Our new life

I have been taking lots of photos lately of everything to do with our new home.  Mostly they are of the garden as I don't have the interior looking as I could wish.

This tree is a mandarin that was already in the garden when we got here.  This was taken maybe 2 weeks ago and since I have had some delicious mandarins - you just have to be careful not to eat the grubs!

This beautiful rose is from our front garden - I love the clear red colour.  I cut this one because the previous two were destroyed in all the rain we have been having.  It looked like this the entire time it was in its vase.  All the petals just fell off.  It doesn't have scent.

This a picture of my favourite spot in the house - under the wonderful Norfolk pine.  When it was warmer the Beau and I would have lunch under this tree.  I love looking up into it.

Here are the three trees I got for my birthday off my brother (a landscape architect) - who also planted them because I don't have a spade, and my Mum and step-Dad.  The are from left-to-right a Dwarf Tahitian Lime, a Tangello and a grafted Avocado.

As all my casual work has dried up I also have time to do my hair.  Actually though it is not taking that long.  I put in a few pin curls at night , and then just pin it up in the morning.  It takes about 10 minutes all up so I really could do it every day and have for the past three days.  But that could also have something to do with the Joan Harris (nee Holloway) obsession that I have at the moment.  So the pictures of my hair (not taken very well and with no make-up) are using the template that Super Kawaii Mama (you can access her blog from the side bar) sets out in a tutorial.

This is my first attempt - I put in about six pin curls around my face  - which helped with my long fringe.  However, I didn't get the side swept fringe that Joan has.  Please excuse no make-up.

This shot it a better one for showing the front.  My hair is also a bit too fly-away even though I had hairspray in - how does Joan get hers to be so clean, shiny and stay up?

Here is a shot of the back on day 2 - i think the hair looks smoother and I did do the fringe differently.  Also I didn't 

create the extra loop at the back the SKM and Joan both do - I just tucked the end under as I would normally do.

Today I also did more of a side sweep fringe and curled the extra length into a kiss curl.  I also think the height is better today.

So onto the wedding.  It is coming along so quickly and only last week I got out the invites.  It is also getting a bit stressful with people giving opinions were they are not asked for or going to be listened to!

This paper is by Christina Re.  The blue and gold are going to be the main colours for the wedding.

Here I have been experimenting with flowers and table seating as myself and Maid-of-honour are going to be doing all the setting up ourselves to keep the cost down.  This is what I have decided to go with for the flowers.  Some type of greenery with some blossoms arranged on top.  I got all these things from the garden and it took al of 2 minutes to do this.  The tablecloth is vintage damask and will be what we are using at the wedding.

This picture gives more of an idea of the colours but I decided not to go with this arrangement because then I would have the lug around vases.

Lastly here is something that I made for dinner the other night.  i have been cooking pretty much every night because now we have a Mortgage we cannot eat out as much as we were.  Which is fine because I like cooking - and we are getting a dishwasher for a Wedding present!

Here is the Beau's version - A steak and a salad with roast Butternut pumpkin, roast garlic, walnuts, roast onions, avocado and lettuce.  I hat menus that read like recipes so I will call it Warm Autumn Salad.

And my lovely vegetarian the version.

Smile!

Again, I know that I have not posted in forever but am getting busy as have picked up some casual teaching work and have the wedding in less than 3 months!  Also have secured a maternity position for all of term 3 at one of the best schools in Sydney so I'm over the moon and excited about that.

I have been remembering to take pictures but haven't been posting them so here are some pictures of me mainly with pin-curled hair and in outfits I like....

This dress is one of my favourites but now it's almost falling apart.  I pin curled my hair two days before and this is how it was on the third day.

Dress - Supre

Cardigan - Glassons

Shoes - Target

Bag - Vintage

Here is my hair another time that I pic curled it.  I tired to keep the back smooth and the curls around my face and nape of my neck.  The back was a bit uneven but I though it was ok.

This not-so-flattering picture of my face - and the ones that follow are how I did my hair on the first day after sleeping in pin-curls.  My hair was being horrible and I couldn't do anything with it so I had a go at some victory rolls and tried to give it some height at the top.

Here is my favourite grouch on the planet - Coco just after we moved.  She is loving living in a house and has been for a walk on the grass once or twice with her lead on.

The Last Sydney Suppers

I can't believe how long I haven't posted for - it seems a life time ago.  

We are now installed at our new home and things are almost where they should be.  The main comment everyone seems to have is "how did you fit all this stuff into a 2 bedroom apartemnt?  It isn't going to fit in this 3 bedroom house!".  I have a lot of teacups, yes, and linens, and kitchen gadgets but I really do need them all.

Here are some photos of our last meals in Sydney.  I haven't taken any photos of food and emals in the new house because I couldn't find the camera but know I now where it is!  

This is a dinner that Mum made us.  Satay chicken.  It is the best and was one of my favourites when I ate meat.   But I am a very spoiled girl so I get satay veggies...

Mum's satay sauce is the best  (I think it is really me step-fathers recipe) - it could be the amount of peanut butter in it but also love the fresh coriander.

For sweets we had custard posts topped with whipped cream and fresh lime.  Very naughty but heavenly and smooth. 

Here is what I had the next day trying to make-up for my indulgence the night before - it is a sweet potato and red lentil soup with a swirl of truffle oil on it.  It is starting to get cold here (actually the weather cannot decide what to do as today is warm) I am trying to have soup once a day to up the veggies.

Here is the last meal I cooked for my brother and Beau.  We had been living together for over a year and had all grown close.  I miss living with my brother as he always knows how to make me laugh and took me to the organic food markets for macadamia nut brownies once a week. The above is spicy tomato mussels, salad and fresh pickled cucumbers.

Menu Planning and a Celebration

This week coming the Beau an I will have settlement on our first home.  I am so excited to have our own place and be able to have privacy and be free to do whatever we like.  At the moment we live in a noisy building in a popular spot.  For example, even though it's 11 am on a Tuesday I can hear building works, cars, people walking past, lifeguards on a megaphone and a garbage truck.  So it's good bye to to all that - though I will miss the view and the spectacular weather changes we get to see coming in from out at sea.

Here are some pictures that we have taken from our time here:

This is the view from the kitchen

This is Dee Why Beach at sunset.

An amazing storm front moving out to sea

This is the crowd we get on a public holiday

This is Beau with the other end of the beach in view - Long Reef

A beautiful rainbow after a quick sun shower.

I am back to menu planning this week so here we go:

18/3/10

B: Brown rice, gomashio and miso soup

L: Lunch out - shopping day - probably sushi

D: Greek salad (from Nigella's Forever Summer p 62), Pumpkin and Red Lentil Soup (Vegetarian Cooking)

19/3/10

B: Porridge with pear 

L: Falafel (from a box mix) with salad on whole-wheat pita bread.

D: Pappardelle with zucchini, sultanas and pine nuts (Nigella's Forever Summer p 32)

20/3/10

B: Toast with peanut butter

L: Leftover soup and bread

D: Grilled eggplant with feta, mint and chilli (Nigella Summer p 7), Cacik (Nigella's Forever Summer p 57) and lamp chops (for the boys)

21/3/10

B: Brown rice, gomashio and miso soup

L: Leftover eggplant and Cacik on pita

D: Prawn Curry (Nigella's Forever Summer p 73) - chickpeas for me and brown rice

22/3/10 - Settlement Day

B: Fruit salad with yoghurt

L: Leftover curry and rice

D: Celebration dinner

Bloody Mary and Oyster shooters Rouille

Avocado and verjuice jellies (Maggie's Kitchen p 83)

Homemade gnocchi with pumpkin, ricotta and spinach

Grilled octopus with (Maggie's Kitchen p 84)

Baked yoghurt tart with figs and hazelnuts (Cooking deserts p 125)

24/3/10

B: Summer Bircher

L: something leftover or a meal from the freezer

D: Mum's

25/3/10

B: Miso soup and fruit

L: Caponata (Nigella's Forever Summer p 152) and Zucchini Fritters (Nigella's Forever Summer p 156)

D: Grandma's

The books this week are some I have used before (click titles for more information):

Nigella's Forever Summer

Maggie's Kitchen by Maggie Beer

Vegetarian Cooking - A Commonsense Guide

Cooking Deserts

   

MIA

I know that I haven't done a post now for about 2 (or maybe it's 3) weeks.  I have not been keeping up with menu planning because I have been busy tracking calories over at Livestrong so I can fit into my wedding dress (the wedding is in August)!

But money has been an issue lately as I still have not found a full time job for when we move (April 1oth) and since I have not been planning the menu I have been spending about an extra $50 a week and have been throwing away a ton on food - which I hate doing - especially when it's meat.

I also have a few photos of things that have been going on:

After reading a few blogs talking about a Middy hair cut I decided to go and get one.  It is great and the hairdresser I had was an older lady and I explained it to her and then she said "It sounds like you want a Middy".  I am so glad she knew what I was talking about.  In the past I have bee a bit reluctant to tall the hairdresser what I want thinking that they may laugh at me etc - but all the other vintage girls having amazing hair gave me the confidence!

This photo was taken the day after I got it cut and this is what it looked like after being pinned for the night (but not a wet set or done very well at all).

The Beau and I went to the Blue Mountains for the day.  It was freezing - the first real day of Autumn that we have had - the leaves were beginning to change colour there and while walking around in the bust our breath was coming out frosty.  Here is a picture of us both together from a look out where the Three Sisters are:

I have also been trying out some new things in the kitchen.  This is my new regular breakfast.  It is like a healthy version of Bircher muesli.  

It is:

• Oats soaked in a but of water
• Half a grated apple
• Some blueberries
• Greek yoghurt (I make my own using the Easiyo because it has no sugar)

I have found that it really fills me up until lunch time.  Especially when I drink it with my whole pot of coffee.

This is what I made for the Beau's Valentine's Day present.  It is a paella kind of.  I used paella rice but did not add chicken or chorizo so I could have some.  It does have seafood - prawns, calamari and Moreton Bay bugs.  It was delicious.

Here is another breakfast I have made to try and use up things in the pantry for when we move.  It is just gluten free pancake mix with pear jam and greek yoghurt.  I couldn't believe how well the pear works in a jam.  I love pear and am so excited that it is Autumn and I can eat as many as I like.

Finally, as I mentioned it is getting colder so here is my jacket of choice for the moment.  It is a 60s number I think that I got a Salvation Army store.  I love the colours and collar but best of all is the sleeve length.  It would be perfect for showing off one of those bracelets with coins on them.  I have never yet seen one at the shops - but fingers crossed one will turn up at Vinnies.

Lady Sings the Blues

The last week I have been feeling so.... blah.  I do not know why I am unhappy - buyer's remorse maybe, or is it because I cannot get a job?  I often get the blues when things just don't seem to be happening for me and I am sure if I just kept my head led high I would see something wonderful coming up.

So this is a quick note to myself to keep going, smile and not to worry - whatever will be will be.

Menu Planning - But no photos - again!!!!!

Ok so I still cannot find the battery recharger and may just have to face facts this week and use the Beau's much harder to use older camera.

Last week I went so over budget that I only had half this weeks budget to do a shop - and I really felt it because we signed our mortgage documents this week and I saw how much bah blah blah.  I know everyone is in the same boat.

There does seem to be quite a few vintage people looking into kitchen design etc because they are moving or are doing up their kitchen's.  Our new kitchen has NO storage space or pantry, or dishwasher so I will have to come up with some clever ideas on how to make everything fit once we move. I love the ingenious hidey holes in the kitchen posts over at 50s Gal.

Last week's highlights were Giada's gnocchi (be sure to really mash up the potatoes into the finest mush possible) and the Food Safari Spanakopita which was delicious with the unexpected taste of fresh dill.  I also made a Dahl from the Food Safari book which was amazing and made of things I had in the store cupboard.  I think it even tasted better than the one I have from the Indian restaurant.

This picture is from Food Network and is Giada's Gnocchi with Thyme Butter Sauce

This week I am not really using any cookbooks as I am trying just to use what we have to keep costs down, however some of the recipes I have made before.

12/02/10

B: Soft Polenta

L: Leftover's

D: Pumpkin risotto with lamb chops (boys)

13/02/10

B: Porridge with soy milk and agave 

L: Miso soup and rice

D: Polenta crusted pie with salad

14/02/10

B: Fried polenta with tamari

L: Rice Paper Wraps (vietnamese style)

D: Seafood Paella (as my Valentines present) with mussels, calamari, bugs and prawns

15/02/10

B: Porridge and miso soup

L: Caesar salad

D: Mexcian Monday

16/02/10

B: Soy milk smoothie

L: Leftovers

D: Mum's

17/02/10

B: Fried polenta

L: Empanadas made with leftover mexican and puff pastry

D: Grandma's

18/02/10

B: Tea and Toast

L: Grandma's leftovers (always roast vegetables) in frittatas

D: Prawn toasts and asian style broth

PS.  I promise a vintage related post this week - I have found dome great handbags!