I love Fridays. They are the window to the weekend. This morning, while I was hunting for something interesting to cook, I found a handwritten recipe on the back of an envelope. It was written by my grandmother and it is for one of my favourite cakes. She was the only one who ever made it and just seeing her writing brought back so many memories for me.
Photo by Sérgio Henrique Schüler (Stock xchng)
By sheer coincidence while blog hopping this morning I came across a site called Monique’s Scrappin’ Blog. I am definitely not a scrapper and would rather keep my millions of photos all together in the one place, but on this site I saw collections of graphics that were all food related, designed for scrapping your recipe books.
What a great idea! This envelope is just one a a few that I have from both of my grandmothers and my mother. They mean a great deal to me so what a wonderful way to display and protect them this could be. To me they are my part of my heritage, my childhood. I would like to pass them on to my daughter in the future. By presenting them in a beautiful scrap album they will be kept safe and unsquashed.
This weekend my daughter and I might spend some time sortnig out these recipes (perhaps even try to cook some!) and preparing them for their presentation. What a lovely project for mother and child and what a lovely keepsake to leave for the future.
Monique’s site has some lovely packs and you can also shop at Craft Online.
Posted on August 28, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
This cartoon has got to be 60 years old but the message is still as relevant today. It is called ‘How to Relax’ and stars cartoon dog, Dimwit.
Watch the cartoon, which is funny, but see how scarily close it still is to modern day living. Think offices, computers and flat pack furniture. You will understand, then, why My Day Off is so intent on the campaign for relaxation. After seeing it I hope you will make the conscious decision not to let work run your life.
Posted on August 27, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
I don’t feel like working at all, today. (Gee, now there is a shock for you!) Still, someone has to work, don’t they? Perhaps I can spend my “slackers day” thinking of ways to motivate everyone else.
The AutoMotivator should help. I love this place. Make your own motivational posters and save them to your computer or generate a high resolution image for printing. How cool is that?
Look what I made to keep everyone else going! Perhaps it has not been a wasted day after all?
Posted on August 26, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
For many of us relaxing is no longer something that comes naturally. It has been so long since we have stopped running against the clock that we have forgotten what to do when we stop.
Tonic Gifts have a great book called 52 Relaxing Rituals. It is described as “The essential deck for the overworked, overstressed, and overtired, this deck provides the ingredients necessary to unwind, calm down, and relieve anxiety.”
The best way to learn to relax again is to do it by developing little rituals around it. You need to turn it into a habit and the best way to adopt a new habit is to practice it. Rituals are designed for the same reason. Some of us have bedtime rituals that we know will let us sleep peacefully. This deck has ideas of many sorts which will help you remember how to relax. It is only $12.95 and it will certainly ease your life.
Posted on August 25, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
In my dreams I will spend my Monday off lazing about on a comfortable sofa with a servant at my beck and call. The whole idea is pure heaven. I really fancy myself as one of those 1940’s stars with my flowing robe, painted lips and uniformed servant.
I know it isn’t going to happen immediately, but if I put my Christmas wish list together properly it might!
Blair Lifestyle Management will find their services listed on my list and I think they will be as close as I ever get to employing a maid or butler. Their services can be ‘gifted’ to you through a gift voucher. Isn’t it a great idea? They will run errands for you, arrange dinner parties, organise your home, set up your office space and even remind you of those very important dates. This is exactly what I want. What a wonderful gift for the person who has a busy life.
I wonder if they offer child taxi services too? Mums taxi needs a rest.
Posted on August 24, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
Well, what do you think? We have a new look. We wanted a style that had a nice, laid back feel to it so we have chosen a natural green colour.
While we want to stay with the traditional blog layout for its ease of reading we have also introduced a featured post section. This is where you will find special things that we want you to know about as well as some excellent guest posts from experienced ‘day off-ers’.
At long last Friday is here. You know, looking at yesterdays post has made me look at my own appearance. Muscles and I don’t go together (unless they are on someone else) nor do exercise and I. What I can do, though, is to make sure that I am wearing the right colours for my skin.
You don’t have to go to an image consultant any more. You can do it online at Beauty Banquet. You can also do the Image assessment and find out what clothing shapes and styles suit your body.
Determining your colour is an easy process. All you have to do is to fill in a questionnaire and send in (email or post) a good photo of your face. Your colours will be analysed and your colour season decided.
You will be sent out a booklet which explains what colours suit you and why as well as a little colour swatch collection which is handbag sized. You can take it with you when you shop so you will be confident in choosing the correct colours.
This is a great way to spend a Friday night or weekend. How confident will you feel knowing that you look absolutely radiant simply because you have the right colour items in your wardrobe?
Posted on August 21, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
The new edition of the Queensland FIrefighters Calendar is coming on sale this month. This is the cover of the 2008 calendar. Imagine what the new one will be like! They are only $10 each and the proceeds go to the Royal Children’s Hospital Burns Centre. Go and get yours now.
Posted on August 20, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
Wednesdays are good and bad. The week is half done, but you still have all those meals to cook. Please tell me you feel this way too, or I will start to think I am lazy.
I found this handy recipe over at the Kraft site and thought you might like to tuck it away for use at some stage.
Cajun Fish and Vegie Parcels.
4 × 180g
white fish fillets (e.g. rockling, blue grenadier, blue-eye)
1 1/2 tablespoons Cajun spice mix
1 tablespoon oil
1 bunch broccolini, trimmed and blanched
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and blanched
1 large carrot, julienne and blanched
1 clove garlic, crushed
salt and pepper, to taste
4 KRAFT Singles, cut into quarters diagonally
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
COAT the fish fillets in the Cajun spices. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the fish fillets for 2 minutes each side until browned.
TAKE 4 pieces of baking paper or foil (approx 20 × 30cm) and place a piece of fish on one half of each. Toss together the broccolini, asparagus, carrot, garlic and seasoning then pile onto the 4 pieces of fish. Top with a Single* and sprinkle with thyme. Fold the paper/foil over to enclose the filling then fold together the ends to form 4 parcels.
BAKE parcels at 180°C for 10 minutes. Carefully unwrap and serve.
For many of us relaxing is no longer something that comes naturally. It has been so long since we have stopped running against the clock that we have forgotten what to do when we stop.
