...Live Laugh Love...

My Brand of Sad

2012-06-12T16:40:00.003-07:00

I recently read the below blog by Sarah wilson & I enjoyed it so I thought I would share it with you, you can find her blog below:http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2010/08/my-brand-of-sad-whats-yours/

my brand of sad…what’s yours?

posted on august 2nd, 2010

I get sad often. Have done since I was a kid. It can just creep up and over me, take me by the throat and dangle there. Then, once embedded, it will drag up big, raw feeling from deep within. In gushes. I’m powerless once it’s upon me. I cry. A McDonald’s commercial can see me cry for an hour.

My Mum said I was born with over-active tear ducts. My ex used to call me (fondly), a “sad sack of shit”. He’d watch the cloak of sadness inch up and shake his head. Here we go.

I got sad this weekend, which is why I’m writing this today. Sad for the lonely people. Sad for the pain the human experience can endure. I was watching the news and my sadness had me 100% attuned to people’s faces. The loneliness was palpable.

Sad is different to depressed. Depression is an old woolly cardigan I wear, too. But sad, unlike the fug of depression, is deep and alive and poignant. It dances on the knife-edge of humanity. It swoops us down deep and enables us to see things we don’t see on the surface. It connects us to the underlying hum of pain that unites us all. Life is pain. If we didn’t access pain, we wouldn’t be driven to move forward.

I used to run from my sadness. But now I really quite like it. I sit in it and take a look around. I take advantage of the openness it affords me. I’ll sit on my couch and listen to sad-sack music and cry. Then it lifts.

My brand of sad these days opens floodgates and doors. Sad isn’t a sink-hole, it’s an opening in the facade that we can dive down into. Down there is authenticity, I find.

(PS If you’re after some download suggestions, may I proffer: Martha Wainright, Gillian Welch, The Editors, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Bon Iver and The National.)

This is a gorgeous post that I flagged on instapaper a few months back. Jane at Ill Seen, Ill Saidshares about feeling sad.

In our perpetually sunshiny corner of the blogosphere, it’s easy to think that nobody suffers from stress or despair or anxiety. I love that we all focus on things that we have positive feelings about, rather than negative venting. But sometimes it can create a false impression that we all live amazing, fulfilled lives.

Lately, I’ve felt very hopeless. That I’m far behind everybody else for my age. That there’s no trajectory to what I’m doing right now. That all work and no play is making Jane a dull girl. I’ve even stopped having those escape fantasies that I always used to have and swapped them with “maybe this is as good as it gets” thoughts.
….I’m starting to give up a little bit in my own heart. And I’m so very, very tired.

I also kept this link about the health benefits of tears…they flush out stress toxins, for starters. Good to know.

How are you with your sadness? Is it special to you?

PS: No, I’m not premenstrual this morning. I can read all your minds out there!!

PPS: as a soundtrack to this post, you might like to listen to The National’s soulful “Sorrow”. Just click here.

Sorrow found me when I was young…)

Goodbye wedding, hello cupcakes!

2012-06-07T23:06:00.000-07:00

Now that I am no longer watching my waistline in fear of not fitting into my wedding dress, I have been enjoying the finer things in life, those being...cupcakes!

Below is a selection of some recent conquests.

My bestie Stephy bought the below selection over to a girls night, from Cupcake Central

Yes ladies...that is a macaroon atop a cupcake, Nirvana!

A cheeky red velvet & rocky road shared with a work companion on a coffee break

Chic Interiors, dream home alert!

2011-10-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

Dream home, right here!

Actually this is probably about 6 different homes from http://greigedesign.blospot.com

It's Friday & I'm dreaming if Beverly Hills - MR C Hotel

2011-10-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

We just booked a hotel for the last night of our honeymoon in Beverly Hills. It's such a gorgeous hotel. Check out the pics below :)

Happy Friday!

Black & White beautiful

2011-10-01T03:56:00.000-07:00

There is no black-and-white situation. It's all part of life. Highs, lows, middles.

~Van Morrison

So many good sales on at the moment!

2011-09-30T03:30:00.000-07:00

There are so many good online sales on at the moment and I can't partake in any of them! Damn saving

I thought I would share some of the ones that have caught my eye...

ASOS up to 70% off

http://www.asos.com/au/Women/Sale/Cat/pgehtml.aspx?cid=7046&WT.ac=WWNav_Sale

Anthropologie

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/category.jsp?popId=SHOPSALE&navAction=jump&navCount=&id=SHOPSALE-FRESHCUTS

Victoria's Secret

http://www.victoriassecret.com/sale

Great swimwear, this little beautie didn't get away from me, I bought 6 pair of bikini's *guilty*

Topshop

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&langId=-1&viewAllFlag=false&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=217217&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20

Urban Outfitters

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/faceted_category.jsp?indexStart=0&categories=catalog01_sale

Enjoy x

Ikea new product - funny

2011-09-28T03:23:00.000-07:00

IKEA has announced its intention to start selling cars.

I can imagine men all over the world cowering in fear when their wives bring this one home for them to put together! Ha! from http://joke.com.au/?p=3

This is a huge concern, especially the way I put IKEA furniture together, there would be parts littered all over the road, surely some of them are just for decoration ;)

Don't worry men, you are safe for now...but not for long

Solage Calistoga - Napa Valley, CA

2011-09-26T03:03:00.000-07:00

I am so so so so so so so excited to stay at Solage Calistoga on our trip to the US. We are only staying in the Napa Valley, California at this hotel for one night but I wish we were staying here for about 7 nights!

The bikes are my fave!

Interesting Art & Frida Kahlo

2011-09-24T02:51:00.000-07:00

A myriad of weird and wonderful art pieces below:

A self portrait of Frida Kahlo below. I love Frida, I have been reading a book about love letters exchanged between her and the man she was having an affair with, an interesting read. At age 22 she married Diego Rivera another mexican artist, 20 years her senior. She was a complex and interesting woman and artist. Frida's artworks incorporate a lot of symbology and vibrant colours.

Fridaa Kahlo, self portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird

Our Wedding invitations - a labour of love

2011-09-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

I started working on our wedding invitations about a year ago, I saw a great idea online and decided to do something similar for our wedding invitations. We collected lots of hard cover second hand books from op-shops for about a year. Books were collected on one condition - they had to have a romantic title about love or marriage or something similar, Danielle Steel made more than one appearance.

I love the idea of all different kinds of old love stories contributing to our love story.

Mum then did an amazing job of cutting out the insides of the books and gluing all of the external pages together. A ribbon and gold button was then glued to seal the deal.

A paper insert was also cut and glued onto the inside cover to house the RSVP, map and travel registry cards. The invitation takes pride of place under the ribbon.

The invites inside the books which I designed & printed myself

Wrapped in brown paper and yellow/white striped twine and ready for delivery to loved ones

A huge thank you to Mum & Jenna for their amazing skills in helping me pull the invites together. Thanks to my bridesmaids for helping to collect books

xox

I love my Moh! She can cook!

2011-09-07T17:47:00.000-07:00

My maid of honour is hot to trot and is such a fabulous cook!

Steph treated us girls to an amazing dinner a couple of weeks ago, check out the below..

Ice cream with fresh berries, white choc chips and oreo topping...wow!

Steph, will you marry me?

7 years today x

2011-09-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

In loving memory

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sun on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there; I did not die.

I thought of you with love today but that is nothing new

I thought about you yesterday and days before that too,

I think of you in silence I often speak your name

All I have are memories and your picture in a frame

Your memory is my keepsake with which I'll never part

The heavens have you in their keepings, I have you in my heart.

7 years today x

16/9/1952 - 03/09/2004

30 Days - A Morgan Spurlock TV Series

2011-08-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

Morgan Spurlock has made a TV series called "30 Days", it's based on a similar formula to "Supersize Me" his Oscar nominated movie.

Each episode Morgan & his wife or another person does something for 30 days, it's really good; I have downloaded all 3 seasons.

One of them was really disturbing but a must-see, it's Episode 3 from Season 3; I couldn't find a clip for it but I highly recommend it. A hunter goes to live with a vegan family & they open his eyes to how the food he eats arrives on his table.

Below are some other clips from the series:

Minimum Wage:

Anti-ageing

Muslims in America:

Binge Drinking Mum:

Straight man in a gay man's world:

I heart Audrey Tatou - a french wonderkind

2011-08-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

I love Audrey Tatou, she is probably my favourite actress, she is French and mainly does french speaking films but she has also made it pretty big in Hollywood.

Her most famous films are probably Avant Coco Chanel, Amelie (her first big film) and The Da Vinci Code.

Below is an interview with Audrey Tatou about Coco Chanel:

One of my favourites is A Very long Engagement - so romantic!

Tatou has a new movie coming out called Beautiful Lies, the trailer is below:

Sarah Wilson - Check her out. "Eat Yourself Sexy"

2011-08-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

Sarah Wilson is a journalist, blogger and social commentator. Her new show launches tonight, it's on LifestyleYOU on Foxtel, titled "Eat Yourself Sexy". Sarah is into natural foods and looking after your health and nutrition. I will be recording on my Foxtel tonight!

You can check out Sarah's blog via the below link:

http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/

Sylvia Weinstock is a genius! A little Cookey but a genius none-the-less!

2011-08-18T23:31:00.000-07:00

Sylvia Weinstock is an amazing cake artist!

Weinstock used to teach kindergarten where she said she liked to do crafts such as finger-painting and play dough with her pupils. But today, she doesn't use play dough — instead, she uses sinfully delicious sugar dough.

Weinstock doesn't use cake decorators, but artists. They make hundreds and hundreds of sugar dough flowers each week — a technique Weinstock mastered by an intense study of the rose.

"How I start was I took the rose apart," she said. "And you put it down in a sequence so that you see exactly how it grow together, and you'll notice, as you get down to the center, we're dealing with the smaller petals."

Since every cake is custom made, the bakery creates only about 15 cakes a week. It all starts simply enough: eggs, butter, sugar, flavorings. They're mixed together, baked and built, but it truly is a design-it-yourself cake. The clients come in with a design and their needs are met from the flavor of the cake and filling to how it is decorated.

But this all comes at a price. A basic Weinstock cake costs about $15 a person, or $3,000 for 200 guest. A more elaborate cake with loads of flowers, extra height or unusual shapes can cost as much as $50,000.

"It's a luxury. But it's an affordable luxury," Weinstock said. "So that I think wedding cakes are a focal point. I think cakes in general are a focal point of an event, whether it's public relations or a christening or a birthday or for a wedding or any celebration. The cake is always in the forefront."

Check out some of her cakes below

High Tea! I am getting excited!!!

2011-08-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

How much do you love High Tea? A lot, yes that is correct!

Everyone loves High Tea!

The girls and I are starting to organise a High Tea for a week before the wedding. I have the perfect floral Zara dress ready and waiting!

Here is some inspiration below, enjoy x

The Wedding Dress I almost bought.....

2011-08-13T16:28:00.000-07:00

This is the wedding dress I was 90% sure on for about 6 months, I was so close to ordering it. It's a Monique Lhullier gown & it is so gorgeous!

But then I saw "my dress" & this saucy little number was never ordered. The dress I ended up going with is quite different to this one, I thought that all the lace wasn't really me in the end.

I can't yet show you my dress so I thought I would share this one with you.

Gorgeous Interiors!

2011-08-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

Loving the below interiors!

The below images are from the following blog:

http://greigedesign.blogspot.com/

Feeling wintery & sluggish? How about a detox? One from Miranda & one from Gwyneth!

2011-08-09T02:13:00.000-07:00

So I stumbled across a few juice detox's from Miranda Kerr's blog and now I am intrigued...I have never done one before. I'm not at all into crash diets or fads, I think they are unhealthy and you always end up putting on more weight after the crash diet has finished.

If you would like to see Miranda Kerr's blog visit the below link:

http://www.koraorganics.com/blog/live-in-my-skin/all-things-organic/organic-certification/pre-cleanse-etiquette-…/

I like the idea of doing a 3 or 5 day cleanse, drinking all organic juices to give your body a flush out. However, word of warning - they are pretty expensive!

Here are a couple of sites I found that interested me:

http://www.urbanremedy.com.au

http://www.schkinnymaninny.com.au/

Here is a review of the Schkinny Maninny juices by Sarah Wilson: http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2010/01/i-like-schkinny-maninny-juice-detox/

The cleanse I think I am going to embark on (as of next Monday) is one that Gwyneth Paltrow put on her blog:

http://goop.com/newsletter/15/

Here is the cleanse below:

DETOX

It is that time of year, folks. I need to lose a few pounds of holiday excess. Anyone else? I like to do fasts and detoxes a couple of times during the year, the most hardcore one being the Master Cleanse I did last spring. It was not what you would characterize as pretty. Or easy. It did work, however. As I do not wish to subsist on lemon water in the middle of winter, I asked my doctor, a detox diet specialist, for the guidelines he uses to achieve a good detox that is not as hallucinogenic (in a bad way) as the Master Cleanse. He actually thinks that the Master Cleanse can be dangerous because the liver is not supported by the nutrients it needs. What it came down to was this: you can detox easily and effectively while you continue to eat as long as you are cutting out the foods and other substances that interfere with the detoxification process. Make sure you check with your doctor before you start any detox. Drink A LOT of water. I created this menu plan for a seven-day elimination diet. The shakes and juices are meant to be liquid meals that help decrease the amount of work your digestive system has to do. I will be suffering along with you to kickstart my year a bit lighter. Good luck to us all!

According to Dr. Alejandro Junger* (our detox specialist) in addition to the above, there are a few more "basic principles of detoxification" that should be kept in mind while following our detox menus.

Do deep breathing or gentle yoga.
Take a couple of spoonfuls of extra virgin olive oil at night to help stimulate your liver to eliminate bile and keep its circulation flowing.
If your bowel movements get sluggish, you can accelerate things by drinking half a cup of castor oil or using a mild herbal laxative. Bowel elimination is paramount for correct detoxification.
The skin gets rid of many toxins so it is important to sweat, either by exercising or taking a sauna.
Finally, make sure you eat whole organic foods, which have the best chance of having all the nutrients needed for liver and general detoxification.

*This is an excerpt from Dr. Junger's upcoming book Clean, which will be published in May. Be sure to pick up a copy!

MENUS (bold indicates a recipe)

Adjust the time to your schedule and the meals to your taste but remember that there can be no dairy, grains with gluten, meat, shellfish, anything processed (including all soy products), fatty nuts, nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant), condiments, sugar and obviously no alcohol, caffeine or soda.

DAY ONE

7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Blueberry and Almond Smoothie
11:30am: Coconut water*
1:30pm (lunch): Salad with Carrot and Ginger Dressing
4pm (snack): A handful of mixed pumpkin and sunflower seeds
6pm (dinner): Broccoli and Arugula Soup
*Make sure that the coconut water has no added sugar. Fresh is ideal but the brands Zico or Vita Coco are readily available.

DAY TWO

7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Raspberry and Rice Milk Smoothie (follow method for Blueberry and Almond Smoothie)
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Detox Teriyaki Chicken and Steamed Greens
4pm (snack): Miso Soup with Watercress
6pm (dinner): Pea and Basil Soup (follow method for Broccoli and Arugula Soup)

DAY THREE

7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Oatmeal (make with rice or almond milk instead of water so it’s a bit more substantial)
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Blueberry and Almond Smoothie
4pm (snack): Cucumber, Lime and Basil Juice
6pm (dinner): Super Greens Juice / Miso Soup with Watercress

DAY FOUR

7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Mango and Coconut Milk Smoothie (follow method for Blueberry and Almond Smoothie)
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Miso Soup with Watercress
4pm (snack): A handful of blueberries
6pm (dinner): Steamed Salmon and Greens

DAY FIVE

7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Peach and Almond Smoothie (follow method for Blueberry and Almond Smoothie)
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Raw crudite (carrots, green beans, radishes, cucumbers, zucchini) with Carrot and Ginger Dressing
4pm (snack): Beet, Carrot, Apple and Ginger Juice
6pm (dinner): Cucumber and Avocado Soup

DAY SIX

7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Blueberry and Almond Smoothie
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Mixed Greens with Steamed Salmon, Olive Oil & Lemon Juice
4pm (snack): Super Greens Juice
6pm (dinner): Detox Teriyaki Chicken, brown rice, steamed zucchini

DAY SEVEN

7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Raspberry and Rice Milk Smoothie (follow method for Blueberry and Almond Smoothie)
11:30am: Coconut water
1:30pm (lunch): Miso Soup with Vegetables
4pm (snack): A handful of almonds
6pm (dinner): Steamed fish, quinoa, roasted squash

RECIPES

Salad with Carrot and Ginger Dressing
Broccoli and Arugula Soup
Miso Soup with Watercress
Detox Teriyaki Chicken
Blueberry and Almond Smoothie
Beet, Carrot, Apple and Ginger Juice
Super Greens Juice
Cucumber, Basil and Lime Juice
Steamed Salmon and Greens
Cucumber and Avocado Soup

SALAD WITH CARROT AND GINGER DRESSING

This dressing is the jam! Great on salad and also as a dip for vegetables. This recipe makes enough dressing for two salads, so be sure to save the extra.

SERVES: 1
TIME: 5 minutes

For dressing:
1 large carrot, peeled and roughly chopped 1 large shallot, peeled and roughly chopped 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh ginger	1 tablespoon sweet white miso 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon roasted sesame seed oil 1/4 cup grapeseed oil 2 tablespoons water
For salad:
1 head of baby gem lettuce (or any greens), roughly cut	1/4 red onion, thinly sliced 1/4 avocado, diced

Pulse the carrot, shallot and ginger in a blender until finely chopped. Scrape down the sides, add the miso, vinegar and sesame seed oil and whiz together. While the blender is going, slowly drizzle in the grapeseed oil and the water.

Combine the lettuce, onion and avocado in a bowl, drizzle with plenty of dressing and serve.

download a printable version

BROCCOLI and ARUGULA SOUP

This is a clean, basic approach to soup that showcases the vegetable. You can make this with nearly anything – including peas and basil, zucchini, carrots and ginger. In this case, broccoli is made a bit more dynamic with a handful of peppery arugula. When you’re detoxing and drinking lots of juices and smoothies, it’s a nice change to have something warm. This recipe makes enough soup for at least two portions, but it’s easier to make it once and eat it twice.

SERVES: 2
TIME: 15 minutes

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 yellow onion, roughly diced
1 head broccoli, cut into small florets (about 2/3 pound)

2 1/2 cups water
1/4 teaspoon each coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup arugula (watercress would be good, too)
1/2 lemon

Heat the olive oil in a medium nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté for just a minute or until fragrant. Add the broccoli and cook for four minutes or until bright green. Add the water, salt and pepper, bring to a boil, lower the heat and cover. Cook for eight minutes or until the broccoli is just tender. Pour the soup into a blender and puree with the arugula until quite smooth. Be very careful when blending hot liquids; start slowly and work in batches if necessary (you don’t want the steam to blow the lid off). Serve the soup with a bit of fresh lemon.

download a printable version

MISO SOUP WITH WATERCRESS

You can make the broth early in the week and add the miso as you eat. Also, you can eat this plain, with the watercress, or bulk it up with other thinly sliced vegetables (mushrooms, zuchinni, carrots, etc.)

SERVES: 4
TIME: 30 minutes

6 cups water (filtered is best)
50 grams dried bonito flakes
3 dried shitake mushrooms
4" piece of dried wakame

6 tablespoons miso paste (whatever kind you like—sweet white miso makes for a nice, light soup while aged barley gives a full, robust flavor)
2 cups watercress leaves

Heat the water in a small soup pot and when bubbles form around the edge, add the bonito. Turn the heat down and simmer for two minutes. Turn off the heat and let the broth sit for five minutes. Strain the broth into a clean pot, discarding the bonito. Add the shitakes and wakame to the broth and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Remove the wakame and mushrooms. Discard the thick stems from the mushrooms, thinly slice the caps and slip them back into the soup. Chop the wakame into small pieces, discarding any thick pieces of stem, and return to the pot.

In a small bowl, combine the miso paste with a bit of the broth and whisk to combine. Pour the mixture back into the pot and let the soup simmer, being careful not to let it boil. Add the watercress at the last minute, just to wilt it, and serve.

download a printable version

DETOX TERIYAKI CHICKEN

This sauce is detox-friendly because it doesn’t use sugar or soy, but it has a great depth of flavor and is the perfect consistency.

SERVES: 1
TIME: 20 minutes + time for marinating

For Sauce:
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1/3 cup agave syrup 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper	1 teaspoon barley miso 1 teaspoon mirin 1 tablespoon water
Combine the balsamic, agave, ginger and pepper in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower to a simmer and cook for ten minutes. Cool and then add the miso, mirin and water. For Chicken:
1 chicken breast Detox Teriyaki Sauce	1 finely chopped scallion 4 sprigs cilantro, roughly chopped

Marinate the chicken in the sauce (reserve a spoonful or two) for at least one hour–up to overnight.

Heat your grill to medium heat. Wipe off any excess marinade and grill the chicken for about 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Serve with the reserved, hasn’t-touched-raw-chicken sauce, cilantro and scallions.

download a printable version

BLUEBERRY and ALMOND SMOOTHIE

This could easily be made with any fruit—raspberries, peaches, mango, etc. Also, feel free to substitute rice or coconut milk for almond milk.

SERVES: 1
TIME: 5 minutes

1 scoop of a complete nutritional, whey protein fortified powder (not soy protein)
1/2 cup blueberries

1 scoop of a ProGreens type of powder (preferably with probiotics)
1 1/2 cups almond milk

Blend everything together.

download a printable version

BEET, CARROT, APPLE and GINGER JUICE

This juice is the most incredible color and is wonderfully sweet. Beets are said to lower blood pressure, carrots pack a super beta-carotene punch, apples are cancer-fighters and ginger just loves your heart.

SERVES: 1
TIME: 5 minutes

1 large or 2 medium beets, cut into wedges
1/2 lemon, zest and pith removed

2 large carrots
1 large apple, cut into wedges
1" piece of ginger

Juice everything into a glass, give it a stir and enjoy.

download a printable version

SUPER GREENS JUICE

Health in a glass!

SERVES: 1
TIME: 5 minutes

1 cup tightly packed kale
4 stalks celery
1 1/2 pears, cut into large pieces

1" piece of fresh ginger
1/2 lemon, zest and pith removed

Juice everything into a glass, being sure to alternate the kale with the other ingredients to help it get through the juicer easily (I follow each small bit of kale with a celery stalk). Give the juice a stir before drinking.

download a printable version

CUCUMBER, BASIL and LIME JUICE

This juice is especially refreshing when you blend it with a handful of ice cubes (use a whole lime if you do, as the acid is muted when it’s cold). Think of it as a detox-friendly mojito.

SERVES: 1
TIME: 5 minutes

1/2 cup fresh basil
1 English cucumber, cut in half lengthwise

1/2 lime, zest and pith removed
1 apple, cut into wedges

Starting with the basil, juice everything into a glass, give it a stir and enjoy.

download a printable version

STEAMED SALMON and GREENS

You could steam the fish on a bed of anything—thinly sliced fennel, lemon, even scallions or leeks.

SERVES: 1
TIME: 20 minutes

small handful (roughly 1/4 cup) of your favorite leafy herbs (parsley, basil, chervil, tarragon, etc.)
1 6 oz. organic salmon filet

a cup of your favorite fresh greens (kale, spinach, dandelion, chard, etc.)
1 wedge of lemon

Line your steamer with the herbs and rest the salmon filet on top. Steam for 11 minutes. Put the greens alongside the fish and steam for an additional 7 minutes. Squeeze the lemon over the fish and greens and serve.

download a printable version

CUCUMBER and AVOCADO SOUP

Really light and refreshing, this soup is also incredibly satisfying because the avocado makes it so creamy.

SERVES: 1
TIME: 2 minutes

zest of 1/2 lime
juice of an entire lime
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cucumber, peeled and seeded, roughly chopped
1/2 avocado, peeled and roughly chopped

Blend everything together until totally creamy and smooth.

Chicken Pot Pies & The Sisters Kitchen Garden Cafe, Sorrento

2011-08-05T17:46:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago the girls and I went away for the weekend to Blairgowrie and did lunch on Sunday at The Sisters Kitchen Garden Cafe in Sorrento The food was great, I had a chicken pot pie & it inspired me to want to make my own, so I tracked down a recipe and attempted my own.

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe:

Ingredients

500g chicken, cooked and chopped (please use free range if you can)
1 lg potato, diced
1 lg onion, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
2 lg carrots, diced
5 Tb melted margarine
1/2 cup plain flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk
salt & pepper, to taste
4 sheets Puff Pastry

Method

Preheat oven to 220 C
Line a lasagna dish with 2 sheets of pastry. Place baking paper on top and pour rice or dried beans on top to blind bake for 15 minutes.
Remove rice/beans and paper and prick base randomly using a fork. Bake for a further 15 minutes.
Saute onion, celery, carrots and potatoes in butter for 10 minutes. Add a sprig of Thyme.
Add flour to sauteed mixture, stirring well. Cook one minute stirring constantly.
Combine broth and milk.
Gradually stir into vegetable mixture.
Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thickened and bubbly.
Season with salt and pepper; add chicken and stir well.
Pour into your individual ramekins; top with remaining pastry sheets. Cut slits to allow steam to escape.
Bake for 40-50 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly and cooked through.

Voila!

TED - Something to inspire you

2011-07-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

I found out about TED yesterday, what is TED?

TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

Basically a whole heap of clips and talks from amazing and inspirational people on a range of different topice, it's so interesting. Some of the talks are only 3 minutes long and some of them are 20 minutes long.

Below are some of the clips I have watched.

To check it out visit: http://www.ted.com/

Matt Cutts, only 3 mins long, Try Something new for 30 days

Steve Jobs, Apple, Giving a really inspirational College graduation speech

"How to live before you die"

Elizabeth Gilbert, Author of Eat Pray Love,

talks about creativity & moving forward after her epic novel

Glazed Duck Breast - recipe

2011-07-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

I LOVE DUCK!! Duck cooked any which way. Last year I gave up red meat and pork, now I only eat free range chicken, fish & duck.

I could never give up Duck, I love it WAY too much! If I had to choose a last meal it would be duck, no question! Below is a recipe I cooked recently, it is superb!

Side note: I didn't have plum jam so I used Cranberry instead.

Glazed Duck Breasts

2 boneless duck breasts
2 garlic cloves crushed
2 tsp light soft brown sugar
2 tbsp. lime juice
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp. chilli sauce
2 tbsp. plum jam
1 tsp. vege oil
60ml chicken stock
salt and pepper

Using a small knife, cut deep diagonal slashes into the skin of the duck to make a diamon pattern. Place the duck aside in a non-metallic dish (anything metal taints the flavour of duck)

Mix together the garlic, sugar, lime juice, soy and chilli sauces then spoon over the breasts turning well to them evenly. cover the dish with plastic to marinate in the fridge for 4 hours...or in your case however long you can wait before cooking them tonight!!

Drain the duck and keep the mainade to side. Heat a large pan until very hot and brush with the oil. Add the duck breasts, skin side down, and cook for about 5 mins until the skin is brown and crisp.

Continue cooking for about 2-3 mins to brown all over. Add the kept marinade and plum jam and simmer for 2 mins.

Add salt and pepper to taste, serve hot with the juice spooned over

Enjoy xox

Wedding inspiration & a special announcement, 10 years in the making!

2011-07-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Graham & Erin on their engagement!

I could not be more thrilled for them! Graham & Erin have been together for a little over 10 years now and have a beautiful home together. Graham popped the question with a beautiful princess cut diamond ring on a white gold band at Litchfield National Park, near Darwin, on a jetty at the lake resort. Well done Graham!

Congratulations guys!

Here is some twinkly wedding inspiration:

Spread the love xo

More cake creations - wonderful!

2011-07-26T16:01:00.000-07:00

If I've said it once, I'll say it again, my cousin is a freak!

Check out her latest cakes below:

Baby Shower cake

Butter Cake- butter teacake, zesty lemon butter filling, cream-cheesy vanilla buttercream