"It's Everywhere You Want To Be"

Remember that slogan? (I have to use past tense now as apparently it's been replaced with the less memorable 'Life Takes Visa') Well I'm not talking about the credit card in this blog, but it's motto rings true. As of last night, Kevin and I have successfully submitted our applications to extend our visa in New Zealand. Which is very exciting altogether, yet just a wee bit nervewracking at the same time. There is really no logical reason for any worry of rejection, but in situations like this when you're dealing with such an important life-altering matter, a bit of anxiety is just par for the course. Luckily, we filled out an online application, so now I have the ability to neurotically and obsessively check the status of the progress every 5 seconds. Now we just have to send off the results of our required medical examination from the other week, and we should have our answer fairly soon. I think the maximum waiting time is 6 weeks, but I suspect it would only take about 2 or 3. I will rest easier when that day comes. (Or not). But I suppose any answer is some sort of clarity. For now though, I will be sending positive energy out into the universe. In other news, wedding plans are starting to move along slowly but surely, and we have decided to move the date back a few months, which is a relief! Instead of August, we are now changing it to October, which gives me an extra 2 months to work with. (Insert the running man). Another plus is that the weather will be a bit warmer at that point, and given that we're in NZ, most of the places I am looking at for location involve outdoor scenery. I would also like to give a shout out to Pink Tomato, in Wooster, Ohio who are helping me design my own handmade wedding invitations! Please check out their website and if you live within a pleasant roadtrip to Wayne country, make the journey to their adorable shop in downtown Wooster. They specialize in DIY crafts, complete with frequent in-store workshops, and have a great selection of merchandise as well. Happy Thursday!

Icicle, Icicle, where are you going?

It is cold as bollocks here. Having a hard time wrapping my brain around hats, scarves and mittens in the middle of May. So then I started singing Tori Amos, and decided I should share some vintage Tori love. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssmkaRfpbA

I heart Windows 7!

I need to take a minute to acknowledge the IT geek in me, and go ahead and give a plug for Windows 7. In short, it rocks. The layout is brilliant, and the options for creativity in terms of screen design are aplenty; not to mention the graphic content is very high quality. There is also plenty of opportunity for the use of handy tools (for both convenience and fun). I didn't think it was possible, but I'm even more obsessed with my computer because of it. It really allows you to make your technological experience a bit more personalized. Moving on, it is Monday and I have already successfully downed my first cup of coffee for the day. I neglected my blog a bit at the weekend, but the good news is that the reason for it was that it was a fairly busy one. This week is going to be chock-a-block and I feel like I kind of need to get in preparation for it, which hasn't happened yet. Luckily one of the things that is on my schedule today is to meet with a contact of mine who previously got me 2 different on-camera gigs for New Zealand television. She has a new advert that she would like me to work on, and I'm so thankful at the moment because the TVC section of my resume has been a bit vacant lately. I went through a bit of a surge in work opportunity for TV adverts within the first few months of my arrival to Auckland, but since Christmas it's been fairly quiet. So I'm anxious, and have been, to get some work in that arena. On the subject of performance, if you are in the Auckland area, or will be around the dates of May 30th-June 14th - come see Little Shop of Horrors at the Pumphouse in Takapuna! I am currently playing the role of Audrey and we have an excellent show lined up. The cast is so talented and I think it is shaping up to be one of the best theatrical performances Auckland will see this year. Please make your way here for tickets! I must be off now to get myself presentable for my meeting today. Also, it's drinks with the wedding planner tonight! Hopefully I'm brimming with ideas and details tomorrow morning. Ciao bellas.

"What a difference, a day maaaakes"

I could not be in a more completely different spot this morning than I was yesterday. Somehow the stars have aligned and I have found myself in the tender care of a dear acquaintance-come-wedding planner. A fellow employee of mine who I have just discovered has a passion and penchant for all things wedding related, not to mention the genuine experience to back it all up. Add to this she also is a wonderful cook, who does wedding cakes on the side as a hobby. I am in matrimonial organizational heaven. Any stress, worry, or apathy towards planning has floated away and is now replaced with full-blown schoolgirl excitement. A wine date is planned for Monday evening to start the ideas going, and until then I have some 'homework' assignments to get done for our meeting. One of them includes the dreaded budget though. Now if only the heavens opened up and allowed me to win the lottery...

The creative state of "I Don't Know"..

Good morning, cup of green tea. I have stared into you blankly, and have yet to come up with any conclusions. Somehow this morning it has finally officially dawned on me that I have absolutely no idea how i'm going to go about having what is going to be 2 weddings, moreso the one of which will be happening in less than 3 months, and now I am sufficiently overwhelmed. Though I deemed the first one as being a much more casual affair, and less of a "to-do", as my family and friends from home won't be able to make it to NZ, I am slowly beginning to recognize that even the smallest of details requires more planning than originally intended. And this series of issues actually stems from the biggest problem, which is that I don't even know what I want to do. Where do we have it, do we invite the people we know here, is it just the two of us, is there a reception, where do we have the reception, how extravagant do I want to go, and dare I say - what is the budget? (gulp) Finding the blend between casual and elegant is not so thin a line as I originally thought. I desperately seek the aid of a wedding planner. Where is Jennifer Lopez when you need her?

For now I think I'll look for the answer in a new cup of caffeine (the stronger kind), and a dose of Rachael Ray. A woman has needs, after all.

Kia Ora

Well, after 8 months of procrastinating, and entirely too much time spent analyzing and obsessing over a blog name, I am here. Auckland, New Zealand by way of New York City and Wooster, Ohio. My partner and I (kiwi-speak has taken over for me in more ways than one; I never thought partner could mean anything other than a same sex relationship - Thanks USA!) have been here for the aforementioned 8 months, and have now decided to renew our visa for a few more. Mostly because NZ is so welcoming to visitors from the rest of the world, and therefore helpful to our situation of dealing with complicated immigration issues - 1 part Irish Citizen, 1 part American - read: 'What goes around, comes around America! Ain't life a betch?' But we're also staying because we love it here, and I don't know is it possible to attain a higher quality of life anywhere else than in this small but mighty and magnificent country, that is so aptly named "God's Country". With visas, trips overseas, weddings, wedding planning (I am officially recently betrothed), moving (will get to that in a near-future post), and other Pacific Island adventures, this year should be nothing short of exhilaratingly exhasting. But in the best possible way. To quote my fellow kiwi mates: it'll be choice, bro.