Life Lately // Plans for November

Advertising for the Cake Decorating Conference in Blenheim - iPhone/Instagram

 Hello everyone! It's been a while. It wasn't a deliberate break, but more of an unfortunate situation involving Telecom and their inability to sort out a faulty phone jack point for an entire week!! No internet for work or play!

Anyway, I'm back in action!! I just got back last night from the New Zealand Cake Decorators Guild (NZCDG) annual conference which was held up in Blenheim this year. It's held in the South Island one year and then the North Island the next year. It was a pretty cool experience - I was a Delegate for our local club (Dunedin Sugar Craft Guild) and attended the AGM meeting, I saw 3 demonstrations from Cake Decorators hailing from America, Australia and New Zealand and I picked up a bunch of cool cake decorating supplies. The next South Island one will be in Nelson in 2 years so I'm looking forward to it! I'll post some photos from the trip tomorrow!

This weekend coming I'm reviewing the Imperial Russian Ballet which is touring New Zealand at the moment. I'm so excited! The last time I saw the Russian Ballet was just after I graduated with my Architectural Draughting Diploma - I had started my first 'real' job and shouted my Grandma a trip to the ballet. The following weekend I'm reviewing Sleeping Beauty from the Royal New Zealand Ballet which I have been looking forward to since I heard about it almost 2 years ago! So I'll have a busy couple of weekends up in Dunedin over the next little while. 

To top it all off I'm about to be an Aunty soon! My sister is due on the 15th November so not long to go now!

What have you been up to lately? Do you have any exciting plans for November? Oh! For the guy in your life - get them involved in 'Movember' !! I used to work in an office where I was the only girl among 10 or so guys - they all grew beards until the 29th November, then shaved most of them off into funky beards or moustaches. There were prizes for the best design, least hair grown, etc. Great cause!! 

Dance Review - Chocolate Zucchini Cookies

 Photo taken (on my iPhone) during "Chocolate Zucchini Cookies" at the University of Otago

I'm sorry readers!! It has been quite a while since I last posted. Blame the bf "needing" to download a new Zombie map for his PlayStation for that, which used almost a whole months worth of Internet...

Well I have had a busy few weeks. Last weekend I reviewed Chocolate Zucchini Cookies, which was part of the Dunedin Fringe Festival 2011. I was a little apprehensive about it, as it was a bit different to the norm I was used to. I have to say though, it was AMAZING. So much work must have gone into selecting locations, selecting music and choreographing the dances. A lot of it was without music, and the performance flowed between different groups by head-nods or even just a look.

You can check out my review here, on the Theatreview website. Getting to see these amazing, unique performances is definitely one of the reasons I keep up with these reviews!! 

In upcoming posts I will share some of my latest op-shop finds, including an awesome gold-thread jersey and a black tulle tutu skirt - I'm in love!!

I've also just joined Twitter - you can find me over on the sidebar ----> follow me and I will follow you!! I'll update latest clothing finds, photos and what I'm up to. This week I'm going to ID Fashion week, so look out for that!!

Dance Review - Pinocchio and Verdi Variations

I spent my Saturday evening at the ballet with my little sister last night. I had offered to review the Royal New Zealand Ballet company's "Tutus on Tour" season for the Theatreview website, which thankfully was still able to come to Dunedin even though the usual venue was under renovation. 

This year the RNBC presented Pinocchio and Verdi Variations. I thoroughly enjoyed both pieces, each with their own stand-out performances. My favourite bit was when Pinocchio and Geppetto were reunited inside a huge whale - the whale was made of shiny see-though material and was lit from the inside so you could watch the scene happening through the body of the whale. Pretty cool!

You can check out my review here. I love getting to see all these different shows and giving my opinion on them!! Next weekend I am reviewing "Chocolate Zucchini Cookies" as part of the Dunedin Fringe Festival, so keep an eye out for that. 

It's Otago Anniversary Day on Monday so I get an extra day off this weekend!! It has also been the 150th celebration of the Gold Rush so our city centre was transformed into a shanty town yesterday afternoon.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekends!

Ballet Review - The Nutcracker

I really enjoyed the ballet on Friday night. The Nutcracker is so great this time of year and there were some amazing moments particulary a romantic duet between a doctor and nurse in a snow storm - so cool!

Check out my review here, on the Theatreview website.

Hope it's been a great weekend!

Dance Review - The Nutcracker

I have the opportunity to review another show next Friday night - The Royal New Zealand Ballet's "The Nutcracker". One of my favourite ballets and perfect for this time of year, this one is a spin on the classic with the main character Clara ending up in a children's hospital with concussion and drifting in and out of consciousness where her Nutcracker toy comes to life. Should be great!

Check out this great You tube video of some of the company doing a dance to Lady Gaga's bad romance - its awesome!

Dance Review - Back of the Bus

Last week I had the opportunity to review a show as part of the Otago Festival of the Arts. This one was a little different to the shows I am used to! It was a great experience though and I hope I get to do another one soon. Check out my review of "Back of the Bus" here.

I hope eveyone's week has been going well!