Movie Afternoon with my darling hubby

Yesterday we purchased some new fans which I am VERY excited about. Here in Queensland we NEED to remain cool overnight or else summer is even longer than it needs to be. We moved into our family home in July 2009 and we managed to get through last summer's hot nights but this year we will be cooler once the fans are installed! Yippee!! It doesn't take much to please me! (oh and for the record, last year we had a fan on a pedestall at the end of the bed, which did keep me cool - we also have an airconditioner in the room outside our room, but it doesn't quite keep us cool enough over the looong hot summer nights!)...so now I just need to call our favourite electrician and organise a time!

Anyway, after the fan purchasing, we raced home and popped Alexander into bed for a lovely 2 hour nap! I then made a vegemite sandwich for little man and organised his snacks in preparation for his afternoon with my brother Adam and his wife Bron who had agreed to looking after Alex while Warren and I headed to the movies! Shortly after midday Warren and I headed off to the local shopping centre and laughed all the way as we chose to drive in our friends' car (which we have posession of until they return from Japan), which apparently has no damn air conditioning that works!!! It was giggles that were actually frustrated giggles.

We sat through the movie "The Town" with Ben Affleck (nice eye candy for me) which was actually better than I thought it would be, I would have preferred a girly chick flick but it was just nice to be out with Warren knowing that Alex was being well cared for by people who love him just as much as we do! I came home feeling refreshed after our 4 hours away from him. He apparently had a wonderful time exploring the garden, emptying his toy box and dirtying his nappy especially for Uncle Adam - you will learn how to do this with your eyes closed soon Uncle Adam!!

We hope to do this again soon, but maybe just maybe next time we will do dinner or a long lunch instead! We haven't done this since our wedding anniversary back in June, but maybe we will aim for November or December! Anyway, it was a lovely afternoon with my best friend and hubby. We came home and enjoyed a lovely BBQ dinner with Alexander and had a quiet Saturday evening in watching tv and reading our books. What a perfect end to a lovely day!

Walking

Alexander is walking walking walking! Ok, so the last few days he was walking-crawling-walking-crawling but today it's walking walking walking everywhere! Warren came home a little while ago from a week away for work and he stated little man had changed in the four days and the walking was impressive! Yay!

I wonder where Alexander's feet will take him this weekend?! Maybe the park, our back garden with the new fave of bubbles....

Well I know where our feet will take us all, we are in fact off to get some new fans from Teneriffe for three of our four bedrooms and then Warren and I are off to the movies!! Uncle Adam and Auntie Bron are babysitting! We haven't had a date since our wedding anniversary in June....I am really looking forward to it....there are actually a few movies I could indulge in but I think just one will be on order...

Happy weekend to you all! Happy walking!

Healthy Food Ideas

I'm trying to eat healthier at the moment and I found this (sourced from taste.com.au)... Yummy!!

Chickpea, bacon & tomato salad

Photography by Rob Palmer

This chickpea salad makes a great side dish, or light lunch, and can be prepared in less than twenty minutes.

Preparation Time

10 minutes

Cooking Time

7 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 220g rindless bacon, cut into 3cm pieces
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp white balsamic vinegar
• Rind of 1 lemon, finely grated
• Salt and pepper
• 1 large shallot, finely sliced
• 400g can chickpeas (Edgell brand), drained and rinsed
• 2 punnets grape tomatoes, halved lengthways
• 1 cup continental parsley leaves, roughly chopped

Method

1. Cut 220g rindless bacon into 3cm pieces. Cook over a medium heat for 7 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Add 2 garlic cloves, crushed, and toss well. Drain on paper towel. In a medium bowl whisk 1 tbs extra virgin olive oil, 2 tsp white balsamic vinegar, finely grated rind of 1 lemon and salt and pepper. Add 1 large shallot, finely sliced, 400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed, 2 punnets grape tomatoes, halved lengthways, and 1 cup continental parsley leaves, roughly chopped.

2. Serve with grilled salmon, barbequed prawns and calamari.

Joys of Life

We have had yet another busy week;Riverside markets last Sunday, it was a gloriously warm spring day!

Watching bubbles in the garden.
Look at the joy in littleman's face!

This week has been yet another busy busy week! I didn't get to the park nearly as much as I thought we would and I didn't get to PCYC either so I hope to do more of that next week! It's good for little man to be able to explore new things and use his gross motor skills.

We have caught up with an old friend this week, I had the chance to meet her youngest son and had a great chat over morning tea on Wednesday. Today we caught up with another friend and her son at Roma Street Parklands grabbed a coffee and chatted. Sadly my little man wasn't really interested in exploring, he was upset by the rather annoying man mowing the grass at the parklands. Anyway, we then headed off to lunch, yummy Japanese with my mum.

This afternoon we missed a freakish storm as we were tucked away in Woolies with our shopping trolley doing the weekly shop. Lucky because on the way home, I drove through many flooded roadways and the traffic was horrific, for what should take 12 mins maximum took 40 minutes!!!

Tomorrow we have some chores including our weekly trip to the markets for fresh fruit and vegetables to do before we enjoy the lead into the weekend!

Now, with little man tucked up in bed at a lovely suprisingly early 7.30pm, I am off to enjoy some trashy Thursday evening television and to delve into my book. Ciao!

This week....

This week has been a quiet week, next week I have something planned each day! Uh Oh!!

Anyway, this week entailed;

* purchase of new cushions for my mum and dad's place, which took much deliberation and thought out of me!!

* black tie Tuesday evening at the Hilton which Jessica Watson was guest speaker at and my daddy won a prestigious business award (sadly Warren and Alexander stayed home :-( )

* I worked Monday for 6 hours at work

* purchased new table for Alexander

* mum's group brief coffee with the girls

* started a new book!! Oh and finished another one!

Next week;

* meeting a friend at her place with her two little boys, I haven't met young Hayden yet!!

* meeting another friend and her son at a park

* meeting another friend and her daughter for early morning coffee

* the usual cleaning and shopping

* buying fans for summer for our bedrooms

* taking Alexander to the park to explore

* booking into swimming lessons for Alexander

.........

* oh and Uncle Adam and Auntie Bron are babysitting for us next weekend so Warren and I can head to the movies....oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, time to go play ball with Alexander, enjoy your weekend!

New table and chairs

My mum and I took the trek the other day to Ikea, now we are not fans of Ikea so we did the short cut, I KNOW!!!! We came home after much deliberation with a new table for little man!! We couldn't agree on a colour! Sad but true...so I went with the back to basic white.

The above pics are out of sequence....sorry!!

Anyway, little man and his daddy made the table this morning before we did our grocery shopping and I think little man loves it! Oh and I love the white against the wall it is currently sitting against!

What am I dreaming of right now?

Being here!! In beautiful Italia! I will be in approximately 10 weeks, all rugged up with my boys and sipping hot chocolate or caffe latte, eating the most silky tortellini in the home of tortellini surrounded by all things Italian!

aaah....perfect!

Very exciting family news....new life!!!

Well, the exciting news in our extended family is that we are going to become an Aunt, Uncle and Cousin next year to my darling brother Adam and his wife Bron's baby. Due May 2nd!!!

12 week scan is today...can't wait to hear all about it. I enjoyed dinner last night with Adam and Bron, I saw them just 2 days ago to celebrate Adam's birthday and there wasn't too much of a bump but last night, Bron had officially popped!!! Of course Adam and Bron are over the moon!!! Nonna and Pa are also delighted!

I can't wait, it has given me an excuse to get out there and ponder over new born babies clothes....Warren and Alexander are also thrilled with the news!!

Welcome Baby M to our family, we can't wait to meet you, cuddle you, kiss you and smother you with love!!!

Isn't new life just perfect, it surely has made me very clucky again!!! Uh oh!!! ;-)

Spring in my step

This morning, after a very late night (I went to a Qld business leaders black tie dinner at the Hilton), I was woken by a very rude alarm clock at 4.30am!!! Yawn....

However, I do have a spring in my step as it's spring afterall and once I opened up my curtains and blinds, it is such a glorious day outside!!!

Alex and I are house bound today as we are having workmen here all day, but I think we will steal some green grass time in our backyard later this morning and enjoy the day!

Whilst tapping away on my key board, little man is pushing a dining table chair around our living area chatting away to himself and me....not long until those 6 steps are joined together to make it walking!!!

It's healthy to dream, right?

if i won lotto....

Weekend!

We have just had an eventful afternoon of spider watching..... The above mentioned was just near me in our home office....I of course squealed and Warren had to come to the rescue!!

Anyway, back to the important stuff, we are counting down the minutes until the weekend starts, about 40 to go!!!

I am looking forward to time with my 2 boys, I hope to find some on sale items tomorrow at BBO...will keep you posted on our find. I also need to find myself some stockings for a black tie dinner I am headed off to next week (without Warren, who is babysitting as we had no other option).

I have done all washing and cleaning so the weekend will be all about fun and family!!

We are also off to celebrate my brothers 3osomething birthday.....!!!

I just hope this weather clears up so we can enjoy some park time and fresh air, it is spring afterall!!

Happy weekend!

A few of my favourite things!

Here are a few of my favourite things....

(It's designed for Australian tea drinkers....perfect!)

Coffee, but only real coffee!! latte or cappuccino all the way!

A beautiful diamond engagement ring

glorious books to lose myself in....

peonies....just divine!

Italy!!

Sydney (where I lived for some of my early years and where we became engaged!)

Monaco, I dearly hope to go back there and show Alexander!

A good Oroton handbag!

A rarity these days but, a good piece of desert on a special occasion!

family....and friends....(this isn't my family)......

a lovely Waterman pen to write down all my thoughts

I love the majority of things in this store!

oooh & prawns are scrumptious!

new born babies are just as scrumptious (I'm a little clucky right now!!!)

LOVE

Happiness

Respect

LAUGHTER

MUSIC & chic flicks

and finally....

picnics in autumn and spring!!!!

Oh wow!!!

Oh wow!! I was just reading http://ohhappymiracle.tumblr.com/ and came across this, I played it and....it is so beautiful!!

Take a moment to listen to the words, tear jerker....but beautiful and so true.

Eat Pray Love

Eat Love Pray....I would love to be going and seeing this this weekend, but I don't think I will get there...

Maybe oh just maybe I can talk my mum into looking after Alexander for me whilst I go and indulge in a movie....

Shh I'm Sleeping!

Currently as I write this, little man is soundly sleeping!!! Ahh, pure bliss. He was exhausted at 9.30am this morning when I popped him in the cot and promised him we would play ball after he wakes. His sleeping habits by day still leave a lot to be desired, however he is sleeping overnight as he has done since week 6 of his beautiful life, so I shouldn't really complain!

I have spent the morning spring cleaning (well....weekly cleaning) our home. I normally would do this on a Thursday ready for the weekend ahead but yesterday I was just too busy trying to find some shoes. I am unlike other ladies, and I don't like shoes! Last summer I had a cute pair which I found and they became my friends, however, they are contributing to my severe back pain and feet pain (whoa, too much info I know!). So yesterday, Alexander and I raced all over town looking for the perfect pair of shoes, to no avail! We dragged my mum along for the ride and then treated her to a yummy carbonara pasta here at home.

What's on the menu for the rest of the day? Well, I am waiting for an electrician, and then we may pop out and get some groceries for the weekend but apart from that, not much really! Perfect huh?!

Looking outside it is gloomy and dull and threatening to rain, it would actually be perfect weather to curl up with a good book....