Adelaide cool

We went to Adelaide this weekend. Adelaide can all be a bit cool sometimes. We went to the botanic gardens and the museum of economic botany! Amazing!

Happy friends of happy kids...

My lovely friend Lizzie was in Africa for all of last year and some of her time was spent in Nairobi at Happy Nairobi Kids Home.

Devastated by the lack of basics these children have, she was motivated to fundraise for them when she got home. All through April she is living off $1.40/ day, what people in Kenya live off. It's tricky to apply this to all aspects of life in our prepaid plan world, so she is applying it to: Food, transport and entertainment. It's not going to be easy. Please look at her website and think about sponsering her for it, or sending her a box of fruit!!! Happy Friends of Happy Kids.

Things my parents taught me

 (not a complete list by any means...)

* How to cook great vego food. Especially bolognaise (Dad) and lasagna (Mum).
* To be a good host and welcome people into your home.
* How to put a doona in its cover.
* To care about the environment.
* To enjoy being outside.
* To work to earn money. (first job at the age of 12, and jobs around the house to earn pocket money)
* To be independent. (yes you can go out till late but you better get yourself home)
* To try new things.
* To explore the world.
* To swim and ride a bike.
* To have fun with your partner.
* To pack my own lunch.
* To wash up.
* To write thank you letters.
* To drive (thanks Dad... Sorry about that.)
* To go on holiday. Even when you have no money.
* To light a fire.
* To read before bed time (with a cup of peppermint tea)
* To make tea in bed for your lover in the morning.
* To dance at parties.

You guys are awesome. I can't wait to hang out this coming weekend.

No parking?

So you know how people have "No parking at any time!" in front of their driveways/ garages? Well, I want one. I don't have a driveway, garage or car. But I do have a small back gate and a bike. And it is a pain in my day, twice a day atleast, wrestling my bike down and out and up and in, without hitting any of the cars that have given me less than a meter radius to manouver around. My no parking area would be very small. Clover Moore the mayor seems very pro bikes.. maybe I should write an application?

{Image} found {Via}

Brownies!

I love baking but I don't often put a recipe up here. For one I find food photography beyond my skills and for two I'm usually too busy eating the result!
Anyways yesterday me and my housey with some time to spare baked brownies. There was leftover chocolate in the fridge (weird huh?!) and we both had the urge!
I follwed Nigella Lawson most of the way.

Ingredients:
225g dark chocolate
225g butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
200g caster sugar (I reckon this is too much sugar but I havn't had a chance to try with a smaller amount yet - I'd attempt to cut it down to 150gs and use a bit more almond instead)
3 eggs, beaten
150g ground almonds
100g chopped walnuts. If you are using mini patty pans chop them real small - no more than .5cm square
2 teaspoons nutmeg (our magic addition!) 

Method:
* Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark 3. Melt the chocolate and butter gently over a low heat in a heavy-based saucepan.
* Take the pan off the heat, mix in the vanilla and sugar, and let it cool a little.
* Beat the eggs into the pan along with the ground almonds and chopped walnuts and nutmeg. Whisk it up so it gets lots of air and although runny is kinda fluffy.
* Now the messy bit: spoon the mix into your muffin pans. They don't rise much, but leave about 0.5cm from the top edge. If you make mini ones you'll get about 50 out of this mix.
* Bake in the oven for 25–30 minutes, by which time the top will have set but the mixture will still be gooey.
* Resist putting them in your mouth straight away coz they'll burn you!

Greenies are meanies?

This article in the Gaurdian made me laugh... then cringe... Oh crap.

So some dudes have done a study and found that people who are, or think of themselves, as green consumers are heaps more likely to steal, be mean to other people, cut people off in traffic etc coz they feel that because of their choices, they are entitled to get away with other stuff.

The problem is, as a self confessed greeny, I catch myself with thoughts like this often. I'm not confessing to nicking stuff. I don't. (I don't have the balls!) But I do get awfully self righteous (mostly in my head admittedly) because I consider my life to be better for the planet than say... Rupert Murdochs... oh no wait... that's everyone... than say... well someone who drives a huge car in a city, or owns a coal mine, or um cuts me off on my bicycle in traffic, or uses plastic shopping bags - especially when it is JUST FOR ONE ITEM!! Man that should be illegal! *rantrantrant* shutupsophie!

Annnnyhoooo note to self: Just because the lady in the ginourmous vehicle almost killed you, because she is so high up she couldn't see you all the way down there on your puny bicycle, doesn't mean she is a bad person. Heck she could be the head of a large recycling firm. Or from the country and she only owns her one big country sized car. Or American. No offense Americans - but the Hummer is currently infiltrating Australia at an alarming rate and I hate them. Ahem. Oh yes where was I...

See here's an example. I ride a bike. In the city. Two times a day. If it is safe to do so, I sneak across intersections when the light is red. Yes. Yes I do. And I justify it in my head the whole way. "well those pedestrians are going and I am practicly one of them *get the hell out of my way you walking imbicile* " Or "I am running so flipping late, you just don't understand I have to go, no-one is going to get hurt and I can't go as fast as you coz I don't have a car" Or " It's really late and it's hardly safer for me to wait on this lonesome street for a light to change when there is no traffic coming than to just go..." Essentially I justify my illegal actions in my head because I'm not polluting while I do. Strange huh? Maybe I should write a book... How to act illegally and still feel good about yourself. Maybe all robbers should use public transport or bicycles as getaway vehicles... and get more leniant sentances for doing so... Ha!

Read the actual newspaper article after the jump...
{via} Artist Edina Tokodi

oh Wow.

Would you just look at this pantry. Seriously. Just thinking about this makes me so happy. I have a small collection of these jars, and as my husband will tell you, you had better leave the unpacking of the shopping to me. Even when I don't do the shopping trip he leaves out the pasta and lentils and museli for me to decant. One day this pantry will be mine.

Thank you Design Sponge for showing me this little glimpse of heaven that is Emerson's home.

Someone else's art for the day.

This art work by Sophia Brueckner is beautiful and I want a whole wall (or 3) of it. I think above my dressing table would be best... Or perhaps a whole long line of them down the hallway, hmm maybe a circle of them at the head of the dining room table...

Isn't that blue a heavenly colour? I love the round wooden frames so much too. (See it's all about yummy warm wood...)

She is inspired by the mathematical algorithims she see's in nature. She finds maths quite beautiful. I don't but I'm happy for her coz the result I find quite stunning!

Check out her website.

5 favourite things.

I am playing along with Meet Me at Mikes meme for this week.
My 5 favourite things this week past have been:

1. Music: Broken Bells Listen to it here. OH my gosh! This is a mix of Danger Mouse (the DJ not cartoon character) and James Mercer - frontman of The Shins. It is SO FLIPPIN GOOD that I absolutly have to capitalize and I usually hate that.

2. Blog: I love many blogs but I have been particularly enjoying pottymouthmama this week. She makes me laugh, and I love how truthful she is in her posts.
3. Meal: I took myself out for brunch the other day. It was awesome having some alone time (a rare treat to be honest) to read a book in a cafe, enjoy eggs poached on bread I wouldn't normally buy and people watch.
4. Moment: Snuggled up on the couch with my housey talking about being in love.
5. Post from the past: When I was re-doing my blog last week I came across old posts that were lovely to read again.

Someone else's thought for the day.

This is clever, if a little cheesy, but the sentiment is gold.

Note to self:

Don't eat when you're angry. It only leads to indigestion.

If you feel like screaming under water, and it is illegal to jump into the particular large body of it you are nearest - then try this. Take your iPod and play the right music for the moment (I choose Something for Kate but it's up to personal preference here). Then sit on the end of a wharf alone and watch the sun set over dinky sail boats on one of the world's most beautiful harbours. You can almost forget everything if you squint into the sun sparkling water and sink yourself into someone else's lyrical woes.

Alternativly. Keep your chin up and don't be a sook as my mother affectionatly reminded me. Sometime's mums are so right.

{via}

Not coping today. I think I'm in post Africa (or is it just post holiday?) shock. And it started off oh so nicely. Why is it that whenever I feel like yelling "Don't treat me like a child!" I end up looking extremely childish? WHYWHWYWHY?! The working world isn't meant to be like this.... right???

Photo via the oh so talented Jill Greenberg.

Wishful thinking

Today I am
reading: Oranges are not the only fruit, Jeanette Winterson
finishing: An entire packet of jelly beans.
working: 14 hour days
dreaming: Of being at home with my love, buying a house in the country, working in a cafe, having babies, baking and wearing a pinny, growing all the food I could ever want to eat...
wishing: I didn't feel so sad about making the right decision about something.
wondering: what to post about next and if I like my new blog header.
disliking: half the "music" on this dance show.
feeling: okay about my lighting operater skills.
tasting: the amazing risotto Timmy made me for dinner.
wanting: it to be home time.

{via}

the look

So I'm faffing around for the next few days with how my blog looks. I havn't been happy with the dark and gloomy thing for a little while now. Please bare with me while it's all a little ugly! Thank you sunshines!

Favourite things: wood

I am drooooooling over this kitchen belonging to Zoe Van De Wiele, in the USA. {via Design sponge}

This is the bed I am wanting. Kinda. Imagine the top as the base, and the headboard of the second pic added... We are looking into getting it made from recycled palletes and fence slats. Greg Hatton is based in Melbs and does COOL things with wood.

Mmmm salad... I don't know where this one came from. Sorry!

These 2 rings come from here and here. Cool huh?!

Recycled goodness via.

yummyness can be counted on coming from anthropolgie

So there. Wooden stuff is warm, feels wonderful under bare feet and is always (almost) oh so nice. Gotta use recycled or renewable though.

I want it....

...NOW. Can I have one? Pleeeease??! Do you think it would break on its way to Australia??

From This awesome shop, found via...

Thank You!

I didn't get round to posting about this when they arrived so this is a belated thank you to the lovely Randa who sent us these two cuties what she made herself!(check out her Etsy) How cute are their bows! You make me want to learn how to knit all over again!  They have travelled many miles to their new happy home in Sydney! We love them and you Randa. xxx

Home grown.

Okay so I can't really take much credit for these babies as Hubby planted them on our roof and then we abandoned them for 3 months while we were away. However, how nice to come back to these beauties dangling from our roof top! They are turning red-er-er everyday and for lunch we are going to wolf them down! Yip!
**EDIT** Whoops I should of mentioned they are actually capsicums/peppers not chillies. They're those crazy skinny ones not bell ones!

Things to be thankful for.

It is time to get back into this again.

* The sleep in I had this morning. ABsolute BLISS.

* Catching up with friends last night, drinking a tiny bit too much beer, laughing myself off the chair...

* I can wear short dresses and not offend anyone.

* I have a job. It pays our bills.

* A succesful, not stressful shopping trip with my hubby to get him some smart clothes.

* How handsome (and kind) my hubby is.

* Cooked breakfasts (especially after a tiny bit too much beer the night before)...

* Sunflowers. I bought them for him but they are totaly brightening up my day right now too.

* My first Aid training teacher was incredibly entertaining and excellent thereby helping useful information to hopefully stay in my head for more than 1 week! If anyone is having a heart attack let me know! I'm first aid trained!!!!

Uganda: angels

These are some of the kids from the orphanage we worked at in Kampala. Derek, Stewart and Brian. We took them to the swimming pool for an outing just before we left - so much fun!

Uganda: people

 1} We cycled through places where white people only went may be once a year so we were pretty intriguing to the local kids. In this photo we were sitting in a little bar having a rest from cycling and these kids didn't take their eyes off us the whole time. Except when we raised the camera to take their picture. We had to take this sneakily from the table!

2}This little girl was sitting in the bar. i think her mother was the owner. She was too little to have any interest in us at all.

3}When we were visiting Toro Integrated Childcare we visited a lot of villages and gave and listened to many speeches. It was all a bit dull for this little girl.

4}These little guys where waiting around for a football match to start. I know the boy on the left looks like he is about to cry, but I think he is actually talking to his brother!

5} As we were walking down a country road this little girl stopped to watch us walk past then followed uson our whole walk!

6}A muma brought her baby to a lesson about micro finance. As the lesson was all in Lugandan I took pictures of this gorgeous child instead!

7}These kids are swimming in a crocodile and hippo infested river in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. I am safely in a boat!

8} A farm worker with her beans. Isn't she beautiful?