PaisleyJade

Merry Christmas!

2025-12-25T00:00:00.003+13:00

Merry Christmas from the Drakes!

Retro Granny Stripe Blanket

2025-09-23T14:26:00.002+12:00

I love a good granny stripe blanket, and a while ago started this project inspired by Just Be Crafty. I loved the colours and simple pattern.

I tend to try to complete one crochet blanket a year, but with life having been a bit crazy the past two years, I’ve neglected crochet a bit until lately.

I usually get asked who I’m making my blankets for, and while in the past I have made special blankets for family members, I feel no shame in adding to my unhealthy pile of crochet blankets in our lounge. My motto is, you can never have too many crochet blankets.

So here’s to another fun blanket completed, and here’s to a new one I’m about to start once I’ve uploaded this post, and I can’t wait!

Check out my other finished crochet blankets, click on the photos below...

For more crafty makings, go here.

Family Bathroom Renovation

2025-08-26T22:45:00.000+12:00

Well, it’s been a while but we’ve finally finished the last indoor room of our house - the family bathroom.

Before and afters:

This room was a dark wooden and very damp room and needed quite a bit of work which included my poor husband having to build a whole new wall for our shower due to the walls being so un-square!

We toyed with the idea of a new bath or keeping the claw foot bath - and of course the claw foot won. We also toyed with different layout options but decided to keep the privacy wall for the toilet area and are happy with the final fresh makeover.

There is still a floor spot to varnish and a couple of walls I’d like to find art for, but overall we are super happy with this space!

Massive shout out to my long suffering husband who did most of this renovation on his own - love you 😘

Room Details:

Walls = Dulux Half Haast with Okarito ceiling and trims.

To see more/all of our renovations, click here.

Graduation

2025-06-01T18:43:00.004+12:00

Such a special day last Thursday as we celebrated Shemayah graduating with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology.

We’re so proud of you! 🎓

Loving!

2025-03-08T12:55:00.000+13:00

A few summer photos.

Our Christmas holidays were filled with a few fun adventures, beginning to paint the outside of our house, a beautiful friend’s wedding, delicious food (bacon jam being a major highlight) and many special family moments.

Happy Saturday!

Love you Dad

2024-12-08T20:30:00.002+13:00

Love you Dad ❤️😭

Lawrence Allan Langridge 10/3/49-5/12/24

That’s a Wrap!

2024-11-01T11:37:00.000+13:00

Last official day of school photo. So proud of you Keke and excited for what God has in store for your life.

And that’s a wrap! Twenty years of children at school coming to an end. So thankful for the Renew School teachers and staff who have sown into our family so faithfully.

Strawberry Moss Stitch Blanket

2023-11-21T16:21:00.007+13:00

Hello strangers!

It’s been a while since I posted in this space, but I’m excited to say I’ve completed another crochet blanket! It’s a small baby blanket but I absolutely loved doing this stitch! It was inspired by this pattern, and was so easy and fun to do.

I’m looking forward to starting on some smaller Christmas crochet creations. Anyone have any suggestions? Please post them in the comments below!

Check out my other finished crochet blankets, click on the photos below...

For more crafty makings, go here.

I made a dress!

2023-05-17T12:50:00.001+12:00

Look what I made! It’s called a Maya Ruffle Dress.

One of my dreams has been to sew my own clothes, yet somehow I got stuck. I could make softies and tote bags but the idea of making my own clothes was way too daunting.

After following @_diydaisy for a while and seeing her new book I was intrigued but still didn’t have the confidence to give it a go. Then along came a friend (hey Nanette) who showed me what she had made from the book and I decided to give it a go.

Thanks Nanette for being the inspiration that got me to give it a go, and thanks DIY Daisy for creating something for beginners like me.

I feel so proud of myself, learnt a lot (there was a few unpicking flurries along the way) and can’t wait to try another project.

27 Years!

2023-04-06T07:39:00.002+12:00

Celebrating 27 years married to this guy today! ❤️

They say that it’s not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages. Whether that is true or not, I’m so thankful to have found a guy who is not only an amazing husband but also the dearest of friends.

Thank you for your unwavering faithfulness and for making me laugh on a daily basis.

Love you so much Symon Drake!

Graduation

2023-03-18T19:54:00.003+13:00

We recently got to attend our son’s graduation ceremony as he received his Bachelor of Nursing degree. There were limited numbers to attend but it was so special to have most of our family able to be there, especially my Dad who hasn’t been well. It was also Dad’s birthday!

So proud of you Mykah! You’ve worked so hard during a difficult three years filled with so many disruptions and difficult moments (hello Covid!).

It was so special to be able to celebrate with you!

Photo wall

2023-01-02T08:52:00.005+13:00

Happy New Year!

It’s a new year, so the perfect time to upgrade the photo wall in our kitchen with some of the highlights of 2022.

It’s definitely grown in size since our kitchen renovation back in 2016 (see here).

Originally, I ordered the prints through Social Print Studio and they were amazing quality but not cheap. This time I did them effortlessly through Harvey Norman Photos choosing 4x4” and the white boarder. I also applied them using double sided tape rather than my original method years ago of blue sticky dots that did not last well!

Such a great way to celebrate each year that has passed and get those lovely photos out of your phone or camera and displayed.

If you want to do the same (or even print an annual photo book - I’ll save that for another post) I encourage you to create a folder on your phone for a photo wall or album and throughout the year when you take photos you love, add them to the album. That means when it’s time to create, the photos are there and ready to go.

Short video here. Happy New Year!

Family Lounge Renovation

2022-12-31T20:59:00.011+13:00

On the eve of a New Year we have finally been able to complete another room renovation in our house, leaving only one more room to finish inside, along with painting the outside!

Because this is our second lounge to renovate (visit here to see our Formal Lounge renovation), Symon wanted to have creative control and boy did he have fun!

We kept to our usual colour scheme (see below for a list of paint colours and where items were purchased from) but before we could paint the room there was an awful lot of dark navy wallpaper to remove and walls to plaster!

And this is the part where I let you all know that Symon is an absolute legend. Most of the hard work is done by him and I so appreciate it! Also, jandals and socks… what a vibe.

When we repiled this house, the walls in this room cracked badly, so you can imagine what a mission this room was to prepare.

This room is pretty much a thoroughfare room and quite awkward to design layout for with three walls with doors. Along with that, we didn’t have enough room in our budget for new couches or carpet. Our dream is to eventually have polished wooden floors in many of our rooms but until then, enjoy the progress so far!

Symon wanted a retro gaming room design where he could feature some of his favourite things like his Arcade Machine that he built a few years ago (visit here) and some old authentic cinema boxes that he found in a video store (originally from America) and lovingly restored as well as his fight stick he made (see here). He also could finally display his giant Lego Millennium Falcon (video of that awesome surprise here) and guitars.

This is one of the original rooms of our old bungalow (many additions have been added on over the years) and is a rather dark and cold room in winter but during the warmer months is a lovely cool and quiet place to relax in. Perfect reading or gaming room!

Here are a few before and afters…

Before:

After:

Before:

After…

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

The lights on the cinema boxes look so good at night!

Short room video tour here.

Room Details:

Walls = Dulux Half Haast with Okarito ceiling and trims.

Accessories = Black locker cabinet from NZ Locker Shop, plant basket from The Warehouse, Arcade Machine and Flight Stick made by Symon Drake. Authentic cinema light boxes made in America but purchased from an Auckland video store and lovingly restored by Symon. Cow rug from Trademe. Shelf handmade with brackets from Iron Moa.

To see more/all of our renovations, click here.

Farewell 2022!

2022-12-31T15:41:00.006+13:00

Farewell December and farewell 2022!

December was a tough month as it included burying Symon's mum along with me injuring my back, then the family getting covid again! But there were so many beautiful moments throughout it as well, just like the year of 2022.

Highlights for the year included going to Wellington with my daughter Shemayah, our church thriving despite a tough season, Mykah graduating as a registered Nurse, amazing moments with friends and family, the best Christmas Production, finishing more renovations to our house, and Totoro coming into our lives.

I'm sure I've missed things but I’m going to keep this “1 second a day” daily snippet tradition I post monthly over on my instagram going as it reminds me every day to take a second each day and be thankful no matter what the circumstances.

To check out our one second of every day for a year video, visit here!

Happy New Year everyone!

To check out my annual year in reviews, visit here.

A Different Christmas

2022-12-24T12:18:00.004+13:00

This Christmas will be a little bit different with two of our family members missing this year - Symon’s Mum (Grandma) and my Nana (June Nan).

It felt strange this year not purchasing them their usual Christmas treats. Mum Drake always loved and looked forward to her annual homemade calendar featuring photos of the kids, grandkids and great grandkids from throughout that previous year.

While June Nan always loved her chocolate covered ginger. She knew I got it for her every year, but without fail would act surprised.

Memories are funny things, often triggered by locations, smells and traditions. This means occasions like Christmas are filled with treasured memories and often time when loss is involved it can make those seasons extra hard.

I still miss my brother dearly, nearly 23 years later, but cherish one of my most favourite Christmas memories with him as a child.

It feels just like the scene off “A Christmas Story” (no not the part with the leg lamp) but the part where the family are gathered around the Christmas tree and all the presents have been opened, then the Dad points out something hidden over to the side of the room, and there Ralphie finds his dream toy - yet in my memory my Dad pointed out an odd shaped gift and it was a surprise for my brother. It turned out to be his very own unicycle!

I remember feeling so excited for my brother. The shock, surprise and joy was equally mine as well as his, even through the gift was not for me. That summer my memories are full of my brother learning to ride that unicycle. He spend many hours learning to ride it in our passage way then out on the back lawn holding a rope strung up across the section until he mastered it.

Loss can ring extra loud at this time of year, but when I start to remember the good memories and cherish them with a thankful heart the deep loss melts into joy, thankful to God for the precious gift of those we love greatly.

Good bye

2022-11-27T22:16:00.002+13:00

Heaven is even richer today.

Farewell to an AMAZING Mother-in-law, mum and Grandma.

Welcome to the family Totoro!

2022-11-05T13:32:00.001+13:00

Introducing our newest family member Totoro (fondly known as Toto), our blue English Staffordshire Bullterrier puppy.

We've been talking about getting another Staffy for some time now, but always said it would be in a couple of years time. Plans changed when we came across these pups in Thames for sale!

We miss Boo so much still, so it's pretty special having a new staffy around, although we are missing sleep abit (it's like having a newborn again!).

Here's to many adventures with Totoro!

Lately!

2022-10-07T16:47:00.005+13:00

It has been forever since I've shared a 'Things I've Loved Lately' post or aka 'What's been happening lately post'.

Ever since Instagram has arrived, Blogging has taken a back seat, apart from being the perfect place to post Renovation stories. But I'm determined to keep this digital diary semi updated, as I love looking back later at the highlights of life.

So here are a few things that have been happening lately - like over the last part of this year! Quick fire version because I haven't done this in a long while!

Puzzle mania... and also discovering that good quality puzzles can be held up!

Vegan cooking! I'm not plant based or vegan, but a friend gave my husband the most delicious cook book for Christmas that I've had heaps of fun experimenting with. My favourite have been trying the different curries!

Walking with friends! Weekly fun... with a little bit of sweat.

Mega McDonald's family meal to celebrate a family birthday.

Captain Haddock aka Archi arrived, our daughter's Blue Tongue Lizard.

And now a few months on he looks like this...

We had the best season hosting church in our home and other homes throughout our city.

Mykah bought his first car!

We got to see many of our gorgeous friends and family finally after being separated for so long with covid lockdowns!

And church has been amazing as always!

We replaced our old leaky and rusty roof (cha ching)...

And have been invited to some great parties!

My and Symon had the sweetest little road trip away to Auckland for our 26th Wedding anniversary earlier this year! So much fun exploring the city and finding great cafes and food places!

The annual Oscar watch party happened... And boy, what a watch it was. Wow. Just got to say, big shout out to Coda taking out so many awards! Such a great film.

Wedding snaps with Symon - he officiated a wedding recently, so I had to grab some photos while we were dressed up.

Just some photos of our four cats. Just for fun.

We also had a murder mystery party to celebrate Monique's birthday earlier in the year! It was so much fun.

Mother's Day celebrations! I got the privilege of talking to these amazing girls on Mother's Day as they shared their stories. There were a lot of tears and laughs! You can watch it here.

Birthday celebrations for our girl turning 18 happened!!

We celebrated Monique's recent course completion (Certificate in Christian Ministry)!

And I'm so happy my girls have all learnt to crochet!

We also loved celebrating our eldest's birthday too!

Last photo dumb below, then I'm gong to try so hard to keep this space updated more often!!

So thankful for so much!!

For more Loving/Lately/Thankful posts, click here.

Ginger and Chai Cake

2022-09-27T09:31:00.003+13:00

What do you make when you have a heap of chai syrup to use up and it's a holiday to remember Queen Elizabeth II, so you're in the mood to make a fancy cake?

I found a recipe online here and have adapted it to make my own aromatic, spicy chai cake and it turned out delicious!

Recipe below - enjoy!

Ingredients

1/4 - 1/2 cup chai syrup

300g butter

2 cups caster sugar

6 eggs

2 cups self raising flour

1tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground cardamom

1/4 tsp ground ginger

Ginger Cream-Cheese Icing

250g cream cheese, softened

150g butter, softened

1/4 cup brown sugar

4 cups icing sugar (sifted)

2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 170°C and grease and line two 22cm cake tins.

Measure out 1/2 cup chair syrup (or 1/4 cup and make up to half cup with water. If you don't have chai syrup, soak chai teabags in 1/2 cup of boiling water and set aside to cool.

Beat the butter and sugar until thick and pale, then add the eggs, one at a time, beating well. Sift in the flour and spices and mix well to combine.

Add the chai syrup (or cooled chai tea with tea bag removed) to the batter, beating constantly.

Divide the batter evenly between pans, spreading to even the surface, then bake for 45-50 mins until golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Cool cakes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Icing

Beat the cream cheese, butter, brown sugar and icing sugar until smooth. Add ginger and cinnamon and beat to combine.

Ice cake and dust with ginger or cinnamon before serving.

Enjoy!

For more delicious recipes, visit here.

Love you June Nan

2022-09-08T17:27:00.001+12:00

Today one of the sweetest people left this earth 💛

Love you always June Nan xoxo

Happy 90th June Nan

2022-06-26T17:03:00.001+12:00

Today my beautiful Nana turned 90! 🎉

She's had a crazy few weeks in hospital, but we celebrated with a pop up 90th birthday in the hospital lounge.

If you knew the life story of this lady you would be blown away. Despite the ups and downs, she still has a beautiful sweet spirit and cheeky sense of humour.

I asked her about the favourite era of her life, and she said it was her old age. When asked her biggest life lesson, she said it was learning to stay close to God.

Love this legend so much. ❤️

26 Years Married

2022-04-06T21:24:00.002+12:00

Twenty six years married today. Besties from the beginning.

Love you so much babe. ❤️

Happy birthday Dad ❤️

2022-03-10T07:44:00.002+13:00

Happy birthday to my Dad today. I love you so much Dad. ❤️

You've taught me all the important things in life... like how to drive a car, surf, swim, snorkel, ride a bike, fish, spear crabs, plant a vege garden, skateboard, re-wax my surfboard, renovate houses, make pippi fritters, change a car tyre, run a shop counter, make bone carvings, scout out a bargain at a garage sale and so much more.

I've pretty much only taught you how to save photos to your laptop 😂

You are the best Dad and most amazing Pop. Hope your birthday is special.

❤️Kris

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary!

2022-02-05T07:38:00.003+13:00

Happy 50th wedding anniversary to my beautiful parents today! 🎉💒❤️

F I F T Y Y E A R S !!

Life has sure been a roller-coaster ride for you both, but you've hung on for the ride and been an amazing example of commitment with such beautiful hearts to help others along the way.

Love you both to bits and sooooo proud to call you my parents.

Things I'm loving....

2022-01-18T12:38:00.001+13:00

Back at work but still choosing to celebrate the gold in each day! 💛

For more Loving/Lately/Thankful posts, click here