Over-packers anonymous...

I am headed off in the early a.m. back to Nantucket for another great summer, but I had to get some things together today before the fun begins.

When it comes to packing, I never leave anything behind.

I am exceptionally good at is Over-packing.

I try to squeeze as much stuff as I possibly can into the smallest spaces. I spent today fitting as many sweaters, shorts, swimsuits, denim, tank-tops, books, sheets, and towels into a Sterilite Box (from my sisters leftover baby boxes) that will only fit sideways into my back seat and occupies 3/4 of it.

Using almost an entire roll of packing tape,

I think it may be safe to say my things won't be going anywhere.

I am not too worried about anyone breaking in and stealing it either.

My motto"You can lift it, you can have it" because after you try, you will most likely have to go to the hospital from throwing your back out (if you know me and clothes then you are probably laughing right now).

I brought a few other things, that I thought were necessary this summer.

A lamp, because everyone needs a little light in their life.

A 3d 5 photo picture frame for some fun memories.

My Tempurpedic pillow. I sold my bed before I left for NZ, but just couldn't part with this fabulous sleeping necessity.

Another suitcase full of clothes for the 3 day drive.

My sewing machine, for those days I get bored when it decides to rain all day, like the 1st 45 days last spring/summer.

Comforter and pillows, taking up way too much space. ugggh

18 pairs of shoes, and this was after 3 elimination rounds.

And last but not least,

My mom (and her suitcase) and my dog Boots (and his 6 shirts)!

But,

The biggest challenge:

Fitting all of it in the car in the morning.

Wish me luck, so I don't have to start eliminating!

I really hope I don't have to leave my mom behind...

Last Day in New Zealand :( What a TRIP!!!!

I can't believe my trip has come to an end (as of tomorrow). These 4 1/2 months flew by. (teardrop...)

I met many wonderful people who have touched my life in countless ways.

From living in Queenstown, to traveling the South Island, Sydney, and Brisbane for 6 weeks, and back to the North Island for some final days of exploring.

New Zealand is a special place, many areas still so untouched, not overdeveloped, and I truly hope it stays this way.

To most people, not being able to check into your hotel or find anything open after 8 pm in most of the South Island may be an inconvenience, but I find it charming. These people enjoy their simple lives and don't rearrange theirs for your convenience. They show you a different way of appreciating life; an uncomplicated pleasant experience that will warm your heart on the coldest day.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MY TRIP...

Of course, I must start off with the numerous nights going out in Queenstown to Barmuda, Bardeaux, and Mini Bar with my fellow co-workers. You guys rock!

Driving through the Catlains, the south of the south. So many beautiful waterfalls, beaches, cliffs with spectacular views, penguins, seals and my favorite obsession, lighthouses.

Climbing FOX Glacier. It's only one of around 370 in New Zealand (yes there really are that many here!) This experience will leave you fascinated, from the surges pushing through down below, to the deafening ice cracks that make you jump in your skin.

Bike wine tasting in Renwick, just outside Blenheim.Luckily they don't give out BUI's here.

Milfred Sound: Breathtaking... (my hand looks abnormally large here haha)

The ABEL TASMAN HIKE: If you only have time for one multiple day hike, then this IS IT! Rainforrest, Beach, more hiking, beach, swimming, you get the picture...

Feeding Alpacas breakfast at the Campground we stayed at in Hanmer Springs (South Island). I was convinced I was buying one for my mom for Christmas this year, until I found out they are $3,000 each...

Sleeping in An airport.

Not really a highlight and by far the worst picture someone has ever taken of me, but I had to mention it...

Being a Beach bum in Mt Maunganui (North Island)...

This place has the most beautiful sunsets literally EVERY evening!

Auckland! The City of Sails.

This is now one of my favorite cities.

So many trendy boutiques, cool restaurants, cafes, and most of all friendly faces at every corner you turn.

And last but def. not least...

Sheering a Sheep while Staying on a real NZ farm in Gore (South Island)! This was my #1, Obviously, Due to my other obsession: farm animals, they are so cute, cuddly and, yes, also very stinky.

There are so many others that I didn't mention, so you'll just have to come and experience them yourself...

I'll be returning to Nantucket Island, MA

for a second summer season

May 1st

and I have plenty of things up my sleeve for next winter.

I have NO idea where in the world I will be,

but one thing is for sure,

I will be loving my life as always...

Breakfast at Bambina...yummmm

Walking around this morning I stumbled upon this the trendy bustling breakfast spot

BAMBINA

located in the Ponsonby neighborhood.

A simple sizzling menu with ANY-WAY-YOU-WANT-THEM Eggs, 4 types of Toast, delectable sides and an immense array of mouthwatering scones, muffins, and cakes to choose from all displayed elegantly.

The ambiance is what did it for me...

The staff will make you feel like your in your grandmothers kitchen on a Sunday morning.

AND

They have literally every current publication you can think of to browse from VOGUE to the New York Times.

LOVE THIS!

If you are in Auckland, Bambina (268 Ponsonby Road) is a great way to start your day!

Bus...Oh how I love thee.

I finally got off of my beached as bum today and headed to Auckland

The City of Sails.

I spent the last 10 days relaxing at the beach in Mt. Maunganui,

a gorgeous area in the North Island, and also made 2 day trips to (you guessed it) 2 other beaches:

The Coramandel Region and Manu Bay, a world famous NZ Surf spot with the worlds longest left. I even took a surf lesson and managed to stand up and ride a few baby waves.

Ocean.Sun.Sand.

You have to be crazy not to love it.

As I was saying, I was headed up to Auckland, a 3 hour bus ride from Tauranga.

YES.

I said BUS.

I've managed to avoid them the rest of my trip in New Zealand.

As I boarded with the others, I had flashbacks of November 2007, riding on the bus from Paris to Barcelona.

On this particular European bus ride, I was awoken to a foreign Spanish man trying to play footsies with me and winking at 1am...then again at 1:33 am...2:04am and so on. When we finally arrived in Barcelona it was 5 am (STILL DARK) on a Saturday morning as we pulled up at the bus stop. Now, on this trip I had NO computer, and NO Phone. I walked a few blocks until I came upon all the drunkards leaving the bar. Cut back to todays story...

I was thinking 'oh hear we go again'. I took my Bright Blue Bench seat, pulled out my book and my ipod to pass the 4 hours ahead of me. A phone rang to the tune "wild thing" and i thought we were in Mexico or quite possibly a Taco Bell commercial from the over-bleached blonde woman's high pitched voice. The small asian woman can't figure out why she has to change buses three times, speaking in a soft voice with broken English so the driver has to repeat himself 8 times.

15 minutes later we were on our way; there was something else on the way as well: 2 stinky teenagers who apparently had never heard of deodorant sitting across from me.

I blocked it all out, read my new book (The Tender Bar), listened to La Roux, and drank my water... too much of it in fact.

3 hours had passed and I felt like I was going to burst! At the next stop I hopped off to tinkle and when I came out the bus was pulling away. I had to run and beat on the door until the bus driver turned around and realized he had forgotten about me! The nerve. I was so happy to get off that bus when we arrived in Auckland.

But it is all part of the adventure...if not, what would I have to write about today?

Buses may not be the most appealing, pleasant, or peaceful way to travel, but they sure are the cheapest (especially when you have as much luggage as I do).

Virtual Spring Cleaning...

When I turned my computer on this evening,

I got the message,

" Your memory is full, please delete some items."

or something like that.

Sometimes I feel the same is true of my brain when I have had a really long day.

If you really want to know someone, I say take a look into their computer, and you will get a pretty good idea of who they are. I believe the last 4 years of my life can easily be summed up on mine.

My iBook G4 is turning 5 this year!!

That's REALLY old in computer years.

In Fact, most computers would be retired at this age, but not mine.

There is nothing wrong with her, she's just a little fuller than before, running a little slower, takes longer in the morning when she wakes up, you know the typical stuff you get with old age.

BUT...

She has an old soul, a lot of drive (but much less than I previously thought), and is full of wisdom, which of course, comes with age.

As I browsed through to do some virtual spring cleaning, a lot of old memories popped up with the many double clicks of my finger...

*A video a classmate and I filmed and edited for a Gender and Communication project that left the class in hysteria.

*Various folders with the many talented clothing designers I've worked with including pictures from photo-shoots, fashion shows, E-Vites to fashion fundraisers I worked on, written press releases, etc.

*Writing, doodling, jotting, note taking from college.

*Business plans for the Boutique I was going to open, but decided to go to Europe instead (so glad I made that decision, right?).

*My coffee table book in progress (which I need to soon put into action).

And my most treasured...

*8,787 pictures of birthdays, past relationships, friends (old and new), Big night outs, and trips to London, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia... and soon to be more because I haven't uploaded them from the last 2 weeks yet.

The last 4 years of my life are on this thing.

I played with a few,

but couldn't actually delete anything of real substance.

I guess I'm just a computer pack-rat.

So Long: ctrl.alt.delete,

Heres to: enjoy.backup.repeat.

SOMETHING SMELLS FISHY...

As I disembarked the plane in New Zealand,

I had to go through customs,

for it being an international flight.

I made my way to Line B, where you get searched for claming your purchased items.

I began chatting with a girl traveling behind me, but looked up, as I suddenly got a whif of a horrible stench!!!

I peered through the crack in the screen dividing us,

I saw an Indian man who had decided it would be a good idea to bring 2 large suitcases

full of FISH back

from Australia through customs,

and the officer proceeded to open every single bag of it...

Great!

Just how I wanted to spend my 6 hours sleeping in the airport,

smelling like fish.

Not only could I not sleep,

because I had children running around the airport yelling like they were on a playground,

but I now had the nasty smell of

NOT-SO-FRESH

FISH

up my nose.

To top it all off, as I was writing this in the lobby,

the man was actually directed into a room with two officers,

and after I saw his face on the way out, I am assuming it was for a strip search. What a great welcome to New Zealand :)

EXCESS BAGGAGE...

My trip to Australia has come to an end.

I carefully (or so I thought) read read online the rules of my baggage for my flight, knowing I was over the 20 kg weight limit.

I stepped up to the ticket counter in Sydney to check in my bags, expecting to pay $20 for the one extra I had.

The bags were weighed 33 kilos,

and the man behind the counter made a sad face and informed me that it was $10...per kilo I was over weight, meaning I would have to pay $130!!!

"Did you want to leave anything behind?," he said as he saw the worried look on my face.

"Would you want to leave anything behind?", I chuckled trying to lighten the situation.

He asked me to sift through my bags and see if I could fit anything else on my carry-on.

I pulled out my favorite FRYE boots, a few sweaters, and a towel.

I politely replaced my bags,

closed my eyes,

and crossed my fingers.

When I opened my eyes,

29.5 KILOS were staring me right smack in the face.

I unhappily paid the $90 and I was on my way back to New Zealand.

I guess I should have been happy because I got out of paying the fee's on my previous 3 flights.

Lesson Learned:

Excess baggage is never a good thing,

whether it's moving houses,

in relationships,

or at the airport boarding a flight.