Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

"Now I lay me down to sleep,

A bag of peanuts at my feet,

If I die before I wake,

Give them to my brother Jake."

I just love that I grew up on M*A*S*H. =)

Image courtesy of http://www.talkingpix.co.uk/InterviiewWilliamChristopher.html

I am desperate for some good bed linen. A doona cover and some sheets and pillow cases that do not fall under any of these categories:

• stark white
• brown
• pale/pastel
• too floral (I share with the boyfriend, after all)
• stripy
• spotty
• boring
• child-like
• "modern"
• make the bedroom look stale

I would really like bed linen that

• is interesting - can start up a conversation
• has some detail
• has some colour
• is boy friendly without being dull
• makes the bedroom look welcome and cheerful
• is different

Please help me guys, I'm sick of the way my bedroom looks. And if you possibly have any tips as far as bedroom decor is concerned, I'd love to hear them, including where I can find stuff for my bedroom or what I can do to liven up the room.

I can't even find pictures of what I mean, but I have an idea in my head. 

I'm just sick of my room being so bland and boring. I never want to be in there.

Any ideas will be gratefully received.

Thanks for listening.

x

Apologies

Hello readers,
Just a quick note to explain my recent absence.

The graphics card in my computer shat itself, so I have no way of uploading photos or updating my blog, until further notice. 

So please, don't think I have abandoned my beloved blog - I will be back!

Plans are already being put in place for me to buy my very own computer (I've never had my own one before), so stay tuned. I hope to be updating again very soon.

Lots of love
Miranda
x

Another Quiet Weekend Over

I had a fairly quiet weekend; worked a bit, bought some magazines, a bit of study, cooked some delicious soup (Split Pea and Prosciutto), baked some Shortbread with Passionfruit Cream, visited the relo's in Mornington (and got there by myself without a map - so proud!), did some knitting, watched heaps of movies (including Stranger Than Fiction, which Matt hadn't seen, and is now obsessed with), picked up some new glasses - which I'll post about later because I forgot to get photos of - and looked after Matt. It was still a good weekend though. At first I was a bit sour but it ended up being really good.


I still haven't finished the scarf (and I have knitted more since these photos), but this just gives you an idea of what it's going to look like.

Cardigan: Cotton On, Dress (worn as top under skirt): Supre, Skirt and Belt: Sportsgirl, Tights: Metalicus, Wool and Needles: Lincraft.

I'm such a proud little knitter!

This is maybe half the length that I want it to be. I'm hoping I wont give up on it and I will actually have it finished this year - I have a habit of getting bored of my projects and stopping them before I'm finished.

Here's the wool that I bought, and I have bamboo needles (can somebody say, 'sustainable'). It's such lovely wool, it looks a bit old fashioned, I reckon.

Gosh, Matt is cute. Drinkin' his tea and being all snuggled in the jumper I bought for him. I swear, most of the time when we are at home, at least one of us has a mug of tea in hand. At least it's not soft drink!

Naw, there he is again.

Here's a few things I'm listening to at the moment;

CSS - Left Behind

Yeasayer - O.N.E

Supergrass - Moving - Lisa got me into this one big time. Love it!

Have a lovely week everyone, and forgive me if my posts are dwindling, I have exams coming up very soon and one more assignment to do. 

And, if anyone in Melbourne is interested, Savers is having a 50% off sale today only, and you should go if only because I can't!! Savers' Sale

PS. If I ever mention a recipe that you think you might like, let me know, I'm always happy to share.

x

Why hate someone for who they are?

I HATE homophobia.
I REALLY, REALLY DO.


I NEVER describe anything using the term 'gay' in a negative or derogative way, and no one ever should.


It is my belief that being homosexual is not a choice - why would someone choose to live in a way where they are ridiculed, humiliated and discriminated against, on purpose? It just doesn't make sense. And it is not good enough that this sort of humiliation still occurs in our modern society.


Being homosexual is something you are born with, like the colour of your hair, or the way that you think. The real God accepts everyone for who they are, so religion is no excuse for persecution.


After Jason Akermanis' comments earlier this week about whether gay footballers should come out, a website has been launched that you should be aware of: This Is Oz. While I do not agree that homosexual football players should be hunted out and paid to come out, I do believe that it would only be a positive thing if they came out, rather than a danger to AFL. Saying that AFL footy is "not ready" for gay footballers to come out is a COP OUT and a shame to Australia as a nation!


I have quite a few friends who are gay, and have been very apprehensive to come out, and surprised at the people who had no problem with the fact that they are gay, when they did come out. It makes me sad to hear my friends say that they are too scared to tell the ones that they love, who they are; that they might be persecuted for letting their friends know their true selves.


No one should have to be afraid to show their true selves.
No one should be judged because of who they are.
Being gay IS NOT A CHOICE.
Being gay IS NOT WRONG.


The gay community needs our support, so please, at least take a look at This Is Oz, and spread the word or show your support in some way.


The world needs to evolve and accept the gay community as normal NOW. Because it is normal. Because it is all around. Because your child, your mother, your father, cousin, uncle, aunty, friend, could be struggling with who they really are, and they really shouldn't have to.

thisisoz.com.au

I dedicate this post to everyone I love, gay or straight, to tell them that I love who they are and I do not think they should be ashamed in any way of who they are. 


Everyone is a person. Everyone has EQUAL rights. Uphold your belief of human rights and spread the word.

thisisoz.com.au

To my gay friends: I love you for who you are, I love you for your bravery, and I love that you are all in my life. You inspire me.


Do what is right, what is humane and what is common decency. And think about how you would feel if someone told you that loving the person that you love is wrong.
x

Toothless Wonder

Today I got up very early to drive my boyfriend to the private hospital so he could get his wisdom teeth out. We got there at 7am and he went in at 9.30am. I went home while he was under, so I could shower and get into some clean clothes and came back before he was back. 


It's really strange seeing someone you love come out from anaesthetic for the first time. In fact, before today, I've only ever seen people in hospital who are fully conscious. I don't know why, but seeing him all groggy and blabbing on about whatever it was - although, he was incredibly cute - I was getting very upset and very worried about him. He wasn't in pain, there were no complications, everything was alright; but I was feeling lots of butterflies and potential tears behind my eyes.


Matt is currently sitting on the couch on his iPhone, showing me things he is looking up on Digg. He even ate lamb casserole that I made today for dinner. He such a trooper! 


Today reinforced one thing, that is lovely to be reminded of: I love you Matt, I really, really do.

Have a lovely day everyone.
x

The Beach

I quite like this photo. It was taken in November last year at a beach in South Gippsland. Matt and I went on holiday with my sister and her boyfriend to see our Nannie. It's such a good memory.

I'd love another holiday real soon.

x

A Borrowed Shirt and A Pie

Lately, I have been very inspired by one blog, calivintage, and find myself browsing through her long list of outfits most of the time that I am on the internet. I love that she looks different everyday, and tries different looks, but still looks the same, as in, she looks like herself in every different outfit.

The other day, desperate for warm clothes, (gosh, I am REALLY struggling) I decided to trawl through some of her posts until I found the one in the above link, and thought it was perfect!

I never usually wear Matt's shirts because they just look boxy and awful on my body type, but stick a cardigan on top and it looks great - so great that I think I might invest in my own flannelette one (for extra warmth). So, thanks Calivintage! Here's my interpretation:

So, complete outfit was Matt's shirt, Cotton On cardigan, Mum's suit jacket from the '80's, Jay Jay's high-waisted jeans, Reject Shop socks and Sportsgirl shoes.

I think I have about two layers on underneath the shirt as well as tights on underneath my jeans for extra warmth. I'd really love tips of Australian shops I can get warmer clothing from. I'm off to Metallicus today with my housemate, who works for them, and Tracy (boyfriend's sister) to try to get some warmer basics, but I really need warmer jumpers, cardigans and clothes in general! 

Thanks, Matt. Lol

In other news, I baked a wonderful beef and vegetable pie the other night, mostly from scratch - c'mon, who doesn't use the sheets of frozen puff pastry! We didn't have enough potatoes to make a shepherd's pie, so I put pastry on top instead. Delicious! Here's a photo (which refuses to centre itself properly - argh!);

See the pretty leaves on top?

And last night I cooked my step-dad, Fred's German Green Bean Soup, which uses a special German herb called 'Bohnenkraut' or 'Summer Bean Herb' (Wiki calls it Summer Savory at one point, and Summer Bean Herb at another, but I think Summer Bean Herb is a better translation). The soup is a lovely broth, and great to make when we're poor.

Day One of the no sugar (diet? detox? I'm not sure) thing but it is only 11am, so all I've had is two Vita Brits (they don't have sugar added) and some milk. So far, so good.

x

Hey there sugar!

Actually, Goodbye sugar!


A while ago, inspired by my friend Paula, who I worked with at the time, I decided to go two weeks without chocolate, and did so successfully, which I was pleasantly surprised about. After doing so, I wanted chocolate less often, and felt very refreshed! So recently, after a long time of frustration over my acne and some inspiration from another friend, Terri, who has undertaken a crazy detox that I don't think I could ever do myself, I have decided to take my last attempt one step further and go without refined sugar for two weeks.


This means I can still eat fruit (fructose) and milk (lactose) but nothing that has sugar (glucose), so no alcohol, no scones from work (Aargh!), no over processed flour products (white pasta, white bread - not that I really eat that anyway), and nothing with added sugar at all.


I'm hoping that by doing this I will improve my skin and that after I finish I will want to eat products with refined sugar in them less often, it might also have a bit of a detoxifying effect that could be useful because I'm very stressed out and highly strung at the moment!!!


Luckily for me, I live very close to the Queen Victoria Markets so I can get plenty of fresh fruit and lots of dried pulses to cut down the amount of processed food I eat. If you have any ideas for snacks during this period, I'd love to hear them - just don't say carrot sticks! PLEASE!


Also, I plan on cooking Polenta for the first time and I'm very excited! I'm going to try this recipe, but use chicken thighs instead of beef mince (Free Range Chicken, of course!). Delish!

Image from cuisine.com.au

Wish me luck!
x

I think my posts are beginning to become more of a weekly thing of late. But I have been a bit busy lately, with work and uni and life and all that. 


I got to visit my Mum this weekend, which was great. It was nice to be back in the country and feel like there is actually some physical space between people for a while (I live in a pretty small apartment with my boyfriend and our housemate, so it can get a little cramped sometimes). I also had my first uni exam yesterday, and I think I passed. I hope lol. I studied my little butt off so I had better pass!


On Monday, I made my best bolognese yet, for which I think I might give you the recipe. It was a combination of my usual recipe, a recipe from Delicious magazine and a recipe I saw on Rachael Ray's show (Mum has pay TV - yay!). I am always looking to improve my bolognese, even though it is already pretty freakin delicious. But anyway, give this baby a crack!


BOLOGNESE
30g unsalted butter
2 Tbl olive oil
200g Pancetta, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, finely chopped
2 stalks cellery, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely grated
500g Premium beef mince
3/4 cup dry red wine
1 jar bolognese sauce
1 can chopped tomatoes
2 cups beef stock
2 bay leaves
1 Tbl chopped basil leaves
Salt and pepper, to taste


In a heavy based saucepan, melt the butter and oil, over medium heat. 
Add the pancetta and saute for 3 to 5 minutes, or until it starts to crisp.
Add the garlic, onion, celery and carrot and saute for 5 minutes, or until soft.
Add the beef mince and cook, stirring, until browned.
Pour in the red wine and stir through. Simmer until most of it has evaporated.
Pour in the jar of sauce, the canned tomatoes and the beef stock and stir.
Add the 2 bay leaves and basil, and taste the sauce before you add the salt and pepper. (The pancetta makes this sauce very salty already)
Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally, and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for 30-40 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
Before serving, remove the bay leaves.
Serve with whatever pasta you like, I used Spinach Fettucini, and cheese.
OM NOM NOM NOM NOM...


Oh, and in case you were wondering, I did get my hair dyed, but you can barely see it, so I'm not going to post a picture for you, lol. Sorry.
x