London, England

23 – 29 September 2018

Arriving in London around 10.45pm on Sunday night from Edinburgh, we caught a cab to our accommodation in Chelsea.

Our accommodation while we were here was a fourth floor apartment on Lexham Gardens which we booked through Airbnb, and was just down the road from Earls Court tube station.

After a good night’s sleep we bought an Oyster Card each and caught the tube from Earls Court to Marble Arch, where we wandered around and had a coffee in Selfridges. The cab ride home was through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, past Royal Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial. We bought some dinner and essentials from Sainsburys and had a night in the apartment, finishing with a game of Five Crowns, an awesome card game that my sister’s friend bought for her.

Day Two was a slow start – catching up on sleep and doing a few loads of washing before leaving the apartment around midday, catching the tube to Piccadilly Circus and into Lilywhites for some retail therapy.

After spending a small fortune and grabbing some bargains, we enjoyed lunch at Pizza Express, before visiting Leicester Square – dropping into Lego World and M&M World.

Mark and I quickly popped into the casino and won £60! Winning!

After another leisurely start, on Day Three we made our way to Buckingham Palace, catching the tube and getting off at Green Park station. We were too late to see the changing of the guards but the Palace was impressive all the same!

We went to Shake Shack for lunch then Mark went to a barber for a hair and beard cut. He got the full service for £45 ($80!!) A bit pricey but they did a good job.

Westminster Abbey was booked for the afternoon so we made our way down there. What a magnificent building!

I didn’t realise there were so many tombs within the Abbey. It gave me an eerie feeling knowing that so many people were buried there. We weren’t allowed to take photos inside but got a few pics outside. The ceilings and stained glass windows are amazing!

The Piccadilly tube line was on strike until Friday so we took the Jubilee Line to Victoria then swapped to the District Line to get home. We got caught in peak hour tube strike traffic which was amazing to be a part of! There were so many people but we got home in the end.

I would have to say that riding the tube is probably my favourite thing about London. #mindthegap

Day Four was a quiet morning. Mark and I had a quick coffee in a cafe down the street while Kristi and Violet got their nails done. In the afternoon we headed to the West End to see Aladdin on stage at the Prince Edward Theatre on Old Compton Road, London.

After dinner at Brewmaster, we headed home on the tube.

On Day Five we took a trip to the Camden Markets and Camden High Street, catching the District and Northen Lines to Camden Town. Camden High Street is a hive of activity but is quite dirty compared to Chelsea and Earls Court. Violet bought some Vans and Kristi and I bought some Converse – shoes are so cheap here! – then headed to the markets.

After a coffee and a drink for the kids, we had a quick look around where of course I found a couple of vinyl shops and bought Roxy Music “Flesh and Blood”. I also purchased three Banksy prints.

After the markets, we caught the tube to Waterloo Station and wandered through South Bank to Festival Pier where we caught the ferry down the Thames to Greenwich. Along the way, we saw St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, and other famous landmarks.

Due to time restraints, we couldn’t head up to Greenwich to see the Greenwich Mean Time, so we stayed on the boat and made our way back down the Thames and saw the London Eye, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben (which is hidden under scaffolding).

We caught the tube to Knightsbridge and stopped in at Harrods. Wowsers! That place can blow your mind!

Kristi had a ticket to see “Kinky Boots” on the West End at the Adelphi Theatre. Us Sealy’s opted to stay in where we ordered a curry through Uber Eats – which was so yummy! I was in my pjs watching Gogglebox UK by 7.30pm. It was a great ending to a great day!

On Day Six, Mark was up at 4.30am getting ready for the West Coast Eagles game. There were no local pubs showing the game and we couldn’t get it on telly so we listened to it via the AFL footy app. What a game! We won! Mark was ecstatic and made sure the whole of Chelsea knew about it!

We checked out of our apartment at 11am and got two Ubers to Paddington Station, where we caught the train to Reading, the town where my Dad grew up, off to spend some time with the family which I’m so looking forward to.

Edinburgh, Scotland

22 – 23 September 2018

A one hour flight from Amsterdam had us arrive in Edinburgh just before 10.00pm, to a temperature of just 2 degrees. We pre-arranged for Sun Transfers to pick us up and take us to our accommodation.

We booked Grand Harbour Apartments in Leith, located about 20 minutes from Edinburgh Old Town. The location is similar to Fremantle Harbour or Port Coogee, with multiple high rise accommodation and self serviced short stay apartments.

After a comfortable nights sleep, we walked about 7 minutes down the road to a full breakfast at Brewers Fayre where the kids ate free. Little do they know that the kids eat more than me!

We only had a day to explore Edinburgh so after breakfast we caught an Uber to Edinburgh Castle. We’d bought our tickets when we were in Amsterdam so we didn’t miss out. A tour of the castle was on Mark’s bucket list and it didn’t disappoint.

Our Uber driver was great and very informative, pointing out landmarks and fun facts along the way.

Edinburgh Castle is very impressive. Perched high on Castle Rock overlooking the City; it’s hard to look away from its stature. Picturing its inhabitants and the life they must have led over some 1100 years is hard to imagine.

After a walk around the Castle and having some photos taken against its beautiful backdrop, we made our way down the hill and after a quick bite to eat, we took a stroll through Princes Street Gardens and the town before catching an Uber back to the apartment to pack and head back to Waverley Station to catch the train to Kings Cross, London.

I got chatting to a lady over breakfast who informed me that, if there are any spare seats in first class, then you can take them and just pay the difference, which we did (an extra £25 each). With unlimited drinks and snacks plus super comfy seats, this was well worth the additional cost for the 4-hour journey.

We arrived in London around 10.45pm and caught a cab to our London accommodation.

I’m so excited and happy to finally be in England. With half my family living here, it’s going to be so great to catch up with a fair few of them in a weeks time. But until then, we have a week of London to enjoy 😊

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

20 – 22 September 2018

The first part of this blog post is about our departure from Italy – which was a nightmare! Who would’ve known it would be so hard to get a ride to the airport! My advice to you – if you are travelling to Rome, order your transfers as early as you can. Before you leave home, if possible.

We searched for an Uber the night before we were due to leave which turned out to be quite expensive so we didn’t book it, thinking the price would go down instead of up. Big mistake. Huge.

As there are five of us with five large suitcases, 5 ports and 5 bags, we need a van to get places which turns out is not easy to find in Rome. After attempting to flag down a taxi – many of whom drove straight past us once they saw all our luggage – we finally managed to get a one-way 45-minute Uber ride to the airport for €186 ($300!) That price hurt deep!

Because of the delay in getting a transfer, we then missed our flight to Amsterdam, meaning we had to cancel our non-refundable flight, searching high and low across many airlines for a new flight which we finally booked at a cost of $2,500. Ouch!!

What a shit of a day.

But then … we arrived in Amsterdam. Beautiful Amsterdam. ❤🌷🇱🇺

From the minute we got off the plane I knew I would love it here. Schiphol Airport is amazing – it’s like a city all it’s own. The train and bus terminal is connected to the airport and Schiphol Plaza Shopping Centre is attached also. Violet saw H&M straight away so she was happy. It’s impressive to say the least!

Because of the dramas early on in the day, we also had to cancel our non-refundable transfers; but managed to flag down a taxi to take us to our hotel.

We arrived at Hotel de Looier five hours later than originally scheduled. Hotel de Looier is located on Derde Looiersdwarsstraat 75, which is centrally located within the canal district.

We dumped our bags in our rooms (again, we had a quadruple room and Kristi had her own across the hall) and headed out for a walk along the canals.

The amount of bikes in Amsterdam is extraordinary. It can be quite daunting to cross the street as you not only have to look for cars but bikes also, plus they drive on the opposite side of the road to us.

Coffee shops are everywhere and the smell of marijuana is overwhelming. We walked past many but didn’t go in.

Dinner was at La Festa Pizzeria. The tortellini I ordered was amazing!

We were grateful for an early night after the big day we had. My head hit the pillow at 8.15pm and I didn’t wake till morning. I needed that sleep!

Friday was our only full day in Amsterdam so again, we had to make the most of it.

Over an early morning breakfast in the hotel dining room, we searched through many pamphlets and brochures of things we wanted to do and came up with a list.

We bought a 24/hr ticket for the Hop On/Hop Off boat from our hotel reception. There are two separate boats that go in opposite directions through the canals. We bought a ticket for the blue line which has seven stops. We walked along the canals towards Stop No. 3 which is outside Anne Frank Huis. We were unable to get tickets for this tour as it was sold out so after a quick lunch at Pancakes Amsterdam – and FaceTime with Mum back home – we got on the Hop On/Hop Off boat for a trip through the canals. We were provided headphones for the journey to learn all about the history of Amsterdam. It’s a great way to see the city and the gorgeous homes, shops and buildings that line the canals.

We disembarked the boat at Stop No. 2 as we had bought tickets for This is Holland, a simulated experience that has you flying over Holland. No joke, this was one of the best things we have done so far! It was really educational – for us and the kids – and so much fun! If you ever visit Amsterdam, you must do it.

By 4.45pm, we were back on the boat heading towards home. We made our way to Moco Museum for a Banksy exhibition. For those who don’t know who Banksy is, he is an English graffiti artist who is famous for his political satirical pieces which he graffities all over the world in complete anonymity.

Then the wet weather set in. We ended the day with dinner at BurgerMeester before heading home for the night to rest our weary feet.

We started Saturday with breakfast at the hotel and then a walk to the Flower Market. The canal district is absolutely beautiful but it’s very easy to get disoriented. We took the “scenic route” past a chocolate shop because we’d be mad not to, right?

The Flower Market was good but very busy. I would love to see it in Tulip Season.

It was very cold today – it felt like Melbourne weather. We caught an Uber to Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s largest park. We only had a very short time before our transfer was picking us up for the airport.

We hired bikes from A-Bikes for a quick ride around the park. I’m so glad we did. It was such a great experience to be able to ride like the locals.

We were back at the airport by 2.40pm, checked our baggage, then headed for lunch and shopping before our flight to Edinburgh.

Thanks Amsterdam, you were everything and more ❤

* Sorry folks, we didn’t visit the Red Light District so I have no saucy stories for you.

Rome, Italy

18 – 19 September 2018

Our 5.30pm flight from Perth to Abu Dhabi on Monday went off without a hitch, except for the passengers in front of us reclining their seats so far back that (luckily) there were spare seats down the front that we were able to relocate to. Violet stayed where she was and managed to have a whole four seats to herself for the 11 hour journey to Abu Dhabi!

We got into Abu Dhabi at 1am – where we experienced a 32 degree temperature! Our luggage was checked through to Rome so we made our way to the Premier Inn which is an airport hotel. After quickly picking up some McDonald’s we were checked in by 1.45am and asleep by 2.30am, with our alarms set for 6.30am.

That four hour sleep felt like a full 8 hours sleep which made our decision to get an airport hotel a great one! It was the best $100 we spent. We would not have gotten such a good rest had we just hung around the airport while in transit.

Our six-hour flight from Abu Dhabi had us arrive in Rome at 1pm. Violet wasn’t feeling the best on the trip (she gets travel sickness) so she and Mark got moved to the front of the plane to give her more space – just in case.

Also, FYI for all you crocheters – I managed to take a crochet hook onto the plane and crocheted for most of the journey. I’m making a “holiday blanket”.

After a slight mix up with our transfers which had us waiting at the airport for well over an hour, we were taken to our accommodation.

We literally feared for our lives on this journey! Travelling over 150km/hr, I’m sure the driver thought he was driving a Ferrari – not a minivan! It was white knuckles all the way!

Our accommodation was BB Home77 – a bed and breakfast-style apartment. Mark, the kids and I had a quadruple room and Kristi, my sister, had her own room. The rooms are very comfortable and very accommodating. There are 6 separate rooms that all share a communal “hang out” space in the foyer where you can have unlimited snacks, breakfast, croissants, tea, coffee and orange juice.

Dinner on our first night was at an Italian restaurant called Da Giggetto Pizzeria which is a five minute walk from our accommodation. We had some yummy pasta, cheeseburgers and pizza.

 

Wednesday was our only full day in Rome so we had to make the most of it! For some reason, my body clock woke me up at 4.15am.

We heard someone in the other room leaving early at 5am. By 5.30am, Mark and I had made ourselves a coffee and a croissant and studied the map that the hotel manager gave us, pinpointing all the sites and bus routes.

While researching information about the Colosseum and getting our tickets, it seemed we had left it too late and they were sold out! Why did we not pre-book them?! I had another search and managed to find 5 tickets for 5.05pm.

We left our hotel rooms at 8.15am and headed downstairs to Tribeca Cafe for breakfast. An American Breakfast set us back €10 and we were served the prettiest coffees that were decorated with chocolate syrup as opposed to chocolate powder like back home.

Side note: as lovely as the Italians are, the men do like to ogle. And they’re not shy about it either!

We walked to the tobacconist on the corner to buy our MetroBus tickets. These cost €1.50 each and are valid for 100 minutes from their first validation.

After waiting for half an hour at the bus stop, we caught the No. 62 bus and headed down Via del Tritone.

After six stops, we got off and after a very short walk, we saw it. The Trevi Fountain. Wow, the fountain was beautiful! There were so many people there but it had a calm, peaceful feeling about it. After some photos, we each got a gelato – I was told by a co-worker that the Pistachio gelato was a must and it didn’t disappoint! We sat back and took in the atmosphere and the total “are we actually here?” experience.

After half a day of shopping, walking ( lots of walking!) and eating, we started our 30 min journey to the Colosseum. It was so great to walk there because we got to see and experience so much more than we would have seen if we had’ve caught the bus.

It was amazing to see the Colosseum. Australia just doesn’t have the history of countries like Italy so it really is something else to be here and see it for yourself. Statues, columns and monuments are at every turn.

We were early to our designated timeslot so after a lengthy wait, we entered the Colosseum just after 5pm.

The sheer size of this structure is jaw dropping. To know that you are stepping in the same footsteps as people did many years ago is not gone unnoticed. I will say though that the Colosseum is very much a tourist attraction. There were at least three thousand people in the Colosseum when we were there.

We stayed for about an hour before heading over to the MetroTrain to make our way home.

Three stops and a short walk saw us back at our hotel room to rest our weary feet. Being a tourist is hard work!

We opted to have dinner in on our last night in Rome so we picked up some freshly sliced meats, cheese and Turkish bread from the local supermarket. Bellissima!

It’s an early check out tomorrow, bound for Amsterdam 😊

A Month of Baking

There must’ve be something in the water this past month because I was hit hard with the baking bug, searching my Pinterest food board for yummy recipes to try. I used to be hesitant to try things from Pinterest – I think most of us pin things to our boards with all the intentions but never get around to baking/making/doing/reading etc. Or is that just me?

This post is a quick snapshot of my month of baking with reference to all the delicious recipes. Maybe you might like to try some yourself?

I’ve gone back to my Instagram feed to find out what I made first (let’s face it, most things get shared on IG) and the first thing I baked were these Orange, Lemon and Lime Citrus Cookies.  As you know, winter is all about the citrus (although it seems totally odd to me that citrus is not a summer thing?) and I have some girlfriends with bountiful lemon trees that were only too happy to share their growings with me. These cookies were so good, always best straight from the oven. On this day, I also made some scones and a Lime Coconut Cake from a recipe that I found from the Taste website. This is the second time I’ve made this cake – this time I added a cream cheese frosting – but I still didn’t like it. It seemed a bit heavy and dry. Am I doing something wrong? Do you bake with limes? Can you give me any advice?

Scones, Lime Coconut Cake and Lemon, Orange and Lime Citrus Cookies

These Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies were delicious! I’ve never made a glaze before but it’s so super easy. I shared these with friends and they seemed to like them too.

Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies

I then went a bit loopy for muffins – a trio in fact. I wrote about it here. I made Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, Double Chocolate Muffins and Lemon Poppyseed Muffins. All were delicious and very handy for lunchboxes for the kids. I shipped some off to my parents’ too for their morning tea.

(L-R): Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, Double Chocolate Muffins, Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

I didn’t “bake” this Korma Curry Paste but I did make it from scratch courtesy of Jamie Oliver and to say I’m a bit chuffed is an understatement. The best thing of all is that I finally used my mortar and pestle! Now that I’ve made this curry paste I can’t see me using the jar stuff anymore, as yummy as it is. This is a solid fave in our house now.

Jamie Oliver’s Korma Curry Paste

Last week after school I whipped up these Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies from The Girl Who Ate Everything (although mine weren’t big and fat, they were chewy and delicious!) I also made these Coconut and Oatmeal Cookies which were a hit, even for my fussy son. Winning!

Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

And to round off the month, I finished it with baking a Fudgey Chocolate Chunk Brownie, fit for afternoon tea with friends. I didn’t have any chocolate chunks so I added some milk and white choc chips instead to the recipe. I also made a chocolate icing for the top but this recipe doesn’t really need it as it’s a bit sweet. Sugar overload!

Fudgey Chocolate Chunk Brownie

So there you have it. A month of cooking and baking and eating and sharing yummy, delicious treats. Let me know how you go if you choose to bake anything that I’ve baked.

Aimee x

Time Spent in the Country

I love where I live. I love how even though my little country suburb is getting more and more populated, I love that just down the road, 10 minutes from home in the neighbouring suburb, there are some country markets. Proper country markets; where most of the market-goers are over the age of 60, yet the younger generations are also here with their little kids, starting a whole new love of these type of traditional markets.

These are the type of markets that are set up on a block of land, probably land that has been owned by the same family for decades, set beneath the beautiful, willowy canopies of the trees. Folk young and old are chatting over coffee, sampling produce or having a bite to eat while waiting for the auctions to start.

   

   

Yes, did I mention that these markets also auction livestock? There is so much awesomeness here! Mark is in his element (he’s even registered to bid!) and we’re hoping to go home with some chickens. You can also bid on pigs, sheep, goats and even a baby alpaca!

Up the back of the property they auction off household items and other such things. Down the front amongst the trees there are all kinds of wares for sale. There are plants, herbs and succulents  (I bought some hibiscus plants – the old boy even threw one in for free!), even jams and preserves made by a little old lady. I bought some raspberry jam from her – it’s mine and the kids’ favourite. I can imagine her in her kitchen making these little jars of wonderfulness. That makes it all the more special and we all know homemade is the best. There’s large jars of pickled onions for sale, soap made with goats milk, vintage crockery and other bits and pieces. There’s even a bouncy castle for the kids.

On the way in to the markets there was a fruit and veg guy. I bought four big spuds, four pink lady apples and two bananas. All this came to a grand total of $2.00! What that actual what?! Two bucks! That’s crazy! I even asked him to check the weight to be sure. How can you seriously go past fresh produce with prices like these?

The pigs are getting auctioned at the moment. I’d say the sheep and alpacas are next, then we’ll be bidding for some chooks. We’re only bidding on one lot which has three hens. I really hope we get it but there’s heaps of people here so probably not.

Well, did we win the chooks? Woohoo, we sure did! We are now the proud owners of three little chookies! A Plymouth Rock, a Rhode Island Red, and a Wyandotte/Sussex! Can’t wait to get them home 😊

What a great day …

Aimee x

So Many Questions

I do my best thinking in the shower. It’s the number one place where my mind wanders and I have so many thoughts and questions and ideas but I never have a pen to write them down.

Here are some of the questions that have come out of today’s shower experience. Do men think this much? What do men think about? Seriously, I’d love to know. 

* Am I good mum?

* Do I yell at the kids too much?

* Do they know how much I love them?

* Do I do enough for them?

* Am I a good friend?

* Do I talk too much?

* Do I speak “wanker” too often?

* Do people really care to know what I did on my holidays?

* Am I too fat?

* Does it really matter if I am?

* Do people judge me for it?

* Do I care if they do?

* Am I a good wife?

* Do I give my husband everything he needs?

* Did I win the lottery from yesterday’s ticket and they just haven’t called me yet?

* I want to volunteer my time – I really must look into that. 

* Why did I go for an hour-long walk this afternoon and then come home and eat a cupcake? Doesn’t that just negate the purpose of exercise?

I think I need to take shorter showers …

Aimee x

A Shoutout to My Fave Movie Couples

Watching TV and movies is one of my most favourite things to do. I used to be a little bit ashamed of admitting this – some consider it a “lazy” pastime. Now I don’t give a fuck who knows. I friggen’ love it! A comfy couch, a blanket, something yummy to snack on and a hot cuppa while watching the newest release or an all time classic. What’s not to love about that?!

While some movies are fun to watch; full of suspense; a jam-packed rom-com; or a real tear jerker, it’s the couples that I fall in love with the most. And there are some couples that stick with me long after the movie has finished, drawing me back time and time again to revisit their magic. Here are some of my fave movie couples.

Joaquín Phoenix and Reece Witherspoon

  
Today I watched “Walk The Line”, the movie based on the true story of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Joaquín and Reece were the perfect pairing for this tale. They completely engulfed their characters and made me believe that they really were who they portrayed in the film. The fact that in real life Joaquín was going through his own drug problems while filming this movie made it all the more believable. Fun (or not so fun) Fact: The family home that was featured in the movie John and June lived in from when they got married in 1968 to when they died six months apart in 2003 was bought by Barry Gibb and his wife when they died. While renovating the home, there was a fire and it completely burned to the ground. 

Leo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet

  
Okay, let’s talk about “Titanic” and my love for Jack and Rose. Some may love or hate this movie. I for one love it. It’s not a movie that I watch that often but when I do I still cry every time. The poorest ship’s traveller falling in love with the rich girl, sparing his life for hers (although seriously, they both could’ve fit on that piece of timber). Kate and Leo should be together in real life and making babies. For real. 

Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey

  
“Dirty Dancing” wasn’t destined to be a big hit when they made it. How wrong they were! Johnny and Baby were the shit. Although she was underage (she was only 16) or did that not matter in the 60s? How did that work? I could watch the final dance over and over and over and over and over … you get my drift.

Dorothy and Scarecrow

  
“Wizard of Oz” is an amazing movie. A timeless classic made in 1939 that can still pull an audience. Dorothy and Scarecrow aren’t a romantic pairing but I just can’t go past them. Meeting by chance along the yellow brick road and becoming lifelong bff’s, now that’s special. Scarecrow would do anything for Dorothy, even stepping in front of her to save her from the Wicked Witch of the West and consequently being set on fire. The best line of the movie has to be when Dorothy says to Scarecrow, “I think I’m going to miss you most of all.” Oh, it kills me. 

Allie and Noah

  
The best thing about Allie and Noah from “The Notebook” is that they are featured as a young couple played by Rachael McAdams and Ryan Gosling, and an older couple played by Gena Rowlands and James Garner. I’m a big fan of James Garner, especially as a 1960s actor playing alongside Doris Day. What a dish! I’ve read most of Nicholas Sparks’ novels and seen the movies that have come from these novels but this one would have to be my fave. When older Allie towards the end of the movie realises that the story that Noah is reading her is about them – pass me the tissues! Tears every time ! So beautiful.

Honourable mentions have to go to:

Danny and Sandy from “Grease”

Ellen and Nicholas from “Move Over Darling” (if you haven’t seen this movie, please do. It’s Doris Day and James Garner made in 1963. It’s brilliant)

Vivian and Edward from “Pretty Woman”

Harry and Sally from “When Harry Met Sally”

Bella and Edward from “Twilight”

Andie and Duckie from “Pretty in Pink”

What’s your favourite movie couple? Do you share one of mine or do you have one of your own?

Happy movie watching …

Aimee x

A Trio of Muffins

  

Today I went a bit nuts in the kitchen and made muffins. Three different flavours: Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins; Double Chocolate Muffins and Orange Lemon Poppyseed Muffins. For once I had all the ingredients without having to ask the neighbours so I was good to go.

I sourced the recipes from my “Food” Pinterest board. The most difficult thing about Pinterest recipes is that a lot of them are American-based which makes it a bit tricky to convert the measurements. A Google search will help you with that though. www.allrecipes.com.au is a good Australian conversion website but there’s heaps of others too. If all else fails, have a foodie friend on standby (thanks Reannon).

Here is what I’ve made today and the links to the recipes:

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

  
Double Chocolate Muffins

I didn’t have any chocolate as described in the recipe so I substituted it for choc chips.

  
Orange Lemon Poppyseed Muffins 

So I did have to ask my bestie who lives two houses down for some butter as I’d ran out. These muffins are sublime. Perfect for using up some oranges and lemons that I had leftover. I do love citrus season. 

  
So there you have it. A very successful afternoon in the kitchen. Why not whip up a batch yourself. 

Happy baking …

Aimee x

Taking Stock: June 2015

I had lunch on the lawn with some girlfriends yesterday, lazing the day away while their babies played. Soaking in the sun and chatting about nothing. Those really are the best convos, aren’t they? When it’s comfortable chatter, flowing from one subject to the next.  

I’ve been away from my blog for awhile now. I don’t really know why because I have a lot of subjects and topics to write about but for some reason I procrastinate writing them or just totally forget my words. I usually have my best stories in my head when I’m at work and can’t write them down. Then they’re lost forever. A lot of it comes down to confidence (or lack thereof). Wondering if anyone’s going to read my posts? Wondering if I sound stupid? Overthinking everything. After speaking to the girls yesterday, I decided to put those thoughts out of my mind. Stuff it! I’ll write them anyway – even if no one reads them. I’ll treat my blog like a “dear diary” or a journal, jotting down thoughts and recipes, diy’s and anything else that comes along. 

Mark has picked up the kids from school and taken them to the shops so while they’re gone, here is a quick Taking Stock post for the month of June:

Making : Well, I’m not making it but the hubby is making a new chook shed in the backyard. He’s doing such a great job. Can’t wait to get the chooks when he’s finished. 

Cooking : I’m a bit obsessed with baking cookies lately. My fave ones have been Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies that I found on Pinterest. Way too yummy!

Drinking : Cups of tea. 

Reading: The free Coles magazine with Curtis Stone on the front. I love this mag but there seems to be a lot of seafood recipes in this one and I’m not a fan of seafood. 

Wanting: My hibiscus that we transplanted from the backyard to the frontyard to grow and thrive. I have my fingers crossed. 

Looking: Forward to a bingo night I’m going to in a couple of weeks. Totally daggy and nanna-rish but I don’t care. Legs eleven!

Playing: Mahjong on my iPad. 

Deciding: Where to put my herb and veggie garden so my dog doesn’t eat it. 

Wishing: For some fruit trees. 

Enjoying: The silence. 

Waiting: For the kids and hubby to come home so I can hear about their day. 

Liking: Cats. Those who know me know I don’t do cats but my job has forced me to like them. And I kind of do. Just don’t jump on me. I’ll go ninja on your arse!

Wondering: If there’s a good movie on TV tonight. 

Loving: The fact that I don’t have to cook tea tonight. 

Considering: Another cuppa. But it’s never as nice as the first one. 

Watching: “French Kiss” with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline. 

Hoping: For some rain. 

Marvelling: At people who can. There are some very clever folk in this world. 

Needing: A haircut. 

Smelling: Fresh laundry. 

Wearing: My comfy clothes after my shower. 

Following: New Instagrammers that I’ve found.

Noticing: How great it is that the kids have kids in the street to play with. 

Knowing: That I have a lot to be thankful for. 

Admiring: my new Pallet Wall that my hubby made in our master bedroom. 

Sorting: Out bedrooms and robes and kids stuff. It seriously never ends. 

Buying: Things from Kmart. I love Kmart. 

Getting: Excited that it’s the weekend. 

Bookmarking: All the little videos that pop up on my fb feed so I can watch them later. 

Disliking: Not seeing my girlfriends enough. 

Opening: My adult colouring book. Colouring is so relaxing. One of my fave past times. 

Giggling: With my hubby. He’s one funny guy. 

Feeling: The love. 

Snacking: On chocolate. 

Coveting: This awesome tote bag from Kith and Kin Makers. 

  
Helping: Myself to another bit of chocolate.

Hearing: The ticking of a clock which I kind of find soothing. 

Hope you have a great weekend,

Aimee x