Tutorial: Wraparound Dutch Braid

Here is an easy hairstyle that you should rock this weekend.

You will need:

-A comb 

-2 clear hair ties

- bobby pins

Steps:

1. Using your comb, divide your hair on a diagonal, and divide into 2 even parts

2. Dutch braid each side. Dutch braid means 'underneath' braid, picking hair up each time. (Here is a tutorial on dutch braiding.)

3. Continue the braids right till the end, do each side, and tie the ends with the clear hair ties.

4. Bring the right braid up, and pin it into the left side, very close to the left braid. (Put the pin under the left braid so it can't be seen)

5. Repeat on the other side

6. You will now have the hairstyle, but the ends will be sticking our, so push them under the braid they are next to and pin them in. Pin around the braid for extra security

7. Voila! You're done! Spray a bit of hairspray for extra hold if you want

* Extra step. I didn't do this, but when your braids are plaited, and finished, you should 'rough them up' a bit, pull them a bit wider, to give them more volume

Enjoy!

***
Note: I am getting most of these hair ideas from other peoples tutorials, who I will always reference. This tutorial is based on this hair style, and modified by me.

Legacy

It was my parents 30th wedding anniversary recently

I don't know about you, but 30 years seems like a long time. Longer than I have been alive. Longer than I can comprehend being with one person. I vowed to Matt to be with him till death parts us, and God willing that will be a lot longer than 30 years. Its just so hard, from this end of a marriage, to even imagine what we'll be like when we celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. 

I can imagine the obvious of course - a few kids who will not really be kids anymore. Maybe they're off at uni? Finding love of their own? Maybe we'll own our own house, and maybe we'll still live in wellington. Will we still be working at the same jobs?

But all that stuff is immaterial really. I can conjure that up in my mind. But I can't imagine me in 30 years, and I can't imagine me and matt. What will our love be like? What will we have weathered together? What will we have achieved, and what type of parents, of lovers, will we be?

We're both so lucky to have great parents as relationship role models. Matt's parents have been married for over 30 years

And we both have a whole host of grand parents and relatives whose love stood the test of time. Aren't we blessed to have those who can show us how to love? Who have been through ups and downs, and are more in love than ever? Who can still make their kids say 'eww stop kissing!'

I can only hope that Matt and I will be like that to our children. Because, isn't that one of the most important legacies of all?

I love these wedding photos of our relatives, and I thought it was important to have their photos at our wedding day, to honour them. They, like us, were excited, in love, naive and nervous at the start of their marriages. And they made it.

I like to remind myself of those who have gone before, and who have stayed true to love. They have walked that road, and now some of them are gone, but their legacy remains.

And to them all, we say thank you.

The sweetest love poem

When you came you were like red wine and honey,

And the taste of you burnt my mouth with its sweetness.

Now you are like morning bread,

Smooth and pleasant,

I hardly taste you at all, for I know your savor

But I am completely nourished

Amy Lowell, (Decade)

Tutorial: Double Dutch Braid

If you hadn't noticed, braids are in, and they are going to be in for a while longer. Phew, cos I LOVE braids, and all the easy hair styles they afford.

This hair style looks great and is pretty easy to do. Here is the link to the tutorial

I will add a few tips. If you can't dutch (underneath) braid, then you could do a regular french braid or fishtail braid. And you can finish the braid with a small or big bun, or a ponytail. Or if you are feeling like reminiscing your childhood days, you could continue both braids to get a double braid pigtail look.

If your hair is shorter, just continue both braids until they are finished, then pin them up.

Recipe: Crispy Honey Chicken

This recipe is basically a stir fry (quick and easy) with the added deliciousness of cripsy honey chicken. I got the recipe from here

It is SO delicious. Promise me you'll make it

Ingredients (for 2):

200-250g chicken, sliced
1 egg white
1/4 cup cornflour (add more as needed)
1/4 cup honey
1 tbsp soy sauce
Veges of your choice but I recommend:
Bok Choy
Mushrooms
Garlic
Capsicum

Chop veges the way you want them. Put the egg white and the cornflour in their own bowls.

Heat a fryingpan with olive oil and cook the veges. When they are softened add garlic, soy sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for about another minute, then put them aside in a bowl.

You will use the same frying pan for the chicken. Drench each chicken piece in egg white, then cornflour, then cook in the frying pan

Stir regularly until the pieces are cooked. When cooked add the veges back in. Add honey and mix to combine, add more salt and pepper or soy sauce if needed.

Serve with rice or noodles. Enjoy! (You will).