Day 22, 

Kitchen sink. 

Clean except for my grill.... Gross.

Day 23,

Moon.

No moon shot, this is all I got. Fail.

Day 24,

Animal. 

No pets at our house, just 3 animals of varying descriptions.

Here is one of them for your perusal.

Day 25,

Breakfast.

Having been suffering  from a cold/cough, I have gone off coffee, so one of these tea bags was my breakfast. They are really quite good.

Day 26.

Keys.

My bunch of keys, I'm partial to a keyring.

My name.

Ali. Made out of fridge magnets.

Day 28,

trash.

I wish I had chooks so that they could have all these scraps so I didn't waste them. We don't have a compost heap going either which would be another good way to used them. I did see on Better Homes and Gardens last week, one which you can make from wooden pallets. Our back yard needs some major overhauling so will wait and plan it out properly! 

In other news, I scrapped. 

Not the best quality photo, but there you go. I for some washi-type tape from Typo the other day and was itching to scrap with it, so I did. And splashed some paint around and had some messy fun!! 

P.S. I'm finishing this post 5 hours after I started which is nothing unusual for a lot of people but I hate that! Anyway, I was going to scrap again tonight as I got a lovely box of Goodies from Scrap Savvy, but the night got away from me and now it's ten and I don't start nothing for nobody at ten. Maybe a good book in bed... Tommorow night maybe?? 

And in some other other news. Next Wednesday is my last day at my job. I gave notice almost 3 weeks ago. Lots and lots of reasons why, but the main one is I want to be a full time Mum again. I want to read to Mia and her classmates in the morning. I want to be able to go to Assembly again. I want to help when they go on excursions. I want to be home in the school holidays. I want to just be here. And when Brenton comes home, I want to be around more too. To be more available so that we can do things as a family. Take off to see his cousin in Clare on a whim, take Mia out of school on a Friday and Monday and just do it. Make the most of our family time together when Brenton is home. I will admit that there will be lots I will miss, a couple of workmates, and so many customers that I have gotten to know since I started. I truly hope that I have helped to make coming into our Pharmacy a nice place to come into and that they know I have really cared for them. All the walks of life that I have met and befriended or been able to get re-acquainted with have really made it all worth while. Truly. Sad but no so much really, the girls that I have worked with I and have become friendly with, we will still see each other, that's for sure! 

I don't have another job lined up nor do I want to. Some people who are friends of mine on Facebook and/or read my blog have got it wrong when they think that I have another job. It's not in the picture. And nothing I have said or written in either of these places should have lead anyone to believe that. I do eventually want to be an SSO in the Education system and am going to take steps to get in that position so that I can always be here for my kids in the holidays and out of school hours. Not lofty ambitions for my life I will admit, but good glory nora, the decision has made me feel so much happier. See 2012 really is about getting back to basics!! 

So there it is. That's me for the moment. x

Another big ol catchup!

Day 12.

Fork.

Day 13.

Sign,

A sign of good times to come in Gertie. Windows getting fixed, screens being replaced.

Day 14.

Clouds, 

Blanket grey round here.

Day 15.

Car, 

My old but much adored Hyundai Lantra. She goes like the clappers.

Day 16. 

Sunnies,

at Surfleet Cove camping with my gorgeous family.

Day 17.

Green,

Dressed up for a party, lovely photo with two of my much loved friends.

Day 18.

A corner of your home,

A chaotic corner of our house.... Not a lot of motivation on Sunday I'm afraid.

Day 19.

Funny,

Mia loves the photo booth on the new Mac. We have amassed some amazingly funny pics so far!

Day 20.

Before/After,

cleaning and tidying our bedroom. Unfortunately there was no after as I just. kept. getting. interrupted. After photo to come after!! 

Day 21.

Delicious, 

Our dinner. I asked Mum and Dad to come and eat with us as Brenton has left again today and I'm not able to cook for just the three of us. Yum, recipe here. I didn't have any parmesan so didn't put that in, and found enough scraggy parsley out the back, but they were really good!! I only used half the bacon they said (sliced it in half lengthways) and on some of the smaller ones I only see one bit instead of two. Served with a crispy cold salad and chicken gravy. Good. 

I have been moaning about my internet connection here for about 12 months. It has been so slow, I couldn't update my blog of a night, or even blog hop, it was so painful. I had rang Iprimus to see what the hell I could do... I was almost pulling my hair out. I know that the internet can be slow at times, but this was ridiculous. 

Yesterday a lightbulb went off in my head. I checked my plan, and I was on a starter plan. The cheapest one available. No wonder it had been so pathetic. One phone call later and we are as right as rain. A few $$$ extra per month and I am no longer going grey or threatening to pull my hair out, or throw the mouse through the screen!!! LOL!! Happy Ali once more! And hopefully more regular posts as I have been having to upload photos and write posts in the mornings which just doesn't work. 

I was going to include way more but tonight I am feeling under the weather and my bed is calling. My back and body are really aching, and I have a ultra painful headache. It's exactly how I felt last year before the onset of Influenza. Please spare a thought for me that it doesn't eventuate. 

I couldn't go through it again. 

Just couldn't. 

Off to pop some pain relief and hop into my bed.

x

Day 8, 9, 10 and 11

Day 8.

Window.

 My big window over my sink and wash up area. I love having big windows in the living areas.. Let the light shine in I say!! 

Day 9.

Red.

 The red label of my Strongbow... 

Day 10.

Loud.

 Nice glass of wine at a friends house while the kids were making lots of noise!! LOL!! 

Day 11.

Someone you talked to. 

I missed lots of opportunities today as I talked to a lot of people, but really this little person talks ALOT!! So I took a pic of her, my little darling. Mia slept at Nanna and Pop's last night, and I missed her, but will admit it is quieter without her here. And it would be the same if Lexi was gone and Mia was here. Two is fantastic, and I love them to bits... But one on occasions is nice too.. 

x

Hiya

Day 5, 6 and 7.

Day 5. A smile.

 My gorgeous ones in the bath!! Feeling the love for them at the moment.... You always love them of course, but sometimes it get more intense. I am really really feeling the love atm....

Day 6. 5pm.

 Taken on my phone. Helping me to re-hang the freshly washed curtains in the caravan. Typical Lexi at the moment, won't sit still....

Day 7. Something you wore. 

The standard jeans and a k-mart tie die top. I like it as it is roomy but still fits nicely...

I'm pretty excited today. Mia started Hop Hop Dance classes 3 weeks ago and loves it, and today after school she starts art classes with Jill Pantiyasa. I have a couple of her handmade necklaces, (shhh, one is in the cupboard for Mothers Day) and she is also a teacher so I think Mia is really going to love it. I am going to make her do it for the rest of the term and then we will reassess. These are big things for Mia, i think she has secretly wanted to do classes but has lacked a little bit of confidence. I am proud of her for putting herself out there when she always hasn't. And they are things she really likes to do. I also secretly love that she likes the same sorts of things as me. I can see more holes being banged in the playroom wall for artwork of hers, and I quite like that idea.... 

x

March...

Day 1

Well, I didn't take a photo of up. 

Boring aren't I?? But I did look up in the sky and reflect on how every time I see a jet streaking across the sky, I wonder where it has been, where it is going and I also wish I was on it... Especially if it's heading West or North... If it's heading South, meh, not so bothered. I'm also a lover of stars on a clear clear night, and feel ultra special when I happen to see a shooting star. I have two that I vividly remember. One when Brenton and I were driving to Pt Augusta just before dawn on our way for me to have my op after my miscarriage. It made me feel that everything happens for a reason. And another, I'm pretty sure was after I found out about Lexi, sitting in the backyard at home in Roxby while we were having a bbq, and seeing a really bright shooting star and just knowing that it was all going to work out fine. 

I did bottle "up" some tomato relish.. YUM!!! to my own tomatoes unfortunately but vine ripened ones from Wooolies out for $3 per 2kg. Had to do it!

Day 2, Fruit.

Can't believe hoe much we go through... But it's good!

Day 3, Neighbourhood.

This prompt Had me singing a song  from Sesame Street from years ago. 'Who are the people in your neighbourhood, in your neighbourhood, in your neigh-bour-hoo-ood?' Over and over in my head. Do you remember the song that I mean??

Day 4, Beside.

Still probably has the same books on it as it did when I did another prompt maybe in Jan!! 

And Gertie!!! 

Looking in.... 

To to the right of the door is where Brenton and I will sleep.

The kitchen area... And everything works so we are happy about that.

Little poser, behind her is the table which will go down at night for a bed for the girls.... 

It would have been ideal to have a caravan like Mel Goodsell has, with a bunk at one end and a bed at the other, but they are so hard to come across, this will do for us while the girls are little, meanwhile I am still keeping an eye out for a bit bigger one... 

On Friday, I cleaned, scrubbed, took curtains down, vacuumed under the beds, scrubbed the mouldy fridge, getting it ready for our first outing!! 






Yesterday afternoon after digging out the veg patch under the pergola and planting new flowers out the back, Mia wanted to do some crafting so I was able to sit and scrap, so I did these two. They are both very similar, but that's ok. I was happy to get them done. I loved being able to sit and scrap on a Sunday afty while tea was slowly cooking in the oven....

Happy Monday, my internet connection is so slow during the evenings, thought I would finish my post this morning.. It takes so long at night to upload photos, whereas in the mornings they load way more quickly!! 


x

A big ol catchup

Day 19

Something you hate to do...

I think today it would have been fair to say I hated everything. Just one of those frustrating days... My face sums it up.... 

Day 20

Handwriting... 

a handwritten note of the daily photo prompts on my fridge!

 Day 21

A favourite photo of you.

Brenton and I out at the Roxby Tav, to see Chopper Read's show. His show was shit really, but lovely for Brenton and I to be out together.. I found out I was pregnant with Lexi a few days later, so it was my last hurrah for a while.... A lot happened and a lot of time passed before I could just relax and have a drink again without a care in the world....

Day 22

Where you work...

Yeah, yeah, of course I go to work everyday but here is where I'd rather be working sometimes, making yummy things for my family to eat. Since I started working, my passion for cooking has waned bit and I guess also since Brenton has been working away....

Day 23.

Shoes... 

Without my feet in them. (feet are icky, or mine are anyway!!)

Day 24.

Bathroom Cabinet.

Well, this is where I keep lots of supplies!!! 

Day 25.

Green.

Retro green tupperware on Fisheries Beach being used for sand castles...

Day 26

Night.

Ok, so it's not really night but we celebrated Dad's birthday a day early with the most delicious ultra slow cooked roast, smashed veg and yummo sauce from Jamie Oliver HOME cookbook, then had a mud cake from Woolies for him..Candles are always such a hit with the kids....

Something you ate...

Ok, well I didn't eat her, but sometimes she is so cute, I think she'd be pretty yummy. I just want a little tiny nibble.... lol!!! 

Day 28.

Money.

We just bought this little beauty.... Gertie was a steal. 1976 vintage, almost as old as me, and unbelievably everything works... The fridge, the stove burners, just a few windows need attention but other than that, she is just too cute!! We can see where some water has leaked in, but we will get to that too. Brentons Dad has had caravans and camper trailers for ever and a day and he will help us fix the little things.. I can't wait to go out camping. We were going to go last weekend, but it was just way too hot. We felt ripped off but couldn't take the kids out in that heat!! We love you Gertie. And you cost us some money but it really wasn't that much!! I have big plans to deck it out in all vintage gear. Have already been looking in the op shops for flowery vintage sheets, and whatever we need will come from the Op Shops. Although one new thing I will buy is a caravan print from Kate's easy shop to go in there! Yay!! 

Day 29.

Something you are listening to.

MTV Classic Chart Toppers.

I was lucky enough that Mum kept Lexi for me today so I could get some things done after work. I went shopping, cleaned out the fridge, then quickly vacuumed and mopped all the hard floors in the house before I picked Mia up from school. It was blissful to listen to something adult orientated... 

Brenton flew back to Roxby today. Although he only got as far as Adelaide. He is living it up in the Hilton right at this moment. LOL!! The Olympic Dam airport is out of action on account of all the rain up that way, so who knows when he will get back up there. He spent the afternoon in the Qantas Club then into the Hilton. He says he has a fabulous room, and a bed so big that half the crane crew could sleep on it. Not that he would want that... Thanks Qantas for looking after my Husband... It's not the airlines fault about the rain, but good on them for looking after people who can't get where they are supposed to. Qantas have shit me off over the years but they are doing the right thing today...




I read Tatums blog today, and saw that she had made Quinoa tabbouleh, I had some in the cupboard from a while back so when I went to Woolies, I bought half a cooked chook and made this tonight for my dinner... OMG YUM!! 

Of course i didn't use all of the half a chook, but just a little... Plus tomato, leb cuey, red onion, lots of mint and some greek yoghurt stirred through.... Very very good. And ultra satisfying. I love Pearl Barley so thought I would like Quinoa but I really really LIKE Quinoa!! Have a go, you won't regret it!! 




Last night I fell asleep on the lounge at 8:30, I can't remember the last time I did that. I missed Packed to The Rafters, big time bummer. But not earth shattering. I could not keep my eyes open at all.. Weird. I'm tired again tonight, so off to bed I will go. It has taken me so long to do this post, my internet is so slow... Crazy slow, uploading photos has been a killer tonight, i hope not to leave it so long next time. It certainly has felt like it has been a hectic couple of weeks round here.... 
x

Day 17 and 18

Day 17 Time

We were out the back when Mia spotted this....

Which got me thinking that although they look close together, I wondered how far apart they really were in terms of time and also space.... Love wondering about things like this... Crazy I am!!!

Day 18 Drink

Mmmm, lots of water here yesterday for me. I had a little party on my own in the shed while cleaning it out. I have been moving furniture around and re-arranging things... And on Friday afty it was the shed. It all started innocently enough... I have Mum and Dads ancient record player so I got that going... Neil Sedaka was the first album, with such classics as, Happy Birthday Sweet 16 and Hey Little Devil... An album from the 70's came next, with songs like Montego Bay and the like. Then I got the CD player going with artists like Van Halen, and so on. The shed got sorted out and tidied up but the more tidier it got, the more un-tidy I got!! LOL!! Love travelling down memory lane with the help of music. I do love it. But was feeling a bit seedy yesterday and tired too. So water it was!! 

I did some cooking yesterday. I felt hungry!! 

I made a Jamie Oliver recipe from the HOME cookbook, which was Cheeky Chilli/Pepper Chutney. I grew some Chillis so was keen to use them. Except it's so hot I don't think I can use it. I have two small jars to give away, so if you leave me a comment and you one of the first two to do so, I'll send one to you.... (CHILLII RELISH ALL GONE, thanks!!!!)

It's hot hot hot!!!

I love it when you have an idea for making something and it works out very tasty indeed... I felt like making a slow cooker, but wasn't sure what.... 

In Woolies I bought Chorizo, chicken, red onion, capsicum, a few mushrooms, zucchini and 3 cans of cherry tomatoes... I sliced the two chorizo and fried them in my slow cooker insert (yay for one that you can put on the stovetop) along with sliced onion, the capsicum and about 3 portobello mushrooms.... I fried them all off them popped it in a bowl while I fried off my chicken. I used thigh cutlets from the Deli section. I popped the vegies and chorizo back in the cooker with 2 of the cans of tomatoes, a chunky chopped zucchini. Our next-door neighbour had given us some cherry tomatoes earlier in the week so I washed a handful and put them in too.I let it slow cook all the afternoon, and about half an hour before I wanted to eat I chucked in a can of rinsed chickpeas.. I wasn't sure how they would go in it, but it worked perfectly... The only seasoning I used was S&P on the chicken while I fried it off but other than that it was only the flavours in there... Very very yum! And even better today for lunch. I was able to skim the fat off today as it had solidified and that made it a lot less fatty. 

And I scrapped too!! On Thursday night I settled into the 'playroom' and popped on Big Love and tried to do the Escape2Create Colour challenge. And it was a challenge... I found the colours restricting. Mainly because when I scrap I use all manner of colours together and most of the time it seems to 'work' somehow. 

So anyway here it is!!! 

Happy Sunday! 

Still playing around on my new Mac, I got it Friday. Was so quick to get here, over night! Just have to work out how things 'work' on here. I have been migrating info over from my PC but then can't find them on here... A few online tutorials I think are in order!! x