wasn't adopted by the NZRU until 1906. The most famous Haka is "Ka Mate" - which I find to be the best as it shows the most 'blah' which is quite intimidating.

I was very surprised on Friday to see that Fiji also had their own 'war dance', the Cibi. Seeing NZ perform the Haka to the Fijians while they do their Cibi was amazing! I certainly could not just stand there while something that intimidating was going on right in front of me.

I am proud to be a kiwi and am a very big supporter of the All Blacks! Bring on RWC 2011!

I have an addiction....

Its not coffe, cigerettes, or shopping (ok maybe that last one just a little...) in fact my addiction is something much much worse..

I have an addiction to V. The glorious cool yellow taurine packed drink that makes you pee a million times more than you usually do and its bright yellow!

My addiction has gotten so bad that I now decide on where to go for lunch based on if they sell V or not. Petrol prices are no longer relevant. This has been taken over by the service stations stock lot of V.

I’m not a rock star or a extreme X-Games athlete, or even want to be. I’m just your run of the mill working woman that wants a taurine pick-me-up to wind out my workday. I wouldn’t feel so silly buying a can of “Productivity”. No, instead I have to buy “V!”. These things are more addictive than cigarettes. So, 

Our power bill went up this month and I broke it down in the number of energy drinks I just burnt. It’s getting out of control…. my power bill that is. Not my energy drink addiction.

Apparently being addicted to such energy drinks is an actual diease called Caffeinism (swear to god I did not make that up!

Caffeinism is a syndrome resulting from the chronic consumption of caffeine and addiction. The symptoms include nervous irritability, tremulousness, occasional muscle twitching, sensory disturbances, tachypnea, palpitation, flushing, arhythmias, diuresis, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Sounds like fun!

Any other addictions out there?

Friday Countdown - 22nd July 2011

So it seems that my blog is only about these countdowns! Therefore Friday countdown will become "Fortnightly Countdown"

Five things that I found interesting in the news this week
1) David and Victoria Beckham named their new baby girl Harper Seven. Secretly, I like the name Harper, its unique but not weird. The name was apparently chosen after the author of To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee. Which is apparently Victoria's favourite book. Come on you cant tell me she actually reads? Seven however, now that's just mean!
2) A $2million drug bust went down in the Wairarapa last week. It saw 17 people arrested and cash, cars and drugs seized. Although this is a step in the right direction for the Wairarapa there are probably 10 other druggies for everyone of these that got caught!
3) I don't know if this is considered 'news' but I was reading this blog about the strays in Rarotonga. Me and Cody were in Raro July 2010 and I noticed the amount of strays too, but it wasn't just dogs and cats but also groups of chickens, and goats? it was weird. I can totally relate though, I always feel so awful for the homeless dogs and kitties. I always tell my Levi that he should be grateful that he has a home and he isn't homeless. I cant handle watching those ads on TV for the pedigree adopt a pet drive....
4) So Justin Bieber has taken a month off to 'grow up'. Really? Just a month?
5) The NZ dollar is at an all time high. Usually if someone says that to me I'm like "and what". I never really understood how the markets work, or what a high or low dollar means.... until now :) What a high NZ dollar means is that we can buy stuff online (i.e from America) and it is mega cheap! Not so good for our NZ exports but AWESOME for a shop aholic like me, shame we started our $50 challenge next week....

Four things you don't know about me  1) I like the smell of my own feet
2) I can not stand anyone's feet touching me - this includes my husband!
3) I like popping pimples
4) I have a weird obsession with animals noses. Cat, dog, horse etc I just have to rub their nose ..... yeah I dunno

Three ways to eat an Oreo
1- Oreo Ice cream.
2- Oreo Martinis!
3- Deep Fried. Oh hell yeah! Anything deep friend makes my top 10 list!

Two TV shows I have started watching
1) Hoarders - Follows people who put my hoarding to absolute shame! These people have no idea. They keep EVERYTHING because it has a significant meaning. How much meaning can a empty can really have?

2) Geordie Shore - UKs take on Jersey Shore but way more trashier. They put 4 gals and 4 guys into a five star house together, with shared accommodation, and pretty much follow them around while they 'work' party and argue. Your typical reality TV show really except way more 'out there'. The girls are fake the guys are over muscled - pretty much a good laugh all round!
Screens Tuesday nights at 8.30 on MTV

One quote I found this week that I love

 "To the world you are one person, to one person you are the world"

Found on a tattoo of teen mom Kailyn Lowry.

Did you know?
Smelling bananas and/or green apples (smelling, not eating) can help you lose weight!

Can it be done?

So me and Cody are both in pretty good jobs and have got used to a certain level of living. Our weekly grocery budget is what ever the groceries cost. Beside the 'must pay bills' like mortgage, power, insurance etc everything else is just our 'play' money.

Well, that ends - right here right now!

We have decided that if we are going to start a family in the next few years then we need to clear our credit card and have some savings behind us. So..... we have decided that starting next week we will try and live on half of our 'play money'. Meaning that there WILL BE a grocery budget of just $100.00 and we will have a little bit of spending money each.

How much?
.
.
.
.

$50!!! That's it! $50 each, to buy lunches, entertainment etc what ever we want to buy. But once that is gone that . is . it .

It works in theory and means we will have heaps saved after just a few months. It will be hard but I am sure we are up for the challenge...watch this space!

Friday (Tuesday) Countdown - 15th July 2011

So I am a little late with my countdown this week, but I spent last weekend up in Taupo with sister-in-law and her family for little Lucy's 2nd birthday. - more on that later...

Five things I am coveting right now:
1) A  Nikon DSLR digital camera. These things take the most amazing photos, even if you have no idea what you are doing! And of course it must have all the attachments and all the mod-cons

2) A sewing machine - Random huh? At college I did a lot of sewing and was actually pretty good at it. When I left school I didn't do any sewing and kind of forgot I could even sew! It wasn't until our wedding when I couldn't find the perfect bridesmaid dresses that I decided to jump back onto a machine. I was quite pleased with the results and would love to pick it up again, even try a few crafts :o)

3) This NancyBird wallet

To go with my NancyBird Handbag

4) A harpers horsecoach. Its the best of both worlds! It means we can go away for weekends AND I can rock up in style to horse shows.

5) A SPA POOL - We spent Saturday evening at De Bretts in Taupo. I could of stayed in that thermal pool until I died. I was a wrinkly thing after not long but it was SO worth it. I am now super determined to get a spa pool!

Four things I DON'T want:

1) To pay for the frickken dog registration! Sonny, our lab cross is $74.00 per year and little Levi is $114.00 - how can he be considered a dog? AND cost more!

2) For this next release to start! I know its my job blah blah but this one is a tricky one and it will involve travelling to Wellington which I fully cant be arsed doing.

3) To hear that our house needs rewiring. We have been having light bulbs blowing left right and centre, and these are not cheap bulbs. The ones in the lounge are $12 ea and the kitchen ones are $16ea. The electrician is coming this week, but I am just waiting for the bad news that he will have to do major wiring work which means.......$$$$$$$

4) To catch the cold my niece had in the weekend. Boogery noses, snuffling, sore throats - YUCK. I have just shaken a bad cold and DO NOT want another one! eeewww even looking at this photo makes me wanna barf....

Three things I am happy about:

1) My little sister got a paying job at the Vet Clinic she has been doing work experience at while she is studying to be a vet nurse. YAY FRANCIE

2) I had my yearly performance review and it came out really good! I have another pay increase coming :o)

3) I get to have a weekend away with me girls! Spending 2 nights up the mountain attempting to ski in Ohakune.

Me ----->

Two things I am sad about:

1) There are changes happening at work. A restructure. Which means some people will be loosing their jobs :( one guy has just relocated his family down to Wellington from the far north. He has 3 kids with one on the way.....looks like his job is gone.

2) I had to withdraw from my paper. I have enrolled in another one, but it means that I wont be finishing my diploma when I expected. I will still be finished by the end of the year but I still feel like I have let myself down :(

On thing I learnt this week:

Do not buy anything for full price. I can pretty much guarantee it will be on sale the next day.

Did you know:

More than 10 people a year are killed by a vending machine! wwwhhhaaattt??

Friday Countdown

So as a regular blog stalker and because I cant think of anything better.....I am going to do a Friday countdown every week. I have even added my own 'Did you know??' part :)
I will attempt to put a photo for each topic

So to kick off....

Five Things I Am Thankful For:
1) My Husband - He keeps me grounded, reminds me to think long term, I am a very here and now person. Once an idea is in my head then I go into attack mode. He keeps me on track
2) My job - I know that sounds weird but I am very thankful for having a secure and well paying job with the way things have been going in the economy lately. Plus living in a small town dosent exaclty have the high class jobs as a city would
3) That I get along well with Codys family. I was just reading a post on my wedding forum about a poor girl who is having the worst time trying to plan her wedding because her and her fiance's mother just cant seem to see eye to eye on ANYTHING. I am thankful for K and W being such awesome inlaws :o)
4) V. I am thankful to the person who created this magical potion. It is my saviour and is the only thing that gets me through the day .... *sigh*
5) The internet, in particular, Google. I honestly dont know how society functioned before this great invention. I use Google more than anyone! For pictures for documents or just random info :)

Four Things That Got Me Thinking This Week:
1) That an 79 year old lady can die in her home and nobody notices she is missing for 8 years!
2) Is the end really near? With all the terrible qukaes in Christchurch and numerous aftershocks there have also been substantial quakes in Auckland, Raoul Island, Porangahua, Seddon, Taupo, Arthurs Pass, and Castlepoint! There have been 30 earthquakes ranging from 2.9 to 7.6 in magnitude and that is just this week!
3) My latest little obsession is DIY. And I mean more of a DIY house project. I have been thinking for ages about getting a little old doer-upper that I can 'play' with and make pretty to off sell. But then I hear what Labour are proposing with capital gains tax. Is it going to be worth it? There was also mention of tax on farms and tax on the sale of shares - I mean really? No wonder people are wary to invest, why would you when everything you earn will be taxed!
4) Why didnt they come up with the idea of the collision biscuits earlier? I mean a toffee pop crossed with a mellow puff? This girls dreams have come true!


Three Things I Want To Accomplish This Week:
1) Finish off fixing up the area where our night stores used to be. We took out 2 night store heaters to have our new carpet put in. They have sat in our 'gaming room' for nearly a year! We finally got the electrain in to put them back but he pretty much told me they are no good :( so out they go! but this means we have gapping holes where they used to be. So this is my task for this week.
2) I wanted to accomplish making my final payment on my student loan - and guess what? I DID IT! It only took 10 years but that dreaded loan is history. This gives us an extra $160 per fortnight.
3) Get my studies sorted. I am one paper away from completing my Diploma of Financial Services. I just need to get this final paper sorted and then I AM DONE

Two Things I Am Sad About:
1) The property market - we had our lovely home appraised this week. We are really wanting to get into a lifestyle property. Our house will sell in the current market for less than we paid for it. And we have done so much to it. It is really disheartening when you put so much love and soul into your home only for someone to tell you it worthless :(
2) A friend of mine recently told me that her and her partner are thinking of moving away. It is the best decision for them and I think I am secretly jealous of them, but I am still sad that she is moving.....

One Random Thing:
I swear to god I just saw Christina from Greys Anatomy on the street, and thats not exactly a face you can mis-take!

Did you know??

That hippo milk is pink!



Awwww how cute is this little guy? - Totally WANT

5 Month Anniversary

So yesterday marked our 5 month anniversary.

Whats changed? well nothing really. My signature is now 4 letters longer and a lot more loopier. I get to call Cody my HUSBAND instead of partner - which I was always dodge about because the word 'partner' instantly makes me think of lesbians, which Im not, not that I have anything against lesbians. (Go The L-Word)

Mail comes to "Mr and Mrs" which secretly giggle about everytime I clear the mailbox.

But apart from that nothings changed and we tick on...

Pre-Wedding History

The story of how we meet isnt a fairy tale story. We met at our local bar one Friday night in November 2006. It started off as a casual relationship with Cody due to head to Aussie in June 2007 indefinetly.


But 6months later he was standing on my doorstep, I guess he just couldnt stay away :p things started off slowly .... but surely. We moved in together relatively quickly and life went on.

Then in July 2008 we purchased our first house! It was time to leave flatting behind us and think about being a grown-up!

So life was ticking over in our new home with our little family.

Then the most unexpected thing happend!!!!

CODY PROPOSED!

On July 10th 2009 after quite a hard few weeks with work, Cody suggested we go to Nana Buchanans bach out at lake ferry for the weekend. I had not been there before so was very excited!! When we got there he said  he had to go bury some old fish - as Cody and his family are the fishing type I didnt think anything of it.

So he went down the beach on the quad bike to bury the fish and I put our groceries away and started the fire. When he came back he suggested we go for a drive down to the beach on the quad bike before the weather turned yuck. So I rugged up (as it was the middle of winter) with my big coat and my gumboots and jumped on the back and we went for a drive. It was quite cold so I buried my face in Codys back.

Then he stopped and when I looked up there was a blanket laid out amaingst the drift wood. There was a little fire set up and a picnic basket. As I sat down I saw he had a bottle of wine with some champange flutes, a box of my favourite (but expensive) chocolates, and little umbrellas for our drinks.

 At this point I thought he was going to propose but as the hours past by I thought maybe not.

After awhile he asked me to go get some more firewood - I thought "the nerve of him!!" I got up and started wondering around the beach. He kept trying to tell me to go over to a certain area because that was where the 'good stuff' was.

I started to head over to where he was pointing, and there hidden amoungst the drift wood, I found a pink butterfly box and straight away I dropped to me knees and Cody came and knelt beside me. I opened the box and inside was another pink box surrounded by rose petals. I openend that box and inside was the most beautiful ring and I heard those amazing words: "will you marry me?" straight away tears streamed down my face and of course I said YES!!!

We were both determined not to have a long engagement but also wanted a beautiful wedding so we came up with a date 18months from then (so we could save up!!) and came up with our date a few days later.

Cody wanted something he could remember so we decided on Friday 4th February 2011