What I read: November

"cookbook" by Matt Preston
This was a birthday present from my husband because he knows how much I love cookbooks. I don't know if it's weird or normal, but I will read cookbooks from cover to cover in bed at night. I haven't made anything from this book yet but there's a recipe that includes caramelised white chocolate that has blown my mind. I've bought the white chocolate already, I'm just waiting for the opportunity to slow oven-bake it and try it out for myself! In fact, that's probably how I'll use this book- pulling elements and pieces of inspiration- trying techniques and flavour combinations- but I can't see me making many of the recipes exactly as described. But that's what I like about it. There are lots of salads, lots of tips and shortcuts, lots of new ideas. If only they could have left out the innuendo and "my ancestor who looks like me wrote a cookbook" injokes it could have been almost perfect.

"I am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai
I bought this book with a giftcard I received for my birthday. Like many people, I've been fascinated and inspired by Malala for a while so this is a book I've looked forward to reading. It mainly concentrates on the political situation leading up to Malala's shooting rather than the changes to her life afterwards. The thing I found quite surprising (although I don't know why) is that Malala is a very normal girl. Although one of the top students in her class at home, she is very average compared to her new British school peers and like all teenagers, there's quite a bit of normal self-centredness that shows through. Not that these are a slight against her, I simply it to show that despite the calm and sophisticated Malala we see in the media, this happened to a normal, vulnerable girl which makes it all the more heartbreaking.

My week 46/52

This week saw me knocked down for the count with some kind of virus. My joints ached, my eyes felt hot and dry and my energy levels were somewhere around minus fifty. I managed to get quite a few things done but not without several attempts and a LOT of effort. Seriously, most of them were simple sitting-in-front-of-the-computer tasks but the effort required to move from the loungeroom or bedroom or kitchen to the office was Herculean! 

There were a few other notable events this week- my youngest daughter had her first ever news day at school. Our school places a lot of value in public speaking so from Pre-primary onwards the students take part in speech contests. My eldest had just delivered her speech and so my youngest decided to write her own speech. It was an A4 page covered in lines and lines of writing- mostly the letters 'a' 'b' and 'm' but grouped to look like words. She was very proud of it so then she was very excited when she discovered the next day that she would really get to talk in front of her kindy class (although she won't make a speech until next year). 

This week I just used some cheap "deco tape" brand faux washi tape with a toadstool design. It is really cute though and the colours are really bright and rich. I mainly used a BIC 4-colour pen for writing because: virus. I'm still in my Kikki-K and I'm not sure if I'll switch back to a filofax for next year or not, or maybe I'll split into two planners next year- personal and work. 

OOTD: Great Odin's raven

Continuing the tradition of only posting terrible pictures of myself on the internet....

I'm not sure why I never post nice pictures. It's probably a self-deprecating thing- ie I'd feel vain and self-obsessed posting a really flattering picture of myself but posting a picture I can have a snark and a laugh at seems okay. Plus, when I look bad I'm generally feeling bad (ie sick or tired) and can't be bothered trying to get a better picture or caring in general, lol. So up goes the pic.

Anyway, this was today (Friday). I'm sick and mainly staying at home so I'm wearing a comfy black skirt, comfy black ballet flats, lazy ponytail, my husband's tshirt and a cardigan because I was feeling chilly. I had to leave the house for school drop off, then kindy drop off (half day), go to the bank, too the post office for envelop and stamps, post a cheque, purchase a birthday present and grab a few essential groceries. I have to do school/kindy pickup and then take my eldest out to a birthday party tonight but I may change my clothes before then.

So that's me doing WAHM_feeling-sick-on-a-Friday haha

Hope your weekend is a good one

Laura xx

Happy List November

Ahhh, I've missed blogging. I really enjoy it but then I seem to put it off in favour of housework and work-work and.... well, that's it really. That's 95% of my life, haha. Which is why I need my outlet of blogging!

Well today I am sharing my November Happy List- things that are bringing a smile to my face this month.

First up is the website launch for Ashloc Designs. It's no secret that I love Kylie's handmade jewellery (and she also sells kits for making your own) so this is an exciting day. Better yet, enter the code "allbrandnew" for 15% off all products until Sunday!

Next up is this tshirt which I picked up for my husband at Kmart but is now worn mainly by me (which may or may not have been my intention all along!). Admittedly I already own plenty of clothes but I don't have tshirts- I have tops and blouses but not a plain old tshirt (except gymwear). I don't often wear tshirts anyway but sometimes (like this week) I'm sick and I just want to wear PJ pants or tracksuit pants and a baggy mens tshirt. So comfort is number one but the big bonus is that this tshirt features a line from one of my favourite movies of all time.

And lastly, I'm enjoying all the Christmas preparations. Our tree finally fell apart last year so I've bought a new one which I'm really (like, tragically) excited about. I've bought some new Christmas books (even though I told myself I wouldn't), I've been drawing up lists and buying gifts which I've stashed in my walk-in-robe. Planning menus, decorations, activities, crafts, etc etc. I love it! And although I'm normally really careful to make sure that I hold off on indulging in Christmastime things until December, I've already had a Caramel Popcorn Chiller from Gloria Jeans. And that makes it onto my happy list too!

So that's a few of the things bringing me joy this month! Hope there's plenty bringing a smile for you this month too.

Laura xx

P.S six weeks til Christmas Eve ;o)