I'VE MOVED

Come and join me at my new home. I'm still settling in, so excuse the mess... but head over to www.lucyolive.co.nz and check it out!

See you there kids.

INSTAGRAM :: SUMMER MOMENTS

The summer break was, quite frankly, awesome. Even though a quarter of my holiday was shaved off (I was called into work early, which is all good!) the summer break was exactly as it should be – jam-packed with adventures and happy moments. So much so that when selecting images from my Instagram account to feature as my holiday wrap-up, I had trouble selecting which ones summed up my break best... and that's just from Instagram pics! Part of the trouble is that New Zealand is probably the most beautiful country ever, I wish I was just as photogenic. Did you have a nice time welcoming in the new year? Without further ado (and in no particular order), here is my collection of summer bliss:

WEEKENDS :: CLUTTER RECOVERY

Hello, my name is Lucy Olive, and I am a recovering clutter addict.

Ok, so my habits could have been worse, but for a while there in my younger days, I had issues. My bedroom was so crammed with stuff that I pretty much had to swim through it. It's a common side-effect of being a bit of a magpie – I just couldn't throw out anything that looked appealing to me, and was constantly adding to the collection. I hoarded all kinds of thing, from photos and bottle caps to figurines and acorns.

WEEKENDS :: BAKING BOTCH UP

Ok, so I was making some lemon and white chocolate muffins, and it was all going fine... until I got creative. Because I'm a lemon fiend, I decided to alter the recipe a little. Er... or maybe a lot. I ended up with these squidgey, gooey, flat lemon patties. That's what happens when you multiply the lemon juice requirements by three! But guess what? They were still zingy and delicious. And they looked kind of cute stacked up between layers of white chocolate. Thankfully this baking botch up was still edible!

WEEKENDS :: SEPTEMBER + SPRING

Spring has arrived, and I'm hoping it will make itself at home very soon. I've had a very laid back weekend as my body recovers from overdoing it on the computer – Friday was spent in discomfort with my head stuck on one side and a prompt visit to the physiotherapist, yeowch! Hence why I shut down the computer this weekend and got out the ol' sketchbook, doodling this homage to the first month of spring.

WEEKENDS :: BROWNIE CHEAT

You know when it strikes 9:30pm, you're curled up cozy, and you wish you had a sweet treat to make the evening complete? Well, if you have some common ingredients and a microwave, you're sorted. Last night I made Ben and I a 'Mug Brownie' each, and they exceeded my expectations completely... although I did feel like a dirty, dirty cheater. Nothing beats the real deal of course, but if you've got a craving that just won't quit then this is the thing for you. Got 5 minutes and a sweet tooth? Then read the recipe below!

WEEKENDS :: RUFFLED FEATHERS

Aside from eating cake, there's little more fun than being a fly on the wall and watching seven cakes being beautifully decorated. That's exactly what happened at Made From Scratch's ruffle cake class on the weekend – I was trying not to drool as I took a few snaps! Don't they look so cute? I highly recommend going along and learning how to do it from Rachael, it's a bit of a skill getting the ruffling right.

WEEKENDS :: MY BIRTHDAY

Saturday. Birthday. Wake up. Car stereo loud. Buy new top. Dye hair black. Family time. Grandma's famous sponge cake. Spoilt. Five course dinner. Video store detour. Couch cuddles. Cupcake flavoured jellybeans. Sweet dreams.

Sunday. Wake up. Art supply stock up. Treasured friend. Rhubarb and blue cheese tart. Computer. Leave home with dog. Return home with dog and stick. Family time. Layer cake. Boutique ice cream. Sweet dreams.

Monday. Sudden urge to get back into running.

WEEKENDS :: WORRIES

It's been a bit of a worrying week in the Olive household... there's been some health scares with our furriest family member. No no, not Ben – I'm talking about our rascal pooch, Juno. It all started on Wednesday night when she began acting very strangely indeed, and I fretted that she was experiencing the onset of a seizure.

WEEKENDS :: SHAKY ISLES COFFEE CO.

How do Shaky Isles make the best hot chocolate in town? Easy – by putting a "mother flipping Sante bar up in them," that's how.

WEEKENDS :: CATCH UP

Catching up with family and some old friends, check. Catching up on some sleep-ins, check. Catching up with my boy over weekend pancakes, ooh yes! Usually he makes them, but I decided to take charge of the pan on Saturday. Our secret ingredient for the fluffiest, creamiset pancakes is unsweetened yoghurt – try substituting half of your milk for it! This time I also added in some blueberries grown on a family member's patch. A spritz of lemon and a speckle of sugar and we were all set. Best way to start a weekend!

WEEKENDS :: ART + DESIGN MARKET

Nothing beats kicking off the weekend by checking out the morning market produce... especially if it's at an art and design market! Organised by the Ministry of Art and Design (MOAD), this market boasts a collection of ceramics, homewares, textiles, leatherware, jewelry, prints, and more from local artists. The market is held once a month at the Tyler Street Garage in the Auckland CBD and is definitely worth a stop-in if you're in the hood. Aside from that (and going a little crazy buying lovely paper stock this morning, oops!), it was great doing some baking with my sis-in-law Rachael (Made From Scratch). What better way to cap off a weekend than sweet treats with a sweet lady?

WEEKENDS :: MY SPACE

I am a geek. I love my computer space, being at home all day without seeing a soul, trolling blogs and websites, playing computer games, hoarding lovely designs I find, and leaving empty glasses of strawberry milk piled neatly on the corner of my desk. I had three on there today. Haters gonna hate.

WEEKENDS :: PUPPY DAYS

Now what? How do I follow that photo up with some words? There's nothing in my vocabulary suitable for captioning baby Juno. All I can do is coo and flail my limp-wristed hands. The same goes for the photos below... wait, did I just hear myself squeal? Or was that you?

WEEKENDS :: TO MARKET

A little excursion up to the legendary Matakana Village Farmer's Market was the perfect thing for a sunny Saturday morning. We left home bright and early on empty stomachs and were spoilt for choice when we arrived – there were tarts, pies, raw juices, crepes, baklava, nutbutters, craft beers, locally grown produce, and much more... all fresh and delicious. And while there was no dog food for sale, Juno certainly left satisfied!

WEEKENDS :: FOGGY AUCKLAND

While most people shy away at the idea of getting up early on a weekend, I adore flagging the sleep in and making the most of time off. Ben and I got up early for a spot of fishing with my Dad. As we drove along the motorway and over the harbour bridge, we were baffled by the spookily foggy Auckland morning.

WEEKENDS :: PUPPY NO MORE

Oh, they grow up so fast! Juno, our English Bulldog/blob of awesomeness, turned 2 years old on Saturday. When we celebrated her first birthday we took her through the Wendy's drive-through and treated her to a burger. This time she had breakfast with us. As you'll see below, she loved her bacon... no surprises there!

WEEKENDS :: HENS PARTY

If you know me, then you'll know I absolutely love food and doing a bit of cooking, and also that I have a bit of a soft spot for asian cultures. I can't believe that my maid of honour combined these two loves of mine for the most awesome hens night ever!

WEEKENDS :: DOG SHOW

Some dogs are prized for their delightful, floppy ears. Some take pride in their adorable waddle, or their cute nose. Juno, well... she's got a pretty big tongue. In fact, I'm sure that if there was a dog competition on tongue length, Juno would have a decent winning chance. Alas, there was no such category at Silo Park's Dog Show today, so instead we merrily watched the event from the sidelines.

WEEKENDS :: SEWING

Between baking feijoa cakes, sewing, making jewelry and exploring Auckland, this Easter weekend has been very productive indeed – it actually feels like I've gone back in time to the summer holidays. My dear mama and I set up a sewing station on the deck at her house where we completed a bunch of pieces for the big day. Just 20 days to go...!

Psst... you can see the wedding post here!