Bodycare @ Redcliffs

For Christmas Isaac got me a spa voucher encompassing a facial, eyelash tint and full body massage at Body Care at Redcliffs. Of course, me being me I didn't actually book it in till now. But that's okay.

Anyway, I'd never had a facial before so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. But the lady there was lovely - we basically talked just about the entire time! And I never do that, not with the people who cut my hair or the doctor or anything. She was brilliant too. It was possibly the best thing that's ever been done to me.

I got to go into this darkened, low lit room and lie down on this bed with an electric blanket on and a duvet - both VERY good things as it was freezing on Friday. It was possibly the most relaxing thing I'd ever done. She just massaged, moisturised and steam cleansed. The massage in particular was VERY good. On top of the eyelash tint I got my eyebrows done as well, which was a change!

I wasn't too convinced on the eye tint as I'd never had one done before and I always assumed that they were really for light-eyelashed people so that they didn't have to use mascara. But apparently the tips of your lashes get bleached in the sun! Who knew??? Anyway, since Isaac had technically paid for it all, I got it done too. It's not supposed to sting unless you're tired or your eyes are particularly fluttery. Unfortunately for me, I was tired and it hurt like hell. Fortunately I only had to endure it for 10 mins. It was similar to chinese water torture - which I have never experienced.

But, my lashes did appear darker. And, as that was the only truly painful part of the morning I decided that it was worth it. That and the fact that my skin was so incredibly soft after it all. It was amazing! It all felt really REALLY good.

The lady that owns the place is lovely too. She was possibly the easiest stranger to talk to in the world. We talked about EVERYTHING. Her kids, how she lived overseas, how I found uni...the works!

If anyone is interested, the bodycare website is here. They have a range of gift vouchers, including one for men. Yes, for those in Christchurch iteself, Redcliffs is a bit of a drive, but there's nothing nicer than being pampered by the sea. It's totally worth the drive :)

I'm going for my massage on Thursday and I'm already looking forward to it!

I love holidays :)

ESPECIALLY when holidays are up in the mountains with a view like this!!! Pretty right? It's the sun setting over the mountain. First afternoon there we decided that a little walk would be timely so that we could familarise ourselves with the countryside...

Mmm...look at the view...
Heh heh...what a poser :)

Jennifer tries to find huhu grubs

We had no luck with the grubs - thankfully! - but I did manage to get a stunning shot of the broken tree:

See? Pretty cool, huh?
In fact, I got many, many pretty pictures :)

We were really on the hunt for an elusive river. I don't know how it started. But we heard it and then we decided we had to find it...

We did find it in the end but it was more of an alpine stream than a raging river...


"Four teenagers wandered upstream on easter friday in the Alpine village of Mt Lyford. They forgot to calculate for nightfall and found themselves wandering onwards into the dark...lost FOREVER."

Which is how our story COULD have played out. Thankfully we are sensible and headed home not long after the upstream trek!


We did have some gorgeous views out there though! It was awesome getting away from civilization for a couple of days. We walked and picnicked and slept in and read books and/or trashy magazines. Great fun!!!

And it's not half bad being greeted with a view like this at 9.30 in the morning either!!

We also found a playground...

Hehehe...even the dog managed the slide :)

Puppy!!

Our *ahem*healthy*ahem* picnic. (That's Cointreau chocolate right there!)

'Nuff said :) - excepting that my hair looks red - which it's not!

After much walking we discovered ourselves on "One Ball Track" (haha!)

So, am now home and tired. (Surprisingly!) And I should really get my "a into g" and unpack or do something. But instead am eating tinned spag and typing out cheesecake recipies from old editions of Next Magazine and waiting for the boy to come by.

Hmmm...a nap would also be nice!

Camp...or lack thereof

I've never had a year not being at easter camp over easter. Well, actually I have. But not anything I can remember. Which is weird, because the majority of my years have been not at camp.

But still. As I sit here eating lukewarm toast and drinking coffee I can't help thinking...this is much better than camp. Camping in tents has never been my forte. And at EC I'd probably have been woken up over an hour ago after having spent a rather cold night in a sleeping bag surrounded by teenagers. I wouldn't be showering, but I'd at least make the trek to the loos to do my teeth and face after pulling on tons of layers first.

Then I'd be surrounded my excitable teenagers all day long.

And that's fine. Camp is awesome and I've always had a great time there. Isaac and I probably wouldn't be going out if it wasn't for EC last year.

But I'm glad I'm home and heading out of town for the weekend. Even if it is a "family" event. It should still be fun.

And after the week I've had, I deserve it :)

April Fools!!! (Or a post about pasta...)

I made lasagna last week. And I took photos and totally forgot to post them!!! Haha. So here you go...meat sauce :)

Meat and pasta...side by side. Soon they will be as one. It's like marriage, really. Except with meat and veges and pasta. So, not really like marriage at all. Except that it's good. Um...yeah.
Mmmm...pasta and cheese and you can just see the meat etc peeking through. I'm getting hungry now!!!!

Almost complete. That is it for the picspam. But believe me, it was GOOD. Mmmm...makes me wish I had lasagna now. I have been in bed almost all afternoon. Hence the insane.

Also...check this out - I totally did the layout! Yeah!