Im guest posting today over at She Likes Ruffles about health and beauty while travelling.
Pop on over and check it out!
October 31, 2011
Teaspoons on Honeymoon - Part 1 (Maui)
Wow, our honeymoon was the most amazing holiday we have ever been on! We could have gone anywhere and it still would have been fun! It was a great time to spend together, being freshly married, calling each other husband and wife, saying "Mr and Mrs Teaspoon" followed by a fit of giggles by me usually! Just generally enjoying the time together after the incredible high of the wedding and relaxing together after the excitement that prevented both of us from sleeping!
The unbelievable pool at our hotel
We spent a lot of time like this:
So, our honeymoon started on the Tuesday after our Saturday wedding, we were on the 6pm flight from Sydney to Honolulu, then a short flight over to Maui to then drive up to Kapalua and the Ritz-Carlton resort. If anyone is considering doing this trip, the 1 hour drive up to Kapalua is an absolute killer, try and find an alternative! Mr Teaspoon doesnt really sleep on planes and it was overnight, not the best recipe for driving on the WRONG side of the road.
This was the beautiful restaurant on the way back from the pathetic waterfall, Mama's fish house.
This is the view from lunch, it is pricey, but absolutely DELICIOUS
I went out on a limb and said this was the best fish dish I had ever had, if only I could remember the name, it was some rare Hawaiian fish, that wasn't Mahi Mahi.
Then there was more eating and lounging...
Enjoying our complimentary bottle of champers from the hotel on our balcony!
Now, the one 5 hours that we didnt spend together was when Mr Teaspoon went to play golf! Considering we were staying on a resort with a championship course where they start the US open every year he was pretty excited about playing there! We went up there the day after he played and the course and the club house could actually convince me to play golf if all the courses were like this!
Maui was amazing, it was such a relaxing week to spend with my shiny new hubby and it was such a wonderful place to go for our honeymoon! Stay tuned for Oahu up next!
October 29, 2011
Green Smoothie Fail
So, I dont want to ruin the ending, but this didnt really work out for me and I totally know where I went wrong. In the interests of completedness though, lets run through it:
Ingredients:
2 cups water
half cos/romaine lettuce
3 bananas
Simple enough right? So the instructions said to combine the water and the bananas first, which I did of course, then add the lettuce, which I did.
All seems to be coming along great until I tasted it and at first it was delicious, so I downed about half a glass of it in one gulp. Then the banana realisation hit me. My bananas werent quite ripe, they had that sticky mouth residue that you would have tasted with your first bite, but had been masked by the lettuce and the water. I had to have a big drink of water to get it out of my mouth. So, lesson learned - use ripe bananas!! Or no bananas at all, im considering a berry one next - the lettuce wasnt nearly as bad juiced up as I expected it to be! Does anyone have a good recipe to share with me?
In other news, the new blender was AMAZEBALLS!! A lovely wedding gift from Mr and soon to be Mrs W (AKA Bridesmaid M). Just check out these options, yes - one of them is a cocktail shaker, cannot wait to give that one a go!
Ingredients:
2 cups water
half cos/romaine lettuce
3 bananas
In other news, the new blender was AMAZEBALLS!! A lovely wedding gift from Mr and soon to be Mrs W (AKA Bridesmaid M). Just check out these options, yes - one of them is a cocktail shaker, cannot wait to give that one a go!
October 28, 2011
October Photography Challenge - Day 25 (Something pink)
Here is a different angle aswell on my beautiful pink cake stand which was a gift from my Mum for my Kitchen tea:
October 27, 2011
October Photography Challenge: Day 14 (Eyes)
Ok, so day 14 was not a great one for me, but here is my eyes shot, including the blood shottedness from a rough day in air conditioning and planes. Clearly im not wearing any make-up and another interesting observation... before this photo, I really thought my eyes were blue but they look rather green here?
October Photography Challenge: Day 24 (Animal)
So, this isnt a real animal but he is so darned cute I couldnt resist and I dont have any other animal models lying around except maybe the possum outside...
October Photography Challenge: Day 22 (Hands)
Ok, so clearly im really behind on this, but I am having some photography troubles... I stupidly keep taking photos without the memory card in my camera and I cant find the cable to get them off. Anyway, here is my hand (singular) picture, doing what it has been doing a lot lately considering my current studying schedule.
October 19, 2011
October Photography Challenge - Day 19 (Something Orange)
This makes me smile every morning when I drink my first morning tea. This was a gift from a lovely friend for my kitchen tea and it is absolutely beautiful! I love how the bright orange pops against the greys in our kitchen.
October Photography Challenge - Day 18 (My Shoes)
So yesterday I was travelling to Brisbane, I left home at 5:45am and returned at 8pm, so whilst I did take my photo the effort involved to update it on the blog was not worth it.
So, here is "my shoes" shot! Practical flats for a long day!
So, here is "my shoes" shot! Practical flats for a long day!
October 12, 2011
My first recipe post! Chilli con Carne
This is a big favourite of both mine and Mr Olive and it is useful for both summer and winter! It is super quick, healthy and very yummy!
Grated Cheese
Rice or Lettuce
Start off by roughly chopping the onion and browning it in a large pot or frypan.
Then brown the mince and once that is done, pop in the rinsed beans and nacho topping with a about half a cup of water. This is a good time to pop the rice in the rice cooker if that is what you are having it with.
Allow it to reduce down to a "chilli" consistency and then serve up with rice, cheese, avocado (mushed up) and yoghurt! In summer, a fun and light alternative is to serve it with shredded lettuce!
Ingredients:
1 onion
1 jar of nachos topping
1 tin of kidney beans (rinsed)
1 serve of mince meat (amount you usually use for 3-4 people.)
To serve:Grated Cheese
Avocado
Fat Free YoghurtRice or Lettuce
Start off by roughly chopping the onion and browning it in a large pot or frypan.
Then brown the mince and once that is done, pop in the rinsed beans and nacho topping with a about half a cup of water. This is a good time to pop the rice in the rice cooker if that is what you are having it with.
Allow it to reduce down to a "chilli" consistency and then serve up with rice, cheese, avocado (mushed up) and yoghurt! In summer, a fun and light alternative is to serve it with shredded lettuce!
October Photography Challenge - Day 11 (Something Blue)
Ah, something blue... I had so many choices, but one really screamed out to me, this little beauty! Love it so much! Cannot wait to finish this crazy uni study in 21 days and cook all sorts of goodies!
October Photography Challenge - Day 10 (Childhood Memory)
I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine, we met in about 1990 in Aspen, Colorado at none other than the Hard Rock Cafe! As you can see from his shirt, he probably needs a new outfit after 20 years. His name is Rocky and I still love him.
I liked both of them so I went with 2 shots.
I liked both of them so I went with 2 shots.
October 10, 2011
October Photography Challenge - Day 8 (Bad Habit)
This photograph actually encompasses two of my bad habits, the first one is quite obvious, leaving my wet towel on the bed after I have a shower! Then there is also the habit that I have to stay in bed instead of going to the gym!
October Photography Challenge - Day 7 (fruit)
Here we are, an apple in Madrid airport on my way home to my Day 9 (someone I love):
October 8, 2011
October Photography Challenge - Day 6 (from low angle)
I actually had a free afternoon yesterday and really managed to take more "low angled" shots than I could imagine! So, here is my favourite, these statues surround the gardens outside the Spanish Royal Palace in Madrid, they are of various Kings, Knights and explorers:
This challenge is really helping me to think about what I am photographing, trying to come up with creative ways of looking at things - would you agree?
October 7, 2011
Five for Friday
This is my first five for Friday, which I thought was a nice way to celebrate my last day in Spain and looking forward to heading home to my hubby this evening (even though i dont arrive in Australia until Sunday!).
1. You made me the most amazing breakfast before I went away and it was a Saturday, so that meant you also didn't play golf.
2. You call me wifey all the time and I love it.
3. You let me eat just the icing from our wedding cake instead of eating the whole slice.
4. You wouldnt go to sleep until you knew I was safe in my hotel, even though it was the middle of the night for you.
5. You support me 100% in everything that I do.
1. You made me the most amazing breakfast before I went away and it was a Saturday, so that meant you also didn't play golf.
2. You call me wifey all the time and I love it.
3. You let me eat just the icing from our wedding cake instead of eating the whole slice.
4. You wouldnt go to sleep until you knew I was safe in my hotel, even though it was the middle of the night for you.
5. You support me 100% in everything that I do.
October 6, 2011
Gifting the Party.
That is our bridal party of course! We had 2 bridesmaids and 2 groomsmen to thank in anticipation of their support, friendship and assistance with going to the bathroom (just the bridesmaids for that one!), which luckily I didnt end up needing on the day, with the help of Mrs Cola's lovely picture I was able to successfully navigate that issue alone!
Now, onto the point at hand, the Teaspoons had decided early on what we intended to give the boys, after we had seen it as a very handy gift at a wedding about a year before our wedding.
We had them engraved and the boys had fun with their scotch in them on the wedding day! So did some of our other guests, but thats a post for another day (or not).
For the girls, we had 2 gifts. This first one was very handy to keep them warm while we were taking some pictures on the day, I went with the cream colour to contrast against their bridesmaid dresses in Navy:
Now, onto the point at hand, the Teaspoons had decided early on what we intended to give the boys, after we had seen it as a very handy gift at a wedding about a year before our wedding.
Image via Dark Beige
For the girls, we had 2 gifts. This first one was very handy to keep them warm while we were taking some pictures on the day, I went with the cream colour to contrast against their bridesmaid dresses in Navy:
Image via Pashmina Gifts
Then I also chose something to keep them warm the morning of the wedding and help us all to feel more "weddingy" (its totally a word). You will have to wait until our recaps to see the final result. However, they were along the same vein as these little numbers:
Image via Exclusively weddings
Our bridal party were really happy with the gifts that we gave them, or at least they told us they were and they seemed to really enjoy them at any rate. we of course also bought Mr Teaspoon an engraved hip flask and I got myself an embroidered hoodie!
It was actually really fun thinking of the things to get them to thank them but also something handy that they could use on the day!
October 5, 2011
October Photography Challenge - Day 5 (From a high Angle)
So, I may have cheated a little and taken this yesterday, but as there are not really any strict rules, not to worry. Last night I went out with my colleagues from Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong to a 16th century restaurant for some tapas and sangria and the architechture was incredible!
Here is my high angle shot:
Here is my high angle shot:
October Photography Challenge - Day 4 (Something Green)
Something green! I tried to be a little different here and not just say - refer to Day 2! Instead I went with my second favourite travelling companion (Mr Olive of course being number 1!). Whilst it is currently 5pm in Madrid, the sun is still burning through and it is 32 degrees outside (about 94 F). So, I know you are dying to see the picture, here he is in all his glory, my little green buddy!
October 4, 2011
October Photography Challenge - Day 3 (Clouds)
So, many of you (particularly those who might have been in close proximity to me recently) will be relieved to know that I have received my luggage, just 24 hours after I was supposed to be reunited with it.
Alas, I digress from my purpose of this post, to deliver the cloud photograh:
This is at about 7:30pm this evening as I was walking around trying to find somewhere to eat in downtown Madrid (nowhere opens until 8pm FYI). The building on the right is the KPMG building, I thought it was a landmark until I saw the sign. Not to worry, the clouds are pretty!
Alas, I digress from my purpose of this post, to deliver the cloud photograh:
This is at about 7:30pm this evening as I was walking around trying to find somewhere to eat in downtown Madrid (nowhere opens until 8pm FYI). The building on the right is the KPMG building, I thought it was a landmark until I saw the sign. Not to worry, the clouds are pretty!
October 3, 2011
1 month down, a lifetime to go
So, today is our one month anniversary and I am quite possibly the worst wife ever, I am precisely 17,683km away from my husband (thats 10,987 miles for the imperial players). I actually used this website to work out that I am actually not that far from the furthest possible point I could possible be away from him.
If I dug a really deep hole from Sydney, Australia, this is where I would end up:
Yep, that would be just off the coast of Portugal, next to that is Spain, where I am currently spending our one month anniversary.
So, the Teaspoons did what any normal newlywed couple would do and dug the top teir of our wedding cake out 2 days early (ok, 11 months and 2 days early, but we were never going to wait a year):
Oh my, doesnt she look tasty? Well, im sorry to break it to you hive, it was so gross. Admittedly, we went with buttercream chocolate cake, so it was never going to work really well, but something went wrong - I made sure to follow the instructions on this post about preserving the cake, but I just dont think it was meant to happen. Ok, that was a lie, I didn't do squat - I forwarded the post to Mama Teaspoon and I received a lovely boxed cake a few days later for us to pop into our freezer. Moving on, quite unexpectedly, the icing on the other hand was AMAZING! I may or may not have kept cutting slices and just eating the icing... I cant help it, I love marzipan!
It was taking up an entire shelf in our freezer, so im kind of glad its done with to be honest, especially since it was not very yummy.
For the important stuff, our first month of marriage has been amazing, we hit the ground very firmly, as a friend described as a "thud" back to earth after being on Cloud 9 for the past few weeks. Going back to work was a shock to the system but its that much easier knowing im going home every night to my husband. I am ready to jump on board with the official name changing when I get back from overseas and then I think it will really sink in - Im still calling myself Miss Teaspoon, especially at work and on planes because nothing has changed there - must be fixed!
How did you celebrate your one month anniversary?
If I dug a really deep hole from Sydney, Australia, this is where I would end up:
Yep, that would be just off the coast of Portugal, next to that is Spain, where I am currently spending our one month anniversary.
So, the Teaspoons did what any normal newlywed couple would do and dug the top teir of our wedding cake out 2 days early (ok, 11 months and 2 days early, but we were never going to wait a year):
Oh my, doesnt she look tasty? Well, im sorry to break it to you hive, it was so gross. Admittedly, we went with buttercream chocolate cake, so it was never going to work really well, but something went wrong - I made sure to follow the instructions on this post about preserving the cake, but I just dont think it was meant to happen. Ok, that was a lie, I didn't do squat - I forwarded the post to Mama Teaspoon and I received a lovely boxed cake a few days later for us to pop into our freezer. Moving on, quite unexpectedly, the icing on the other hand was AMAZING! I may or may not have kept cutting slices and just eating the icing... I cant help it, I love marzipan!
It was taking up an entire shelf in our freezer, so im kind of glad its done with to be honest, especially since it was not very yummy.
For the important stuff, our first month of marriage has been amazing, we hit the ground very firmly, as a friend described as a "thud" back to earth after being on Cloud 9 for the past few weeks. Going back to work was a shock to the system but its that much easier knowing im going home every night to my husband. I am ready to jump on board with the official name changing when I get back from overseas and then I think it will really sink in - Im still calling myself Miss Teaspoon, especially at work and on planes because nothing has changed there - must be fixed!
How did you celebrate your one month anniversary?
October 2, 2011
October Photography Challenge - Day 2 (What you are wearing)
So, I am wearing the same thing I was wearing yesterday because I am in Spain and my luggage is in London - awesome!
One thing I am wearing though which I thought you might like is my amazing scarf, my now in-laws bought it for me in I think 2008 in Brussels or Brouge, I can never remember where. They bought me two, this greeny coloured one and I also have one in red/maroon tones and they are amazing! They go with everything and they are quite possibly the warmest scarves I have ever owned!
Did you see what I did there - I got all creative with the scarf and my point and shoot camera... Stay tuned, there is more where that came from!
One thing I am wearing though which I thought you might like is my amazing scarf, my now in-laws bought it for me in I think 2008 in Brussels or Brouge, I can never remember where. They bought me two, this greeny coloured one and I also have one in red/maroon tones and they are amazing! They go with everything and they are quite possibly the warmest scarves I have ever owned!
October 1, 2011
October Photography Challenge - Day 1 (Self Portrait)
Ok, so I was all proactive and all and took a self-portrait first thing on Saturday morning, and then left the camera at home, so unfortunately you will have to see me POST 30 hours of plane travel. Not to worry. I promise, the bags under my eyes are not usually that big, my skin isnt usually that blotchy, oh wait it is... im just not wearing any makeup. Although I did sleep for about 10 hours on the plane, it still feels like it is the middle of the night for me. Damn you body clock, who asked you anyway?
To add insult to injury, I am sitting in my hotel room sans luggage, which is still catching up with me...
Wow, cannot believe I am posting this.. not to worry, it has to all be up from here right? wrong.. Day 2 and I look the same... whoops - should I have said spoiler alert?
To add insult to injury, I am sitting in my hotel room sans luggage, which is still catching up with me...
30 before 30
So, I have published this over as a separate page for ease of access, but I wanted to let everyone know my lovely 30 before 30 list. I may have had this going for a few months already, I just hadnt gotten around to publishing it on the blog yet, so some have already been crossed off!
1. Run a marathon - Going to start with a half first and work up from there! The NY marathon is actually on my 30th birthday, apparently you have to qualify first though. Current longest run is 10km... I have a long way to go!
2. Sew an outfit that I can actually wear
3. Tie a yellow ribbon around an old oak tree
4. Cook a 3 course meal for Mr Olive.
5. Fly first class - come on Qantas, I have been platinum for like 5 years, upgrade me for my birthday!
6. Get married! Ok, this one is pretty easy considering we are already engaged, but it is also a pretty big one! 3rd September 2011
7.Eat at a Michelin Star restaurant 30th October 2010
8. Take a photography course
9. Take a sewing course - this should help with number 2.
10. Graduate from my Masters degree
11. Read 30 new books
12. Get promoted at work
13. Work out 3 times a week for 3 months
14. Consolidate all my superannuation (aka 401K)
15. Write a will
16. Successfully make Mr Olive a chocolate cake like his Grandma used to ("as he says, with love")
17. Bottle/can something and eat it (Jam, pickled fruit, preserved lemons, chutney)
18. Make my own bread and pasta
19. Enjoy a picnic with Mr Olive
20. Sell all my old clothes on Ebay
21. Have something published in my field
22. Go without diet coke for a month
23. Have a photo I take published (might need #8 to help with this)
24. Visit 3 new countries (0/3)
25. Use an entire stationary set to write hand-written letters to anyone I feel like.
26. Make sweet treats for Christmas and give them to our neighbours
27. Make our home "homely" and not a mish mosh of furniture
28. Finish Wedding recaps on Weddingbee
29. Re-design my blog
30. Make Mr Olive Clam Chowder
1. Run a marathon - Going to start with a half first and work up from there! The NY marathon is actually on my 30th birthday, apparently you have to qualify first though. Current longest run is 10km... I have a long way to go!
2. Sew an outfit that I can actually wear
3. Tie a yellow ribbon around an old oak tree
4. Cook a 3 course meal for Mr Olive.
5. Fly first class - come on Qantas, I have been platinum for like 5 years, upgrade me for my birthday!
7.
8. Take a photography course
9. Take a sewing course - this should help with number 2.
10. Graduate from my Masters degree
11. Read 30 new books
12. Get promoted at work
13. Work out 3 times a week for 3 months
14. Consolidate all my superannuation (aka 401K)
15. Write a will
16. Successfully make Mr Olive a chocolate cake like his Grandma used to ("as he says, with love")
17. Bottle/can something and eat it (Jam, pickled fruit, preserved lemons, chutney)
18. Make my own bread and pasta
19. Enjoy a picnic with Mr Olive
20. Sell all my old clothes on Ebay
21. Have something published in my field
22. Go without diet coke for a month
23. Have a photo I take published (might need #8 to help with this)
24. Visit 3 new countries (0/3)
25. Use an entire stationary set to write hand-written letters to anyone I feel like.
26. Make sweet treats for Christmas and give them to our neighbours
27. Make our home "homely" and not a mish mosh of furniture
28. Finish Wedding recaps on Weddingbee
29. Re-design my blog
30. Make Mr Olive Clam Chowder
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