Summerdaze

Hello strangers! Been a long time, shouldn’t've left you without a dope beat to step to. I’m so sorry I have been MIA, partly it’s because I’ve been thinking about starting a new blog, something that’s a bit more me now and little less twee. Don’t worry, I shan’t be forsaking all the twee, ya’ll know I still love kittens, I’m just not quite happy with the name of this one.

I have been having a marvelous summer, I’ve ticked off so many things on my Summer Goals list without even meaning to, only about five things left to go! I thought I’d start my return to blogging by sharing my summer instagrams with you.

Wellington: Eating, drinking, Christmas parties, and more recently, gigs. This weekend I went to Fleet Foxes and Beirut – too much fun.

 

Auckland: Awesome Christmas family time, shopping and strolling in Cornwall Park. All the food.

 

Raumati: Holidaying in a spacious bach with lots of good people. Rain, sunshine, barbeques, fancy NYE dinner complete with cat’s ears, fluffy neighbour kittens, and I Have Never in the best fort ever.

Nelson: The ferry, a bed and breakfast with a glorious garden full of tuis and friendly cats, beer tasting, magical treehouses. Not pictured: Emma’s amazing wedding! I was too busy helping Jason take the official photos to grab any snaps.

 

Sorry for such photo-heaviness, I only put up about half of what I wanted to! If you’d like to follow me on instagram, search for kate_mcleod.

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Summer Goals

Props to my friend Willow for making me want to make my own Summer Goals.

Help cook Christmas dinner.
Picnic.
Read a billion books.
Eat fish and chips (sans fish) by the sea.
Take film photos.
Drink smoothies galore.
Find delightful dresses in small-town op shops.
Write in parks and cafes.
Discover new music.
Make tomato pie.
Wear flowers in my hair.
Have a fancy dinner on NYE.
Go to weddings in Nelson and Whakatane.
Drink at a winery.
Tell ghost stories or play truth or dare in a blanket fort.
Make new animal friends.
Cook halloumi, asparagus and portobello mushrooms on a barbeque.
Plan overseas adventures.
Share homemade brunch with friends.
Turn somersaults (FLIPS) in the ocean.
Eat blueberries on chocolate cereal.

 

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Cats ‘n’ things

Meet the cat phone! I am now finally able to instagram your faces off.

The Gentlewoman is basically the best thing ever. Except maybe for my new Nathalie Lete designed hankerchief that my dear friend Lizzie brought me from Paris. Ooh la la!

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Charlotte Taylor

Charlotte Taylor, cutest! via calivintage.

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Ella Gingerbread

Hey guys. Sorry I haven’t been around. The week before last I found out my cat Ella was really sick, and she had to be put to sleep. She lived at my Mum’s house so I wasn’t able to be there. Thankfully I visited for my birthday and spent a lot of time sneaking her into my room to snooze on my bed. I’ve wanted to write about this all week, but it’s been so much harder than I expected. Poor little kitty, I’ll miss her so much.

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Books I’ve known and loved

Friends! Today I bring you some of my favourite books. While they’re mainly very obvious choices, I always enjoy hearing the recommendations of others so I thought I’d share. And maybe you could share some of your favourites too?

Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
My favourite Murakami, alongside Kafka on the shore. This beautiful cover is illustrated by M. S. Corley.

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Rarely am I affected by a book as much as this. Haunting and heart-rending.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
I think everyone I have recommended this to has enjoyed it.

Jane Eyre by Emily Bronte
I’m such a fan girl. I yearn for a Nanny/Jane Eyre crossover with Fran Drescher shouting “OH, MR ROCHESTER!”

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
It was hard to get into the first time I tried, but well worth it when I did. This and Alias Grace are two of her most satisfying books. I also loved Oryx and Crake but after not enjoying its companion book The Year of the Flood, I wonder if I was wrong about it. Time for a reread.

Leviathan, or, The Whale by Philip Hoare
I saw Philip Hoare speak at the readers and writers festival a year or two back, he’s such an interesting man. And BFFs with John Waters! I haven’t read Moby Dick (it looms on the shelf), which plays a large part in the book, but I really love whales.

What’s the best thing you’ve read lately?

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