Better late than never...

So I just realised I haven't been on here in over a month!

Time has been flying and I'm having a hard time keeping up... Settling into the new job, new routine, new friends, new customers... It's all gone so fast.

I am also on the opposite work timetable to my partner, so finding the time to spend together has been a bit tricky... Not much creative time left at the moment... I hope I find a sense of rhythm soon because it feels like I'm not getting anything done!!

In the past month I have had a trip to healsville sanctuary,

Family birthday gatherings, cousin catchups,

Chocolate Cheesecake - made by Me - recipe by Donna Hay - tasted pretty damn good!

 Trips back to the country, a function at the Melbourne Aquarium (as the Photographer),

Friend catch-ups and work, work, work... So... This weekend I'm taking a trip to Adelaide to spend 4 days with my partners family...

What's been happening in your busy lives this past month?

x

On the menu...

Red Wine and Beef Simmer

1kg beef blade steak, chopped
plain flour, for dusting
1/4 cup olive oil
1 brown onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 cup red wine
2 1/2 cups beef stock
400g can crushed tomatoes
4 bay leaves
4 sprigs thyme
sea salt and cracked black pepper
mashed potato, to serve

Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
Place the beef and flour in a bowl and toss to coat, shaking off any excess.
Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large ovenproof frying pan over high heat.
Add the meat and cook for 3-4 minutes or until well browned
Remove from the pan and set aside.
Add the remaining oil to the pan and add the onion and garlic.
Cook for 3 minutes or until golden.
Gradually add the wine and cook for 2-3 minutes or until reduced by half.
Add the beef back to the pan and add the stock, tomatoes, bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper.
Bring to the boil, cover tightly and cook in the oven for 1 1/2 hours or until beef is tender.
Serve with potato mash.

Serves 4

Courtesy of Donna Hay (SIMPLE ESSENTIALS - beef, lamb and pork cook book)

Deeeeeelish and perfect for chilly winter nights.

I added some steamed green beans... I love the flavour and they are so good for you! But also for a splash of colour...

Whats on your menu?

x

Starting Over....

So I had the first day of my new job today... I had a mini freak out last night while reading over the companies policies and guidelines! So much to remember and so many ways to get fired! EEK!
But it was good to be back working... (YAY MONEY)

The last 2 weeks off have been lovely, I spent a week at home at my parents place in Mansfield... By myself with the cats and chooks looking after the property while my parents took a much needed holiday to Tasmania. It was a very relaxing and clensing, a great opportunity to plan my future and make some important decisions. I had great fun re-exploring the 22 acres and taking photos...

I haven't been very creative lately as the job hunting and general stress have been occupying all creative head space! Though I do have a knitting project waiting in the wings... Also a few bags waiting to be assembled ready for sewing... Now to find the time!

I also spent last weekend up on Mt Buller... Snow, Snow, Snow! Not the nicest weather but I did manage to get a few sneaky snaps...

I hope the school holidays have been kind to you all and the weather not too chilly x

Life...

So just when work is picking up and I dont have to stress, my car cracks it and it costs me $920.00 to fix, all of a sudden I have no definate work... and no money.

I have worked my ass off in my current job for the past 3 years, giving over 200% to everything I do and then all of a sudden I am looking at the very real prospect of being jobless... For no flippin' reason at all! I feel like I have just wasted 3 years of blood, sweat and tears for absolutely nothing.
Working casual in retail sucks.
I feel so under appreciated and humiliated... I feel sick.

So I spent Monday being super mad and yesterday feeling depressed and hopeless... BUT today I see a light... Today I dusted off my resume and made some much needed changes, called my Mum for resume grammar advice and started a folio of all my work...

If anybody knows of any jobs going for a fantastic Visual Merchandiser or Customer Service Assistant, let me know!

x

So its been a while...

Just when I was enjoying having lots of time to be creative and have some 'ME' time, I was needed at work to cover some extra shifts and I've ended up working full time.... So It's been a while since I have had the chance to get all fancy with my fumblings!

Over the past month I had a chance to go home to my parents place and raid the old material stash and also pick the last of the tomatoes..

I got older and was spoilt with good food, great company and lovely gifts...

We have also had alot of issues in the apartment we have been renting. The building is only 18 months old and already the shower had developed a leak due to the sealant that was used, breaking down after 12 months instead of 12 years! It took them 6 weeks to fix it.

We then had faulty wiring through the smoke detectors which happened at the time of the shower leak. It took them 8 weeks to fix.....

Then the heating failed to work during the coldest weeks we have had in melbourne so far this year! It took 2 weeks to fix...

We endured this weather whilst having no heating... not much fun!

14 emails, 8 phone conversations, 6 tradesmen... and we still have a hole in the roof that needs re-plastering. I HATE RENTING!

On a happier note... One of my handmade bags has made its way to Sydney!

Thankyou Rubina!

I still have an endless list of fancy fumblings that have been put on hold till things at work settle down....

How has your past month been... Any Renting tips??

x

Festivities Filled with Family and Friends...

I had the chance over Easter, to spend a lovely 4 days with my family up in Mansfield, Vic...

And I tell you what, It's getting harder and harder to come back to grey, smog filled Melbourne!
It is ever so beautiful there...

Filled with beautiful homemade food...

While this looks like your traditional Egg & Bacon Brekky... It is actually an Ostrich Egg with Home Smoked Bacon on Homemade Bread! Delish......!

Milk out of a jug... Bless...

Homemade "free form" Gluten free Apple Pie, made from home grown Apples.

Old memories...


My favourite Spider... Her web is HUGE!!!





Kiwi fruit vine...

 New life...

 One hour after being born!

 And a sereneness Melbourne could never compete with...

I hope you all had a safe and chocolate filled Easter x

Happy Easter...

So I set myself a task today, though I started off with some procrastination mid morning, I did everything I set out to do! How about that!

Freshly Baked 'Raspberry Spiked Chocolate Brownies'...

This is the second batch... as i forgot the cocoa powder in the first lot... i was trying to multi-task!



Finishing the small details on a bag for myself... finally...



I have been carrying the same handbag around for the past 3 years & it has been on its final legs (or handles...)... So i finally got around to making one for ME!

Its amazing what I found at the bottom of my old handbag... and it didn't surprise me in the least why i find it so hard to ever find anything in it!!

It was great to minimise all the clutter of old recipts, bobby pins, hair-ties (in various stages of elastic loss!) random bits a pieces and loose change! $3.25 to be exact!

So now to try to keep the new handmade bag clutter free! Wish me luck!

Happy Easter everyone, drive safe & cherish the time spent with loved ones

x