Donating My Hair!

So about a year ago, I cut my hair short for World's Greatest Shave. Unfortunately, my fat head would never be able to pull off the shaved look, nor did I have the balls to find out. All good though - I managed to cut a whopping 39cm off! Well, that was just the ponytail... I then lost a tonne more due to styling... Was a sad day. The fact it was for a good cause made it a LOT easier to stomach!! ;)

Anyway, the day has come... It is time...... TO DONATE MY PONYTAIL. Yes, ladies and gents, I have kept my ponytail in a drawer for the past year. Occasionally, I pull it out and lovingly stroke it, and reminisce about the days when I would complain about how long it took to straighten, or the headaches it gave me, or how long it took to grow to the length it was..... But not often. Because I'm not THAT crazy....

Where am I donating my hair, I hear you ask? Ahhh, why to the Princess Charlotte Alopecia program, of course! The program is run through Variety, a children's charity organisation, and aims to give young sufferers of alopecia a sense of confidence, independence and self-esteem, through the provision of specialised wigs! These wigs are essentially a priceless gift, due to the confidence they instill in the children, which in turn means those alopecia sufferers are able to take part in the activities they love and enjoy, but were too scared to participate in before receiving a wig.
And who doesn't love making kids smile?!!!! Ugh, I could go through life giving and giving to organisations who help sick kids, and never grow tired of it. :)

It took me awhile to find a program worthy of receiving my hair. Don't get me wrong, I am fully aware that anyone would love and be grateful for my hair, but I wanted to give it to someone ...I don't know. It took a lot for me to be willing to actually part with my hair. Alopecia is something that a lot of people don't know about, and maybe I can bring awareness to another handful of people, who will one day bring awareness to another handful of people.... It's all about that chain reaction!

So, enough rambling from me. .

Peace out.

- L. x

The ponytail in question.

Dentists..........

Suck.

That is all.

- L. x

Lemony Chicken with Broccoli

I'm trying oh-so-hard to find a million ways to incorporate broccoli into dinner without just having plain '30-second-steamed' broccoli on the side of most meals. This turned out pretty good!
As a sidenote - I have a photographic memory, so sometimes I see a recipe and then remember the key ingredients or whatever, then incorporate those ingredients into what I believe to be my own creation. So whilst I think I'm being totally original (or not... someone out there has pretty much combined every pairable ingredient possible!), I may have been unknowingly inspired by someone else. We're all Masterchefs in here though. ;)

Served myself and Spawn, with enough leftovers for both of us to have again for lunch tomorrow!

INGREDIENTS:
1kg chicken breast, diced bite-size
1 medium brown onion, finely diced
250g mushrooms, sliced
1 lemon
300g broccoli, steamed (I steam for about a minute - just so it's more vibrant and heated)
1 tspn ground cumin
1 tspn dried basil
1 tspn dried oregano
Salt & pepper, to season

METHOD:
Heat large frying pan over medium heat and add oil/fat of choice.
Add onion and mushroom and cook until starting to soften, then add chicken and mix well.
Once chicken is just about cooked, add cumin, oregano, basil, juice of lemon, and broccoli. Mix around and then add salt and pepper to taste, and more oil/fat if needed. Test to ensure chicken is seasoned to your liking - if not, add more salt/pepper/herbs/lemon, then stir and serve!
I served this meal with brown rice, but would be great with cauliflower rice or mash as well.

Enjoy!

- L. x
(Will add a photo next time - was running late with dinner tonight, lol.)

Ooooh, burrrn.

Oh! Oh! Oh! Have to blog this while it's fresh.

You know what I hate?! Being one of those people who HAS to have dinner on the table at 17:30.
Why?? Because it means I can get phone calls regarding jobs I've applied for (and other useless calls) while I'm sitting down to eat.
Case in point: I just sat down to enjoy my tofu stir-fry. It smells so good that I practically started INHALING it the second my butt hit the chair. I was just putting a piece of almost raw (the best way to eat it!) broccoli into my mouth, when my phone rang. I recognised the number as being that of "X", so quickly chewed and swallowed. By the time the broccoli was traveling down my throat, I had missed X's call. Ugh. No problem! *calls back* VOICEMAIL. Leave brief 'phone tag' message, then resume eating, thinking I probably won't hear back until tomorrow..... A few minutes later, I had JUST put piece of broccoli in mouth and my phone rings again! Bugger this; I'm so not playing phone tag all evening! So I swallow the exceptionally large piece of broccoli WHOLE. Gotta love not having a gag reflex. ;)
Exchange pleasantries with X. Discover this call is basically a rejection call. "The other candidate we're going to interview has a fraction more experience than you, which is why we've decided to interview her over you. However, should we decide not to go with this candidate, we will be in touch."
Okay, that's fine. I get that - I know I'm super green with my freshly completed education and lack of workplace experience.......BUT WHY DID YOU HAVE TO TELL ME THIS NOW?! Why not just call me tomorrow and reject me/ask for an interview????? Some people make NO SENSE AT ALL.
And now I'm sitting here with a piece of broccoli chilling uncomfortably at the entrance to my stomach, all thanks to this 'maybe' phone call.

....I need an alternate ending for when I'm feeling anything but "peaceful".

- L. x

Mad Woman, Bad Woman, that's just what you are...

Yeah, you'll smile in my face then rip the brakes out my car.

Remember that time I mentioned my waning sanity??? Well, it's waning some more right now. Well, today. Why is parenting so hard? Why don't you get an instruction manual, that also includes a list of common issues children dish out over the years?!! I swear, the person who comes up with that manual, and finds a way to give it to everyone in the country (or world!) deserves a prize. Like, a country or something equally epic.

Soooo. How's the serenity?! No, really. Tell me. I forget what it's like to know real peace! Even while Spawn is at school - and I CHERISH those precious 6.5 hours - I never really experience serenity. There are always floors to clean, dishes to do, food to prep, shopping to do, people to see, cleaning to do, toys to hide.....I mean, put away.
DOES. IT. EVER. END?!! Who knows? Maybe some great-grandparents know. Although, I suspect they're facing their own problems....like incontinence.

I'm looking forward to watching The Walking Dead (s5e10 for those in the know) tonight. Ahhh, nothing like some mindless zombie action to distract a crazy lady. Daryl is supposed to have a decent appearance tonight. I miss him. He was such a crazy redneck when he first came on the scene - I'm not sure when I developed a little crush on him?!!! And he's old!!! Like, (almost) as old as my parents! Creeps me out. He aged well. *excited*

If you need me, I'll be that weird lady in the corner talking to herself about the days when sanity was a thing she knew well.........

Peace out.

- L. x

Stupid Feelings & Emotions.

So I had three job interviews on Tuesday... This was a super fun experience! ..err.

Anyway, one of the interviews turned out to be for a position I didn't really want, but as I can't afford to be picky, I went into the interview and gave it my best shot.
Apparently I NAILED the interview! Like, the guy would hire me as he could see me being a long-term employee at the firm. However between myself and the other girl he interviewed, he managed to decide to go down the traineeship path with the position I interviewed for, which obviously takes me (and the other girl) out of the running.

Has anyone ever experienced this bittersweet moment?? I'm so proud that my interview skills are improving significantly (and I seriously thought I did so bad in this interview - it was the last one of the day and I was super frazzled lol!) and that I was able to help the firm out, however I'm simultaneously excited AND bummed that I didn't get the job. :/

Ugh, feelings and emotions suck. o.O

This Friday afternoon ramble was proudly brought to you by Cadbury Chocolate, PMS, and silly Melbourne weather.

Peace out.

- L.

Sausage Rolls

So, I'm not really a fan of sausage rolls... Something about the texture of sausage meat makes me ill.... It's so.....sausagey. Bleh!

Anyway, I experimented and tweaked recipes to my tastes, whilst still keeping Spawn happy (Spawn LOVES sausage rolls!). These are still a work in progress, but I have the 'meat' aspect perfected! Next stop, pastry. Gluten-free pastry can be a pain in the backside!!!

INGREDIENTS:
500g lean beef mince
300g lean chicken mince
2 eggs
1 small onion, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 carrot, grated
1 cup breadcrumbs (I use GF, but regular would work the same)
1 tbspn mixed herbs
1/2 tspn ground nutmeg
Squirt BBQ sauce
Salt & pepper, to taste
3 sheets frozen puff pastry (or your own puff pastry, if you're better than I am - feel free to share your recipe!)
Sesame seeds, to garnish

METHOD:
Preheat oven to 200° and line two large trays with baking paper. 
Add all ingredients, minus 1 egg to a large bowl and mix well, using your hands to ensure the two meats are combined. 
Cut each sheet of pastry in half. Grab enough meat mix to cover approx. 1/3 of the pastry, and roll into a sausage before adjusting to fill the pastry from one end to the other. Crack the remaining egg into a small bowl and gently whisk, then spread a little on the other edge of the pastry, before rolling lengthways. Place sausage roll on tray with join facing down, and repeat until all are done. Brush the tops with egg and then sprinkle with sesame seeds (or cracked pepper) and then put in oven for 20-25 minutes, until golden.
If you plan on cutting the sausage rolls into snack-size, gently mark the tops of the sausage rolls with a knife, but do not cut through until they have cooked and cooled slightly, as this ensures they don't dry out.

Serve with sauce, or on their own.
Can be frozen in airtight container/bag for 6 weeks. 

- L. x

When I was a Little Girl....

I wasn't a conventional little girl. Sure, I went through a phase (probably between 6-8) where I loved barbies and all things pink, but I quickly turned into a bit of a tomboy. I preferred to climb trees and hang with the boys, rather than play with dolls and talk about boys. ;)

We all know that a lot of little girls LOVE to plan their future fairytale wedding....... Yeahhhh, I wasn't one of those girls. While my friends were off cutting up wedding magazines, I was cutting up magazines that contained my ideal house. Thankfully, my design folder has changed over the years to accommodate the change in styles/technology, but I still keep all my old dreams in the back.....just in case. You never know when linoleum flooring could once again become a dream, LOL.
So anyway, I found this folder today. And I realised that while I wasn't off planning a princess wedding, I sure was designing a princess house. Converted attic included.
Not sure if you know this or not, but attics aren't exactly common in Australia. That's more of a breeding ground for spiders, possums, and drop bears..... Not to mention that my "dream house" of the early to mid 90s was based on your typical 'Queenslander'. So my young brain had such big plans for this house that I would one day own (which, by the way, was supposed to be before I turned 30.... There is no way in hell that is going to happen, LOL.)

I miss being young and believing that the world was my oyster - if I could think it up, I could make it happen. There is something appealing about the naivety of youth!
For example, I'm currently watching my son build a lego spaceship that will take him to Uranus *insert childish giggle* when he's big like Uncle Dan and Uncle Mick. :)

Peace out!

- L. x

This house is super similar to the one of my dreams, circa 1993.

Misophonia.

Misophonia (mis-oh-foh-niă)
Noun. dislike of or aversion to sound.

Sometimes referred to as 'selective sound sensitivity syndrome', misophonia is a rare neuropsychiatric disorder in which experiences such as anger, hatred, flight and disgust are triggered by specific sounds.

Hands up who thinks they could be a candidate for this disorder???!
*puts hand up*
Not going to lie - I am one of those people who, in certain circumstances, can be easily aggravated. Especially where sound is concerned! I cannot stand people who chew with their mouth open - Spawn learnt very quickly to close his trap whilst chewing! I also despise the sound of weird breathers, high pitch sounds, air-conditioners at night, and other random sounds.
I always thought it a little weird that certain sounds could evoke such violence to pour out of me without notice, so imagine my surprise to learn that this is actually a real thing. People actually get diagnosed with this!!! Like, WHAT ON EARTH!? Are there any misophonia sufferers out there??? Talk to me! :)

Further information on this disorder can be found here.

Peace out.

- L. x

Blackberry & White Chocolate Muffins

So these are the result of inter-species breeding between a muffin and a friand. They're not quite as dense as a friand, but too dense to be a muffin. To summarise; they're awesome! :D

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups plain flour
2 tspn baking powder
1/2 cup caster sugar
125g white chocolate bits
1 cup buttermilk**
1 tspn vanilla extract
100g butter, melted
1 punnet blackberries

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 180° and lightly grease a muffin pan.
Sift flour and baking powder into large bowl, then add sugar, choc bits, and stir until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and butter, then add to flour mixture and stir with a metal spoon until combined. (do NOT over-mix!) Then gently mix through blackberries.
Divide the mixture between 12 muffin holes, then using the back of the spoon, gently swirl the top of the muffins to smooth the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until skewer comes out clean.
Allow to cool slightly before removing. Best enjoyed warm, or within 24 hours. I made these yesterday and they're already getting a little dry. (Good enough for the 5 year old, though!)

**you can make your own kind of buttermilk by adding a little white vinegar to a cup of milk and letting it stand for 10 minutes.

Officially a 'School Mum'!

So Spawn (not his real name, although I have contemplated having it changed in the past) had his first full day at school today! This was interesting. Six and a half hours of FREEDOM.
He was fine, naturally. Had a blast! I on the other hand, was bored. One can only do so much cleaning before there is nothing left to clean!! I'm trying to pace myself so I don't run out of tasks, and obviously there will be things to do everyday, courtesy of the 5 year old boy spawn resident, but BIG tasks.... Well, there aren't many. My house is small. I do not have a backyard. I do not hoard, therefore there is minimal clutter.

So what does one do to kill time in such a situation???
One Google's cleaning techniques. I looked for new ways to clean things in different ways! Today I cleaned my shower, using bicarb and dish washing liquid. Not the Viva shower wipes that I generally use for their ease. Noooooope. I did it the hard way! And it was more rewarding!!!! Who needs a gym membership when you can scrub your house with bicarb, gloves and a scrubbing brush? ;)

So anyway, I have decided I may be certifiably insane a lot earlier than I first anticipated. I think I need to rediscover the meaning of 'social life', LOL.

Peace out.

- L. x

Peach Cobbler

This recipe is so simple, yet so yummy!
Definitely not healthy, but a great treat for a cold Winter's day...... You can substitute the peach for any fruit you like, or add to it. I frequently add berries, and sometimes I use coconut milk instead of cows milk.:)

INGREDIENTS:
125g butter, melted
1 cup plain flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tspn baking powder
3/4 cup milk
1 tin peaches, drained

METHOD:
Preheat oven to 180°.
Pour melted butter into a lightly greased glass casserole dish.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and milk in a bowl until there is no lumps, then pour into the centre of the dish. Do not mix the mixture with the butter anymore than it has already done so.
Place the peaches on top of the mixture, arranging prettily around the edge, if you desire.
Cook in oven for 45 minutes, or until the top of the cobbler is golden brown. BEWARE: it can be deceiving and appear uncooked in parts, but it settles down nicely once it has cooled.
Allow to cool slightly, then cut and serve. I serve it on its own, but apparently it's great with cream, icecream, custard, etc.

ENJOY. I know I will.

- L. x

This was my first attempt - I now place the peaches more around the edge, with only the small bits in the middle. Looks prettier. ;)

Sunday Funday & Those Damn Cyclists!

So today was the Cadel Evans GOR bike race, here in Geelong. Usually I love living where I do; across from the river in a cute little area. Until that area suffers horrific road closures all day so that a bunch of cyclists can race around in lycra!!!!
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for cyclists using their legs to get around, instead of creating pollution and further damaging our damaged planet.............until they get in my way. Then it's game on - I've even got the face paint to put on my war face!

Eh, wasn't so bad. Geelong looks pretty on camera. Go Australia! ;)

So, Sunday. The day before THAT day. You know, the worst day of the week?
I spent most of the day food prepping (which of course, is something I do), with the exception of walking to the park and getting frostbite thanks to Mother Nature failing dismally at her job. Does anyone remember what Summer is supposed to be like??? Shouldn't I be complaining of sweaty cleavage and sunburn, not being cold and hating the fact that I had to dig out my winter wardrobe in February??! Meanwhile, CANADA is having great weather, apparently. Damn Canucks. (I love you, Canada. Let's be friends!)

Then, to top off my fantastically boring Sunday, my internet drops out. Hmph. Here I am, trying to meal plan around the sauces and other random things I prepared today, and I lose internet whilst hunting down recipes!! Telstra, I do not pay you an obscene amount of money each month for you to drop out on me!! I was just bragging yesterday about how my internet NEVER. DROPS. OUT. Now I look like a liar. Not cool.

SINCERIOUSLY. How's this word!? I'm a bit of an Arrow addict, therefore I am also a Stephen Amell addict. Actually, I think my love for Captail Amell allows me to love Arrow more. He's such an amazing human being. When I grow up, I hope I can be half the philanthropist that he is.
Swore I'd use sinceriously in my next blog post. It is definitely something I love to do - speak sinceriously, that is.
For those who do not know, you'll find Captain Amell's definition of sinceriously below.

Okay, enough rambling from me, for now. ;)

Peace out!

- L. x