Well, perhaps this one is not your typical stereotype super-heroine, but no doubt you would likely agree when I say: Our mothers! All mothers!
Firstly:
* They carry a child in their womb for 9 months
* After birth, they care less about shedding birth weight than running to their childs bedside upon every whimper, moan or cry 24/7 … though running MUST contribute significantly post-baby weightloss
* The sleepless nights do not end just cause their child now sleeps through the night – long after their child resumes sleep, many hours can be spent through the night thinking about, organising & being anxious about what the next day may hold for them
* They cook; clean; work; do homework; visit teachers; run to sports, events, movies & mates; wipe noses; changes dirty nappys; wash, hang, fold, iron and put away countless items of clothings (it seems); kiss & nurse wee injuries; answer to every child that calls ‘mum’ in a public place; … and do I really have time to finish this list, as it will just go on
* That she literally seems to be stuck with glue by their bedside when their child lays ill
* Their love for their child is undoubtedly unconditional
* Even after their child is grown the above still applies, and really only escalates especially when they have grandchildren

So my real-life superhero: My mum & all mums!

MUM!

Anyway, a picture of a place I have been. I have ventured out of the country a few times & visited the South Island a few times, but visiting places locally has really struck me as most amazing. So I am going to insert photos of our local Mount Maunganui & Papamoa Hills. These pictures were taken from the top during early morning hikoi (walks). Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!!

Mount Maunganui 2009 – Pics 1-4; Papamoa Hills 2010 – Pics 5-6(at the top):

Am I not so fortunate that I live in beautiful Tauranga Moana?!

Well, as so many have already mentioned – it is associated to nail biting, but it is not nail biting as such; I actually have a very decent set of long strong nails … but I pick the cuticles … all the time, I cannot help it … HOWEVER, this isn’t the Bad Habit I was going to highlight, my main bad habit is that I am a YES girl … that’s right, a YES girl

I am a YES girl!

This may sound like a good thing – but it isn’t always, well not for me anyway. They say if you want something done, just ask a busy person. And well, it seems I have earned that label. Being innately aware of this label and desiring to be worthy of such a label, I tend to say YES to pretty much everything and anyone … if it doesnt compromise things/people that are important to me though …

So I have a tendency to bite off more than I can chew, or struggle along with a hoard of tasks whilst still continuing to say YES along the way.

BUT, times are starting to change & I have decided to become somewhat more assertive by perhaps becoming a MAYBE or IF-I-HAVE-TIME girl when appropriate …

So that is my bad habit – watch this space to see if I make further progress with discarding this habit

OK, cant do just one – I have an amazing collection of friends/people around me in different situations, so here is a small collection

This one was taken last year – these are my forever friends!!

Forever Friends

This is one with me & my gorgeous sisters – I heart them with all my heart

Me & my sisters

This one was taken in March 2010 – I have known these girls for over 20yrs – we all went to school together & stayed in touch … Old School Friends

Old School Friends

And last but certainly not least – my lovely Work Collegues who make my job a little sweeter

The Fab Five - December 2009

I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life!

2. What is the meaning of my blog name?

OK, I am a little late with this post, I was out & about all day yesterday!! … which brings me to the meaning behind the title of my Blog: Jaks Tight Ship … this is apt because that is exactly how I have to run things in order to get everything done … I have a lot of committments & things run in order of priority (urgent to well … less urgent).

But it is true, sometimes our crew aren’t always ‘on board’ or obliging, therefore the ship can run a little off course, so it takes a well crafted skipper to realign a ship in rough (busy) conditions … and although I am unsure as to whether or not MNZ will issue me with a ‘Foreign Seagoing Masters’ license & I seem to be running my ship on just a ‘Day Skippers’ certificate, some days our ship sails in the right course & its all smooth sailing …

Sorry for the analogy, I just couldnt think of any other way to describe our life: … Jaks Tight Ship! … but do not fear, periodically the ship is ‘dry-docked’ and then the fun & spontaniety begins … and life is grand!

Jaks - My cocktail party - July 2010

Day One: 1x recent photo of me & 15x interesting (subject to readers preference of course) facts about me

1. I have 2 beautiful daughters: 16yrs & 12yrs & I have 2 awesome sons: 11yrs & 2yrs

2. I have been with my husband since we were at school for almost 18yrs

3. I definitely believe in God & all that that encompasses – & though my husband has alternative spiritual beliefs, we love & respect each other enough not to judge one another … even though I have the truth & he is wrong tehe

4. I am a Wedding Planner & I love it (a born romantic);

5. I also work 4 days a week for Regional Council

6. We have an old villa (over 140yrs old) that we transported from Waiuku to our property in Tauranga 2.5yrs ago & we are still renovating it; though we are on the last part of cosmetically completing it … we’ve come a long way with it & I’m pretty pleased about that

7. We are on a 14ha block & have 1x sow in pig, 2x kuni-kuni, 14 drystock cows, 5x chickens, & 2x dogs – does that make this place a farm?

8. I am a total list freak – perhaps not that interesting, but my friends are gob-smacked at the comprehensive state of my list(s) … hellloooo … 4x kids, 2x jobs & oodles of animals, kinda need a list!

9. I am half Scotish by blood, which kind of freaks people out who think I am just Maaori – and I have never visited Scotland, I keep in touch regularly with whanau who live in Scotland (visiting Scotland is on my to-do list), and I am in fact on the events committee for the Jamieson family reunion planned for 2012 in Thames who came from Scotland. And I am an adept Highland Dancer.

10. I have lived in Auckland, Whakatane & Tauranga

11. In my 7th form year, I was House Captain, a Prefect, and I got Pregnant *gasp*. I was due to give birth on the 20 Dec (I actually gave birth on 21 Dec) … despite this, I continued playing netball & volleyball until the end of the season & I also won the 100m hurdles in my year going on to represent the school whilst 6mths pregnant … obviously some pro’s to being 18 & pregnant, you’re still somewhat limber

12. My amazing dad died 15yrs to the day on the 13th September when he was only 40yrs old – my mum is/was only 1 day younger than him … & although I think she is pretty ‘hot’ she has remained a widow ever since, & not even had a boyfriend … 2 things from that story – my dads death invoked my pursuit for spirituality; & my mums ‘only true love’ sentiment must’ve rubbed off on me … refer #4

13. I really like Black nail polish on my fingernails

14. I am really forgiving, but I find it extremely difficult to tolerate judgemental people … we are all different eh …

15. Spirituality, family, friends, people … PARAMOUNT

Via Twitter I came across a group of innovative Kiwi women all up for Blogging all about themselves in a challenge known at #30DaysOfMe.

And, well, I need a jump start to get myself into a regular routine of Blogging again, so this seems like quite the motivation for me. Starting tonight I will initiate my first post as part of this Challenge.

What will I be blogging about? Me of course.

Here is the list of questions I will attempt to tackle over 30 days:
Via Pebbles Blog

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Your favorite song.

Please bear with me!