99 more things about me....

Another fun activity from Elsie Marley's blog...

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band - I am not the most musically gifted.
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland/world
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis - nope they are creepy.
10. sang a solo - no way!!! I would get major stage fright!!
11. bungee jumped - hell no, way too much of a scaredy cat.
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child - I've already got my family.
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the mona lisa in france
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked - nope too dangerous.
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb - I'm really not that interested in lambs.
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon - hehe sounds like torture.
28. ridden a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise - nope I get motion sickness.
33. seen niagara falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing - I'll let someone else do that for me.
40. seen michelangelo's david in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant - probably not something I would do.
44. visited africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance - I would rather not.
47. had your portrait painted
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the sistene chapel in person
50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkelling - nope fish scare me, I am such a wussy.
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theatre
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies - hmmm no.
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving - again way too wussy.
66. visited a nazi concentration camp - ummm no.
67. bounced a cheque - why would anyone want to do that?
68. flown in a helicopter - not overly fussed on this one.
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job - and I would rather not be.
76. seen the changing of the guard in london - don't think that would interest me.
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle - again the wussy in me.
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the vatican - not fussed on this one.
82. bought a brand new car - nothing wrong with second hand cars.
83. walked in jerusalem - not fussed.
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible - couldn't be bothered.
86. visited the white house - not fussed.
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating - I think I would rather not.
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life - I would if I could, but I would prefer not to be in that situation.
90. sat on a jury - I would prefer not to.
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one - do my cats count?
94. had a baby
95. seen the alamo in person - not interested.
96. swum in the great salt lake - nah.
97. been involved in a law suit - I would prefer not to.
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee

34 things I have done

32 things I haven't done and don't want to do

33 things I still want to do

Pretty even really :)

12 things about me...

I found this little concept on Elsie Marley's blog, the rules are as follows...

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into big huge labs mosaic maker.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name? Alicia
2. What is your favorite food? Cheesecake
3. What high school did you go to? Unley High School
4. What is your favorite color? Red
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Liev Schreiber
6. Favorite drink? Fire Engine (lemonade and red cordial)
7. Dream vacation? Paris
8. Favorite dessert? Trifle
9. What you want to be when you grow up? Self Employed
10. What do you love most in life? Family
11. One Word to describe you. Moody
12. Your flickr name. Scary Girl Album

Mmmmm Brownies and Christmas

Christmas has come and gone with a wink of the eye. Our little family had an alright day, unfortunately though Little Z was quite unsettled at christmas lunch with the extended family. She got so worked up that she wouldn't feed or sleep - but in the end she settled down and was her happy little self again. Oh well - I'm sure next christmas will be a whole different story.

Mat and I got quite spoilt this year - we received $400 from our parents, which we will be spending on nappies from baby beehinds. We also got $400 worth of Cole Myers vouchers and Mat wants me to spend on it some new clothes and shoes for my wardrobe - awwww! I got Mat a digital scale for his beer home brewing and he got me a lovely dress from Midwest Trader, we may have to return it for a two-piece outfit though since it is almost impossible to wear a dress while you are breastfeeding. We gave Little Z a collection of books, I really want to build up her library so that we have a great assortment of books to choose from. I think that is about it - so pretty spoilt really.

Now time for another recipe...

White & Dark Chocolate Walnut Brownies
Keep up to 5 days, or freeze up to 1 month (thaw in fridge)

Serves 12

Melted butter, to grease
300g dark chocolate, finely chopped
125g butter, chopped
2/3 cup caster sugar
2 eggs, lightly whisked
1 cup plain flour
200g white chocolate, chopped
100g walnut halves, chopped

Preheat oven to 180. Brush a square 19cm cake pan with melted butter to lightly grease. Line base and 2 opposite sides with non-stick baking paper, allowing it to overhang.

Place dark chocolate and chopped butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, until chocolate melts and mixture combines. Stir in sugar and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until well combined.

Remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Stir in eggs and flour. Add white chocolate and walnuts and stir until combined. Spoon into prepared pan and smooth the surface with the back of the spoon.

Bake in oven for 25 minutes (skewer should come out slightly sticky). Remove from oven and set aside for 3 hours to cool completely. Cut into squares to serve.

Digital Camera Research

After doing a bit of research I think I have found the digital camera to save up for it is the Canon IXUS 980 IS.

• 14.7 megapixels
• 3.7 optical zoom lens
• optical image stabiliser
• face detection technology
• motion detection technology
• 2.5" LCD screen
• red eye correction

Sounds like it is a really good all rounder and it is not overly expensive. It goes for about $500 on Digital Camera Warehouse - so I only have about $450 to save up. At least it is a goal to work towards.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way

It is christmas time again and our first ever christmas as a little family - awwww! We have the christmas tree up with a few presents under it, there are christmas cards pegged up around the house and I've been singing lots of christmas carols to Little Z. So I am definitely getting into the christmas cheer.

Yesterday Mat looked after Little Z for most of the day so that I could do some christmas baking - I made apricot balls, rum balls and truffles all from the wonderful Exclusively Food website. I must say they all turned out wonderfully but my favourite would have to be the delicious truffles. All of them were so easy to make, which is great when you have a 9 week old and not much spare time. Now I just need to wrap them up in some cellophane, tie them with string and pop them in my little christmas baskets to make them into presents for the relatives and my work. I love giving yummy home made gifts for christmas and most of the time people love receiving them.

Here is a photo of the yummy christmas goodness....

Speaking of photos I really want to get a new camera - I have decided that ours is too old and dodgy. Now I just need to research what camera to get and of course find the money to actually buy one. Or I could just dream about buying one for a while ... damn money!

Pork Balls

Pork Balls with Salad and Satay Sauce

Serves 4

850g pork mince

5 spring onions, sliced

1 tsp grated ginger

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 cup breadcrumbs

olive oil cooking spray

350ml satay sauce

handful of green beans, trimmed

1/2 cabbage, finely shredded

1 carrot, peeled and grated

1 cup beansprouts,

4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and quartered

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius. Combine the mince, onions, ginger, garlic and breadcrumbs in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper, and mix well. Roll spoonfuls into balls, place onto a plate and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Thread 3 meatballs onto each skewer, place on a baking tray and spray with oil. Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through. Meanwhile, heat the satay sauce until hot. Also steam the beans and cabbage until just cooked.

To serve, arrange bean sprouts, beans, carrot, cabbage, eggs, pork balls and satay sauce on a plate.

Enjoy!

Long time no see....

Well after disappearing for a good two months I am finally back on the blogging wagon :). First of all my disappearance was for a very good cause...

The ray of sunshine in my life - Zoe Lynne McCarthy. She joined us on the 17th of October in a relatively quick delivery and she has been keeping me very busy ever since. So far I would say that we have been incredibly lucky with little Z, no major dilemmas and in general she is a happy little girl (although lets not mention the arsenic hours :P). Since that fateful day life has been very different for our little family. We have definitely all been a lot more busy, but I think also we have found that we concentrate now on the more important things in life. It is amazing how a little one can help you forget about all the little things. And speaking of the little one I better get a move on before she wakes up from her morning sleep.

Time for a new recipe methinks...