Dance like no one's watching

A few weeks ago I felt a bit overwhelmed with everything so decided to dance like a fool in front of the stereo at home to get rid of some built up steam.

'Surfing' the net

It seems more and more people these days are turning on their computer and surfing the net in an effort to find true love.  The future of Online Dating is extremely popular and it is growing quicker than wildfire, but is it a curse or is it cupids cure?

Being single in this day and age can be a struggle. More and more people seem to be shying away from meeting their potential mate at bars, and longer working hours or busy routines can often play a part in many single lifestyles. Internet dating has now become accepted as a convenient way of meeting like minded people. For the price of a couple of drinks at a bar, you can subscribe for a month to a dating website, and look for lots of people from the comfort of your own home.

A mate of mine Anthony decided to make a real effort to meet Miss Right. He thought Online Dating was a good idea because ‘she’ seemed to be hiding somewhere. He began chatting to Anna and they clicked (literally). There wasn’t any weirdness, and they enjoyed talking about the same sort of things. They met for coffee, began seeing each other, and the rest – as they say – is history.

My friend Megan also decided that Internet Dating was a good way to meet people. Although a bit embarrassed about it at first (refusing to tell anyone how desperate she felt), she soon realised that she had nothing to lose. Unfortunately for Megan it hasn’t been such a positive experience – all the guys she has met have turned out to be secretly married, or have children which they don’t tell her about. It’s a total shame because these people are ruining the chance for Megan, and other people who just want to find someone genuine.

I guess the romantic notion of meeting someone who looks attractive in their photo, and has all the same interests as you do, can seem like a dream come true. Unfortunately many people do use online dating websites as a way of meeting prospects when their current situation isn’t as desirable as it once was.

Whatever happens, whether positive or disappointing, Internet Dating should be taken with a pinch of salt, because what works for some may not work for others – perhaps it should be viewed as an ‘investment for your future’. One thing is for sure however – it makes you realise you’re not alone and there are many other single people out there.

Go well, go shell
Auckland Girl

Three dates, you might be out

Ah yes. The Third Date. Always a cracker.

It’s the date which either locks in the interest for further investigation/dating; or it’s the red flag which sends you hooning out of the carpark in sheer fear.

Truth be told, I’ve come to dislike The Third Date…

I get more nervous about The Third Date than I do on most first dates. My face breaks out in spots, appearing smack bang in the middle of my eyebrows creating some sort of third eye; or right near my mouth, putting my date off ever wanting to kiss me.

In most cases, dating flows like this:

The First Date – a few casual drinks, perhaps a coffee. You mutually decide if there’s any spark, and if you’d like to see the other person again.

The Second Date – Dinner. This allows you to check that the other person doesn’t speak with their mouth full, treats the waiting staff appallingly, nor make you feel ‘bad’ for ordering a dish high in carbs ‘Are you really going to eat all of that?’….

And then comes The Third Date. The Third Date determines if you can still hold a conversation. Good flowing conversation, with humour and no awkward silences.

The Third Date generally becomes the Flirt Date. It becomes the big pash date (or perhaps more depending on how far you’ve advanced, therefore determining whether you should shave your legs).

If you make it past The Third Date you’re usually onto a good thing.

But what has become known as the Third Date curse is when you never see your date again. You may think things went well on your third date. That you both had a good time and that The Fourth Date will arrive with rainbows and happy endings. But no.

Sometimes you never hear from your date again. No text message, no phone call, no email. You’re left wondering what the hell you’ve done wrong. Was it something you said? Was it what you were wearing? Has he been hit by a train or moved countries?

Simply all that it means is that he’s just not that into you. If you don’t hear from him ever again sometimes it can often be a lot easier on the soul, rather than hearing ‘Look, it’s not you it’s me/I just don’t have time for a relationship right now’……

Whatever happens in dating – curse or no curse – take note of this my sweet: Always be yourself because everybody else is already taken.

Auckland Girl

Sing like no one is listening

Last week my workmates and I decided it would be choice fun to organise a Japanese dinner and Karaoke evening. A real ‘let your hair down, toss aside the shame and do some bonding’ night.

I was looking forward to the Karaoke sing along. I’m quite a shy person, but have no shame when a bit of liquor hits my veins, and I was looking forward to busting out the 80s rock classics. Giddy up!

We headed out to Genji in Ponsonby Road, who offer a ‘semi-private room’ and set menu for large groups. What’s funny is that the room isn’t really semi-private – people parking out the back, or picking up their takeaway order walk through the room to get to the main restaurant. Fortunately we all found it quite amusing and sort of went along with the ‘sing like no one is listening’ theory.

What was even more amusing was the video action which sat on the TV screen from which we read/sang our lyrics. Instead of seeing the video clip for the matching song we were singing (or a fake music clip of some kind), we saw strange late 90s images of people on their summer holiday somewhere in Europe. Lying on beach chairs and pulling their lime green togs out of their bum – unaware that they were being filmed and shown on international Karaoke machines. Hil-ar-i-ous!

It was a pretty fun night singing along to the likes of Bon Jovi and Guns ‘n Roses. Naturally I just couldn’t help myself and sang ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ too. It would be rude not to really.

Have yourself a rad weekend
Auckland Girl

Oh my, you're so funny!

Ah yes, the age old question which can often get you wound up beyond belief…what outfit should I wear on a first date? Furthermore, it’s a blind date – and the thing with blind dates is that you never know exactly what you’re going to get.

Should I dress to impress (first impressions do count), but then again if I put the effort in and he rocks up in his tracky-daks and jandals, then I just know that I’m going to feel like a try-hard.

I remember one time I wore a ‘plunging cleavage’ number on a first date. Bad move. He spent most of the date with his eyes wandering down south and I felt kinda dirty. I wish I’d taken along one of those pashmina shawl things like my mother wears.

Another bad move on a first date is having a bit too much to drink. Naturally meeting someone for the very first time can be somewhat nerve racking, but getting so plastered that you fall over, slur your words or sway a little is not such a classy move.

So I think I’ve decided to keep it simple. Sexy yet classy – and not wear anything too tight so that I can’t breathe or be myself.

But one thing’s for sure – I’m guaranteed to wear my best smile. It is after all what will bring the most success to the date than anything else I choose to wear.

Keep it real
Auckland Girl

Shapeshifter

I’ve been meaning to tell you about my brilliant night out when I saw Shapeshifter live at The Powerstation. Shapeshifter are my current favourite band, I never tire of their music, so seeing them live on stage was enough to cause as much excitement as a 4 year old seeing The Wiggles Live in Concert…..yep, I could’a peed my pants.

Speaking of kids, the concert was – as the kids say these days – MEAN! And I’m talking awesome, cool, wicked – phat even. The Powerstation has recently been refurbished and as we stood upstairs centre stage it almost felt as if they were Shifting Shapes directly to us. I danced like a prime fool but loved every minute of it.

We then headed into town for a few drinks and further dancing.

Namely Chapel and Whiskey Bar on Ponsonby Road, a favourite haunt for girls nights out.

My beautiful friend was busy chatting up a fella so I chose to dance with his mate mostly because I felt sorry for him as he was getting down with his bad self all on his own. Just platonic like, you understand – I’m a nice girl I am

A great night followed by the mantatory 3am crap-but-brilliant-tasting-cos-bit pissed-burger-and chips from the open all night chippy. Solid gold

Hope all’s good in your hood
Auckland Girl

Sick In The City

Oh man! Why is it that every time you quickly pop out to the dairy, dressed in your tracky-dacks, bags under your eyes, no makeup and haven’t washed your hair for two days, you happen to bump into someone who you haven’t seen for over 10 years?!  Why is it that that person looks amazing while you curse silently to yourself and wish you were wearing your darkest shades, possibly even a wig?

This happened to me today. I’ve been sick for 4 days – housebound, bed ridden and had innocently dashed out quick as a fox (my Nana’s words of ‘Don’t get a chill’ echoing in my head) – to feed my bronchitis/cold with the purchase of more panadol, when low and behold there is Miss High School Smarty Pants looking glamorous and beautiful purchasing her bottle of low fat milk. I avoided all eye contact and hope that she didn’t recognise me. I wanted to shout: ‘I don’t normally look like this. Yeah nah, I’m normally pretty tidy me. Yep. Stylish sometimes too’. Instead I coughed and sneezed at the same time, which wasn’t the best move. Argh sods law.

I don’t know about you, but I go a little stir crazy when home for days on end. I’ve slept, made hot lemon drinks, drank litres of orange juice and caught up on ‘Home and Away’. I’ve seen so many adverts for ‘Zumba’ that I cannot wait to get back to the office…

Last weekend a few of us decided to take a day trip to Muriwai. It had been years since I’d laid eyes on the place and I’d forgotten how 45 minutes is all it takes to land you in the peaceful countryside with wild waves and hot black sand which sparkles a shade of purple.  People who live out that way have got it good, and maybe that’s why the Gannets have set up camp there.

I also popped into local neighbourhood bar The Bramble in Onehunga. It’s Onehunga’s best kept secret I reckon (my friends even asked me not to write about it). It’s a delicious small cocktail bar with a beautiful decor and over 2 pages of cocktails on the menu. It’s the type of bar with friendly chatty staff who make you feel at home and it doesn’t matter what you wear either (maybe I should rock up in my tracky-dacks).

Have yourself an ace weekend!
Auckland Girl

Cocktail hour

My lovely friends and I are planning a few cocktails this Friday night. It’s the perfect opportunity to catch up on gossip and to have a bit of a rant – so in honour of this exciting occasion I thought I’d highlight my top favourite cocktails. Woot!

1. Pina Colada

Now that’s what I’m talking about. The creamy pineapple tang mixed with the strong Bacardi and Malibu combination reminds me of long hot summer fun. One of my favourite songs too.


2. Cosmopolitan

The Sex and The City series made this drink a popular number, and it’s still a favourite of mine. Plus all that cranberry juice must be doing something good for your kidneys, right?


3. Feijoa Moscow Mule

I’m not a fan of the feijoa fruit but mix together a blend of Feijoa Vodka, ginger beer, lime and brown sugar and your taste buds will say ‘hello sailor!’ (or ‘Goodnight Nurse’ depending on the situation).


4. Bellini

Classic and chic, a Bellini – Champagne with a dash of peach schnapps – is a simple cocktail which tastes like a million bucks.


5. Margarita

A few people can’t stomach tequila after a few too many nights of innocent fun in their early 20′s, but who doesn’t like a good margarita? The sudden wake up you receive from the bitter salted edge and sour lime taste is also incredibly refreshing – and of course it’s great with corn chips.


What are your favourite cocktails?
Auckland Girl