Part Human… Part Hobbit

Posted in Family, Life, The List by Em

One of my family… well maybe mine with family… I’m not sure… traditions is to go to the movies on Boxing Day… It’s a tradition that started quite a few years ago, in fact because I have been thinking about it today I tried to put together a list to see how far back it went and this is what I came up with…

2012 – The Hobbit
2011 – Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
2010 – Gulliver’s Travels
2009 – Sherlock Holmes
2008 – Yes Man
2007 – The Golden Compass
2006 – Happy Feet
2005 – Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe
2004 – The Incredibles
2003 – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2002 – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2001 – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the rings

A pretty impressive list of movies if you ask me… Anyway, as you can see from the list last year was no different, I saw The Hobbit. Now to be completely honest.. it wasn’t my favourite movie to date… I found it a little slow… but giving it the benefit of doubt I decided that I should read the book before I made my final decision, which I am now about half way through. As I have been reading I have discovered there are a few more similarities between me and hobbits than I would like… for example:

Hobbits are short… I am short
Hobbits have fat/wide hairy feet… I have wide… NOT hairy feet
Hobbits are often thinking of the next meal… I am always thinking of my next meal…
Hobbits generally like a quiet, predictable life with no adventures, until of course they are thrust into one and then enjoy it quite a great deal… me too…

Anyway, this summer I went on a little adventure of my own, one which I wasn’t super excited about, especially once it started getting more difficult but at the end of it I was really proud of myself and very thankful to Dave for taking me on such an adventure.

My Adventure wasn’t quite as extravagant as Bilbo’s in the Hobbit, but it was still fun. Dave and I walked along the surf beach in Inverloch until we reached a point called Eagle’s Nest. Which while it doesn’t sound that difficult, it did require more than just walking, in fact I had to climb up and down, navigate through stinky seaweed and walk over large rocks which were not always as solid as I would have liked… but I survived and we made it… and it meant that I could cross no. 91 off the list.

Perhaps once I have finished the book I will like the movie more than I did on Boxing day? If not… I guess I will have to be a better version of a hobbit adventure.

9Jan2013

Wordless Wednesday: Insta-update

Posted in Life, Photo A Day, The List, Wordless Wednesday by Em

7Jan2013

Another Public Announcement Regarding Change Rooms

Posted in Exercise, Life by Em

Tonight I was at the pool getting ready to swim some laps and once again I was confronted with a lack of public change room etiquette… so I have decided that is time for another public announcement… While there are still some issues about extreme nudity, I have not seen snacking or exercising the change rooms since so I am hoping that this will also work… so here is another community service announcement on public change rooms and public pools in general.

If you are using public pool changing rooms please take note of the following:

Do NOT ‘Pedegg’ your feet… for those of you who are not sure what I am taking about, I am referring to those little do it yourself pedicure things that scraps your feet to remove dead skin, leaving what remains super soft. And while, yes, they do have a small catcher to collect the dead skin you remove, more often than not this doesn’t collect everything leaving behind your dead foot skin on the floor. As a fellow change room user, who for safety reasons will continue to wear thongs in the change rooms anyway, I don’t appreciate you dropping dead foot on the floor. I know swimming, or general submersion of skin in water softens the skin and therefore makes it easier to do… but do it at home, I don’t want to see it and I definitely don’t want to risk stepping in it, or breathing it in as little flakes become airborne…. it’s disgusting.

If you are using a public pool please take note of the following:

Do NOT walk in the medium lane… Medium is the suggested speed, if you are walking, chances are you are slow… please move to the slow lane… thats for you.

Do NOT stand in the middle of a lap lane and wonder why I am staring… It’s coz I am waiting for you to move… seriously either make you way to the end or get out… you are in the way.

Do NOT swim down the middle of the lane… it’s a two way thing… keep to the left so that everyone can swim in an orderly fashion. If you swim down the middle you will kick me and I will kick you back… be warned.

Do wear appropriate bathers… just keep it covered… it makes it nicer for everyone… if we want to see more, we will ask, but chances are we don’t.

So there you go… here endith another community announcement.

6Jan2013

New Beginnings

Posted in Life, The List by Em

So tomorrow is my new beginning… I know it’s day 7 of January, but I was lucky enough to have a few extra days off last week so I feel as this week will be my first full week of work for the year it’s time to get the year started… So tonight I am starting my new night regime… Something that I am hoping will become a series of good habits and tomorrow morning I start my new morning routine, something I haven’t had for a long time. Tomorrow I also go back to regular exercise and being a little more fussy with my eating as I try to stop that holiday snacking. This is one of the many reasons why I really love January because it feels like a month of fresh starts, time to get established and started but because you have the whole month it isn’t too much of a rush… It will happen as it happens and that is ok, but I am hoping that for me it will start tomorrow, well kinda tonight… But definitely tomorrow.

So what do I have in mind? Well I have been reading this book called ‘one bite at a time: 52 projects for making life simpler’ by Tsh Oxenreider which as the title suggests is little bite size projects to simplify, and even though it is written for busy mums… one of which I am not, I am still busy and I could do with some simplifying… And routine is something that is suggested to help this. In fact there are a few things on this years list from the book that I have decided to have a go at… but I guess we will get to those as I do throughout the year.

Anyway… To the point is…. even though I often deny it, I actually do love routine and structure so I am hoping that this will be a positive addition to my life… So as of tonight/tomorrow I start my night and morning routines… and for now they look a little like this:

weekly_habits_pad_vs2

Before I go to bed I need to:
Make my lunch for the next day
Get my clothes out for the morning
Do a 15 minute quick clean
Write a to do list for the next day
Do my devotions

In the morning I need to:
Exercise
Shower
Have a proper breakfast
Have a cup of tea
Make my bed

I know they seem simple but they are a far cry from my current mad rush in the morning… I am hoping it will help me start the day in a better way and therefore I will have a better day… that’s the theory anyway… so here we go… Structure and routine

2Jan2013

Goodbye My Friend

Posted in Life by Em

Today is a sad day, a really sad day… Today my computer died… well, it actually died last night, but it was pronounced dead by the apple store today. It’s not really a shock because my computer was getting old, but I didn’t expect to just die, without warning or a goodbye. Nevertheless it is gone and I have to get used to it.

I have blogged before about the fact that I get attached to inanimate objects… and to date the most painful has been my car…which I said goodbye to in 2010, but I am pretty sure this will come close. Thankfully I backed up my computer yesterday so all of my stuff is still there, but it will never quite be the same. Sure in a few months I will have a shiny new computer, with more space, enough to fit everything, one which I won’t need to fight with to just put a few more photos on, or to update my software… but it won’t be the same…

I know it seems ridiculous to be so sad about losing a computer, of course it isn’t a person, or a pet, but it had shared with my some pretty big journeys and has helped me to achieved quite a few things. This computer was my first apple… now I know not everyone loves apple, but I do, I really do. I loved how easy it was to work, the fact that it all just made sense and the fact that it just did what it was supposed to do, no silly warnings, just what I wanted when I wanted it… I also loved it’s shiny silver keyboard and how smooth it was to type. It was the first computer I had that didn’t get bugs all the time. The first computer I had as an adult. It got me through my first degree. It kept me connected to my friends and family… and shops during my journey to Castlemaine. It held hundred’s and hundred’s of photos and reminisced with me whenever I wanted. It made more slide shows, photos, invitations, movies and blogs than any of my computers before. And even though it was 4 and a half years old it still worked a treat (well until yesterday). I was such a trouper that even the apple guy was surprised to see it. It only had another 6months until it would have been considered vintage apple… but it won’t make it that far now.

Even now as I type I keep going to check things on my computer… like the first pictures I uploaded on to it and my music collection, but then I remember this isn’t my computer, this is Dave… my computer is dead… I am not sure how this will effect no. 56 ‘Clean out my computer properly’ on the list… because now it’s dead, it just seems a bit cruel. I suppose like all things that die I will have to organise and sort out the things it leaves behind… a hard drive that I am hoping to save full of data… perhaps that will count instead… I don’t know…

All I know is that it’s dead and I am sad. I now have a ‘Emma’s Mac’ sized hole in my heart that hurts… and I feel a little disconnected without it…

1Jan2013

Here we go again… The 2013 List

Posted in Food, Friendship, God, Life, Love, Project 365, The List by Em

Wow… I am a little bit excited that this blog has now survived to see the beginning of another year… and because I really love lists here is my 2013 list of 100 things that I would like to do/achieve in the coming year.

Like always some of them I have attempted in the past and even blogged about (in fact you can check out my old ‘lists’ here, here and here), and some of them I have never done or at least haven’t done for a long time anyway. It’s a mixed bag of all things weird, normal and wonderful… Things are always more fun when they are done with someone else, so if you see anything on the list that might tickle your fancy… let me know!

Hopefully as the year goes by I will once again, be able to tick them off this not so little list and put a photo or a blog up about it… so without further adieu… I give you the 2013 list:

Have a Star Trek Movie Marathon
Cook all meals at home for a fortnight (no buying take-away, or going out)
Finish my Dip Ed
Go in two fun runs/walks
Complete a month’s photo a day challenge without missing a day
Attend a Step Class
Read 12 books
Stop buying breakfast regularly
Complete a half marathon
Use my diary more effectively
Start a list of restaurants Dave and I like to go to.
Watch all of my Disney Movies
Clean out my wardrobe
Go to the beach at least 5 times
Get a herb garden
Be deliberate with my TV time
Go Camping
Do something I have never done before
Be on time to things
Build something from Ikea
Throw something old out/give something away every week
Go to the library
Visit Mum in Mornington
Start a list of all the common dishes Dave and I like to eat
Blow Bubbles
Smash a Pinata
Play Badminton
Try Yoga or Pilates
Get down to my goal weight… and stay there
Establish a morning routine
Establish an evening routine
Exercise 3 times a week
See the Myer windows
Wash my car regularly
Eat 5 new foods/dishes I haven’t tried before
Finish a puzzle
Make Home Made Jam
Make a gratitude jar and use it
Do a clean out of my Kikki.K folders
Make something out of origami
Exercise everyday before work for a week
See Dave’s school production
Hear a big band live
Finish our Wedding guest book
Sort through my Cooking magazines and take the recipes I like for my folder
Make something I have seen on Pinterest
Lie on the ground and look at the stars
Have high tea somewhere
Crack 5 eggs in a row without having any shell accidents
Try at least one exercise from each of my Women’s Fitness Magazines
Have a spa
Actually stop pushing the snooze button
Go to a Trivia night
Paint my nails and toenails regularly
Take a photo everyday
Clean out my computer properly
Hear live music
Have 5 different groups of people over for a meal
See some fireworks
Pack up after myself more often than I don’t
See a Musical
Try at least 1 recipe from each of my Donna Hay subscription magazines
Actually go into the Zoo
Cook a three course meal
Go through my house/lifestyle magazines and cut out or throw out
Follow through with Dave’s Christmas present
Visit a country town I haven’t been to before
Give Dave back his bedside table
Actually stop picking
Stick to a devotional/reading plan the whole way through without missing a day
Be more deliberate with my fruit and veg intake
Participate in another table tennis tournament
Tidy up my iTunes library
Ride my push bike more than once
Go away for a full weekend
Get a library card
Have fish and chips on the beach
Hear Keith Urban live… again
Do my chores before Dave does more often than not
Go to two different Christmas carols
Take Dex to the park
Have a picnic
Eat breakfast outside at least 5 times
Get the new Star Trek movie on bluray
Have a milkshake
Floss once a week
Cook something on the BBQ, by myself
Eat red meat at least twice a week
Use a sewing machine
Fly a kite
Walk along the Inverloch beach to Eagle’s Nest and back
Pop a cork
Play a gumleaf
Go to 7 open house inspections
Mow some lawn
Do some colouring
Write to our sponsor children
Try something other than a McChicken or nuggets from McDonalds
Go to a live sports event
Drive a bus

31Dec2012

2012 – Through the eyes of my iPhone

Posted in Christmas, Family, Food, Friendship, God, Life, Photo A Day, Project 365, The List by Em

Once again I find myself reminiscing on the year gone by, still finding it hard to believe that another year is over… This year, just like all those gone by has been busy, filled with all things that tell me I am alive, highs, lows, fun, laughter, tears and sadness. I find this time of year really both happy and sad, I love looking back on what I have achieved, as well as planning some adventures for next year. Yet I also feel sad about the things I couldn’t or didn’t do, or perhaps the time that I wasted on things that I shouldn’t have, but I know that really this is what makes up a year, it’s all just part of it.

Anyway, I really enjoyed using my project365 photos to help me capture all that happened in 2012… both the good and bad… so here is 2012 through the eyes of my iPhone, with a highlight for each month some big, some small but all highlights… oh and maybe some special mentions…

JANUARY…

Highlight: January was a list frenzy, everything from cleaning, baking, getting fit and eating… and all of it was heaps of fun, especially because it most of them were crossed off with friends and family. Time well spent.

FEBRUARY…

Highlight: Weekend’s away at the beach.

MARCH…

Highlight: Taylor Swift with some very excited young girls… oh and great food…. Steak Sandwiches… yum yum.

APRIL…

Highlight: My Birthday and everything that went with it… including my kindle… man I love that thing. Special Mention goes to the Inverloch house which we said goodbye to in April, I have lots of fond memories and while it may not have been a highlight of this month, that house certainly has played a big part in summer and holiday highlights of years gone by.

MAY…

Highlight: Our trip to New Zealand, and being able to celebrate Brian and Jean’s 60th Wedding anniversary… oh and our first one. Oh and a special mention to my first classroom teaching placement.

JUNE…

Highlight: A few bonus trips to Bendigo and all the fun that that brings… it’s a fun place to be especially when you have friends like mine.

JULY…

Highlight: Getting my Donna Hay on, not once, but thrice. July also has a few important birthday’s in it which always deserve a special mention.

AUGUST…

Highlight: Dave’s Secondary Performance Dinner (SPD) with Jake.

SEPTEMBER…

Highlight: Getting stuck into my exercise and loving it… no sarcasm, actually loving it. Oh and finishing placement is worth a special mention.

OCTOBER…

Highlight: Completing my 10km run at the Melbourne Marathon Series.

NOVEMBER…

Highlight: Dust and Jess got married… doesn’t get much more exciting than that… although the colour run does get a special mention.

DECEMBER…

Highlight: Christmas… the food, the gifts, the carols and the fun… always a winner especially the town hall lights… that was very cool.

So there you go… my year… it seems simple when you put it all together like that, but it wasn’t, it was good though and I am hoping that 2013 is just as good… maybe even better.

31Dec2012

The 2012 List Wrap Up

Posted in Life, The List by Em

Here we are at the end of the year… every year I am pretty sure it gets quicker, but 2012 is almost done and dusted… So it’s time to have a look at the list… to see what is done and what is not… and maybe even offer up some kind of reason for those that remain… so here it is the 2012 list wrap up…

Lose 10kgs
Well I have lost weight, but not quite this much… but at least it’s going in the right direction
~~Make my own ice cream~~ – completed: 9/1/12
~~Read 6 books~~ – completed: 25/4/12
~~Exercise at least once a week~~ – completed: 31/12/12
Well it depends which way you look at it, it averaged at least once a week, but there were a few weeks which had none. Either way it was more exercise than I have done in a long time.
Do my devotions at least 3 times per week
Once again I have failed on this… I thought I was getting better but turns out no… it might have to go back on the list for next year
~~Take at least one photo everyday – project 365~~ – completed: 31/12/12
Check it out here ‘2012 – Through the eyes of my iPhone’
~~Finish scrap booking old stuff~~ – completed: 4/11/12
~~Make photo book with wedding pictures~~ – completed: 20/6/12
Stop pushing the snooze button
Another bad habit I couldn’t shake… maybe in 2013
~~Leave my phone out side my bedroom at night~~ – completed:31/12/12
Well it may not have been out of the bedroom… but it hasn’t been on my side of the bed
Plan my week each week
Nup, no excuses just didn’t do it
~~Eat with Dave at least once a week~~ – completed: 31/12/12
~~Make breakfast muffins~~ – completed: 16/1/12
~~Stop eating chocolate at breakfast~~ – completed: 31/12/12
~~Blog once a week~~ – completed: 31/12/12
~~Bake meringues~~ – completed: 3/2/12
~~Drink a bottle of water everyday~~ – completed: 31/12/12
If it wasn’t everyday, it was pretty close to
~~Keep my car free of rubbish~~ – completed:31/12/12
Better than any other year anyway…
~~See some fireworks~~ – completed: 12/3/12
~~Get a Massage~~ – completed: 25/12/12
Have 2 ‘Diet coke free’ days per week
Nup… I have certainly had less, but probably not two whole free days a week if I am honest.
~~Watch a sunset with Dave~~ – completed: 4/2/12
~~Buy a new dress~~ – completed: 1/11/12
~~Finish watching Mcleod’s Daughters~~ – completed: 14/4/12
~~Fix up my super stuff~~ – completed: 24/1/12
~~Ride a push bike at least once~~ – completed: 15/7/12
~~Go on a picnic~~ – completed: 4/11/12
~~Go and hear live music~~ – completed: 12/3/12
~~Dance with Dave~~ – completed: 10/12/12
~~Go camping~~ – completed: 7-9/5/12
~~Go to the museum~~ – completed: 11/2/12
~~Stay at the Langham~~ – completed: 19/5/12
~~Get our wedding pictures framed~~ – completed: 21/7/12
~~Have a bath~~ – completed: 15/4/12
~~Make a mocktail~~ – completed: 27/1/12
~~Do a fun run/walk~~ – completed: 26/8/12 (Walk), 14/10/12 (Run)
~~Go on a road trip~~ – completed: 29/6/12
~~Stop biting my nails~~ – completed:31/12/12
Well most of the time… except when I am really stressed… either way I now have nails… and most of the time the stay on, untouched by my teeth.
~~See a musical~~ – completed: 29/2/12
~~Have a rainbow paddle pop~~ – completed: 27/1/12
~~Try 1 recipe from each of my Donna Hay subscription Mags~~ – completed: 25/12/12
~~Finish unpacking my stuff in the study~~ – completed: 3/3/12
Make up our wedding guest note book
Almost… all the pictures are stuck in, but it doesn’t have a cover and it isn’t bound… yet
~~Go without TV for a week~~ – completed: 28/10/12
Go to a Trivia Night
~~Respond to text Messages asap~~ – completed: 31/12/12
It’s getting much quicker, certainly better than a year ago
Tidy my study and keep it clean all year
Well it has been tidy for periods of time, but not the whole year
~~Paint my toenails at least once a month~~ – completed:31/12/12
Again… if we go by averages… it’s done
Eat red meat at least twice a week
~~Deal with my mail asap~~ – completed: 31/12/12
I’m even learning to through things I don’t want out straight away.
Eat 1 piece of fruit everyday
Be true to my date days
Well, we didn’t really have any… so I guess not
~~Cook dinner for Dave at least once a week~~ – completed: 31/12/12
I’m not so sure about this one, but Dave thinks so, so who am I to argue
~~Use every appliance in my kitchen at least once~~ – completed: 9/12/12
~~Clean the gunk off the baby havaiana in my car~~ – completed: 27/1/12
~~Eat at 10 different breakfast places~~ – completed: 12/3/12
~~Bust a move in a random location~~ – completed: 27/1/12
~~Visit a country town I haven’t been to before~~ – completed: 7-9/5/12
~~Go to a wedding~~ – completed: 22/9/12
~~See the fire balls at crown~~ – completed: 18/5/12
~~Do my chores~~ – completed: 31/12/12
When Dave didn’t get there first I did 🙂
~~Learn a new joke~~ – completed: 26/5/12
~~Visit Castlemaine~~ – completed: 26/1/12
~~Visit Bendigo~~ – completed: 24/6/12
~~Do my own washing once~~ – completed: 2/4/12
~~Spend an afternoon playing with Dex~~ – completed: 7/12/12
~~Play my flute~~ – completed: 20/11/12
~~Wash my own car~~ – completed: 7/2/12
Stop picking
I wish I had crossed this off the list… I really do
~~Send 5 cards by post just because~~ – completed: 2/7/12
~~Play with play-dough~~ – completed: 27/1/12
~~Have a hot jam doughnut~~ – completed: 10/3/12
~~Got to a football game~~ – completed: 10/3/12
Floss once a week
I also wish I had crossed this off, I have certainly done it more frequently, but perhaps not every week… and certainly a far cry from every night like I am supposed to.
~~Try listerine mouth wash~~ – completed: 20/11/12
~~Go a term without macca’s~~ – completed: 30/3/12
~~Sing in the shower~~ – completed: 7/2/12
~~Swing on some swings~~ – completed: 20/11/12
~~Go to the beach at least three times~~ – completed: 4/2/12
~~Go up to a look out and look over the city~~ – completed: 7/7/12
~~Have a pot of tea~~ – completed: 1/1/12
~~Moisturize regularly~~ – completed: 31/12/12
~~Bake something for work~~ – completed: 27/2/12
~~Do 3 exercise classes~~ – completed: 6/3/12
~~Have one BBQ Wednesday~~ – completed: 19/12/12
~~Get an exercise piggy bank~~ – completed: 23/1/12
Go on a boat
~~Go to the zoo~~ – completed: 22/12/12
~~Go to a concert of Dave’s~~ – completed: 3/8/12
~~Buy that whistle song off iTunes~~ – completed: 6/11/12
Master the cracking of eggs
Fly a kite
~~Make a gingerbread house~~ – completed: 15/12/12
~~Pump up my own tires~~ – completed: 13/10/12
~~Check my car’s oil~~ – completed: 12/6/12
~~Swim laps at the pool~~ – completed: 27/8/12
~~Do a water aerobics class~~ – completed: 25/6/12
~~Play with sparklers~~ – completed: 18/7/12
~~Try an espresso~~ – completed: 14/1/12
~~Have a dinner party~~ – completed: 25/12/12

So there you go the list for 2012… 84 out of 100 is pretty good… even if I say so myself.

Bring on the the 2013 list.

29Dec2012

Not How I Imagined…

Posted in Family, Food, Life, The List by Em

Ok so before I get stuck into this post let’s be clear on one thing… my list, my rules… got it? Good… Now with this in mind I do need some help… I can’t decide whether or not this is cheating… There have been a few things on the list that haven’t happened they way I imagined they would in my mind… What I mean by that is when I put them on the list I imagined them to play out a certain way… But they haven’t… I have still ‘completed’ them and so they come off the list, but just not the way I had originally intended… Maybe I am making a mistake, I don’t know… What do you think?

20. Get a massage…
What I imagined: I nice relaxing half hour… maybe even an hour… relaxing while listening to meditation music and experiencing a sense of ahhh…
What actually happened: A quick 2 min massage in the kitchen from my brother, while I kept preparing Christmas dinner

29. Dance with Dave…
What I imagined: Well I had two weddings on the cards this year and at most weddings there is an opportunity to slow dance… So I went ahead and imagined myself slow dancing with Dave in the lovely atmosphere of a wedding…
What actually happened:
Well neither wedding was dancing kind of wedding… So we did not dance… Instead we danced in the kitchen… Dave under sufferance while I attempted to have a beautiful moment… technically we danced… but not for long and perhaps only coz I said we had to…

And… 88. Go to the Zoo…
What I imagined: Dave and I would actually go into the zoo, spend a morning, an arvo or a whole day wondering, looking at the animals, generally enjoying each other’s company… I would whinge about the smell, and refuse to go in the butterfly room, but it would be fun.
What actually happened:
Dave and I took a small detour on our way home from Bendigo and I went to the zoo… that is I stood outside and Dave took my picture… we were there, went out of the way to go there… but didn’t actually go inside…

So there your go three more off the list… but perhaps not exactly the way I thought it would.

28Dec2012

The Girl Can Cook

Posted in Family, Food, Life, The List by Em

December has escaped me… well and truly. It has disappeared in a whirlwind of work and festive goodness. But it has been good, and fun and worth it, even now as I sit here and type with heavy eyes, a full stomach and with one Christmas dinner to go. I have also learnt some things this December and impressed myself a little in the process.

This December has been a month of cooking so I thought I would take a moment to brag a little because I really am quite proud of myself. I think one of the reasons I am so proud is while I am not a bad cook, I am not a confident cook. Cooking and baking take me a long time, I am meticulous with recipes and even then things don’t always turn out all that well… in fact you can read about some of my past kitchen adventures here… anyway, this year as part of my list I added a couple of cooking challenges and throughout the year I have been able to cross a few off the list…

2. Make my own Ice Cream

13. Make Breakfast Muffins

16. Make meringues

35. Make a mocktail

83. Bake something for work

But at the beginning of December there were still a few left… some of them on purpose, but not all… And while all the cooking things on the list were things I had wanted to do for a while, or things I felt might stretch me and my skills… and hopefully increase my confidence in the kitchen, in December I got my chance to shine… This month I have been able to knock another 4 cooking things off the list…

41. Try 1 recipe from each of my Donna Hay Subscription Magazines
This one has taken all year, mostly because it was a yearlong subscription… but it has been fun. I still lean towards baking biscuits and sweets rather than dishes and meals, but I have tried to vary it up a little and this was the result:

54. Use every appliance in my kitchen at least once
I don’t have pictures of every appliance so you will just have to trust me that I did… and it was fun…

93. Make a gingerbread house
This is probably the one I am most proud of, if I am honest. Previously even just the gingerbread alone has been a disaster… missing ingredients and not tasting all that good. But not only was the gingerbread delicious, but the house went together and stayed together… and looked pretty good too, even if I say so myself…

100. Have a dinner Party
I am also very happy about this one… this year I hosted Christmas dinner at my house, with my Dad, my brothers and my sister-in-law, and it went well… nothing was a disaster, all had a good time, and it all came together perfectly… dinner party complete.

So after it has all been crossed of the list, how do I feel about my cooking skills? Well… pretty good. I can cook… I can cook good food and amazing dessert. Of course, I am not chef quality and it still takes me a while, but I feel like I have proved to myself that if I just give it a go I can do it, even the more challenging ones… the skills are definitely there and it can only get better from here.

The Most Curious George

Category Archives: Life