My Bloggable Day

The Ball

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Bec

The Ball was the weekend before Easter. The night after the Retro Lawn Party. This post has been waiting in the wings for ages, waiting for motivation to strike. I know I’ve said this before but I often wonder about this blog and its usefulness. But I’ll leave that for another time because that is a depressing topic that the Ball does not deserve to be associated with. Because the ball was AWEsome.

Being female with normal to accelerated levels of narcissism, we started getting ready at noon. We being my housemates Bec, Elly (who is new to the house as well as this blog, welcome) and myself. One of Elly’s coworkers slash a former hairdresser came to do our hair. Fancy.

We sat around the kitchen table, listened to music, gossiped (probably, I can’t really remember) and had a glass or two of sparkling. Very Steel Magnolias. After our hair we cursed the fact we had hours to kill and couldn’t lie down for fear of crushing our ‘dos. Rookie error. Never mind, there was tan to be administered and false eye lashes to be applied, ripped off and re-applied.

We then headed over to our FRIEND Jordan’s house for some drinks and a photo session. After scouting some locations which best caught the evening light I hustled everyone into position and went to town, photographically speaking.

Vanessa, Bec, Bec and Elly.

Looking dapper.
The boys, who no doubt threw on their suits, brushed off the kebab crumbs from spring racing season and were ready in 10 minutes compared to our 5 hours.

Bec wore a dress of mine purchased in London. I wore a $5 bargain from the op shop. Elly’s dress is Kookai and Vanessa wore Sass & Bide.

Kalgoorlie Klass.

The below picture is a hilarious GIF that appears not to be moving. Gosh darn interwebs. If anyone knows how to make it move without clicking on it please let me know!

We headed to the venue and that’s where my photography starts to go rapidly downhill. The theme was ‘Majestic’ and the committee did a great job classing-up what is actually an indoor basketball court.

Jordan appearing to take a micro nap while I tuck into entree.

There were dancers, a high rollers auction, a moment on stage with a ‘hypnotist’ whom I told my name was Consuela, a band, more dancing and a knee dislocation (my left). But most importantly, there was…..

A photo booth!! Our fridge is now looking sufficiently decorated. A most excellent night. As every primary school principal has said about every fete in every newsletter ever written ‘A good time was had by all’. Except my left knee. I’m still limping.

Posted in Misc | Tagged The Ball | 10 Comments

Healthy Apple Crumble

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Bec

So, my housemates Elly, Bec and I are making an effort to eat a little more healthily at the moment (a project which involved a hilarious session of finding both the fattest and skinniest photos of ourselves available, thank you facebook). This is all very well except healthy cooking is having a detrimental effect on my baking. So when I noticed our fruit bowl was overflowing with questionable looking apples, I endeavoured to make a sugar free apple crumble.

This recipe only really works with sweet apples, so leave the Granny Smiths behind. Start by peeling and slicing your apples, I used about 11.

Stew the apples in a pot with a little water, a few shakes of cinnamon, two teaspoons of vanilla essence and a splash of lemon juice. Let the apples soften, but not go mushy.

Usually I would use oats for the crumble, but we only had expensive looking muesli in the cupboard, so I used that (sorry Elly!). I added two tablespoons of margarine, which I hate especially since someone told me it was one molecule away from being plastic and comes out grey and is died yellow to look like butter… But it is less fatty. Add some more cinnamon.

Put the apples in your dish and top with the muesli.

Bake at 180 degrees until the top goes golden brown.

We split a Skinny Cow ice cream and had that on top. It was pretty delicious!

I’m definitely not going to become a sugar free freak, but I guess if you’re looking for a healthier dessert option this is a great option.

Posted in Food | Tagged Food, Healthy Apple Crumble, Healthy Dessert, Recipe, Sugar Free | 3 Comments

Retro lawn party

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Bec

Thank God (quite literally) that this is a short week. My Mondayitis is particularly acute this morning because I had a humdinger of a weekend.

It started on Friday night with a joint 30th Retro Lawn Party at the Hannans Club. Carly and Paula are co-owners (along with Tina) of Fossick Handmade, so if anyone was going to have an amazingly styled and executed party, it’s these two talented lasses. Let’s start with what I believe to be the single most important aspect of any party; the photo booth:

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Everyone loves a photo booth. Have one at your wedding/party/bar mitzvah. It will ensure your event is an unmitigated success.

I wore a dress from Dangerfield that I bought on New Years Eve and had earmarked for the Esperance Cup. Much more appropriate for this occasion though. The dress code called for ’40s-60s inspired after five wear (no hippies!)’. Excellent.

The food was just incredible. So spot on with the theme I expected a trip to the kitchen would have revealed that Betty Draper was behind it all. Think devilled eggs, prawn cocktail, and one of these cubed cheese, gherkin, cocktail onion porcupine delights;

I had heaps of these smoked salmon mousse cucumber things.

The two lovely birthday girls.

Some beady eyed lawn flamingos.

Photo booth fun.

How is this fancy jelly even possible?!

Paula and her delightful lady mo.

And a final self indulgent photo of myself.

I wish I had taken photos of the bunting! So much bunting. Also there were round tables on the lawn with people nibbling on dainty canapes and sipping champagne, dapper lads playing a spot of croquet, a killer playlist and a chocolate fountain.

Happy birthday ladies! Thanks for having me.

The rest of the weekend I attended a ball AND made the cauliflower, broccoli and cheese pie. As my housemate Bec would say “killlling iiiiit’!

How was your weekend?

Posted in Fashion, Misc | Tagged Food, Party, Photo Booth, Retro | 4 Comments

The greatest most delicious pie in the world

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Bec

I can tell what you’re thinking. ‘What is that monstrosity?!’. ‘No WAY is that Paleo’.

I don’t like to oversell things, so I’m just going to be honest and say that this is the greatest most delicious pie in the world. It contains cauliflower and broccoli married together in a white sauce baked until the cheese on top gets nice and crispy.

As far as I am aware these pies are available at one (inconvenient) location only: the Esperance bakery. The same place that has the world’s best giant chocolate rum balls. Yes I was back in Esperance over the weekend. I can’t seem to stay away lately. The bakery definitely has something to do with it.

Look at that creamy goodness. I like ketchup on top. Adds another flavour dimension.

Jordan (MY FRIEND*) made me promise to bake a cauliflower, broccoli and cheese pie this weekend when he comes to town. I’m going to give it a red hot go. Wish me luck.

Oh, and if bakeries aren’t really your thing there are a couple of other reasons to head to Esperance:

This photo was taken from the back seat of a ute as we tore along the coast to Cape Le Grand National Park. I have to say I never understood the appeal of four wheel driving along the beach. Nothing like trying to enjoy nature by rip roaring through it in a large vehicle right?! Wrong. It was amazing. Sorry beach. We also drove onto a giant rock, it was quite scary.

What is the best pie you’ve ever had?

(*My Mum, who is rapidly turning into Bridget Jones’ mother, called me just then demanding to know who Jordan is)

Posted in Food | Tagged Esperance, Food, Pie | 8 Comments

Wearing My Wardrobe update – The Terrible Truth

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Bec

Honesty is the best policy, right?

It happened. I knew it would. I snapped.

Having not bought anything for just over two months, I finally caved on Saturday and bought not one, but two new dresses. I had realised the Terrible Truth; that despite my best intentions and reluctance to give-in to the first world premise that buying something new has a positive psychological effect on a person, new clothes really do do great things for the psyche.

Hear me out!

Without going into too much detail I’ve been having a bit of a crappy time lately (hold the violins). And in trying to regain a little sparkle I’ve been trying to be social and head out and have a great time, which I have! However, going out in the same old same old kind of starts to make you feel same old same old. And so I caved and bought two new dresses. And Saturday night was ALL KINDS of awesome. So there.

I’m not giving up on WMW 2013. I’m still going to attempt to buy nothing, but if I slip up every so often I’m not going to beat myself up. Especially since I’ve realised I never really did anywhere near as much shopping as most of my friends (Erin I’m looking at you!).

If it’s any consolation, the black dress was reduced from $150 to $60 and the other one was $47. So the bank has not been broken. But I realise this is a lame excuse.

Do you hate me? Jo and Chloe, have you caved at all?!

Posted in Wearing My Wardrobe 2013 | Tagged Dresses, Shopping, Wearing My Wardrobe 2013 | 18 Comments

Esperance mini break

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Bec

What an absence! This time last week I was cursing ex tropical cyclone Rusty for bringing a deluge to the Goldfields. I was right to curse. Our little convoy drove four hours through torrential rain down to Esperance. It was quite hairy at points, and I was worried my travel companions would insist we stop in Norseman (cue Dueling Banjos) for the night.

Thankfully my irritatingly positive outlook was enough to get them a further two hours down the road. We got to our holiday rental and collapsed into bed.

The Esperance Cup was meant to be the next day but it was postponed because of the weather. Not to worry. Brosnan prepared a fry up with all the trimmings and we sipped Mimosas to keep our spirits high. After getting 8 people showered and ready we headed to the shops, followed shortly by the pub. The rest of the day is pretty much a wipe out.

All the next day I battled a persistent headache. It was still drizzling but not cold so we headed to the best place on earth; Twilight Beach.

It looks pretty foreboding but the water was delicious and I cleared my head with a swim out to the rock with the boys. That night we gorged on fish and chips and played Unspeakable, an iPhone app that is the same as the board game Taboo. So. Much. Fun. I highly recommend you download it and play it at your next dinner party.

Monday was a public holiday, unfortunately most of our crew had to head back home, I drove Emma out to the airport early and then headed to the beach by myself. I was greeted with this:

Not bad! I enjoyed most of the beach to myself and then headed back to the house to round up the rest of the troops. After a piece of toast and a heated debate over peanut butter vs peanut paste (paste?! since when? West Australians….) we headed back to the beach.

We swam out to the rock and mucked about in the water for a while making accessories out of seaweed. Hungry already we then headed to the bakery for some treats. The Esperance Bakery is the bomb. It has amazing pies and traditional bakery fare as well as sushi and rice paper rolls. I shared a cauliflower, broccoli and cheese pie (to die for!) and some sushi with Erin. I also had one of the giant chocolate rum balls I’m so fond of:

We then headed back to the house and Erin, Bec and I got frocked up for the races.

That’s us in the betting ring. It was sweltering all day, quite a turnaround from the day before! Before too long everyone looked kind of sweaty and gross. But we just embraced it. I lost $25 betting on horses that may as well have been donkeys.

We were in a tent with lots of fun people and ended up track side until 7:30pm before heading to the pub. Far too conscious of the fact I had work the next day I headed back to the house at about 11pm. I got up the next day and walked to work at the Esperance office.

A lunch break looks much better from here:

After work I headed back to the beach with Bec and we had one final swim out to the rock. Followed by an ice cream. I had old english toffee, Bec had soft serve dipped in chocolate. While we were enjoying the view a couple of grey nomads (retired people who travel in caravans) came over to chat. I can’t wait until I can ride around in a caravan and drink wine every night.

Unfortunately Bec, who didn’t have work and spent all day on the beach, managed to fry herself and was looking a tad tomato-esque when we checked into a motel for the night. But nevertheless we were delighted to discover Save the Last Dance was on in the motel room and enjoyed watching Julia Styles awkwardly bluff her way through the dancing scenes. We then met our colleagues at the pub for some pizzas.

The next day (Wednesday) the weather had turned again. Which was terrible timing given our radio team had driven down to broadcast live from the town square. Half way through the broadcast the presenters had to leg it back to the studio to avoid the down pour (and possible electrocution) and we had to pack up in the rain.

After a final cauliflower, broccoli and cheese pie Bec and I headed back up the road to Kalgoorlie with sand still between our toes, slightly more brown (or red in her case).

If you can manage to tack a weekend onto a work trip (or vice versa) I highly recommend it. Although I’m completely exhausted so I’m quite glad it’s the weekend.

Are you doing anything fun? Peanut butter or paste?

Posted in Misc | Tagged Beach, Esperance, Races, Weekend Away | 6 Comments

Lemon cream cheese butter cake

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Bec

I come from a line of very skilled bakers. My aunt, HK, in London very kindly sent me this book she put together of a collection of delicious lemon cakes. HK is baking a different lemon cake every month for a friend. July is the cake that started it all: the lemon cream cheese butter cake. So I thought it very appropriate to start with that cake, which I baked last weekend. It was deliciously tangy and moist. To make the cake you will need:

125g cream cheese
250g butter
2 tsp grated lemon zest
1.5 cups castor sugar
3 eggs
1.5 cups plain flour, sifted

Preheat the oven to 180C and grease a 20cm bundt cake tin. I didn’t have a bundt tin, unfortunately. Start by zesting the lemon (is zesting a word?). I used a fine grater that is shaped like a mouse. And Mum don’t worry, that is Shellac on my nails (not polish) so it won’t chip off leaving pink speckles in the cake.

Beat cream cheese, butter and zest together until smooth, add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat the eggs in one at a time, beat in the sifted flour lightly in 2 batches until smooth. Spoon the cake mix into your tin and bake at 180C for 30 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 160C for a further 30 minutes.

Have a dance around the kitchen, this is important. (you don’t have to pout awkwardly like me though, or wave a pink spatula around)

Cool the cake in the tin for 10 minutes before turning on to a wire rack to cool further.

To make the glaze combine a cup of icing sugar with about 1 tbsp lemon juice.

Voila! It took a lot of restraint not to eat the glaze. Or the cake batter for that matter. I’m not usually one for raw cake but it was so buttery and creamy and lemony. I might have to adjust my oven temperature next time though, because the edges were a tad crisp.

Plans for the weekend?

Posted in Food | Tagged Cake, Dessert, Food, Lemon Cream Cheese Butter Cake, Recipe | 4 Comments

Cyclones and signs

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Bec

I have been looking forward to heading to the beach this weekend for approximately two months. The thought of diving under waves at blissful Twilight beach has been getting me through hot days and nights in this dust bowl.

So, of course, it’s only natural that a tropical low brought on by a bloody cyclone up north will bring delightfully heinous weather to the region this weekend.

ARGHBEGEKJBFEJB<@BE*RY$(&$ **@&#(*&@&

Of course. So I will be packing sweaters instead of bikinis. Coats instead of summer dresses. But really, I should have picked up on a sign from last week:

I have NEVER broken a pair of sunglasses in my life. Until last week when two pairs mysteriously broke apart in my hands. Even though they were both cheap/free (the tortoiseshell pair are from Diva and the black pair I found in my desk drawer at work?! Sorry Emma*…) I am annoyed because I really liked both pairs.

Really I should have seen it as a sign: my sunglasses are topping themselves because they won’t be needed this weekend. Because there will be no sun.

Dramatic but true.

Positive side note: at least this will give us time to get really good at Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus the board game. Bec bought it from an op shop and we played it at a BBQ last weekend, with hilarious outcomes. How a self help book can be converted into a board game is anyone’s guess.

(*Emma sat at my desk before she moved to Perth, she also left a packet of nail files… win!)

Posted in Misc | Tagged Beach, Sunglasses, Weekend | 5 Comments

Tales of the 99 cent watermelon

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Bec

Whenever Bec and I walk into the supermarket together she loses it over the watermelons. Unfortunately our tiny fridge will not accommodate such a beast. Sometimes she will carry a watermelon around for a while before conceding defeat and returning it to the fruit section (cue ‘I carried a watermelon‘ references). On Saturday the watermelons were 99 cents, so we bought one to make drinks out of. I made my first vodka watermelon last year, it was delicious but I stupidly removed all the innards, blended them and then put them back in. What a waste of time!

I was certain we could just hack off the top and stick the hand-held blender in and low and behold, it works.

Serious business.

Just be careful not to gouge out the sides, no one likes a leaky watermelon.

Plunge away.

Mmmm foamy.

You can add whatever you like; vodka, champagne, lemonade, lime, mint, whatever floats your boat. We had pink lemon vodka, ice and lemonade. Tastes like summer.

(Update: it’s 11:28pm, i’ve been at work for almost 6 hours, 2 more to go… I’m starting to flatline a bit. Time for coffee!)

Posted in Food | Tagged Cocktail, Drink, vodka watermelon, Watermelon | 4 Comments

Hot like a sunrise

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Bec

It’s 10:34am on a Tuesday morning and I am typing this from bed. I am not sick. I got sent home to sleep because tonight I must return to work between the hours of 6pm and 2am to keep the good peoples of the Pilbara updated on tropical cyclone Rusty, a powerful category 3 system. I hope everyone is ok. People have been evacuated, the airport and port closed, supplies have been purchased. Hold tight. Not sure if the weather is related but it’s pouring with rain here. Kind of sweet to lie in bed and listen to rain on the windows. It’s also nice and dark, which helps since I haven’t got around to hanging blackout curtains yet.

I took the above photo at 6am on Sunday morning before boarding a small plane and flying to a remote Aboriginal community 750km out of Kalgoorlie, near the NT border. It was an incredible day. An incredible experience. People think where I live is remote! These people can’t get a current newspaper. Ever.

I could never accuse my job of being monotonous. What do you do for a living? Do you love it?

Posted in Misc | Tagged Job, Work | 2 Comments