Back on the bike i go....maybe not today

I really hate it when I fall out of rhythm, I was doing so well with my get fit campaign...11 kg lost to date....but I have hit a major pot hole...I can’t get motivated...aghhh HELP ME!!! I don’t want to put the weight back on, so why oh why can’t I find the motivation (after 2 months of saying I’ll start again tomorrow). I have set my next mini goal which is 5kg...but I just bring myself to start exercising again.


This is such a whoooaaaaaa is me post......Come on Lou.... it’s time for that bikini.

Ideas

My head hurts! There is nothing worse than coming home from work and thinking about what to cook for dinner, especially when hubby's first words coming through the door are 'what’s for dinner tonight?'. Just hearing that makes me want to say...get your own, and yes I do say that sometimes. So I have decided to try some different recipes.

My first one tonight was a disaster. I used a recipe off a well known magazine website, and BLAH was it revolting. I hated the flavours of lemon, white wine and chicken stock; it had such a strong tarty flavour.

Anyway I am venturing out and trying another recipe I found off the net, it's this one here. I think it should be ok, so I will report back when I have made it, probably on Thursday.

If anyone out there has some nice recipes they would like to share...please do!!! I need major inspiration!!

Guess the names of these Kangas

Well I’m back from Port Stephens; a little sunburnt, a little tired and a little full. We discovered a little winery and brewery on our way to our apartment so we decided to stop. I wasn't really fussed on the wines, but hubby loved the beers. There was this beer made by the brewery called 'Make love Not War' I just loved the name of the beer and loved the bottle even more, it's the first time I have seen a beer bottle with a cork.


Have a close look at the label, isn’t it fantastic, so different....but I bet you can't guess the name of the two Kangaroos! I'll give you some time to guess!

ANSWER: ROO and TING

Weekend Bliss

Well my holidays are drawing to a close (insert sigh here), I have officially done nothing but sleep in and stay up late; I think I have lost all motivation, which is unlike me. But in saying that it has been nice to just do nothing, contradiction much?


Tomorrow morning were off to the beautiful Port Stephens, though it looks like the weather isn’t on our side :( This is the third time we have gone and each time it has been windy and rainy, so fingers crossed the weather perks up! Were going with hubby's parents and his Aunty and Uncle from America.

Hubby and I will do a quick pit stop to the Hunter Valley on the way there; I am dying for some goat’s cheese and marinated olives...not to mention a glass of sav!!

So I better go and pack....hopefully I will have some nice photos to share!

Have a great weekend!

Halloween

I know I don't have children, but I really do dislike the idea of Halloween here in Australia. I think it's just another excuse to jump on the commercial bandwagon. Anyway last year hubby and I were so embarrassed as we were inundated with children door knocking in their scary outfits for treats, the only type of 'junk food' we had were celebrity slim muesli bars or extra chewing gum...whoops.

So this year I have decided to make some little witch cupcakes to hand out. After searching the net I landed on Martha Stewart's website and found these little beauties. http://www.marthastewart.com/article/witch-cupcakes

Whirlwind

Oh my!! What a whirlwind my life has been over the last few months...I honestly can say that it has had more twists and turns then that of Brooke and Ridge on the Bold and the Beautiful! But i'm back, and everything is ok!

So much to say and so much to show! So far I have lost 10kg, and i'm feeling lighter and happier then I have ever been inside and out. I still have a bit to go...and the next stage of operation get fit... 5kg mini goal starts tomorrow.

Hubby and I are going to a mini break next weekend to Shoal Bay...we staying at a beautiful little resort style place...and we have our own swim out.

Anyway...it's late...will report more tomorrow!!!

OH...P.S Thanks to those who emailed me to see how I was...such beautiful friends xxxx

I heart cupcakes

I am obsessed...I love them, anytime, anywhere as long as they are decadent. So I decided to make my nan some for her 80th birthday. I made a whole lot of other yummy sweets that went down a treat. But these little beauties were my favourite of the day, they took a while to decorate, but i am getting better over time. excuse the photo, normally I am a clean freak when it comes to serving food on a plate, but it looks like i didn't wipe the plate clean from the sprinkles and cupcake crumbs.

A Sad Loss

We heard yesterday that my husbands grandfather passes away. It's a very sad time for all the family, especially as some are estranged. It has been an emotional and trying time for hubby and myself fielding calls from all the family.

Anyway we are off to Canberra tomorrow for the funeral on Friday, and we have the viewing tomorrow night.

I'm packing lots of warm clothes as it's so cold down there.

RIP Pop

Weight Loss Update 3

Yippee.....Week 3 and the weight is coming off...slowly but I'm getting there. It's been a great journey, my eating habits have really changed. I'm still having my treats, but I am eating more frequently.....

So the big number down is 3.4kg!!!! Only 16.6kg to go.

I have been Tagged!!!

I have been tagged by the beautiful Kir from Life as Kir http://kirrily.blogspot.com blog. If your not following Kir's blog...I order you to go there now! Kir has an amazing life, has travelled near and far. I love reading her posts! Oh and she is so chic...Kir has amazing taste in fashion!

I have to answer the designated questions and then tag some of you. I hope you enjoy reading my answers and I look forward to reading yours!

Here are the rules:

Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention & add one more question of your own.Tag eight other people

What is your current obsession?
Renovating our house. We have been living here for 2 years this July. We have done so much to our little cottage so far, but I can't wait to get my hands dirty in the holidays.

What are you wearing today?
Black bootleg pants from Country Road, Marco Polo jacket, black v neck stretch 3/4 sleeve top and black witchery boots. Does my Mimco bag count?

What’s for dinner?
I made Italian tonight. We has fettuccine marinara, olive tepenade pizza crust and mussels baked in a tomato and white wine sauce. yum!

What’s the last thing you bought?
A single bed for our spare room. I bought it today from the Sleep City factory outlet center up the coast. Bargain at $180!!

What are you listening to right now?
Nickleback, and I must admit I dusted off Michael Jacksons CD.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Hmm...this is a hard one, so I'm going to say America in general...wherever there is shops and sales I will go.

What is your favourite colour?
Silver

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
I'm going to say my wedding dress, I just love it and it's the most expensive piece of clothing I own.

Describe your personal style?
It's mixed depending on the mood I'm it. Most of the time it's smart casual, then professional for work, and weekend gear on the weekend.

If you had $300 now, what would you spend it on?
I would go and try out laser hair removal..weird I know, just I really want to try it.

What are you going to do after this?
Check my email..I love getting emails and messages, they make me feel special as someone has thought about me!

What are your favourite films?
When Harry Met Sally
Pretty Woman
Gothika
Love Actually
Dirty Dancing

Your favourite smell?
At the moment I'm loving vanilla.

Do you collect anything?
Yeap...hubby would say lots of junk! I collect shoe boxes.

What makes you follow a blog?
It depends...I love reading about peoples personal journeys, reading recipes and looking at photos for inspiration.

Who would you love to have dinner with?
Patrick Rafter...yummmmm

What’s one thing you dream of doing?
Splashing our on a shiny new BMW

What is your biggest regret?
Not trying hard enough.

What is your favourite thing to do on a rainy day?
Jumping in bed and snuggling up to hubby watching a movie.

Do you have a tattoo?
No but I'm dying to...For my 40th!

Are you left handed, right handed, ambidextrous, or a little of both?
I am right handed.

What are you looking forward to in the next 12 months?
Travelling through the Middle East again next year.

What aren't you looking forward to in the next 12 months?
Working!

I'm Tagging the following!!!!
http://domesticchristine.blogspot.com
http://thejourneyofmsgems.blogspot.com/
http://www.thatrandomleila.com/

Weekend is so close

Yay! I love weekend time. Saturday I work nannying from 8-5pm and then the rest of the weekend is free time! Hubby and I decided that we will be going up to the family farm on Saturday night for a bit of relaxing time. So I have decided that I want to hit the op shops and antique shop...oh and the farm auctions as well.

You see I'm collecting little of bits and pieces for my guest room make over. I think I have been inspired by all those home reno tv shows I watch. I have two weeks to make over the room, and I have a few ideas but I'm still searching. I have a budget too!! $500 for everything! I will share my disaster when I get started. So far I have picked up some great bargains which I'll post pics of tonight. A bucket cane chair and a metal decorative thing for the wall. I'm searching for a nice wall decal...so I'm searching etsy.

Tonight were off to some swankish new restaurant that has opened in the city, I think I spend more time eating then sleeping. I'm looking forward to it, i have been so good with my regular eating this week....and I'm down 2.3kg in 2 weeks so far.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! May it shine and stay that way. I know I have been tagged in a few blogs so I will be posting those sometime this week.

xxxxxx

Life's Journey

Sometimes I'm amazed at where I am today. A loving husband, wonderful friends and family, the sweetest dog and a beautiful house...all this before hitting the BIG 30 (still a few years off). I was that student sitting next to the window at school, looking out and dreaming of the big wide world ahead, having dreams and planning my future away, always looking towards the future rather then the now.

So today I find myself in the now...the now what stage. Should I change careers even though I spent 4 years at uni studying, do I really want to leave a secure job, close to home to study something new...but what? What will I study...what will I do...do I want to start at the bottom again and work my way up, do I want to bring TTC forward so I can have that year off to think about my career...so many questions, so many thoughts.

Something is missing in my life, that spark I had in my early twenties, that spark that gave me the energy and confidence to take on the world, that spark that was in my step, that twinkle in my eye. Do I risk my teaching career to take on the unknown.

Hmmm...to stay in the now....or move towards the future?

Eton Mess...My version of a smashed pav!!

I am deliciously in love with Eton mess, I just love this dessert it's so quick and easy to make and it looks fab when you serve it up in mini cocktail glasses or a big glass bowl.

So I thought I would share my version of the Eton Mess...you can add anything you like it's so versatile. A quick and easy recipe, great for got summer days or BBQ's and those cold winter days in front of a warm fireplace!

My Mess

INGREDIENTS

200g strawberries, sliced
2T caster sugar
1T brandy
1/2 meringue
5T caramel sauce
1 tin passion fruit
2C thickened cream
2 drops vanilla essence

METHOD

1. Whisk thickened cream to form peaks.
2. Combine strawberries, sugar, caramel sauce, passion fruit, vanilla essence, brandy in a bowl. Stir through.
3. Roughly smash pavlova and add to mixture, loosely mix together. Note this doesn't have to be well combined.
4. In small bowls spoon in a little cream, layer with meringue mixture, top with cream.
5. Serve the mess...YUM

Weigh in...Week 1

Well I am 1.7kg down, not bad for the first week eh? Do I feel lighter? NO Do I feel healthier? Yes, I am on my way!

Goal for Week 2: Increase water intake and exercise more!

It's that time again.......

MONDAY

Monday must be the most horrible of days.

The reasons it's horrible are too horrible to say.

But with that said, I'll try to explain

Why Monday must bring us oh so much pain.
You see on Monday, you work with a frown.

The full work week ahead has gotten you down.

The weekend has come, and the weekend has passed,

And like all weekends it just didn’t last.
But Monday sure lasts, it lasts so long.

You keep checking your watch to see what’s wrong.

But against your wishes your watch is just fine.

Against your wishes you can’t speed up time.
So you sit and you wait and you pretend to work.

You dream of a boss that isn’t a jerk.

But then you wake up and you almost cry.

You wish and you wish that the day would just die.
But wait, please listen, don’t worry my friend.

For one thing is certain, all Mondays must end.

Now that it’s been said,

I’ll say it again.

More Mondays will come and more Mondays will end.

http://www.officehumorblog.com/index.php/2006/02/06/poem-monday/

Why?

Why do I always feel let down by people. Hubby tells me it's because I always want t be there for people, help them, talk to them, be their friends. I do not care if they are smart, attractive, big or small, eloquent, rough and tough....I just try!!! So why am I invisible? Why do I feel used! Why do I get the call after months of not hearing from a person that they want to catch up, only to find that they need something, or they want to talk. Take Take Take...NO MORE!

It's not just 'in real life' it's online too. I comment about peoples photos, status, I answer their emails, messages...but to no avail....taken again.

So now I'm no more Mrs take....but Mrs Over It! I am not going to put my head on the line, not going to call people just to catch up, not going to comment on things because I care...WHY...because I need something given to me as well. I'm not a robot, I'm not strong (although I would like to be), I am HUMAN!!

Kitchen Hunger

I'm desperate to renovate my little kitchen...at a budget price of course. We had a real estate agent give us a valuation recently and we were pleasantly surprised with the valuation. When we were showing him around the house I made a point at saying ...ahh the kitchen needs a revamp...but to my disgrace the bugger told us the kitchen is fine...shock, horror...he sabotaged me!!!

But in true fashion I won't back down, even if hubby is taking the agents side. So I need to find something that is max $3000...that doesn't include the appliances.

Anyway here is a pic of the kitchen (previous owners accessories)

See it's drab, lifeless, dark, lacks freshness!! See See??? Well I can anyway...?

ANY IDEAS???

Weight Loss Journey...Update 1!

Never again will I look like the above left! (Taken 6/8/09)

Yes it's time for update 1! Well I have started my get fit for babies campaign, ultimately I would like to lose 10kg before we think about starting...just something my psychic helped me think about (crazy I know...but she knows, trust me!). I am so afraid of gaining more weight though the pregnancy journey and not being able to lose it all. So it starts from now.

I am still feeling bloated, but also feeling good about myself for starting, that's always the hardest part! I have a 'healthy me' journal where I jot down what I have eaten, how I'm feeling, my highs of the day and my lows. It's a place where I can be totally honest with myself and not be judged. Now please note, this is not a 'diet' if I called it that I wouldn't stick to it!!

And I have goals! When I lose 5kg I get to purchase one thing of etsy, when I lose 10kg I get to buy a new wardrobe (no limit), now if that's not enough motivation for me what else would be?

I can't wait till Friday, measurement day!!! Goodbye old unhealthy Lou...Fingers Crossed for a healthy, happy week!!

Love your body girls!! Lou xxxx

Osso Bucco

Don't you love it when you find the perfect recipe? Well after years of searching, and minor adjustments I found this recipe for Osso Bucco. I made this with a nice fluffy bowl of mash...just delightful! The trick is to finely dice the vegies and use a salt reduced stock.

INGREDIENTS

6 pieces osso bucco

1 small brown onion, diced

2 medium carrots, diced

2 celery sticks, diced

1 T plain flour

1/2 C white wine

1/2 C tomato paste

2 C salt reduced beef stock

3 bay leaves

Salt/Pepper

Topping:

1 clove garlic

3T finely grated lemon rind

1/2 C finely chopped parsley

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Season and brown the osso bucco. remove and place in a baking dish.

2. Reduce heat in frying pan, add a little oil and cook onion, celery and carrots for 3-4 minutes. Add flour and stir to coat. Gradually poor in wine, stock and puree. Stir until liquid starts to boil.

3. Poor vegetable mix over meat in casserole dish. Add bay leaf. Cover

4. Cover and place in oven. Cook for 2 hours. Check every 30 minutes and add some water if needed.

To Serve: Place on a bed of mash and top with parsley, garlic and lemon mixture. Delish!!

How much is too much?

Dearest Hubby,

I understand men need to compete, be winners, are always right (not)...but seriously can you take on a challenge a tad more sensible??

That's right, hubby dearest took on the SSS shank challenge...and failed! For those who don't know the SSS barn is a steakhouse, similar to the Outback Steakhouse, which seem to be in country areas. They have a challenge, a huge challenge. Eat an entree, 2.5kg shank and dessert and you get your name up on the honour board...big whoop I say. So hubby decided to take the challenge, this shank could have fed 4 people...it was a MONSTER shank! What a waste!!

Have you seen the pic? WHOA!!