House On A Hill.

Uncle Joe's Mess Hall.

2013-04-14T04:27:00.004-07:00

This Saturday I returned to Uncle Joe's Mess Hall because I felt it was an undying need that must be fulfilled. Once again, the service had a strange feel to it. On this particular day, that was fine by me. For the first time since I can remember - I had a bit of a sore head (drank too much grape juice) and needed some kilojoules/oomph ASAP.

I ordered poached eggs on sourdough, a skinny cap (extra shot, no sugar) and a fresh juice. The girl assured me the OJ would be fresh and is delivered daily. I was pleased by all of the above items and enjoyed my experience there. When I paid the bill, the girl engaged in chit-chat, which was lovely and sealed the deal for me. There really is nothing better than the seclusion of a inner city laneway during the hussle and bussle of a Saturday morning. And yes, if you are wondering... I ordered a muffin to take away because that is what I do on Saturdays!

What Makes You Feel Alive?

2013-04-14T04:18:00.001-07:00

For me, I feel alive when I ride my motorbike (see cheesy grin below). I would say that's probably the case because there is so much adrenalin pumping through my body and I am so busying processing thoughts like "ooh", "ah crap", "that was close", "UH OH". However... there comes a point (every time) where I am flat on my back with the bike on top of me. But - I am okay with that. Mr. BB is usually there and tracks back to find me.

You can see some shots of our most recent trip below. I had been away living the city life for a while so it was great to head home to Dayboro and enjoy what is important to me - quality time in the middle of nowhere with Mr. BB.

It was a great afternoon topped off by a swim in the creek. The water was so icy cold but it didn't matter one bit. I am sure there are things in your life that make you feel alive. If you want to share, feel free to leave a comment!

Love BB,

Gordon St Garage, Perth WA.

2013-04-11T03:03:00.000-07:00

If, at any time, on any day, you are in Perth and are hungry/thirsty/require inspiration/happiness boost - go here: Gordon St. Garage - it is worth the extra lap around the block if you happen to miss it (you probably will).

The first time I went to Gordon St Garage, it was late afternoon on a Sunday. I was with a good friend and ordered a ginger beer and the cheese platter to share. We asked if it was possible to make the breads in the platter gluten free, basically the response was "easy done". The atmosphere was something unimaginable, table arrangements were very cosy and the food that was coming out looked unbelievable. We ended up staying for a few hours.

Then the second time I went, the 'tide had changed'. It was mid morning on a Sunday and boy oh boy, the place was buzzing. There was a queue for tables so Mr. BB and I naturally opted for take away being tight for time. As it was the weekend, I was more than ready to redeem my muffin allowance. One skinny cap, one fresh juice with carrot/orange/lemon/pineapple/ginger and a berry and white choc muffin. Deluxe!

I wonder what my third visit has in store for me...

V.I.V - Very Important Visitor.

2013-04-09T16:42:00.001-07:00

Firstly, a big sorry to you all. I have not been around here as much but I hope to change that from today. I have since kicked off a Facebook page dedicated to House On A Hill, so please click through here.

I have been in Perth since February so I have so much to post about. However I would just like to share last weekend, when Mr. BB came to visit me!

On Saturday, we kicked off with breakfast. Naturally, I wanted to take him to Uncle Joe's Mess Hall but they didn't serve breakfast from a menu. Such a shame as I was so desperate to try Uncle Joe's. If you know Mr. BB you will understand that a fresh croissant will not suffice, he needs the BIG brekky. So we stopped at Tiger, Tiger Cafe.

We then jumped on a bus tour and headed for the Swan Valley wine district. We stopped at 3 wineries, a brewery and a chocolate factory. It was a great day and left us very tuckered out by sundown. Never fear, we still made it to the Casino.

On Sunday, I took Jack to Gordon St Garage. It was so busy, I couldn't believe it, but totally understand why. It is a great place. Anyway, I would not let my ritual down so I ordered take away coffee, juice and a fresh muffin.

We then went to visit my family (including new second cousin!) for lunch. We had grand plans for dinner but by the time we got back to my apartment we couldn't see how it would be physically possible to fit anything else in.

We called it a day. I dropped Mr. BB at the airport and my weekend blurred into the working week.

Love BB, X.

Weekend.

2013-02-17T03:19:00.000-08:00

At House on a Hill, we have many creepy crawlies. More often than not, they are huntsman spiders. On this particular occasion, we were graced with this huge huntsman spider (spider-phobics hold onto your seats!). It was bigger than my outspread hand for sure. To soften the blow, you'll see some cute little flowers I picked from a big bushy weed outside the front gate.

On Saturday we headed to Ballina in northern NSW for a little getaway. Ballina is such a sleepy, quiet and not-much-to-do kind of town. Suits me just great I say - I've been flat out lately. The view was of the river which I thought was nice. A little different to the typical.

Much to J's dismay, I insisted we go for a walk to have a look around at what was going on around Ballina. This is Ballina Manor, a heritage listed property which plays host to a boutique hotel. I thought it was just gorgeous - it seems it has been restored very well.

On Sunday after devouring a nice hearty breakfast at one of the local cafes, we set out for the Gold Coast via Lennox Head and Byron Bay. Fell in love with Lennox Head along the way.

Finished off the weekend by watching Flight. I think it is a good movie and worth a watch. It just so happens that I will be flying tomorrow. Perhaps a good idea you don't follow suit - watch it on another day.

Friday Flowers 1/2/13.

2013-02-02T00:38:00.000-08:00

Snacks.

2013-02-02T00:35:00.001-08:00

Paleo Carrot Cake

1 1/2 cups almond meal

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp nutmeg

3 free range eggs

1/4 cup raw honey

1/8 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup seeds/nuts

1/2 cup dried fruit

1 1/2 cups grated carrot

1. In first bowl, combine dry ingredients

2. In second bowl, combine wet ingredients

3. Add carrot, seeds/nuts and dried fruit to the wet mixture

4. Stir wet mixture into dry mixture and scoop into loaf pan

5. Bake at cake cooking temperature until golden brown and knife springs back

Mountain Bread "Chips"

1. Cut desired amount of Mountain Bread into squares

2. In a bowl, drizzle a small amount of olive oil (or oil of your choice) around and add salt and pepper

3. Coat Mountain Bread squares in oil mixture and place on baking paper

4. Grill/bake until golden brown - beware! - watch this step closely

BB
X

Bonds Wideband Bra Tanks.

2013-01-26T18:32:00.001-08:00

My Mum gave me one of these Bonds Wideband Bra Tanks when she visited in December. I hadn't tried it on until today - I was looking for something light and comfy to wear in this torrential Brisbane weather going on at the moment. Fell in love immediately. Soooo good!

Jumped on google straight away to see what they retail for. There is an offer through the Bonds website at the moment: 2 for $40. I remember seeing them at Trade Secret a few months ago, picking them up, 'uhhhhming and ahhhing' and putting them back on the rack. Kicking myself now.

BB
X

DIY Cleaning Products.

2013-01-26T16:57:00.002-08:00

For Drains

There was a slight smell to the drains in my bathroom floor. To be perfectly frank, I have never thought to clean the drains before so I took the opportunity to do all of them. To start, I poured boiling water down each drain. Then, I sprinkled a few spoonfuls of Baking Soda (Bi-Carb Soda), followed by about 1 cup of white vinegar. The mixture bubbled up over the drain cover and I left it to sit for 5-10 minutes. Following that, I poured some more boiling water down the drain to make sure everything washed away. And what do you know... no smell!

With this success, I phoned J and told him of the news. He then proclaimed it was because of my hair and shampoo...

For Underarm Stains

Recently I have been using Garnier Mineral Anti-Perspirant 'InvisiMax'. Designed for heat, sport and stress - I guess that's me during a "good week", haha! I think it is really great toiletry companies have developed these 'anti-white marks' sprays. Fantastic, in fact. What is not so fantastic, is that my white/light coloured shirts now have grey-ish and brown marks on them in the pits. I've done some research and it seems that aluminium is the culprit, so I am going to switch back to my Rexona Clinical Protection stick and see how I go.

To try and fix the problem, I made a paste using Baking Soda and water. Applied it to the shirts using a toothbrush for about 20 minutes, rinsed in cold water and then put through the washing using a Napi-san like product. Of course I added an extra rinse to the cycle because of my stupid sensitive skin. Unfortunately, there was no such success this time around. All of my shirts still have the same marks on them.

I guess in the mean time the next logical step is to keep my underarms shaved and search for another solution.

BB
X

Friday Flowers 25/1/13.

2013-01-24T16:07:00.002-08:00

Time For Tea.

2013-01-18T22:42:00.002-08:00

I have spent the last three days at my family home in Darwin. There was an immediate cessation of employment - I left my job of two (and a bit) years to take 2 weeks off before I start my new (real) career as an accountant. Since arriving in Darwin, I have done nothing. Bad tense? Either way, I haven't been up to much. Fortunately the weather has been quite pleasant, although today I had to have a midday shower as I was too sticky and had too many fly-aways and thought it was the only logical step for me to take.

What is the point of this post? I am not exactly sure to be honest. I felt like I was about to 'give birth' to a giant bubble of excitement/anxiety/joy and I didn't know what to do. I will try to explore what is buzzing inside me.

I have stumbled across some lovely blogs, one being In Spaces Between - go and visit - you won't regret it. I think this discovery triggered the bubble.
I have been reconsidering my "physical state" and how I have been enjoying life over the past month rather than planning my dietary habits and working out till I have to flop myself down onto the toilet. Don't get me wrong, I will revert to this come Friday 25th Jan.
I have thought about what makes me happy at the moment and what I hope to experience throughout 2013.
Despite waves of excitement surging above pangs of brute fear, I figure sitting in a car for 5 days travelling back to Brisbane with one of my best friends will be good for me.
Learning to deal with a great deal of uncertainty which is now imminent, has become paramount for me: I will start a new job, in the city and will travel via train. I will finally decide whether a small/medium SUV (in black of course) or a motorbike will better suit my travel needs. I will come to a conclusion about how to tackle health and fitness alongside my new job. It is ok that I am not sure what I will do at this very moment. Also, it is fine that I've gone off eggs in the morning and quiche at morning tea. After all, I know I get bored easily.
In order of priority/induced level of comfort, I want to spend time working on our home at House on a Hill and explore things like stainless steel ceiling fans, white walls, chalkboard paint, silver baroque frames and maybe even a split system AC in the lounge/dining/shed area, amongst many other things (please don't be reading this J... bye bye "man chi").
Finally, it is ok that I have a few lumps and bumps on my skin at the moment. I will see a dermal therapist to sort it out.

Now that I feel like I have given birth to said bubble, it is time for Tea. Green tea with lemon, in fact. Before I nip off, here are some snippits of the last few days.

Skinny Cap at Java Spice Cafe in Darwin. If you get the chance, visit! It really is beautiful.

Gave Almond Meal pancakes a go this morning. They are low carb/high protein/wheat free so they are a good breakfast option for me. I will admit I do need to tweak the recipe a little!

On my first night in Darwin, I made an Indian mince curry (from scratch) for my family. And yes I did eat white rice AND pappadums!

Note: I am yet to work out how to rotate the photos (shame on me).

Friday Flowers 4/1/13.

2013-01-04T01:00:00.003-08:00

Found this bunch of bad boys at my local IGA this afternoon on my way home from work ... for the grand price of $2.00. I couldn't care if they died tomorrow - I'd still be happy. I love flowers and I am more than happy to buy them for myself. The ol' flower cliche can 'go jump' as far as I am concerned!

Happy Friday to you all and thank you for following me. X

Havaianas.

2013-01-04T00:12:00.001-08:00

I think I have the most common size feet in the whole world. For years I have found it REALLY difficult to buy plain black Havaianas in the European size 43/44 or Brazilian size 41/42 or US size 9. I would say this is the case because I share this size with a great deal of the male population.

I stumbled across the City Beach website purely to suss out postage costs because, after shopping around Christmas time, I could not step foot into another Westfield shopping centre if my life depended on it.

I did consider getting the silver logo pair but I could not justify the extra $20.00. And then I considered a print. First of all, the print might clash with something I wear. Second of all, in either situation, people's attention may be attracted towards the nether region around my feet. Uh uh.

So of course, I stuck to my 10 year usual, plain black. And hurrah! Postage is free, and express (we will see...), for any purchase over $10.00. PayPal, ahoy.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

2012-12-22T16:11:00.005-08:00

I politely asked Santa for a copy of the new book - The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Low and behold, I received it at our early Christmas dinner with J's family.

We jumped on a plane at 8.30am yesterday. I read it for a few hours, napped, read some more. You know how it goes. I must mention there were a few squealing babies surrounding our seats. Now, squealing babies are fine. I understand, they do that, because really - what else can they do?! But for four hours!!! Needless to say, I was a slightly disgruntled passenger. There was a little girl, perhaps 12 months old (I am not really sure, no maternal instinct 'round here). She would not stop looking at me. Then, when I pulled a Christmas cookie gifted to me by a lovely friend, she pointed. And squealed. And pointed some more. She wanted my cookie. So I just gave her this look that 'said' "you are really cute, but you are sure as hell not having my cookie!" and she turned away and went to sleep. Funny.

We arrived in Darwin around 12.30pm, got home to Mum and Dad's place, I read some more and then I napped again. Woke up to a torrential storm, which apparently flooded the area one of the local bridges, and everyone else was napping. So what do you think I did? Kept reading. I finished the book in one day. I still can't believe it because I have the attention span of a salted peanut.

The book is great. It's funny in parts, sad in parts and easy to read in all the other parts. I definitely recommend reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Especially if it is a balmy Saturday afternoon and you have some quiet time. I am looking forward to seeing the movie!

Note: I never EVER nap. And I never EVER "have time" to read. I'm proud of myself and now have the reading bug!

Pizza Capers.

2012-12-21T22:30:00.002-08:00

Outside of my typically planned and mapped intake of food, there are occasions when I simply cannot be bothered to prepare and cook a nutritious meal at home. Yesterday I didn't arrive home until late in the evening and J was busy mulching and watering the new trees down the paddock. We were also flying out to Darwin the next day (and I had gone a little cuckoo waiting for a water delivery - I cleaned out the fridge). Ha, it almost sounds like I am justifying our Friday night food frenzy. Let me assure you, I am NOT.

We didn't leave home until 8.00pm to grab some dinner. I was hoping that the new Indian restaurant in Samford had opened. Unfortunately (which later turns to good fortune), it wasn't and Pizza Capers was the next best option. I like to have the best of ALL worlds when it comes to take away. I also am a real tight-ass, so if there are coupons on the counter then I, bloody well, will use them. On offer was a 'Gourmet 4 Course Banquet'. Winner!

For $32.95 (add on $4.00 for a 1.25L Pepsi) J and I feasted on:

Appetiser - Sour Cream and Chives dip with Parmesan Dipping Crusts

Entre - Bacon and Mushroom Pasta

Main - Supremo Pizza

Dessert - Pear and White Chocolate Calzone

The service was amazing from the moment we arrived. The dining area was on a brand new deck and the table even had a little vase of flowers on it. The food was magnificent (yes, I said it). And the price??? Ridiculousy cheap. We were soooo full that we had the take the dessert home with us. It has been so hot in Brisbane lately so once we were home I stripped off and over indulged on the couch and slipped into food coma. Unfortunately I only managed to get a photo of the dessert...

Aldi.

2012-12-16T14:21:00.002-08:00

I love going to Aldi. There are the regular grocery items there and then there are the cool items there like lawn mowers, BBQs, pizza stones, 4wd winches (yes, I know, why?) and a heap more. I have been shopping at Aldi for bits and pieces over the last few years. I am still a Woolworths shopper through and through, don't get me wrong.

Shopping at Aldi is a great way for me to save money on the things I buy so much of. However, there are a few things that still annoy me:

1) How the check out operator doesn't start serving the next customer in line until the previous customer is packed up and on their way. Well... unfortunately for me I have the 'it's-too-late-for-me-to-pick-up-a-basket-now-I-am-half-way-through' kind of attitude. So I load up and load up on bargain goodies and dump everything on the check out conveyer belt (far from elegantly). Then I have to fondle around finding my wallet and stacking my purchases at the same time. Then I get flustered. And then I get shocked that they charge for a credit purchase rather than savings or cheque purchase.

2) Then the check out operator puts the receipt on top of all of my stacked goodies that I plan to carry through the shopping centre with my arms locked out like a zombie. Well that receipt is surely not going to stay there is it?!? So I unlock my zombie arms, plomp my stack of goodies down on the bench, put the receipt in my diary and walk away with a slightly elevated heart rate and a face tinged pink.

However, all is not lost with shopping at Aldi. With my recent eating habits, I have stumbled across some scoop purchases which I will definitely keep going back for.

Free Range Eggs - $3.69
Lite Cottage Cheese - $2.something
Rice Cakes - $1.something
Rye Sourdough - $2.79
Blueberries - $1.49 (!!!)

Moral of the story, you wonder? 'Things' (for lack of a better word) don't change. People don't change. You (well, me in this case) have to change. Perhaps I could buy an Aldi trolley token and keep it on my key ring. Hell no. Or I could hunt down an empty box on my way through so I could just stack my goodies in there and be on my way. Perhaps not. Or I could find those canvas/hessian/burlap grocery bags I loved but now can't remember where I saw them because I never wrote it down or impulsively bought them at the time. Yes. Problem solved. Now to find them.

Textures and Things that Tittillate.

2012-11-29T16:36:00.002-08:00

I will not provide explanations to these pictures. All you need to understand is that things like this give my butterflies.

Snippets from Bali.

2012-11-29T16:24:00.003-08:00

L-R Lindsey, Kim, me, Amy. Yes, it may seem my tummy houses a small baby. Don't worry though. It's just a cocktail and pastry baby! Love this photo and love this place.

Espresso Martini @ La Lucciola. Yummy!

Potato Head Beach Club, Seminyak. Gorgeous place.

Some type of sangria with white wine, mango and lemon grass. I jokingly suggested eating all the mango because they are $2.99 a pop here in Brisbane at the moment.

A 'Kookaburra' - best cocktail of the trip at Potato Head.

Cocoon Beach Club, Seminyak.

Along the coastline around the Jimbaran Bay/Uluwatu area.

Lindsey was blissfully happy to enjoy a monkey experience!

All of these photos are taken at the Rock Bar. Definitely a must-do despite the long drive.

Glenn and Amy - one of my best friends and her partner. They are so lovely.

Lindsey - a sun goddess (haha!)

So, upon the ending of my 4th trip in Bali I shall make some recommendations. Some people think Bali is cheap, cheap, cheap. This is partly true - you get what you pay for. Pay $2 for a singlet from the market and that singlet will provide you with $2 worth of wear. Pay $39 for a singlet from a cute boutique and that singlet will provide you with $39 worth of wear. However, you do stumble across great bargains though - the dresses from the markets are usually a winner.

Beach Clubs/Bars - for drinks, meeting friends, watching sunsets

Cocoon - southern end of Seminyak in Double Six

Ku De Ta - northern end of Seminyak near Jl. Petitenget

Potato Head - northern end of Seminyak near Jl. Petitenget

Rock Bar - in Uluwatu/Jimbaran Bay. About 1 hours drive to get there but totally worth it. Arrive around 4pm to secure your spot.

Restaurants - for dinner, drinks go perfectly with the meals, just below Western prices

Mamasan - TO DIE FOR! I can still taste the dishes in my mouth today. Great for people who love chilli. Not so great for those that don't. Try the dumplings!

Potato Head - western style menu which can be a nice change to Bali food. Atmosphere is amazing.

The Junction - mixed menu. The girls will agree the Thai Seafood Curry a winner. Had my best Chicken Sate of the trip here. The decor is just gorgeous.

Ultimo - cheap, fast, good Italian food.

La Lucciola - one of the best eating experiences Bali has to offer. Great food, great view and great service.

Laca Laca Cantina - cheap, yummy Mexican food in a beautifully decorated restaurant.

Pizza Club - for something easy when you can't put your finger on a craving. Cute little place run by Aussies and delicious pizza.

Note: book ahead at Mamasan, Potato Head, Ku De ta, La Lucciola and similar kinds of place. Be sure to check out the restaurants along Jl. Petitenget.

Breakfasts/Coffee

Revolver - Gang 51 on Laksmana St - run by an ex professional surfer, Katie Allan - fantastic fresh and healthy breakfasts and FABULOUS coffee. This place oozes cool. Be sure to try the Granola.

Sea Circus - Jl. Kayu Aya - good breakfast and good coffee. Again, I had the granola. Give it a go, you will be impressed.

Note: while it is appealing that your accommodation may include buffet breakfast, I will now avoid this in the future. Mass produced food lacks quality and I always leave feeling terrible. Breakfast at Revolver or Sea Circus with a coffee, will set you back around $7.50AU. I think it is SO worth it.

Tailor

Janoko - in Poppies Lane II. Pricing is unbelievable and the service is fantastic. No need to negotiate pricing, it seems the price for tailored suits was the same across the board. Be sure to go and check on your garments a few days before leaving so they have enough time to alter them. I took some dresses to be altered that were too big and also had a dress copied.

Shopping

I will avoid Kuta until the day I die.

For ladies with feet smaller than size 10 - go to Matahari and Discovery.

Bags/Clutches - see above

Boutiques/Homewares - there are hundreds (literally) of cute boutiques, to suit men and women, all over the place. I particularly like Seminyak to shop for clothes. For homewares, Seminyak is also good. Just be aware that pricing can be much the same to Australia. However, you can be assured that not many people will have it!

That's all for now. If anyone wants some more info on Bali, please feel free to email me - brodie_lockhart@hotmail.com

17 (and 18) again.

2012-11-18T18:29:00.002-08:00

Below is a photo of me wearing a particular pair of jeans. I had just turned 18 in this photo. For some reason, I kept these jeans. Little did I know that they would never fit again. Or so I kept thinking for the 4 years they have been hiding under my bed.

Fast forward 4 and a half years, a steady weight gain of over 10 kgs and corresponding weight loss of over 10 kgs, they fit! I absolutely shocked myself this morning when I tried them on. In February, I could not get them past my thighs. Say... in July, I could get them up towards my hips. Then, in September I could almost do them up. Two weeks ago, I did them up. Mind you, with a muffin top the size of your Grandma's chocolate cake. Today, this is what they look like:

Now please, before you sigh and think "oh, I wish she would shut up about 'it'...", do come back soon. It is simply that this weight loss, fitness and healthy eating has become such a big part of my life that I have to share. I promise I won't post about it for a while!

Hello, J!

2012-11-18T14:28:00.001-08:00

I usually like to have a focus for each of my posts but so much has happened over the past few weeks that everything is a jumble. Here is a rundown:

1. Finished my final exams on Thursday.

2. Started my "holidays" on Friday - I have two whole weeks off work - I haven't even thought about how my roster will work over Summer.

3. I am off to Bali tomorrow for 9 days with some friends.

4. J said he didn't want me to do the groceries as I will be away. I purchased 4 'man-size' beef noodle bowls.

5. Going to a Cancer Council fundraiser on Friday 30th November - if you are interested see http://tutusandtiaras12wbt.wordpress.com/

6. CrossFit Geebung has a new webpage - if you are interested see http://www.crossfitgeebung.com.au/ - I am looking forward to the Christmas party in a few weeks!

7. J complained that I haven't made a post in a while - so this is why I am here basically.

OH. Have just remembered some things to share...

Food

This year was my 4th year in university. Each and every year, come exam time (which happens 4 times a year!) I would feast and feast again on lollies, chocolates and whatever else I could get my hands on. I would make excuses and be so lenient on myself - I would say "oh, it's exam time, it'll be fine". However, this time around, I made serious changes. I used my food planner from Kikki.K, did a nice and fresh grocery shop and prepared meals/snacks in advance (where possible). I even tried a few new recipes.

There was a pinnacle turning point within these two weeks for me. I couldn't remember the last time I ate chocolate (yes of course, I have eaten some since then!). This is the point I realised, that if you focus on something with all of your might and believe in yourself, you can really do anything. It was the 'cleanest' week of eating, ever. I had never felt so alive, full of energy and happy - despite the stress of my last ever exams - I was so excited by what the next day had in store. So food, I thank you for one of the most valuable learning experiences of my life.

Uni

A four year journey has ended. Gone. Done and dusted. Just like that. Back in 2008, I never imagined I would make it this far - there was no light at the end of the tunnel. I had a little tidy of the study yesterday to rid myself of the clutter and papers. I have stored the last set of textbooks and will hopefully sell them over the Summer. When I look back, it was quite a tumultuous journey (I never want to move house again. 5 times in 4 years is too much. The next time will be a brand new architecturally designed home - hey J??? - and I will start fresh).

'Holidays'

I plan to go to Bali, have my parents visit for my graduation, go to Darwin for Christmas, go to DIY heaven at House on a Hill, spend time in the yard, spend time with J, cook, clean, re-organise (yes, I am for real) and of course - work. I am really hoping to have a quick trip overseas in February (destination T.B.D). We will wait and see.

Rain. More please?

2012-10-30T22:14:00.002-07:00

Finally, I have been home at 'House on a Hill' to experience a good storm!

I am so thankful, as we are trying to get our new turf looking healthy. I also have some tomatoes (still green) growing and I am a little forgetful when it comes to water. They have been a long time coming. I planted the seeds in April when my Mumma was visiting. The brush turkeys have managed to munch on a few but hopefully this time around my crop are safe!

Whenever it rains, I get a little fluttery. Coming from Darwin, I associate rain with being at home with my family and balmy nights on the balcony. I haven't been 'home' for so long... I don't miss the place, I just miss my home - as in, Mumma and Dad's house.

I have been starting to go to CrossFit in the mornings a few times a week. It means that I get to spend the afternoon with J (if he manages to finish early, ha!). It is so hard to get up at 4.45am and I find that I never really do well in morning WODs. Today was a different story, I nailed my Clean & Jerk PB. Anyway, this morning, the sky was so pretty I had to pull over and take a photo. Perhaps it was something to do with the storm? The colours are a bit like a Rainbow Paddlepop!

And as I click 'publish'... the storm ends. How ironic.

To Brodie. From Brodie.

2012-10-22T21:48:00.000-07:00

I like to reward myself with presents when I achieve a goal. I will share one example with you.

Four years ago I set out to complete a Bachelor of International Business and a Bachelor of Commerce. In less than four weeks, I will have finished my final exams. Might I add, this is within the suggested time frame, with better than average academic results and is inclusive of early life tragedies many people make excuses about (eg. motor vehicle incidents - yes! I can laugh now). Anyway, once I am all done I shall buy myself this Polaroid 300 Instant Camera:

CrossFit. And my story.

2012-10-15T21:31:00.000-07:00

I have embarked on a BIG journey. I had been hearing such great things about CrossFit and had been seeing fabulous results for a long time. Fortunately, some good friends, Greg and Jules, opened a brand new CrossFit 'box' - CrossFit Geebung. I decided to give it a go and I hope you will too (the first session is free!!!). I will never, ever look back.

Now, I know you will have questions. People ALWAYS do. I will endeavour to answer them now.

Isn't it hard? YES. F***ing hard at times. In the end, it is worth every second, every drop of sweat and every devilish moment I consider not showing up.

Don't I need to be fit? NO. That is why you should come to CrossFit. Becoming a CrossFitter will allow this to happen in no time at all.

But my clothes are daggy...? WHO CARES. Hell, come half naked if you like. No one will judge you, what clothes you wear (or don't wear) or how you look. One tip however - avoid make up - you'll just sweat it off!

I don't have the time...? MAKE TIME. I am at uni, work part time, live in a rural area and have all those other commitments that people complain about. The distinction is though, I don't complain. I structure my week around CrossFit classes. Sad you may think? No I say. Just living my passion.

I'm too fat...? NO YOU AREN'T. CrossFit is suitable for all ages, sizes and capabilities. Everything is scalable to your abilities. And I mean everything.

I'm a girl, I don't want to get bulky...? YOU WON'T. Unless you take those super supps, pump testosterone into you and eat incredibly, it will not happen. We are women. I will leave more explaining to the professionals.

Hopefully I have covered your questions so far. I will now delve a little deeper and share my own experience.

Ever since childhood, I have always been a "big girl". I never played sport. I was never active. It just wasn't present in my life and I don't really have an excuse. Meanwhile, my brother was playing cricket/football/rugby (probably all at once if he could). In Year 11 I finally recognised there was a serious issue at hand. I couldn't fit into a Size 14, which meant I couldn't wear the clothes I wanted to. I started riding about 14km a day along the foreshore (in hindsight, this was probably helpful for my mental health too!). I became a Size 12 and remember the a pinnacle moment in my 'Gap Year', which just so happened to be within the male dominated construction industry. Someone asked me how much I weighed - I responded with 77kg - and this is the point of reference I keep today.

A year later, I moved from my home town in Darwin to study on the Gold Coast. As it regularly happens, I put on the "Fresher 5" - those 5 kilos that just appear out of nowhere. Really it is the booze, hang-over cure and study lollies but I denied this and kept shovelling them down my gob. 5 kilos became 7 kilos and then 10 kilos. Over the next 3 years I dabbled in the gym - making the same mistake as many - 45 mins of cardio 3 times a week. I wondered why nothing was happening. I was eating "healthy" or so I thought.

As I entered my 4th year at university, I started reading. Reading articles online, magazines and on Facebook groups. I developed an interest in health and fitness and joined a gym (Good Life). I stopped eating those yukky white carbs - bread, potatoes, rice and pasta. It was ridiculously hard a first but eventually, it became habit. I developed my own weights program, as I had learned that it is best for burning fat (SHOCK HORROR! Get off the treadmill). I worked one muscle group per day usually 4-5 times a week and based my workouts on everything I read from professionals, fitness models and other fat people. I got down to 82kg, from about 88kg mind you. And then down to 80kg. This happened over the course of about 3 months. I kept at it, with my mind set on the scales. Unbeknown to me, my body was changing but the numbers weren't.

In August this year I learned Greg and Jules would open CrossFit Geebung in September. I found myself thinking about CrossFit but didn't find the guts to to commit. I tried it out during the opening week and fell in love. Not with a person but CrossFit. Now I live my passion 7 sessions a week over 5 days and my gym membership at Good Life is merely a memory in the back of my mind. At the moment my training goes something like this:

Mon - 1 hr, Tues - 1 hr, Wed - 2 hrs (StrongMan and then CrossFit), Thurs - REST, Fri - 1 hr, Sat - 2 hrs (CrossFit and then Strongman) and Sun - REST. I have since learned it is very important for me to rest, it allows my body to recover and in turn, the results to happen. And what about my weight, you ask? I don't give a s*** anymore. Although, I do know I hover around 78kg. I am fitter than I have ever been before. I am stronger than I have ever been before. I have much less body fat than I have ever had before. Put simply, the numbers do not matter anymore. This is because the type of training CrossFit includes - strength and conditioning. How happy am I? I cannot put it into words.

There is no need to be scared about what will happen at CrossFit. There is no need to fear CrossFitters as people, nor the environment it all happens in. There is no need to screw your nose up at my excitement, the quotes I put up or the photos I share. I simply just want you to share my passion. In terms of the people: there is a vibrant culture, masses on masses of verbal and physical support and a lot of love from a new "family". In terms of the work: it is hard, it will get harder but your body will learn to cope, your personality will grow and your fat will shrink. Heck, you may even develop some sexy muscle! So, with my most sincere/welcoming/inviting feelings ever - get out of the gym, get into a box, put down the crap food (yes, that means the muesli bars, cereals, fatty meats and soft drink) and pop the wine glass down on the bench (just pick it up again every so often). You have one chance at life and one body to live it with. Cherish it, work it and get whatever the hell you can outta it.

See, we do have fun. Here are some girls using "super powers"!

This is after our Monday Benchmark WODs

This is me and a team during one of our Saturday Team WODs

This is me having a laugh during StrongMan - I was carrying more than the weight of J (80kgs).

This is after some dirty tyre flipping (there was dirt on my chin!)

And this is some of the CFG members

Where else can you find me?

2012-10-07T16:02:00.001-07:00

These days I tend to stray from Facebook. So you can find me:

Here - Instagram - @brodiebb

And here - Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/brodiebb/

Preparation.

2012-10-07T15:30:00.003-07:00

When we returned from Laceys Creek, I prepared some food for the week. Sundays are my preparation days and I simply cannot rest unless I do this! Terribly OCD, I know... Since I hadn't done the groceries yet, I used ingredients I always have at home.

When I make quiche, I just add whatever veggies I can find. This time around, I used red onion, green capsicum and red capsicum. For the base mixture, I add 6-10 eggs and almond milk until I think it is the right colour. I also added some short cut bacon to keep J happy!

Whenever I make protein balls, I use a combination of recipes and lots of judgement. This time around, I added:

- 2 scoops choc honeycomb WPI

- sprinkle of cocoa powder (for extra choc-ness)

- 1 tbsp coconut for mixture, keeping some aside for rolling

- 1/2 cup peanut butter (the one in a previous blog entry)

- few squirts of honey

- 1 cup oat bran/oatmeal

- 1 tbsp LSA

Mix dry ingredients and melt wet ingredients in microwave. Mix both dry and wet ingredients together and add dashes of water if mixture is too dry. Roll into balls and then roll into coconut.