Most Popular 2019 NZ Names

Posted by Maree Harper on

Here are the most popular names for 2019, my daughter's first and last names are on this list! And the very special little lady in this photo Ava has also made the list.

2019's Top 10 Girl's Names

  • Amelia
  • Charlotte 
  • Isla
  • Olivia
  • Ruby
  • Sophie
  • Harper
  • Mila
  • Willow
  • Ava

2019's Top 10 Boy's Names

  • Oliver
  • Noah
  • Leo
  • Jack
  • Lucas
  • George
  • James
  • William
  • Thomas
  • Charlie

2019's Top 10 Māori Girls' Names: 

  • Mia
  • Aria
  • Maia
  • Amaia
  • Nina
  • Manaia
  • Kaia
  • Aroha
  • Tui
  • Ataahua

2019's Top 10 Māori Boys' Names

  • Nikau
  • MIkaere
  • Ari
  • Manaia
  • Mateo
  • Te Ariki
  • Taika
  • Ariki
  • Kauri
  • Rawiri
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Unisex Names

Posted by Maree Harper on

Check out these great Unisex names from OhBaby magazine, I have a few family members in this list - my son Flynn, nephews Cameron and Jordan and Dad Alex.

Flynn
Charlie
Reese
Casey
Jordan
Taylor
Alex
Skyler
Phoenix
Cameron
Dylan
Sam
Ashley 
Bailey
Blair
Brett
Riley
Daryl
Corey
Hayden
Jamie
Jessie/Jesse
Morgan
Stevie
Frankie

 

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What is a Precious Metal?

Posted by Maree Harper on

Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium and Titanium are all precious metals, meaning they are rare metallic chemical elements of high economic value. They are shiny, hard and strong with high melting points. They form alloys (mixtures) with other metals and this makes them ideal for jewellery.

At LoveLoops we use sterling silver and 9 carat gold so let’s look at those.

Gold is a highly sought-after rare metallic element. For many centuries gold has been used for money, jewellery and ornamentation - symbolising wealth and prosperity.

Like other precious metals, gold is measured by troy weight and by grams. Gold is a very soft metal when it is pure (24ct). It is often alloyed with other metals to make it harder though this lessens the value. Pure gold has an attractive bright yellow colour however when alloyed with other metals it can come in other colours.

Nine Carat Yellow Gold

Nine carat yellow gold is a metal alloy that contains 37.5% gold, 52.1% copper-zinc and 10.4% silver. Nine carat gold contains a smaller percentage of gold metal than 18ct gold, is slightly harder wearing than 18ct Gold, and has a more mellow, less yellow, colour. Gold in 9ct will be stamped with the '375' marking to prove it's authenticity.

Nine Carat White Gold

Nine carat white gold is a metal alloy that contains 37.5% gold in alloy with silver, copper and a white metal such as nickel, manganese or palladium. All white gold has a yellowish hue so it is usually plated with rhodium to give it a very white appearance. We do not plate our LoveLoops in rhodium as we use a very good quality white gold with a low level of hue, and we believe in staying true to the natural appearance of the metal.

Nine Carat Rose Gold

Nine carat rose gold (also known as red gold) is a metal alloy that contains 37.5% gold in alloy with copper.

Silver 

Silver (Ag) - Silver was once thought to be more precious than gold. It is a very soft metal and is often mixed with an alloy like copper.

Silver has been used to make jewellery for many thousands of years. The term "Sterling Silver" probably originated in eastern Germany where they minted coins of .925 percent silver. Sterling Silver is an alloy (mixture) of silver containing a minimum of 92.5% by mass of silver with the remaining % by mass of other metals, usually copper.

Fine silver (99.9% pure) can be too soft for producing delicate pieces therefore the silver is alloyed with copper to give it strength while preserving the ductility and beauty of the precious metal. Sterling Silver pieces are stamped with 'STG' or '925' markings.

LoveLoops silver products do not contain nickel. 

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A special keepsake for a very special daughter

Posted by Maree Harper on

Around my 40th birthday I decided there were a lot of things that I had learned in life that I wished to pass onto my daughter Ruby. Important life lessons about friendship, love, trusting her instincts and being a great person.

My daughter was only 8 at the time, so she was a wee bit young to understand a lot of the things I wanted to tell her, but the timing felt right for me so I started jotting down my thoughts and musings over a period of a few months to compile a book for her to take through life with the hope that over the years it would help guide her through the craziness of the years to come.

I chose a book with lovely pages and scripted out my words of wisdom in gold pen to make it extra special. It was (and is) something I hope she will want to keep forever.

When I wrote Ruby’s book, she was a bit of a worrier and always wanted to know what the future had in store for her instead of being present in the moment and focussing on the now – so I definitely had that in mind while writing to her. Now she is a bit older, she is much more relaxed about things.

The book starts with a letter to Ruby, explaining what the book is all about and within the pages are the words I compiled to guide her through. Here’s a taste of my words of wisdom as written to my daughter:

“Make the most of every moment by being present, try not to think too much about what is happening next”

 

“Try to find some good in everything and everyone” (remember the Pollyanna story)

 

“Sometimes we think with our head and sometimes we think with our heart, maturity will help you figure out which one to use”

 

“Learn to trust your gut instinct, this is your first reaction and 99% of the time it will be right, this is your intuition”

 

“Act confident even if you don’t feel it”

 

“Treat others as you would like to be treated – with respect, honesty and thoughtfulness”

 

“You will make lots of friends in your lifetime, choose ones that are kind, loyal, trustworthy, fun and most of all make you feel good about yourself”

 

“Don’t be afraid to have fun and let loose once in a while!”

 

“Be true to yourself and you will be truly happy”

 

“Take risks in life but always remember to trust your gut instinct”

 

My daughter is now 14 and she has a much better understanding of what I have written to her. Some of the advice has been read, but a lot of it won’t be relevant untill she is a bit older. I’ve also left a few pages at the end blank for her – I hope that one day she might write down her own thoughts and ideas that she learns along the way with the intention to hand down to her own daughter one day, as a beautiful family keepsake.

The book is concluded with a note from me on the last page letting Ruby know that she can always talk to me about anything, anywhere at anytime without judgement or fear and I will listen with respect.

Feel free to add your own piece of wisdom in the comments below.

 

 

 

 

 

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Things I wish I'd known before becoming a Mum

Posted by Adria Green on

With my very first Mother's Day approaching, it's got me reflecting on the past 8 months and some of the things that have taken me by surprise (both good and not so good!).
Hardly words of wisdom as such, but here's my take on the trials and tribulations that is becoming a Mother...
1. You won't sleep
Of course I knew this! But again, the extent of the lack of sleep... like what the actual f&*k?! 
Throughout pregnancy and then in life with a newborn everyone asks 'How's she sleeping' and for the most part she was/is pretty good for a baby (I've definitely heard of much worse!) The people asking this question are always quick to share stories of their children, their friends children, their grandchildren etc and when they started 'sleeping through the night'. 
Before Ava arrived I had mentally prepared myself for the lack of sleep, and the fact that a full nights sleep was a long way off, but I had heard so many tales of babes sleeping 12/13 hours from 6 weeks, 2 months, 3 months - so I knew the end was in sight, I kept telling myself just a couple of months of this and then back to normality (what even is normal anymore?!)... well not my babe. She's 8 months old this week and we are yet to sleep through the night and I've given up hope of it happening any time soon. Ah such is life.
2. Your world will change
Hardly a surprise, and I'm sure every single person I came in contact with when I was pregnant could have (and probably did) tell me this. But the extent of the change is what has taken me by surprise. I was well aware that it meant no more spontaneous nights out, and plenty of sleepless nights. The part I wasn't aware of is the emotional change. 
I was one of these people that said 'I won't let the child change me - I'll be the same as I always have' but from the second she arrived, the fierce sense of protection over this tiny human took me by surprise. It was no longer about me, nearly every thought I have every day puts her first. I'm always thinking of the impact on her with regards to any and all of my decisions. I wasn't expecting that. Also it's made me a massive sook... 
3. Everyone will have an opinion
I'm a pretty opinionated person myself (apologies to anyone in my past life that I have been guilty of inflicting my opinions on) but can normally take things on the chin with a pleasant smile and wave them on their way not giving a second thought to whatever well-meant advice that was shared. But when you are operating on minimal sleep, people's constant 'have you tried' 'what about..' 'I think you should', really wears you down and starts to grind your gears. Patience sure does wear thin and it will take all of your reserve to bite your tongue and not tell them where to go. Or maybe we should, then people might stop doing it...
4. Things that were previously pretty gross - are no longer.
If you had told me a year ago that a baby was going to projectile vomit all over me - I would have gagged at the thought and imagined myself ditching the kid as quick as possible to get myself to the shower. But when your small defenceless human starts to vom, you will hold her, snuggle her even, and let it happen all over you just to keep her calm. The shower will wait. 
5. Love comes later
This is a bit of a fib - because someone did tell me this, and it really resonated with me because its contrary to what the majority of others will tell you.
A lot of people talk of the instant love they feel for their little mini-me and that it's a love like no other - and I'm sure that's true for a lot of people but not for everyone. I mentioned the fierce sense of protection I felt, and that definitely happened the moment she was born - but I wouldn't call it love. The love came later. 
I can't remember the exact moment it hit me (maybe a few weeks in once the fog lifted) but every day since then it's grown and I can't imagine how I'll feel by her 18th birthday (told you I became a massive sook...) 
6. Mum guilt is real, and it's savage!
You will try your best to make the 'right' decisions for your child (and yourself) but whatever you do decide you will feel guilt and the need to justify your decisions to others. There's no advice or anecdotes for this one, simply that Mum guilt is a thing, and it sucks - and you probably are making the right decisions.
And a few fun tips that I'm sure I was warned about but didn't really believe until they happened to me and I became 'that person':
1. Hair washing is a luxury - hello dry shampoo.
2. Showering is optional
3. You will develop an annoying 'baby talk' voice
And if you've ever considered a career in the entertainment industry, have a child! They are forever your number 1 fan. They will look at you like you have the voice like Adele with moves like Beyonce. Just don't do it in public, no one else thinks you've got talent.
So 8 months in (thats 33 weeks of mum life) I think I've well and truly earned my first Mother's Day. Breakfast in bed would be nice, even better if it's preceded by a full nights sleep (231 nights and counting...)
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