Pork Chop's Nest

Don't judge: It's my fast and easy!

2012-02-02T13:08:00.005+11:00

As you know.. or even if you do not. I do not buy packet mix, instant sauces and try to cook from scratch if I can. This includes cake mixes, Japanese curry, Indian curry (I have greatly improved in this area!)

But when it is just me and I am trying to get a quick lunch at home in between work, I am looking for fast and easy. Not fast and yummy. I bought my first frozen meal ever the other day! I can see your eyes rolling there! :P Hey unlike Light n' Easy, I do not pretend that my date will enjoy eating this.

So this is what McCain says my frozen meal should look like.

Tear it out of the box, pierce two areas with a fork. 7 and a half minutes on high in the nuker later. This is what I got. .... Appearance wise. mmmm.. I do not have high expectations for a frozen meal so this is passable. Well except for the pock marked mash. It is passable I guess! Excuse the steam flooding my camera lens.

Taste wise.. It is not bad. But really it is just steamed peas and sliced carrots. The main bit which is the veal. Actually ... what am I eating again? Lamb? The patty was ok to be honest. The crumb is passable. The lamb patty is actually minced so lord knows what is in it. I adopt the I am eating Chinese takeaway principle - Do not ask, do not look, just eat.

I think I might save my $5 next time and just have pasta with jar sauce!

Poofy skirt makes climbing out of cars hard!

2012-01-31T15:28:00.002+11:00

I have been digging around my wardrobe for things to sell on eBay. But really, I am not sure why I bother! I hate waiting and listing and writing descriptions for not much payback.

Anyway, as I was rummaging I found things that I have not touched or worn in like mmmm 5 years!!! What a disgrace! And I had one of those lightbulb moments where I go. Oh wait yeah right, I do have one of those skirts. Where did that skirt go to? Rummage some more ….

So this golden beigey skirt was one of them. I bought this in G2000 Singapore Raffles City. Just swanning downstairs from our Singapore office … as you do when in Singapore. Eat and shop at our lunch times! The thing about Singapore shops and restaurants is totally awesome is affiliation with credit card companies. G2000 (well back then!) had a promotion with American Express cards. You get a certain discount when you purchase with a AMEX card. Bear in mind I cannot even use this card in Australia without having to pay a surcharge! I was keen to get a shopping with this!

It was a random purchase where I thought I would get something that I do not normally get. So poofy golden skirt it was! Poofy with no split and the hem slightly narrow .. oh great.

I put it on this morning and was running late to drop the boys off at daycare (story of my life). I had my handbag (Miu Miu today by the way) and my laptop bag (story of my life again). Door wide open, threw my bag in and then tried to climb in. Bam… got stuck! :P I could not climb into the car the usual way – unladylike one leg into the car first.

Got to daycare, car door wide open trying to get out. Bam legs are stuck together. Damn… it!

The CLAW unleashed again OPI Strawberry Margarita

2012-01-29T11:11:00.003+11:00

I have to admit that I am having fun and laughing at the CLAW pictures. I had removed Pink Friday last week and been waiting for a night when I can paint my nails in peace. That is my youngest son who wanted to sit outside and dig in dirt as they do! And he was very annoyed I was doing the CLAW on him. Managed to snap it just in time.

I have wanted this colour FOREVER. It is OPI Strawberry Margarita - a really gorgeous pink.

Have been meaning to show you guys around the progress in the front yard. This was all dirt and weeds before. I cannot tell you how embarrassing it is to be the shocker of the street and one time I overheard a passerby say out loud, this is a weed garden. You would not think that a gardener by trade lived here!

So here are some of our very clawable plants.

Weeping Cherry Tree right out the front of the house ... isn't it looking so claw-worthy? I think the green sets off the pink beautifully.

Blooming yellow roses that came back to life after the belting from the Christmas hail.

Something which I believe are daisies but knowing my awesome knowledge in gardening. I am wrong!

Oh look, I am patting the grass again ... in the shade! Notice that I am wearing the Love ring from Issa Homewares in Ivanhoe? I managed to swap it over for one that would fit.

Until next time when the CLAW comes out again!

Weekends are cooking groundhog days to me

2012-01-28T12:16:00.000+11:00

Weekends are so deja vu, it's like groundhog weekends.

This is what I normally do with some deviations to the schedule. This is what I usually cook on the weekends. Soup or spag bol. I need meals for the kids during the week for days they go to the Nun's and when you need go to meals in the freezer/fridge after work.

I normally cook this soup as there is a lot of chopping and it is the only way that they will eat vegetables. It is a chicken and vegetable soup ... mmmm nommy.

What you need for this soup is 2 carrots, a large or 2 small zucchinis, 2/3 stalks of celery, 1 leek, garlic minced.

Brown your leek and garlic, dice carrots, zucchini and celery and chuck that in too. Add in your dry soup mix (washed and drained) ... Don't ask me how much! I use chicken drumsticks for this and would need about 3 or 4. Add in 7 cups of chicken stock and 1 cup of water. Simmer for a few hours.

Take chicken drumsticks out and pull off the meat. Discard any skin or "funny" bits. And add the meat back to the soup.

Australia Day Breakfast

2012-01-26T13:16:00.004+11:00

A "we will have an early night" turned into laughing at YouTube videos and reliving my youth through 90s rock videos until midnight! Remember this song?

Damn they had good hair in the 90s. This is pre-GHD y'all. So Australia Day morning we were like this - sad face cat.

We had no eggs in the house so decided to go out for breakfast. The plan was Miss Marie cafe in Rosanna and then Doncaster Westfield. Yayyyy.. Since we bought the Nespresso, we have not gone out for breakfast or had take away coffees on the weekends.

So this is what I had. Corn fritters and smoked salmon. Mick had the big breakfast and the boys shared butter and vegemite sourdough toast.

Lucky we got there before the pram brigade. This place is always busy and everyone seems to know each other.

Another plus, we managed to hit Doncaster Westfield before the parking went nutty. We went into Daiso. Aka land of little cute things and before you know it you have spent $20-something dollars! The funny thing is I saw another family who was at Miss Marie earlier at Doncaster. This must be the ritual for families!

Happy Australia Day aka a great excuse to have a public holiday. :)

Stop.. just stop with the Fathers are stupid stereotypes

2012-01-24T09:15:00.006+11:00

I did not notice this before. But Mick pointed out ages ago before we had children that ads are always portraying the Father as the 'stupid' one. The one that forgets what to buy in the supermarket. The one that cannot clean up the house and the Mother walks in and starts shaking her head. The one that cannot even work out how to use a air freshener. After he told me that, I started noticing that it was true. Have you ever noticed this?

There was a day that Mick took the two boys into the city to see my GP. We just cannot find a decent on near us and was willing to take both of them into the city during business hours. So they parked at my office building in the morning and we saw the folks in my team. I love having the boys visit and looking around all cute in the office. D will look out the window and stare at the cars and people walking downstairs from the 18th floor. My colleague, a mother herself asked if Mick could handle both children. He looked upset for a second and said of course I can. I said yeah erm... You should ask me that question as I know that I cannot.

A few of us in my old team had children around the same time. One was saying how she is working part time and could not take additional time off during the week as it was already hard to catch up on work. So her husband took the day off this time and stayed home. Mind you the child is now about 11months. She said out loud, I wonder if he is able to cope without me. Why? There is one child and he is the Father? I am pretty much vocal about this as I do not think that it is healthy to be a martyr about childcare duties. She said it is because she has always been with the daughter and he had never been alone with her. The other lady started about her situation that at almost 2 years old or probably more than 2 years old she is just starting to leave the house without her child and leaving him with his Father. I also said out loud, just leave the house! He is 2 years old! You are not leaving him with a teenage stranger!

What is going on? Martyrdom? I also cannot stand this next phrase and I keep reading it on FB. Thanks to her/his Dad for BABYSITTING. Dad is not babysitting, Dad is taking care of his child. Annoyed.

Ok get off soap box and waits for others to abuse me.

Costco 2012 - Again I am ripped off

2012-01-22T15:55:00.004+11:00

This happened to me last time as well and I am starting to feel like i'm a bit of a hawk at the cashier. I watch them scan my items like a crazy woman. Last time I was there, they overcharged me by scanning something twice. I picked it up immediately as I looked at the receipt not believing that I had spent $300 with half a trolley.

Yesterday I had sour face Russell who was my cashier. He scanned that I bought 3 of an item but it was only 2 that I took. I know it is $4.30 but still... I rang them and they said the next time I am there to tell them what happened and I will get a refund. Took me a little while whether I should call them or not as I thought they would not believe me. The reason I did not check the receipt before I left was because I had a trolley load of items and it was not the $400 that I expected to pay. Oh well, that will teach me.

So after whinging about Costco about $4.30, what do I do? Jump on NAP and start browsing of course. Look at that clutch!! Do not buy it people, I want it!

Mandatory CLAW!

2012-01-19T12:05:00.005+11:00

Because you asked for it and I am laughing my head off at CLAW comments. All these pictures were taken in the sunlight except for the clawing of the lime tree and with my lousy iPhone 3GS.

This is probably not good for my hand modeling career launch. Check me out clawing at my lime tree! It is claw-able.

And do not judge me for my toes and feet. I have used Guy meets Gal-veston on my paws.

Plus some more non-clawing of mah hand. Oh look I am patting the grass!

Nails!

2012-01-19T09:33:00.003+11:00

I have not done a nail post ever! Like ever! I think that Instagram and Twitter has made me jump back into the nail polish wearing cool crowd. That and ermmm discovering cheap OPI is also a plus!

When I was in high school, I used to paint my nails on the Friday and have coloured nails on the weekend. I had Hard Candy nail polishes and I also wore the plastic matching rings that the bottles came with. Hard Candy back in my day was not a Walmart cheapie that it is now. It was about USD$10-ish but bear in mind the USD was strong in those days. It would retail for about $27 or the like. For a teenager, this was a lot of money! But I went to the Hard Candy nail polish stand to get my eyebrows done and I would sometimes get a new colour. I would have the most outrageous nail colours. Blue glitter, dark green like a Christmas tree colour, bright shimmer reds. My mum did not mind this and I think that was my way of being unusual. She would often bring fashion magazines that were from the US home for me. And they were spectacular. Through those magazines, I discovered Urban Decay! Yes kids, I was COOL! I had midnight cowboy eyeshadow before many of you even knew what eyeshadow was. It was packed full of glitter in those days and I have to say that today's version is not the same.

Anyway, so this is my OPI haul from the first order.

Pink Friday - Nicky whatshername collection
Guy meets Gal-veston - Texas collection
Suzi sells sushi by the seashore - can someone tell me who is this Suzi?
Strawberry margarita

Oh I am wearing Pink Friday and you will just have to take my word for it. Because I will not take a CLAW picture of myself. LOL

Shoe Hall of Shame

2012-01-14T19:32:00.004+11:00

After outfits, comes the shoes. Again if you do not agree with me, just close the window and walk away. Do not hurt a woman for having an opinion.

I am sorry Pleaser, yes I know that you manufacture stripper shoes. And you are currently branching out and trying to get into the glamour, burlesque and pinup market. But there is no excuse for creating a shoe called Swan. This shoe should be called Duck, it rhymes with Fug.

Yes Jimmy Choo, we all choos you but no I do not want to look like an Amazonian woman that pulled on some heels and stomped through a chicken coop. It is no coincidence that this was on sale for ages in NAP and there was ample stock in every size available.

Many years ago, when I started pole dancing. THE look was leg warmers over your high heeled sneaker runners. Yes, runners with high heels. Thank gawd this look has died. I am a hard core stripper style pole dancer. I favour 6inch heels over barefoot. There you can shoot me now. Thankfully this has died out ... for another 5 years maybe!

Casual Friday Outfit Post

2012-01-14T10:43:00.006+11:00

Bear in mind that I spent a good 2.5 years wearing maternity wear. So I do not care if you think I'm vain or whatever. This post is about me and me.. Oh wait that's what my entire blog is about.

Officially casual Friday is once a month. And the sadness if you ever forgot it was casual Friday. There used to be lots of chatter about the office on the Thursday before casual Friday. OMG it's casual day tomorrow, don't forget! Unofficially, it started to become every other Thursday, the 2nd and last Friday of the month. When there's a 5 Friday month, you get a bonus thrown in for good measure. Then a certain department that is suppose to adhere to policies decided it was EVERY Friday. We had stuck to every other as every Friday can sometimes degenerate to clubbing outfit Friday.

Jeans was always an issue for me when I was pregnant. The bloody things did not stay up and I would be constantly pulling them up every other step. I cannot tell you how much I love my old jeans. Yeap I am still wearing my old jeans, actually everything that I am wearing is pre-babies. Armani Exchange jacket, Diesel jeans and good old cheapie Valleygirl hot pink top. Love rummaging through Valleygirl.

I love outsourcing and divorce is more expensive!

2012-01-12T12:20:00.004+11:00

Many many months ago, I chugged down the road to a mother's group meet. I believe that little D would have been about 5months old. And I was about to go back to work. Or actually, maybe he was younger. Anyway I have waffled again.
I was sitting around the circle and I said oh I finally found a cleaner. And I have finally convinced my husband that we should have a cleaner. I basically told him that divorce was more expensive. They was someone else who said, "Mine would divorce me if I had a cleaner." Another said, "I would love one, but he is right I don't do anything at home anyway."

Replicate this conversation a few times over and at different settings. I have had the SAME conversation at work with working married women who do not have children. It is usually the male partner that gets all protective and territorial about allowing a cleaner.

There was someone in my Facebook group of mothers who were asking for tips for a new bride and she wanted to collect it all into a box for her to read as a gift. I said GET A CLEANER! OUTSOURCE! Sick of yelling at your husband to mow the lawn? Outsource!

For Mick, it was not the cost of having a cleaner that was prohibitive. He felt strange sitting around doing nothing while the cleaner came in and cleaned. Anyway the good news is, he got used to it. And he did see the benefits in having someone come in to help. And every so often I ask was I right? Yes, I was. Smug look. I can honestly say that we did stop arguing once we had a cleaner. It stemmed from different ways of doing things, different standards etc. But seriously, we both just did not want to spend time on the weekend doing a mundane thing like cleaning. We wanted to go out and do things together. So he did not like having the cleaner come in while he sat in the house. We always had the cleaner coming when the kids and him were not home. I on the other hand is not ashamed to say that I can sit down while she was cleaning.

There you go, you can thank me later for my marriage tips.

ChaTime!

2012-01-08T15:12:00.002+11:00

Everyday should be ChaTime in my books. There is a new ChaTime open in a mall that I usually go to.
Stalkers of mine should know where. LOL!

But seriously I have been waiting for this place to open for ages! Also dangerously close to my office, there is a new outlet that shares the Academic General book store. I have heard of people in Sydney raving about this bubble tea place. So I spoke to the manager who was serving me that day. She said you can customise the sweetness as they do not use powder for bubble tea. They use fruit juices and add the sugar syrup at the end. Ok I have to say I cannot go back to Bubble Cup now, that stuff is just no no. And I pretty much almost cried when MoMo Bubble tea closed down in Box HIll as it was SO GOOD! I ordered the Matcha Green tea with red beans. Even Mick that does not like red beans loved it!

Unfortunately D hated it and said it was yucky. Stuck his tongue out and said no Mummy. I think the matcha was a little strong for him! I love this stuff.. Dangerous! I think I might be addicted.

Spaghetti Bolognese random style

2012-01-05T21:48:00.003+11:00

I have lusted for a Le Creuset for years. It is very sad to confess this. 1) I confessed that I am lusting for COOKWARE. 2) It is about I don't know $200-300 and I still have not bought one. Of course you cannot go past Aldi without going through the middle section. What I call the Aldi aisle of junk that you cannot resist buying. There was a lovely Aldi copy version for less than $30. Holler - I am in. Thank goodness we have a trolley this time.

The first thing I cooked was bolognese sauce as I thought it was perfect for it. It browned the onions very well and created a fantastic caramelised base for the sauce. Simmered really nicely and it looked fantastic.

My problem with bolognese is I do it in random fashion. A bit of this and that and sometimes I forget what I had put in the last and the yummiest version as I splashed the wine in randomly and chucked celery salt in it for whatever reason. Oh that looked quite right .. I think... or I think I will use up the rest of this milk! Now I am not able to recreate that fantastic version that I had the other day.

Things that I randomly chuck in - if I have it on hand.

Onion
Garlic
1/2 kg of mince beef
1/2 kg of veal
Red Wine
Beef stock cubes
3 tins of diced tomatoes
Milk
Bay Leaves
Carrots - sometimes I grate it at the end
Celery
Celery salt

At this point in time that's all that I can remember! I am going to have to edit this later when I remember something else!

Summer Foods Dilemma

2012-01-02T16:55:00.003+11:00

Every year at this time of the year I am stumped for dinner ideas. It is too hot, I cannot be bothered and no I do not like salads - I must be doing my salads wrong. Or maybe it's the cafes that keep trying to pass off undressed rocket as salad has killed my enthusiasm for it.

The boys do not eat salad and I do not blame them, Mama Ling doesn't like it herself. This is why I can never be on a diet... but anyway I digress yet again.

Today I went to the supermarket and got soup ingredients for Chicken and Vegetable soup. This is hardly summer foods! HELPPPP..... This is one of the reasons I miss Foxtel. But it was definitely not paying so much for the reruns of OLD crappy TV. I used to watch Lifestyle Food religiously and would be inspired somewhat by the cooking shows. This hot weather reminds me of a Nigella Lawson episode where she was cutting up watermelon. I cannot say that I am her fan, in fact I watch her and make fun of the double entenders and innuendos. Honestly this woman is the queen of it. If she claimed to be in 2nd place for it, nobody else will be able to claim the 1st prize!

Check out this video .. it had me in stitches. Skip to 5:40 where she is chopping up the watermelon. ... of course her mouth can accommodate!

Outfit Hall of Shame

2011-12-28T21:49:00.009+11:00

I keep stumbling on such gems on ASOS that I just had to post this. Please be sharing some of your outfit hall of shame. But seriously if you can pull off these looks, more powahhh to you so please don't be sending hate comments.

What is that? And where would you wear that to? Please enlighten me.

This is just million times of Gold. Gold... like ya know if you want to star as a Bond Girl.

Excuse me while I'm channeling the Hamburglar... And why? Really just why?

Because I really want my crotch at my ankles... mega happy pants to infinity to you too. And at a price tag of 600GBP it's my party and I'll wear rainbow happy pants if I wanted to!

Yes ... I love ugly is an apt name. Is this so that the diaper fits under the pants? Like Bonds Roomies Pants for BABIES!

I don't know about you, but I really enjoyed doing this post.

First Christmas Day at home

2011-12-25T19:52:00.003+11:00

This is the first Christmas day we had at home .. turns out to be a great big blessing that we did not drive anywhere. Please read further to look at what happened at our deck.

The menu plan was as follows and trust me when I say that my entire fridge is packed full of extravagant food. We had a big ham waiting to be studded and glazed. Prawns marinated in lemon rind, garlic and chilli to be skewered or the BBQ. And a whole snapper on the BBQ steamed in a foil package.

The kids tore into their presents this morning. We had balloons everywhere, stockings filled with Hot Wheels cars and gifts under their little tree. I received this from Mick - the porcelain ring with Love written on it. Mick realised that I wanted it and ran back to Issa Home Wares. :) Thank you! But it was the wrong size. Boo! He must think I have fat fingers or will have fat fingers after chowing into the ham.

For breakfast, I did buttermilk pancakes. One word nommmyyy. It is different to the normal pancakes that I do in terms of texture and it had a 'crusty' edge. It is a nice change but I am not sure that Mick thoroughly liked it. He ate it nonetheless... probably because it was covered in butter and maple syrup.

Then the fun begins with the ham. Skin it, get the glaze and then bake. I ran out to Bolton street and bought some salads. Glad that there were some spare ones in the fridge for sale. So ta daaaa we had surf and turf. The oysters that I collected from my friend was so amazing. It tasted creamy and I really need to find out which sort they were as I think I need to get them next time.

Had another coffee after lunch, just because.. and grazed on the mochi as our dessert. There was a tray filled with half red bean mochi and half was custard mochi made by a friend's Auntie. OMG these are the best ever and the sad thing is. Money cannot buy these, she will only make these on special occasions!

So we were lounging around the deck while the boys ran up and down with their trolleys. Got on and off their bikes as they zipped up and down. Decided it was looking like rain was coming in and moved the cushions off the deck lounge. One hour later, it absolutely bucketed down with hail. It was so heavy that I held onto D and had to pretend that I was not scared. But I was scared! When it stopped, we did a stock take around the house to see if anything was broken in the hail. Look what I saw!

The BBQ idea had to be dropped. We had the snapper in the oven, put a bit of rice on in the rice cooker instead of salads then pan fried the garlic prawns. I think I will be doing a Nigella Lawson and grazing on cold ham and mochi straight from the fridge. Kids were thankfully easy to get to bed.. actually I think that I will chow down some more mochi right now. Better wait for Mick to come back in from draining the yard.

Check this out!

2011-12-22T11:37:00.002+11:00

I saw Balletflats post this on Instagram and I thought omgawd do want. They look like they came out of a fancy decoration box. Please be making me some thanks! Instructions are here. CLICK

All images are from http://balletflatsonmyfeet.blogspot.com -> please clicky.

Shorts weather

2011-12-21T17:29:00.003+11:00

Oh wow it is shorts weather again.. and actually this feels like I am on a tropical island. Everything is growing in overdrive mode and Mick's business is so busy. Which is good but not good for us in other ways. Not only have I neglected my Christmas shopping, the shopping malls are a disaster no go zone! I had to take L out of the house to give Mick some peace. So had to hike to the local shopping mall - the not as ritzy one. I wore my Victoria Secret shorts and a top from Decjuba. Have not touched these shorts since my trip back home to Singapore at Easter.

Is it me? Or is Decjuba's tops really thin these days? I have not been in since earlier this year when I bought this waterfall top. But seriously, I made a remark that everything is unsuitable for work. I am not working in a club you guys. She responded that I should get a nude coloured singlet, one that they stock which had no seams. Ok thanks, but no thanks. ...

What do you think? Is Decjuba and generally all clothing shops stocking thin fabrics or am I just a prude?

Little Shop of Pretty Things - Issa in Ivanhoe

2011-12-17T22:46:00.007+11:00

I met Helena many years ago since moving to our house. We used to run down to the pie shop that her mother owns on Burgundy Street hoping that we got there before it closed on a Saturday. The pie shop has since changed hands and so did Mad Meg's which was owned by Helena's brother. It has indeed been at least 4 years since I said that I will go to the shop. I am so bad! It is just that I do not to go Ivanhoe during times that the shop is open. I always drive past when it is closed and I can only see the shop window. And what a shop window it is! Well thankfully Issa has not changed hands and I finally made it in to have a browse while waiting for my sushi to be ready next door.

Issa is filled with pretty things, it is one of those shops that you describe as pretty little shop. You know the ones where you go in and you cannot not buy anything. She had porcelain rings with Love written on them. Sterling silver earrings, cute rose earrings, candles, bon bon soaps, cushions, room fragrance sticks, clothes, baby items, home wares.. well the list goes on. Helena told me her daughter and her decorated the front window and tries to change it often. Look at all the pretty Bison vases and home wares in the shopfront.

Exceptionally proud of D and L for not touching anything. I had bought a pair of rose earrings that were light pink in colour. When I went home, I realised it was too light for my skin tone. Mick suggested we take everyone down and get them exchanged for a darker colour. So I had warned D before going in that it is a little shop of things and he cannot touch anything. But he can smell if Mummy helps him hold things. Issa stocks Lovebird candles which are made in Melbourne. A fresh batch of candles were getting delivered and I held them up for D to smell. D thanked for the lady for her pretty candles .. such a little charmer. Candle lovers unite .. I have been buying way too many candles lately to replenish the old ones. But I just cannot leave without picking up one of these. I bought french pear, lime and coconut. She had an amazing melon scented one which I will have to get next time. I'm almost hoping that these candles burn a bit quicker so I can get some more!!! Trust me candle lovers, you need to get some of these!

I exchanged for these purple rose earrings and Mick bought me a pair of pretty tree shaped sterling silver ones. They were the first thing that caught my eye in the jewellery cabinet. Check out how my earrings were wrapped above! I am going back to get the Love porcelain rings next time.

Being in Issa is making me want to redecorate my house. Now just to get the boys to grow up quicker and get rid of the colourful plastic toys that are engulfing the dining room! I will have to make do with pretty earrings and messy house for now. The tree earrings are below.

Oh and outfit of the day - Stella McCartney for Target. I am glad that we had some sunny weather to put this on!

Issa Homeware and Gifts is at 149 Upper Heidelberg Road cnr Waterdale in Ivanhoe. There is parking at the back but just as easy to get a parking spot at Coles behind. If you do go there, drop into Cosi Duci for gelati afterwards!

The shopping before Payday excitement

2011-12-16T17:02:00.004+11:00

I get paid monthly.. there I am putting it out there. Although it is not dire straits in my bank account stakes. There is always a psychological thing about shopping the day before payday.
The exciting part is December is when we get our increases. So I spent my sad increase this year on candles.

I had scoped out Glasshouse candles for ages, it must be when a friend commented on Glasshouse's Facebook page. I was in Peter Alexander on the weekend but got no service so no love there. Lucky for me, David Jones was having a sale last Wednesday. I am not sure if it was only for one day. They were having 15% off full priced candles. Helloooo.... The ladies that were restocking Glasshouse candles were uber helpful. So it felt good purchasing when I get good customer service.

I bought Little Black Dress - Manhattan and Bora Bora - Cilantro & Orange Zest. Cannot wait to light them tonight. It has been ages since I restocked my candles. Actually I think it has been one year! Insert shocked face emoticon here.

They were about $32 after the discount. I must say that I have spent more on less. So I am extremely happy with my purchase. My next stop is not anywhere near as exciting. It was to Mountain Designs to get a work shirt and pants for Mick. Here the guys just love me, I point and make decisions in 2 minutes all the while telling them. I don't know, that one will do and hey it's either blue or blue anyway. I did not get anyone from Mountain Designs trying to flirt with me today. Sadness. Lol

Baking with American recipes

2011-12-12T14:25:00.002+11:00

Does anyone else just goes crazy for American recipes?
I love love love this book Baked! New Frontiers in Baking. But I have to admit that I first knew of this book from watching Martha Stewart. Mick HATES Martha and I LOVE annoying him by watching the reruns on Channel 7Two. It's glorious! Anyway, Matt was demostrating Whoopie Pies which I only just discovered recently that it is not as ubiquitous in the US as I thought it was!

The thing about American baked goods is ... the size. Everything is written for big portions. I had to half the recipe. And honestly, what the heck is a stick of butter? I always have to google it and it is really annoying. Either Australian suppliers need to figure this out and bring out sticks of butter on the market or I will go bananas! I know our cup sizing is different, but I figured that if I am using the same cup for both dry and wet ingredients, it cannot go that wrong ... right?
Well it did not. So I made the American style chocolate chip cookies. aka... dump everything lovingly into the Kitchenaid, form balls, resist overcrowding balls, and bake for 8 minutes - not 14. I made these ones and kept the unused dough in the fridge and made the cookies to be consumed fresh. As these are American style, it's very soft and yum yummm... Ohhh and I added Macadamia nuts too. They might cringe at that!

I really want to try the cakes but I do not have 3 x 8inch cake tins. And no I really don't know if I want a 3 layer cake! Anyone has 3 x 8inch cake tins to lend me?

ASOS Salon Cocktail Dress

2011-12-09T12:05:00.005+11:00

I am late to post - it was more than a week ago that I attended the Christmas function we had for our Melbourne office.

I bought this ASOS Salon dress when it was on sale. Had my eye on it for ages but did not buy it until I was browsing the sales. Unfortunately (or in my case fortunately) I bought it a few months ago and I am no longer size 6. Tried the dress on the night before and I thought oh dear this is a little snug. But on the night, it was fine! Thankfully!! It was truly a gorgeous dress and I received many compliments. They must have thought it was different, Ling dressed up. LOL.

This is what I wore. And I am super excited because I do not normally do what I am wearing posts as I do not think what I wear is crash hot. Manolo Blahnik heels, LV Epi pouchette and my grandma's ring and pearl necklace. Had such a great night and cannot wait for the next year!

Christmas Ham sorted!

2011-12-03T20:27:00.004+11:00

I ordered my Christmas ham from Greenvale Homestead about two months ago by email. Amanda confirmed the half leg order last week just about the same time that I wanted to email her too! I have been following Amanda and Anthony from Greenvale on Twitter for awhile and I thought oh Christmas ham! I should look into this. Amanda had reserved it and said it was $25/kg, each half leg is between 3-4kg.

Off we trooped to St Kilda Veg Out market this morning. Now if anyone knows me, they will know that I hate Punt Road. I will do anything to avoid Punt Road. Everytime that I am on Punt Road I ask myself why I am on there and say I should have taken Power Street. This morning was one of those why am I on this road!!! 2 lanes were closed and we had one lane to get through! What! What!!

It took an hour to get to St Kilda Farmers Reserve and we practically ran out of the car to the market! It was an amazing market. There was Mt Alexander fruit which was the best cherries ever tasted. Even D ate it and he was not feeling very well today. Parking was easy and nothing like Collingwood Children's farm. I only wished that it was not so far!

We came home with our box and could not wait to open it to have a look. Check out the gorgeous ham! It really looks amazing!

On a side note, I notice that I do a lot of wheeling and dealing on Twitter these days!

New Header!!! OMG I lurves itttt

2011-12-02T11:48:00.002+11:00

I have complained about my layout for ages. I just cannot figure out how to get a proper header. I always find the beautiful ones that everyone has and I was like urghhhh! It cannot be that hard!

I stumbled about and I thought that I needed to get software for it... well the interwebz had progressed a lot since those times. Thank goodness for Twitter! What did I decide what to wear before Twitter. LOL! @fayemarieblogs recommended a free app and TA DA! Done!!

How much better does it look?

Gahhh overloaded in Takeaway

2011-12-01T19:27:00.002+11:00

There is such a thing as too much takeaway!
I am at that point this week and I cannot take it anymore. Don't you just hate slipping off the meal planning wagon and you end up with stuff but not enough stuff or there is no vague plan of what to cook?

Fails this week - did not do a big meal on the weekend to store for the boys. No soup, bolognese, bakes nothing. I was so desperate that I made some sort of rice bake thing which was weird. The boys loved it .. for the first day and then it was yucky. Yesterday Daniel asked me for a cheese sammich and I gave in. I usually do not give him an alternate meal for dinner so I explained it to him. I think he understood as he thought about it.

So I had laksa yesterday which is normally nommy. But the local Chinese place is no Laksa King. I am takeaway out this week. But I did thoroughly enjoyed that Bolton Street charcoal chicken I had on Monday and questioned why people would cook considering it was $13.50 for Pesto Avo and Chicken salad, perfect chips with perfect seasoning and yummy half a chicken.

I really don't know how other people cope with their dinners and working full time! Please be sharing your tricks and tips!

Piaget yummy ring

2011-11-24T15:54:00.003+11:00

Stumbled on this ring on Twitter from the lovely @FeowFeow.

It is a Piaget ring with Citrine stone. How gorgeous is this! I have a bad weakness for cocktail rings. But as per usual, I love them and yet do not wear them. LOL

Story of my life. Drooling over ring.

Nespresso Citiz finally!

2011-11-24T14:23:00.004+11:00

I have plotted, planned, saved and waited until this machine went on sale in Myer.
So it finally did! 20% off and I had a few gift cards ultimately paid only $289 at the cashiers.

I think this will change the way we have weekend breakfasts out at cafes. We have been leaning towards staying at home a lot more these days anyway. But I believe this will be the end of my cafe coffee addiction. $8 for two of us vs 2 pods. :) Brilliant!

Now to start depreciating this machine! I have already ran to Nespresso boutique and bought the 2011 release. So far only the vanilla and dark chocolate flavours. I will have to go back and try the cherry as well. Ooohhh I am excited.

Pork Floss Buns

2011-11-23T11:50:00.002+11:00

This will either make you drool or gross you out. I was shocked that Mick thought this is the most disgusting thing he ever eaten before. He pretty much had to scrape his tongue after putting this in his mouth! It is something that I grew up eating, pork floss was I guess Australia’s vegemite. And now I see that it is the same controversial item. I am addicted! I can eat this everyday and be a happy cat.
I have already taken bites out of the bun before I took the picture. Pork Floss buns are amazing and I do not care what anyone says. It is AmazeBalls!

What food have you grown up eating and thought it was the yummiest thing ever and everyone else cringes and thinks it’s disgusting? My friends regularly tease me on Facebook and a status update on Pork floss drew 60 comments. Mick’s status on having a new baby – 4. HAHAHHA

Sits back now and waits for the comments of Eeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww to pour in.

Interesting thought - followup on what is your passion..

2011-11-17T13:29:00.002+11:00

Someone from my Twitter feed commented that the cab driver sounded amazing. And that the universe sends you people like that for a reason.
I am now wondering if I will be part of the group of "Today's Youths" that have no passion but get distracted by having all the different means. I think he was driving at us wasting time on the Interwebz. So if that is the case, let's all shut down for like 5minutes and think about why I was sent this cab driver. Amazing really.. there was only one cab outside my building at that time.

What is your Passion?

2011-11-16T16:28:00.002+11:00

I took a cab home yesterday from work. It was 7pm and I had been there since 8.30 in the morning and I had not left my desk. I was really not in the mood to stand and wait for a train and walk up a hill.

You know when you get into a cab and you think.. Ok this cab is safe and clean! WOW! Yes that! The driver was someone who had been in the advertising industry for 35 years. Of course, after I heard this, I asked if he had watched Mad Men. :) The lovely cab driver started to over share details of his life - as all drivers do - and told me about his plans on liquidating everything he owned n Australia to move to Scotland and write his mythology book. After giving me snippets on how he hates swearing, how he believes the ying and the yang in the world are at imbalance, the corporate greed made him want to shoot his brains out. He started talking about his passion about writing..in the last 5minutes of the journey. He turned it around to me and said what is your passion? I have talked way too much.

I sat there and had nothing to say for a minute. Do I really not have a passion? I hope I am not alone in this! Take a minute to stop and think what is your passion and report back. I am still debriefing myself. What is my passion?

Shoe Porn Part 1

2011-11-08T16:06:00.003+11:00

There is nothing quite as exciting as opening a box of my Pleaser shoe orders and sorting out the shoes that the girls have ordered. So I went back to ordering Pleasers again and I am loving the excitement of browsing 6inch thigh high boots.

I got these ones – black patent Mary Janes with a swallow buckle. They are from the PinUp range which the entire office is going crazy over. I have to stop myself from ordering anymore but they are too cute. I hate being half a size in between two. Size 7 is impossible to get my feet into and size 8 is a little too big. Anyone has any tips for which insoles to get?

Blog Giveaway Winner - Excited

2011-11-02T15:34:00.003+11:00

The winner of the beautiful Vintette French Rose necklace is Miss Lexi who entered via the comment and on Twitter as well. I had the names sorted alphabetically and a colleague picked a random number in the range that I gave him. He picked number 9 which was Miss Lexi.

Thanks everyone for entering :) love hearing comments.

Hunting for outdoor lanterns

2011-11-01T14:52:00.002+11:00

I do not think that I have blogged about my decking. But finally after 4 years of planning, we finally built it. Where are the pics? I have not had time to move it off yet - that will be my excuse for another 4 years.

Anyway, so now we need lanterns for outdoors.. preferably in a string and preferably solar. Ha ha ha! Not gonna happen right? I heard that Ikea has some stringed lanterns but really who has time to truck 2 babies to Ikea and wait in line for the lifts alongside 200 other prams?

I found these online and thought someone must buy them! Flamingo lights!!!

SOMEONE NEEDS THEM!

BUY BUY BUY!

Blog Giveaway is Closed!

2011-11-01T09:58:00.001+11:00

Hey everyone, the Blog giveaway has closed!

The winner will be drawn today and announced tomorrow. :)

Thanks everyone!

Pole Classes

2011-10-30T14:51:00.001+11:00

I had the benefit of being in a very small class lately. The maximum is 4 students and 1 teacher.

The difference was amazing. It felt like I was attending private classes without the 100% attention on me. I could still do my own thing but be in a place where I could ask for help if I need and had the time to ask for help!

Maybe it was because all of us in the class got along very well. You know how you end up sticking to one same class all the time because of it? I guess I know why now. But I always tell people to change teachers if they can. Otherwise they end up with the nemesis trick that they cannot get. Teachers explain things differently for the tricks so you might have someone else say something that just works for you.

Also loving my new shoes that I got. I bought silver glitter 7inch shoes. I have never worn 7inch heels before, only 6 ... oh it is such mindset that I cannot wear higher than 6. Which is really completely funny as I was one of the first in my studio (back in the days) to put 6inch heels on and get laughed at by others. Oh how things have changed! People wear 6inch heels out to clubs these days. ROFL!

Cannot wait till I see my Team MILFs again on Tuesday night. :)

So for my 3 year anniversary

2011-10-25T15:56:00.003+11:00

.... I decided it is about time that I looked into drycleaning my wedding gown.
Bejesus I am overwhelmed with guilt.

Does anyone in Melbourne have any recommendations?

I am paranoid that the gown is permanently ruined. But why would I bother? It is not like I will ever wear it again! Nobody is taking up my dare that I can still fit in the dress.

It is funny that I somehow wanted this gown but never got it made. Had lunch with bestie today and I suddenly remembered this dress. I still love it though - Oscar de la Renta. So much love!

My shoes got an outing

2011-10-16T12:49:00.003+11:00

You know how you want all these things and you think you want them but you do not really ever need or really have a use for them anyway? Well that is the story of my shoes. I wore Manolo Blahniks on my wedding but they were just ones that I had kicking around. There are also several pairs of brand new shoes that have never been worn. Manolos and one is an LV sandal. My husband thinks that I should stop buying anymore. I have stopped buying, but I have not and will not stop looking online. I just want to look!

And you know how you get into a cycle of going to work and coming home to the comforts of just being at home? I am so lazy, I cannot get out of this cycle. There are some nights that going to pole dancing is too difficult and that is something that I really enjoy. So I was forwarded the invitation for Frocktober Get your Frock on event. It was at Myer Mural Hall. I sent it to some other people who I thought would be interested. So off we go and get our tickets. Food, drinks, fashion show. What's not to like. I pack my Christian Louboutins Very Prive with me because I knew that if I do not wear something like this at this event, I will NEVER wear them. I bought them when D (Pork Chop) was about 2 months old. They went out once at a wedding. I could not even push his pram. I got stuck halfway on the road and someone had to come get him. LOL

The theme for the night is indeed pain for beauty. I could not feel my toes at the end of the night. But seriously, it is fun to get out of the cycle once in a while. The venue was spectacular. The Myer Mural Hall was designed to showcase fashion in 1920s. It retains the beautiful art deco style finishings. Check out the stairs on the main runway!

I wore a black Ralph Lauren shirtdress with gold zips.. Hey it is in Melbourne and there was a fashion show! The shirtdress was ordered from Ralphlauren.com on sale, thank goodness for online shopping.

The drinks and dessert were chomped under these spectacular chandeliers. How decadent! Loved it, but I could not feel my toes afterwards. And I think I staggered a little as they were slightly too big. But pain for beauty! The runway models were also wearing sky high wedges that were too big. I think I fit right into the big picture.

The crazy hunt for Coconut Oil

2011-10-10T15:23:00.002+11:00

This is insane, so I told you guys how long it took to hunt down Coconut oil. I kept forgetting to go to the health food store in the city. And I tried to find it in Doncaster who told me that the minute they get any stock, it flies out the door. So I checked online but it was not worth the shipping costs. I call a health food store that gave me attitude for daring to interrupt them as there was only one person in the store. I just wanted to check if they had any in stock! I bought my jar and carried it all the way back in my hand - these places do not give plastic bags!

And guess what! I find the exact same brand, same size same everything in my local Leo's Supermarket that I go to every week. For much cheaper and readily available! EPIC!

The stuff is really good. Just a secret but do not tell anyone (har har!). Everytime I scoop some out for cooking and push the solid goodness off the spoon and there's some stuck on my finger I use it on myself as a moisturiser. ROFL... cooking and skincare regime all in one!

Caramel Slice

2011-10-09T21:39:00.003+11:00

I made Caramel Slice using the Exclusively Food recipe. Great site by the way!

Of course mine looks really different to their pictures. I have managed to over-caramelise the caramel of course.

Their description, it should be brown on the edges compared to mine - which was brown all over. I think this is why it was so hard to slice. I had to bring out the big guns and dig around for my chinese cleaver. Anyway the results were still nom nom. However I have never made a caramel slice before. Is what I made considered 'normal'? Or is it a matter of preference?

Caramel getting cooked on the stovetop.

This is the caramel layer after I pulled it out of the oven. Please let me know if I did it all wrong.

Coconut Oil

2011-09-22T15:10:00.001+10:00

What is it with coconut oil? Miranda Kerr raves about it and the health food stores tell me that they can barely keep the stuff on the shelf?

Does anyone else use this for cooking and slathering all over themselves? I have gone to 2 places to get hold of a jar. 300ml jar for $9.95 this stuff is not cheap. Please be fixing my dodgy heels from years of wearing dodgy heels.

Anyone else is using it? A close friend of mine thinks it's gold, she swears by it and covers herself head to toe and cooks with it. She gets a big tub for $10 as the health food store bottles it themselves. I am beginning to think that I am the only one that is getting ripped off here. She gets shellac nails for $20 and I have to pay $40 down the road. She lives in SYDNEY!!!

Please be telling me your coconut oil adventures!

Giveaway! Vintette French Rose Necklace

2011-09-13T15:09:00.006+10:00

The giveaway is finally here!

I have purchased this necklace from the Vintette shop on Etsy. I have been following @JessVanDen for a long time. Her tweets are always inspiring to the craft blogger, business start up person. I have to say that I had this blog for about 3 years now and my posts may be sporadic which I have to apologise for. But it always amazes me that people read this.
The other day on Facebook, a person I met in real life asked if I had this blog. I nearly fell off my chair, she said someone had emailed her a link to a post and it made me smile.

The necklace is a dark Pink Rose Cabochon on a Brass chain and it is designed to sit just below the collarbone.

To win! Just leave a comment below as to why you should win this necklace. Tweet me on Twitter "I just entered @SixInchHeel blog giveaway" to increase your chances of winning.

Comments left below count as one entry. And Twitter @ mention counts as another one entry.
The competition ends on Monday the 31st of October 2011 and the winner will be drawn on the 1st of November 2011 and announced then.

Thanks for reading and spread the word!

Lemon Cheesecake

2011-08-25T20:43:00.005+10:00

When I first came to Australia, I had no cookbooks (obviously) and I did not have my mother's big baking book. The interwebz was not filled with gorgeous food blogs or recipe sites then as it is now - yes I am showing my age. So I bought this book called The Boiled Egg and Beyond. It was in the weird book box that we got when I was working at the Melbourne Zoo. It had daggy pictures and the recipes showed sandwiches made with gasp plastic white bread. *Face palm*

One of the many gems this book had was Lemon Cheesecake. You can tell it will be an easy recipe if the title is Boiled Egg and Beyond. So here it is - 10years on and I still make it. Look it's in the middle of the week and I present to you Cheesecake.

What you need - 20cm springform tin and patience as you need to leave this overnight in the fridge. You will want to eat this immediately but it needs to be left overnight to set.

250g biscuits - I use ginger snaps but I think these are too hard to crunch up. I have used digestives in the past.

Add a tsp of mixed spice if you have it. If you don't who cares?

Melt 125g butter and process.

Chuck half of the mixture into the tin and press into the bottom. Press the other half with a glass into the sides. Refridgerate this while you are preparing the cream cheese filling.

Cut 375g cream cheese into cubes and get that into your stand mixer or bowl if you have a hand mixer. I used to do this with a hand mixer (Huey's cooking brand!) and it was definitely fine. Start beating the cream cheese which should be at room temperature until soft.

Pour in a can of condensed milk and beat until it is stiffened up. This will take about 3-5 minutes. You can see that the mixture become pale and starts to get thick and stiffer.

Add in juice of 1/3cup lemon juice, 2tsp vanilla essence and 1tsp grated lemon rind. And the cream cheese filling is done!! Leave it in the fridge overnight and it will set. The texture is still soft and creamy. This version of cheesecake does not use gelatine which is fantastic for me. I tried one with the powder gelatine and that stuff stank!

Gearing up for a giveaway

2011-08-25T10:58:00.004+10:00

I have been wanting to do this for ages - a blog giveaway. Just because I am so generous ya know what I mean? :)

So I have been on twitter and chatting to @jessvanden from Epheriell Designs for more than a year. This lady dares to dream the dream! Unlike many of us.. well cough me. I still owe Jess an article for her magazine Bespoke. Therefore I will be doing a giveaway by purchasing an item myself for my readers. Jess says she is launching a new range soon. So I am waiting for this to happen and we can go to town on this!

Get commenting about what you would prefer. Earrings? Necklace? Let me know!

Melbourne Sunset - 17th August 2011

2011-08-17T20:25:00.003+10:00

I looked up from my desk and saw the sunset. There was a powdery misty rain and it was gorgeous. Darn the reflection of the office fluorescent lights on the glass!

Costco Melbourne

2011-08-15T21:27:00.002+10:00

You know that not only fashion has left you behind. But the latest things that people are talking about - you have no clue. It was like Disneyland, this place that you always wanted to go, you talked about going, you criticise, you plan, you beg others to take you... And more than 2 years on. Not once have I gone to Costco. Ok so in the last 2 years I had been slightly distracted with mmm I dunno either being pregnant of boobie feeding - shall not go into that. Nobody wants to hear about that much less me.

So away we go - this is an epic journey mind you - it's almost a military logistics exercise in my mind. First of all where the heck is Costco again? What? Southern Cross defunct wheel? Where is that? I can never find my way around Docklands and cannot avoid taking the wrong turn. And omg what if the kids have a meltdown? With much excitement we take off and head towards Docklands. This is where it gets sad.. I was so excited to go to a warehouse that sells bulk groceries (plus much more).

The parking said Costco members only and we had not signed up yet. So guess what we did, kept driving and had to go around the warehouse and back in again. AHahhaha... this carpark is worse than Ikea and Doncaster combined in one.

The trolleys were an eye-opener. C'mon you can put two babies in there! Wow wow!! So D went into the trolley seat while I stupidly pushed L in the little pram. Bad move.. it was trolley central and I kept thinking someone would hit him.

Costco definitely needs a leisure round where you do the initial scoping. There were SO many lanes that I did not venture into. I managed to pick up the frozen wanton soup. Why did I not know these existed when I was pregnant! Finish Powerball 112 pack for $28.50! 1litre maple syrup $15, 1.3kg peanut butter $5.69! Oh look, 2kg blocks of butter? Joy this is where I will get all my baking business stock... 1litre cream! Sure thing, I drink this thing for breakfast. Fighting amongst bargain hunting Asian restaurant owners, large families with 6 kids in tow, parents with 2 mega boxes of Huggies nappies under their trolley,... I was overwhelmed. I was melting down! But oh look! Tag Heur for $2800! Yes please, Kaching. After all, I saved a whooping $5 by using my business ABN to sign up.

So my review for Costco is

1) Everyone needs a pallet load of toilet paper

2) Weetbix megabox for $4+ awesome ^^ toilet paper will come in handy

3) You need more electronic goods than you really think, buy buy buy.

Best buys at Costco

1) The yummy bagels - 2x6 pack for $10

2) Finish Powerball when on special

3) Samsung LED TV at $1100 reduced by $200, everywhere else was $1700!

4) Kitchenaid liftbowl mixer $690

5) Amazingly huge tub of peanut butter - my boys are addicted

6) Dozen oysters for $6.90

I am not too sure of price comparisons to Coles/Woolies. But Costco is seriously a Disneyland to me.

Baked: Milo Muffins

2011-08-14T19:40:00.004+10:00

It is rather exciting this blog post. This is a recipe that I made up by guesstimating and through reading 2 recipes. This is my adaptation of Milo Muffins. This first time I read about Milo Muffins, I thought omgawddd brilliant. I have a tin of Milo just sitting in the cupboard gathering dust. For some reason Mick thought it's awesome to have Milo so he came home with a huge tin. Many moons later, it is still here and nobody drinks it. This recipe is amazingly easy, sift, chop chocolate, break egg, tip in milk and vegetable oil. Stir.. Fill...Bake TADA!!!

So here it goes!

1 and 3/4 cup self raising flour sifted

1/2 tsp baking powder sifted

3/4 cup Milo

1/4 cup sugar (adjust to taste)

pinch salt

1 egg

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup milk

Dark Chocolate & White chocolate

- I used the blocks from Aldi and chop them up

So a FAIL on my part. I stupidly bought extra lite milk. Who buys this stuff? I do not think that it affected the taste of the muffins. Yes I even tried some and normally I do not eat my cakes.

Sift the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl. Dunk in the lovely Milo and make a well in the middle. Break the egg into the well, pour in your milk, oil and pinch of salt. Ready, set, chop your chocolate if you used blocks. If you used chips, just chuck in an amount that you want - resist the urge to go overboard here - and stir. The texture of this was not as thick and stick to the spoon consistency. It was more cake-like. Check the texture and add more self raising flour if needed.

Fill into 12 prepared muffin cases. Bake for 20mins at 180 degrees.

So yummy! Enjoy!!

Orange and Almond Cake

2011-08-07T14:13:00.004+10:00

There is something about oranges.. No, I promise you my oranges do not have sperm hair gel look going. This is something that I enjoy making but rarely do it. I mean c'mon you gotta plan to cook the oranges and let it cool. No that does not sound like me. Plus the last time I made this, mind you it was years ago, I burnt that bloody cake. That to me means oh no way am I making it again. I do not have many cooking/baking fails. But this cake was a total write off put in bin scenario and I seriously don't like wasting stuff.

Nearly 18months I did not make this. But there is a glut of oranges and thanks to our strong Aussie Dollar, nobody can afford to import them. Oranges are everywhere and incredibly cheap! So I bought two oranges. Yes only two as I have a thing about leaving fresh produce in the house until it's dead.

This is the laziest part of the entire event, boiling the oranges. Put both oranges into a pot of water, make sure that there is enough to cover the oranges. Cook this for 2 hours. The house will smell amazing like you have orange essential oil on a burner. Let the orange cool after draining the water.

Now here is the fun part. Chuck the oranges into a bowl or a blender. I used a stick blender, blend the orangessssss! BLEND!! When the oranges are in a mush, get 1 cup of caster sugar, 3 eggs and BLEND some more... it is very theurapeutic, you can tell I have a stressful job. Now throw in your 2cups of almond meal and 1/2 cup of plain flour. Throw in 1 teaspoon of baking powder. Shift this with your plain flour.

Stir the flour through with a spatula or spoon - whatever floats your boat. You cake mix should smell yummy with the orange oils and rind. Then pour into prepared 20cm (8inch) springform tin. Now all of you will find out that I have a lazy cake tin lining secret. I use aluminium foil as I do not want to cut paper into shape. :P

Bake for 45mins to an hour until the cake is cooked through at 170 degrees celsius. Ta daaaa... Orange and Almond cake.

New Wave 5 in 1 cookers

2011-07-22T12:22:00.002+10:00

You know when you have all these appliances and they get used about once and that's about it?
Is this going to be one of those appliances?
Check this out - > Pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer ... there is another function but I cannot remember off the top of my head.

It is now $129 from Victoria Basement and they only charge $12 for postage. Kitchenwaredirect has it for $149 with free shipping. Wonder if i should call them and say beat VB's price. ;)

Any thoughts on this? Has anyone used it? I am interested in the pressure cooker function!

Pursuing Apple Crumble - Winter Foods

2011-06-20T22:27:00.000+10:00

I can remember distinctively the start of obsessing about apple crumble. I was teaching pole that Saturday and I must have had a function or something. I went home and Mick had cooked a really nice apple crumble made. He winged it and did not follow a recipe. Every apple crumble after that was just not as good as that one. And we never knew why. He tried adding oats, almond meal and everything.
The funny thing is, I have never made one as I do not like rubbing the butter into the flour - don't ask. I think it's a throwback of fearing pastry. So I stumbled on this recipe from Exclusively Food. I used 4 small Granny Smiths, I might use 5 small ones next time. And I used a food processor to get the butter into the flour. It worked a treat - so easy. The hardest part really is getting the apples peeled and chopped into pieces.
My first series in Winter Foods, this is the time of the year where I get cooking. Hope to blog more soon :)

Kylie Minogue in Melbourne

2011-06-16T14:08:00.005+10:00

Was anyone there on the first night - 14th of June? I was there in my $150 seat. I think this was cheaper than Britney. But my goodness this girl can put on a show.
I was in my usual mood of "I do not want to go out, I want to hibernate at home". So I felt like this the entire day -> :|

I tweeted my mehness and someone assured me that Kylie will rock it. And she did! She was amazing! Wet and slippery dancers in aerial shows accompanied her. Kylie has her own slaves! She has SLAVES pulling her in a gold chariot. It was amazing. She did a fantastic version of "Slow" which was in a big band style and had her dances holding fans as the stage she was standing on liftd up and rotated. Even the dancers were belted down with sequined belts. Everything glittered and everything was gold.

The next day I channeled Kylie. I wore a dark navy dress with a gold glomesh belt and silver Giuseppe Zanotti shoes. <3 that look and I don't care if I was mismatched. I just realised that I have gold shoes, will wear them together next time.

The lovely @theaussieword was also there on the 14th and cheered me on during the day about my mehness before the concert. Check out his awesome picture on his blog and a video and picture gallery soon.

VOIP

2011-06-10T15:13:00.002+10:00

So I must have embarrassed myself by asking on Twitter what VOIP software there is out there. Skype - the responses came in. Duh, I have only been using Skype for 3 years!

I have purchased Skype credits so that I can make calls on my computer without having to plug in the landline. I am on my way to divorcing with Telstra. Contacted TPG today and they said the transfer will take 10 - 20 days. OMG 10 to possibly 20 days with no interwebz!

How did you guys go with transferring to Naked ADSL2? Please let me know if I should do it. I'm scared of breaking the cycle on something that is currently working well. Also what is this VOIP thing with TPG? Ploise explainnnn.. I am starting to feel like a ditz. I think that I will stick to Skype until I get Lync.

Comments on Naked ADSL2 transfer please!

You cannot control the events ...

2011-06-09T17:12:00.003+10:00

But you can control the reaction ... This was my takeaway from International Womens' Day 2011. I remember running in with excitement. Ok there was free food but I always LOVE IWD because it was a chance where we get together as women and we do a camaraderie pow-wow thing. I am also biased in this year's IWD as it was lead by one of my favourite SEs. As usual she looked amazing and she has the best shoes!

So I am sitting there while this guy who is powered by a carton of V PLUS caffeine went on his rally speech. It was about events and how we cannot control the events but we can control our reaction.

That is something that I believe we all should remember and try to put into practice. Instead of being angry what what we cannot control, perhaps we should try to look at it at a different angle. Well that's my daily (trying to) post for Project Positivity. What have you done to control your reaction to negative events? Would love to hear from my readers.

Movies!

2011-06-09T14:12:00.003+10:00

Do you remember when you used to watch every headlining movie when it was released? I miss those days. I am finding the same stuff all the time. Sequels, remakes and cartoons .. I am guessing movies do not make money these days with piracy, file sharing etc. But honestly I think I have gone off movies. I have a Quickflix account - no fines, no late charges etc. They deliver to your door how good is that! I am browsing the site and trying to find something decent to add to my queue and there is nothing.

What's everyone watching these days? Reality TV? Tell me some good movie titles?

And yes I have watched Inception.

End of a chapter.. or a short closing of the book rather

2011-06-04T11:30:00.004+10:00

So I did my short transition and wrote my email out to say see yas I'm off to another place to all my Senior Execs and Managers. I got emo when I was writing it. The responses included I will miss you, to WHAT! You don't like us anymore! :( to NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Bummer for us...

Went downstairs to have drinks - I didn't know that they were doing this for me. Anyway positive spin on an emo day. Got free red rock deli chips and sparkling. :) Guess what else! I only had to wait 5minutes for my train. WOOHOO.

Cat People

2011-06-02T21:52:00.003+10:00

It appears that like does attract like. I seem to have a lot of friends who are cat people. This is my cat Mao Mao .. or was my cat. He disappeared on the 8th of November 2008 and I never saw him again. We had posters everywhere and nobody ever saw him.

Positive note - he would have eaten one of my boys by now.

Project Positivity

2011-06-02T21:22:00.002+10:00

There is a recurring sentence I hear a lot in the social media outlets that I have been nestled in. It is "I am so sick of the negativity in my timeline/facebook updates". Surrounded by negativity myself and doubting my own capabilities with all this negativity, I decided that I needed to get this sorted in the new year. I embarked on what I called Project Positivity. I spoke about Project Positivity to everyone that would listen. I wanted it to spread..I wanted people around me to be positive reinforcements.

I started this because I read something on a forum. I cannot remember the term now as it was a few months ago and my brain is a sieve on non-work things. It was a tad like "The Secret" and no I am not an Oprah fan! The thread had heaps of posts on this exercise working for them. You had to visualise what you wanted and lots of these women (I hang out at female dominated forums) had received what they had visualised and believed that they would get it.

It got me thinking that I have always been self sabotaging. So I changed my attitude (a little) and stopped telling myself that I couldn't do this or that. I started to push myself forward and tried to change my attitude and demanded more from myself and stopped (tried) talking myself down. So it has worked for me so far and I want to spread it further. My aim is to turn this into a daily (mmmmmm more frequent perhaps) snippets on turning things around to the positive. Look let's face it there are days where nothing goes right for you. But let's all look at kitteh pics and icanhascheezburger and it gets better.

My Vogue Forum KK

2011-04-12T21:21:00.003+10:00

I was walking around - killing time in transit - and looking at cosmetic and skincare. As usual, I bought nothing as I had everything. Anyway, this is one girl that goes to Sephora and does NOT buy anything. Who does that?! Sephora!

So I remembered my Vogue Forum Kris Kringle sender. She sent me a bronzer and I promised that I will let her know how I go with her lovely gifts. But I am a failure... and didn't. The truth is I do not have much time for posting blogs, vogue forums or any forums anymore. I am trying to stay off the computer during my home time with the family. So I decided to dedicate this post to her...

To my Vogue KK, I wanted to let you know that I thought of you when I was combing the aisles of Sephora and at the airport. I wanted to buy you something to say thanks! I have eaten the yummy chutneys and jams, actually Mick ate more of it than me. Plus I have been using the bronzer. It is hard to get used to being BROWN and having brown powder on myself. It felt weird lol... maybe I truly do not belong to VF. I have not baked anything from the book yet but I will. The reason is I have been banned from doing desserts as I do not eat them and make everyone else eat it. They are complaining that I am a feeder.

If my Vogue KK can contact me, I really want to send you something to say thanks!

My boys!

2011-02-13T19:27:00.002+11:00

I have not blogged about this.. Heck I have not blogged much since forever. I participated in the Vogue forum Secret KK this year. This is the first time I have participated and I am not sure what prompted me to enter. Anyway, I hope that my KK liked what she received. She wanted an umbrella loves nail polish. Voila, Epi Nail polish and a handbag sized umbrella with butterfly prints.

Anyway in my mail, I received a lovely package from Tasmania! I had a dessert cookbook, bronzer and a little food pack with chutneys etc. In the letter - doh I forgot to even include one - was an explanation of each gift. In the letter, the voguette said that she hoped to see more posts... and pictures of the boys. And it occured to me that I have no written much or posted his picture. He is the most gorgeous little thing ever. He really has the face that lights up when he smiles and this smiles is through his eyes. Just look at the boys together.

Sometimes it had been incredibly hard having them so close together especially when D had not even started walking yet. But when I see them hug each other, I just melt and think how wonderful it is to have the two of them so close.

Heart Attack on a Tray

2011-01-09T13:28:00.002+11:00

You know that feeling of, omg I must have some heart attack on a plate?

That yummy, too rich and I can only eat one small square of that? So where do you turn to? American recipes collections of course!!

Who is more American than Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree. Her rich and fancy Mac n Cheese is to die for. Not to be confused with that blue box of Kraft stuff, this thing packs the punch.

Before using her recipe, I had not heard of adding egg yolks to a white sauce. I can pack pasta away like you won't believe but not this fancy mac n cheese! A little square was all that I could take. There was so much cheese in it, caramelised onions and crispy bacon. As Ree would say I will weep now. Dig into it as did Pork Chop (D). D's fav is pasta and man did he lap it up.

Creative Odyssey My Love for Sewing Books

2010-12-28T22:07:00.004+11:00

I have this crazy thing of buying and browsing sewing books.

And I must admit that I am ashamed to say that I have not made used of them. I have bought and sold an Amy Butler book... wahhhh... and I have in my hot little hands this one which I think is a gem. I just took a picture live from my bed, with blogger screen behind the book. This is because I sleep next to the book. It is a constant reminder that I have done NOTHING with it.

I have no valid excuses either, I have not one but TWO sewing machines. I think my friend has used my Janome more than I have. :( And I have owned my brand new Janome for about 19 months now.

This book is brilliant because it uses One Yard of fabric in all the projects. Of course it only has clothes for little girls and luck would have it that I would have two boys and there is nothing in there for them. In my cupboard is a box of fabric just mocking me as well. So on this creative odyssey, I have decided to make it a mission to do at least one project from this book.

Something small that does not require much in terms of haberdashery. Otherwise it would result in yet another reason to procrastinate. Also the excuse of I have two babies under the age of 2 might be a more valid excuse. Watch this space and I shall return!!

On another note, it is possible to go on holiday with 2 under 2. It was both wonderful and horrific at the same time. Never again until they are at least 6!!

Phone call this afternoon!!

2010-11-23T19:15:00.003+11:00

And it was my gorgeous high school friend Meilinda... by the way this LA fashion writer is a star alright! She had a speaking role in Lost. LOST!!

Anyhoos, Meilinda calls me Hwei Ling... and I'm like erm.. who could this be? Her American accent is gloriously excited and rattling off her Thanksgiving menu to me. It includes Wolfgang Puck, Jamie Oliver, Rachel Ray ... And I asked ooh what are you making? Wolfgang Puck -> fancyyyyy. She said she was making Baked Apple Pouches.

Oh this could be good, I tried to google and it sounds interesting. Apple in egg roll skins and baked. I had to admit that I had to google "what is egg roll skins". The shame of not identifying a Chinese cooking ingredient. But it is the American name that threw me off. The recipe is on Wolfgang Puck's website how eggciting! I want to make this and it is a shame that I cannot find a picture of it. I hope to get a good picture before we wolf it down.

She rang me to ask if my little L still fits in 3months sized clothing. I said it's ok, it's American sizing, I will squeeze him in it!! I'm feeling lots of love from my friends lately. So many overseas and old friends have been visiting, calling and communicating. Loves it.

Hate these bits of cooking!

2010-11-16T13:10:00.003+11:00

I love cooking.. well I don't mind it. I love eating more so someone's gotta cook.
That someone has been me recently since Mick's new working hours suck eggs. Things I hate doing when cooking ...

1) Cutting pumpkins, is there anything worse than fighting with a big chunk of pumpkin? I have decent knives too, so I am not sure what I did before getting said decent knives. I think I was hacking them apart with a big cleaver!

2) Deep frying, I love fried food. Hello fried chicken soaked in buttermilk mmmmm... but I hate doing it. It's always so gross, so tedious and so annoying. Then what the heck do you do with that pot of oil after???

3) Washing up afterwards, I am not sure what I did before I had a dishwasher. Pray tell!? What did I do?!? I remember our little one bedroom flat, tiniest kitchen sink and I had the biggest pots!

4) Stirring risotto, my arms.. they hurt. I love risotto, hate stirring it.

What are some of the stuff you hate when cooking?

Wedding Gowns - What do you do with them??

2010-11-15T09:56:00.003+11:00

A friend of mine who is recently engaged said that she wants to buy her gown instead of doing what Singaporeans usually do and hire one. So I told her to take mine instead. She looked all excited and held the dress against herself and kept looking in the mirror. I felt so happy looking at the dress again. I have not taken her out of the bag since the wedding. She said she is Sz 8/10 and will not fit in the dress but I told her to alter it to fit. I mean it's been hanging in the wardrobe since the wedding. Surely if it makes someone else happy, they should take it!

So here's the challenge, who wants to bet that after two kids, I can still fit in my corset wedding gown? Please leave bets and challenge in comments. I have bought the images from my wedding photographer. I should really upload the full res images as the ones he originally gave us do not do it justice.

And back to the subject, what have you done with your wedding gown?

Friends!

2010-11-12T13:20:00.004+11:00

I got really excited when an email dropped into my inbox. A friend of mine from when we were 18 from Singapore!! She said that she is in Gold Coast with her new fiance and she is going to come down to Melbourne to meet up with me! Just for me!! And she is leaving him behind in GC and coming down by herself. It's awesome!!

This makes me think and wonder if I have ever gone the extra mile for a friend. So I think I better start looking at who I have not visited lately and make an effort. :)

So look around you and think who haven't you caught up with lately and perhaps try to make the effort. I guarantee you that it is appreciated!!

My big boy is 18months old ..

2010-11-07T19:51:00.002+11:00

Wow I truly win worst mother award. On Thursday, someone in my mothers' group asked if Pork Chop was 18months. I said no not yet.. I thought he would be 18months in December. MY BAD!!! It was the 4th this month, which was Thursday when they asked me.

This means -> weigh in for big D so I finally get to find out how much this boy weighs! I don't know where he shoves and keeps all his food. This coming Thursday, I have to take both boys to the child health centre. This should be scary and interesting as most people would know I seldom go out with both boys. Only in dire situations where I had to take both of them to the GP with me for Pickle's 6 week checkup.

By staying home for a few months with Pork Chops and Pickles, Porky has somehow got closer to me. We have our own games that he only plays with me. Poor Mick is really upset that he doesn't get to play what we call Where's Daniel. He will run away from me and I call out.. Where's D? Where's DD? And he turns around looks at me with the biggest smile and I yell out. THERE YOU ARE!! There's DD. And he runs towards me and hugs me. It is the sweetest thing.

There are days when I think what on earth am I doing with 2 kids and the oldest is only 1.5years old. Now that the return to work date is so close. I am starting to feel sad. My boys need me. Pork chop used to not play with me before this. Now we have secret things that I do to make him laugh. And Pickles is still going really really well with his breastfeeds. I thought by now he would be on formula. The guilt is getting to me. I am bordering on PND being at home and most days I do not go anywhere. Little wonder why I am vitamin deficient. But my boys are so adorable that I just really wished that I could be a stay at home mum and be happy being one.

Anyway, enough of the sappy sad stuff. Happy 18mths to Pork Chop. My little gorgeous boy!

Bake bake bake!

2010-11-01T18:35:00.003+11:00

There is a lady in my mothers group that always amazed me. I always thought she was the ultimate domestic goddess. The house was ALWAYS clean, you could spring a visit and it will be guest worthy. Unlike cough ... mine! So for the almost 18months that I have known her, I always thought she was a baker and crazy good cook. I mean the woman makes curry from scratch... I use Asian Gourmet ... the shame and FAIL. She would be one of those that rocks up to your place with a plate of cupcakes.

We had a meet at her place the other day. I rocked up with two babies and I had not seen them in ages. I would say about 2months. So I scoffed chocolate cake into my mouth and handballed my smallest one to the other clucky mothers. In my head I am thinking omg this cake is so good and her oven must be fantastic as the bottom was not overcooked. It was evenly baked and so moist. I am no chocolate cake lover so scoffing this much cake in my mouth means this cake is really good. I put a mental note in my head to get the recipe from her. Guess what, it was packet mix. My jaw dropped and my ideas of how she is a total domestic goddess just went down the drain. I felt cheated. I'm serious! LOL

I am the world's worse house cleaner. I just cannot do it. I hate vacuuming, I hate mopping.. so I hire a cleaner. I am shocked that these ladies have husbands that would not allow a cleaner. Huh? Meanwhile I bake everything from scratch and I have to say I think I have ever bought 2 boxes of cake mixes before. Yes I do pancakes from scratch too. So today, I baked blueberry muffins for Mick's birthday tomorrow. Can I say again that I LOVE my Kitchenaid Beater blade. So now I can pat myself on the back. I do not have the cleanest house or shower screen that you can see through LOL but goddamn it I bake from scratch. There you go!!

Wars!!

2010-10-28T12:44:00.003+11:00

Pole wars, agency wars, stripper vs agency wars and now mothers group wars.
LOL It's funny how a message can be misinterpreted. I read this seemingly hostile email from someone today which basically stated why you should not change the day of playgroup.

Perhaps a better way would be to say, I cannot do this day and this day. I am sure the other stay at home mums will be flexible. How bizarre??? Now it just makes everything really kind of uncomfortable for us.

On agency wars.. well it's hilarious. The usual rubbish phone calls are starting so we have to go through the usual process of double checking everything.

Hilarious and Lousy cooks on TV

2010-10-26T18:36:00.004+11:00

@em_itpleasesus on twitter introduced me to Sandra Lee and her Kwanzaa cake. This stuff is made to be laughed at. How on earth did Sandra Lee get her own show on Food Network? Grab any random on Collins Street and they can do something better than her. She takes stuff from the supermarket ... store bought icing/frosting dunks cocoa powder, cinnamon and vanilla and calls that yummy. MMMMM yummm... You have to watch this to believe it. A store bought angel food cake, dumped with cinnamon vanilla frosting, chuck a can of apple pie filling in the hole and dig holes out for the big candles to stick out of the cake. The best part is .. "embellish the cake with acorns.." Who does this?!!? LOL

Then I stumble on this beaut of a gem Paula Deen thanks to @em_itpleasesus again. She sandwiches a lasagne between a big thing of garlic bread. It's totally awesome! Portion control lady! But gosh darned it, I love the way she talks. It's amazzzinggg the southern drawl. Check out how Paula forces her girrllfrriendd to take a bite out of that huge hunk of lasagne sammich!

Love them! I had a great and fantastic laugh over these videos for ages.
I hope everyone is scared off their dinner now!

My new Kitchen Gadgets

2010-10-18T19:48:00.004+11:00

So much love for these things that I bought.

What on earth did I do before I bought this? And why.. pray tell why did I wait SO LONG to buy a Microplane grater?

I have been talking about buying a Microplane for the last 2 years. Yes 2 years. I repeat 2 years. This is pathetic as this gadget is not $200, it's $20-something? Now I just want to grate and zest everything in sight! I love it!! No wastage, perfect thin grated parmesan and perfect lemon zest. It's gorgeous!

And then I stumbled on the Beater Blade K beater. It's a beater that is made to fit the Kitchenaid mixer. The K beater that comes with the Kitchenaid means I am scraping the sides about 10 times before I can add any eggs. Then I have to scrape 20 times after adding the eggs. Meanwhile there are bits of butter chunks left in my mix. The beater blade has a silicone thing on the rim that catches every bit of butter. I tested it out today and it is million times of love. As I am lazy to stop and scrape the butter this saves me so much trouble.

I just realised how sad it is that I am raving about kitchen gadgets. Lol this is what happens when you get housewife hair and you're a suburban housewife!

Great website I stumbled on

2010-10-14T19:10:00.004+11:00

This is not a paid advertisement, but a website that I stumbled on ages ago.
But of course I did not remember to bookmark it. It took many many many google attempts to find it again. It was my mistake, I had forgotten that Americans
call nappies -> diapers instead. I was trying to google till my hearts' content "nappy clutch" instead of "diaper clutch". DUH LING!

So, I finally signed up and have favourited this project. Do you think I can be bothered to make anything these days? Not really. I feel bad, I have a brand new sewing machine and a ton of sewing books. I should make something. But I digress... how good is this site!!

http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/

Step by step tutorials of how to do crafty stuff. So aspiring WAHMs trying to find something unique to pimp in etsy and madeit etc please remember to send commission cheques to me. ;)

Check this one out -> Girly Frilly Bikini
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/custom_girly_bikini

These people are so talented! I love it!

Zumba is Hilarious!

2010-10-10T12:21:00.004+11:00

I finally got myself to Springthorpe for their Zumba class. It is a new estate which meant I would have got lost. But it took 3 minutes to drive down. This is good as it means I will not have any excuse of I am late, it's too far to drive.

Anyway, I get there and I am one of the first person to be there for the class. So I stand around thinking nobody else will talk to me. But the owner of the class sort of introduced me to another asian lady. So we got talking before the class. This is part of the reason for going to classes on my own. I will always meet someone and as classes were in Springthorpe, it meant that I would meet more people in my area.

So what is Zumba like? I'm sure everyone has seen those ads on tele. But nobody tells you how hilarious it is. It's like a mumbo jumbo mix of aerobics plus dance moves. I swear I went from hip hop video skank crumping to Zorba the Greek-dance-around-in-a-circle-thingee. The instructor looked like she was a newbie and at some stage missed the cues. If it were me, I would have continued making people do what I thought was wrong. I have done this heaps of times. LOL She was also treating the workout as a karaoke session by miming to the words of the songs. Which is quite a feat considering a lot of the tunes were Latinoooo. I think all instructors have the liberty to add 1 or 2 tracks of their own pick. So how come some instructors think it's a great idea to include line-dancing in their gig? Why?? Mine decides it's a great and super duper idea to do Zorba the Greek. I thought I was in the set of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Then the next song I was doing the Britney Slave 4 U move. And at another song, I was doing the Hip Hop with Carmen Electra move. I kid not.

Doing aerobics has reminded me that I probably should get new sport shoes -> perhaps time to trawl Sierra Trading and also I need Stella McCartney for Adidas gear to add to the hawtness factor. That Zumba gear that they were trying to pimp looks el taco loco!

The warm down moves were the same as my pole days. Except without a pole to hold onto, I was nearly falling off when I was doing the leg stretch thing. I don't think she held the stretches for long enough but then that was my way of stretching the class longer back in my teaching days. I'm almost ready to get back to pole. If I can find a decent pole studio ... which I have doubt that can happen. That's a different story!

So I can safely say that I managed to survive the entire class this means that it is do-able for anyone! At the end of the class, Cindy the lady I met at the start of the class said they have functions quite frequently in the estate country club. So she's wondering if I'm able to make it to the events. Hoping that I get invited to something soon! We all know we need to get out of the house!

Zumba Wahhhh

2010-10-08T20:02:00.002+11:00

So obviously the last time I exercised was.... mmmm ... when was that? Does trying to walk uphill to playgroup with a toddler count? I believe that would. But anyway, I had managed to huff uphill with a toddler, laptop bag and handbag at 9months I am sure I am not that bad right?

Obviously with Pole wars there are not many studios that I can go to anymore in Melbourne. I'm better off trying my luck in Sydney where they still like me at www.artofpole.com.au Anyway, Zumba is SO MUCH cheaper than Pole. It's only $12?! What the!? I'm so there. There is one that is about 5minutes drive away and I am going tomorrow.

But erm, what do people wear to Zumba? When we pole, less is better. There was one class I did in my underwear as I had forgot to bring my shorts. Oh the indignity... I was in underwear and I had my first baby boy and he was about 12 weeks old. The shame!!! I have never ever ever stood in a roomful of women in my underwear. Obviously this will not make me popular with Zumba people. Especially in my very ultra conservative suburb.

Actually I can imagine some people telling me that they will pay me to wear sequined hot pants and hardly anything else to class.

So I'm one year oldahhh!

2010-10-07T17:32:00.003+11:00

So I am one year oldahhhh.. Denial denial.

Anyway, we went to Ink Bar in Fitzroy North.. it was an interesting experience. And once again, we were the only ones at the restaurant the entire time. It was both weird but niceee....
I must have driven past this place at least 200 times but I have never noticed it.
The seafood platter was divine, you know when you get a seafood platter and it is one big deep fried golden basket? Not this one. It was fresh and oh so good. Oyster shooters, Scallop mornay, salt and pepper calamari, marinated octopus and cured salmon. That's only the 1st course by the way. Leave room for the 2nd course as it was BIG. Butter Barramundi, Morton Bay Bugs, crabs, tiger prawns, coconut rice, big thick cut chips, salad (who would eat the salad?!), crab croquettes... It was sacrilege I left prawns behind!

This was my birthday outfit. I have to say that this skirt is circa 2003! I managed to pull off crazy lady Alannah Hill.

The little boys were left at home and I had my baby free time with Mick. It was weird to say the least. But perhaps we require a few more outings like this to get myself used to it!

Bikini Shopping!!

2010-09-30T12:42:00.003+10:00

... Or to save poor unsuspecting people's eyes I should look at monokinis!
For the first time since Dec 2008, Mick and I are going on a holiday. Yes with two kidlets. May the force be with us and all that jazz. I am stressing about the little boys behaving like real mongrels.
Anyway, the other passengers will have to deal with I guess.

So ... as per last post. My bikinis are 3 years old. I was thinking, hey maybe I should go check out Zimmermann. But I am now her royal tightness and I cannot justify $200 on a 'kini anymore.
I am off to Ebay. The problem with Ebay is, the pics all look great. But when they arrive, there's always a sense of oh I'm so disappointed. Chuck it into the bottom of the drawer.

Anyway as usual, Ebay churns out such gems! Check this out.

Just trawled Ebay.. everything looks sad cat. NEED HALPPP!!!

Fashion has moved on without me

2010-09-27T13:58:00.004+10:00

So bear in mind that I have been pregnant since 2008! Yes 2008.. with about 6/7 months in between. Therefore my normal wardrobe has been neglected. And I had been el cheapo and saving money by buying the bare essentials that will cover my preggie belly.

Now that the Pickle has been evicted and Pork Chop is indeedy a big Porky. I am ready to return to civilisation. This means, I am outdated and I need HALP.
So back in my day, True Religion jeans were it. It's probably moved on from there but girlfriend here is not spending $200 plus on jeans. The big question is, are these jeans still ok to be worn? I know nobody wears the Joeys anymore.. I shall wait about 3 years and I will be totes hot in my Joeys. Fashion always comes back. I never used to do skinny as I had big calves. Yes I did, don't argue with me. So I have something like these....

... are they still OK or should I put them in the pile of I will be totes hot one day when the fashion comes back. I don't think one can err that much with straight leg right?

Having said that I never used to do skinny leg, I chanced on Jeans West skinny leg cargo pants. Ran to two shopping malls to get a size 8. Yes you heard right, I am a size 8 - smug face. And I must say I love them! I will take pictures when I wear them, trust me to have them hanging in my Chinese laundromat + bomb that exploded in a toy store aka my dining room.

Other than being 3 years out of date in the fashion stakes. Everything is going well with the 14.5month gap between my two boys. I am baking up a storm, cooking for everyone. And .... hiring a cleaner so that I can pretend I'm a domestic goddess. I promise that I will update more often as I know some people like to relish in my suffering as a SAHM (stay at home mum).
Meanwhile every other SAHM that I know has set up some online store selling knitted stuff, painted stuff or turned to photography. I shall try to sew some baby blankies and hawk them online too.

Lots of Love,

L, Pork Chop & Pickles... + Mick & Snowy

No Hot Cross Buns this year but bun in the oven

2010-04-15T11:22:00.003+10:00

So this year, I have faileddddd.. I failed to bake my own hot cross buns.
I do have the ingredients so who knows? Maybe I will start them this weekend. Uh huh, sure .. I can hear in the background.

I bought ugg booties from Ugg brand off www.asos.com
http://www.uggaustralia.com/ProductDetails.aspx?gID=k&productID=5202&model=Erin

How cute is that!!! And erm.. why are they USD$50. Please explain?

Anyway, there are no hot cross buns but there is a bun in the oven. Yes I have been in denial and it is very hard!! It is very hard being at work and trying to look not pregnant and getting the huh belly stares. I am more than 20 weeks, heck I don't remember how many. Maybe 24?! Or was it 25??!? Cannot remember any longer. I am feeling like a total happy working mum and now it's schmozzle.

Speaking of pregnancy, can preggie bellies wear normal tights from Cotton On? I am just finding it very overwhelming this winter preggie thing. I do summer.. you know the usual dresses etc but this tights/leggings bizo. I cannot understand it as I don't do leggings. Some of us tried to start the #jeggings trend in Twitter LOLLLL ROFFFLLL #JEGGINGS! Sad to report that we failed. So now I'm faced with a sad wardrobe AGAIN and I am terrified.

I better go and get some crappy clothes for my big belly. URGH.

Domestic Goddess-ism ...

2010-03-28T15:40:00.004+11:00

So I am on a Meal planning WIN.. WIN WIN WIN.
I love it and really enjoy doing it. :)

Trooped to Aldi first thing this morning and it was bliss. I stocked up on A LOT of snacks, there was a mild sense of panic there when Mick could not find Palazzo butter biscuits with milk chocolate ANYWHERE. He went to 2 different stores on 3 different occasions.
This week's meal plans are as follows.. in random order.

Pork Chops
Fresh ravioli - first time I have bought these from Aldi
Zucchini Slice
Lamb leg roast - usually they are monster hunks of meat in Aldi but I found one that was 1kg. Score

So Mick is off to work and I thought I would use today's rest day to start on my new cushion covers.

This is the fabric. Yum Yum right? Spotlight interior decor section. Awesome.. Now I cannot find my fabric scissors as they have been packed away... I have to wait for Mick to come home. Sad smiley.

So let's focus on dinner instead. I best start the leg of lamb roast as I am intending to shove it in the slow cooker and forget about it's existence.

Then I thought I would start on my apple cake as I haven't done one of them in ages. :)
Let's see how much I actually accomplish. Perhaps I should focus on getting clean dishes out of the dishwasher first. LOL

BRB Sorry about lack of posts. Agency bookings have been going great guns!

Meal Planning Week 1 Day 3

2010-02-17T21:25:00.003+11:00

It is day 3 because day 2 we were still stuffing ourselves with wontons. We had two rounds of wonton soup last day can you believe it!

Tonight is is topside beef stir fry with rice. Poor Mick cooked it and must have added too much soy sauce or something. It was very salty and he couldn't eat it!! Then as usual, I had the huge lot of stripper calls and bookings to deal with AGAIN tonight. URGHHHH.. I haven't stopped!

Feeling sad now had a lady ring up and she had to cut back her hens party. Only 4 people are attending. So sad!!!! Well they have kept one male stripper but I feel sorry for her.

Day 1 Week 1 Meal Planning Success...

2010-02-15T19:32:00.004+11:00

As the prawns and mince pork was bought on Saturday at Vic Market, I figured I had to do the wonton soup today.
So successful, I made the stock with ikan bilis/dried anchovies. Had some of the stock used on Pork's porridge with mince pork (SO PROUD). Which is also cooking on the stovetop now.
Smashed some prawns with the back of my knife, marinated the pork with soy sauce, sugar and cornflour. Chucked in lots of spring onions so that it is yummm...

Check this out.. I know it needs vegies but I had a ton of stuff to cart about in Doncaster that I didn't pick it up. BTW the deli there sells Barilla pasta 2kg packs for $8 for 2! Awesomeness...

I know it looks lack lustre but I love wontons like you won't believe!!

SUCCESS DAY 1!

Meal Planning

2010-02-14T18:35:00.002+11:00

Ok ladies.. working mum here that tag teams daddy when I get home. He leaves when I come home.. then I start on stripper bookings after the boy goes to sleep. So this means we need dinner organised very well. What happens now? We never have ANYTHING in the house.
Poor Mick will run out and ask what do you want to eat and the poor man drags the baby out and tries to get enough for one meal. This means there is hardly anything in the house for our meals... which sometimes means... honey let's get takeaway I want dumplings. $30 a meal means our budget is shot to shits.

I have been reading about meal planning on thrift in the kitchen and on EB forum. But I am afraid that I will end up going.. oh I don't want to eat that. And my thrift movement will fail.. fresh food throw into the bin as it goes bad.

So I am trialing this.. and I promise that I will update. BTW sorryz for not updating my bad!

So this week.. the meal plan is in general

Nachos with mince beef
Pasta Tuna bake! yum
Beef tacos
Slowcooker Rump Casserole
Maybe leftovers as casserole means LEFTOVERsss YAY
Sat means it's busy busy busy day and night for strippers fish and chips maybe
Sun I would like to do wontons or something like that

Love my wontons, who doesn't love wontons??

Will update with what I have done!

Today is CNY and last night I made a disasterous orange and almond cake. It was burnt-ish. Sad face, Mick came to the rescue and made a chocolate cake to take to our friend's place. I have had my Chicken rice and I'm a Happy Cat.

Anyone has any experience with meal planning? Or am I in no woman's land? I'm scaredddddd...

I am a true blooded Working Mum!!

2009-12-09T20:55:00.003+11:00

It is day two back to the grind in our lovely new Accenture office in QV Melbourne. This office is the hotness!!! Severe!! I will have to take pictures of me with our hot as Miele dishwashers. Lame I know but shizzle dizzle this office is the nizzle.

It is also fantastic going home to my boys and they will be at the train station waiting for me. Pork Chop looks so different now, I love receiving his videos on my phone from Mick. It makes me really happy. But both days I come home and feed him, have a little cuddle and he's off to bed. Then I don't hear a peep out of him for ages. It is definitely weird not having Mick in the house at night, very unusual. It is lucky I am so tired that I am able to go to sleep without him.

I emailed the above picture around to people in the office today LOL... I warned them that I have become one of THOSE mothers. But that was after I apologised for not emailing them a picture after he was born.

Speaking of pictures, I saw someone uploaded pictures of their babies naked. I am not comfortable with that. It is sad that you have to be so cautious with children these days. You just do not know who is looking at them and what they are getting off on.

Pork Chop is 7mths old

2009-12-07T20:01:00.004+11:00

This means... I am off and back to work TOMORROW.

I will be back into civilisation 3 days a week while his dad takes over nappy duties during the day. How good is this? I cannot believe it??!?! Where did the time go?

All these thoughts are going through my head.. what if I am one of those that they wished never came back. Or was one of those.. omg thank god she is gone. Oh well.. another year at Accenture. Who would have thought, I do not think I have ever been in a workplace for this long.

Also we still do not have a xmas tree. We have however got metallic blue xmas decos from Ikea (50% off!) last year after Xmas. What a waste? I should hang them outside on the pear tree.

Meanwhile - pole is up.. but nobody cares. Watching Jami in her new routines dvd but still not enough to get back on it.

Avocado, we eated it!

2009-11-08T17:27:00.003+11:00

Pork Chop had never had any interest in our food or anything that we gobbled. And trust me I gobble a lot infront of him. We were up in Bright for a wedding and suddenly, arms were flapping, legs were kicking... You know that excited face. He thought it was Christmas morning when he saw my shotglass of green soup. Yes green... yes green with envy he was as well. I thought huh? He wants some? Instinctively I told Mick omg he wants my soupppp give it to him. But I didn't know how it would go if I tipped a shotglass down a 6month's old mouth. So i decided to go the safe route. Yes we shall ..... dip his fingers in it and have a nom nom. He went crazy and wanted some more! I thought oh wow he is a big boy now. Everyone else has started solids ahead of him but I thought whatever he is thriving on formula I will leave him alone until he is interested.

Two days later, we were sitting having a glass of cold water when arms flapped, legs kicked again. He wanted the glass of water. Never mind that the glass was bigger than his head... I want GLASS NOWWWW. He started licking the side of the empty glass. So I gave him mine which had water. He loved it and was really anxious for more. See above picture as most people think that I exaggerate. You know ... Ling is one of those mothers whose baby crawled at like 12 weeks. LOL.

So what does a mother with no car in the 'burbs do? Wait another week until we were able to go to Chemist warehouse to get the baby phase 2 gear. Armed with sippy cup and baby feeding spoons, we stopped by Woolworths on the way home to get avo, banana and a pumpkin. Avocado will do, that's easy to make. Cut, mash, mix in some milk.. off we go. Fully prepared to have a war on my hands with this introduction of strange green stuff. We braved phase 2 of babyhood. I am proud to say my little boy lapped it up and then flapped and kicked for some more. He scoffed down slightly less than a quarter of an avo. Avo... we eated it! Here's video proof he does enjoy it! You know I am one of those mothers! LOOK AT MAH BABYYYY!!!

OOOHHH Big boy now!

2009-10-20T23:53:00.006+11:00

I never thought that I would ever see Daniel in this suit. It is so adorable... I had to take a picture for his dad on my phone. When I bought this suit I thought oh yeah that's huge he'll be alright in Summer - this year preferably. Took it out today and freaked out... omgggg it just fits!

I also took one with his foot with mine. One day they will be bigger than mine and I want to remember that they were indeed so tiny. I have forgotten how itty he was when he was born. LOL actually who am I fooling, he is still itty now.

Because he grew so much in Singapore - it must have been the heat! We had to move him out of his Miyo Baby and shift him to his own room. Sorry D, you are kicked out. I miss him talking to himself when he's awake and the sighing he does. But it is ok, I am sure that I will get over it.

So off to Ikea to buy the cheapest cot we could possibly find. This is D helping his Dad with Ikea instructions. It is so universal that even a 5 month old baby can figure it out.

Check him out in his new bed. He's like omggg I'm excited! And oh look I is behind bars! Time has definitely flown past really quickly. He is almost 6 months now and it is time to go back to work in the office. I wonder if I will miss this, I think that if I had a car I would have been enjoying it more. Oh well.. next update I will talk about my return to the pole world. I think I have been in there for too long.

Rug shopping!!! I love online shopping

2009-10-14T13:44:00.011+11:00

I cannot believe how much traffic the nursery gets. We have not even moved him into the nursery - he is still sleeping next to our bed. How does the rug in there get so grimy??

As I am car-less during the day and time-poor during the weekend. So what does every mother stuck at home do? Shop online... my secret bad habit. Does everyone else do this as well? Put stuff into their cart and not end up getting it and just closes the browser? LOL I have done this a billion times in Asos.com and NAP. Put shoes in cart, think about it.. convert on xe.com and then close the browser. I equate this to buying stuff in Target and then running back to return everything again as it was an impulse buy.

So anyway, I jumped online to search for rugs and they had the rug that I had been looking for. Oriental chic I call it... how cool is this one?

I have detracted from rug shopping for the nursery of course. But they have those little road map rugs that Mick claims all boys love. It must be right as I do not get it.

The boy is a frequent flyer!

2009-10-13T15:52:00.002+11:00

I am incredibly proud of myself! I have managed to bring the boy to Singapore on my own. I have to admit that on the day, I gave myself a panic attack. I had imagined the worst scenario possible - He would scream for 7 hours and I would not have anywhere to hide. I would be standing the entire time trying to calm him down and all the passengers will be giving me death stares!!

Lucky the boy cooperated, both to and from Singapore, he slept really well and was calm and charming the ladies as usual.

We spent 2 sweaty and humid weeks in Singapore. We were fortunate that the eczema did not flare up and we kept up the ointments and dermeze. The boy managed to charm lots of ladies on the trains in Singapore. I stupidly thought that it was too much baggage to travel with the orbit baby stroller. NEVER AGAIN, I cannot tell you how bad it was just to have a baby bjorn. Hot weather plus body contact is just not a good combination. It was constant yelling and screaming if he was in it for more than an hour.

So we made it back - all 3 of us. Myself, Pork Chop (Daniel) and his new friend Yong Yong the bear. This is a gift from Uncle Christopher! Check out Yong Yong, he's bigger than Pork Chop. LOL

Kathmandu Neck Gaiter!

2009-07-20T13:57:00.002+10:00

Any Kathmandu fans here?? Mick lovessss the outdoors but is starting to suffer from the cold at his work. The poor man drags himself away from us in the cold to start work at 7.15am. Anyone in Melbourne now would know that the weather has been icy cold. When I was pregnant, I trooped to the city Kathmandu store to grab a fleece neck gaiter for him at half price. Half price = $15, that's fine as long as he liked it. Working around machinery it means that Mick cannot wear neck scarves for his work. It might get caught up in something and strangle him. So he has to wear neck gaiters which is basically a tube made of polar fleece. Kathmandu may claim their fleece may be more superior than my Darn Cheap Fabric fleece but fleece to me is fleece. So he wanted one that could cover the back of his neck if he pulls it up higher to cover his nose. I bought half a metre of the thicker polar fleece that they had available. Cut it out and sewed one for him in about 10 minutes. It took me a little time to work out how I was to do it but it took no time at all. I think I will make another one for him and show steps to make it as I think it will be trashed very soon in the vineyard.
Ta da.. less than 10 minutes and about $8 for 2 neck gaiters.

Oh dear I have neglected this!

2009-07-02T08:45:00.005+10:00

Oh dear.. one entire month with no posts. I am terrible! Thank you all for the congratulations and cooing at the little boy. I call him itty bitty and sometimes I make him do a booty roll when I sing My Humps. Yes - the "Check it out" part.

The thing is, I cannot blame the baby - I am just lazy! When he sleeps and he sleeps very well during the day, I waltz around doing not much.

For everyone who said he is tiny... no he is not a premie. He is just small or rather perfect for me. I always had a feeling that he would have been later than 40 weeks and I sort of felt like I was right as he was born with fine hairs on his arms and back. He was 2.8kg (only!), lost more than 10% of his little body weight and we had to overlap his newborn nappy velcros when we were in the hospital. I am glad to say that the nappies look 'normal' on him now. Yesterday our little boy weighed in at 3.9kg. I am not upset that he is an itty bitty well except when evil midwife said that I was not feeding him enough, as he was always very alert. Here he is channeling an angry football fan ...

I have a new sewing machine thanks to my wonderful husband who thought I would be bored at home without a car. So far I have done one thing with it, I have finished the second change mat cover. As you guys can imagine, it's constantly peed on, spit on and the other day POOed on. Yes Poo! Insert green sick faced emoticon here.

So in a bid to get me sewing again, I jumped on etsy and bought fabric and softie patterns. I was only going to buy one pattern. The seller had made a custom listing for me and I thought oh yeah I can afford another pattern. Well... after I checked out and PAID, she emails me another money request asking me to pay for an addition USD $12 as she made a mistake. She only charged me one yard instead of 2 3/4 yards. I am really annoyed to be honest. So fabriccloset I do not think I will be buying from you anymore. I have had sellers that undercharged postage but said it's fine, so if your custom listing is wrong, suck it up.

Anyway this morning my order arrived. Here is what I bought.
Mrs Perkins the giraffe and Phoebe the elephant softie patterns, it is funny that the patterns are cheaper from to be shipped from Melbourne to the US and back to Melbourne than if I purchased it from a Melbourne online retailer. Go figure.

And my fabric choices... I have no idea what is what.. but the red hearts will be lounge pants for myself. I have not sewn anything for myself in ages. This is because I do not have an overlocker and I do not know what to do with raw edges. Anyone?? Should I just tolerate raw seams as everyone knows that I am a lazy cat. The rest of the fabric... I do not really know what I am doing, some of it will probably end up as Mrs Perkins and Phoebe.

Coconut bread weekend

2009-05-24T16:16:00.004+10:00

This is the last day of Mick's 3 week annual leave. The poor man is devastated and he's been dragged into work for a meeting ... the meeting became go get something done in the vineyard. So while he was gone. I made a coconut bread using Bill Granger's recipe. I am a true stepford wife now, I have managed to bake while keeping an eye on a 3 week old in his rocker.

Here's the recipe off lifestylefood channel's website. I had forgotten about this until I saw a re-run (isn't Foxtel all about RE-RUNS!! GRRR) and I thought this would be good for the poor man to have while at work.

Ingredients

2 Eggs
300 ml Milk
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2½ cups Plain Flour
2 teaspoons Baking powder
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
1 cup caster sugar
150 g shredded Coconuts
75 g unsalted Butter melted
icing sugar

Method

Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
Lightly whisk eggs, milk and vanilla together.
Sift flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a bowl, add sugar and coconut, and stir to combine.
Make a well in the centre and gradually stir in the egg mixture until just combined.
Add melted butter and stir until the mixture is just smooth, being careful not to over-mix.
Pour into a greased and floured 21 x 10 cm (81/2 x 4 in) loaf tin and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until bread is cooked when tested with a skewer.

It did not quite take 1 hour, I think it was in the oven for about 45mins. The batter is slightly runny and it looks and smells absolutely yummy. I do not usually have a thing for coconut but this smells yum!

I have not done any sewing since leaving the hospital as my back had been really bad. As you can imagine my centre of gravity has been messed up and breastfeeding a baby (although he is itty bitty) has done my back in. Mick has bought me a new sewing machine and I will be BACK next week! Truly looking forward to it - and not being back at work.

He has arrived!!

2009-05-14T11:06:00.003+10:00

Last Monday on the 4th of May, little Pork Chop was born! Ok so it was an elective and hardly any surprise. It was still a surprise to me. I was tempted the entire time while waiting to run off in my dressing gown and surgery gown. LOL I was in denial.

Here he is! He is Itty Bitty and we have named him Daniel Every.

Nesting for his nursery!

2009-05-01T09:02:00.010+10:00

Today is the first day .. and also the last day that I can sit at home and not at work before Pork Chop comes. I am secretly sad that I only have one day off but quite glad that I am quasi important at work. LOL Yesterday I showed Pork Chop what Mummy used to look like. I found this picture in the computer so I told him, this is Mummy before you.

And this is Mummy with you. So hopefully Mummy after Pork Chop will be as above again. :)
So my only one day of relaxing .. what am I doing instead? I am pimping my new business like there is no tomorrow. Twitter, Myspaz, Facebook.. I am doing everything and I am stressing that I am not getting any calls!? I am truly going crazy.

So I just realised that I have not shown everyone pork chop's space. It is a little frustrating as it is very grey today and I do not think I have seen a peep of sunshine. I hope the pictures of the room turns up gorgeous.

That is his change table, change pad that I sewed a slip on cover for. It's spot the Ikea furniture in this room really. Mick has unclipped the Orbit Baby infant car seat so that it is ready to be taken to the hospital. And below is the Miyo Baby Hammock plus a gliding chair that Mick decided we absolutely had to have. I wished that it was sunnier today - my feet are cold.

I love Apple Tea Cake!

2009-04-26T19:25:00.007+10:00

Ooohhh the recipe is included below.

It is cold in Melbourne today. I have bought the change table padded thingee and I have the material to make a cover for it. Lucky for us Darn Cheap Fabric had a pretty aqua terry towelling material this time. The last time for the nappy change mat we had to use bright pink. I was afraid people might start to think that I am trying to turn Pork Chop into Carson off Queer Eye.

I have stumbled on the best apple cake recipe! I followed Tobie Puttock Apple & Cinnamon Cake recipe once but I did not like how the apples were on top of the cake. Not that I ate any!! This is the usual situation. I bake, look and admire and force poor Mick to eat the entire cake. He demanded no more buttery and sugary goodness so I started looking for an apple cake recipe that did not use 200g of butter. LOL!

So I improvised it, I diced a granny smith apple and caramelised it instead of layering slices on top of the cake batter. Mick just pointed out that I did not dice the apple, he did... So correction, get a hot male to dice the apple while you flutter your eyelashes at him. The cake would have a nice crunch baked top and soft apples are embedded inside.

The recipe is for an 8 inch round tin. I used a springform pan as it called for sugar and cinnamon to be sprinkled on top. I thought it would be the easiest way to get the cake out without spillage of sugar and cinnamon.

So here it goes...

95g butter
½ cup castor sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 egg
1¼ cups self raising flour
½ cup milk
1 granny smith apple, diced
Knob of butter - I think I used about 30 to 40g?
Dessert spoon of dark brown sugar

Cream butter and sugar. Beat the egg and vanilla essence into the mix.

Sift flour into the batter (recipe says to do it in 3 parts, s'if I did), mix briefly with spatula. Pour in the milk and mix together.

Cook diced apples until just soft and add to batter. I did not add the additional liquid into the cake batter as it would be too runny. Just take care when throwing in the apples not to add in too much of the brown sugar/butter liquid.

Bake for 180C.... The recipe said 30 to 35 mins. But quite honestly I did not time it. Pull it out when it looks cooked and test that it is cooked through. Sprinkle with caster sugar and cinnamon. Take springform off and yummmyyyyyyy cake awaits. As it was so cold, I think I only cooled it for about 15mins. And I was salivating! I am not a cake fan and tonight my husband and I shared two slices with cream on the side. It is soooo goood and a definite keeper!
I apologise for the bad picture, could not wait to take the digital SLR camera out to start eating this cake!

PinkLizzy Sew's Blog Giveaway!

2009-04-21T06:39:00.002+10:00

Oooooohhh to anyone who has a little girl - you have to visit this Etsy shop!

PinkLizzyfromAus

She is based in Brisbane, Australia and is running a blog giveaway on her adult sized Arty Skirt. Girls, back off as I want my own. I am deprived buying all things pink and cute as I am having a boy. Let me have some joy! Winners are announced on the 3rd of May! Hurry up and sign up.

Mary Jane Baby Booties

2009-04-19T19:53:00.005+10:00

I am feeling quite sad this weekend. Apparently I am too small and my womb is too tight. Other than chowing down 2 Big Macs plus a KFC tower burger a day I don't know how else I am suppose to get bigger???? So it took until Sunday 4pm to get in the mood to finish the second nappy change mat and these booties for him.

So here is my second attempt at sewing the baby booties. Of course, I got a little too cocky this time and though oh yeah I know how it's done now. Read on for the big boo boo that I made. I did this pair using the remmants of the baby pouch sling that I made. 8 by 9 inch square is all that I required, that would be a TON of booties! :) So I decided that I would line it with cotton instead of wool felt. Perhaps this is not the best result as it was rather thin.

Thank goodness for fusible web, it is a lifesaver! So here's the little booties before top stitching. They look so cute already just look at the little soles.

Topstitching had been done and I proceeded to sew on the little ribbons. Once again, I am using the leftovers of the grosgrain ribbon from the bear booties. After sewing the ribbons on, I put them together to take a picture. Sigh... I had not flipped one of the tops on when cutting it. I had placed both of the right sides facing up! I made two of the same sides! DOH! What a boo boo, I had it correct at first but I flipped it over just as I was cutting it! Duh...
Anyway, I thought that's fine, he will not know his left from right for ages. Another sad Ling attempt at bootie making.

This time it was much easier to sew the soles to the tops as they were not interfaced. Thank goodness for getting the right materials. So check out the two right side booties. You just have to laugh!

Amy Butler Change Mat - Nappy Bag Pattern

2009-04-12T18:52:00.007+10:00

I was a woman on a mission yesterday, I went to not one but TWO fabric stores to get the items for this change mat. I had bought the Amy Butler Nappy bag pattern as I wanted to make the change mat. Silly I know, but I have a fear of Amy Butler patterns as I have heard experienced sewers say that the bags are hard to sew. It was a hike up to South Morang Spotlight as I had to buy cotton batts. The pattern called for 2 panels of batts (19 x 25inches). When I was there, there were 10 people ahead of me and I was confused as heck with cotton batts. Who knew there were so many different ones?? I forgot to get terry toweling material and it was too late, I was the next customer. So off to Darn Cheap fabrics in Heidelberg to get terry toweling. Before people think that I am pink overloading my son, I have to add that it was the only colour that they had!

We got home with Heidelberg Pie shop pies (YUM! Chunky pepper) and guess what, I fell asleep. Who knew you could get so tired in the 3rd trimester? I snoozed for 4 hours until 7pm and awoke in a complete daze. So no sewing for me yesterday and I felt absolutely guilty!

This morning I had the best breakfast. Mick made eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce. Mmm free range eggs from the farmers market in Hurstbridge and butter. Lazed around a little to watch Sopranos marathon on W Channel. Picked up a lemon tree from The Greenery nursery on Banksia Road before I got down to some hard sewing. I rummaged in my box of cotton materials that my mum had given me and told Mick to pick one fabric that he liked. He picked a blue and white gingham material. In my head I was thinking that would look great against hot pink. LOL...

The pattern said to use two panels of cotton batts (19x25inch). I pinned two panels of batts to the terry towel material (19x25inch) and the top cotton material (19x25inch). It was too thick and I removed one layer of the batt. Sewed it together much easier this time. Turned it around, did the strap and sewed that on. I would trim the edges next time to 0.5cm if I do another one of these. It became too thick at the edges. This pattern is awesome and I have enough material for another one. One will stay in the car and the other we can leave it in his Orbit Baby pod bag. I was surprised that the pink and blue does go together!

Hot Cross Buns minus the cross

2009-04-10T17:50:00.004+10:00

Poor Mick has not had one hot cross bun this Easter season. I came across a post for Donna Hay's recipe on the Vogue forums. I thought it would be easier to make chocolate chip ones instead of the traditional buns, no mixed peel and I can use the rest of the chips for something else. It is also Good Friday and no shops are suppose to be opened. I needed something from Spotlight before starting my portable change mat. So it was baking for today instead of sewing!

I had set up the trusty KitchenAid dough hook and I was pumped. When I mixed the warm milk and yeast together with sugar, I kept thinking that I have managed to stuff it up and kill the yeast with milk that is too hot. Mick helped with the KitchenAid mixer - I am not used to mixing dough! Lucky he did or flour would have been flying out the bowl. This machine is awesome, it takes no time to mix the dough and Mick kneaded it slightly .. ta da it was ready to sit and rise! So sat it did for ages. Then we rolled them out to little balls for the tray ... and waited some more!

We decided not to make the traditional cross on top of the buns. Ok so they are just buns not Hot Cross. After 30 minutes in the oven at 160 degrees.. Mmmmmm HOT CROSS BUNS minus the cross! Now some more waiting... glazed buns have to cool.. mmmm we could not wait that long for them to cool. We have scoffed down 2 of these babies. A contented Pork Chop who slept through most of the day and very happy Mick. Snowy does not do buns, only kibble but she is looking really happy between us now.

My First Pouch Sling

2009-04-05T16:36:00.006+10:00

OMG how easy is it to sew this sling. I went to Baby Bunting yesterday to suss out Peanut Shell slings. I have been wondering how a AUD$100 pouch sling would be different from one that I am about to sew. And most of all, I wanted to know how to wear it. So I forced one on a very willing Mick and I was slightly disappointed that it was one layered and not reversible. For some reason, I thought they were reversible pouch slings (double sided with a lining).

I had picked up $2 per metre cotton fabric from Darn Cheap Fabric in Heidelberg last weekend. I am so happy that this cheap fabric store is near me ... and next to the Saturday lunch Heidelberg Pie Shop. Having been used to only buy girly fabric, I failed to notice it was neon pink and not exactly boy colours - he will have to live with that.

Following this youtube video of how to sew a pouch sling by Leah, I cut my fabric down and stil have a heap leftover for another sling plus A LOT of baby booties. I will have to find something to do with this fabric as it is gorgeous. I measured Mick's shoulder to hip length as I think I will make my own post pork chop. Read... when I erm get my size 6 figure back.. uh huh. Sewed both side seams very quickly, turned inside out and french seamed the curve where baby Pork Chop's bum is suppose to rest. It does not take long and I am very glad that I have chosen smallish projects so far to get done within the day. I think folding, cutting and sewing only took 1 hour if that!

Check out Marsupial Mick and our stand in baby - a vase. LOL Snowy was hiding under the deck outside and I could not grab her to test out the sling. I think she sensed embarrassment and deep humiliation if she came back into the house.

Here is a look at the reversible fabric. I think it is one hot sling and proves Peanut Shell is cough rip off cough. I found Peanut shell slings not as deep as this one. Marsupial Mick was concerned that Pork Chop would outgrow it very quickly.

Cushion Covers!

2009-03-29T16:48:00.005+11:00

I received my "In Stitches" this week! It is eye candy indeed but Amy Butler's instructions were as I anticipated really detailed. I decided to not start with any of these new patterns and complete what I had intended to start MONTHS ago.

I bought this fabric last year from Ikea intending to make 3 matching cushion covers for the lounge room. I am a disgrace, it has taken about 4 months to get 3 zips that are the correct length for them. Not having anymore excuses ... I decided to bite the bullet. Actually I did indeed have one last excuse - I have no zipper foot for my machine. I spotted a low shank zipper foot on Ebay but I have not bought it yet! I decided to plough ahead. It has been about 14 years since I sewed a zip to anything! And I had forgotten how to do it properly, therefore the first one was a bit of a disaster. But Mick said it looks awesome... he properly ignored the big obvious bad stitching for the zip.

The before cushion covers are 3 ugly pastel covers. One is aqua, one purple and one yellow. Blahhhhhh looking and very old as you can tell from the ugly yellow one above. So I measured them and added 3cm for the seam allowance and prayed that I can figure this out without having to unpick anything. I get frustrated and hate unpicking anything, much to my grandma's disappointment - she's a perfectionist.

I cut out 3 cushions at the same time. It is kind of hard doing it sitting on the floor when I am this huge. Mick had to come rescue me by picking me up off the floor :)
These cushion covers are SO EASY to make. Of course the hardest part is pinning the zip and sewing the zip down without a zipper foot. But it took 30 mins once I figured it out, that includes pressing the seam up, sewing the zip and flipping it inside out. I am loving the new bold colour. And they finally match!!

Also on the baby booties front, I have located fusible web from Lincraft in Greensborough. Next week will be pouch baby sling weekend plus a pair of matching cotton booties perhaps!

Little Bear Booties

2009-03-21T19:31:00.006+11:00

I wondered if I was over ambitious in attempting to sew these little baby booties after a LONGGG hiatus from the dusty sewing machine. But I could not resist ordering the patterns off PreciousPatterns - preciouspatterns.etsy.com
They looked so so cute and absolutely adorable compared to the plain mary janes. So at the first attempt, I decided to make the baby bear ones instead of the plain mary jane ribbon pattern that I bought as well.

I made the mistake of assuming that fusible web was the same as fusible interfacing. Instead of sticking the lining to the cotton drill material I used for the outside, I had to rely on top stitching them together. I think I will use both felt for the lining and topside in future as it is softer to handle. So this is what it looked like after the top stitching stage. I thought my crooked stitching created quite the cheeky bear. Mick was running in and out trying to clean the house and help me with the little bears. At this stage he was cooing about how adorable they already looked.

The bear ears were handstitched onto the head. I did not think my machine could take all the layers. Top stitching the ears were the most difficult part of the exercise. They were too small to turn so I had to stitch one stitch, leave the needle in the material, lift up the presser foot and turn the ear. Mick was really excited at this stage and said it was the cutest little thing he had ever seen. By this time my finger hurt from handstitching and forcing pins into all the layers of materials. I persisted on as he was really enthusiastic!

Correction on the above statement, the hardest bit was sewing the soles to the tops of the shoes. I had to enlist Mick's help in pinning the soles ready for the machine as my fingers were hurting so badly from pinning earlier. Some parts of the sole was not stitched down to the body but I went back and handstitched them together. The above is my final result. My bears are indeed lopsided and cranky pants. If you look at PreciousPattern's shop you will see their sample pieces that are so cute and loveable! But as you can tell my finishing leaves much to be desired! i am sure that Pork Chop will forgive Mummy for shoddy work. I am now looking forward to making some more booties! Perhaps the ones that are larger sized next time. These bear ones were for 0-6 months.