Guest Post: 52 suburbs around the world, Te Aro

In honor of our impending move to Wellington, I thought I would share with you Louise Hawson's truly stunning photographic journey of Te Aro, Wellington, as part of her series 52 Suburbs Around the World.

It's strange, the minute we announced that we were moving to Wellington, blog posts about Wellington have popped up all over the place, helping me feel less anxious about the move and more comfortable about getting out of my comfort zone.

But I am NOT looking forward to the cold and the famous crazy winds of Wellington. You can never get used to that. 

Louise's did an amazing job capturing the true essence and beauty of Wellington that I love and that you can only find by ditching the guide books and exploring the town yourself.

Louise's photos have made me look forward to the great coffee on Cuba Street, but Miss Piggy's Wellington posts have made me hanker for the amazing produce and cafes that it also has to offer.

 

Thanks again Louise for helping me really realise what a truly stunning place I am moving too (even if [hopefully] it isn't a permanent move).

All photos by permission of  Louise Hawson from http://52suburbs.com

Merry 2013: Zahara Dessert... 1 year on

The last sunset of 2012, Sydney, Australia

Happy New Year!

New Years Eve was the 1st year anniversary of Zahara Dessert.

I am not really sure how I feel about it.
I had very big plans for this blog when I started.
I knew I wouldn't tick a significant amount of items off the Life List, but I thought I would do more than what I was able to accomplish in 2012.

I just got busy, often I was lazy and think I was a little bit unmotivated.

Also 2012 was a bit of a crazy year for husband and I.
It often gave us lemons, but we embraced this crazy year and did our best to make lemonade.

I have very big plans for 2013.

Come February, I will be able to to tick #41 off the list 'Live and work overseas for a year'. Yeah!

As you know, we were planning for this to be New York, however as things in life often don't go to plan, it looks like our overseas destination will be WELLINGTON, New Zealand.

After losing his job, husband has been offered a years contract working in Wellington. An amazing opportunity for him as it means he will be able to continue to do what he loves and work on films that inspire him.

OK so not as glamorous as New York, but we still will be moving to another country for a year and exploring the wonderful things that Wellington has to offer.

As I have said before, I really like Wellington. It is a funky little town and I am really looking forward to spending a lot more time in New Zealand.

The move to New Zealand also means that I will be leaving my full time job after nearly 5 years and taking on a small part time role in Wellington. The upside to this is that I will be able to spend a lot more time writing on the blog and taking everyone on more 'Zahara Dessert' adventures. Which I am very much looking forward too.

I know 2013 will also be a year where I will be able to tick more things off the List, as we will be going to America on holidays, armed with my list. So again I am very excited about these and all the other opportunities we have to tick off the Life List.

Happy New Year!

Here is what I am planning on ticking off the List:

11. Have my current home/renovated home appear on Apartment Therapy/deecor8/or similar - I can't wait to find a new home and having a blank canvas to decorate and fill it with our treasures.
14. Learn how to take great photographs - New Zealand is very photo worthy
16. Set up a greenhouse in the back yard to grow phalaenopsis orchids - NZ will be ideal for this
17. Grow a veggie patch/orchard in back yard - So looking forward to a house with a real yard and garden
24. Get to my ideal weight and stay there (10kg less than what I am currently) - this is going to happen in 2013 (I need to look hot for my new wedding dress - see #30)
25. Be completely debt-free (mortgage included) - given we now only have 1 and a half pays, a mortgage and a rental, I need to focus on this for 2013.
28. Choose a good cookbook and cook every recipe in it - no excuses not to do this
29. Learn how to bake cakes (and not blame the oven) - this will continue
30. Renew our wedding vows in Las Vegas (Elvis style) - Look out! This is happening in May, 2013.
31. Buy a real Eames/Hand Wegner piece of furniture - might as well continue this search
35. Take a road trip through California and visit the Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Springs, San Francisco just to name a few  - this is happening in May/June, 2013
37. Watch the 100 Movies to See Before You Die  - might as well
38. Read Top 100 Books Of All Time - might as well
39. See a real Banksy on the street - the search continues
41, Live and work overseas for a year (plan for 2012 is New York)  - Wellington, New Zealand 2013

44. Pay off my credit cards in full and manage my funds a lot better than I have in the past - see #25
47. Go to Disneyland - hopefully get to do this in May/June, 2013
48. Sing Karaoke in front of a crowd - no time like the present
49. Eat much better (ie. less sugar, carbs and chicken and more fish and red meat) - see #24
50. Wear Lipstick over consecutive days (preferably a shade of red) - I still need to find a shade of red that doesn't make me look like a 'lady of the night'

51. Master my mother's eggplant Parmigiana  - I can't rely on her making this for us at a drop of a hat now that she is 2250kms away (or 1398 miles).
52. Master all my mum's Italian recipes  - see #51
59. Be more tidy and organized (may have slight hoarder tendencies) - This will happen
61. Live more sustainably (stop throwing food out) - I need to focus on this

62. Learn to stress less over unnecessary things (and consequently save on massage/physiotherapy bills)  - This also will be my focus in 2013
63. Become more organized and stop focusing on doing the fun things first  - If I want the blog to happen, this needs to be a priority
65. Get a tattoo  - NZ is the land of tattoos
66. Become someone that regularly exercises  - see #24
67. Find the perfect 'little black dress'  - might as well keep on looking but not until I tick off #24
69. Go back to Central Park in NYC and see the Alice in Wonderland statue  - this is happening in May/June, 2013
71. Buy an antique worthy of the 'Antiques Roadshow'  - am still looking
72. Go to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles  - this is happening in May/June, 2013
74. Go back to the Getty museum in Los Angeles  - this is happening in May/June, 2013
75. Learn how to put a full face of make up on  - I am getting better at this, but will continue my quest
77. Find the perfect Fajitas  - Either in Wellington or in America
79. Search for the perfect Margarita - Either in Wellington or in America (or at least go back to Spice Market in New York and have some more Ginger Margaritas)
80. Donate blood regularly Started  - I need to now find a blood bank in NZ and start donating

82. See Bill Cunningham at work/on his bike in NYC - hopefully we can see him in May/June, 2013
83. Finish the cross stitch project (that I have been working on for the last 15 years) - might as well do this while I have time to kill
84. Be able to afford a pair of authentic designer shoes and/or hand bag - Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik here I come! I need some glam shoes for #30!

2013 is going to be big and I am so looking forward to it.

Bring it on!

Sydney, I will miss you very much

[all images by Zahara Dessert]

#32: Renewing our wedding vows Elvis style on Pinterest

#32 on my Life List is renewing our vows Elvis style in Las Vegas.

It is looking more and more likely that this will be ticked off the list in May next year.

So in celebration, I have started a Pinterest board for the style of outfit I want to wear for the wedding (the biggest priority for me of course).

Take a look at the board - I hope you like it...
I can't wait!

#69: A sort of 'little black dress' purchase

#69 on my Life List is 'Find the perfect Little Black Dress'.

I have already put together an ode to the LBD and I am constantly on the search.

I saw this dress in Max, a New Zealand store I quite often visit when I am there (which has been quite often recently thanks to 'husband').

Max's essential drape dress

But then I saw this dress and I loved it!
Plus it was on sale - 30% off + Australian exchange rate (so it sort of fits LL #46 'pay off my credit cards).

Max's Climbing Floral Dress

OK it isn't exactly black, but I thought it was half way.

I didn't think it would suit me as it is shorter than what I am used to and I thought it wouldn't fit my wobbly bits. But I tried it on just the same and realised that it covers up my bits and looks quite decent on (if I saw so myself).

What I like the most about this dress is that it is so versatile. It can be a Summer dress but also work in Winter.

So I thought I would put together a mood board with some seasonal inspiration for the Climbing Floral Dress.

1) Ray Ban Wayfarers
2) Mimco Earrings
3) Mimco mesh adjustable bracelet
4) Mimco Molten Envelope Clutch
5) Harry Winston Canary engagement ring - not sure if it is an original Harry Winston
6) Rmk LeeLee heels
7) Tony Bianco Kallista heels
8) napoleon perdis lip gloss

And here is my take on Winter...

1) Pepe Jeans glasses - these are the glasses I wear currently when at work
2) Dream Tiffany engagement ring
3) Mimco Electro Envelope clutch (it's on sale!)
4) Zara Blazer
5) Tony Bianco Ajana suede heels
6) Ninewest Boots
7) Peter Lang Nadine neck plate
8) napoleon perdis lipstick
9) Leona Edmiston Pins

Now I need to figure out how I would wear it with what I already have in my wardrobe currently... as I don't want to buy any more given my credit card issues.

#75: Ode to Paris and the Pantheon

I have very happy memories of Paris.

It is where husband and I got engaged.

View from the top of the Pantheon, Paris

And no before you ask, he didn't propose on the Eiffel Tower. If he did, I would have thrown him over the edge (we were having a bad day = it was cold and we were tired after walking all day).

The Pantheon, Paris

We actually got engaged on the steps of the Pantheon and it was just lovely.

We topped off the engagement day by finally stumbling across the cafe we had been searching for for days,  Cafe de la Nouvelle Mairie. It is in the heart of the Latin Quarter and around the corner from the Pantheon... we had read so many rave reviews about it, we couldn't leave Paris without going there.

Cafe de la Nouvelle Mairie's produce is obtained straight from small rural growers rather than the traditional city markets. It wasn't touristy and the waiter spoke very little English. But with our very broken French (and some Italian and English in the mix), we managed to order the most amazing food and the most scrumptious house wine we had ever had (it tasted like raspberries!).


Moments before we got engaged on the Pantheon, Paris

Ever since we spent those lovely in Paris, we have been yearning to go back.
 

I want to visit the Pantheon again (for the memories and for the view - it is better than the top of the Eiffel Tower) and we have to visit Cafe de la Nouvelle again (that is if we can find it again).

This is why it is #75 on the Life List.

All images by husband

Let's make lemonade

You never know what life brings you do you? One day it is all plain sailing, the next day something crazy happens

You just need to make the most of the situation

Who knows what the rest of this year will bring?

We could be plodding along or maybe we get to tick #43 off the Life List and move to New York?

Who knows?

I hope it does, as I have at least 10 items on my Life List to tick off

So let's go and make lemonade...

Artist Profile: Abstract Designs

Window display at [image by abstractdesigns]

Recently I have been spending quite a few weekends in Wellington, New Zealand visiting 'husband' who is there working on a little film and 'Living the dream'.

Walking along Cuba Street, this birdcage window display caught my eye and I just had to go in and have a look.

Abstract Designs is a Wellington based company that designs the most coolest things with a New Zealand flavour.

I loved these card sculptures [image by Abstract Designs]

This birdcage was stunning [image by Abstract Designs]

I went home with the plain version of this Fantail [image by Abstract Designs]

I also really loved these stag heads [image by Abstract Designs]

A cute fantail wall clock [image by Abstract Designs]

The clock caravan was very unique [image by Abstract Designs]

I LOVE this grand father clock [image by Abstract Designs]

I absolutely adored this 'mock' grand father clock. I so want 'husband' to buy this for me, so we can put it on the mantel of our dream [imaginary] terrace house with a fire place.



[image by Abstract Designs]

  I also really liked these traditional New Zealand recipe cards.


I need to buy this so I can make 'husband' a Pavlova when he gets home (it's his favourite dessert!)
[image by Abstract Designs]

 If you are ever in Wellington go visit them or buy some of their works on their website.

Abstract Designs
125 Cuba Mall,
Wellington

[all images taken from Abstract Design: www.facebook.com/Abstract.on.Cuba and www.abstractdesign.co.nz]

Surprising Auckland Art

Recently I visited Auckland and discovered its Art Gallery. It houses a really striking collection of works, different to exhibitions I have seen before.

I really liked the Home AKL exhibition which had opened on the day we visited, it showcases the works of Pacific artists, most of whom now live in Auckland.


The lamps were stunning...shame I couldn't get a good photo of this work.







In the gallery foyer, there is an installation of inflatable flowers by Choi Jeong Hwa which I thought were just amazing. They mechanically open and close as if they were 'blooming'.



School holiday activities

 Below is some photos of other works I thought were beautiful or just interesting.



I loved this

Victorian Tales of Love and Enchantment was another exhibition in the gallery. The one picture that intrigued me most was Frank Bramley's, For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.



I wasn't sure if this little girl was cute or scary?

I also really liked James Pyne's Genoa From the New Terrace.

And a lovely day was finished off by a pleasant walk in the park behind the gallery.