Writing Process Blog Hop

So this is my first ever blog hop! I've seen a lot of sewing related blog hops but this one is about my writing process, which is haphazard to say the least!

 I was tagged by my friend Chloe whose blog is Wasted Fashion - I'm not sure how we met and neither is Chloe, but I do remember following her for some time as I thought she had amazing style. She was located in Singapore when I visited for the first time by myself I think I asked her some advice. She ended up taking time off work to spend with me and showed me much more of Singapore than I would have ever seen on my own and I will always be grateful for her kindness. She also  crocheted me a hat that looks like a cupcake and I'm not sure life gets any better than that! If you want more details of the blog hop they can be found here.

So here we go - lets do this blog hop!

1. What are you working on?

Well I generally have no idea what will come next on my blog! Unlike many other people out there I don't plan my blog at all. I basically have a few ideas floating around my head of what I would like to blog about over the next few days or weeks, but its pretty much based around what I've been doing or sewing lately or fun things I've done. I do have a lot more travel posts planned in the next few weeks  as I recently came back from holiday and hopefully at some stage my motivation to sew will return and there will be more sewing posts. 

2. How does my work differ from others in the genre?

I'm not sure I have a genre! If I do I think it would be a diary/journal theme? I've never really been able to keep up a real life diary - but somehow I manage to keep up a blog (I have no idea how).

Basically this is a place for things I've done and stuff I like and I guess that is a pretty big range of stuff. It's kind of a lucky dip and anything could turn up here at any time!

3. Why do I write what I do?

I do it because its fun! I do have stress in my life obviously - I live a lot of my life in quite serious pain, my job is rewarding but not easy so I like to have a place to focus on fun stuff that makes me happy.

Obviously stuff that makes me happy changes all the time but some key elements remain - hanging out with Rich and friends, traveling, sewing/crafting and exploring.

4. How does my writing process work?

In all honesty - there is hardly any process when it comes to my writing. I just think "what interests me right now" or "what fun things have I done lately" and I write a post about it.

I'm not doing this to get a million followers so I can live off my blog or anything. I'm mostly writing this blog for me! I am still  quite genuinely surprised that anyone wants to read it ever, but I'm happy they do as I've made friends all over the world from having this blog and that's pretty rad. 


Now its time to continue the blog hop:

I was meant  to tag three blogging friends, but I have only been able to find one person  to take part! But my one person is an amazing person. For one she is an ACTUAL writer opposed to someone just chucking stuff together like I do.

It's Meg! Meg blogs over at Cirque du Frock and she is one of the wonderful people I have been lucky enough to meet through the world of blogging - I even stayed with her and the Mister in Philly when I visited the USA last year. Meg blogs about her amazing sewing, I'm a person who needs to follow a pattern carefully and Meg is one of those people who seems to make something awesome out of a couple of thrifted finds - I wish I could do that! She also blogs about Philly, her love of My Chemical Romance and most recently drunken pulled pork sandwiches. I know if you like my blog you will love hers too.

Meg's blog will be up one week from today (Monday 4th August) and I'm sure it will be awesome. 

Hope you've all had a good Monday xoxo

UPDATE! My friend Louise from Polka Spots and Freckle Dots has also agreed to do the blog hop - as she is a "late entry" into the blog hop her post will be up Monday 11 August!

Sunday Botanical Gardens (& Space Dress)

Since we have returned from South East Asia its been COLD! Very, very cold. I've found myself unmotivated - I kind of don't want to do anything - including sew (I've got to get that sewjo back somehow).

Today Rich and I decided it was time to brave the cold and head out to the botanical gardens. It's not as ridiculously as cold as it has been and it wasn't raining and there was NO wind. So it wasn't that bad.

I was wearing my recently completed "space" dress so Rich suggested we take some photos by the Carter Observatory.

I recently finished making this space dress with a free pattern, I ended up changing the  neckline a little as the original neckline sat a little high for my liking.

 To be honest, I'm not crazy about the dress, maybe the print it a little much or perhaps its a little big. I just feel like something is a little "off". I think it will eventually end up in my pile of stuff for Recycle Boutique, but perhaps that's for the best. I don't like to wear stuff that doesn't make me feel awesome.

 Also unfortunately I made it a little bit short - its shorter than my shortest slip - opps!

I'm wearing a hat in this photo because it was freezing when we took this picture. I had already taken off my coat, cardi and scarf and I couldn't handle taking off my hat as well!

It was nice to see a few flowers in the gardens, even if some parts (like the rose garden) were totally bare.

The gardens also have some new tiles along the footpaths, which are pretty fun.

Finally we stopped off at the Lady Begonia House, which is a "winter garden" I guess. It's a great place to warm up on a cold day and has so many pretty flowers.

I hope you are all having a great weekend, mine was full of movies and the next couple of weeks will be full of movies as the New Zealand International Film Festival is happening!

Day two: Don't Mess with Melaka

The second day of our trip was more relaxing than the first, but only for one reason - it was mostly spent on a train to Melaka in Malaysia.

I'm always a sucker for a train trip! I love trains and we really don't have that many here in New Zealand. It would have been quicker to get to Melaka from Singapore by bus - but we opted for the train. It was a little disappointing though - you didn't really get to see much, it was all plantations.

The other annoying thing about taking the train is that it doesn't actually go to Melaka! So you have to get a taxi from the train station. When we arrived there was a chap only too willing to take us to our hotel in his circa 1970's BMW - it was a pretty amazing  vintage car, too bad it didn't have air conditioning. It took about 45 minutes to get to our hotel from the train station and cost about 80 riggit (about $NZ30).

We arrived at our hotel and it was pretty awesome - such a great room, staff and also look at that view (It's the Wana Riverside Hotel if you're ever in Melaka).

So if you're staying at Wana Riverside hotel what's the first thing you should do? Well check out the river OBVIOUSLY!

There were a lot of murals and street art along the river which made me so happy - I love vibrant art in public spaces.

One of the main reasons we decided to travel to Melaka on a Saturday was so we could attend the night markets, so we decided to head over to Jonker Street.

These tri shaws are all kinds of amazing - they are decked out in the most overly cutesy designs and when it gets dark they play music (usually horrifying pop music) and have lights too. Oh and there are a TONNE of them - its the thing to do around Jonker Street.

Sadly this place had shut down, well it was sad for me. Rich was relieved I'm sure.

By the time we got to the markets things were getting started, but they weren't really in full swing yet.

So we decided we would walk around and head back to the Jonker Street Night Markets a little later on. 

By the time we got back to the markets it was so busy it was impossible to take photos! But I did at least get a photo of my dinner. 

Making important adult life decisions.