Leave the lights on.

Please don't turn them off yet.

We have more to give,
more to share,
more to learn,
many, many more ways we need to grow.

Not promising you the moon.
But, this just feels too close to home to turn away.
Thank you for sticking around.

Daughter - Medicine

dip

Things got pretty dark back there.

A couple of weeks back when I originally wanted to share these with you, the sight of these pictures would remind me of a time and a place that felt a world away, at complete odds to where I was. That fact totally gutted me at that point in time, sitting in my apartment in Singapore, 3am in the morning, I was truly about to write something like the following:

Life is becoming an endless list of chores.
Feeling drained of energy and inspiration. I yearn to come back to this fall and just lay still, breathe and listen to the sounds of the fall and feel the trickle of the fall.

After that little draft, things got in the way, the said 'endless list of chores' got the better of me; some part of me shirked from the thought of sharing this pitch-dark moment. Two weeks later, I'm here once again. Wouldn't it have been nice to share a simple story, an enchanting experience, and immerse you all in a little escapism? 

But that's just not possible this time. Too many triggers, too many mixed feelings attached.
This time, you'll have to take the 'light' with the 'dark' aftertaste.

the fall

Every time Amanda's back in town we really try to make the most of it. It's become a ritual of sorts: short little hour drives around Auckland, exploring new little gems of nature, de-stressing with impromptu swims, absorbing every single scene of nature that unfolds. This time, we were blessed with this incredibly long summer; in fact Autumn has only really begun to creep in now. One particular late afternoon drive brought us out to the West Coast (one of our favourite areas, actually). We ventured through the many walking trails near Piha and by sheer luck chanced upon this Fall just as the sun was setting.
It was perfect.

Every time. We rediscover simple reasons why we'll always love this place.

near-calamity

"Stay indoors and do not walk outside or drive unless absolutely necessary", the weatherman had warned. Apparently we were in for one hell of a storm. As one of my last days in Auckland, there was no way I was gonna let any storm interfere with my plans. I definitely couldn't.

All morning the rain and wind onslaught just kept swinging between 'intense' one minute then eerily peaceful the next. So, in one of those peaceful periods, we decided to take a chance. There we were, 3:38pm on Saturday afternoon, in the car, on our way to Bethells Beach. One of the many spots around Auckland that I wonder if I could ever truly get bored of. Every time we come here in rain or shine we're always left wondering how it manages to be so mind-blowingly dynamic and beautiful. This time was no different.

Shame, the little motor van cafe usually tucked in the shade on the lee side of the beach wasn't there that day. I was seriously missing their tasty hot chips and that red velvet cake! I guess you can't always have it all.

1 , 2 + 3. Calm moments on a stormy day at Bethells Beach, 45 minutes out from Auckland.

slow-boat

Watercolours -Under

I vow to wear as many of my winter coats. knitted jumpers. furs. shearlings.

To pile them all on for the remaining week before I leave.

To tell you the truth, I'm feeling kinda bitter. That my winter's cut short.

That, I take seasons for granted.

Soon. Seasons won't exist anymore. Instead of Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, it's about wet or dry.

There, my first taste of tropical woes.

This year we'll both be missing out on NZFW. Missing out on seeing, feeling, experiencing the clothes moving around us. So, even more bitter.

OK, on a less bitter note, I'm excited for change. I think I'll get another tattoo this week.

Coat: Vintage

Dress: 3.1 Phillip Lim

Brogues: Prada

Brooch: Vintage

Lungs.

A drive with the girls. It really feels great being back in Auckland. Nothing like abit of travel to remind us of how blessed we are. One of the many things we take for granted: being able to take a 45-minute drive out of town and find breathtaking landscapes, greenery all-round, fresh air, wineries, art trails, tree houses, and sweet locals.

Bon Iver -Wash

Choose Your Own Adventure.

Tomorrow me and three ol' friends are driving up North to Matakana for a night. Equally as nice is getting the chance to visit this yellow treehouse with them. So suddenly things seem to be in flux again. Change in places where it felt like it'd remain the same. Things are flowing, and it feels right. Friends reuniting and touching base in midst of shifts and changes.

Lucite Tokki -손

Trench: Vintage

Top: Vintage

Bag: Zara

Skorts: MM6

Docs: DM

Our 4 pm.

31 RICHMOND ROAD, sitting in front of The Little Grocer, with my feet up on the wooden bench, eating a scrambled tofu wrap, a sparkling water in the other hand, is where you'll often find me at late in the afternoon.

It's become one of our favorite spots and we can't think of anywhere else we'd rather be when in need of a bite. It seems they've got the perfect recipe to keep us charmed and coming back for more. An ever evolving and experimental food cabinet that dabbles with tofu, salads, wraps, homemade pizzas... An art for casual nibbles which are perfect for us. This little cornerstore is dotted with sweet little notes everywhere , like 'messages in a bottle', 'mystery book' exchange, novelties and kiwiana that every kid would love. One of our favorite past times is reading the notice board out front.Note to self: must remember to bring my note for the noticeboard.

1.Blackboard outside The Little Grocer. 2.Residents of the food cabinet. 3.Organic groceries. 4.The lovely staff. 5.Fairies overlooking the baked goods. 6.Quirky books & mags. 7.Local classifieds. 8.Kiwi childhood favs, K bars. 9.Mystery books. 10.Messages in bottles. 11.Our favorite note on the noticeboard. 12.Cocktail umbrella chain. 13.Our favorite bench next to the bead curtain entrance. 14. Scrambled tofu wrap.

Rise & shine.

Happy 2011 everyone! We wish you all a blessed New Year! Looking forward to dreaming, discovering, sharing, growing, laughing, crying some more with you this year. It's great to have you around! Thank you.

We ducked out extra early today, to see the 2011 sunrise at Cheltenham Beach. It seems our new year resolutions maybe underway and in action? ...But I think we'd rather not say them out loud incase they get used against us later this year... Enjoying your clean slate?