redecorating

You've probably noticed that I was bored with my old layout, so I'm trying this one out. The pink's probably a bit more lolly than I like, but I thought I'd ease us all into the change with the original blogger layout and then try tinkering with the colours. 

I also thought I'd pop on a few pics of stuff around my house - and didn't realise how much green I have in my house and wardrobe until I put them all together. I guess I spend so much time in my pretty blue study that I didn't realise that our bedroom, kitchen and living room are all painted in varying shades of a soothing verdant green - with plenty of pink accents.

ooh ah, just a little bit

Last year I wrote a story on the benefits of small bursts of exercise and have decided to make that my mantra this year. While we've long heard of the benefits of getting 30 - 45 minutes exercise three to five times a week, for most of us, that just seems impossible to squeeze into our busy days. That's why I've decided to go for a 15 minute walk every day. C'mon, 15 minutes is NOTHING, you're barely even leaving the house. It's easy peasy, so therefore, you'll do it. And once you've done that 15 minutes you'll get the benefits: a little cardio fitness, a little muscle tone, stress relief, a little vitamin D, mood elevation... and you'll want to do it again, and again.

The problem with most exercise programs is the huge amount of time we have to dedicate to them. There's the drive to the gym or park, finding somewhere to park the car, getting changed, then spending 45 minutes to an hour working out, then getting back in the car, then getting home, getting changed. Eeek. Most of the time it just seems too hard. That's why, this year, 15 minutes is my mantra. An easy, breezy walk down to the beach, along the shore, then home. That said, I'm also going to whip out my Pilates DVD, throw a yoga mat on the floor and strike a few poses, just once a week. Oh, and I do so want to box at the beach on Saturday mornings. Even though it's a 45 minute class, it's only a five minute walk to get there and I adore every second of it. 

I know that exercising makes me feel fabulous, so this year, I'm putting myself first and doing a little, more often.

acting out

From today I'm implementing a plan. I got up early and did a HUGE supermarket shop with ingredients for five different meals. Now, the plan is, that I'll cook those meals, using that exact food, and will only need to visit the butcher in a few days time for fresh meat stocks. Oh, and the fruit and veg store too. My intention is not to visit the supermarket for another full week - at least.

In the past, this hasn't worked. Mainly because I tend to cook to taste. I'll be in the mood for, say, lamb, and must-have lamb that night. My tastes are fickle, and variable, so hopefully I've got enough variety in my meal plan to last the week. There's sirloin steaks with bernaise sauce, home made oven-baked frites and a spinach and baby beet salad, chicken pad thai, organic beef burgers on buns with salad, haloumi and pancetta risotto and grown up mac and cheese (that's the new recipe I'm trying - with blue cheese, chorizo and roasted capsicum!)

I also stocked up on our new fave - mountain bread - the world's thinnest and most delish wraps. Our gal loves them rolled up with peanut butter or avocado, while we have them with salad and ham. They're so light they're barely there, but still fulfill that need for bread. Oh, and they make amazing pizza too.

lovin' oven

Actually, that title's somewhat misleading. As you know, I adore cooking shows - however, I often suffer from appliance envy. Copper saucepans? Oh I lust after. Vanilla Kitchen Aid mixer? Oh be still beating heart. Pots of fresh herbs on the windowsill? If only mine wouldn't cark it after a week. But nothing, oh nothing, turns me green quicker than the pristine, shiny ovens on cooking shows. With their gleaming silver racks, and sparkly glass windows they all look showroom fresh. And how? How I ask you?

See, I spent an hour this morning removing everything removable from my oven and scrubbing it in sudsy, scalding water. Then I sprayed my oven with my lovely, non-toxic cleaner, and scrubbed, and scrubbed, and scrubbed some more. It's cleaner, but it's lightyears away from showroom fresh. It's not because I neglect it either. I clean it pretty darned regularly, and have tried all manner of options - bi-carb soda and vinegar, enjo oven gloves, gumption... and so much elbow grease I should have the most toned biceps in town! 

Nope, it's a used oven, and maybe I just really need to get over it. Who needs a window you can see through anyway?

manic monday

Oh hi, sorry, I haven't forgotten you're here. It's been one of those days today. Productive, but kinda hectic. I've had my nose pressed firmly to the grindstone, or at least I've had my fingers tethered to the keyboard... I must say though, that my early preparation is paying off. Even when an editor emailed me this morning to ask if I could send in a story a week early, I wasn't fazed. With my new, super-dooper attitude to deadlines, and early preparation, I could say yes, and have it to her before 3pm. Not bad huh!

Of course this sounds like bragging, because it is! However, as a former straggler, who procrastinated right up till the last second, it's refreshing being organised. Seriously, why hasn't anyone told me about this before? 

this year I will...

* Try out a new recipe each week

* Go to outdoor boxing early each Saturday morning - boxing and the beach are the perfect combo

* Concentrate on cleaning one room in my house each day

* Smile every hour

* Do Pilates once a week - it works for Dita Von Teese and Kate Winslet, so that's enough for me

* Ride my bike once a week

* Try something new at least once a month

* Dedicate fridays as Friendship Friday and call one friend on a Friday evening

* Seek out more freelance work

* Learn conversational French

* Listen to more music

* Read a wider range of authors (maybe even some men - oooooh)

* Plan more dates with my hubby

* Continue to declutter my home and mind

* Go for a walk every day - for at least 15 minutes

* Learn how to sew - properly!

* Work smarter

* Do something special with my daughter every day

green fingers

Wow, I feel like I haven't been in my front garden for months... probably because I haven't. We've been focussing all our attention on the backyard renovation and the poor front garden is starting to sulk. It's mid-summer here and we've had some wild weather. The last few days have been reasonably hot, and today is hot and windy, so I think that later on I'll be lavishing some care on my poor, neglected garden beds. The heat and overnight showers have ensured that many of my roses are covered in black spot, so that needs to be removed. Dead flowerheads need to be snipped off. Plus, there's a spot of weeding in one corner that really needs attending to. While I'm there I might also throw on some manure and give the garden a good soak - while talking soothingly to my plants to let them know I haven't completely forgotten them!

happiness list

Today I'm happy because...

* my daughter's party was a fun-filled success

* I gave nearly all the leftover cake to friends as they collected their children, so I didn't snack on it mindlessly all day

* I'm ahead in my work

* I've come up with a system to keep track of my invoices and income

* Aside from a crunchy and sticky kitchen floor, my house is relatively clean and tidy

* I just made myself a really nice cup of tea

* I've just washed my hair

* I'm listening to girls singing and giggling happily

* We're off to our good friends' house tonight for duck confit and champagne

* I can spy flowers from every window in my study - frangipani to the left, delicate bottle brush dead ahead.

* I am blessed with wonderful friends who make my heart sing

* I live just up the road from one of the most magnificent beaches and ocean baths this glorious country has to offer

* I have a husband and child I adore, and who love me back

* My toenails are a pretty vibrant shade of strawberry pink

* I'm reading a new book by Marlena de Blasi - That Summer in Sicily and she's taking me back to Italy with her enthusiasm and pretty words

* I'm inspired to try a new recipe each week, yep, you read that right, recipe - not just create a meal, but follow a plan

* I'm filled with optimism about 2009 and look forward to enjoying every moment, of every single day

* Comments from you always make me smile! xx

 

party pooped

Phew, the last of the parties over for a while. Oh, and the Rock Star Party? It rocked! Smiling girls left with exultations of  "Best Party Ever!" ringing in our ears. Nice.

I adore planning parties. And it all starts with setting the scene. An invite has to set expectations. Our Rock Star VIP Lanyards really did the trick. They invited the girls to Party Like a Rock Star and the rsvp asked them to call me to "get on the VIP list" which they were pretty chuffed about. We had silver 'tinsel curtains' hanging over the front door, and the entry to the living room, giving it a bit of a backstage vibe. Twenty pale blue and silver helium balloons dotted the living room ceiling. At the front door, posters were set up with a big gold star and ROCK STAR VIP ZONE to set the mood again, and we posted up a few "set lists" with a rundown of events.

First, we got the girls to come up with a band name - which were all impressive - then we had the Rock Star makeovers (suitable for nine-year-olds). We had a range of nail polishes (black, red, dark blue, purple, fluoro pink, yellow) and coloured hair sprays, lip gloss and a eye shadow to do a subtle cats eye. After the makeovers were complete we did a Rock Star photo shoot - with all 10 girls, then each with the birthday girl, then solo - which Matt downloaded and printed out for later - when they were decorating their Concert Posters.

Next up the Wii got a workout. We put on Disney Sing-It and the girls formed Duos to belt out a number or two. After that it was Munch Time at 6pm with homemade pizza, sausage rolls, party pies and surprisingly popular carrot sticks and cherry tomatoes! All swilled down with jugs of water or lemonade. More singing followed, and then posters were decorated before the Cake came out. And that was it. Undoubtedly the most simple and fun party ever. Nibbles on the table were limited to very popular watermelon wedges and a couple of bowls of chips, and much water was consumed.

My gal came in and gave me the world's biggest hug and thank you before bedtime - which really makes it all worthwhile.

salad days

While I love a good salad, I've never really made one - until yesterday. I made a vietnamese chicken salad and it was mighty fine. Just in case you're interested, this is how I did it.

I grabbed two chicken breasts, poached them for 10 minutes, cooled, then shredded them. The I finely sliced 1/4 head of chinese cabbage,  sliced two lebanese cucumbers into thin batons, grated two carrots, sliced two green onions, chopped 1/2 bunch each of mint and coriander and then threw in 1/2 cup of salted peanuts. I then mixed the chicken through and dressed it with a dressing made from 60ml rice wine vinegar, 60ml fish sauce, 1/3 cup fresh lime juice and three tablespoons of caster sugar combined with two finely sliced birds eye chillis. It was very refreshing and healthy. So I followed it with a trifle!

Poached nectarine and raspberry trifle.

I poached the halved nectarines (6) in a syrup made from water, a couple of tablespoons of caster sugar, a vanilla pod and a good sloosh of rose syrup for 10 minutes (turning over halfway through cooking). Then I layered the nectarines on top of broken sponge cake (which I bought, I'm not crazy) and spooned the syrup over to moisten the cake. Then I studded raspberries in between the nectarines. I then spooned a whole tub of brandy custard over the top, then added another layer of sponge - moistened with the last of the syrup. I sprinkled more rapsberries over top and whipped up some cream to which I added the beans from the vanilla pod. All the cream was smoothed over the top and it was refrigerated for a couple of hours. It tasted damned good. Oh, if I wasn't hungover of course I would have added alcohol to the mix!

new year, new shoe

I'm a day late posting my shoe of the week - sorry! New year's hangovers, spontaneous dinner parties and birthday party preparations all conspired against me yesterday. So today, in honour of my new 'working from home wardrobe' here are a pretty pair of pink, patent Miu Miu shoes to make your tootsies really smile.

party, party, party on

Wow, it's 2009 and the parties haven't stopped. We had friends for dinner last night, and I've got Nigella's sour cream chocolate cake bubbling away in the oven for my daughter's Rock Star party this afternoon. There's pizzas to be made (thanks for that Sara!), decorations to be hung (an abundance of pale blue and silver helium balloons), mess to be stashed and lolly bags to be stuffed. All by 5pm. Eeeeeeek!

Hope everyone had a truly fabulous new year. I'm looking forward to sharing so much with you in 2009. Lxx

get the party started

My apologies to iTunes. Thanks to being a complete luddite, I didn't realise that the whole iTunes party mix just keeps going on. I started off slowly with Ben Harper, but am currently rocking out to Dinosaur Jr - apple does know best.

I must say too, that having music playing did put me in a much happier mindset - and I've just about finished reworking that story. Happy now!

tasteful tunes

I'm working today, reworking a story I thought I'd finished, but that the editorial director thought needed a complete change of direction. Grrrrr. At least I'm getting paid for the words, but still. Sigh. Anyway, I thought a bit of music might soothe my savage mood, so I went into iTunes and found what they'd called Party Mix. Hmmm, what could that be? Well, while it's made up of my tunes, it's not what I'd put together for a party. My party tunes have a distinctly retro vibe - heavy on the 80s and 90s pop/dance and grunge scenes. This mix is heavy on Ben Harper, who I love, but I wouldn't put him in my must-have party hits mix.

Oddly, there are party bands on this mix - Blur, Silverchair, Filter... but not the songs I would have chosen. However, as I said yesterday, I'm open to new experiences, so maybe this Ben Harper selection - with its heavy load of Gospel numbers, is just what I need to get this work done. I'll let you know. Apparently iTunes thought I needed divine intervention...

pizza party

As it's New Year's Eve, we're off to friends' tonight to ring in 09. There are five families going along, so to feed the hoards we're all bringing pizza to cook and share. I'm making a fresh tomato sauce and will be using that as the base for my prosciutto and parmesan pizza. I'd also like to use the remaining roast beef I cooked up yesterday for lunch (we had it sliced, cold, with salad and baguettes - yummy) and do a caramelised onion, roast beef and baby spinach pizza. It's not going to be cheesy, I thought I'd just throw on a few chunks of a really strong cheddar - and no tomato sauce, just the juicy onions with a little added garlic oil. That should all go rather nicely with the champers, surely.

rebel yell

I spent a lot of my life inadvertently rebelling against my mother. If you'd asked me, I would have said "No way!" but it's only now that I've realised that a lot of the things I do, I do because my mother didn't do.

When I was growing up our house was always gorgeous. Very fashionable, very clean, very tidy. Our living room was the height of 70s chic - with one wall entirely coated in mirror tiles, deep green modular couches and white carpet. Ye. White carpet. You know what you can do on white carpet? Almost nothing. You could walk on it - in clean feet or clean socks. You couldn't eat or drink on it. Sometimes I wished I could levitate, so I didn't worry about smearing it. 

The kitchen was also very chic, with a white mosaic tile benchtop and splashback - with matching white grout. Now, luckily my mother was a Virgo, so she was keen on clean, and those white surfaces always sparkled under her ministrations. However, I obviously always swore I wouldn't have a house like that. 

See, I refuse to let anyone take off their shoes at my front door, as it always brings flashbacks to that damned white carpet. When we moved into this house, our daughter used to ride her trike up and down the hallways, scratching the floorboards - but adding more character. Food's often eaten at a table, or on the couch in front of the TV - whatever's easiest.

However, being slothful and messy isn't rebellion - it's silly and only impacts on the person who has to live in it. So now, I'm 99 per cent sure I've turned the corner on messiness. These days it's normal for me to put something back where it belongs, immediately. The dishwasher's unloaded as soon as it's finished, and washed dishes are left to dry for no more than half a day before I pack them all away. It's a much nicer life - and I still feel like we've got a lived in and loved in home. It's still pretty gorgeous, but it's worn around the edges. Which is just the way I like it.

something new

I've never been one for resolutions. I always find that as soon as I make a grand statement that I want to achieve... it tends to set me up for failure. I prefer baby steps. For example, this year is the year I try something new as often as possible. A new activity, a new recipe, a new food, a new author, a new album, a new fitness gig, a new restaurant...

To inspire me, I'll tell you all about it. I'd like to step outside my comfort zone in 2009. Stretching the mind and imagination has to be good for the soul non?

pucker up

Okay, I've googled, and reckon that this sounds like the perfect Lemon Drop Martini recipe. Enjoy!

1 1/2 ounces of vodka

1/2 ounce triple sec

1 tsp superfine sugar (I think I'll use caster sugar)

3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice

Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake 40 times to allow the sugar to dissolve. Then, grab yourself a frosty cold martini glass, wipe the rim with lemon juice, then dip it in some superfine sugar. Carefully pour in the Lemon Drop Martini, then garnish with a lemon twist.

Oh my.

See, yet another reason why I really need to plant a lemon tree. 

book club

As an avid reader I place my books in categories. Meh: I'm only reading this to find out what happens. Fine: okay, but not life shattering. Fab: loved it, will read it again, and Oh, wow. I just read an Oh, WOW. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen is such an incredible book. She's one of those rare authors who weave a spellbinding tale, complete with quirky, whimsical characters and can sprinkle on a bit of magic in the most believable manner. I adored every single second of this book.

The cover's different on my version though. It's a pretty blue, with a pair of feathered angel wings and a gorgeous, scroll-script title font in a pretty deep cerise. And it's dotted with raised, sparkly sugardrops. I bought the book for the cover, and I'm so very glad I did.

Oh, and it's spookily magic. One of the main characters in the book had a fondness for a lemondrop - an alcoholic drink I'd never heard of before. And then, less than 10 minutes after reading about this delicious-sounding drink, Jack, on Will & Grace, stepped up to the bar and ordered three lemondrops. Spooky huh? I'm about to google the ingredients, because these little beauties seem to be served in a martini glass - my favourite drinking vessel.

sale guide

We've braving the post-Christmas sales at the local shopping centre today. I'm on the hunt for a new set of sheets and some beach/pool towels. Of course, I'm very, very particular. I only like crisp white cotton sheets on my bed, and for the pool, I want pretty blue and green towels with a cute border of retro fringing. Oh, and I'd like 'em striped if possible. 

We're planning on putting some towel rails up - some on the side of the house next to the intended outdoor shower, and possibly a subtle couple on the fence in the courtyard. Towels get mighty soggy when you swim, so a good drying area is essential, otherwise they get flung over furniture and pool fencing and that just looks very unattractive.

It's also our daughter's birthday tomorrow, so a couple of extra pressies might be in order. We've done most of the shopping, but I love the cheap fillers that make a pile look extra impressive. With girls it's easy - hair bands, lip balm, cute socks...

I've also got the in-laws coming for lunch tomorrow so I'll be roasting up a wedge of beef to slice thinly and serve with a salad and baguette. For dinner we're hoping our favourite French restaurant, Bistro Tartine, will be open. Our little soon-to-be-nine-year-old adores confit duck and creme brulee...