Mel Homer
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You can catch Mel Homer on Easy Mix Mornings from 10am - 2pm on weekdays.
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A time lapse visualisation of the Christchurch quake, and all of the aftershocks. Extraordinary.
Christchurch Quake
Celine Dion is proving how healthy and happy she is with a photoshoot while pregnant..After some rumors on a French tabloid claimed that she was having pregnancy complications and was admitted to the hospital for emergency treatment, people started to worry.
Her rep then cleared things up and stated that the rumors were “completely fabricated” and that “She’s never been in the hospital – her pregnancy continues to be healthy and she feels fantastic.” Well now the singer is letting the photos do the talking for her as she has just proved once again that she is healthy as she showed off her baby bump in a photo shoot to be on the cover of a French magazine.
Glad she's feeling well!
That wine I bought online that seemed like a really good deal? Not such a good deal....
Note to self. Don't assume bottles will be of normal size!!
Grabone.co.nz is one of my fav websites - new deals every day for your town. It's great to see that todays Christchurch deal is for you to make a $5 donation to the Chc City Mission Earthquake appeal click here
Tomorrow it is "bring a bra day." The Girl Guides of NZ want your old bras to break a world record for the longest bra chain. All the details are: here
Two things kept running through my head when I was watching the coverage of the Christchurch earthquake on the weekend. 1 - How did no-one die amidst that carnage? and 2 - I'd better go and get the family a civil defence emergency kit. I've been far to complacent. Here are a few very useful websites I have found, where you can buy ready made kits. And of course a link to the civil defence site, which you should all go and look at - it is a wealth of information.
Civil Defence it
Survival NZ
Survive it
I guess they had to either laugh, or cry - Alvarados Restaurant in Christchurch has a sense of humour!
Alvardado Restaurant in Christchurch
Chris Martin showcased a new song during a surprise appearance at an Apple convention.
The Coldplay frontman performed new track Wedding Bells at the end of a press conference for the technology company’s latest products at the Yerba Buena Centre in San Francisco.
He performed, because Apple have helped them gain hit after hit in the states. Not because his daughter is called Apple. Yeah, right.
Jewel is one funny lady - watch this spoof of the Alaskan super band that could have been...Jewel and Sarah Palin..
Extreme Male Beauty. Watch as brit journo Tim Shaw tests ways to, erm, enhance his "winkle" as he calls it. I was going to go to bed last night, but this came on the telly and I couldn't look away!
Extreme Male Beauty TVNZ
Lionel Richie has a sense of humour. Check him out in this ad for Walkers Crisps...
Modern Family is a great show (off air at the mo here) and picked up Emmys yesterday. Here is the cast in a spoof of the show, featuring George Clooney!
SPCA cupcake day! I thought I was surely going to win the "unofficial" competition between Easymixers with these...see the white chocolate paws??
HOWEVER... Greg, who we didn't see as a threat, then came in with THESE!
And Ali got the prize for most alcoholic, with these...
This is a video especially for Sharon, from my Girls Night Out! She cries very easily. Sharon, I dare you to get more than 5 seconds into this with dry eyes!
Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow just gave their first interview together in 15years. Watch here, and a sneak peak at their new duet "Shame"
NIGELLAS HOKEY POKEY
Okay, now I obviously had to take a few of the "scrumptious" and "luscious" and "oozings" out, but here is Nigellas Hokey Pokey recipe. Unlike on her telly programme, she actually tells you here to leave it to boil for a few mins. So you won't have to try 3 times to get it right....
100g caster sugar
4 x 15ml tablespoons golden syrup
11/2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
Serving Size : Makes 125g
1. Put the sugar and syrup into a saucepan and stir together to mix. You mustn’t stir once the pan’s on the heat, though.
2. Place the pan on the heat and let the mixture first melt, then turn to goo and then to a bubbling mass the colour of maple syrup – this will take 3 minutes or so.
3. Off the heat, whisk in the bicarbonate of soda and watch the syrup turn into a whooshing cloud of aerated pale gold. Turn this immediately onto a piece of reusable baking parchment or greased foil.
4. Leave until set and then bash at it, so that it splinters into many glinting pieces.
Air New Zealand just come up with the BEST inflight safety videos...here's the latest for their domestic 737's. It's all about rugby.
P.S - I'd fly anywhere with Richie McCaw as co-pilot!
Tom's party on the weekend. A house full of 4 year old girls....
Here are the pics, as promised, of the cake and the cupcakes I made!
Jennifer Aniston recreated Barbra Streisand's iconic poses from Funny Girl and What's Up Doc in this month's Harper's Bazaar magazine, but even the diva herself noticed one thing was missing..have a look at the pics and see what Barbara herself had to say about the shoot:
Jennifer Aniston as Barbara Streisand
The ultimate website, that puts all of those great one day sales in ONE PLACE!
loveonedaysales
This video bought a tear to my eye when I watched it - in a happy, "ahhhh" kind of way..
Autotune gives me hope that one day I could be a great singer. Watch the new song thats taking the internet by storm....
What started as a simple expression of pure joy and beauty has evolved into an Internet phenomenon and a lucrative novelty song. The effervescent, which has racked up over five million views on YouTube — began spreading around this series of tubes after late night host Jimmy Kimmel tweeted about it a few weeks back. Shortly thereafter, the Gregory Brothers (who have also worked on "Auto-Tune the News," another Web favorite) threw some of their favorite vocal correction technology on it and looped the original narration to create "The Double Rainbow Song." And even though the tune has been available for free, it still managed to storm the iTunes singles chart late last week (it got as high as 74 on the chart, rubbing up next to perennial favorites like Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance").
The Old Spice man is truly amazing - he has spent some time replying personally to questions sent to him - on video!
The Old Spice “man your man could smell like” conquered the world with his hilarious commercials—and now he’s taken social media by storm, winning over everyone and everything from Perez Hilton to 4chan. He did it by gathering with a team of experts in Portland and producing 87 personalized YouTube videos on Tuesday and more than 74 yesterday, addressing everyone from Demi Moore to some random guy who wanted Isaiah Mustafa’s Old Spice man to propose for him.
The videos have been viewed more than 4 million times—quite an achievement considering they are still, technically, commercials, ReadWriteWeb reports. On Tuesday, the team averaged around 7 minutes to make each video, responding to fans, stars, and Internet celebrities from Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, blogs, and more.
Jewel goes undercover at a Karoke bar and sings her own songs! Have a look at it here:
You may have no idea who Isaiah Mustafa is, but you almost certainly know “the man your man could smell like.” That man is Mustafa, who—after relatively unsuccessful stints in the NFL and as an actor—found himself suddenly famous as the star of Old Spice’s latest ad campaign. His commercial quickly went viral. Below is the original ad, followed by the new one. Makes me want to go out and buy up truckloads of Old Spice!
Westfield and Trinny and Susannah have got together to create a new programme... Trinny and Susannah: What they did next.
Hilarious! Well done Westfield. Watch the mockumentary webisodes of what happens when Trinny and Susannah lose it all... a new one everyday.
Trinny and Susannah: What they did next
Here's the first one!
For more from Trinny and Susannah What They Did Next visit Westfield.co.nz
Larry King is retiring, so they've put together some of his best moments. Here's the one featuring Celine Dion. She's talking about Hurrican Katrina, and gets quite emotional. She crys, rants about helicopters and touching t.v's, crys some more and breaks into an impromptu song. Watch it below...
Man Flu. Without a word of a lie....
This is what my 6 year old did trying to get one of his Fiji hair braids out. Rather than undoing it, or asking for help, he ripped it out..... sorry the pic is small, got it from my facebook page, but it gives you the idea!
And here are a couple more pics from our Fiji holiday - My husband Andy and I, taken by our budding 3year old photographer, Tom...
Tom and Finn with Bua, Tom's best buddy from Fiji...
John Clarke pokes fun at the BP Oil spill...
Win a 10,000 energy efficiency home makeover, thanks to the government! Have a look at the link: here
Want to recycle your clothes and have a great afternoon? How about a "Naked Lady Party"
Naked Lady Party
Community gardens in Auckland:
Community gardens
Soraya Hendesi is the founder of Snowberry Skincare - the most incredible range of skincare products you will ever come across. Found at top end department stores around the globe, they're based right here in New Zealand. She recently visited me in the studio, listen to the full interview with Soraya, talking about her passion here.
Or visit their website Snowberry
Had jewellery stolen or lost in Auckland recently? Police have recovered 400 pieces in the last month and have put them on their website. Have a look at the police website here
Want to work out your real age, based on your biological body and how well you're maintaining it? Have a look at this site, it's great - there is a wealth of helpful, and useful information
Real Age
(I was 8 years younger than my real age! woohoo!)
I was talking about facebook privacy the other day - in case you missed what you need to do, have a look at this short video...
Somebody give this inventor a medal...
The guy who invented the anti-stink blanket to keep marriages intact—see the viral video in the gallery—talks to Salon and comes off as ... surprisingly normal. Frank Bibbo is a former biology teacher who now runs his own bio-engineering consulting business. He got the inspiration for the Better Marriage Blanket while hunting and decked out in chemical protective suits (from an Army surplus store) to block his odor.
"One time, I noticed that if I passed wind in there you couldn't smell a thing. And a light bulb went off." Bibbo concocted the blanket from the same technology used in gas masks, he tells Margaret Eby. He and his wife used one for years before he began selling it. "I mean, it's kind of personal, but you can probably figure it out. Between husband and wife it comes in really handy. I don't wake my wife up at night anymore."
I refuse to buy feijoas in the shops - they are everywhere! How can fruit and vege shops think they can charge 7.99 a kilo? So I went foraging last weekend, and found a tree in a local park. A map has been put together to help fellow foragers hunt for fruit all over Auckland, have a look below, and feel free to add your finds!
Urban foraging
What do you do when you're nervous? I bite my nails. Here's what it says about your personality:
According to Psycholgist Dr. Elayne Kahn, here's what your nervous habits reveal about you:
Biting nails -- You're hearty, friendly and likable and you pat people on the back for a job well done. You also like to work with your hands, baking bread or doing yard work satisfies you.
Coughing or throat clearing -- You want others to pay attention to you and what you say. You think carefully before giving advice to others. Words are important to you and you want to make sure they come out right. You are considerate and want others to like you.
Doodling or playing with a pencil -- you're creative, artistic and have lots of energy. You're also well-organized and often make lists of things you need to do or buy.
Grinding teeth -- you have a good sense of humor, and you laugh off irritations. You don't get angry when others are late and you're a good a listener.
Knuckle cracking -- You are very independent and you like exercise, contact sports and dancing.
Squirming & fidgeting -- If you can't sit still you're a person with a lot of different interests, a real go-getter eager to achieve what you want out of life. You pride yourself on being able to do two things at once - and do them both well.
Twisting hair or running fingers through hair -- You want people to notice how you look. You're conscious of your appearance, especially your hair and face. You believe in exercise, night courses and other forms of self improvement.)
Royal New Zealand Ballet dancer Jaered Glavin’s choreographic tribute to Lady Gaga is fast becoming a star in its own right.
Glavin recently took part in the RNZB’s annual in-house choreographic workshop. The workshop offers dancers the chance to try being on the ‘otherside’, to see what it takes to create a dance piece. They are given 12 hours over a two week period to choreograph something with their peers. It is very informal, but often a way to identify emerging choreographic talent.
Videoed by a fellow dancer and posted on youtube, Glavin’s work has become a worldwide hit, viewed more than 50,000 times in just 10 days - making it New Zealand’s top-rated youtube clip this month.
Heart disease is the nujmber one killer of NZ women.... have a look below for all the details on how you can help raise awareness this month:
goredforwomen.org.nz
Nothing says I love you mum like a post it - Today the largest post it note art this country has ever seen is being created at Whitcoulls Queen Street. From tomorrow you're encouraged to go down and write a note to your mum on one of the post its. You can read the notes here:
Post it note art
A woman who was responsible for one of the worst ever attempts at parking a car has been fined $500.
Tripta Kaushal was caught on camera as she tried to park her BMW X5 in the car park of a gym in Thornhill, Canada.
As the 62-year-old tried to move into a space, she lunged forward, jumping her car onto the bonnet (and to be honest, roof) of two other vehicles.
She then fled the scene and was only identified after CCTV footage was reviewed by cops, who presumably took some time to stop laughing.
A touching Google love story....
Want to make your own google search story? click here
The story of a man with a lot of time on his hands. He wants to draw every single person in NYC.
click here
For all those fans of tetris, pacman and frogger, you're going to love this! One of my faves at the mo..
More than meets the eye
Looks like a real force of nature? This pic was made using steel wool and moss. Artist Matthew Albanese raids the spice cabinet — and other areas of the home — for his series of super realistic mock landscape photographs. To see them all,
click here
Fancy making these for Easter?
click here
Our bodies are quite different in our 50's than they were in our 20's - take a look at this guide to what sort of exercise you should be doing, decade by decade:
Your guide to exercise decade by decade
This apple store is more photographed in New York than the Statue of Liberty...
It's hard work being a superhero...
I love Plunket, and to show my dedication I have dressed as a super hero today (batgirl)! Nothing says dedication like full lycra body suits!
The most extraordinary clip - a virtual choir on you tube. beautiful.
What is it with boys and Lego? Our house is littered with it, and I can tell you that it really REALLY hurts when you stand on a bit of Indiana Jones Jeep lego at 3 in the morning. Even drew blood.
How many boys/men around the globe would rate this as their perfect job:
A man who quit his job as corporate lawyer to produce artwork with Lego has become a success, with some of his pieces valued at over £10,000.
see his other creations, and read the whole story here
Sandra Bullock must have known about her cheating husband at the Oscars, and BuzzFeed has the proof. The look on her face—even captured in slow motion in the above video—as she was announced as the Best Actress winner says it all. If you’re still not convinced, compare her acceptance speech, during which she says nothing about Jesse James, to her fawning tribute just a month earlier at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
"Lucky people create, notice and act upon the chance opportunities in their lives. Being in the right place at the right time is actually all about being in the right state of mind." — Dr. Richard Wiseman.
If you'd like to read the very interesting article this quote came from, click here Go on, make your own luck...
A London teen's pitch-perfect, emotionally wrenching singing tribute to her dying mom has gone viral on YouTube, opening the floodgates for thousands of sobbing fans. Sarah Phillips, 16, recorded the song Autumn by Scottish singer Paulo Nutini into her cell phone just hours before her mom's death from cervical cancer at the age of 48. A friend later put music to it and Sarah found photos and film clips to make a video.
She told the Telegraph she decided to record the song before her mom died because she would have been too upset to sing it at her mom's funeral. "I had this song in mind as something really appropriate because there's a line that says: 'You still live on in my father's eyes,'" s. Her mom "was upset by what she would miss – weddings, having grandchildren," Sarah explained. "She would have been an amazing grandmother."
Go home and give your loved ones a big hug....
What a great wedding invite! A pair of self-proclaimed “geeks” have channeled the old-school, 8-bit likes of Super Mario and Donkey Kong to create an unusual wedding invitation—and invitees only get the details if they beat the gorilla-ish villain. “We knew that we didn’t want standard paper invites,” the bride-to-be/game character (you can also play the groom) tells Offbeat Bride. “We wanted something for people to keep and remember. We are geeks. We love video games. Why not have a video game invite?”
Chilean Earthquake people finder
5000 Naked people on the steps of the Sydney Opera House this morning. It's the latest art work by Stanley Tunick, well known for photographing naked people en masse. The crowd was double what was expected, and included a lady pregnant with twins who is being induced this afternoon!
The 10 habits of highly organised people. We all know that Oprah doesn't lie. Here is one of her inside tips on habits for those of us who would like (!!) to be organised.
Make peace with imperfection
Efficient people give "A-level effort" to the most important projects (say, work assignments or a kitchen redesign), and for the rest they do just enough to get the job done, says Renae Reinardy, PsyD, a psychologist who specializes in hoarding disorders. Maybe you give yourself permission to bring store-bought cookies to a school bake sale or donate a bag of stuff—unsorted!—to Goodwill. "Trying to do every task perfectly is the easiest way to get bogged down," says Reinardy.
If you'd like to see the other nine, click here
Want to get rid of those batwings under your arms? This is trainer Tracey Anderson, and according to Gwyneth Paltrow (I get her GOOP email every week) these moves are the biz. How Gwyneth thinks she has batwings is beyond me, though.
The 10 most interesting people you've never heard of. These people are truly fascinating.
click here
Fun with post its.
A twittering tree. What will they think of next?
A great article from Good magazine on how to go green this Valentines day: click here
Ever had trouble getting your sarcastic wit across in an email? Sometimes, if people can't HEAR you being sarcastic, meanings can get misconstrued. Fear no more, my sarcastic friends, a father and son team have invented the sarcmark. It'll let everyone know when you're being sarcastic, but will set you back about $2 US dollars, as you have to download the software to allow windows to recognise that when you push Ctrl + . this should happen:
Better than a smiley face in my book. I hate those emoticons. But you'll have to spend half your email explaining what the funny squiggly thing is.
We had a close encounter of the Orca kind while cruising this summer. Luckily my husband caught it on vid! We're on the bow of the boat, having just watched them swim right under us, when he hears a noise from behind him....
Norah Jones stretches her funny bone...
Just a normal day in the office, hanging out with my new best friend....
The literal version of Whams Last Christmas...
Very clever. The defining moments of the decade. Quickly.
Ah the Christmas Office Party. If you'd like all the scandal of one without a) snogging someone inappropriate or b) actually going to yours, try this link - all the scandal, and it only takes you 30s and you don't even have to leave your desk!
Christmas Party scandal
Heres what happened when I entered the easymix team's names in!
Stationery Stock-Take?
Tim turned up late after drafting in 'Santa's little helper' Mel to help with a late afternoon stock take of the stationery cupboard. It must have been pretty hard work counting all that tip-ex because they both looked a little flushed by the time the arrived.
Drinking Games
In what turned out to be an unwise move Raylene, Ali and Gael thought it would be a good idea to raise the stakes and play a drinking game. Well after only 2 shots Raylene was starting to get excitable, a further shot apiece and Ali and Gael were falling off their seats. The mess that followed saw Raylene dancing on the table while Ali and Gael tried to get the boss to join in. However spilling a pint of sticky lager over him leaving him with a wet crotch turned out not to be the best of moves. Those promotions would be put on hold now!
oh. That's akward. Here is Jan cover for Golf Digest.
Tiger Woods and President Obama share the cover with a cover story titled, "10 Tips Obama Can Take From Tiger."
The cover comes amidst the biggest scandal of Woods' career, and as Obama is set to address the nation on his decision to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
The two have enjoyed a close relationship, with Woods calling Obama's election "incredible," participating in his pre-inauguration ceremonies, and visiting the White House.
Golf Digest are not changing the cover.
I have a very subtle husband. When I sat down at my computer last night, this is what I saw...
Could you hang on a sec please....I'm busy on facebook...
3 ways to ease stress quickly!
Already stressed thinking about the busy time leading up to Christmas? Here are 3 tangible ways to ease it!
1. Go visit a friend in person this week. Studies show that spending time with a person you care about — as opposed to e-mailing or texting — will increase your level of oxytocin, a hormone that increases bonding.
2. If you can’t find time for a daily workout, make a smaller commitment to exercise by taking a 20-minute walk daily. Even this kind of moderate physical activity mobilizes endorphins, the "feel good" hormones.
3. Try this in-the-moment breath exercise, which will quickly access your body’s natural relaxation response. Inhale through your nose to a silent count of four. Hold your breath for at least one count, then exhale slowly through your mouth to a count of five.
Last year Google launched Project 10^100, a call for ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible. The response was overwhelming. Thousands of people from more than 170 countries submitted more than 150,000 ideas, from general investment suggestions to specific implementation proposals. Here are the top ones, a winner will be voted on soon:
Project10tothe100
Someone with too much time on their hands? A big coffee drinker? Look at what an artist has created in Sydney. Can you guess what it's made from?
Coffee! With different amounts of milk added to change the shades. Amazing.
Too much fun! Got something you need to put off for a while - a job that you really just don't want to do? Go and Yearbook yourself instead...this is what I would have looked like if I was at school in 1964...
or what about from 1992?
Tell the boss the minutes for that meeting can wait! Go and have fun with this instead!
Yearbook Yourself
"In case you hadn't realised, it has somehow become uncool to sound like you know what you're talking about," says poet Taylor Mali.
This is his brilliant take-down of, well, us: "the most aggressively inarticulate generation to come along since … you know, a long, long time ago"
Can money buy you happiness? A really interesting article from Good Magazine. Have a read here:
click here
A game for the news geeks out there! I chose Larry King as my host....
cnn challenge
Here is a photo from the Easymix Runway lunch last Weds.
Labour weekend - hooray! It's been along time between drinks, long weekend, and we're glad you're here. How about invite your friends over for brunch to celebrate - I've found a great recipe ideas site, have a look:
breakfast and brunch recipes
Randy Pausch would have been 49 today. He died last year of Pancreatic cancer. He has been called the dying man who taught America how to live. And his last lecture is credited with getting millions of people around the globe to rethink their lives. Truly inspirational, watch it below:
"The Last Lecture, achieving your childhood dreams"
The highlight of the night for 6 year old Finn at the Dove Pink Starwalk - meeting NZ's Next Top Model judge Colin Mathura-Jeffree!
Want to get on Twitter, but not sure what you need to do? Social Media site Mashable has but together a twitter guide book:
Twitter - the basics
The difference between 1st and 3rd children...
First baby: At the first sign of distress — a whimper, a frown — you pick up the baby.
Second baby: You pick the baby up when their wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
Third baby: You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.
For anyone with 3 children - you will totally relate to this! Read the rest here
my new favourite thing! The most incredible beauty products - have a look at their website:
Snowberry
New Zealand is yours. GO THERE. NOW!!
And that's an order. An old ad from the NZ Tourism and Publicity department. Advertising NZ's nightlife in the 70's. Erm, wouldn't most people have said "what nightlife?"
Very funny, have a look:
Steve Martin, comedian, and....banjo player. He's good. Check him out on Letterman.
This is great. Michael brenndorfer has set up a google map to show were there is free produce in NZ - Auckland city alone is awash (or should that be "aplant") with fruit trees on public land. Have a look at the map below, and add any that you know of!
Food map for NZ
Too cute! Sesame Street giving a nod to popular culture, taking off an ipod ad:
Mel's Farmer's interview 1
Mel's Farmer's interview 2
Mel's Farmer's interview 3
Oprah Magazine and Estee Lauder have come up with a very cool website - play with makeup looks on your face, or the face of a model. Lots of fun and actually pretty useful. If you want to try
click here
Too cool - sick of your boring old Wheelie bin looking like everyone elses? check out this website to zhoosh up yours!
Bin art
Nothing says romance like changing your status on facebook to "in a relationship". Mashable has created a list of the top 10 romantic social media finds. This is my favourite, the Disneyland proposal. My favourite in the way that if my husband had proposed to me like this, we wouldn't be married.
Have a look at the rest of them here:
Romantic social media finds
Here's a website I predict I will be spending as much time on as I do on Trademe! Iswish lets you swap clothes with other kiwis. It's definately going to be the new black. Check it out for yourselves...
iswish.co.nz
YOUR PURSE REVEALS YOUR TRUE VALUE
Ladies, purses aren't just for hauling your stuff around. Your choice of handbag expresses the kind of woman you are, says fashion co-ordinator Maggie Michels. Review the different purses described below and find the one that mirrors your personal style. Then read all about what your favorite tote is telling the world about you. I'm definately a retro carry all cross!
Retro -- You're a stand-out in any crowd. Rather than taking the conventional route, you prefer to blaze your own personal trail. Lead and never follow is your life-long creed.
Whimsical -- You're as colorful a character as your sparkly bag -- some may even call you eccentric. You're a dreamer who has an amazing ability to turn your hopes into reality.
Fringed -- You're as laid back as your casual shoulder bag. Unflappable in the midst of chaos, you can be counted on to find a commonsense solution with minimal effort.
Personalized -- Family is the staff of life to you, and you are happiest when you can gather them close. Meanwhile, you'll take them along for the ride when you're away.
Carry All -- You have an organized mind and a hefty bag that contains items for every situation. You can bind a wound, redo your makeup or haul out a snack for a hungry child.
Guaranteed to make you feel better about what you're having for lunch today! click here
She was an office manager, had a nice car, a husband, made good money...but she felt something was missing in her life. So, at over 40, Roz Savage has set out to row across the Pacific Ocean to highlight environmental issues. Read about her amazing journey here
Take a moment to watch this. And prepare to be amazed....
My Slip/shoes. I bought these on sale at No.1 Shoe Warehouse, thinking they were cute shoes. On closer inspection, I believe they may, indeed, be slippers. What do you think? Cool shoes, or mad lady wearing her slippers to work?
Now, I'm all for a doll that poos - there was nothing I wanted more than a Baby Alive doll for my 5th birthday. But THIS doll, I think, is just going a bit far. I know breastfeeding is natural - I breastfed all my children for a year. But I just think this doll is a bit.. well, a bit ewww. What do you think?
Time Magazine has released it's 100 best movies of all time list - how many have you seen? I've seen 22.
100 best movies of all time
Chris Brown is making a profit off of the viral hit “JK Wedding Entrance Dance,” which features Jill Peterson and Kevin Heinz and their entire wedding party dancing down the aisle to Brown’s “Forever.”
Digital sales of the song jumped from less than 3,000 the week ending July 19 to 50,000 for the week ending July 26. The “JK” couple and wedding party were even interviewed on The Today Show!
The video has garnered 12 million views and 50,000 comments. Check it out below! It's one of those videos that just makes you feel happy.
Look at my new bag! $10 from seconds on Enfield...I love a bargain.
And it even has pretty lining! If you can see it past all of the junk I carry around...
I found this on Ryan Seacrest's blog site. Who knew he was an expert on high heels? (Actually, probably not that much of a surprise). Here's how to stretch shoes that are just a tad to small..
Who said swimming was a boring sport? Have a look at this photo...
US Swimmer and Beijing relay gold medalist Ricky Berens tore the back of his swimsuit in a qualifying heat of the 4x100m relay freestyle on Sunday during the World Swimming Championships in Rome. Shortly before stepping up to the starting block, the University of Texas senior leaned down to stretch and his suit tore.
"I kind of freaked out for just a second," Berens said. "I felt like [the hole] was almost down to my knees. I felt like I was putting on a pretty good show."
He did. And the US qualified for finals and won
And you know what? Not one photo agency took a photo of his face!
Imagine the shock the Captain got when he moored in Vancouver and saw this on his bow! Apparently none of the crew knew it was there.
A CRUISE ship has arrived at the Port of Vancouver with a dead whale lodged in its bow.
The Princess Cruise Lines' Sapphire Princess was docked at the Canada Place terminal on Saturday with the whale still stuck to it.
The ship arrived on Saturday morning on its return from the Alaska run with the whale firmly wedged in the bulbous bow, the Vancouver Sun reported on its website. See photos of the whale here.
The whale's fin and part of its back was protruding from the water.
Lisa Spaven, from the the BC Marine Mammal Response Network, told the Sun it appeared to be a fin whale, a threatened species in Canada.
She estimated the whale was about 20 metres long.
Ms Spaven said the ship's captain wasn't aware of the whale until the ship docked at Canada Place.
It wasn't immediately known when the collision occurred, and Spaven said an autopsy was needed to determine if the ship had struck the whale while it was alive or if the whale had been floating dead at sea.
Gwyneth Paltrow has a website, www.goop.com see her roast chicken and potatoes in special Gwyneth fashion!
Sick of getting all of the personalised junk mail? Or those calls at 6pm just as you're trying to feed all the hungry mouths in your family? If you have ever bought a house, or registered a car, you are on these lists that get onsold to companies. But you can get off them! Got to the site below, click on "Do not mail" and "do not call" on the homepage, and you're off. Too easy. Why don't more people know about it? Thankyou Fair go for the info!
marketing.org.nz
Caught a bit of this on Breakfast this morning - this lady has some great tips! I'm going to do the necklace - coathanger thing..check out the 5 min interview here...
Get glam in 5 mins.
Staying in Sweden - this is a tribute that was done in the main square in Stockholm last week. Very cool.
Interesting! There is a group called the Harry Potter Alliance who want to take over twitter. For a good cause. Read about what they want to do. And ask yourself the question, "what would Dumbledore do?"
Harry Potter Alliance
While looking for some info on R.Kelly, I stumbled on this video. It's director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, X men) and his good friend Michael Jackson car dancing to an R.Kelly song. Brett Ratner and MJ. Who would have thought that they'd be friends?
I've found a great website that has online courses that are free! Learn everything from restoring old photos to starting a home business...
"hp learning centre
This is a cool tool on the web for anyone who wants to get fit and eat healthily. Which is all of us. Some of us (me) just aren't very good at it. This works out how much you should be eating, and gives you recipe ideas.
Energy Estimator
Buzz Aldrins rap about landing on the moon! With the help of Talib Kweli and Snoop dog. It's catchy!
The BIG big Wednesday tonight! Using the power of positive thinking, I have downloaded the booklet that lotto gives to all big winners... click here for a look. One day we might need it for real!
Want to get more out of Wikipedia? Try one of these great searches: click here
Want to read about 40 must have foods for the forty year old body?
click here
Want to save fuel, these great websites can help!
click here
Book week at my boys school this week - earlier on this week I was worried at how I was going to make their costumes - I WISH I'd paid more attention in form 2 sewing class. Here are the results.
Jesse is going as Ron Weasley, Harry Potters best friend. His best friend William is going as Harry Potter. Finn is, well, fairly obvious...Batman. Tom is just in it because he can't be left out. Holding his favourite toys. Daddys car keys. Actually, I have to admit that my husband made the cape. And batman came from Hong Kong. But I bought a very cool broomstick. It's just not in the photo. sigh. That was my contribution. And the chopstick/wand.
Want to track swineflu? this is an incredible website, updated multiple times daily which lets you see info about outbreaks around the world:
swine flu tracker
Who are the hardest workers in the zodiac? Click below to find out what it says about your star sign.
hardest workers in the zodiac
I caught a bit of Breakfast on TVNZ this morning - they were making Chocolate truffles with Avocado! Click below for the link.
choc truffles with Avocado!
Another memory tip! "What else was I supposed to do today?"
• Sing it. To remember a small group of items (a grocery list, phone number, list of names, to-do list), adapt it to a well-known song, says Vorderman. Try "peanut butter, milk and eggs" to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," "Happy Birthday" or even nursery rhymes.
• Try mnemonic devices. "Every Good Boy Deserves Favors" to learn musical notes. Make up your own device to memorize names (Suzanne's kids are Adam, Patrick and Elizabeth, or "APE"), lists (milk, eggs, tomatoes, soda, or "METS") or computer commands (to shut down your PC, hit Control+Alt+Delete, or "CAD").
• Go Roman. With the Roman room technique, you associate your grocery, to-do or party-invite list with the rooms of your house or the layout of your office, garden or route to work. Again, the zanier the association, the more likely you'll remember it, says Scott. Imagine apples hanging from the chandelier in your foyer, spilled cereal all over the living room couch, shampoo bubbles overflowing in the kitchen sink and cheese on your bedspread.
Very timely with the Big Wednesday draw tonight - what would YOU do if you won lotto?
Facebook etiquette!
"What the heck is his name?" Tips to help you remember!
• Pay attention. When you're introduced to someone, really listen to the person's name. Then, to get a better grasp, picture the spelling. Ask, "Is that Kathy with a K or a C?" Make a remark about the name to help lock it in ("Oh, Carpenter -- that was my childhood best friend's last name"), and use the name a few times during the conversation and when you say goodbye.
• Visualize the name. For hard-to-remember monikers (Bentavegna, Wobbekind), make the name meaningful. For Bentavegna, maybe you think of a bent weather vane. Picture it. Then look at the person, choose an outstanding feature (bushy eyebrows, green eyes) and tie the name to the face. If Mr. Bentavegna has a big nose, picture a bent weather vane instead of his nose. The sillier the image, the better.
• Create memorable associations. Picture Joe Everett standing atop Mount Everest. If you want to remember that Erin Curtis is the CEO of an architectural firm, imagine her curtsying in front of a large building, suggests Gini Graham Scott, PhD, author of 30 Days to a More Powerful Memory.
• Cheat a little. Supplement these tips with some more concrete actions. When you get a business card, after the meeting, jot down a few notes on the back of the card ("red glasses, lives in Springfield, went to my alma mater") to help you out when you need a reminder.
This is the front cover of the latest Time magazine - good isn't it?
If you want to read the great article on twitter, click here it's well worth it.
Want to make a calendar for your pc desktop? It's easy,
click here
This arrived in my inbox this morning....funny! Isn't it amazing what you can achieve with a digital camera and a few old stuffed toys..
You need never miss a really good bit in a movie again! Check out this site below, it'll help you time your loo runs...
www.runpee.com
Want better dreams? You can have a say on what goes on after the lights are out - click below for 6 ways to alter your dreams.
How to alter your dreams
How we sneeze could say something about us
Of all the characteristics that potentially reveal our inner selves, I never thought sneezing could be one of them. However, body language expert Patti Wood says otherwise. She did Benadryl-sponsored study of people and their sneeze habits, coming up with four types of sneezes that she believes are personality indicators.
The “Correct”carries tissues and is careful to cover her mouth when sneezing, meaning she’s respectful of others and likes to maintain a dignified disposition.
The “Supporter” tends to hold in sneezes rather than risk sneezing on someone, which indicates a quiet and caring character.
The “Expressive” makes a big production out of sneezing and often sneezes multiple times at once, possibly making her a showy and dominating person.
The “Driver” sneezes loudly but quickly, making her direct and forward-thinking.
Is this Auckland's best kept secret? For some peace and tranquility in the middle of the day, Eden Garden on the side of Mt Eden is worth a visit. Just stunning.
www.edengarden.co.nz
Great website tutorials
Have you heard of Videojug? Instructables? They are great tutorial websites that instruct you in just about anything. Want to learn how to install a window? Or make a Bob Marley cocktail? Click here to find out about 15 fabulous tutorial sites.
In a recent 60 minutes interview, Vogue legend Anna Wintour admitted telling Oprah she should loose weight for her famous cover! Apparently Meryl Streeps character in "The Devil Wears Prada" is based on her. Ice queen doesn't even begin to cover it..
Go on, admit it, you've tried the diet where you eat nothing but cabbage soup...or what about the grapefruit one. Here is a list of the 10 craziest diet fads of all time. Tapeworm for dinner, anyone?
Craziest diets of all time
It's time to be happy - here is a list of the top 10 positive emotions:
Top 10 Positive Emotions
Move over Jamie Oliver, what your language Gordon Ramsey, there's a new chef in town! Her name is Clara Cannucciari, she's 93 and the host of her own online cooking show: "Great Depression Cooking with Clara" I think she's delightful...
They say that acts of kindness go a long way, ever wondered just how far? Have a look at this website:
www.tag10.org
Sometimes I just seem to spend my days breaking up fights, wiping bottoms and making vast amounts of sandwiches (of which the crusts will be found under the sofa cushions 6 days later). Other times I feel like the most successful mother in the world, when my boys engage in conversation with adults, tidy their rooms without asking, or give me big snuggles on the sofa. How do you define motherhood? Have your say -
New Zealand is being targetted in an international survey that aims to provide insights into the reality of motherhood in the 21st century. It'll be online midday this Sunday. www.motherhoodstudy.net
Star signs - Be honest, we all had the "love signs" book when we were teenagers, and followed it religiously. I'll always remember the line about me being a trickle of water, slowly creeping into the cracks in my Libra boyfriend! Nice imagery. It seems that your star sign can also dictate what exercise you should be doing. Leos need to watch out for the old heart, and Cancerians should focus on watersports. Want to see what YOU should be doing?
click here
Can your blood type determine your personality?
In Japan, blood type is used to determine one’s personality and temperament. in Japanese women’s magazines, blood type horoscopes are published. In Japanese video games, blood type is commonly a dimension in character creation.
What Your Blood Type Says About Your Personality:
Type O
You are the social butterflies. Often popular and self-confident, you are very creative and always seem to be the centre of attention. You make a good impression on people and you’re often quite attractive. Organized and determined, your stubbornness will help you reach your goals. You make good leaders. Lovewise, O is most compatible with O and AB. Common career choices: banker, politician, gambler, minister, investment broker, and pro athlete.
Type A
may seem calm on the outside, but inside, you’re filled with anxiety and worry. You’re perfectionists and often shy and sensitive. Usually introverted, you’re stable and thoughtful. You make good listeners and are sensitive to colour and your surroundings. You like to be fashionable and are up on the latest trends, but never flashy or gaudy. You like romantic settings and often shun reality for fantasy worlds. A is most compatible with A and AB in the love department. Common career choices: accountant, librarian, economist, writer, computer programmer, and gossip columnist.
Type B
You can be very goal-oriented and often complete the ambitious tasks set before you. Outgoing and very charming, you’re good at reading people and providing support. Though critical of appearance (but not your own), you aren’t picky and are unlikely to dwell over the little things. Type Bs are impulsive individualists who often create their own path in life. You are very strong and optimistic. B is most compatible with B and AB lovers. Common career choices: cook, hairdresser, military leader, talk show host, and journalist.
Type AB
Not surprisingly, ABs can be quite dualistic, possessing both A and B traits. You may be shy and outgoing, and hesitant and confident. You often stand out from others, don’t like labels, and are nice and easy going. You are logical and determined to do things correctly. Usually trustworthy, you like to help others. You often speak in a serious manner. Your patience, concentration, and intelligence are admirable. AB can find a soul mate with any other blood type. Common career choices: bartender, lawyer, teacher, sales representative, and social worker.
I was talking about easy meal preparation ideas the other day, and I got this email from Treena - she has a company called slicedanddiced.co.nz This is what she had to say:
"We are a meal prep kitchen where our customers can save 20 hours of meal prep time a week by assembling their healthy and delicious meals in our professional kitchen. We have done all the shopping, menu planning and chopping, clients arrive have a glass of wine and assemble their meals then take them home and pop them in their freezer for the nights they are rushing. We even do the clean up afterwards! All this for less than $5.50 per serving."
Have a look at their website - it looks great!
Google is a great search engine, in fact, it's replaced the word search, really, hasn't it? We google things online..but if you'd like to try out some different search engines that could search more specifically for what you need, try these:
download any stuff uses Google in the background to pull out free mp3 songs, ebooks, software, games..almost anything which can be downloaded for free and is listed in Google. You can also narrow down your search results by clicking on different categories it lists on the search page.
Videosurf is an excellent video search engine which displays videos from popular video sharing sites like Youtube and Metacafe on one page. It lets you browse them visually and provides many ways to refine the results and watch the videos. Another cool thing about this site is the face recognition technology which it uses to point out the person the video is all about.
Docjax is a comprehensive document search engine which helps you to search documents in doc, pdf, xls and ppt format and uses Google and Yahoo in the background to show the results. You can also preview the document before you decide to download it.
Yahoo Glue displays results from various services on one page. It searches your query across different sites like Wikipedia, Google Image Search, Flickr, Youtube, CNN and different categories like audio, video, news, blogs, pictures and displays all the results nicely organized in different boxes on a single page.
Pipl is a great people search engine on the web. It searches deep into the web to unearth every relevant information which mentions the name of that person.
You're going to die the way you live
A friend of mine posted this story to her facebook page, and it really caught my eye. It's an uplifting article about helping people die in a good way. It also talks about Randy Pausch, who you may remember was the computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, who delivered his final lecture a month after learning that his pancreatic cancer had spread and was inoperable. The lecture was viewed millions of times on the internet, and was adapted into a best selling book. "We cannot change the cards we are dealt," Pausch, who died last year aged 47, told his audience, "just how we play the hand." If you'd like to read the full article
Click Here
Setting up a home office
Netguide has a great article on setting up home offices. Here are some useful links from it:
Smartdraw lets you download free floor plan software that can help you sort out your office space.click here
At www.tinyurl.com/micoff you'll find free training programmes for almost every programme that microsoft offers. So now you can brush up on your Excel skills in the privacy of your own home, at your own pace!
If you'd like to read the whole Netguide article, and it has some very useful links, click below:
setting up a home office
I love my Malibu Barbie circa 1978, but would I, as a grown woman, go to a store dedicated entirely to Barbie? Probably not. But that's what Mattel is hoping Chinese women will do. They've just opened a flagship shop in Shanghai aimed at females aged 6 to 60. Laura Lai, general manager of Barbie Shanghai says Chinese consumers don't know much about Barbie, except that she is a pretty doll. I think a whole shop filled floor to ceiling with blonde haired, blue-eyed dolls with an obvious boob job is a little scary! Here are some photos:
Who knew tinfoil could be so useful?
Got something delicate to iron? A sheet of foil can help straighten out, and do a few other neat tricks.
To get wrinkles out of silk, wool, and rayon clothes that can't take direct heat, place a piece of foil on your ironing board, then lay the garment flat over it. With the steam button down, pass the iron about 5 - 10cms over the fabric several times. Wet heat radiating from the foil helps smooth out wrinkles.
To get baked-on food off a glass pan or an oven rack, use dishwashing liquid and a ball of foil in place of a steel-wool soap pad, says Mary Findley, president of the cleaning-products developer Mary Moppins. It’s one way to recycle those used but perfectly good pieces of foil you hate to throw out.
There were some great April fools day pranks around the world - have a look at the "hotelicopter"
Google search tips:
Did you know that apparently we only use about 3% of googles capabilities? Here are a few search tricks you may not know about:
First, want to know what time it is in Paris, or Lima, Peru? In the search box, simply type “what time is it” and the name of the city.
Want to know ifa flight is arriving on time? Just type the name of the airline and the flight number, and you’ll get the departure and estimated arrival times. I typed in NZ1 and got all the details of that flight. Amazing!
Another great Google trick: It converts everything! If you want the number of teaspoons in a cup, the number of seconds in 2 hours, or how many kiwi dollars you’ll get for $50 US, just type it in and bingo, there it is!
Want information on a product? Type ALL of the numbers beneath any barcode – whether it’s on a book, a box of crackers, or a bottle of hairspray - and Google will provide links so you can research the product, or buy it. I tried it with the barcode from an old New Idea. It worked!
ShopSavvy is a great factory outlet website I stumbled upon - it lists the cheapest places throughout the country to get absolutely anything and everything! There is also a hardcopy guide, which I am giving away all this week. Have a look at the website, it's chocked full of useful cost saving info!
www.ShopSavvy.co.nz
The change of season has brought a bad case of the sniffles to this office! If you're struggling, try these eco-effective remedies:
Symptom: Coughing
Feel-Better Fix: Dark Chocolate. Just a square or two of this sweet treat can curb coughing. According to a recent Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) study, a natural compound in dark chocolate called theobromine was found to be more effective than codeine (an active ingredient in over-the-counter syrups) at suppressing persistent coughs without the side effects of drowsiness and constipation.
Symptom: Sneezing
Feel-Better Fix: Saltwater. Can't stop achooing? Consider saltwater. Researchers at the University of Michigan found this fuss-free mix was just as effective at stopping symptoms as over-the-counter cures. Dissolve ¼ teaspoon of salt in one cup of lukewarm water. Then, sniff up a bit of this solution out of the palm of your hand. Gently blow your nose and repeat this process with the other nostril. You can also use a bulb syringe (available at any pharmacy) to gently drop in the saltwater and irrigate nasal passages. Why it works: Saltwater naturally soothes inflamed sinus tissue while flushing out symptom-causing bacteria and irritants — making it easier for your body to heal.
Symptom: Congestion
Feel-Better Fix: Onion. "The natural sulfur content in onions effectively breaks up thick mucus and congestion," explains Lauren Feder, a Los Angeles physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine and author of Natural Baby and Childcare. The best way to employ this veggie's healing powers? Make an onion pouch. Chop off a few large pieces of any kind of onion, then stuff it into an old sock and securely tie, suggests Feder. Then, place this pouch near your nightstand or above your child's crib before bed, and leave it overnight to clear uncomfortable congestion.
You're going out after work and need a couple of pick me ups - try these:
Emergency: You need an instant breath freshener.
Fast Fix: When you're on-the-go, get a just-brushed-feeling by squeezing lemon juice into one cup of cold water and swish and gargle stale breath away, Citric acid in the lemon juice kills bacteria that causes bad breath and also breaks down food particles and tarter on your teeth.
Emergency: Your red lipstick looks awful on your chapped lips.
Fast Fix: To combat a dry, peeling pucker, mix up your own lip scrub, combine a pinch of coffee grounds with a dollop of honey. Dab on your lips, then massage in a circular motion. The honey draws moisture in while the coffee exfoliates the dead skin cells giving you smooth, lipstick-ready lips.
I went camping on the weekend. We had a bottle of wine with a cork in it! None of us were prepared, we're in the screwtop age, after all. Here is a vid of how to open a bottle without a corkscrew. This is not a member of our camping group! If you ignore the dubious hillbilly music, the way he opens the wine really does work...
I interviewed Kati Kasza, the founder of Evolu natural skincare products today. What an amazing woman, she started up the business from her kitchen table, and now it sells around the world. She offers some good advice for people wanting to branch out on their own. If you'd like to listen to the interview, click on the link at the bottom of the page.
Don't forget that we are also giving away Evolu Natural Skincare travel towers as part of our 5 star escape. You never know when it will be a bonus hour!
Here is a link to her website:
www.evolu.com
Ali and I had a great time at Skycitys Diamond Day as part of Auckland cup week last Saturday. The weather was gorgeous and so were our dresses! Thank you so much to Annah Stretton for lending them to us. Look at how beautiful they were:
- Ali and Mel.
- Ali and Mel.
- Ali and I with our lovely winners!
It was great to meet all of our Easymix winners - and congrats to Kym (on the end in yellow and blue) who won the best dressed competition.
Here we are with the small and perfectly formed racing ambassador Bridgette O'Sullivan. She made me feel like an elephant.
My little Tom. He wanted to come with me.
Isn't that dress beautiful? If you'd like to see what other gorgeous offerings Annah Stretton has, check out her website here:
Annah Stretton
Who's that on the screen??
Wendy Petrie stopped by for a chat today, she's nominated in the TV Guide Best on the Box Awards for best newsreader. We talked about kids, clothes, how she learnt the haka and Simon Dallow. What's it like working with NZ's "sexiest man" for 6 years running? Click on the link at the bottom of the page to find out more.
I've mentioned this site before, and have been meaning to post it on my webpage for a while. Here at Easymix we play Dido's song Don't Believe in Love, off her new album Safe Trip Home. To accompany the release of the album, they've commissioned top directors from across the globe to make 11 short films — one for each track on the album. There is even one from NZ, directed by Sally Williams and filmed in the Catlins. Here it is:
Sigh. Isn't it beautiful? If you'd like to see the other directors offerings from Mumbai to Bangkok,
click here
I had a chat with Jason Gunn today about all sorts of things...his nomination for the funniest person on T.V with the T.V Guide best on the box awards....backstage goss from Dancing with the Stars, and he dishes the dirt on Ali Leonard! If you'd like to hear the entire interview, click on the link at the bottom of the page.
Ahh the age of youtube - this video has made worldwide news. It's of a woman who suddenly realises she has missed her flight at Hong Kong Airport. She is, err, a little upset. And someone had the foresight to film it on their phone...Imagine sitting next to her on the flight she finally DID catch, a few hours later.
Places to pick your own berries
Remember picking berries and eating them straight off the bush when you were a kid? Nothing tasted better than a sun warmed strawberry. Or 20. Although they're getting harder to find, there are still places where you can "pick your own." Thanks to all the listeners who contributed to this list:
S.H 16 between Kumeu and Massey. There are about 3 places where you can pick strawberries
Kirkbride Rd Mangere. Strawberries
The Berry Farm Whakatane
Bell Road Te Puke. Pick your own blueberries
Somerfields farm Oropi Rd, Tauranga. Here you can pick raspberries, strawberries and boysenberries. The boysenberries are riping now and will be ready to be picked end of Feb!
The easiest thing to grow at this time of year, here is a great recipe:
Courgette Cake - from Digby Law's Vegetable Cookbook (one of my Christmas presents, thanks Mum!)
500g courgettes, trimmed and grated
1 cup oil
1 1/2 cups of sugar
3 eggs, well beaten
2 1/2 cups of flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup walnuts, chopped
Pre-heat the oven to 180 C. Line a 1kg cake or loaf tin with baking paper and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the courgettes, oil, sugar and eggs. Set aside.
Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt into a medium sized mixing bowl. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the courgette mixture.
Add the walnuts and mix well. Spoon the mixture into the cake tin. Bake for about 1 1/4 hours or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Allow cake to cool for 15 mins before turning onto a wire rack and removing paper.
Really yummy, even the kids will eat it! And we all love ways to get extra veges into them. Particularly nice heated up with icecream.
For more great courgette recipes, have a look at this website: www.thatbritishwoman.blogspot.com.
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If you'd like to do the same, why not volunteer some of your time to helping others. This great website has links to all regions and many worthy charities looking for volunteers to help, from shaking buckets at the Starlight Symphony for the make-a-wish foundation, to becoming a communicator for a stroke victim. www.volunteernow.org.nz.
Natural remedies for getting rid of flies!
My house has far too many flies at the moment, they are everywhere! I think there are more around than last year. Mind you, that could have something to do with the fact that I have 3 boys under the age of 8, one who is toilet training at the moment.
Try these natural remedies:
Cucumber - apparently flies hate it, job some up and put it on your windowsills.
Wine - Flies like a nice drop of Chardonnay. Put some in a saucer and poison it with dishwashing liquid.
Plastic bags - Many people swear by this. Hang a plastic bag full of water up in your house. Flies don't have the best eyesight, and with the light refraction the nasty little things think it looks like a spiderweb, and won't go near. Some say you need to put a coin or a piece of tinfoil in the bag as well.
I am going home to try some of these remedies out - you do the same and we'll compare notes!
