Great website I stumbled on

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!

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

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!

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!!

... 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

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

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.