Merry Christmaaaah-s

Merry Christmas!

From here

...and here

and here

and here

here

and here!

Thank you all for dropping by my humble little blog. See you all again soon, after a brief break!

Eye spy a bit of bling

OK, actually, that's a lot of bling. A whole entire shop of bling. This photo was taken earlier this year outside a shop in Shinjuku Station, Tokyo. Yes, everything in that shop window is literally covered in diamantes. We stuck our heads into the shop but it was just way too much bling for us, it was overwhelming.

Bling overload

Between all of the silver diamantes there is a a line from the Queen song, Bicycle Race written down the side: "Bicycle races are coming your way so forget all your duties, oh yeah". Crazy.

Thanks to Miss HB for choosing this week's theme and allowing me to reminisce about Tokyo weirdness, and to Cindy for hosting Eye Spy!

Onions make me cry

So I wanted to make these beautiful caramelised shallots that I had been oggling for months over at Smitten Kitchen. I thought this would be an easy task. I was telling a co-worker about this amazing recipe for roasted shallots and how excited I was to try it, and she asked me why on earth I'd want to roast shallots. She was thinking of...

... which is what I call a spring onion, and what other people call green onions or scallions. So I explained that I actually meant these shallots:


And it turns out what I call shallots are also called eschallots or French shallots... and there are also Dutch shallot varieties as well. But my co-worker thought that French shallots/eshallots were just baby onions, which are what I call pickling onions and are different again:

You can see why there was confusion...

So I had placed an order for shallots with my green grocer, before I'd had the conversation with my cooworker and I received:


Which is what I call a salad onion! Had I had the conversation with my cooworker beforehand, I would have asked for French shallots or eschallots. These onions are extraordinarily potent, and I decided since I had them and had nothing else to do with them, I would roast them up anyway.

The recipe says to roast them for ~30 mins, but I left mine covered at 180C for about 3 hours. They were absolute, melt in your mouth, beautiful roast onion heaven. Honestly though, I think it's cheating. If you roast anything in butter and red wine vinegar and honey (which I used instead of sugar) for 3 hours it's going to taste amazing. This Sunday we are having an early family Christmas with Gib's family, so I think I will have to recreate them. With eschallots. Or whatever you want to call them.

"The Birds" Barbie - terrific!

I was never ever a Barbie fan growing up. Nope, no dolls here (softies on the other hand...). However, as a teenager I got into Alfred Hitchcock movies and I love The Birds. So when I saw this Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" Barbie Doll over at Boing Boing I was quite thrilled. You know, I think this is the perfect role for Barbie. I'd even consider making this my first ever Barbie doll purchase. Love it!

Eye spy a burst of colour

Oopsies, a little late again. I guess it's just that time of year. Introducing my little robot tissue holder that my Japanese friend, Erika, and her family gave me. (Please excuse the dodgy, late at night, not-quite-adequate lighting in the photo, heehee). I love this little guy! He is one of my most favourite posessions. Unfortunately my robot tissue holder has been getting a bit of a work out lately as I have managed to catch a cold. But he definitely brightens up my drab computer area.


Thanks to Flossy-P for this week's theme, and to the lovely Cindy for organising Eye Spy... wanna join in?

Wrapping is totally overrated

I know wrapping totally makes a present special, and I think it's really cute and really appreciate it when other people go to the effort for me (I love that a lot, actually) but when it's the other way I completely lose inspiration. I apologise in advance to any family members who receive presents from me. In fact, recently I gave a friend her Christmas present in a green shopping bag.

Well, it's green. Surely that's festive enough?

I've been seeing all of these awesome bloggers get excited about wrapping and I've been feeling pretty bad about my apathy towards wrapping presents.

Laura over at Bugs & Fishes makes me feel ashamed

So I was very relieved to read Georgie Love's Ultimate Guide to Gift Wrapping: scrunch paper around it, and then sign it from your pet. I like it. It's good to know I'm not the only one.

Georgie Love knows where it's at.

It's tempting.

On the other hand, with certain people, I do tend to go over the top with wrapping. My dad is notorious for weird wrapping, and hates to wrap things unless it's in 100s of layers of paper, or in a giant boxe when you're giving them a match box. He's the master of wrapping things to look like what they are not. Or having little wrapped boxes that lead you around the house, or under the house, that give you a clue to where the next part of the present might be. Last year, Gib and I "wrapped" my dad's present in a wooden box that had to be unscrewed with an electric screw driver. And the wooden box came after about 5 layers of newspaper, and finally Christmas paper.

So I think I inherited my dad's wrapping attitude.

Another meme... from Bug and Pop

I'm not usually a meme person, so I'm not sure what has gotten into me of late. Perhaps it's that full moon that has been out and about lately. I saw this meme over at Mikes and at Cindy's blog. I thought it was cool too and would join in!

1. Were you named after anyone? Yes, Beth from Little Women (which I always find amusing, given my small stature). I have never read the book though.

2. Do you still have your tonsils? No, I got them out 2.5 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. All through my undergrad years I was perpetually sick with colds and chronic tonsilitis, always always tired. Since I've had them out my health and energy have increased by a gazillion percent. I have only had 4 colds since then!

3. Would you bungee jump? Erm, no. Two feet on the ground for me, please.

4. What is your favorite cereal? Porridge. Creamy porridge with fruit, like apricots. But in summer I'm a weetbix with a sprinkling of muesli type girl.

5. Do you untie your shoes when you take them of? No, I'm lazy. I don't untie them when I put them on either, unless I absolutely have to.

6. What is your favorite ice cream? If I have to go a traditional ice cream, then butterscotch. But my favourite is berry sorbet (not strictly an ice cream)

7. What is the first thing you notice about people? Their posture

8. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? How I always have to be go-go-go. I think I inherited that from my dad. The art of just chilling out is something I have never aquired.

9. What's the last thing you ate? Teddy bear biscuit and a cup of coffee

10. What are you listening to right now? The air conditioner in my office

11. Last movie you watched? Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

12. What did you dream about last night? My two pet rats

13. What book are you reading? Well open in front of me is a book called "The Neurology of Eye Movements"... unfortunately not exactly light reading for a Sunday morning...

14. Summer or winter? Winter. Definitely winter. And how awesome is this wintery Melbourne weather in the middle of summer?!

15. Do you have any special talents? Not really. I'm a jack of all trades and a master of none!

Speedy last minute snacks

It's that time of year when there's always people popping over or you need to bring a plate to some event somewhere. Here we have two recipes that I've made from stuff on hand and actually turned out well. Thankfully I remembered to write down how I made them so I can recreate them if necessary! I thought I'd better put them here, because the scraps of paper I wrote them on wont be so permanent (or so readily searchable).


Carrot & chickpea dip with pita bread dippers

I made this when I had eight people coming over and was concerned that I perhaps I don't have enough pre-dinner nibbles. So I whipped up a dip and crackers.
Bits in the fridge and cupboard:
1/2 tin chickpeas
2 carrots (you could use pumpkin or sweet potato)
Jar of tahini (although peanut butter would work too, I reckon)
Curry powder
Cayenne pepper
Olive oil
Salt & pepper

• Steam 2 carrots in a steamer or microwave
• Dry roast 2-3 tbsp curry powder (or to taste) and 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, dry roasted in a pan for 1 min until fragrant.
• Blend together carrots, chickpeas, 2 tbsp tahini, 1 tsp olive oil, S&P and spices until smooth. Add a little water if it's too thick.

• Meanwhile, take a piece or two of leftover pita bread, chop it in triangles, spray with oil and sprinkle with a little salt, bake for 5 mins in a hot oven or under the grill until brown and crispy (if you're using the grill, just flip them after a couple of minutes - and keep an eye on them!).

Super Speedy Savory muffins

Muffins always save me when I'm in a pickle. At 10pm last night I suddenly remembered I had a lunch to go to and had to bring something. The reason why I like muffins is because, unlike most baked goods, little precision is required. All of these ingredients were leftovers that I had in the fridge or cupboard. I didn't quite have enough milk, and didn't have any fresh, frozen or tinned corn, but did find a tin of creamed corn way up the back of the cupboard. The cream corn worked out really well actually and I think it's a great addition to savoury muffins. I'll have to remember that one in future! Oh, and muffins freeze well. How good are muffins?!

My muffins included:

2 cups self raising flour
1/4 capsicum (about 3/4 cup, diced)
3/4 cup frozen peas (it's all that was left in the packet)
1/2 onion (about 1 cup chopped)
1/2 carrot, grated, sqeezed with paper towel to remove as much moisture as possible.
1/2 tin creamed corn
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk (I had soy on hand)
100 g butter, melted
3/4 cup grated cheese

• Fry the onion in a little oil for about 5 mins until soft
• Stir the onion, capsicum, carrot and peas into the flour
• Combine the creamed corn, eggs, milk and cheese
• Mix the wet and dry mix together until just combined
• Spoon into 12 muffin pans. Bake at 200 C for 15-20 mins fan forced.

Supermeme

I spotted this Australian-inspired little meme over at She Has the Logic of a Puggle by Leah and thought I'd join in. Bold means I've done it.

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited The Great Barrier Reef.
5. Stood under the stars in the outback, the real outback – think Uluru.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to the Gold Coast’s theme parks – anyone, you take your pick.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sung a solo.
11. Bungee jumped, jumped out of plane, been paragliding or hang-gliding, hot air ballooning – you get the idea, you’ve been hundreds of metres about earth in a seemingly flimsy contraption.
12. Visited Melbourne.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Had a child. Raised a child. Worked with children. [I was a children's party host, and now I work with children]
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Been to the Snowy Mountains.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Visited the Brett Whitely studio in Surry Hills, Sydney.
20. Slept on an overnight train or bus.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Been backpacking.
23. Taken a mental health day.
24. Been buried in sand with just your head and toes sticking out.
25. Held a possum, kangaroo or koala – or any other native Australian animal.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Been in a fun run.
28. Been on the Blue Mountain cableway.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. [Who hasn't watched a sunrise or sunset?]
31. Played, or watched, summer cricket.
32. Sailed, kayaked or canoed our beautiful waterways.
33. Seen the Daintree.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Visited an Aboriginal settlement or mission.
36. Learned a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Toured the Sydney Opera House.
39. Tried rock climbing (indoor or outdoor), abseiling or just simple bushwalking.
40. Visit Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art.
41. Been to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
42. Sunbaked at Bondi.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Broome.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone fishing.
49. Seen Tasmania’s old growth forests.
50. Been to the top of Q1, on the Gold Coast.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Driven the Great Ocean Road.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class [in both senses of the word!]
59. Visited Norfolk Island.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Guide biscuits.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. [I'm a difficult bleed, and a fainter... but I can take blood from you!]
65. Gone jet boating.
66. Visited Port Arthur.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Australian War Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Federation Square.
74. Been on the Murray River.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Travelled, or climbed, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited St Mary’s Cathedral, in Sydney.
82. Bought a brand new car. [I don't think matchbox cars count...]
83. Been to Hermannsburg.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited Parliament House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous. [I met the members of Deep Purple]
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Saved a pet.
95. Been to the site of the Eureka Stockade.
96. Swum in The Whitsundays.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a mobile phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Cute jordy bag tutorial

The other day I mentioned that I was absolutely flat out sewing. I finished making Gib's costume and the pants were a success, however since I finished them last Saturday, Gib, the pants, a camera and myself are yet to be in the same room together for more than 5 minutes.

So instead I will share with you a little present I made for a friend in Japan this afternoon. I know I'm a little late for the post but I am hoping that it's quicker to post things to Japan than it is to the USA or Europe at this time of year! It took me about two hours from start to finish. That is, from choosing fabrics, taking calls from Gib who was bored at work, cutting it out, and sewing it up. I've been thinking looking at a few bag tutorials lately, but finally settled on this one for a square-bottomed lined bag. I really liked the shape of the bag and how it sat. The instructions were very easy to follow and I was very pleased with the result.

The overall size of the bag I made bigger by about 5 cm all over. I added a pocket to the inside of one side. I also made two straps instead of one (ok, that was an accident. I forgot to allow for the fact that I had increased the bag size and just cut the strap as the instructions said).


Ready for shipping to Japan, along with a bunch of Australian tidbits that my friend goes crazy for!

Eye spy something in my garden

Yes folks, I'm back from my brief blogging hiatus. My diary is full with Christmas catch ups and parties and shopping and sewing for Christmas... oh, and there's a PhD in amongst that too. I'm a little late on my Eye Spy post (I loved this week's topic, picked by the wonderful Ms Curly Pops), but Gib found this gorgeous beetle our front garden this afternoon. Just amazing to see one of these beetles in action. It's a shame my little point-and-shoot couldn't quite capture the brilliance of the green on his elytra.

Can't talk. Sewing.

I've got a few posts in the pipelines, but none finished. Have been literally flat out sewing! But to keep you amused in the mean time, here's some cute things I spotted over at Think Geek:

DIY bendable drinking straws...


Brownie pan: apart from all of the "even heat distribution blahblahblah" stuff, the feature I liked most about this pan was "Two delicious, chewy edges on every individual serving". Yum!!

I like the sound of this cook book. I'm intrigued by the possibility of cryogenic martinis (the concept itself, because I really hate martinis) and also edible origame... however I think I'll skip the DIY edible underwear, thanks.
Nerdy salt and pepper shakers. Neat! Here's the site's pepper explanation: "It would be awesome if we could put the entire makeup of peppers' flavoring agents on its container, however there isn't enough room for the more than 100 volatile compounds visible in ground black pepper"


Space invaders chopping board. What more needs to be said?!

A fun way to shop

I hate Christmas shopping, but not when it's combined with a whole shop full of cute things to buy and "ginger beer, regular beer, sandwiches and more fun things"! Tonight is Mike's Christmas Shopping Shindig! See you there!

Eye spy... what I want for Christmas

I’m excited by Cindy’s new Eye Spy meme! This Christmas I am looking forward to having all of my wonderful family around (my awesome big bro is home for Christmas for the first time in 3 years!), reflect on the good health I’ve been enjoying and give thanks that I have a very comfortable, happy life. But this is what I’ve got my eye on...

This is my dear, bucket of $%@# car.
I really want it back on the road for Christmas.

The whole topic of my car is a bit of a sore spot for me. I bought it second hand from a friend of a friend for cheaps. When I went to re-roadworthy it, every time it was about to be booked it in to VicRoads something would go wrong, like a burst water hose, or dead turbo. About 6 months after it was finally roadworthied, the alternator died, but Mr Fix-it Gib was busy finishing his degree so there was some... delay... in fixing it. A few months after the alternator was repaired there was a problem with the oil pump (we didn't know it was that at the time), which quickly lead to the engine and turbo (again) dying. Since then, the car has been off the road for about 6 months while we've been getting the parts to replace it. It's not so much a cost thing as a time thing, because we and our super cool friend who loves rebuilding cars in his spare time can repair it so that keeps costs low. He just happened to be working on a spare CA engine, you know, for kicks in his spare time, and was happy to finish it off and plonk it in my car. Our crazy friend reckons it will be on the road by Christmas.

Gib and our crazy friend, fixing the car. Again.

I've thought about selling it (but who on earth would buy it in its current state?!), but when it's on the road it's such a beautiful car. I love my car to bits and we've been through so much together. And it's a matter of pride now. To be honest, I think this is going to be one of those times when in about 30 years I'll look back and laugh and say "Haha! Wasn't buying that heap of crap Silvia a poor decision? But wasn't it fun!". And I wont ever be able to give crap to my children for their odd car purchases. It is a freaking cool car though. When it's running.

I should mention that I don't actually use my car all of that often, as I walk to work or carpool with the family, and I'm fortunate enough to live within close proximity to shopping centres, good places to eat and a good train line. Its intention was to always be a weekend car.

But I still want my car back.