Thursday, August 5, 2010

when motivation crosses my path


Well I'll be jiggered. For the last week I have been trying my hardest to follow the WW plan. I've tracked all my food intake for a full seven days for the first time in months. And you WILL believe it - it WORKED!

This morning's weigh in showed a whopping 1.5kg loss!

BooYeah!

I haven't felt this good in months, I finally feel like I'm getting back on track - thanks to the support of my WW girls (and my decision to forgo the parma at the pub last night - a first for me!). I've also started (on and off) walking the 6km home after work again, which was my secret to success over summer. A lot harder in the winter!

So here's to keeping motivation tucked neatly away in my pocket for the coming few weeks. And to TRACK TRACK TRACKING!



image via we heart it

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

because I don't need another reason to fall in love with paris

...I stumbled upon Alix's The Cherry Blossom Girl blog....

I have no words. None. Zip.

Oh, actually, I do.

Chanel.


Do yourself a favour and go check out her blog - this girl oozes french, chic style...and she just tied the knot - cannot wait to see more pics from her amazing looking wedding!


Tuesday, August 3, 2010

fabric fantasties

After drooling over the front cover of this month's real living, I've been thinking more and more about adding a touch of pink to our living room. At the moment we have a dark brown couch - thoughts on a few pink cushions?

A few fabrics I'm considering...











Which do you like? And where do you source your fabric from?

Tuesday's bite

As mentioned, I'm part of a fat fighting group of marvellous women who subscribe to the weight watchers lifestyle. I started WW in September and soon found the support of this great bunch of ladies and have not looked back since! Well, from time to time the motivation has wavered, but the girls have been there to pull me back on course whenever it's needed.

While it may be taking me a little longer than planned to reach my goal, I do enjoy the WW way, being able to eat what I want, when I want - so long as I account for it within my set points.

One of the greatest aspects of being part of the group is sharing yummy yummy recipes! A few years ago if you had told me I'd be eating tofu or lentils - and loving them - I'd have scoffed a laugh! But when one of the girls suggested this WW recipe I decided to give it go, and boy is it good! It's a great dish to cook a big batch of and freeze to have for lunch throughout the week - keeping you full all afternoon long!

But let me get off my soapbox and share the recipe with you, it's a cracker!


RED LENTIL AND TOFU CURRY

Adapted slightly :) from www.weightwatchers.com.au
Points value: 4.5
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 50 min
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients
2 tsp (s) vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 clove garlic, crushed
2 tbs (s) curry paste, (tikka curry paste)
1 tbs (s) ground cumin
400 g canned chopped tomatoes
3 whole stock cube, dissolved in 3 cups (750ml) hot water
1/2 cup (s) dry lentils, (red), rinsed, drained
175 g fresh green beans, ends trimmed
300 g cauliflower, trimmed, cut into florets
300g brocolli, trimmed, cut into florets
2 carrots, chopped
200 g Tofu, cut into 1.5cm cubes
3/4 cup (s) raw white rice, (basmati)

Instructions
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes or until very soft and golden brown. Add garlic, curry paste and cumin. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

Stir in tomatoes, stock and lentils. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Stir frequently to avoid lentils catching on the bottom of the pan.

Add beans and cauliflower, and cook for 5 minutes. Add tofu and cook for a further 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and tofu is heated through.

Meanwhile, cook rice according to packet instructions. Serve curry on rice :)

Notes
Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. This curry is best reheated in the microwave.

Monday, August 2, 2010

zoom, zoom ZOOOOM!

Four weeks and I'm out of here!!


It still seems so surreal, but in four weeks time I will be boarding a jumbo jet and making my way to Europe. We've booked most of our accommodation for the first half, but are leaving a lot of the planning until we are there and seeing where the northern hemisphere winds take us!

I feel like I've placed so much emphasis on this Europe trip. As cliché as it may be, a time to 'find myself'. To have a few weeks exploring and opening my eyes to the possibilities of life seems so alluring of late. I want this trip to teach me more about the world, but more importantly - more about myself.

For some reason I seem to think of life in two stages at the moment, BE and AE. Before and after Europe. Right now I feel quite trapped by everything. I've put all this pressure on Europe as being the place to escape, the place to discover.

I just hope I discover enough...

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Comfort with a capital C-ouch!

I'm spending a quiet night in tonight, LB is off watching the footy with his bro and I'm having a fun night at home watching terribly girlie movies, reading mags and browsing blogs.

Loving this month's Real Living magazine - the room featured on the front cover is to die for! I've noticed my eye has been drawn to neutral/light brown couches of late. A few examples to whet the appetite....
images via Ada&Darcy and Coco+Kelley

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

oh me, oh my!

The ever inspiring Dustjacket Attic has brought us another stunning fashion post today....ohhhh check out the beauty of this bride!




The lace, the pearls....that ring! ohhhhh gollllllly!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

15ft of snow...



I'm in the happiest of moods today. I put this down to the way I woke, certainly on the right side of the bed this morning!


Usually we're running late. We always sleep through the multiple alarms that ring every 5 minutes, refusing to feel the cold winter air on our faces trying to rouse us from our wonderland; and eventually I'm the first to get up and drag myself to the shower. Hopeless! This morning LB had to get up early to be at early meetings - when he woke he put on one of my favourite songs that really makes me think of our love - the ever corny "15 ft of snow" buy Aussie rocker Johnny Diesel...


With a kiss on my forehead I woke to the happiest of mornings...and I've been smiling ever since...


Bliss! ♥




images via here, here, here and here.

Friday, July 9, 2010

italiano!


Did I mention I have two days to discover Rome by myself before the tour starts in September?

Aside from being petrified about getting lost or having my belongings snapped up by the local gypsies, I must say I'm totally stoked to be arriving wide eyed and bushy tailed (or just plain jet-lagged) in this ancient holy city...making my way through the sights....and eating a few thousand gelatos along the way!

Have you explored Italy in all its greatness? Any tips on how a solo traveller should spend her days?

image via here

a trick of the eye, oh my!


For part of LB's b'day present I took him along to the Melbourne Magic Festival! LB loves British optical illusion specialist Derren Brown (check out that russian roulette - nuts!) - so I was mighty impressed to see the young fellow whose show we were attending had modelled himself on Derren.

Melbournians I recommend you head over to the Northcote Town Hall and check out Christopher's Illusion and Delusion show!

It was a great show and even involved both myself and LB getting up on stage to help out with a few of his tricks. Including his very own version of the russian roulette using a massive sharp metal stake! eeeeep!

Very cool how much control one can have of another's mind!

PS - anyone else planning their afternoon of macaroon making after another awesome week of Masterchef? See the tower hiding away in this pic? delish!

image via dustjacket attic

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

the hovering darkness...


It all seems a little mundane these days.

I've decided I'm spending far too much time locked up in doors this winter and not using my free time adequately. I need to make a few adjustments before I send myself a little loopy!

Outside of work I'm becoming awfully slack as well! Working 9 - 5 means I'm home before 6pm and not a lot of productivity emanates from there on. I have a good 4 - 5 hours each day which I could easily fill with more fruitful or constructive activities. Hello exercise? You've certainly suffered your due share in this energy-lacking-crisis, as have my relationships with friends - which I'm the first to admit I have been neglecting.

Time for a few new hobbies and a fresh lease on life!

What keeps you busy and busts the boredom of winter blues???

image by luis monteiro

...the best kind of news!

And the award for 'Best Aunty of the Year' goes to....

ME!

Yesterday I found out the most wonderful news, my brother and his new wife are expecting a BABY! I'm going to be an Aunty for the first time!!! The little one will have arrived in time for Christmas this year; the best present any family could wish for.

In my mega-clucky family this news has thrilled us all, my poor mother was beside herself with excitement at the thought of becoming a grandmother.

I could not be more happy for my bro and sis-in-law! They will make the best parents and the little bubba will be spoilt rotten by his or her uber excited Aunty Beth!!