I've seen so many people making these gift guides, and I've been wanting to make some as well, but the thing is, I've been a little worried. 

Who am I to assume what a group of people would want?

So I looked at a few of them, and while a few of them seemed like a good bunch of gifts to me, it was suddenly clear to me.

I would make a gift guide, based on things that I would want. I am a blogger afterall.

 

So I've put together my small gift guide of 8 items, that I, as a blogger would like to receive. I have included a small explanation to go with them, including the links to the items online.

 

1) This gorgeous diary from Typo - Let's face it, who isn't a more organised blogger with a diary. It's super cute, and the perfect size for carrying around in your handbag for when you get an idea while out - you know you've been there in the grocery store, and an idea just strikes you.

 

2) A mug with a witty quote -  This one is perfect. First of all, I'm pretty sure all bloggers run on coffee or tea, and you know we all silently judge grammar... I know mine isn't perfect all the time, but it's definitely something I'm guitlty of.

3) A wide angle lens - Let's be honest, put your hand up if you're still shooting with the lenses that came with your camera? My hand is definitely up, however I've been doing some research, and I think this lens would be perfect. It's small, which makes it easier and lighter to use, and it's a wide angle lens, so it takes in so much more!

 

4) A cable organiser -  Because everyone hates cables laying around, and why not find something to organise them that also looks nice?

5) Some slippers - Okay, I know this one seems a bit strange, but just stay with me a moment. Does anyone else get really cold feet? But socks aren't enough, and shoes are just silly for inside? Well, here's the solution. Slippers! Pop these on and your feet will no longer be cold while you're sitting at the desk typing away.

6) A motivational print - Who doesn't like a motivational quote on their wall? And what better than something that reminds you to get your shit done every day. I mean, how else do you get anywhere?

7) A cute camera bag - To be honest, I get sick of my standard camera bag that I got with my camera. I would love something funky, that doesn't look so obviously like a camera bag. This one is perfect.

8) Some good headphones - I don't know about you, but I am always listening to music when I'm blogging, and right now I'm using my earbuds that came with my phone. I would love some decent headphones to wear that are comfortable and won't hurt my ears.

Watch out over the next few days, there will be more gift guides to come. What is something that you would add to this list?

 

I'm in love... with New York City, that is.

I'm home. And as much as I love being home, I want to be back in America, in particular New York. I had huge expectations of the city before I went there, having been in love with the city from afar for so long.

People had advised me to lower my expectations, telling me all these things about New York that were supposed to put me off the city. Not once did I listen to any of it.  I'm glad I didn't. My expectations of this city were beyond met.

I know for a lot of people that live there, they just don't see the magic of this city, they don't understand the big deal, and to be honest with you, I'm not sure I can explain it either, but I just know I'm in love.

Four days just wasn't enough, and I definitely need to go back there to explore some more, and I know I'll be back sooner rather than later too.

Sometimes I feel like I'm not where I'm supposed to be. In New York, I didn't feel like that. I felt like I belonged there, like the city was for me. Also, not to mention I navigated and used the subway like I'd lived there my whole life, which my friend was glad about.

It was interesting to me, comparing New York to Auckland, I found New York to be a lot cleaner, I felt safer, and it was just a heck of a lot more interesting. It's somewhere I could live, and who knows, maybe one day I will.

Where in the world is your favourite place?

I've never really been the type of person that will willingly do things on my own, and knowing that there would be times of my travelling that I would be alone, it scared me. 

It's one thing to be alone in your home city, but to be alone in a city that you've never been in before, that's a whole different ballpark. 

I've been in Philadelphia for four days now, all on my own except for one day when I went to visit my friend at her college, and although I'm not American, and the history of the city doesn't mean as much to me as it would to most Americans, I've decided that there's probably no other place I would rather be independent. It's the history of the city.

It was great being in New York with my friend, and the past three months at camp making new friends has been amazing, but I think it's also been good for me to just be alone, to be able to do what I want to do. 

Yes I've been in a hostel, and I've met people, we've done things at night, bit during the day it's been just me, and I love it. 

Not that long ago, I wouldn't have like to be walkng around on my own. I wouldn't have gone into a restaurant on my own unless I was meeting someone. 

It's nice to know that I've changed as a person. Things I once thought were scary, just aren't anymore. 

This experience has been amazing for me in so many ways, and it has helped me grow so much as a person. 

I really wouldn't have had the past three months any other way. 

It's kind of crazy. I've known for a while now that I was heading to America.

I knew it was coming up, but now... it's really sinking in that I'm going.

I have officailly done everything I need to do before heading off. The last piece of the puzzle was getting my visa, which I now have in my passport, ready for me to go.

Now all I need to do is last another three weeks and a couple of days.

It's come up so quickly yet not quick enough. 

I can't wait to get over there, to get stuck in with the job and meet some amazing people.

It's actually sinking in now that I will be going on the biggest trip of my life thus far in less than a month! I remember when there was still 100 days to go!

I am nervous and excited all rolled into one, and I just know I won't be getting any sleep the night before I go.

I'm planning on having more post in the next few weeks that don't involve me blabbing on about my trip {one of which will be an awesome DIY} but you have to understand, this is a huge deal for me.

 

 

Also, as a side note, do you know how hard it is to make a playlist that you won't be able to alter very much for a whole 4 months?! I can't commit to music! It's too hard.

I sat down to do this post on Tuesday... Five minutes into it, I got the sudden urge to become productive and do some sewing.

This hasn't been happening a lot lately, but I'm glad it did. I tested out some new patterns I have made and will share the results tomorrow! It's exciting.

So now, a week from when I left on my small holiday, you will get the wrap up post.

We left on Thursday afternoon and went up to Hanmer for the weekend. I had never been before, and let me tell you this... I loved it! What a lovely wee town, and even when I didn't want to spend $30+ to get L and myself into the pools, there was still other things to do.

My mum, with working for the military, was lucky enough to get the ballot for the holiday housing that they have there. It was a great wee house we stayed in, and what was even better was that on the same property, there were two other houses. L made some friends over the weekend, who are the children of someone mum works with. It was nice to see him playing and having fun with some other kids for once. I think he gets  bit lonely when he's not at daycare.

So over our weekend we went to the pools, played some mini golf, explored the town, went to a small animal farm, and then went to the pools some more.

L had a fantastic time, and was so excited that the Easter Bunny still knew where he was. Funny that... the kids next door even invited him to join in on their hunt.







How was your Easter weekend?

P.S. I've noticed that Google Reader is going to close down soon, so I have made my blog followable through Bloglovin!  Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I couldn't get enough of this baby Koala, it was so cute and little!

L thought he was pretty cool, he touched a snake and a crocodile, BUT he wouldn't touch the Koala or the Wombat!

On our last day there, L and I went for a drive to a place called Paluma, it was about an hour away, and was up in the rainforest. It was a lovely little town, with a great lookout, and on the way back down we stopped at the creek/river and had a wee play in the water.

After we got back from our mini trip, we went and had lunch. We went to a nice restaurant near the beach, and wasted a lot of money on food! But, I don't go out very often and I especially don't go on holiday very often. L loved his sundae!