SUMMER SALE at Ami-Ana

It's decided. I'm having a Summer Sale over at Ami-Ana! (even though "Summer" is technically officially a few weeks away)

The plan is for it to be a gradual sale with me discounting and featuring/announcing items that have joined the Summer Sale ranks over time.

So to start it all off here is a pic of the first official Ami-Ana Summer Sale item!

Available at both Ami-Ana on Etsy as well as Ami-Ana on Felt. I will also create an Ami-Ana Summer Sale photo album over at the Ami-Ana FB page and will add to it as I announce each new sale item so keep an eye out there too. This stunner was originally $89NZ, then it was discounted to $75NZ - and now it's practically a steal at $50NZ ($38.50USD - awesome if you live in the US!). Please note - This special Summer Sale price will last only last as long as there are ponchos left! Be quick! ; )

Happy Summer Christmas shopping!
OR just happy Summer Sale shopping!

Do my EARS deceive me??

I am by now well accustomed and will readily admit to the foul smell of grilling capsicum - on previous occasions when I have grilled/roasted it for making hummus it has repeatedly set off the smoke alarm in our lounge - hence, I am now somewhat of an old hand at this and consequently open all the windows and doors that one can within reason - in anticipation!

As my boys and hubby returned home from school this afternoon they were greeted with the mere beginnings of the putrid scent of grilling capsicum. I must say they all play the tortured victim rather well - for duration of the grilling process husband and children alike held their noses and moaned and groaned about the foulness and torturous-ness of it all. That is all the children bar one. Whilst his older brothers groaned loudly and incessantly, clutching their noses with pained faces - the wombat, as per usual, attempted to copy all this "older brother" stuff - pained face - check. Boisterous complaining - check. Pinched nose - ba-bow.

It seemed somewhere along the way that the wombat got a bit confused and instead of pinching his nose to block out the heinous scent he instead feverishly covered his ears.

UNBEARABLY cute and amusing!

FINE!!

This is what I automatically think of when I hear the word "fine".

Lazy Domesticity #3

A couple of weeks ago a bunch of us all got together and had a big potluck to farewell a couple of friends off who were moving to Oz - I made this or at least a variation thereof and a number of friends commented on it so I've decided it's only fair that I "share the joy".

And YES this is another one of my so-called "default" meals.

Differences between "my" lasagne and the recipe on the foodinaminute website - As a mother I'm going for simplicity (what I have readily available) as well as what my boys will eat - I don't readily have canned chilli beans available nor will my boys eat spicy foods (which let's be honest a lot of foods that claim to be "mild" still are) so these are swapped out for a can of regular baked beans without a second thought. Green capsicum - if I have it, it goes in. Tomato paste - also "optional" in my opinion - if I have some I put it in. Parsley - not a fan, so I'm not gonna rush out to buy it especially for this. Parmesan - although I DO buy it to make pesto with - is SMELLY - kids don't like smelly - so I just use regular mild cheese. I grate with the side of the grater with the smallest holes so that I can get more volume with less cheese. I also don't serve this with guacamole.
HOWEVER - I DO add a few things - one grated carrot and at least one grated zucchini when I add the can of beans, and sometimes I add ripped spinach/silverbeet leaves if I have them. Also if EVERYONE in the fam loved mushrooms then I would no doubt add sliced mushrooms as well - YUM. I have also used cream cheese when I didn't have cottage cheese available.

Also here's a little variation I did once with some Venison Chris cooked up.

Why no photos? you ask. Our computer went bust a week or so ago and it is STILL away being fixed so we are living off our laptop. Superspeed - Yes. All our regular, familiar programmes, pictures etc - No.

Super Speed is good though. Not knocking super speed.

Anyway - I digress - hope you all enjoy and perhaps try some variations of your own! I am dying to try a variation using a delicious lentil spaghetti sauce recipe I know mmmmmm - that another time perhaps!

Oddities

One of Chris' lame attempts to irk me.


Don't get it? I like spoons to face down after being washed - otherwise water pools in them and they stain/get marked.

Just one of my oddities.

Things that DON'T impress me

I'm thinking that people who speed think they are pretty impressive - well, I'm here to tell you:
You're NOT. You're just a faster than average idiot. ESPECIALLY if it's raining*.



*Or other extreme/hazardous weather conditions.

SKANKY campaign for the foolhardy and gullible

I just had to comment on this because it's going around FB and it's just SO repulsive to me - I don't see how ANYONE could think this was a good idea.

THIRD time I've received this message:

One of my friends has suggested that we women should do something special on facebook in order to increase awareness of October Breast Cancer Awareness month. It's so easy to do, that I'd love you to join in to make this a memorable online event.
Last year, the idea was to post the colour of the bra you were wearing on facebook...and it left men wondering for days, why women were posting colours, seemingly at random.
This year's game has to do with your handbag/purse, where we put our handbag the moment we get home; for example "I like it on the couch", "I like it on the kitchen counter", "I like it on the dresser". Well u get the idea. Just put your answer as your status (i.e. don't respond to this message, but put it on your status) - and cut n paste this message and forward to all your FB female friends to their inbox.
The bra game made it to the news. Let's get the purse in as well and see how powerful we women really are!!!
REMEMBER - DO NOT PUT YOUR ANSWER AS A REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE- PUT IT IN YOUR STATUS!!! PASS THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

After receiving this insulting message THREE times I finally "cracked" and responded thus:

This "campaign" is SOOOOO skanky. WHO would portray themselves in such a skanky, repulsive way or insinuate such things about themselves "supposedly" in the name of "breast cancer awareness" - what a JOKE!! In fact I'm sure that's what this all is - an innuendo filled rubbish campaign designed by some sexed up male (who's sitting laughing his head off somewhere that so many women could be SO easily suckered) designed to get women worldwide to portray themselves as whoring garbage. Are we REALLY willing to show that we are THIS stupid??? HOW exactly does this raise awareness for breast cancer......?