What do I Do?

Now I have a fancier website, do I pack up the Chronicles? I don't think I want to. 

I don't want to pack it up. Can I do both? What are the purposes of either?

I throw these questions out there hoping someone will know what to do........... 

that is all.

IT IS HERE!

My website is here!!!

Please come celebrate with me HERE 

Thanks to everyone for reading and inspiring me to put this together - I really feel like I am living my passion

xxx

Are you ready for SHARNANIGANS?

In two days I am launching a brand spanking new website...

SHARNANIGANS!

I have been working on this with my designer (love saying that, daaarlings) on and off for quite a while now.

We will unleash it on the world in just 2 days... I am excited and nervous all rolled into one.

The Chronicles will remain (at this stage) but Sharnanigans will be the more polished, user friendly version.

The Chronicles will be kept for Odes to PMS and the like hahaha

I have been on such an amazing journey since I started blogging in August it has inspired me to crank it up a notch.

 I have met wonderful people and little did I know when I wrote my first pathetic blog post that writing online would take me to such terrific highs! (and help me come to terms with the sometimes crippling lows)

The website will have a bit of everything that is me, but written with you in mind.

I am really proud of it and am so grateful to my wonderful website designer and friend Olena who has been so accessible to me and so intuitive in converting my ideas into a design that I feel truly reflects me.

It is not just any old designer that could do such a thing. She is a real talent.

I hope you will follow me to my new home on Friday.

(And for those who need bribes, I am having a month of giveaways to celebrate

You can join up page here to be kept in the loop)

Backyard Life Lessons with Monte

Always stop and smell the flowers....

                                            

  Spend time with animals

the grass isn't greener over the other side.

 It is greener in our backyard 

A great weekend... and all that Jazz!

So this was our weekend, Cowboy and I's first getaway on our own, since the birth of our 14 month old son.

We drove to Echuca, a touristy little town filled with charisma for the annual Jazz and Wine festival...

We started things off easing our way into relaxation at a cosy little wine bar

 complete with lovely tapas menu...

it didn't take us long to get into the spirit, so we ditched the wine bar and headed to a place where we could drink barrels of wine....

starting to feel chilled out now...

lovely Italiano food complete with jazz band again... we have decided trombones and Harry Connick Jnr songs  are the new ACDC...

and above, why these are the token silly shots... just cos....!

 we had A BALL!!!!

How important it is, particularly as parents, to just get away on your own and remember who you are again minus the responsibility - if only for a couple of days!!

 When we got home I was SO excited to see Monte I could not get there quick enough - it was clear he was fine while we were away but also clear that he was glad to see us again!

The best feeling.

 A lovely break for us all - and it was lovely that he wanted me to carry him around everywhere when we got home :-)

AND ... just when I thought our homecoming couldn't be any friendlier and happier...

 it looked like someone else had missed me aswell...

it's OK Honey, I'm home....

No ACDC? Ok then we'll do a Jazz Festival!

So ACDC didn't happen.

We have dealt with that and tomorrow ( my birthday if you must know) we are off to ..... Echuca, little town halfway between the One Horse Town and Melbourne  for a Jazz and Wine festival - MINUS Monte..... for 2 days!!!!

I am SO EXCITED. Wine, jazz, deluxe food, time, time, time...! LEISURE TIME! OH MY!

I am concerned that I might have to book into internet-aholics anon while I am there because I will miss the computer - which is sad, and precisely the reason I am going with my Cowboy and living it up for 2 little days with no technology in sight.

Anyway so I won't be writing or tweeting or facebooking or anything - just wanted to let you know that I still exist.

Catch you when I get back.

Oh and guess what - I am launching my website next week!!!

Have you joined my fanpage yet???  (yes I hate the term fanpage but please join)

Back next week with a new look.

Fabulous food minus the Cooking!

What did you have for lunch today?

I mentioned recently that my lovely partner, Cowboy, has fulfilled my lifelong desire to partner up with a guy that could cook, and would  do so happily and gourmet-ly  for me.

(cue in: Angels and their rendition of Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)

I recently purchased Australian comedic icon Jane Kennedy's book - Fabulous Food Minus the Boombah

(how could I refuse this title hit my hot buttons like there was no tomorrow) and the Cowboy has been creating meals out of it ever since!

Hello to you, my dream man! 

Ever since this book came into our lives I have died and gone to foodie heaven, minus the bloated feeling!

While this blog post is sounding awfully like I have been commissioned to write about this marvellous book I just want to let you know I haven't!

Truth is I got the book LOVED it so much that I just had to talk to Jane Kennedy about it (and ask her about The Castle* while I was at it )

AND now I have gone one step further and felt compelled to share with you the concoctions that I, Cowboy made from it!

Ala to the left - Smoked Salmon, onion and Horseradish Cream, I think this one is suggested as a starter, but we had it for lunch!

Served of course with one glass of Sav Blanc (any more than that and apparantly I am headed straight back to Boombah territory.)

Call me a slow starter, but horseradish isn't something I have had much of.

It has become a staple in our diet ever since this tantalising introduction!!

For brekky  (with our ever so professional photography) we had the Egg and Asparagus fritatta

Gotta say, Jane is a genius.

You feel like (and are) eating the most delicious treat of a meal, but yet traditionally we don't couple that concept  with eating something  non-fattening.

She wins me over big time on this front.

Since this day we have delighted in lunches such as Smoked Salmon rolled up with rocket, cream cheese a hint of lemon and a whack of pepper - rolled up like sushi. SO NICE!

We have had Spicy Pork Loin with Thai Apple Salad for dinner. (my fave)

In fact, we have made her cookbook the staple of our eating habits. Much more glamorous than Weight Watchers.

Stay tuned for my interview with the lovely Jane Kennedy.

It will be on my  upcoming website - Sharnanigans.

To keep in the loop join up to my  facebook here. 



(for non- aussie readers Jane was one of the writers for The Castle - recently touted as Australia's FAVOURITE movie, just ask any Aussie and they will bombard you with quotes from it, hysterical - )