Friends near and far

I sometime sit back and think wow technology is amazing, here I am in little, cold Perth and my lovely blog went on a cyber holiday to get fixed by my lovely friend B all the way in sweaty Houston. thanks b xx

Yeah! to Friends no matter where you are near or far... love you all and miss ya, thanks to technology your not really that far away.

my favourite photos of just a few of my favouirte friends

Before and After Challenge

Wow I won Mandy's share the joy challenge,
exciting indeed considering the last time I won any thing, it was a colouring competition for the Saturday paper when I was 12.
Now the challenge for me is to come up with yet another inspiring challenge for everyone (well for the few that read this).

At the moment I love blogs that show before and after shots.
The kitchen renovation, the newly painted op shop mirror etc…

So my challenge to you is to create a before and after
just find something old, something borrow, (something blue something) something you have been meaning to ‘update’.
I don’t expect a who new kitchen reno from you. It could be that t-shirt you can’t throw out but just needs a little something to make it new again,
Or that blank canvas that would transform your room or that old chair you found on the street verge that needs some TLC…

Don’t be daunted by the challenge, I have seen some great examples out there:
Like this skirt which I love here.
And over here for these cute shirts for kids.
This lampshade – which I’m going to attempt.

You have till Monday 12th July. Winning prize is yet to be thought off, but they will get to create there own blog challenge.
(either post on your own blog —with a pretty pic – and place the link in the comments section. but if you are one of my non-blogging readers feel free to email me you photos and i can put them on my post - natpleiter@hotmail.com).

Blog frustration

I very excited to have won Mandy's blog challenge (YEAH)! but right now I'm being challenged with my own blog..
why does my text continue in one long line? my 'returns' aren't showing up? my 'paragraphs'are gone?... help, gulp not too good with the HTML.

I have a challenge all ready to go for my lovely readers, oh and its a fun one too,

but I need to tackle this one first.. so bare with me while I search the net for some advice..

Share the joy project

Ive accepted another blog challenge from the winner Mandy, she won the foodie challenge from Bron, worthy winner for sure.

The challenge is to list 10 'little' things that bring you joy.

It was hard at first, but once you get started it was easy, the hard part is cut it down to 10.

So here goes:

1. Hearing my nieces and nephews say ‘yeah aunty Natwee’s here.

2. Hoping into a warm toasty car, even in summer.

3. A good old scratch. (my good friend L will understand this)

4. Putting my cold feet between my husbands legs.

5. Looking at old photos and wonderful memories.

6. Having a big extended family – the fun we have with 80+ cousins.

7. Achieving things I never expected I could do (swim 1.9k for busso 1.2 ironman).

8. Girlfriends who listen, laugh, cry and fart with you, farting is always a good sign there good friends.

9. Talking to my favourite Aunty on the phone for hours.

10. White silky sand between my toes.

reflect

somedays (every other day) you just need to be reminded

YOU SAY........................... GOD SAYS (BIBLE VERSES)

Its impossible.......... All things are possible (LUKE 18:27)

I'm too tired...........I will give you rest (MATT 11:28-30)

Nobody realy loves me............. I love you (JOHN 3:16 & 3:34)

I can't go on...... My grace is sufficient (2 COR 12:9 PSALMS 91:15)

I can't figure things out......... I will direct your steps (PROV 3:5-6)

I can't do it............ You can do all things (PHIL 4:13)

I'm not able................ I am able (2 COR 9:8)

It's not worth it................. It will be worth it (ROM 8:28)

I can't forgive myself............ I forgive you (1 JOHN 1:9 ROM 8:1)

I can't manage............. I will supply all your needs (PHIL 4:19)

I'm afraid................ I have not given you a spirit offear (2 TIM 1:7)

I'm always worried & frustrated... Cast all your cares on me (1 PETER 5:7)

I don't have enough faith... I have given everyone a measure of faith (ROM 12:3)

I'm not smart enough......... I give you wisdom (1 COR 1:30)

I feel alone........... I will never leave you or forsakeyou (HEB 13:5)

We all LOVE a bargain

I can't deny I love a bargain and seeing the word 'SALE' gets me all excited.
Silly I know but I'm sure it's a gene us females have. There are so many great sites on the net with some many things to look at like this crafty one, another one here and something special here.

But this site is the bees knees, all your catalogues in one handy spot, from IGA to Myer to Spotlight http://www.lasoo.com.au/

I wonder does everyone have this 'shopping gene' or is it just me? If you do, where do you go bargain shopping?

Aussie Sunset

you can't beat an Aussie Sunset, so crisp, clear and colourful

Bron's dinner Party

OK I did cook this last Friday, a whole bunch of them actually for some a lovely pregnant friend and my sister-in-law. The fact I made a whole heap of them shows it is so easy to make!

This is my recipe for

Bron's blog party- dinner recipe challenge

My Easy Lasagne Recipe -yummo
Ingredients
500 g minced beef
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
125 g mushrooms, sliced
Herbs to taste
1 x 850 g tin chopped tomatoes (i add 1x400g not as sloppy)
1 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons tomato paste
Salt
Lasagne sheets
Cheese sauce
Butter
3 tablespoon plain flour
2 cups milk
125 g grated cheese
Pinch nutmeg

Method
1. Fry the chopped onion and crushed garlic in a little oil for 5 minutes.
2. Add the minced beef, mushrooms and herbs.
3. When meat is brown add 850g chopped tomatoes, sugar, tomato paste and salt to taste,
and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Cheese sauce: Melt some butter in a pan and stir in flour, milk, grated cheese and a
pinch of nutmeg. Stir mixture constantly until thick.
5. Pour half the meat sauce into a baking dish, then add alternate layers of dry lasagna,
meat mixture and cheese sauce, finishing with the cheese sauce.
6. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and bake at 200°C for 35 minutes.

Alternative
I add 1 grated carrot and any other vegie in the fridge thats can be grated.

Not very 'Ellable' but you could use tortilla sheets or something else and make it a mexican lasagne and use avocado in between the meat. Now I might even try that one.

It is the best meal to make in small oven proof containers and freeze for those days you don't want to cook.

I had to find a picture on the net to make your mouth water a little, but I will do my best to get a photo of my very own lasagne, not sure it will look as good as mandy's.

Far away places

NYC - Central Park

Italy - Lake Como

Turkey - Pammakale

I'm dreaming of fare away places, I just love exploring the world can you tell?

Food glorious food

Since food is the hot topic and considering it winter now who doesn't want to eat food and get there 'winter coat' ready for the colder nights ahead.
I'm even going to try and take up a challenge from here if only I could make this and have it taste as good...
I probably shouldn't tell the story of my risotto attempt, trying to impress my guest, I ended up using a whole bottle of concentrated stock, which could make 10 litre of the stuff. Lets just say even the neighbours dog didn't want a sniff of it. But I can only get better...

Talking of food, Melbourne is a great place to see, smell and eat! I had the chance a few weekends a go to do just that, and with great company too and amazing weather.

Screen Printing

I love all crafts and at the moment I have a thing for screen printing. I love the short courses TAFE offer to give you a taste of all things crafty and also a way to do it at home. now just to set up 'my' shed at home as my screen printing shed, and jewellery workshop and...

here are some of my brooches (which I sold at the FRCSR craft far) and also
cushion designs which just didn't make it in time, maybe next year.