Night Snaps : Mission Bay

After dinner on Tuesday night, Rob took me out for ice cream. I forgot to take a photo of our Movenpicks (so so good!) so I thought I'd take a few night snaps instead. Night snaps can be pretty tricky (obviously - there isn't a whole lot of light.) I honestly had no idea what I was doing, but the camera seemed to, so we actually ended up with a couple of goodies. Having this blog has definitely encouraged me to get my camera out a bit more and it's really great seeing myself improve and starting capturing some lovely moments.

Auckland NRL Nines

Last weekend, a group of us went to the Auckland NRL Nines. If you know me at all, you'll be a little surprised that I went. For one, I'm really not a sports fan. Never have been, and I don't think I every will.  Secondly, I'm not one to go to overcrowded "outrageous" places. Something happened one day and I went from a bit of a party girl to more of a home body. This, however, turned out to be a really good weekend.

While I did have fun, I probably won't go again. It was all a little overwhelming for me. But I definitely enjoyed myself and it seemed like everyone else did. The atmosphere was great and I think the costumes really helped everyone get pumped up. I'm aware that these events are usually very alcohol oriented, but I didn't really see anyone get out of hand. Which was awesome. It means that the Auckland Nines aren't just going to be for young party goers. It's perfect for families as well.

If you're into sports and keen for a relaxed and fun filled weekend, they'll be back next year. Make sure you go.

Date Night : Pine Harbour Marina

Rob and I have been spending a bit more time in Howick (where I live) this summer so I thought I would show him some of the pretty sites near by. I decided that Pine Harbour was definitely a must see. We were hoping to go to Maraetai and Beachlands as well but the weather decided to pack up.

There were only a couple of options for lunch so Rob and I went to Pepperjacks. There was so much choice and it was all very reasonably priced. I went with the Steak Sandwich and Rob went with the Open Chicken Cutlet Sandwich. I got fries, but don't worry, we shared them. 

My Steak Sandwich was delicious. And there was so much! Again, I couldn't finish my meal. I told Rob not to get fries with his sandwich because I knew I wouldn't be able to finish mine. Luckily I was right. The steak was super tender and the salad and turkish bread was very tasty. 

Rob really enjoyed his Open Chicken Cutlet Sandwich as well. I think he probably would have liked some extra fries though. Both had the same salad, bread and dressing and they were all perfect.

Pepperjacks was in such a great location - right on the marina, and it was a lovely place to lunch. We had the best view and there was plenty of outdoor seating so we could make the most of what little sun there was. The prices were also very reasonable and the portion sizes were generous.

We will definitely be going back to Pine Harbour again. And hopefully next time we will make it to the beaches nearby as well. They definitely can't be missed!

Date Night : Christmas Lights

A little while ago, I decided to try a bit harder with my blog and share more lifestyle and personal posts. As part of this new theme I decided to have a regular feature called "Date Night." I'm sure you know what this will entail but I will share anyway!

Rob and I have been together for about 2 1/2 years and we don't really go out on dates that much. Of course there is the odd outing here and there but once you are together for awhile it sometimes gets a little hard to get the motivation to go out and spend time together. Don't get me wrong. I love chilling at home, watching movies and lazing around. But sometimes it's nice to get dressed up and go out for dinner. That's why I decided that I will make this new feature called "Date Night" to encourage us to get out there and try new places. 

I also thought I would combine it with a restaurant/food place review to make it a little more interesting. So here we go, my first "Date Night" post.

Union Post in Ellerslie

We  picked Union Post in Ellerslie because I used to live nearby and we have some pretty fond memories of that place. It's part of the Macs Brewbar franchise and I love it! From the mismatched lamps to the colourful stools, there is nothing that isn't charming there.

Rob decided on the Angus Fillet with egg, rocket, hand cut fries and bearnaise sauce. Apparently, it was delicious. There was also a lot of it, which made it worth the price - which wasn't too expensive.

I had the Beer Battered Fish with coleslaw and hand cut fries. There was so much! It was definitely worth what I paid for it, which wasn't much at all. It was actually too much for me and I ended up leaving a bit (which is unusual for me.)

The food wasn't fancy, but that's what we were after. They also had heaps of other food on offer as well as lots of delicious sounding pizzas. Perfect for a nice dinner or just a catch up with a couple of friends. Plus, the people that work there are super nice which is ALWAYS a bonus!

Cookies n' Cream and Berry Sorbet from NZ Natural 

We decided that we had to go and see the Christmas lights on Franklin Road. If you don't know about Franklin Road, every year all the members in each house on the street go all out and decorate their houses with Christmas lights. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Franklin Road is always packed with families walking up and down the street, gasping in awe at the beautiful decorations. I always love going there, it reminds me of being a kid.