I’m Grateful For… Many Small Yet Significant Things

This week has been pretty challenging in the land of Eat Play Bond. Nothing serious, but draining and exhausting none-the-less. It could have been very easy to let the strain drag me down but the reason I love the Maxabella Loves Weekly Grateful is that it gives me the chance to look for the silver lining, to shift my perspective into something positive and remember that life is always going to have its setbacks, but wallowing in self pity won’t get you anywhere. It’s such a great was to wrap up your week and its wonderful to share the happy moments with the talented bloggers who contribute to the list.

Happiness Is…

A mummy treating herself to a little budget shopping spree,

Complete with new red shoes

Cooking for 1 and a Half

It has become clear to me that my ‘bucket chef’ approach to cooking is not really appropriate while I am only making meals for Skye and myself. Aside from the huge amount of leftovers, it is a little tricky to monitor things on my temperamental stove top whilst bathing Skye and if I wait until she is in bed I wouldn’t be eating until midnight! I have no intention of eating raisin toast or cereal for dinner every night so I have had to work on a new meal plan that is better suited to our current living arrangements. As we live in the sticks, takeaway’s aren’t an option so I still have to cook something…

Just When I Thought I Had Run Out Of Things To Talk About

I was beginning to worry I had lost a bit of my mojo this week and was not sure if I had anything much to say when the blogging gods took pity on me and helpfully gave me something to write about – NITS! You just scratched your head didn’t you? I know, because I have been resisting the urge all afternoon since I discovered poor Skye was riddled with them.  

Listography–Lessons I Learned From My Parents

Sending a little love to my mum and dad for this Listography courtesy of Kate Takes 5.

Mince is one of the most versatile and inexpensive ingredients you can use
Spag bol was a regular meal in our house but mince also was used for mexican, meatloaf, lasagne, rissoles, pizzas, you name a mince dish, mum probably made it, and it was delicious.

Netball is not the only sport girls can participate in
Actually I have never played netball. Mum and I started Tae Kwon Do when I was about 8 and trained together for roughly 5 years before I became a teenager and lost interest in any kind of sporting activities. Thankfully I got past my ‘I’m too cool for exercise’ phase and it’s once again a passion. Martial Arts taught me respect, discipline and how to kick someone in the temple – which I can still do. That would be my mum with her back to the camera on the left.

Your education is your own responsibility
I went to Public Schools through my whole education and still did very well. I was not sure what career I was interested in but I knew that the better marks I got, the more options I had. The fact that mum and dad did not fork out a small fortune to send me to a Private School did not disadvantage my choices in any way.

Many different genres of music can be considered good
Most of my family is musical in some way. Dad plays the drums and mum plays guitar. There was almost always music playing somewhere in the house and I still know all the words to INXS The Swing. Their extensive vinyl collection opened my mind to the times of Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull and Jimi Hendrix when current radio was offering fabricated tripe of the “Barbie Girl” variety. Depending on my mood I will listen to just about any type of music and I know that is because of the varied exposure I received during childhood.

Your parents will love you now matter what
Beyond our immediate family, due to distance and circumstances we have little contact with our relatives which can be hard on all of us. All three of us have tested our parents (some more than others) at some stage but I have always been certain that I could never do anything to stop my parents loving me unconditionally. They are my safety net and I know above all else they are there for me.

I could still kick my brother for getting married 6 weeks after I had Skye though, how inconsiderate!

I’m Grateful For…A Night Out

July has shaped up to be quite a social time for us with 1st birthday parties, baby showers and the beginnings of a very busy run of 30th’s. This weekend was the first (other than Luke’s early last month) of many coming up which was to be held in the town that Luke and I grew up in. We have both been really looking forward to this particular night because a lot of people we have been wanting to catch up with would be there in one convenient location. Nannie was booked in for babysitting duties and I had found the perfect pair of new jeans so we were all set for a big one.

Happiness Is…

A little girl enjoying a breakfast buffet in her PJ’s

Zucchini Slice

This slice makes a great dinner served with a bit of salad but I usually make this whenever someone is having a party because it tastes just as good served cold and cut into bite sized pieces to bulk up the nibblies table. Its so simple and can be made the day before so you feel super organised!

Ingredients

• 8 eggs
• 150g (1 cup) self-raising flour, sifted
• 375g zucchini, grated
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 200g rindless bacon, chopped
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 60ml (1/4 cup) vegetable oil

Method
1. Preheat oven to 170°C. Grease and line a 30 x 20cm lamington pan.
2. Cook onion and bacon in a fry pan until onion is soft and bacon is slightly crispy.
3. Beat the eggs in a large bowl until combined. Add the flour and beat until smooth, then add zucchini, cheese and oil and stir to combine. Add onion and bacon and stir through. Pour into the prepared pan and bake in oven for 45 minutes or until cooked through.

When The Boys Set Up House

As I mentioned in my post last week, Luke is working away at the moment and is staying in a holiday house with some of his contractors for the duration of the job. Skye and I will be staying there occasionally too because its in a great location and the layout of the house means that there will be plenty of room for everyone, but I had no intention of being up there the first week so I could play ‘wifey’ and get the house setup for them. I figured by the second week they would have most things under control and it would be safe to pay them a visit… plus I had been busting to check out the kitchen.