It's not goodbye, it's see you later!

One post a month is all I've been managing, so I think it's time I took an official hiatus. I'm hoping to come back at some stage with a clearer idea of what I want this blog to be about.

In the meantime, I'll be:
~ learning French (albeit slowly)
~ getting healthier with regular dance, yoga and bike riding
~ starting a new job
~ spending time in the real world, you know, away from the computer

I'm still very much followable on twitter (if you're into that), and have a tumblr page full of pretty things (I think of it like an online inspiration board). Other people are tumblr-ing too - like Little Lost Love, and Friend For Keeps!

Il n'est pas au revoir, il est à plus tard...

Bye for now xx

Country weekend

I spent last weekend in Tolmie, Victoria - the town itself is just a pub and a general store. There were 14 of us on "Person Camp", as it was called, staying in a borrowed house all with our own creative projects to work on. I brought lots of half finished knitting and crochet things, but only came close to finishing one (the beige beret). Two days wasn't nearly long enough... I want to go back!

>> That's an actual polaroid I took, by the way. No cheating.

Just a minute... in September

While my blogging is almost at a standstill, I'm still tweeting and tumblr-ing! Here's the September roundup anyway:

Reading... the last of the Twilight books, so kill me (pardon the pun). Next on the list is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!

Watching... The Wire - just finished Season 1, ready for Season 2. It's addictive.

Listening... to Florence and the Machine, and a mish-mash of other things (as usual).

Eating... vegetarian food!

Knitting... the beige beret - it's taking quite a while though, hard to find knitting time.

Learning... French! I'm hanging in there (thanks again to Sabine for helping me), but it's a slow process. Some language learning tips I'm trying to implement:
- watching French films and TV shows
- write out shopping lists in French on one side, English on the other
- put labels on things all over the house with their French name
- visit Paris (yes, wishful thinking)

>> Just a Minute is an August Street thing in case you want to "officially" join in.

Green salad

There's something to be said for a simple green salad. I tend to like iceberg or cos lettuce best, and add any number of the following:
~ tomato
~ red /green capsicum
~ avocado (not negotiable!)
~ cucumber
~ red onion
~ cubed fetta/tasty cheese (or soy cheese)
~ black olives
~ carrot
~ snow peas

I generally don't have bottled salad dressing, so just mix up one part olive oil with one part balsamic vinegar to serve. Yum!

Baked raisin, date and walnut apples

Winter deserts are the best! To make these I used:
~ granny smith apples
~ currants (although the recipe called for raisins)
~ dates
~ walnuts
~ orange juice & zest
~ ground cinnamon
~ ground cloves
~ apple juice

>> Another one from The Low GI Vegetarian Cookbook by Jennie Brand-Miller, Kaye Foster-Powell, Kate Marsh and Philippa Sandall.

frankie ~ issue 31

Oh, frankie... it's so nice to see you again.

Just a minute... in August

I completely missed the July just a minute round-up, but I'm back in time for August!

Reading... the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. It's so trashy, and yet I'm so completely addicted.

Watching... Gossip Girl - anything set in New York gets my attention!

Listening... to lots of new music, like Grizzly Bear, the Dark Was the Night compilation, and the Dirty Projectors.

Eating... lots of asian-inspired noodley dishes, like Shiitake, ginger and tofu hokkien noodles, and Tofu, peanut and noodle stir fry.

Knitting... another one of the berets, in beige this time.

Learning... more French, albeit slowly, thanks to my French For Dummies book, and Sabine! J'aimerais aller en France pour l'utiliser un jour! (sometimes I cheat and check words in Google Translate, shhh)

Tofu, peanut and noodle stir fry

Another picture-perfect dinner! Actually very similar to the last one I posted, but this time ingredients were:
~ hokkien noodles
~ firm tofu
~ red capsicum
~ brocolli
~ onion
~ peanut butter
~ soy sauce
~ fresh ginger
~ crushed garlic

>> This recipe is taken from Kitchen Classics: Gourmet Vegetarian by Jane Price

Happy birthday to me...

This vintage-style am/fm radio was yet another birthday present! It's going to sit proudly in my bedroom corner with the New York calendar. Today is the best day ever.

Little birthday cupcakes

These Little Cupcakes were actually part of a present for someone else (we have the same birthday), but if I'm lucky I'll get to indulge in just one or two with him! Mmm... cupcakes!

Birthday post #4 - a squirrel on the wall!

As you may know, I have a bit of thing for squirrels, so this is possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen! I haven't named him yet, but he's going to live on the kitchen wall so I get to look at him all the time :) Truly, it's the perfect present for me, I'm so happy!

Thank you Hollie! xx

>> I'm not sure if I should send you to the Hokey shop, little lost love, or Vegan & Vintage... how about all three! You can also find her at the Rose Street Artist Market this weekend too.

Birthday post #3 - Ananya

I have so many wonderful things to say about the girl who gave me this (she too has a blog you should visit). It may look like any other perfume, but to me it's a favourite smell that cannot be bought in Australia (as far as I know), and another thoughtful present... still on it's way from the other side of the world!

Merci beaucoup, Sabine! x

Birthday post #2 - the bicycle bag

It's after midnight so I'm officially older! Hooray! (perhaps I shouldn't be so excited?) Anyway, the lovely Suzie of Button & Squiggle gave me this bicycle bag - very appropriate now that I'm riding my bike more often... including a 3 hour ride last weekend!

Thanks Suzie - I love it!

Birthday post #1 - Able & Game

I have to say, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world today (and it isn't even my birthday for another 3 minutes!). This is the first in a series of birthday present posts, because I just couldn't resist... I hope they don't mind!

If you haven't heard of Able & Game, check out the website - really cool, quirky cards! You can also find them at the Rose St Artists Market this Saturday & Sunday.

Thanks Anna!! :)