Getting ready to be back in Perth

Yep, 14 weeks from now we will be in Perth, Australia. Marking the end of our first time living in the USA. While I am super bummed to be going, there are a few things I am super excited about...

Our Perth Family! I miss and love them so much... I can't wait to see them all again.

Kings Park - so much prettiness, the view is stunning, ducklings, running trails, picnics and the flowers - oh the flowers!

Miss Brown Vintage - where I first fell in love with vintage dresses.. pricier than Houston, but sorted in rainbows of color.

Nandos - best hangover chicken ever.

Dolphins in the river - the Swan river in general. So beautiful. We can see it from the office, perfect for paddle boarding. Love it.

Blue sky - for months and months non stop. It really is a beautiful place to live.

Early morning coffee runs with Liz.

Christmas parties - and socializing with colleagues.

Social life - I guess this may change now, since we have a wee one coming. Which I am totally okay with - I am just so excited to meet her.

The Ocean - The Indian Ocean to be exact. And those pretty beaches that edge them. So blue.

Rugby - All Blacks, Super 15, World Cup, rugby watching parties, it is all good. And we have missed that heaps.


Less potholes - dude these roads in Houston are rugged.

Meeting some babies that appeared after we left. Jack and Jack - can't wait to meet you little dudes.

Touch rugby- while I wont be able to play when we get back in November, Rob will and we both love it so much.

Getting Ready to say Good bye to the States

Well, this chapter of our life is getting close to an end.. And the next is getting much closer to starting. As we begin to plan for our move to Western Australia, we have been slowly looking around thinking about what we will miss here. After all, we love living here!

Here is what we will miss about being here in Houston, and the States:

Our Houston family and friends (of course!).. including a new baby who will be born just after we leave, and two lovely weddings..

I love our little apartment, I will miss that!

Netflix - I will be honest. It is addictive. And we can't get it at home.

Value Village - epic thrifting missions have occurred here. We just don't have them that big in NZ or Australia

Cheap organic food - well, all food. ALL FOOD IS SO CHEAP HERE> like dude. So cheap. We will miss that. We shop at Whole Foods here because even though it is considered pricey here, it is still cheaper than a cheap store at home.

Long trading hours - It just isn't really done at home. Like here, the mall is open till 9 or 10 every day of the week. At home, that happens once a week. I like this.

Cheap telecommunication plans - Sorry that I keep saying cheap. But really, everything is cheaper here.

Baby Barnabys - So, I was a late convert to this. Before Paleo I was not a breakfast/brunch person, so obviously cueing for breakfast was not an ideal situation for me. But know I love it. And I don't mind the wait. And it is a rad little place, with awesome staff, cheap and super yummy food.

Sports - I will admit it, I am going to miss 24 hour ESPN and football season, baseball games, definitely basketball games. I think they are my favorite.

Shipping speed - when we first got here I ordered a mirror on Amazon, it got here like 4 days later. Literally unheard of down under. We are just too far away!

Victorias Secret - I just heart their panties yo.

The price of Champagne - less than $30 for Moet? $50 for Veuve. (the pre pregnancy Sarah enjoyed this situation) - oh and they sell it at the chemist. Hollah.

Wide streets - they are wider. I guess we are in Texas so there is room (on the other hand, the shitty nature of the overly potholed roads... my bladder won't miss them)

Travelling - knowing you can just pop to New York for a weekeend. There is nothing quite like that feeling guys. Not if it is a feeling you have never known.

Movie tickets - $6 an adult to see a movie on Sunday morning. $9 the rest of the time. I don't hate that.

Concerts - more people, so you know, more concerts. As in, more bands, more frequent, way cheaper prices, and epic memories.

Beer - pints of beer for $3 versus over $12. Goes without saying really.

Margaritas - Gigantic margs.

Carters - my favorite baby store. And they don't shop to Aus. Sad face.

BBQ, Texas food, Mexican food, ALL THE FOOD - we will miss it. Oh, how we will miss it.

The Galleria - yep. We are consumerists. It is a giant mall with many good stores, and when we first moved here, it was kind of like a shiny light in a cold stormy and multiple murder week in Houston.

Squirrels - I love the little dudes.

Margaritas - Like, good, fresh, delicious margs. Damn I shouldn't be talking about them right now!

Big car parks - since so many people drive stupidly large (sorry Texas) trucks here, parking our wee VW SUV is even possible for me!

Expat Life: Interpreting Kiwi English

 Image Source

I say I speak three languages, English, French and Broken English. Haha nice joke, polite way of saying I swear like a trucker. But, as Laurie says, sorry but not sorry. However, I have noticed since coming here, I really speak Kiwi-English and Aussie-English, and am slowly learning American-English. In preparation of my trip to see the lovely Laurie this weekend, I have prepared a list of the things I have learned so far, so that I can help prepare her for my Kiwi-ness.

Enjoy.

Kiwi - Murica words that I have gotten confused

Shout someone – Buy someone a drink or meal – “it’s my shout”

Bag - Purse

Purse - Wallet

Boot - Trunk

Bench - Counter

She’ll be right – Don’t worry, everything will be alright

You’ll be away laughing – You will be fine

Away with the fairies - Daydreaming

Jandals - Flip flops - Thongs

Togs - Swimming costume

Do the dishes - Washing up

Loo – Toilet - Restroom

Bless your little cotton socks – Bless you

Undies – Panties

Knickers (for kids underwear) – Panties

Ice block – Popsicle

Nek Minnit - Next thing you know

He’s a gun – He's an expert

Pom – English person

Have a go at someone – Attack or insult someone, start an argument

I'm flat out – I am really busy

What’s that when its at home? – This just means “what is that?”

 Bill - Cheque

Coriander - Cilantro

Capsicum - Bell Pepper

Gherkin - Dill Pickle

Grill - Broil

Barbeque - Grill

Eftpos - Debit

Drink Piss - Drink alcohol

Maori Words that I use A lot

Whare – house

Puku – tummy

Kapai – Good

Kia Ora – Hello
Aporo - Apple
Aroha - Love
Paki paki - clap your hands
Are your tarengas painted on? - Are your ears painted on?
Whare Paku - toilet

 

See you soon Loz!

For THURSDAY - THROWBACK Our first ever NFl game!

So, this week I aint throwing it back that far..

Last Sunday Rob and I ticked off a MASSIVE item from our US Bucket List - something Rob has wanted to do since he was like, a wee one. We went to an NFL game. And not just any game, the team I have been following since forever, was playing the Texans.

We saw the Colts play the Texans! And it was such an amazing experience! I have never been to a sports game like it. Like, it was massive. It was so much fun, it helped that our "home" team was winning for about 89% of the game. The atmosphere was crazy intense. I have never been to a game where people pretty much don't take their seats (except for during a time out).

We saw some super exciting touch down runs, lost our voices, ate some peanuts and had a beer or two.

Oh, and we also saw people tail gating. It was like nothing I have ever seen. It was like a whole other world.

Getting our red on.

Seeing Andrew Luck play was pretty rad.

JJ Watts was a bad ass.

Okay, so this is a VERY weird thing. It is normal to just break up your peanut shells and leave them on the floor.

Throwback Thursday - miss my wifey

This weeks Throwback Thursday is to 10 months ago.. When Liz and I knew that my leaving date was coming up soon. During my last few months in Perth we used our time to the maximum. Any evening we could go for champagne in the sun, we did. And weekend day we could spend shopping we did. And any brie we could eat we did. And I am so glad. Because we had so much fun.

This week all I wanted, was to be back in Liz's car singing Lana Del Rey at the top of my tone deaf voice, driving to get hangover Nandos.
Lol.
Mahony - I miss the shit out of you!

xox

Throwback Thursday - Philskis Birthday

Last night the universe had its timing just right and we got to facetime two of our favorite people in the world, and meet their new little man!

The time difference between our original home - New Zealand, our last home - Perth, and our current home - Houston, means that normally when we are getting ready for bed, Perthy people are getting ready for work, and Kiwi people are at work.. So it can be difficult to schedule skyping.. But every now and then you get a window of awesomeness where we can talk to our loved ones. Which makes me happy.

Here are three of my favorite photos with Charlie, Phil and us from our time in Perth.. 
Phil had the best birthday party. The theme was PB (for his name). 
We went as Pebbles and Bam Bam. Charlie was a Pavlova. 
There were very attractive Bananas, a kiwi hero and a pretty sweet rag doll. As well as many other mental characters.

 We miss you guys, was so good to catch up. Forever love to you guys. xx