Side Drawers Go Pink

So we are getting close to revealing Jayden's bedroom and part of the renovation is changing some of her existing furniture.  These bedside tables were in pretty good condition, but didn't fit with the colour scheme Jayden wanted.

You guessed it - they were painted with Annie Sloan Antoinette and sealed with clear wax.  This time I painted the handles as well.

Before

After

Both drawers completed with this small pot of paint

I must admit that I had some reservations about the colour but once finished the colour looks wonderful, even if the photo's don't give it justice.  (Note to self - work on my photography skills).

What I was equally surprised with is how little paint was used to complete them.

What do you think?

Happy learning peeps!!

Koroneihana - What Does It Mean To You?

Koroneihana or the coronation happens every year at Turangawaewae Marae and has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  As a child growing up, koroneihana was just something that happened every year ... and back then it was always in May and always when it was my birthday. 

Of course the koroneihana symbolises the succession of the head of the Kingitanga and the Kingitanga in itself has a more in depth meaning and purpose not just for me or the people of Tainui, but for maori as a whole.   In saying this as a young child, the deeper meaning of koroneihana was irrelevant.  Even as a teenager.  It was more about people coming together to celebrate collectively as one.  It was about seeing my cousins and building long lasting relationships with friends and whanau.  It was about experiencing an environment that encapsulated the importance of being maori and for my family, it was about coming together and making it happen.

I have wonderful childhood memories of the koroneihana.  My grandparents were always working the event, along with my mother and other family.  I would stay at my grandparents which was only 50 metres from the marae and there was a constant humming of people throughout the week.  

My grandfather - Binga Haggie was always at the marae, tending to anything and everything from unblocking the toilets, to keeping the boiler going, to being on the paepae, to attending distinguished dinners within Turongo/Mahinarangi.  If it needed doing, he was either doing it, or helping someone to get it done.  At night I would hear his name announced "would Binga Haggie please come to the office".  As a child, I knew he was at the marae, but where on the marae was always a mystery.  With so many people, it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack and when I did finally see him, he was generally in a place where as a child, I wasn't allowed to go.

My grandmother on the other hand - Noki Haggie would be working the netball competitions with her sister-in-law - Doreen Gregory.  The both of them would have their little caravan parked up on the sports field close to the netball courts at Paterson Park and be constantly announcing games/results or simply sorting out some controversial decisions on the courts themselves.  I always knew where she was if I needed her and resting in the covered caravan out of the wet and/or cold of the winter weather was a god send.  The only problem with reaching my nana was getting past the wardens.  In those days, you had to pay to get into Paterson Park and as a child, you wanted to save your money for lollies, not spend it on getting into the sports field.  Back then the wardens were really fast and fierce.  If you were fast enough you would jump the wire fence and sprint into the sports crowd and disappear OR we would climb the trees or hide in the shrubs until the wardens went past.  If they caught you, you got a good slap, and then you were taken to the wardens office to be collected by a family member.   In the earlier days, people were fined for not adhering to rules of the wardens.  Lucky for me, I didn't get caught.  Not because I didn't want to get it from the wardens, I was more scared at what my mother or grandparents would do to me.

 My mum - Maata McManus on the other hand was always away from the sports field and marae.  Her job was to run the squash tournament which generally happened from Tuesday night through to Saturday at the local squash club, across the bridge on the other side of the river.  As a child I didn't spend a lot of time at the squash club, because all the action was either at the marae or on the sports field.

It was a pretty full on time for my grandparents and mother and there wasn't room to look after the children.  On the Friday night I would be given some pocket money for the whole weekend, and the doors to my grandparents’ home was always open so that me and my cousins could come and go.  Of course budgeting wasn't a strong point.  I usually found my way down to the lolly caravan across from the marae where my oldest sister Tanya would be working with my cousins from Te Awamaarahi Marae.  I'd stick my head into the titi tent, which was run by my nana's sister Iti Rawiri.  Nothing like a hot fried bread to get the energy levels up and then off I would go with my cousins again.    The kimiora kitchen was always a hive of activity and as a young child, I would head down there every now and again to see my aunty Anne Berryman who ran the kitchen.  I never stayed for very long as it wasn't a place for children to be.

Back in the earlier days, my grandmother - Dorothy McManus also contributed to the koroneihana by cooking the overflow of food for Kimiora offsite in Horotiu.  She managed the cafeteria at AFFCO back then and the food would be cooked in "the cookhouse" and then transported to Kimiora to her sister-in law Anne Berryman.

When I reached high school, my involvement at the koroneihana changed and I found myself working the event itself.  Although not in Kimiora, or the sports field, or the titi tent.  My job was to help my mother at the squash club.  This involved running the shop making toasted sandwiches, burgers and hot chips.  It started Tuesday night and went right through to Saturday night, when Te Arikinui would arrive in time for the prize giving and then announce the end of the squash tournament.  Once she left, the squash club turned into a night club where everyone would turn up for a dance and a few drinks to celebrate.    

If I am to be honest, I didn't enjoy working the squash club because it was so far away from the marae and the koroneihana "life" I experienced as a child.  I wasn't even allowed to take time off to go and watch the famous league match between Turangawaewae and Taniwharau on Saturday afternoon.  Work was the purpose and I believed I was hard done by, particularly when my cousins would tease me and then come back that night telling me how awesome it was.

Eventually my mother passed on the reigns of running the squash tournament and she became involved in the mirimiri workshops during koroneihana at Nga Miro.  Everyone loved this and people would arrive in numbers to recieve a nice massage.  This was definitely something the kaumatua enjoyed.  I would venture in there every now and again to help her and if I was really lucky, I'd get a mirimiri from one of the other aunties - because mum's a little too hard for my liking :-)   

Upon reflection, change is inevitable.  Today the koroneihana is held in August.  My mum's role is a kaumatua on the paepae alongside my aging grandmother Noki and I find myself working within Kimiora kitchen.  The crowds are different today along with the activities that are run during the celebrations and the cooking facilities have been upgraded to be able to cater for the large numbers more efficiently. Regardless of change, I have some very special memories of koroneihana and more importantly of my wonderful whanau who have long passed from this earth but left their legacy to continue on.  Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu, Binga Haggie, Doreen Gregory, Dorothy McManus, Anne Berryman and Iti Rawiri to name only a few.  I think back on the times of first working the koroneihana thinking how hard done by I was, then laugh at my immaturity to not see the bigger picture.  The koroneihana has taught me many things.  If anything it's made me want to contribute to a much bigger purpose than just myself.   It has taught me to be a part of a purpose where my tupuna contributed so much in.  It has made me feel my own sense of purpose and in some ways - worth.  It's taught me how to balance my contribution with my work and whanau.  But most importantly, it has opened the doors for my future generations to choose to be a part of this legacy.  Whether they choose to be a part of it or not, is entirely up to the knowledge they gain and how they are taught.

This Wednesday 19th August 2015 will see the celebrations begin starting with the kawe mate o Tainui waka.  A time when we remember our love ones from the Tainui waka who have passed away during the course of the year.

Thursday 20th August 2015 is the kawe mate o te motu.  The day when we remember love ones from outside the Tainui rohe who have passed away during the course of the year.

Friday 21st August 2015 is Kingi Tuheitia's day.  The day when he succeeded his great mother and took on the challenge of leading his people.

On Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd August we continue with the celebrations with kapa haka performances and sports competitions from all over New Zealand throughout the weekend.

I encourage anyone who is keen to get involved in the koroneihana to come to the marae.  To me, it is truly an inspiring opportunity where I get to work alongside some of the hardest working bodies, and most intelligent minded people I have every come across and I am so proud to be apart of it.

Happy living peeps!!

Flourless Chocolate Cake

I have this wonderful chocolate cake recipe that was handed down from generations that's moist and chocolatey but considering my husband is living the paelo lifestyle, and both my daughters have food allergies, I had to go out in search of a more healthier option for them to enjoy every now and again.

My initial thought was, no one does moist and chocolatey better than Nigella Lawson and what do you know.  I came across this recipe.  It's moist, chocolatey and gluten free!

Ingredients
2/3 cup olive oil
6 tablespoons of cocoa - sifted
1/2 cup of boiling water
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of almond flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch of salt
1 cup of caster sugar
3 large eggs

Method
Preheat the oven to 170°C and grease a 22 cm cake tin with a little olive oil.

Place the cocoa, vanilla and water into a jug and mix thoroughly into a paste.  Set aside to cool slightly.

Beat the sugar, oil and eggs until pale.  Add the cocoa mixture and until combined thoroughly, then add the flour and baking soda.  You'll need to scrape the sides to ensure everything is well incorporated.


Pour batter into the greased tin and back for 40-45 minutes or until cooked.


Let cool for about 10-15 mins before opting to eat warm.


Serve with berry coulis and natural yoghurt.


Enjoy!!


Happy learning peeps!

Piano Stool Gets Revamped

So, I've been working on a few projects for Jaydens room and this one is a lovely little stool to match her makeup desk.

I picked it up at a second hand store for $2.  Of course one of the legs needed some fixing which I immediately thought .. awesome, nothing my wonderful husband can't repair for me :-)

Once superman (that's my husband) made his repairs, off came the original material and the painting began.  Colour of choice - Paris grey using clear and dark wax finished with a slightly shabby chic look.

I wanted something bright for the upholstery and because Jayden has chosen pastels in her room, I went with pink.  

What do you think?

Before

After

With the desk

I'm pretty happy with the final result and the pop of colour adds some personality to, what my cousin says "a repeative colour scheme"

Happy learning peeps!

The Benefits of Coconut Water

With my husband Gig living the paleo lifestyle and embarking on marathon running, he was struggling to find natural products to replenish his energy levels.  Particularly when you are running 42 kilometres.  His first "paleo" marathon was in Rotorua and he found some natural boosters made with honey and molasses and unfortunately for him he cramped at the 26 km mark.  Fair to say, he was very disappointed he couldn't run the whole way, but he did end up finishing the marathon, even if he walked/limped the remaining 16 kms.

He then told me he wanted to run the very first ever marathon in Queenstown.  My immediate reaction was he needed to find a better supplement and suggested coconut water.  He wasn't too keen at first, but I had read a number of articles of how beneficial it was.

Rule #1  It's a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood.  So basically, it's just as good as getting a blood transfusion.  In fact, I read that during the war, soldiers wounded in the pacific recieved emergency plasma transfusions using coconut water siphoned directly from the nut.

Rule #2  It has more potassium and less sodium than most sports and energy drinks and contains natural sugars as opposed to altered sugars found in sports drinks and energy drinks. It also has calcium, magnesium and phosphorous.

Rule #3  It regulates your body temperature, raises your metabolism, boosts your immune system, cleanses your digestive tract, helps regulate diabetes, improves poor circulation and helps treat kidney and urethral stones. 

Rule #4  It's got 0 cholesterol and is 99% fat free.  In saying this, I'm not a fan of fat free ratings, because in reality there are some essential fats that our body needs which has a result of raising the bodies cholesterol level in a good way.  But for those who love the fat free ratings and lower cholesterol levels, then this rule definitely fits in.

Rule #5 For those who struggle with dairy products, coconut water is a great substitute for milk and yoghurt in a smoothie.  PLUS it's a great substitute for liquid or powdered stock when cooking.  A can of coconut water can add huge benefits to a stew, curry and even a boil up. 

Rule #6 It's a great cure for a hangover!  Although getting a hangover isn't what I'm promoting here, if you do manage to consume a little too much than you should,  remember Rule #1?  Just like getting a blood transfusion.  

Rule #7 When consumed, it moisturises your skin from within and eliminates unnecessary oils.  It even has the ability to clear acne and tone the skin if applied to the skin.  That doesn't surprise me considering coconut oil has some tremendous benefits to our skin too.  I blogged about coconut oil in THE MAGIC OF COCONUT OIL.

Gig did find a coconut water that he liked and started filling his water bottles  on his training runs.  He noticed a tremendous difference in how his body reacted to exercise after that and he went on to run the Queenstown marathon.

From my own personal perspective, I've found myself cooking a lot more dishes using coconut water now.  I've even taken to making a smoothie prior to conquering the famous Hakarimata ranges.  I find my energy levels allow me to make it to the top with energy to burn to come back down, whereas before I struggled to get to half way.

If you find yourself wanting to incorporate coconut water into your lifestyle, I highly recommend it.  There are some expensive products on the market but you can pick up a tray at the asian market for less than $1 per can.  If you find you can't stomach drinking a can or bottle straight, then try smaller steps like I have suggested by using it in cooking. 

Happy living peeps!

 

Baked Salmon, Coriander & Apple Salad

It's the middle of winter and I have a huge patch of fresh coriander thriving on the conditions.  I blogged about it in CORIANDER IN THE WINTER.  This recipe works a treat with the fresh coriander as the salmon & other ingredients stand up to it's strength so that everything is in harmony and not one ingredient is overpowering.

As always, my dressings are generally just a drizzle of this and a drizzle of that until I am happy, but if you are more inclined to mix the dressing in a jar or have a favourite recipe then feel free. 

The bonus with this recipe is that it's very filling, very healthy and equally better for lunch the next day.

Ingredients
200 - 300 gms of fresh salmon fillet
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 clove of garlic - thinly sliced
2 sprigs of thyme

2 big handfuls of baby spinach
3 big handfuls of fresh coriander
2 spring onions - finely chopped
2 apples - thinly sliced
1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
2 large kumara cubed
1 red chilli
2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper 

Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C and line two roasting trays with baking paper.

In one tray, place kumara.  Lightly coat with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss, then roast for 20 minutes or until golden.  Set aside to cool.

In the second tray, place salmon on baking paper.  Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over the top following by a dash of olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cover with the zest of one lemon, sliced garlic and the thyme sprigs.  Bake in the oven (at the same time as the kumara) for 15 mins or until lovely and golden.  Set aside to cool slightly.

In a large bowl place spinach, coriander, spring onions, kumara, cucumber, red chilli, apples, red wine vinegar, juice of two lemons, a dash of olive oil and 1/3 of the cooked salmon.   Toss with some tongs until everything is dressed.  Taste for seasoning.

When serving, place the salad on a platter (or individual bowls), then break  the remaining cooked salmon over the top.

Devour and enjoy! 

Serves 4-6 people

Happy living peeps!

 


 

Old Desk Makeover

 So I purchased an old desk off trade me a year ago and my daughter Jayden claimed it in her room as a make up desk.  The desk itself was beautiful but it was missing some handles and needed some TLC and considering Jayden's room is getting renovated, it was time to make the old beauty over.

Colour of choice was Annie Sloan pure white and paris grey with a shabby chic finish.  On the drawers I decided to give decourpage a go.  There were a few quotes that Jayden wanted in her room so I typed them up they now sit on the front of her drawers.  (maybe the decourpage will be another post).

See what you think?

Before

 

 I must say that I'm really happy with the final result as is Jayden - although just quietly I don't think she's 100% feeling the shabby chic finish.

Happy learning peeps!