you're growing up...

painting and posing...

Last night after saying prayers, you wrapped your little arm around my neck and said 'night night...'.

Yesterday, we were on our way out for a bike ride, I handed you your boots and you consciously picked them up put them closer to the wall where you could stand, hand on wall and balance yourself to put your little feet into the boots...

All rather insignificant moments but moments all the same. moments that tell me, you, my little girl, are growing up.

a month of sundays...

FEBRUARY:

a sunny bbq at our place

dreaming of a new addition from one small room

playdough fun at the circus

an end of weekend wind down

Sunday is a special day for us. We reflect, serve, support and enjoy on this day. It's important...

Feel free to join me.

girly weekend #2...

our little trip to the Collingwood Children's Farm...

Nora found it difficult to leave. 

What a beautiful way to spend a Saturday...or any day.

-  If you're wondering what the mysterious spot on Nora's nose is, she had a dive at childcare the day we came to Melbourne. Poor little sausage...

-  Total photo overload...

girly weekend #1...

Nora and I have come to Melbourne for a lovely weekend with my sister, Tracy. It's beautiful weather and luckily Tracy lives close to the essentials of Melbourne...

So far we've enjoyed delicious coffee at the lovely Cibi's - child friendly and great service; walked up and down Brunswick, bought some LongLissies, had a swing and have now returned home for a nap.

Some pictures of today's adventures and my sister's lovely home.  Tomorrow morning we're off to the Collingwood Children's Farm...

the everyday calm...

Following the holidays and some lovely unpredictability, we're back into 'it'. Since then, I've been mulling over how to capture 'that holiday feeling' into the everyday week.  I realised its not necessarily the holiday I'm seeking, I quite enjoy my home and work routine, rather it's the feeling I get when everything feels calm and well....good. I feel a little more like the person I strive to be.

After a few more daydreaming minutes watching Nora roll around in the sand I'd come up with a condensed list of what gives me shrills on the inside...

- finding a beautiful jacket

- a lingering breakfast

- omitting the worry and enjoying my child/family
- walking through any market
- dining with an incredible group of people
- trying something new
- drinking tea out of a fancy teacup
- enjoying fresh and delicious food
(with no afterthought other than "ill be eating that again")
- making something beautiful

- listening to a song that curls me into a reverie
- when lunch with friends turns into dinner
- walking into a cafe or shop and thinking "they've got it!"
- growing something from scratch

Obviously finding and buying a beautiful jacket is not going to make it's way into my 'everyday' (sigh). However, taking time to drink tea out of a teapot and growing/sharing with family and friends are all things that can be somehow incorporated into our everyday.

Life is far from monotonous, we* sometimes just forget to include the things that makes us quiver. laugh. wonder.

What makes you feel calm?  Do you bring those things into your everyday or save it for the holidays?


*and by 'we', I mean 'me'...

a month of sundays...

JANUARY:

relaxing - oh the posture of the young...

my two little dickie bird peaches...

nostalgia at the park...



 

Sunday is a special day for us. We reflect, serve, support and enjoy on this day. It's important...

Feel free to join me.

A Month of Sundays - October

grateful - 4,5/52...

Last week, I was so busy enjoying my family after our short separation that I forgot to do the grateful post - too busy being grateful I guess...(blurgh!)

So for this week and last, I am grateful for my little family and the non-stop (mostly) joy they bring to my life.  We've had the best reunion.

I am so blessed and forever thankful.

*I"m sure a few bloggers are doing this also.  Please feel free to join in!

fortnightly menus...

Following a few years of chaos, a baby, going back to work and some seriously nutrient-less meals, I've finally put together a fortnightly menu. It allows for nutrition, ease and a little excitement, as well as fitting nicely into our budget and work/play routine.

WEEK 1 -
Saturday:  Cauliflower & Pea Curry
Sunday:  Spaghetti Bolognese (my recipe changes each time but the essentials stay the same)
Monday:  OUT (blessed)
Tuesday:  Eggs/Toast, Fried Rice, Home-made nachos
Wednesday:  Vietnamese Chicken (Thrifty Kitchen)
Thursday:  Vietnamese Cold Rolls (using leftover Vietnamese Chicken)
Friday:  Vegetarian Chilli (Delicious - Quick smart cook)

WEEK 2 -
Saturday:  BBQ Chicken & Proscuitto/Basil Pizzas (Jamie Oliver - Pizza Dough)
Sunday: Chicken, Olive and Fennel Pasta
Monday: OUT
Tuesday:  Chilli con carne, Eggs/Toast
Wednesday:  Beef Stew & Salad (Apples for Jam)
Thursday:  Take Out
Friday:  Carbonara & Greens (Everyday Kitchen)


NOTES:
These meals change each school term (10 weeks), so we get variety and follow the change in seasons. I've organised the meals so that I'm using up all ingredients in one week i.e. week 1, coriander, rice noodles etc; there has been a lot less waste.

I try to stick to my weekly budget of $120, which sometimes includes wine/beer (woot!). I shop according to my list and nothing more, however I do include things like haloumi, proscuitto and dark chocolate so we don't feel we're missing out.  I also bake two different snacks ie jam drops, cheese scones (like we did here) and plan possible breakfasts/lunches to include in my weekly shopping list. 

We're fortunate that my parents care for Nora on Mondays while I work, so dinner is gratefully gobbled at their abode Monday nights.  

Tuesdays is another work day for me so I want something quick and easy.  If I've got energy, I'll give Nora eggs and then lazily make something delicious for Joel and I after she's gone to bed.  Hence the multiple choice Tuesdays...

I make a basic tomato sauce recipe here, that becomes pizza sauce for Saturday and the base of the pasta dish for Sunday (I add fennel and some marinated red peppers into the basic tomato sauce). 

None of the meals, including take out night, are limited to specific nights.  We swap and change depending on how we feel.  It does, however, ensure that we only eat out once a fortnight (of course, this does not include our occasional indulgent weekend brunches...these are not negotiable!).

Phew...hope this ramble helps! I would love to hear your own menu plan / quick recipe ideas.



**If there's no link to the recipe and you don't have the recipe book listed, inbox me and I'll send you the details. 

a month of sundays...

OCTOBER:

Enjoying morning tea at Nee and Pa's

Hanging pictures

Nora, trying to see everything at the same time

Having some family time at the park/beach

Sunday is a special day for us. We reflect, serve, support and enjoy on this day. It's important...

Feel free to join me.

A month of Sundays - September

a month of sundays...

For a different kind of project** I'm starting #a month of Sunday's.  I will take a picture from each Sunday of every month and share.

Sunday is a special day for us. We reflect, serve, support and enjoy on this day. It's important...

Spending time with my family...

A weekend in Naracoorte...

At the beach...

Before a bike ride...

A time to read, enjoy a coffee (or three) and listen to a bit of Etta.

Hope you can join me...




*the photos won't be all of Nora, it's just happened that way this month!
** different from these projects...

in memory...

My mind has been absent, hence the lack of posting.  I had some difficult health news shortly followed by a close family friend passing away. More than a friend, more like an adopted Grandma whom we loved dearly.

Aunty Vera loved with an unconditional love that could only come from somewhere other than earth. This was so clear during the funeral where a myriad of people professed the love she had for others and how secure they felt around her. She was passionate and headstrong, which some people found arduous, however this was never in my memory.

I remember the countless days in my childhood where she spent time teaching me delicate folk art, feeding me delicious goodness and reaffirming that life had a lot more to offer than the intimidating girls at school. She was my friend, confidant and teacher. 

In memory of you my dear Aunt Vera. Much love. I know you will be happy and probably singing 'Oh Jerusalem' as you reunite with Uncle Alwent, whom I'm sure, will still be wearing his shorts with knee high socks.

Please God, hold them close, I look forward to seeing you all one day...

Picture borrowed from: http://brightlylost-photography.xanga.com

Lovely days...

What a weekend!
Thank goodness, it was filled with family, friends and gosh darn whiz bang kitchen appliances.

A friend held a thermomix party (incredible and incredibly expensive). The host was bubbly, full of food admiration, and we ate throughout the entire presentation. Bread, lime butter, risotto, a beetroot salad*, sorbet, a herby dip with crackers - YUM!

Joel and I made it to the movies, read the paper over breakfast, watched this little one strut around in her beads...

and filled my pantry with some deliciousness!

* Beetroot, carrot, apple and lemon juice, process into small chunks and serve.
**Check out Merle's Kitchen for some lovely baked goods.

Where does the time go?...

I love reading blogs...

It only started a few months ago and now I'm hooked.  It's inspirational, motivating and gets my creative juices bubbling. My only problem is, I get so swept up in the mummy/working role that I don't seem to have the time to utilize those juices.

The ideal week would include spending time with family, working, researching, cooking, friends and some kind of craftiness.  At present, I'm so exhausted from working that the days I have at home are spent playing with Nora, cleaning and sticking to some kind of routine.

I would really love to be able to create this:

Thank you icandy handmade

and make this:

Thank you Manger

Oh well, at least I have these two lovelies to keep me busy!

How do you make time to be creative? To do the things you love?
I'd love your thoughts.

Good Times...

Hello Hello!
Getting back into the groove after the holiday was a little harder than expected...

Here are some snaps from our trip away -

One of the many beautiful breakfast's we indulged in.

Mushrooms in a white wine sauce, chilli and dill on ciabatta.

Yes....breakfast.

We had a brilliant time away.  Nora was truly amazing at all points of the trip, we're really proud of her and look forward to many more adventures in the future.  Koh Samui was a great destination and the Thai people are beautiful, smiley and so helpful.  We had a lot of time to stop, think, re-evaluate, not think, eat and enjoy happy hour.

We're very blessed...