Rarotonga: Part 2

Our second day in Rarotonga the weather forecast was for heavy rain. Luckily we had a lot of wedding organising to do. Meeting with the wedding planner and taking a trip to the court house were high on the priorities, as well as making up the favour boxes for the wedding.

In Rarotonga we learnt pretty fast not to listen to the weather forecast. Yes it rained heavily...until about 10am. Then it stayed overcast a little bit longer before becoming fine and of course hot.

Coolest kid I know, chilling waiting for his Scooby Doo Burger.

It was warm enough to go for a swim/paddle down at the water after lunch. I wouldn't go swimming in NZ after heavy rain! I decided to wear Senorita Bonita as a pedi colour. Island Escape seemed like a very appropriately titled collection!

Senorita Bonita on the sand

Hanging out with that awesome 5 year old Bradley.

 Brad was incredibly cute our first night in Rarotonga. Nicks family flew in a couple of days before us so Brad got a little confused about why we weren't there. That first night we went to hang out with his family and Brad was asleep. He woke up and saw me there, blinked a few times and I went over to him to get a sleepy hug. He said "I thought you weren't coming" and gave me a very sleepy hug. He was very happy to see Nick and myself lol.

Later in the day we caught the clockwise bus. Yup I got that right...the clockwise bus. There's only two buses, clockwise and anti-clockwise. We went in to the town center of Avarua.

Clockwise Bus

Bus stop in the town center with amazing scenery.

When we got back we were in time for happy hour and a stunning sunset.

Nick said he wasn't feeling great and went to bed moaning and groaning. I figured he wasn't too sick, as he ate the pizza I took up to him (which was delicious). I also thought he was trying to get out of making favours.
Unfortunately I checked on him later that night and he was burning up.

Christine (my bridesmaid) Mum, Dad and I made all the boxes, got the ribbon and cut outs glued on and folded all the place setting name cards. I manned the glue gun and managed not to burn myself. High five me!

Favours. Pink for the girls and blue for the boys...yup I'm a primary teacher!

We made the favours up in mum and dads room. It was amazing. They got moved into it that morning as the air conditioning was playing up in their original room. Instead of moving them into another beach front room, the hotel moved them to one of the VIP suites. It was so big and spacious, had a massive bathroom, had a spa bath, amazing views out to the ocean...but unfortunately the next day the air con gave up in that room to...so they moved them into the VIP suite next door. I'm wondering if Dad was just unlucky when it came to using the air con! In all fairness it was the remote that wasn't working. A sensor was broken?

Rarotonga: Part 1

We did so many awesome things and took so many incredible photos during our stay in the Cook Islands that I've decided the best way to share it with everyone is by splitting everything into days. Don't worry the wedding was day 4, so you won't have to wait too long! (If you can't wait to see the wedding pics email me and I'll link you to facebook)

Anyway the first day was getting up at 5am, reshuffling things in my suitcase and double checking I needed everything. I'm notorious for over packing...my suitcase weighed a lot more than it was supposed to. Luckily I got it down to size!

I think one of the awesome things about our trip was the fact that we were surrounded by people we care about and spent an awesome time with friends we don't get to see as often as we'd like.

Anyway we got up to Auckland airport and had to transfer from the domestic to the international. So here we are waiting for the bus. Mum, myself and my brother were 'lucky' enough to get in this picture taken by dad. Yup that cream bag is my wedding dress, mum didn't trust me to look after it! She even started referring to herself as keeper of the dress! I'll have to get her a t-shirt printed.

Keeper of the Dress

 The flight to Rarotonga was horrible for me. I had a sinus infection still and wow, it felt like my eye was going to explode from my head, my head was going to split open and my nose I can't even explain the pain. Darn pressure. After 3 cups of tea, 2 ibuprofen and 2 paracetamol the pain subsided enough for me to eat and watch Hop... The air steward gave me some awesome smelling oil stuff for landing, and it wasn't so bad as it could have been.

When we landed in Rarotonga it was kind of a shock.  It was hot, we had to walk on the runway to get to the terminal, the scenery was amazing and we were the only plane in.

Our plane right outside the door, while we lined up with everyone else to go through customs.

Going through customs was another shock. We had a lot to declare. Food, alcohol, medicines...They let us straight through.

When we got outside it was hotter than it had been in the airport! And we got lei'd. Nick and I got special ones as we were the wedding couple.

Outside the airport.

On the bus to the resort.

 The landscape of Rarotonga is very beautiful. Lush and green and palms everywhere.

From the window of the bus.

We got to the resort just in time to catch the sunset from our room. This is one of many amazing sunsets we saw in Rarotonga. Unfortunately there was some cloud cover that first evening, but wait until you see some of the others. Spectacular.

Sunset with cloud cover.

I can tell you we slept well that night. Well at least until the most awesome thunderstorm ever woke us up. When we get thunder and lightning in NZ it always comes with rain...normally heavy. This thunderstorm was just thunder and awesome lightning. It went on for ages out to sea. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of the lightning...the air con was on too cold and I didn't want to leave my bed!

And a quick thank you to Beauty Behaved and nailsbycourteney from An Amateur's Nail Obsession who have both given me awards. I will post them, promise! It just might be a little later in the week.

Some Updates

We flew back home yesterday and arrived just after lunch. After being deprived of internet for 10days I went straight to blogger to catch up on nail goss I'd missed.

Thank you everyone who commented on my posts over the last week and a bit. I've just finished reading everyones comments and thought I'd respond to some of them here :)

First up beachgal requested that I add the 'follow by email' widget to my blog. Done! She also asked that I put up some contact information. I've added my email and a facebook page will be coming soon. I wasn't trying to be reclusive not adding contact information...I just never thought anyone would want it! So thanks beachgal, I've added the widget so you can follow via email and added my email just in case!

When I posted my NYX Girls polishes a number of people made comments wishing they could get NYX polishes where they lived and asking where I got mine. Well NYX isn't available here, but lucky for me I know where to buy them online. Cherry Culture and Beauty Joint are both sites I've used and been pleased with. Beauty Joint has better pictures if you're unsure of what colours you're after.

Anyway I'll get around to posting some after holiday haul shots, some holiday snaps, some wedding pics, maybe a swatch or 2 and an award from beauty behaved later in the day and through out the week.

By the way Rarotonga was awesome and I highly recommend spending a lazy week in Raro to everyone!

Nail Prisms: Lapis Amethyst 14

I couldn't resist scheduleing a post for the day I lose. I leave Rarotonga in the afternoon on Thursday and arrive in Auckland at 8pm on Friday night... I lose the whole Friday! Even though it's only a four hour flight. International date line strikes again!

Anyway Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand, not the capital, I live in the capital Wellington. We couldn't get a decent flight back to Wellington tonight, so we're staying in a new hotel in between the international airport and the domestic. It was opened a month ago, so we managed to get an opening special on the room :)

Since we're back in New Zealand and in a city again I thought I'd show everyone a grey toned 'city' mani. Nail Prisms Lapis Amethyst. Its a dulled greyed purpler with blue duochrome.

Lapis Amethyst 14

Very appropriate for being back in winter and New Zealand. We fly home tomorrow...then I have Sunday off and back in to school on Monday... should be interesting!

Color Club Starry Temptress

And now for some seasonally inappropriate polish, well it's winter in New Zealand! Lucky for me I'll still be in Rarotonga when this posts :)

I love the Starry Temptress collection from Color Club this year. It's just so bright and pretty. I know a lot of people were disappointed that the glitter wasn't sparkley enough, but for me, I like it just the way it is. It's interesting to have a glitter in a neon that dries not shiny.

Space Case

Space Case is my favourite. Shimmery light/bright bubble gum pink with glitter. Very pretty and girly and totally matches my new blonde hair!

Ultra-Astral

Of course my camera freaked with Ultra-Astral. Neon pink...with glitter.

Wink, Wink, Twinkle

Wink Wink Twinkle is a really pretty purple neon. The glitter makes it interesting.

Otherworldly 

I love love love Otherworldly. It's awesome. Blue sea from space...I don't know but it's awesome! I love it. The glitter seems a bit sparklier as well.

Glitter Envy

Glitter Envy was my St Patricks day mani. Everyone at school loved it. They thought it was an awesome neon green. I must say I agree. It's pretty cool!

You Got Soul-ar

You Got Soul-ar is probably my least favourite...it's hard to capture as well. It's just neon orange...I love a nice bright orange polish...but neon...might still be a bit much for me.

Starry Temptress

The name sake polish is Starry Temptress a pretty glitter designed to go over any of the other polishes to sparkly them up. Awesome! My new favourite glitter.

I would have taken these polishes on holiday with me...but I banned myself from taking any glitters. Who wants to spend time taking off glitter on holiday! So I've stuck to cremes and shimmers in bright tropical colours.

Nyx Girls Polish: Tropical Tones

Today should be Monday...but you never know when you schedule posts! Monday is a public Holiday in Rarotonga so I thought I'd show some tropical toned Nyx Girls polishes I bought recently.

Pistachio

Seriously love this fresh turquoisey minty shade. It's such a pretty clean look on your nails. Perfect for a day at the beach...or any other occasion!

Lapis

Gorgeous jelly like blue. The sky should be blue and the sea should be blue...whilst I'm sunbathing... In all seriousness Lapis is a very pretty polish. It does remind me of Essies Lapis of Luxury but i think that's more the name and consistency not the colour.

Mermaid Green

Oh!!! I love Mermaid Green. I thought it might be dupey for CG Four leaf Clover...but at least when I compare the bottles it's not. it's a gorgeous jewel toned bright green with a smidge of blue in it. Hhighly awesome colour. I hope it doesn't stain.

Golden Lavender

Golden lavender reminds me of pictures I've seen of Zoya Zara. Gorgeous paled purple/lavender tone with so much gold shimmer shot through it. Seriously the golden shimmer is amazing!

Nail Prisms: South Sea Pearl 04

Today should be Saturday...which means I got married yesterday!

In Rarotonga there are Saturday markets, so my plan is to get up and get myself down to the market. Nick is thrilled with the idea of rushing off to the markets the day after our wedding. But we're only in Rarotonga for one Saturday so we have to go!

Al the guide books I've been looking at mention buying pearls in Rarotonga...so here's a rather weddingish pearl toned polish...Nail Prisms South Sea Pearl.

South Sea Pearl 04

A soft white with flashes of pinks, greens and even some purple tones. A very pretty delicate pearl white that would be very appropriate for a wedding mani! I'm planning to paint my nails in BB Couture Tink Pink, but South SEa Pearl could have been an option!

Nyx Girls Polish: Dorothy

Well I should be in Rarotonga, Cook Islands sipping on a delicious cocktail in the sun...hurriedly trying to finish making wedding favours and making sure everything is going to plan. I'll be able to fully relax on Saturday!

I bought Dorothy for my mum. I have Deborah Lippmann Ruby Red Slippers and thought she'd love one too. The Lippmanns a little expensive so when I saw the Nyx Girls Polish on special I ordered Dorothy for mum. She squealed excitably when I gave it to her. Almost as much as she squealed when I gave her a black creme polish.

Dorothy is a black jelly with large red hex glitter and smaller red glitter. A very pretty polish, I'd be more inclined to wear it over a black creme. This was only 2 coats though not 3.

Pink Wednesday with Nyx

Well I should actually be in the air between Wellington and Auckland if this posts at the correct time!
Our international boarding is at Wellington Airport so we have to leave at 6am to get there on time.
we'll have a bit of time spare in Auckland airport, but that's better than cutting it so close you're running.

When we arrive in the Cook Islands it will be  Tuesday. Even though we left on Wednesday! Got to love the international date line. Nick says the Cook islands are 22 hours behind us. I've been saying they're 2 hours ahead yesterday. I mean come on, isn't it easier to add 2 hours than to take away 22 to find out the time?
Apparently I'm illogical, he's the one marrying me though!

Anyway I wont actually be wearing pink today but I have been saving Nyx Paradise Nude to show you.
i thought it was the perfect pink to show you all as I'm on my way to Rarotonga to get married in paradise.

Paradise Nude

I had a few issues with patience and applying too much polish to my nails....but i'm sure you get the idea of the colour! just ignore my mistakes. Paradise nude isn't a very special pink, it's actually kind of boring. bright pink creme. But it's a really nice pink! And who doesn't want to be nude in paradise...

Zomg!

Quick post for all the NZ polish addicts...

I just picked up Orly Fowl Play from Farmers.
They did have the whole Birds of a Feather collection but I just picked up Fowl Play...
It's glorious!

That was from Farmers in Cuba so I presume everywhere else has it!

Hard Decisions!

Thank you everyone for your kind messages yesterday. I spent a large amount of today in bed, my nose has been running like a tap and my sinuses are hurting. I saw some drugs at the supermarket for sinus and sinus related headaches...but when I read the back it said I couldn't take my other drugs with them. So I'm sticking to ibuprofen and my antibiotics.

I did manage to get out of bed today, around 2pm, and finish packing. My case weighed in at 26kg when we weighed it... opps! I'm allowed 23kg. After some juggling between cases, Nicks weighed in at 17kg,  and putting some unneeded things back, my case now weighs 22kg.

One of the hardest decisions I had to make was which polishes to take with me. I pulled all my summer polishes out and swatched and finally narrowed my selection down...

I'll start with the wedding polishes.

BB Couture Tink Pink

OPI So Many Clowns...So Little Time

For my own nails I plan to wear So Many Clowns...So Little Time and Tink /Pink. I love the pretty sparkle of Tink Pink and So Many Clowns just makes it look fresher and more striking. It eliminates that visible nail line.

China Glaze For Audrey

 What would a wedding be without For Audrey. For Audrey will grace my toes as I walk down the beach in my little white sandals.

Orly Taffy

Taffy is the polish that my Bidesmaid chose for her nails. She's not a big polish wearer so a nice soft colour with a hint of shimmer is perfect for her.

And of course I plan to be wearing polish on the other days as well...so here are the polishes I've chosen to take for the holiday. I was dying to take my holo's...but had a bit of a rethink...and decided not to take anything too precious.

China Glaze Blue Iguana

China Glaze Papaya Punch

OPI Catch Me in Your Net

OPI The One That Got Away

China Glaze Gamer Glam

China Glaze High Def

I'm also taking Sinful Colours Thimbleberry, my new go to coral. I just haven't taken pictures of it yet.

I tried to choose polishes that were no mess 2 coaters. But I couldn't resist taking Catch Me in Your Net and Blue Iguana. They'll look so pretty under the sun.