Be careful what you wish for

This time last year I had just started my new job and things were really slow. I told Jacky that I wished I had more to do because I wasn’t comfortable with doing so little. I should have kept my mouth shut because my workload has somehow quadrupled. It’s not all bad, I’ve been busy but I enjoy what I do and it’s taught me to work more efficiently so that I can do more in less time. My mid review last year went really well and they are now training me up to succession plan me into a generalist HR Advisor role (which is excellent for my career and the break that I have been working all these years for).

It’s also been great having Sarah back in the country, I run all my stupid ideas past her (and it’s a bonus she lives just around the corner). A lot has happened in the last 8 weeks but when I get home the last thing that I want to do is sit in front of the computer. My dad is still in the country for another week so I have been spending whatever free time I have with my parents catching up with old family friends.

I’m off to a concert tonight so I will leave you with some photos of a small cocktail party we threw recently. It's scary I actually dream about food in my sleep.

canapes filled with a tuna dip, feta and finished with a drop of cranberry.
Marinated chicken wings glazed with a Thai coconut dressing.

meatballs and vegetarian spring rolls (carrots & vermicelli)


Sushi platter, chicken skewers with a satay dipping sauce.

Dessert Night @ Roula's

It's been a big year for Roula, I think getting engaged on new years was a sign of things to come. 6 months later there was the amazing Kitchen Tea, a week after that there was The Wedding followed by the honeymoon, moving out and setting up her brand new home. Come to think of it, it's been a pretty big year for quite a few of the girls and it's taken another 5 months before we could all find time to catch up for a bit of dessert at Roula's new place.

We couldn't believe our eyes when we walked in, all this for 9 people and she prepared this all herself!!

Mars Bar crackles, toblerone tiramisu, pavalova with pink cream, chocolate fondue, cream royales, black forest cake, cheese platter & nibblies.......I was in heaven.

I think this was the first time in a long time where I actually ate so much I felt sick (but how could you not?!?! there was so much to try!). Roula, you have a beautiful house and you are absolutely the perfect hostess!! Thank you so much for such a wondeful dessert night.

I had to leave a little early because of Jacky's Mum's birthday dinner at the Friendship Oriental in Beverly Hills (and what a feast that was!) unfortunately no pics as it was family time. I think I'm going to come out of these holidays looking like a giant snowman, I have dinner lined up for most days of the week up till Christmas!

Over the long weekend...

Jacky suggested that we invite a few people over for a BBQ. To make things easier Jacky would do a 'Boys BBQ' on the Saturday and I would do a girls one on Monday. The result......

As part of my house warming gift Betty, Lisa & Kat bought me a chocolate fountain (they had to tell me because I almost bought myself one) I put it to use straight away! The chocolate was so bad for you but so irresistible. I also made a tiramisu cake but I forgot that I didn't have anything to brew the coffee with at home. I ended up having to use instant coffee (which didn't quite work), oh well... live and learn (but they ate it all anyway =P)

It seriously felt like Christmas all over again! All I can say is Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! To everyone who made us feel absolutely spoilt! We are totally overwhelmed by everyone's generosity.

We got some cute mugs, over $200 worth of Myer and Westfield vouchers, some colour books for inspiration, the most fancy toaster ever (with flashing lights and all), an electric wok, a chocolate fountain, a knife set, a whipper snipper for the garden, some zen garden candles, 2 blenders, some ice cream goblets, twist style salt and pepper shakers, red dishes, Boda cocktail glasses and Boda red wine glasses.

They were both very tiring days but a lot of fun (thank you for coming!). It was such a great feeling to introduce our place to everyone after months of painting and renovating. There's still a lot to be done but we'll leave it for the Christmas holidays. I'm loving our house at the moment and I love the feeling of coming home after a day's work.

Catching up

With everyone so busy at the moment it's hard to find time to catch up. A few weeks ago we had a small get together at Matty's, Muz the Master Chef cooked dinner.

The smoke from the BBQ chicken got a little overwhelming so Viv decided to fan the smoke with a blanket.

Matty: "That's not how you do it, let me show you!"

Matty: "We'll try do this together"
Viv: "I'm tired I don't want to do this any more"
Matty: "You can't stop now! you have to show everyone that you're a team player!"

Soon everyone was distracted by the food that Muz brought out.

Soba noodles & Soup with condiments on the side

Salmon sashimi on radish with dill and flakes of crispy salmon skin

Roast lamb & veggies, Mushroom risotto

We spent the rest of the night eating ice cream, telling ghost stories and cracking jokes. It was just what I needed to wind down after 95 first round interviews.

Thank you Muz for cooking! Thank you Matty for hosting and it was great to see you all.

Christmas In July

Christmas in July is a very popular holiday usually celebrated by people in the US. It’s hasn’t been something that we have celebrated in the past, but seeing that Sarah now lives in Israel (where they don’t celebrate Christmas) we had to hold a Christmas just for her. In the weeks leading up to it, we each picked out a KK in a secret ballot and the budget was set at $10 (no one EVER sticks to budget!).

With Christmas Carols playing in the background, decorations throughout the house and us being all together again it absolutely felt like Christmas!

Left: The Chefs who put on a feast for us! Right: The Pig The Taste Tester

The Entree: Smoked Salmon with halloumi cheese on top of a mixed salad dressed with balsamic vinegar and a dash of lemon juice, Garlic bread.

The Mains:

Baked Cream potatoes, roast chicken with stuffing, marinated ox tongue, garlic mushrooms, sweet potato and a mixed salad with parmesan

Dessert:

Chocolate cake, homemade fruit tarts & a Chocolate Christmas log (great job on the icing Nikki!). Not pictured is the Vanilla cake and Pineapple tarts.

Then came the presents.......

and the laughter...

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Photo Album Here