Can one be a Foodstagrammer? An InstaGrammer? And what makes a Foodie??

So, I was recently at an event as a +1 and although I didn't feel out of place being at the event, I found it hard to justify why I was there.

With each introduction came the invariable, so are you a blogger too? Well, hrmm.. I update this blog far too rarely to call myself a "blogger".. And to just say " I'm a foodie" seemed like it lacked some kind of substance.. What exactly IS a foodie?? How does one qualify as a foodie?? Or it is something you can just.. BE?

My host very graciously offered that I have a very good Instagram feed.. Can one be a Foodstagrammer?? Is having a good Insta feed enough to get you on an invite list?? It is for some people! But for the average Jane Bloggs, can one now be an "Instagrammer"?? As one can be a blogger? Or do people still want/expect you to produce some form of written content in return for putting your name on the list?

I mean, there are certainly a lot of IG accounts with huge followings and not all of them have a blog they compliment/supplement.. so surely, one can just be an InstaGrammer? But is this enough???

BlogOverhaulin~

Hey peeps!

I have been suffering some mad insomnia this past week.. I slipped back into the habit of being up until 3 or 4 am the couple of weeks before... but I have been awake until 7 or 8am the past few nights (mornings).. I made a concious effort to get to bed early... ie. by 2am.. but I just laid in bed with 10 million things going around and around in my head.. until I gave up the idea of sleep and did some writing in my journal and spent the rest of the hours reading... hoping that as my eyes got tired, my body and mind would too.... No such luck!

I let my mind run free and just wrote down each random thought as it came to me and one of the things I wrote was Blog. Blog More. Blog Often. So I shall try to endeavour to get some life back in this blog and catch you up on all the fun things I've been up to!!

I've lost a lot of steam for blogging lately and I can't really tell you why... I have all the time in the world, I've been on some fun adventures.. but I just haven't sat down and blogged about it... I was blogging a lot more when I was working.. probably because my days were more structured and I would work on posts if I had downtime at work. With no access to facebook... and its evil time sucking ways.. I was a lot more productive with my time online!

Another reason is that I've been wanting to make some changes to how the blog looks but hadn't really had  any inspiration about what I actually wanted to do... I didn't really have a vision when I first started this blog about what I wanted it to look like, so I just went through the paces that blogger gives you and chose what vaguely appealed to me at the time... and I haven't really made any changes since then... Although I think at its inception I actually had a black background, but I don't think that lasted very long! I began to really pay more attention to the layout and design of all the blogs I visit and started to take note of the things I liked or disliked about each page..

So, my insomnia fuelled project last night was to overhaul the blog... I made me a new header from some of the feedback I got from my lame attempts last time... I got rid of the leafy backdrop and even threw in a widget to get you connected with my new facebook page!

One more tweak I would like to make is the height of the navbar.. but I can't seem to figure out how to do it.. the only way blogger will let me is if I change the size of the font.. but I don't want the writing any smaller.. I just want the nav bar to be smaller while maintaining the font size! If anyone knows how I can do this.. please please please let me know!!

If you're reading this on google reader, come check out the blog's new look and have your turn on the soapbox! I've love to know what you think!!


Happy Weekending!!

Caz Monkeys Around on Facebook!

Hey lovelies!!

This blog has a new hangout~

just click on the photo to go~

Come 'like' my page on facebook!! Not only will you be in the know when I write a new post but you will also be privy to lots of extras.. you know all those cool things you see floating around on fb or the web and think, oh that'd be fun to share with my blog readers but then it feels kinda awkward to write a post about one tiny thing, well those are the kinds of things I share on my fb page.

I'm not very good at collecting things and doing a weekly round up like some blogs, I have so much traffic on my personal fb newsfeed that if I don't 'share' something straight away, it's often really hard for me to go back and find it, or remember who it was that posted it in the first place.

I could copy and paste onto blogger each time until I had collated enough to 'warrant a post' but, let's be honest.. I am just too freakin lazy lack that kind of motivation!

So, come join me on facebook and find a recipe for a delicious looking earl grey and chocolate cake, 50+ ways to wear a scarf or how one of these could help you keep loose cables tidy!!

Once I get back to doing outfit posts, you might even find some goofy out-takes on the fb page! I can't tell you what other goodies you'll find there in the future, but be sure to come along so you can find out for yourself!!

See you in FbLand!!

New Header: Part 2

Hi lovelies

I have been playing around with GIMP again... and let me tell you, I can't think of GIMP without thinking "Gay Imprisoned Male Prostitute"... I dunno who told me that once.. but it's firmly lodged in my head... muaahaha.. firmly lodged... oh, I am so juvenile!!

Anywhos, before we sink any further into that sinkhole... here's what I've come up with... Now, I ain't no Art Director.. and coming to think of it.. I ain't much of a copywriter either... (I'm not really sure how I made it through 3 years of university studying Creative Advertising!! but hey.. they gave me the piece of paper at the end!!)

Opinions?? Thoughts?? Suggestions??

Oh and I managed to go back and grab what the header looked like before I changed it to what it is now...

I can't seem to settle on a footer that I like the sound of... I thought the previous one was too long.. but I'm not entirely fixed on "Adventures of the day-to-day" either...

What do you think??

Any/All thoughts and opinions welcome!

Hope you're having a fabulous weekend!!

New header...

Opinions welcome...
Yes?? No?? Love?? Hate?? Meh??

I'm still trying to re-learn my way around GIMP... it only took me about half an hour to figure out how to move a layer... eeep!! So it's nothing overly exciting... but I kinda like that...?? I dunno... it's wayy past my bedtime.. would love to hear your thoughts tho!!

I wish I'd taken screenshots before each change I've made to this blog... so one day I can take a stroll down memory lane and see how it's changed over time...

Will have to remember to do that for the future!!

ps. I think I'm changing the body text font again soon.... any suggestions??

Blog Name Change...

Hey Peeps!

So I have been thinking lately... that I'm going to change my blog name... so that my blog name matches my blogspot address.. I also think that Caz Monkeys Around would be easier for people to remember than just Monkeying Around... and I think the narcissistic part of me just likes that it incorporates my name! :D

The main reason really is so that my blog name and blogspot address are synonymous.. and Caz Monkeys Around is far more unique than Monkeying Around...

I'll make the change in the next couple of days... so don't fret if you think I've disappeared from your blogger reader... I've just moved on up the alphabetical order a little bit!!

[edit] Ok, I thought I could just change the header on my page, but it's gone ahead and switched the name.. so I'm just going to go with it.. Welcome to the new blog! What do you think of the new font?? I'm still undecided...

Wedding Fun & Vacay Note

Hi friends!!
I am feeling a bit of blog neglect at the mo.. Both in the lack of posting and also lack of blog reading that has been happening since I finished up at work.. but I was busy packing and faffing before I left and now I'm in vacay mode!

The weather has been beautiful here in Victoria, which has been a great motivator for me to get off my behind and get out into the sunshine... even if it takes me a few hours to get my a into g most days...  helps that I've had minor jetlag and been waking up around 6/7am every day!

I was lucky enough to be invited to the beautiful wedding of my friends L&JB yesterday, it was on the fishing pier in Sidney, the day was perfect, the ceremony was small and intimate and I felt so honoured to be there to share their day with them. They are just the cutest ever!! The speeches had everyone in stitches of laughter which I think is such a great indication of not only the couple but also the people they have chosen to surround themselves with. It was a day of love, laughter and happiness and I wish them so much joy for their life together as husband and wife!!

In addition to the fabulous wedding for the gorgeous couple, it was also a chance to catch up with some fantastic friends from my life in Canada.. I really am so fortunate to have these wonderful people in my life.. I may not get to see them a lot and we may not always be the best at keeping in touch.. but we always have so much fun when we get together and for that I am so grateful!

Aren't we a good looking bunch?? ; )

Well, I'm off to enjoy some of this sunshine! And pick up a few things for the BBQ we're heading to tonight..

Thanks again to the new Mr & Mrs B!! Along with all the other lovely ladies and gents who made the day so truly memorable!!

Hope you're having a fantabulous weekend!!


ps. there is the potential that I will be AWOL for periods of time! (Vacay Time!!)

30 Days of me - Day 27

Day 27 - Why you are doing this 30 day challenge..

Well, I am still fairly new to this whole blogging thing, so I thought the 30 day challenge would give me some ideas of things I could post about.. help me find the things I enjoy posting about and maybe the things I don't enjoy posting about..

I also thought it was a good way for those who don't know me, to get to know me a little.. and even for those who know me, to get to know me a little more!

It was also something to help me get into the momentum of posting daily.. to find out, if I enjoyed posting daily, or if I would struggle to keep up..

And most of all, because I thought it would be a bit of fun!

I hope you are enjoying reading it, as much as I am enjoying (most of the time) sharing my answers with you all!

Ch-ch-ch-chaaaanges.... Turn and face the strange.. Ch-ch-changes

Howdie!!

So, it was a slow day at work... so I was doing rather a lot of blog reading.. YEAY!!
And after meandering and pottering around blogLand, I decided I rather liked the look of a white background..
Pages just looked crisp and tidy... a bit brighter... somehow "more inviting"...
Along with the old adage that black on white is much easier to read than white on black!

I would be lying if I said I wasn't somewhat inspired by the changes that have been going on at Muffiin loves Biscuit and The Whim Wham Life... so in a moment of haste and with absolutely no forethought or planning... I've changed my layout!!

I've tried to keep the colour scheme still fairly similar... because I love them colours!! Aquas/purples/blues...
And I've kept my cute little header that the mister made me... as well as my signature.. tho I want to try and make it smaller somehow...

Let me know what you think!! Do you like it?? Like parts of it?? Should I put it back the way it was??

Suggestions welcome!! Mrs. Biscuit.. I'm trying to figure out how I put your button in... eep!

Potentially more changes coming.. so just bear with me while I have a muck around... I need one of my code literate friends to design me up and programme me a blogSpace... although I'm still not entirely decided about what I want my blog to look like.. hmmm...

Title lyrics: David Bowie - Changes

30 Days of me - Day 12

Day 12 - How you found out about Blogger and why you made one

I realised that I am a day ahead on this challenge as I posted twice in one day, one day... oops... over zealous much??

I was going to use that as an excuse to take a break today.. but I have pretty much already answered this question... in this post...

So there you go!

This weekend has been filled with EARLY mornings at the tree house.. because we got up to watch the first F1 qualifying & race of the season... Then today we went to our first BBQ of the season! :D

Hope you had a great weekend!!

I have a new header!!

Thanks to my super duper awesome mister for making it!!!

You are the bestest'est'est!!! just sayin' :)

If you are reading this in google reader... please click here to go to my blog and take a look... 

Pretty please with monkeys on top??!!!

So it's not like super fly fancy and graphic designed up to the nines.. but hey.. neither am I!!

I love it and all the hours of hard work the mister put into making it, just for this little monkey *so lucky*...

And all the little tiny tweaks I made him make to it because I'm rather anal retentive about things... 

I hope y'all like it as much as I do.. if you have any suggestions on how to make it more awesome, then please let me know!!

Hope you're having a fab weekend!!

ps. if you really want, you could leave a comment to say that you like it.. ; )  I'm sure the mister would appreciate it as much as I would.. : )  *go on! you know you want to!!*

30 Days of me - Day 2

Day 02- The meaning behind your blog name


I ♥ Monkeys..  I am also referred to as Monkey by Mr. J... 


I was going to call my blog Monkey Business.. but I decided that although I DO, in fact, get up to a lot of monkey business, it wasn't my life all the time... 


I am the QUEEN of goofing off.. seriously.. I will randomly break out in "interpretative dance" in the middle of a mall... ESpecially if they start playing 80's power ballards... imagine me attempting to act out the lyrics to "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and you'll have a fairly good idea of what I mean...  I also love trying on hats/masks/anything silly I can get my hands on and taking photos of myself... I will also attempt to rope in whoever happens to be with me at the time... (luckily I have a lot of friends who are willing participants!!).. anyone who has seen my pictures on facebook can attest to this!


I try not to take life too seriously, try to find the funny side of every situation.. even if it's not so obvious AT THE TIME... ie. being pooped on by a monkey.. (if being pooped on by a bird = good luck, then I figure being pooped on by a monkey, which I figure is MUCH more rare, can only mean good things!!)...


Anywhos!! I decided that I pretty much spend the majority of my life just Monkeying Around... even when I'm at work some days.. haha.. remember when I told my boss I would flash him..?? yea... that's a fairly normal day in the life of yours truly... 


Honestly, have you met another girl who went on a 3 day desert crossing in Oman and ended up hanging out with a bunch of Omani men smoking sheeshas?? Oh and we were all firing these LED lit dragonflys around the camp... they were little and made of plastic and you used a little rubber band catapult to fire them... I stuck one in my ponytail and forgot about it... until I was leaving to head back to my tent and they all started using me as target practice!! Have you tried running across sand dunes in the middle of the night in barefoot while people are shooting plastic toys at you??!! Hilarity ensued!! Yup.. that's pretty much my life... no joke..


Sometimes I feel for the poor souls who have had to live with me over the years.. and some days I think they must be the luckiest people on earth because they are constantly laughing at me... notice I said AT.. rather than with.. :)  I will hide around corners, knowing full well the other person can hear me giggling, and still jump out and yell BOO when they come in the room... it seems that I am a firm believer that "if I can't see you, you can't see me".... yes.. I am 5 years old...


So there you have it... the reason behind "Monkeying Around"... coz it's what I do!!

My FIRST Follower!

Is the super duper cute Mrs. Biscuit! from And They Live Happily Ever After...

I have yet to figure out this whole following thing and what happens when you "follow" someone or are "followed", like I have yet to figure out lots of things in BlogLand... but I'm pretty stoked to have a follower... and just hope that my blog is worth following!!

I was hoping to get caught up on my blogging today because I was home from work but the fact that I woke up feeling my head was clamped in a vice grip made anything that required thinking, just a bit too hard..

Anyways, head still feels a bit funny, so think it's off to bedskies for this monkey...

Thanks Mrs. Biscuit for being my first follower and making me happy and smiley on a day I was feeling a bit blurgh.. :)

Why blog? Why now?

So, I have been toying with the idea of starting a blog for a while. Mostly due to my friend Kelly's blog about her food adventures and also Solange's blog about her travel adventures/life in general, though what really sparked my interest was the #30daysofme challenge Solange embarked on at the end of last year. What interesting things I learnt about this friend of mine! Whom I've known since high school, but never been very close friends with. Maybe an "acquanti-friend", more than a mere acquaintance but not someone you've ever spent too much time with socially. (That shall be another post entirely!)

Anyway, why blog? Well, a few factors really...
1. I like to think I lead a fairly interesting life, so why not document it?!?
2. I have been away from New Zealand (home) now for just over 5 years and with more and more friends in ever increasing parts of the world, I think a blog would be a great way to share my life with everyone.
3. Inspired by many beautiful foodie blogs, such as Smitten Kitchen & What Katie Ate, I wanted to share my many food adventures also.
4. The reasoning to most of the things I do in life... Why not!!??

Why now??
Well, why not now??
I've never been one to make New Year's Resolutions, mostly because a) I have a hard time remembering them, and b) I have no intention of keeping them, so why bother!?
Although, armed with a friend's "I resolve to be more resolute about my resolutions", managed to stave of the inevitable post new year questioning about resolutions. I decided, maybe I would set myself a "resolution" to start my blog.. and considering I only came to this decision about 2 weeks ago, I decided to set myself the target of having started a blog by the end of February. But with starting a new job and moving flats coming up, I thought today, that if I don't start now, I'll probably never get around to it. So here is me, on my lunch break, starting my blog!