Five things in June

June was both a month of change and a month in which not that much happened. I started a new job which was my main priority and activity for the month – learning is exhausting, isn’t it?! I’m really enjoying it and got off to a strong start, but I have been surprised by how much it takes out of me. After years of living at a slower, pandemic-influenced pace, returning to what I was previously used to came as a slight shock. And that’s with hybrid working – I have no idea how I used to go into an office five days a week!

Due to that and a trip we had lined up for July, we enjoyed a fairly staid month in other respects, really just making the most of living where we do, appreciating what sunny weather there was, and all in all, finding our joy in the little things, like good winter meals and the anticipation of what is ahead of us.

How was your June?

1. Amelie’s first running race

I did a 10k race in June as part of the Run Auckland series – very fun, although wet, but the real standout of the day was Amelie! She’s been longing to do a running race with me ever since she was just three, and this event had a kids’ dash that was just perfect for her. It was 2k and Amelie ran it in 14 minutes – 7 minutes per kilometre is excellent for a six year old as far as I’m concerned! Hayden ran the course with her and apparently she ran almost the whole time. Any time she found herself slowing down she’d say “let’s pick up the pace!” and take off again. It rained throughout her race but she didn’t even think about stopping or complaining. I’m so very proud of her!

2. My new workspace

When I go into my office, I catch a bus across to downtown Auckland and work for the day by the water. In an office, by the water, to be fair – I don’t just sit down on a bench and admire this as my job – but all the same I get to hang out here for walks to work, lunchtime saunters, and after work wanders. It gladdens my heart and soothes my soul in a way not much else does, being by the harbour and all these boats with the city soaring up behind it all. I even love it on rainy days – that last picture is the view from under my umbrella as I walked across to Commercial Bay after work one evening!

3. A(nother) great dress

I’m dressing up a lot more these days, especially on days when I go into the office! This dress was kind of an impulse purchase, bought one day when I walked past Kate Spade and saw it through the window. I don’t tend to really make impulse purchases now (see point 5) but I’m so glad I bought it. Nothing wrong with impulse purchases if you can afford them and they fit with your style enough to get worn a lot. I find I have a lot fewer missteps when it comes to what I wear and like these days than I did in, say, mid early to mid 20s – I suspect it’s either to do with the self confidence that comes with age or it could be possibly to do with budget – although that said there’s a lot of stuff out there that I find both repellent and very expensive. Anyway, I now wear this dress most weeks and it never fails to make me happy.

4. Favourite winter recipes

I’m muscling through my least favourite season. 🥶 All I want to eat is pasta, but in the interests of a varied diet I try to restrict that to once a week…not always successfully. On weeknights, when quick and easy is the name of the game, we enjoy pre-filled pasta with our favourite arrabiata pesto, sometimes chorizo, and broccoli on the side – a dish famously known as lazy pasta in this household. When I’ve got more time I love making a creamy mushroom sauce, combined with little bacon bits and baked gnocchi, or this excellent artichoke carbonara, or slow cooking a rich tomato-y sauce loaded with veggies all afternoon to ladle over pappardelle. I took advantage of Hayden’s absence one night to make myself a bowl full of broccoli cheddar soup, and I’m looking forward to making butternut squash soup with bacon and goat cheese one night before winter is over. Are you sensing a theme? It’s cheese, it’s bacon, it’s carbs…and it’s getting me through this manky weather.

5. Planning my spring wardrobe

It’s the middle of winter, so yes, arguably it’s way too soon to be doing this! I really love it though…both thinking about warmer, longer, sunnier days, and working out exactly what I want to wear when those days roll around. I have a new energy for wardrobe planning now we’re back in the city. I think I find the increased number of people who may see me to be motivational. Remember, I still use and love Pinterest…most of my style inspiration ends up there, although a fair bit is happening over on Instagram these days too. Would a post about what I’m looking forward to wearing this spring, kind of like what I used to do, be fun?