Happy Friday everyone! Looks like 2013 is off to a booming start for so many people – including us here at TN!  Just last week we found out that we might be able to move into a new bigger, sunnier home and just this Wednesday we found out we’re moving this Sunday!  Nothing like a short deadline to get things going!

With that in mind I have put together this fresh, new feeling weekly roundup!  I hope you find it as peaceful as I have and have a fantastic weekend!

1. Nothing says comfort like Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Stuffed with Homemade Caramel – oh yum!
2. Loving the fresh olive branches on the table settings at this wedding beautiful wedding.
3. Who would mind doing cleaning when your dustpan is smiling back up at ya!?
4. Absolutely love these beautifully designed bottles by Amy Hardy featured in Southern Weddings Magazine.
5. This week I discovered a new beautiful blog named Age Old Tree – beautiful!
6. These colourful spoons will brighten up any morning…

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and can’t wait to show you images of our new home! x

I have a soft spot for products made locally. When you combine that soft spot with cooking and beautiful packaging – things get can get a bit crazy! Over the past year, I’ve been lucky enough to meet Jo from Bees Blessing. And I can guarantee she is as delightful as all their products!

Tonight I made an absolutely delicious marinade for our chicken made with their latest treasure: Lemon & Thyme.  I’ve never tasted anything so tender and full of flavour – it was absolutely fantastic. The chicken tenderloins were only marinaded for 30 minutes before being grilled. Here is what I made this evening (give or take).

1/4 cup Bees Blessing
3 Tbs soy sauce
2 tsp fresh ginger
2 Tbs fresh garlic
1 tsp chili flakes
1 tsp dried coriander

The chicken was served along side a large green salad made out of:

baby spinach
basil
sundried tomato feta
sundried tomatoes
pine nuts
sunflower seeds

Look for Bees Blessing in a cafe or store near you and make sure to pick it up on your next shop!  I guarantee you won’t regret it!

I hope everyone is having a lovely holiday break so far! As all my family is in the US and my partner who’s family is in beautiful Wanaka originally thought that he would have to be working through – we are having a “staycation” in Auckland this year!

With so many people leaving the Auckland region for the holidays we thought it would be a great time to explore our “new” home. Unfortunately the weather gods have had other plans. Providing us with some pretty bad weather.

So we’ve made the most of it with doing what we love!

I FINALLY got some new gym shoes (been wanting some for about a year – yay!) and have really given them a go with going to the gym for the last five days straight – wowie (helps justify that summer wine of course)! I did the girly thing of cleaning out my closet, tidied up my desk (that was seriously needed) and have given our apartment a nice big clean. We’ve also made some delicious meals (pictured top right – recipe to come) and did my first baking in four months! Since going super healthy I’ve stopped baking – which breaks my heart – but sacrifices have to be made…  We also managed to get on over to White’s & Co  (pictured bottom left) for a delicious soft serve yogurt treat thank’s to The Collective!

Fingers crossed, the weather is supposed to improve and tomorrow we’re venturing out for our first tiki tour! I’m sure to keep you posted and hope you’re all having a lovely break full of family, friends, and great food! x

Well everyone the countdown is really on for Christmas now! Orders have really been flying through the shop and we have our last market of the year! You can find us this Saturday at Britomart’s Moad Christmas Market open from 10-2:30. Then on Sunday I’m super excited for the Day on the Green concert at the positively beautiful Villa Maria Estate Winery featuring The Black Seeds and Fly Me Pretties! Do you have some fun weekend plans – we’d love to hear them!

Now onto the good stuff – this week’s roundup is a gift guide for the cooks in your life!

1. Beautiful mini wood bowls by Wind & Willow Home.
2. A lovely handmade apron by Beth at Chirp will surely do the trick, located locally here in Auckland.
3. OneCanoeTwo make the most beautiful and vibrant letter-pressed stationery including these recipe cards.
4. For the baker – this colourful cookbook is perfect!
5. Have lots of shopping to do – no problem! This notepad will help keep you and your home organised.
6. Time to make those baked goods shine with this handcrafted cake stand.
7. There’s nothing like a tidy kitchen, keep your cooking utensils looking fab.

Sure do hope this roundup help bring some inspiration for those cooks and bakers in your life!  See you all next week!