I'm Still Here, I Promise

Far out!  It has been a very long time since I posted anything on my blog and I have received feedback that people are concerned I've stopped all together.  Rest assured, I have not.  It has just been a very busy year, which has seen me enter into a new kind of learning journey - my MBA.  This is my first year of a two and a half year journey and although it is definitely challenging, it is enjoyable and very fulfilling.

So to give some context, I enrolled in the University of Waikato and chose to study with the programme delivered through Waikato-Tainui College back in February this year.  My cousin Marian had enrolled in the last class, and she inspired me to take on the challenge.  In fact, if I am to be totally honest with myself, she asked me to enrol with her, and like many others given that choice, I took the “I’m too busy” option.  Two years later, I am listening to Marian deliver a speech at the annual Raupatu dinner, feeling so proud of my cousin’s achievements, when it hit me.  “Idiot! I should have done it”.  Over the next few days, I reflected on that decision and was overwhelmed by another decision I made, over the same journey.

18 years ago I was given the same opportunity from my manager at the time to complete an MBA.  At that time I struggled with the concept of investing in myself, over investing in my family and it definitely wasn't an easy decision to make.  My wonderful husband has always been very supportive of my career and development, but costs at that time was enough for a deposit on a house with additional means to decorate.  After careful consideration I felt the best decision for my family was to get our first home, and to date, it is a decision I have never regretted.

Reflecting on my second decision to postpone my MBA journey, I came to a cross road again.  Sometimes it is easier to brush off a huge challenge with the reason of “being too busy”.  Although my life was VERY busy when Marian asked me to join her on her journey, I came to the conclusion that if I am truly living, loving and learning throughout life, then my life will only get more demanding as the years go by. In 2016, the cost is still enough for a deposit on a first house, although in today’s economy, it won’t be in Auckland, Hamilton or in Ngaruawahia for that matter.  I just needed to bite the bullet and decide whether this is something I truly wanted to do and if so, just do it!

To date, I am thoroughly enjoying my new challenge.  Particularly deciding to study through the Waikato-Tainui College, and especially given that this programme demands the delivery of indigenous learning concepts.  This presents its own challenges for a MBA programme which is traditionally built around mainstream concepts and research.  There is an interesting debate on whether these concepts are relevant in today’s world, and my belief is that they are.  The maori population continues to grow and the maori economy will only get larger as time progresses.  If we, as a people, truly take our future seriously, we need to understand what that means today and tomorrow, then implement our own business concepts that are relevant to us.    They shouldn’t be copied from ideas and structure that is based through a non-maori lens.

I have formed some great friendships with my fellow colleagues taking the same challenge.  We have quickly shaped into a whanau who feed off each other in order to succeed.  More importantly, when times are tough, they provide me with the motivation to get over myself and get the job done.  What truly fascinates me, is seeing the evolution of knowledge and the growth occurring, not just for me, but within my fellow classmates and our tutors.  The environment that we are in at the college helps me tremendously to enable that to happen, because to me, it is an inspiration to always challenge myself to learn more, even when I may think I already know everything.

 

The view from my room when I'm in MBA study

Although I am not finished my MBA journey, I do feel compelled to shout from the rooftops.  If anyone is thinking about an MBA, then I highly recommend looking to do it at the Waikato-Tainui College.  The journey is absolutely 150% challenging and definitely tests your critical thinking, but the enriched learning you receive is truly uplifting.  When comparing feedback from people who are studying their MBA through the Waikato University campus, quite a few have stated that had they known about the college, they would chose that programme because the environment provides a sense of belonging and purpose.



Now when I reflect on my decision to decline the offer to study with my cousin Marian, I believe I still made the right choice.  It has empowered me and my cousin to create our own success and experiences as individuals, and although she has completed her MBA journey, mine is still on track. 

Happy learning peeps!

Wine Rack Makeover

In my quest to renovate my home, I decided I would paint our wine rack cabinet that we have had for over 12 years.  It is currently sitting in our hallway and is a lovely macrocarpa piece.  Unfortunately it didn't fit with my vision for the hallway.

Colour of choice - Annie Sloan Old Ochre with clear wax.   

Before - side view

Before - Other side

Finished product

After

The before photo's aren't very good, and neither are the after ones to be honest.  As you can see I painted the piece directly in my hallway using pieces of 4x2 and an old sheet.  Fortunately my hallway spans nearly 2 metres, so there's plenty of space to get past.  

The reason for painting the piece directly in my hallway is so that the temperature is high enough for the paint to dry quickly meaning I can finish the piece quicker in this weather.  I'm impatient like that.

This is a new colour I'm trying which is a creamy colour.  It goes so well in the hallway because where the piece is sitting needed some "light".  The new wine rack has provided that light now.

Happy learning peeps!

More & More Cakes

It's been awhile since I posted some photo's of cakes I've made so I thought I would share a few more photo's

Happy living peeps!

Vintage Scales

I picked these beautiful scales up on trademe for $10 and thought they were awesome.  It sat on my wine cabinet for a few weeks until I decided to give them a brighter lease of life.

Colour of choice - ASCP florence and graphite with clear and dark wax.

Before

First coat without any wax

Finished product

I love the ornateness and uniqueness of this piece.  Instead of painting the whole piece, I kept the face of the scales as a symbol of age of the scales.  I've fallen in love this these scales, so much so that I am holding back from collecting more pieces like this.

Happy living peeps!

Homemade Milk Bath

I made this wonderful bath mixture over the xmas break and included small packets of it in my normal homemade xmas gifts I do ever year.  Instructions are pretty easy.  Run a hot bath and include a cup or so of the mixture allowing the water to dissolve the mixture.  Hop in, relax and enjoy!!

If you don't have the flowers, then simply leave them out.  You can also experiment with different essential oils.

Ingredients
2 cups of powdered milk
1/2 cup epsom salts
1/4 cup of baking soda
10-15 drops of essential oil - of your choice
1/4 cup of lavender flowers

Method
In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients together.  Add the essential oil and mix thoroughly.  Add the flowers and stir a couple of times.

Store in an airtight container.

Happy living peeps!

Cabinet Storage

When we were looking at a solution for our AV equipment in our lounge, we decided on building a piece from scratch.  Gig made the frame out of steel so that the piece was strong enough to hold the equipment, then lined the frame with some old wood he had lying around the shed.

I painted the inside of the piece ASCP provence and the outside ASCP graphite with an attempt to dry brush with pure white.

During the painting process

The front of the piece

 

Piece in the lounge

I have to say that Gig isn't 100% pleased with the finished product, but I think it works perfectly for us.

Happy living peeps!

Strawberry & Feta Salad

This is such a easy and delicious salad.  The sweetness of the strawberries works so well with the heat of the rocket and the creaminess of the feta cheese.   

It is such a fabulous salad to serve at a BBQ with a nice piece of fish or steak or simply by itself with a nice glass of wine.

Ingredients
200 grams of fresh strawberries - quartered
100 grams of feta cheese
125 grams of rocket
1 x spring onion finely chopped
Salt & pepper
1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar

Method
Place the rocket and spring onion into a bowl.  Place half the strawberries and half the feta cheese with into the rocket mixture.  Season with salt and pepper. 

Just before serving, add the balsamic vinegar and toss quickly.  Add the remaining strawberries and feta, tossing slightly, but ensuring they remain on top of the salad for presentation.

Devour!

Serves 4-6 people

Farewell To Our Calves - Part 2

Reflecting on my post FAREWELL TO THE CALVES, time really has flown by so quickly.  Since that post, we decreased the number of beef we have,  achieved 5 more additions to the herd, and just recently sold them to our neighbour in preparation to the next lot of additions which we hope will arrive about August this year.

On top of that, we've learnt a lot about feeding the land so that it has enough nutrients to boost the grass production over the entire year.  This isn't a cheap exercise, but if we keep on top of it regularly, I expect the benefits in our beef will outweigh the costs tenfold.

We also gave haylage a try instead of traditional hay bales to help feed the stock.  It apparently has more nutrients than traditional hay because the grass is cut while it is still green.  Looking around neighbouring land, I only saw huge haylage bales which need a large tractor to transport around.  Fortunately for us, an old high school friend of my brother in law who lives down the road, produces smaller bales which can be lifted by hand and transported on a small trailer or a wheel barrow.  A great solution for lifestylers who want the benefits of haylage, but don't have the capacity to buy or need a full on tractor. 

I have to say that having beef on the land is pretty fulfilling and I'm looking forward to seeing how the next 12 months is going to bring.

Happy living peeps!

Waterfall Drawer Makeover

I purchased a couple of art deco waterfall drawers a few years back to place in the master bedroom to help with our storage problem.  As we have slowly started to work through the house to help address some storage issues, I decided to move these into my daughter Aaliyah's room.  

First thing is first though, I decided to paint them.  Although that wasn't an easy decision at all because they were absolutely stunning as they were.  Colour of choice ASCP Pure White & Paris Grey with clear wax.

Before

After

I am pretty happy with how they turned out.

Happy learning peeps!

Summer Fruit Syrup

I have had a number of requests come through to me asking about the recipe for the fruit syrup that I use on my COCONUT PANNA COTTA so thought I would post it up for everyone.  It's pretty simple and very very tasty.

Ingredients
1/4 cup of orange juice
1/4 cup of lime juice
1/4 cup of maple syrup
2 stalks of lemongrass, thinly chopped
3 whole star anise

Method
Put everything into a pot and bring it to a boil over a medium heat, stirry to dissolve the syrup.  Simmer for 2 mintues then cool, cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.

When you are ready to serve, strain the syrup, discarding the lemongrass.  Pour over your fruit and let it sit for at least 30 mintues to let the flavours mingle.

Alternatively you can poach your fruit in the syrup.  Just make sure to strain it properly before serving onto the panna cotta.

Happy living peeps!