Friendly competition

On the weekend in my house we have a competition of who can score the highest in the Stuff Daily Trivia Quiz and today, I won! I won not only in the daily quiz, but also the ANZAC quiz. 10/15 in the daily and 6/10 in the ANZAC quiz. I’m rather chuffed! They were decent wins too in comparison to the other results today where everyone else completely blew out.

A pity the weather is so dreary today as I was looking forward to another nice park day and lunch outside. I’m really enjoying this extra long weekend for Easter and ANZAC Day. I took Thursday and I’ve taken Wednesday off work as well to give me seven days off. Leisurely. The weather was gorgeous on Thursday but I spent half of it shopping in Oxford at Chatswood Westfield. I love that shop! I bought a skirt suit and matching pants, a dress and a blouse.

Friday we enjoyed the beautiful sunshine at the park and that night we had a birthday BBQ. I made a potato bake and my legendary rhubarb, apple and berry crumble – both of which worked an absolute treat!

Saturday was a lazy rainy day with two DVDs (only $2.99 each from our local Oovie) – Machete and The Social Network – and home made chicken burgers for dinner. Sunday we had brekkie, coffee, run at the park and lunch at Pattisson’s Patisserie at St Ives then home made pizzas last night, yum.

So what to do today? On this drizzly day? Perhaps some more DVDs and baking later in the afternoon.

Dust, dogs and desserts

I have been away in Canberra the last three days for work. Returned home today to a dusty and dirty house. Not due to it being neglected while I was away, but rather from the major works still being done under our townhouse, as well as painters spreading plaster-dust everywhere. I don’t think there’s anything worse than dust from concrete and plaster.

Hopefully by the end of tomorrow it will all be finished and we can do a thorough top-to-toe clean to start the weekend and have a sense of normality again without contractors hovering in and out of our space.

What else has happened whilst I was away? Well, my little man Beau decided to go for a wander. He was taken out the front to run around in the little park and decided it was time for him to go on his own adventure. It doesn’t help that he’s a black dog and so gets lost in the shadows of the night, but while I was working on my laptop in my Canberra hotel room, I received a call from an unknown number on my mobile. This was about 6:30pm so it was an unexpected phone call and it was a lovely lady from the Woolworths Northbridge across the road calling to say she had my dog, Beau!! Hamish was straight across the road to collect him and apparently he was fairly sheepish for the rest of the night!

I bailed on touch rugby tonight, which I perhaps should have gone to play, but after a few nights away I am just keen to relax at home. I’ll go for a run at Tunks Park tomorrow with Beau and then I’m playing as well as umpiring netball this Saturday, so that’s still good fitness for me.

Contemplating making Mars Bars Slice and Snickers Slice tomorrow as sweet treats for the weekend ….

Extracurricular activities

I enjoy extacurricular activities after work. It’s a way for me to enjoy some ‘me’ time and do something for ‘me’ that I can express myself in.

I have previously enjoyed courses such as :
* Beginners Salsa
* Easy Entertaining Cooking
* French Taste – cooking recipes from the Champagne region
* Guitar – Stage 1
* Kickboxing for fun & fitness
* Meditation

The time has come again where the Mosman Community College course book arrived in our mailbox. Everyone knows that I’m the only one in the household really interested in this otherwise piece of ‘junkmail’ so I am pleased it was left on my desk before being sent to the recycling bin, especially since we have a new flatmate who seems to have taken it upon himself to decide what is ‘junk’ and what is not!!

There are a several courses I am immediately interested in and pages are ear-marked. Although upon further reading this morning, I have narrowed my choice down to just a few:
* Cupcake Tier Workshop
* Bake It, Bottle It, Sell It
* Mindful Marketing Plans
* Amazing Cup Cakes
* Great Dinner Parties
* Fusion of Eastern & Western Style Home Cooking
* Grape To Glass Wine Appreciation
* Firm up! Fitness Class
* Fabulous Abs!
* Global Dance Exercise and Zumba Fitness
* Kickboxing Fitness Intermediate
* Latin Jazz Hop Hop & Zumba Fitness

Ok, so maybe that was more than just ‘several’ course I am interested in …. the decision is so difficult!

It is a shame that there are a few other one day workshops that interest me, however they are on a Saturday so would clash with netball and you know how important fitness is to me!

I think the easiest thing for me to do will look at timing of each, as perhaps I can do two whereby they may both be on the same evening at the same location with one immediately following the other. Hmmm … decisions decisions.

Oh and this morning, home made crepes for brekkie with lemon, banana and honey …. yum yum 🙂 Coupled with a coffee from Gloria Jeans across the road in Northbridge Plaza. Perfect way to start my Sunday. We’ve since taken Beau for a run at the park and plan to have a late lunch at Not Bread Alone.

Bang, bang, bang

What a way to start today! After a late night to bed (we did a mini roadtrip to Newcastle last night to see Stone Temple Pilots in concert!!), I woke this morning to Hamish’s alarm (with three snoozes!) then the banging of steel beams from the major works they’re doing under our townhouse. This was supposed to be a late rise and a relaxing day off work …

Since there was no use trying to sleep in, it was straight to Tunks Park with Beau for 3.5 roundtrip laps and sit-ups in the still-crisp morning air. Home to shower before venturing out for Brunch. It’s been a little while between visits, but today I returned to Pat’s Cafe in Waverton for his famous $9.90 eggs cooked to your liking with a choice of any two sides and two slices of toast, again of your choice. Strong skim cappuccino on the side and harbour views to boot. Who could complain?!

Beau was ‘happy as larry’ laying in the shade, the sun was dancing at my back and it had become a wonderful day.

Such a lovely day for the outdoors but my mind was ticking at what desserts I could prepare today. Opting for something easy, I settled on Chocolate Crackles and a Lemon Coconut Slice.

The recipe for Chocolate Crackles was sourced from a Kellogg’s Rice Bubbles box and the Lemon Coconut Slice from the Kidspot website.

Tonight is my brother’s house-warming party so I’ve made some extras to take there, as well as to keep enough to satisfy my sweet tooth over the weekend. Surely after my run at the park this morning I must be allowed …

Rainy days

Could there be a better start to a Saturday morning, than home-made corn fritters with a glass of fresh pulpy orange juice and shortly followed by a strong coffee with the new edition of House & Garden?! Rainy Saturday mornings are meant to be lazy days relaxing on the lounge.

My dog is desperate to get out for a morning run at the park. He knows it is a weekend and weekends = lots of play time! We opened the back doors and he could smell the beautiful fresh air with the scent of rain and wimpered when he wasn’t allowed out.

These are the days when spring cleaning should not just be done in ‘spring’. When you can rummage through your wardrobe and send to St Vinnies the outfits you haven’t worn in three years. Don’t just keep it with the thought that you ‘might wear it one day’. If you haven’t worn it in the last year, that ‘one day’ won’t be soon! As much as I hate to say it, same goes for shoes. These are the days when the duster and mop really come alive to the tune of the vaccum in the background and bathrooms are scrubbed top to toe.

As much as we need the rain and it is a god-send for my garden, I do hope the sun breaks through the clouds today for an afternoon stroll and Beau’s doggy play-dates.

Two beautiful butterflies

A beautiful thing happened to me today. As I was working away at my laptop, I had two butterflies in sync fly in our back door and around my head. It was a little blessing from nature and a welcome distraction from my work for a brief moment. I was fascinated as I watched them float around beside me for a few seconds before they drifted back outside to the flowers in the rear courtyard.

It got me thinking though, about those little moments in time that put a smile on your dial. Later in the afternoon as I was contemplating this, I noticed two insects quite obviously mating on our front gate. We have also had a lovely light orange rose flower in the front garden this morning. What an interesting day!

Early this morning I ran around our townhouse like a madwoman – cleaning the glass doors, mirrors, dusted the living room and re-swept the front and rear courtyards along with our balcony since they were covered with pine needles even since the weekend. All for a routine inspection from our real estate agent that ended up cancelling last minute. We also had an electrician in this morning working for two hours to restore power to our living room, the second bedroom and garage as the power had been cut during building works last week.

Have you ever had one of those days where things seem to be frustrating you, when you feel like you’re chasing your tail and efforts are all made in vain? These little reminders of nature at its best, along with the wind in your face while walking the dog at Tunks Park with a delicious cappuccino from The Laneway cafe in Cammeray will always succeed in perking me up!

What a day!

What a day for a daydream ….
Weather has been brilliant today and the perfect opportunity to spend time outdoors in the sun.

Home-made crepes to start the day with summer berries, banana and honey with a squeeze of fresh lemon, yum! Then off to Primrose Park at Cammeray for a run around and a doggy swim.

Easily tempted to head down to a park in Waverton, the Joseph Bugler Playing Field for a run around and kick with the rugby ball. After working up a sweat and feeling great in doing so, homebound for a freshly made sandwich and banana & berry smoothie.

Dinner tonight at Kashiwa Yakiniku Hapanese BBQ in Crows Nest which I am very excited about. I’ve been eyeing it off for months and have decided that tonight will finally be the night to give it a go. My shout as it was Hamish’s birthday yesterday so it’s a little treat for him 🙂

Long time, No speak

I admit, I have been lazy. I have been busy too. It’s a crazy time of year for me with work and just starting to settle again now, however no excuses for not adding new posts!

2011 to date has been an absolute whirlwind. I can’t believe it’s already well into March.

So what have I been up to this year? Work, work, work, booking holidays. The latter has been the most enjoyable of course 🙂

Working in the travel industry, most of my weekends have been consumed with travelling and participation at expos including 10 days in New Zealand.

On a positive note, my fitness goals have been kickstarted! I’m running at the park most afternoons. On Sunday I power-walked two laps around Centennial Park and I have committed to Thursday night touch rugby. All preparation for my winter netball and my goal to maintain a great level of fitness throughout 2011. The encouragement is in the results I can see and feel already.

March is a month of birthdays in our family. It’s Hamish’s (my partner) birthday this Friday, Ash’s birthday (my brother’s girlfriend) on Monday and my Dad’s birthday on 29th March. We’ve also celebrated my Mum’s birthday in January and my sister’s boyfriend and Hamish’s Mum’s birthdays in February. Busy start to the year and a lot to celebrate in the first quarter!

What have I been cooking lately? I made yummy individual carrot cakes last week with a delicious cream cheese icing. Massamun Beef has been in the slow cooker today so looking forward to devouring that for dinner tonight. On Sunday I improved on my previous attempt at Bacon & Egg Pie and produced a delicious bake. Want the recipes? Let me know and I’ll upload them in the Food & Drink section!

I am also excited for the holidays I have planned for the year – Thailand hopefully for May/June (a special offer at the Outrigger Koh Samui with thanks to Cudo.com.au that we couldn’t resist!) and tickets booked for Christmas & New Year in New Zealand.

With so much to do, so much happening around us it is important to remember to take time to enjoy and appreciate the little things in life that are so precious and often go unnoticed – such beautiful things as seeing a butterfly floating amonst the flowers in our rear courtyard on the weekend, feeling overjoyed at the affection shown by my dog, waking up happy and healthy in the morning, regular phone calls and lovely messages from many family and friends 🙂

2011 is underway!

I am rather excited to find that the walking track at the end of our street leads me to Tunks Park. My dog, Beau, and I decided yesterday that we would go ‘exploring’ and after a quick 15 minute walk, we were at Beau’s favourite doggy play park! We did the same walk again today and found another walking track off the main one, so very happy to have that practically on our back doorstep – means I’ve got no excuse not to get out and go for a walk!

Yes, I made the crumble the other night. My partner convinced me that there was no option in the matter, so I sent him across the road to buy my ingredients and set to work in the kitchen. The crumble is almost always as good uncooked as it is when cooked. It lasted us for dessert the last three nights – brilliant!

Oh and I was rather pleased to see the new edition of House & Garden magazine at my local Woolworths so I picked that up and looking forward to getting into that tomorrow too.

My 2011 goals have now officially been set. I’ve got about half a dozen things on my list that I’m certain I will stick to. They’re my driver for the next 12 months. Some are focused on fitness, others on my personal interests like making sure I play my guitar at least twice a week and my savings plan. Looks like it’s going to be a busy year … full steam ahead!

For now, got to go … Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals is on TV 🙂