rest in peace

Very sad news this morning about Elizabeth Taylor's passing. She was a true movie star and a woman with great passion. That was one life very well lived.

"I don't think death is the final challenge. I don't think the soul just disappears."

what's cooking wednesday

Hey all, how's tricks? I'm sad this morning as hubby tried to record Survivor last night on stupid channel GO while I was at French lessons - and couldn't get it to work. Apparently our DVD player isn't paired with some of these new free-to-air channels. Must get that happening before next week - I need a Boston Rob fix!

So, for now, I'll placate myself with thoughts of cooking:

Tonight: chorizo and prawn risotto

Thursday: I think I might make a chicken and pistachio meatloaf. Served with roasted vegies that'll go down a treat.

Friday: School Disco at the local club: sausage sangers...

Saturday: Maybe the last bbq of the season? I'm trying those Donna Hay burgers she cooked on the show last night - beef burgers with a slice of pancetta cooked onto either side. YUM>

Sunday: Roast chicken and vegies.

Monday: Pork cutlets, mashed pumpkin, wilted spinach and corn on the cob.

Tuesday: {busy day: French lessons at 7pm, gal has hours of ballet} Bring out the slow cooker for a beef and barley soup.

And that's all folks...

pink of perfection

Do you know what I don't love about this setting? Yep, you guessed it - absolutely nothing. From the Tiffany Blue tablecloth, to the spotty setting {Kate Spade?} to the peonies and macarons it's just my idea of bliss.

I can see a spot of macaron baking happening this weekend...

back on the bike...

Well, you'll be pleased to know that I've stuck with this exercise malarky very well over the past week. So well in fact that I've exercised every single day. The minimum has been a 15 minute walk one day {a rest day} and lots of 30 to 45 minute walks on the other days. I've also actually gone for a ride on my poor neglected bike {sadly my bike does NOT have a french bulldog on a basket - if it did I'd be riding every five minutes!}

I'm already feeling much better within myself after just one week. I'm less stressed, more energetic and feel the muscles slowly making claim over my body again.

Honestly, why on earth would I give this a miss? Whether it's early morning or late evening exercise, it's quite possibly the best thing I'm doing for myself don't you think?

blue by you

Oh me oh my oh YES! These cerulean blue lovelies have set my heart-a-racing this morning. So. Damned. Pretty. They're by Brian Atwood - that impossibly gorgeous shoe designer and I am utterly besotted. I can't think of an outfit these shoes wouldn't enhance.

Need.

happy sunday

How's everyone feeling this morning? I imagine there are a few sore heads and feet after the bloggers conference - can you tell me all about it? Kicked myself all day yesterday for not attending. But, I did have a good day. Did some cleaning, took my gal to the show and got through my french homework with Mme A. Got to be happy with that.

Today hubster's out doing a warm-up ride. He's taking part in his first triathlon today, doing the cycle leg. So the gal and I will head off to a local café to watch him whizz by - several times. Then I think we'll fit in a spot of gardening - it poured last night so it's the ideal time to get in a bit of weeding, feeding and mulching. Then off to the local pub for dinner with friends {with the husband who's doing the running leg}.

So - those who attended the conference - I want extensive posts, as will everyone else who attended. And those who didn't, let's sit in a corner together and plot how we're going to be first in line for tickets next year.

the only way is up, baby

Despite the fact that the film's heartbreaking montage had me heaving great big snotty sobs, I do adore the film UP. And you know what I love even more? The fact that the National Geographic channel have filmed someone recreating such an amazing voyage. V jealous of the dude I can spy hanging out the window - what an awesome experience.

I hope you have at least one awesome experience this weekend.

flowers for friday

Hello! Lilacs!! And what looks like rosé in the glasses - sold. This pretty image is helping me get through a drizzly day - the second pupil-free day this week. Oh yes, on Monday our gal's school had one of its thousand pupil-free days, and today's our regional Show Holiday. The day in which school kids, and some businesses {but not many} get the day off to attend the show. Of course it always rains on show holiday so most kids will be doing what mine is - going to the movies. Luckily my husband works at one of the few businesses to take Show Holiday so he'll be taking our gal and her pal to see Gnomeo and Juliet {I'll be working, and jealous cos I really want to see that movie...}

I'm also in the doldrums as I'm virtually the only Australian blogger not going to THAT conference tomorrow. I know! I didn't think about it, and then the tickets were sold out and now I'm just kicking myself. Have fun for me everyone. Dance for me, drink for me, say "Hi" to some of the bloggers I really, really wanted to meet...

Next year for sure!

constant cravings

Tonight I am having these for dinner.

Oh.

Yes.

I.

AM!

what's cooking wednesday

Heya, wednesday again - the day I get my head in order and share my meal plan for the week with you. Ready?

Wednesday: today's our first day of netball training so I'd best get the slow cooker out and prepped. But tonight we're having Provencal chicken - same as last night, but I have another pack of chicken thighs to throw in along with the sauce and potatoes left over from last night {which I didn't get to eat as I had to rush off to French before it was ready...}

Thursday: my pal, The Divine Ms M {a redhead: not to be confused with Mrs Woog's friend The Divine Ms M} is up again and we're off to Charlestown Square to check out some shops. While we're there we might just have to fall into New Shanghai for some dumplings...

Friday: I need a good steak. Steak, wilted, garlic spinach and some roasted pumpkin and beetroot I think.

Saturday: Hubster's competing in a triathlon, in the cycling leg, best carb-load him with a prawn, lemon and linguine pasta don't you think?

Sunday: To celebrate the husbands' achievements in the triathlon {they'll smash it} we're off with another participating family {husband who's in the run leg} to our local pub for dinner. It's undergone renovations and has apparently finally stepped out of the 80s menu-wise. Hurrah.

Monday: Caramelised pork stir-fry with singapore noodles and lots of greens.

Tuesday: Big long ballet day, let's say salmon, soba noodles, wilted asian greens.

And that'll do...

move it

I've had enough. Enough of being sedentary - of grumbling, groaning and aching. I'm back into exercise - for good. Since busting up my knee last year and giving up netball I've gained weight and lost fitness and it's driving me nuts. But no more. I'm asking for help, and making time for myself. My husband's now a lycra-lad. Three or more times a week he rises before 6am and rides for 50 to 60 kilometres. No matter what. Me, well, there's always something I 'should' be doing.

Not anymore. On the days hubby's not rising I'll be waking at 7am and going for a walk. And on the days he does ride I'll go for a walk when he's home from work. My gal's stepping up and making her own breakfast and lunch - and hubby's cooking on the nights I'm exercising.

I've started off well: a bike ride followed by laps in the pool on Sunday. A 30 min walk {in the rain!} last night - and a long, fast 45 minute walk this morning.

I really want to be fit for France - and beyond. From now on I'm choosing my health first.

wedge of reality

Hello Halston Heritage, haven't seen YOU before, but boy, do I like what I see... These wedges are so simply stunning that I do believe I had a few hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Imagine these with a gorgeous pair of jeans?

Yep, so can I. So can I...

parfait picnique

Oh, it's a beautiful day for a picnic. So my friend A and I are taking the kidlets along to the Alliance Francais Picnique and Petanque day. Bliss. Madeleines are about to be cooked, baguettes to be bought - and french cheese shopped-for en-route.

And there shall be no indulging in pastis thanks to a wee bit of overindulgence in the champagne last night {although it was all french so no hangover!}

I'm a wee bit scared about having to converse with anyone a la francaise - but I'll give it a shot. C'est bonne...

and relax...

All this picture needs is some pink champagne, bubbles - and me...

flowers for friday

Hi, sorry for the lack of posts yesterday - crazy busy. Eek!

But look, to make up for it here are some parrot tulips - cute!

what's cooking wednesday

You know what? I'm pretty sure that the one thing that keeps me sane is menu planning. Sure, I don't always follow it to the letter, but it stops the panicked "Oh my god, what are we going to have for dinner?" at 5pm. Here's what we'll be eating this week.

Wednesday: My gal has a netball clinic and shall be starvational upon return. I'm going to cook up a beef and cashew stir-fry with lots of noodles.

Thursday: My pal, the Divine Ms M, is up for the night. Best cook up something good. Provencal chicken always goes down a treat.

Friday: Off to my in-laws for dinner. My mother-in-law always cooks up something yummy.

Saturday: We're going to friends' for 'duck night'. They'll be cooking up duck confit, we'll be bringing matching champagne and a pudding. We do it french-style and buy something from a good patisserie.

Sunday: There shall be roast and it should be pork.

Monday: Lamb backstrap warm salad - with feta, mint, peas and a caramelised balsamic dressing.

Tuesday: French lessons {with the scariest task ever - and one we're getting marked on - sacré bleu!} Chicken curry in the slow cooker is the best option.

And that's it. Two cheaty meals out and lots of fun.

my little pile of awesome

To go with our new couches we've changed our living room around - tv on other side of room and everything. So that meant we had to move hundreds of CDs from tv in order to be able to lift it. And you know what that means - rediscovering old loves.

I was lucky enough to be a reviewer for a Music mag years ago - and oh, the CDs I have as a result... But we've barely made a dint in them when it comes to downloading them onto iTunes. So I've decided to pop a little pile of awesome onto my desk and when I have a second, I'll download a CD. Easy peasy. And oh yes, I'm rediscovering some fabulosity {including a Depeche Mode tribute featuring bands such as The Cure and Rammstein - awesome incorporated}.

Say ahhhhhhh.

all grown-up

I've spent quite a few years wondering when I'd hit that mythical moment that I'd feel like a 'grown-up'. It wasn't with my first mortgage, baby, or even marriage. Even my first brand-new grown-up car didn't help. A thumping great backyard renovation didn't nudge me into grown-up territory - nor did my 40th birthday! But now, I think I've cracked it.

In the past week we've finally succumbed to family health insurance, we have Foxtel IQ and two matching proper grown-up lounges. With a matching new rug and everything.

Mmmhm, all grown up now.

it's pancake day

It's pancake day so we'll be firing up the KitchenAid for breakfast this morning - and using my new crepe pan that I bought at Aldi the other day {I have ALWAYS wanted a crepe pan - and for $6 who wouldn't snap one up?}.

It's a big day in our house today. We're getting the new couches delivered {hurrah!} and also we're finally having Foxtel IQ installed {finally!}. I can't wait to show you some photos, of the couches, probably not the IQ...

* Those pale macaron pink pancakes are ours - pretty non? And probably more sensible for a before-school breakfast than those fabulous rainbow numbers!

a shoe story

The only thing I love more than finding a cute pair of shoes is when the discovery of said shoes comes about fortuitously. Take my newest find for example. Yep, that's them, in the dodgy phone pic {with a bit of my study carpet underneath}. But even though the quality of the image is poor their attributes shine out. They are the wedge of the kitten heel world, something that I thought was a myth - a shoe with the height of the kitten heel, but the ease of walking that the wedge provides. Lovely! And have you ever seen a more Chanel-esque combination of black straps and white leather camelia? I know! So, the shoe, already perfection non?

Now, here's the story. Driving back from Beth's the weekend before last we had to stop off in Bowral so I could buy my gal a wee pressie. But, while we were there I quickly swerved into a park right outside my fave story in the Southern Highlands - Dirty Jane's Emorium {what's not to love with a name like that right?} This shop is awesome, well worth a day trip from Sydney - or even Newcastle actually... Anywhooo. Dirty Janes now has a whole separate shop, filled with different stalls all selling the most covetable goodies. In one I bought a gorgeous fabric loveheart in a frame for my gal, and in another, I spied my pretty shoes. Yep, one pair, in a vintage store, in my size, after a kick-ass memorable weekend.

They were mine in a moment.

And now, every time I wear them I'll think of my fab gal's weekend and smile.