This Time

This time I don’t want to be the bigger person.

This time it’s your turn.

I’m just going to wait and see how long it takes.

Harsh?  Maybe.  But in this case? Fair.

Listmania - Part One

Deb at Home Life Simplified has started up a new linky. 

http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au/launching-listmania-number-one/

You should get on board!

Currently I am...

Reading: I just finally finished the third Hunger Games book (it took me ageeees to read the last one) and am embarking on The Life Of Pi after completely loving the movie.

Listening to:  Doing fair amount of time listening to podcasts as my usual radio stations have the shows I like on holidays.  Loving ‘The Shelf’ and anything where Richard Fidler is interviewing people.

Laughing at: My kittehs.  Always the kittehs.  Last night they thought it would be super fun to have races around the house.  I was in bed and I think I was in the steeplechase section.

Swooning over: Eddie Perfect and Tripod doing beautiful, simple acapella arrangements of Aussie songs last week at the Arts Centre.

Planning: The annual Australia Day BBQ at our house this weekend.  And also a Magical Mystery Tour for a visiting Kiwi in April.

Feeling: Tired.  And let down again by people that really shouldn’t be letting me down.  But that’s another post for another day.

Discovering: Max Brenner.  I went for the first time on the weekend and I believe it will be the start of a very passionate affair.


 

Looking at: Re-financing our home loan and consolidating our debt.  It’s so time consuming.  I’ve also learned that I really need to start actually filing our paperwork away so I can find it again.

Wearing: My new uniform for work.  It’s totally unflattering, but it means I don’t have to think about what to wear in the morning and I also don’t need to buy new clothes for work anymore.

Cooking: I’ve been baking a bit lately.  Nothing fancy, but I’m realising how much I truly love it.  If only I didn’t also truly love eating it!

Wondering: If there will be room in the new finances to finally get a cleaning person.  I hate cleaning more than almost anything else in the entire world.

Trying out: The eleventy billion samples and packets of yummy meal bases I was given by McCormicks at the Kids Business Social Mum’s Say event on Saturday.

So what are you currently...

How To - Afghan Biscuits

My Mum used to make these when I was a kid.  They are really nommy and super easy to make.


Here's how you make them!

 

First, preheat your oven to 180 C (160 c for fan-forced)

Ingredients

220 grams of butter

1/3 cup of caster sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla (essence or extract or whatever is in your cupboard)

1.5 tablespoons of cocoa

1 & 1/2 cups of plain flour

2 & 1/2 cups of Cornflakes (slightly crushed)

Cream the softened butter, caster sugar and vanilla until it is light and fluffy.

 

Then sift the flour and cocoa together.  I always sift things three times, because that's how mum does it.  I sifted it twice and then once more straight into the bowl.

Add the Cornflakes and mix it all together.  Gently though, or all that time you spend putting air in by creaming and sifting things will be a waste of time.

When it is pretty much combined, put globs of mixture (these are about 2 teaspoons each) on a tray.  Flatten them a bit with your fingers.

Cook them for about 15-20 minutes.  Depending on your oven I would even check them after 12 minutes, they burn pretty easily.

Top them with chocolate icing (mine is just icing sugar, cocoa, a bit of butter and some hot water) and get your nom on!

The Third Christmas

For the first time since my Dad died three Christmases ago we have a tree.

It feels... Weird. 

The last two years seeing Christmas stuff around the traps made me sad.  Really sad.  I wanted to spend the day in bed with a doona over my head.

This year?  I'll be honest, I've been going from being totally OK with Christmas to a blubbering mess.  Sometimes in the space of three minutes.  But, I like shiny things, so we have a tree.

Went shopping today and got these totally cool ornaments.

We also have lights on our house and an inflatable Santa riding a motorbike.  As you do.

Festive letterbox, anyone?

We have a very quiet Christmas Day planned. With good food, bon bon jokes and the repeat of the Carols By Candleight on TV.

And I think it's going to be OK.

I Don't Run

I haven't blogged in ages.  Sorry about that.  Mainly because I felt I had nothing to say, but when I stopped and thought about it, I realised that wasn't quite true.  We always have something to say, but maybe sometimes we just choose not to say it.  However, that's a post for another day.


I'm currently trying a new sort of happy pills, with the eventual aim of coming off the original ones, which my doctor thinks might have contributed to the weight gain I've had.  And here was I thinking it was just a result of too much bacon! 

Speaking of weight gain, why do people/doctors always think that when they tell me I am overweight it is the first I've heard about it?  I do own a mirror, I know how big my clothes are.  In any case, the doctor suggested I see a nutritionist.  I told her I know how to lose weight, but I just... haven't.  No matter what fancy pants diet you want to go on the basis is always the same 'Eat Less.  Move More."  Is there such a thing as a pill to make me motivated?  I need it!

Several of my friends are doing a fun run in a few weeks.  Never one to miss an opportunity to hang out with the girls, I'm going along.  As the cheer squad.  Should I take pom poms and if so where does one get pom poms?