2011 resolutions

Wow another year has passed and here we are again,
i have been thinking a lot about the resolutions i made last year
and i am quite happy with what i had achieved last year

i will probably stick to the same resolutions because there is definitely room for improvement

1. i will not procrastinate. just get the stupid thing done, as soon as possible.
i'm still really bad at this and my motto this year will be JUST F********* DO IT!

2. spend less on material things. woooo boy this is a tough one... (did i mention i have a bad shopping habit?)
still really hard to do... i still have a bad shopping obsession
its all about control and i need to say to myself
LESS IS MORE!

3. put more money into my savings account or put more money into my mortage.
(2 mortgages to pay off... daaaaaaaay-em!)
definitely need to do this,
i will be making a conscientious effort to put money into my savings account every month.
i am also going to make a huge effort to pay off my mortgages
now that i have 3 [eeek!]

4. walk my dogs more often. more exercise for me = fitness = lose weight (i hope)
i am keeping this one, i did do a good job of walking them quite regularly last year and i want to do the same thing this year


5. mark kids school work asap - don't be lazy, giving back work to them one month later is NOT good enough.
i am proud to say i did a much better job of this last year
its a good feeling to get the stuff marked and giving feedback to the kids as soon as possible
keeping this resolution again - i can only get better right?

6. eat more healthy and eat less! (small portion sizes)
ok... i am keeping this one

7. be MORE organised...
proud to say i got much better at this last yr
but still heaps of rooms for improvement
[btw BEST investment of 2010 was my filing cabinet and my dymo label maker]

8. stop WASTING time .... be more efficient
keeping this one too

9. put home and family as number 1 and work number 2 (i find this really hard to do!)
keeping this one.... i am getting a little better at the home/work life balance thing
but still heaps of room for improvement

10. some new resolution for 2011
declutter declutter declutter
i am in the process of streamlining my stuff
and getting rid of stuff i don't need or wear anymore
[ i just need to declutter my partner's stuff too!]

11. pay off my debts and credit cards - GRRRRRR

12. last but not least ... hopefully fall pregnant and start my own little family

well those are my most important resolutions.... heres a few more - but they are more of a to do list...

10. put a full length mirror near the front entrance (i've always wanted a full length mirror)
proud to say i have done this and i love it! so useful :o)

11. change the carpet in the bedrooms to wooden floors
still to do - hopefully this year

12. change the spare bedroom into a walk-in closet :o)
still to do ...really hope its this year

13. install the last set of blinds in the games room (morning sun reflection on tv is NOT good)
done!

thats it for now... i don't think i can handle any more ... but they were the most important ones i could think of.

what are your resolutions?.....

ps: happy new year everyone!

may the coming year be filled with prosperity,

joy and friends!

food when you're sick

because i'm sick
i eat what chinese people always eat when they are sick
rice porridge, congee or bubur
[people also eat it for breakfast when they aren't sick]
its a savoury dish thats very simple and comforting

i loaded mine with lashings of garnishings
to give it heaps of flavour

this was the bowl i had for lunch and i added
- chinese crullers [ char kuay]
- sweetened pickled radish
- spring onions
- fried crispy shallots [ bawang goreng]
-soy sauce
- white fine pepper
- sesame oil

to make the basic plain congee
i added 2 cups of cooked white rice into a large pot
added about 2L of water
and put it on medium heat on top of the stove, stirring every once in a while

eventually all the rice grains breakdown and it becomes a thick porridge

to make it more flavourful you can add
- chicken stock
- vegetable stock
- chicken pieces
- pork mince
- thinly sliced fish
- century egg [ for the adventurous!]

in my porridge today i added pork mince and century egg
because its my favourite flavour combo :)

my throat is getting better but my vow of slience continues
xxoo

lost my voice

with all the craziness that goes with teaching the graduating year group
i have lost my voice

i really really really pushed myself this time
and now my body is paying for it

it has been such a super duper crazy 2 weeks and it is seriously non stop
my body is so tired and exhausted - i guess something had to give

anyways, here is the graduation cupcake from the yr 6 2010 graduation dinner and dance party
our theme this year was winter wonderland and the parents did an AMAZING job
putting the party together

it's too cute to eat!

circa home candles

i really really really love my candles
but i don't just like any old candle
i'm quite fussy about the ones i buy

i love the ones that smell f beautiful fresh flowers
or a crisp fresh fruit in season
or a fresh light scent that reminds me of a glorious day at the beach or picnics in field of flowers

as a little reward to myself today
[i have been very good at sticking to a basic budget and got my cc under control]
i decided to buy myself a candle :D

i went into bed bath n table looking for a beach towel for a kk present
but found myself a gorgeous candle that reminds me of my bali holidays

Candle is made by Circa Home in Jasmine & Magnolia
$29.95
45 hrs burn time

I'm burning it now as i write this blog and it is just gorgeous!
The jasmine & magnolia combination is light and sweet,
and smells like a tree full of frangipani flowers from bali

There were other fragrances ... but this was my favourite by far :)
check out the full range at www.circahome.com.au

image courtesy of circahome

bye bye puppies..

the puppies are finally gone and we're back to 3 adult bassets
no more puppies
not for a reeeeeeeeeeeaaaal loooong time

it's sad but it's also a relief
having puppies is like having young children/babies in the house
they're A LOT of work
but very very adorable and fun

so its back to loooong walk to piney lakes
walks around the block
doggy showers
and lazy sleepy logs that look like bassets

procrastinating

i have school reports to do

but i am getting easily distracted by the billion and one pretty things to see on the internet

oh lord help me...

really need to finish these d*** reports... GRRR

ps: went to a quiz night on saturday - was AWESOME fun
the competitive geek in me loves quizzes
unfortunately our table didnt win anything [just not geeky enuff!]
but the organisers raised lots of money for a very good cause

www.afesip.org
an anti human trafficking organisation thats trying to stop the child sex slavery industry in cambodia
check out their website, their stories will touch your heart
and donate what you can

PRADA

Prada is opening in Perth!

The Perth Prada store located on the corner of Hay St and King St is due to open on the 6 January 2011

Very exciting times indeed for the Perth fashion pack
as another international labels hit our streets.

Can't wait to check out the store, I've always had a soft spot for Prada,
especially their durable and practical nylon and canvas bags :)

There goes my 'bag ban' and savings account
[hehehe]