Category — TGIF!

This weekend looks like a fix-it-up weekend.  Luckily we can now buy a tool kit in pink that is made for women. By doing it yourself you know the job will be done.


Miss Fixit is a tool kit for women and it holds all the little essentials for managing household emergencies.   It has a screwdriver for every type of application, insulated pliers, cutting knife, measuring tape and socket spinners.  Now to figure out what to do with them.

Breathe a sigh of relief.  Friday is here at last.

Tonight we are staying home and because I don’t want to slave in the kitchen we are going for an old favourite - Ginger and Lemongrass Fish.  This is fast, easy and healthy, and something about the flavours seems to kick the weekend off with a zing.  Most of the ingredients can be bought in a jar or tube which makes for a lazy preparation. 

Ginger - Lemongrass Fish. (serves 2)

1 tbsp chopped lemongrass

1 tspn minced ginger

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp (or to taste) minced chili

2 pieces firm white fish fillet.

Mix all the ingredients, except the fish, into a paste.   Rub it all over the fish and then leave the fish to marinate for about 5 minutes.

Heat a heavy based pan to a high heat and place the fish in it.   Seal the fish and then turn it over.  Lower the heat to medium and cook through. 

That’s it.  Simple.  We usually serve it with salads from the deli or with steamed vegetables. 

Some days even Friday isn’t enough, is it?  Those are the days when you just have to get away.  A friend pointed me in the direction of a film called “Into the Wild” which is all about a boy who does just that.  His getaway is far more extreme than mine, though! 

Here is a clip which shows you a little about the film.  It has a wonderful soundtrack which is well worth a listen to as well.  I hope you enjoy it.

Does my passion for chocolate show?  (That is a rhetorical question!)

This week I have been dreaming about sinful little balls of chocolate.  I saw a recipe posted this week and it has haunted me.  I think it is time to give in to the primal chocolate hunter/gatherer urge and just make them!  Thanks to Shelly of Shak’in and Bak’in for this recipe.

Malted Milk Ball Cookies

3/4 c. butter, softened
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 eggs
1/4 c. cooking oil
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. whole bran cereal
3 c. malted milk balls, crushed

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with electric mixer on high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt. Beat until well combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs, oil and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour and cereal by hand. Reserve 1/2 c. crushed malted milk balls to sprinkle on top. Stir in remaining malted milk balls. Shape dough into 1 1/2″ balls. Place balls 2″ apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Place cookie sheet on wire rack. Immediately sprinkle tops of warm cookies with reserved crushed malted milk balls. Cool on cookie sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring cookies to wire rack to cool

I have to say that exercise is not something that comes naturally to me.  Sport - what is it?  Still, a girl has to do something to keep in shape, doesn’t she?  This Fridays entertainment will increase your fitness while leading to who knows what future uses!

One of the best workouts I have had really didn’t feel like exercise at all and the best news of all is that it suits women of all sizes.  In fact, the larger women have more to shimmmy with!  Have you tried belly dancing?  I tell you, nothing that has you wrapped in floating material and moving to music can be called exercise.  You feel more like a butterfly than a Rocky.

Beauty Banquet has a gift set “Belly Dance Beginner” that is now available in store.  The set comes with a really big, shimmering organza veil/scarf that can be wrapped around your body to make you feel as though you are in Arabian Nights.  You can also use it as an accessory in some of your dances.  With the scarf you will also get one of 2 instructional DVD’s by Neena and Veena, who are renowned belly dance fitness instructors.  Both DVD’s are suitable for beginners.

Dance your way to fitness and float through your exercise routines.  You won’t feel a twinge. 

At long last it is Friday.  I think we should make Friday stand out right from the beginning of the day.  It has a feeling all its own, anyway, doesn’t it?  Freedom lies at the end of this day….

How about starting the day off with a bang?  Well, more precisely in this case, with a disco beat?  Let me show you the  Disco Alarm Clock from Cool Things.

This groovy disco ball is an alarm clock complete with disco music and flashing coloured lights from its rotating ball! 

If that doesn’t put you in the party mood in the morning, then nothing will.  Of course, you can still toss a pillow at it to shut it up but I can’t guarantee its survival!

Some Fridays are bigger than others and in those TGIF emergencies you will need these.

Your own ATM Machine.  Really.  Well, OK, this is really a money box but what a way to keep track of your dollars.  Add coins and notes through their slots and the machine will add it all up for you.  This is a high tech money box!  Now just keep away from it over the weekend,

When you are really in a hard spot in deciding which Friday night invitation to accept you need an excuse generator. 

This device will create 10 excuses for you so that you don’t have to think about it at all.  Think of the brain power saved!

Both of these gadgets are available from dStore.

If there is one thing I hate it is being kept waiting, especially in some strange bar or restaurant.  I feel as though everyone is watching me.

Time for a new watch.  One for me and one for ‘the man.’  Have a look at these.

Aren’t they lovely?  How streamlined is the mans watch on the left?  For me, I picked one with a bit of bling for my Friday night out.

These are both available from the large watch selection at
Essential Mall.

Sometimes you just fall over good things by accident and that is what happened when I found Glorydaze.  

Some girls have a passion for shoes but I am a bag girl ( no, not bag lady!)  Glorydaze makes a clever and colourful range of bags which are available on Etsy.   Many are restyled military bags that are remade with the addition of unique and individually sourced material.  Each bag is a work of art and the best thing is that there is a great selection of messenger bags - those universally useful carry alls!  Just the thing to carry all my Friday night essentials…………..

Don’t even talk to me.  I am tired and I want chocolate.  What I want is the Big Chocolate Box from Rainbow Designs.

It includes all those temper soothing delights such as freckles, M&M’s, jaffas, clinkers, choc bullets, fantales, choc buds, cobbers, milk and caramel buds. 

To aid the soothing process I should add some nice scent to my bath.  No!  Blow that!  I want more chocolate. 

Where better to get if from than Real Mums and in the form of Chocolate Moo Shake.? This is a rich and chocolatey bath milk that soothes the skin and the mind.  

These little chocolate fixes should set me up for the weekend.