OK, I know I sound cheeky, but all of a sudden, I've seen an influx of "Zero Waste" posts showing up on my Pinterest "You Might Like to Try" page. I'm assuming because it is a New Year and people made resolutions. Most of the links look like click-bait (I dumped out my essential oils--here's why!, etc), so I did what my husband hates--I clicked the links to see what the trendiness is all about.
Surprise: it's not really a new concept. It does appear to be a trend currently, but I have to admit, this is one trend I might have to try. Mostly because of where we live now. Keeping the oceans clean has become somewhat more important to me, now that I'm on an Island.
Don't get me wrong: keeping oceans clean has always been important to me. I clipped my plastic pop rings because I didn't want them huring the sea animals. I have been using re-usable bags forever for shopping (even if I feel like an old bag lady and my husband makes merciless jokes about my bag collection). But I haven't really cut down on how much we consume as a family. 
Reducing your waste isn't just about keeping the oceans clean and isn't just important for the wildlife and to have clean water to swim in , but to support drinking water in areas with limited access--like islands. That people live on. And tour through. So many things that we throw away without a thought seep into the drinking water systems of these areas and it causes weird things to seep into the drinking water system that could potentially hurt us humans. What's really weird is that all that plasitc we spend time putting bottled water in to is actually adding to the issue and making it harder to filter drinking water in taps. We've created a monster.
So, I want to work on reducing my families impact on waste. Stay tuned--I'm sure I'll do something either stupid or amazing (or a little of both) while I'm testing out different methods of waste reduction. Step one: stop buying plastic bottles filled with drinks! I'm sure the kids are gonna love this one.

Happy Sunday!!!

I have been a little absent recently (life, stuff, you know).....but I got a notification the other day that I had been nominated by a fellow blogger for a Mystery Blogger Award.  This award was created by Okoto Enigma and you can find her blog HERE. 

​The amazing woman that nominated me is Dacia Arnold, a friend I made in Colorado. We worked together before we left the country and I hate to say it, but I didn't get to spend nearly enough time with her when we were closer (In proximity). She has been one of my biggest supports after moving: staying in contact, reaching out, and doing little things to keep me from holing up and avoiding life completely.  Not to mention, she's one of the few people I've shared my deepest, darkest secret with: I really want to write a book. Whether she realizes it or not, she really has kept me from going crazy.  Thank you so much for your friendship and support Dacia!  Check out her witty and real blog at https://britestfyrefly.wordpress.com/.


As part of this award, I have to answer her 5 questions. If not Jesus won’t give me a hundred million dollars under my pillow when my teeth fall out.  I like my teeth.
​
Dacia has asked the following questions:

1. If your blog had a theme song, what would it be and why? American Woman by Lenny Kravitz.  Cuz it'd be funny.
2. What is your writing routine? Do you have one? Should you have one? What would be your ideal writing life? I don't have one!  But I need to get one.  I started this blog as a way to let family and friends know what's going on in my life once we moved, but I still keep in touch with most people on other forms of social media.  But I haven't written that much because I talk myself out of it.  I figure no one wants to hear about it and just don't do it.  But I need to work on that.  Perhaps I'll start posting once a week just to force myself into a habit.  ​Ideal writing life? Me, sitting on a balcony in Southern Italy, drinking coffee and writing on my laptop at my leisure.  Which is completely absurd and a total fantasy. In reality, I'd love to be able to have time to write daily and the confidence to do it. 
3. In the movie of your life, what actor could best portray you?  A mix of Courtney Cox (as Monica in Friends) and Sandra Bullock (as her role in Miss Congeniality).
4. What are you currently reading? Just finished A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas. Third book in a series: I love Maas's writing style.
5. Describe the most trying time of your life.  I've had lots of trying times: I don't know how to say which one was the MOST trying.  With time and perspective, those times change in my mind and become lesson's learned, I suppose.  Getting through nursing school, finding work with small children and figuring out "adulting", having a long-distance relationship, etc. Most of them were difficult and "the most trying time of my life" at the time, but have turned into stories I talk with people about to let them know they aren't alone.  So, my most recent trying time that I'm still working through would be adjusting to life in a new country and all that comes with it.  I was probably the most depressed I've ever been when we first moved to New Zealand: I was in a new country with no family or friends nearby. When I tried to reach out to friends, I began feeling that I was just bugging them and being whiny, so I stopped. I got bogged down with trying to feel normal in a place that everything was foreign and confusing. I'm still digging myself out and trying to piece back relationships, but I miss being close to my family--I knew this would be a reality and I can still keep in touch with them, but I miss being able to hop in my car to see them.  Let's just say, I'm feeling better, but I'm still working on adjusting.

As part of this award, I must nominate fellow bloggers. Here's where I gotta be honest: I don't really follow that many blogs.  I actually only follow Dacia's blog regularly.  
​So, instead of nominating anyone else falsely, I am setting a goal for myself to follow at least 5 other people's writing blogs in hopes that it will help me start working on my own writing project.  Thanks for the kick in the butt, Dacia.

​If anyone that follow me feels that they have a blog they would like to nominate, please follow the rules below:

1. Post the award/ image on your blog (see above)
2. Thank whoever nominated you and give a link back to their blog.
3. Mention the creator of the award and give a link back to their blog.
4. Nominate 10-20 deserving bloggers and notify your nominees by commenting on their blog
5. Ask your nominees 5 questions of your choice; including one weird or funny question

Merry Christmas everyone!  
It has been hard for me to get into Christmas this year.  In New Zealand, the seasons are the opposite of our old home back in the States.  So it's summer here now.  And, while people decorate and celebrate around here, it just doesn't feel like the holidays. 
Don't get me wrong: we put up the tree and the stockings and got out our ceramic town figurines.  And the kids were DEFINITELY into getting presents and making sure Santa knew where we were.  But I didn't go out of my way to listen to Michael Buble or watch my favorite Christmas movies (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and It's a Wonderful Life. I like to mix in White Christmas from time to time as well). I see my friends in the States posting pictures of the snow and the pictures with Santa at the mall and of the Ugly Sweater parties for work and it feels a little surreal.
We embraced being in the island locale for the holidays this year: we had grilled lamb for Christmas Eve dinner, Pavlova with strawberries and whip cream for Christmas breakfast and went to the Beach after opening our presents from Santa.  We didn't have the family around us like normal, but we had each other. And sand everywhere.  Nothing brings a family together like sand. 

I ended up getting my tattoo the day before we flew out to Auckland.  It's a tribute to my Colorado home--a bunch of columbines in a grouping.  I had it done by Nick McQueen at Summit Tattoo in Castle Rock: he's done 2 of my tattoos and one of my husbands and I'd recommend him to anyone.  
The pics here are right after he finished--he was a rock star and did the whole thing in one sitting.  Took roughly 6 hours (not including breaks).  I was pretty sensitive in the last hour or so (when he went back over spots to touch up), but overall it went really well.  I'm still impressed by how awesome Nick is at drawing on the fly--he free-handed all of this just from looking at a computer generated print out. I love it and it's healing well--the humidity has been awesome for recovery :)  Thank you Nick!!!

I really sat down and pondered more ideas for the Colorado tattoo, and I kept coming back to the idea of a cap-sleeve of some kind.  For some freakish reason, my shoulders and arms stay pretty well-defined, so a shoulder tattoo seems like a good place that might avoid stretch-marks in the future.  It's also an area that covers up easily for work, but I can show off in the summer or when I'm playing volleyball :)
I want to get it on my right arm--cuz that's my hitting arm and, well, I want to emphasize that.  You volleyball girls out there get me, right?
After much contemplation, and the fact that I've held on to the sleeve image below for years and keep coming back to it, I've decided I'd like to do a combination of the "flowy" background of the pic below but add in Columbines rather than roses.  Subtle reminder of my lovely home state without the throw it in your face Colorado C colors.  I prefer black tattoos, so I'm going with a single color tattoo--I'll discuss more with the tattoo artist if we're going to go with black or traditional blue for the shading.
Tattoos happening on June 10th--pics to come!