United States of Tara

Tara Gregson is a wife and mother with Dissociative identity disorder (DID). After deciding to take a break from her medication to discover the real cause of her disorder, her alternate personalties re-emerge: wild and flirty teenager T; old-fashioned housewife Alice; and male, loud, beer-drinking Vietnam vet Buck. Tara is supported by her calm and level-headed husband Max, her somewhat troubled teenage daughter Kate and quirky, good-hearted gay son Marshall. Her sister, Charmaine, is not so supportive, often expressing her doubt about the validity of Tara's disorder. From Wiki

I first learnt about this show when being forced to watch Rove one Sunday night, and was intrigued by the interview with Toni Collette. So I watched the series, and found it rather interesting.

Maybe it is my psych backgound, but I was intrigued by how the family, and Tara, coped with everything that went on.

And maybe just a tiny tiny little bit of me made me see my disjointed family as 'normal' Pin It

An old favourite meal

For the last few weeks I have been craving Porcupine Meatballs. No idea what brought it on, but all I can remember is them being a favourite when I was a Girl Guide.

When a friend mentioned she was having meatballs for dinner I finally got around to getting the recipe, and am now super excited to be having them for dinner.

Now, if I could make them when I was 12, on a fire, in the bush, surely I can make them when I am 25, on a stovetop, and in my kitchen. Here's hoping they are as good as I remember

Ingredients (serves 4)
400g extra-lean beef mince
50g (1/4 cup) long-grain rice
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh continental parsley
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil
1 brown onion, coarsely grated
1 egg, lightly whisked
Olive oil spray, to grease
1 x 800g can diced Italian tomatoes
125ml (1/2 cup) water
Parmesan & potato mash, to serve
Shredded parmesan, to serve


Method
Place the mince, rice, parsley, basil, onion and egg in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Divide mixture into 20 portions and roll each into a ball.
Spray a non-stick frying pan with olive oil spray to lightly grease. Heat over medium-high heat. Add meatballs and cook for 2-3 minutes until brown.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the tomato and water to the pan and cook, covered, for 12 minutes. Cook, uncovered, for a further 5 minutes or until the rice is tender and sauce thickens slightly.
Divide the mash among serving plates. Top with meatballs and sprinkle with parmesan to serve.

Recipe from Taste.com.au

Pin It

Favourite Aldi Product

Now, i dont know about you, but I am a bit intimidated by Aldi. All those different brands, in different locations, and only limited choice on items. Not to mention the whole check out thing. i can not get my stuff back into my trolley that quick, no matter how hard i try!

But every now and then I venture in just to give it a go. And I occassionally find something I REALLY like. Today was that day

Today I came home from work early, and decided to go to Aldi for some veggies. I did manage to get the veggies, but along wiht a bag full of other things, like GRANDESSA Desserts Assorted - Hazelnut Mousse

Oh my, it is so good!! It isnt overly hazlenutty, just the right amount. and the tub it not too big and not to small. And it is only $1.49

Go on, go find some. you wont regret it. Well, you probably will if you are allergic to nuts, so maybe skip this one if you are, and go for the normal choc mousse

PS, sorry about the lack of pic, I ate it before I thought to take a picture.

Pin It

Wise man

Photo from Flickr - they are wise men, if you cant tell

My husband is a wise man some days. Yesterday he came out with this wise statement, when discussing the kitchen renovations

Me: when are we going to start renovating?

Husband: soon, maybe in a months time

Me:Why so soon

Husband: well, I want to go fishing this summer, but I know I won't be going until the kitchen is finished, so the sooner I start, the sooner I go fishing.

Wise man

Pin It

The scarf

Sorry, i forgot to take a picture on Saturday, Sunday was makeup free day, and I went to bed last night.

So without further ado, i present the scarf


Scuse the dodgy look on my face, it was 7am, and it is hard work to look cheerful and take ones photo at the same time at that hour of day Pin It

A strange kinda phone call

Sorry, I have been slack, and storing my posts up, and never getting around to posting them, until now.

My parents live on a small farm, about 20 minutes from here. They have a few sheep, an alpaca and a couple of cats. Oh, and a fierce working dog who isnt overly friendly. My stepdad like to dabble in being a farmer, with a crop of something.

My mum, having grown up on a farm, isnt too keen on being a farmer, but puts up with it, as she loves her little sewing group. She, however doesnt love their house. It is small, old, needing repair, and A LOT more storage for her quilting stuff.

They have been toying with the idea of building a house since moving out there, so around 7 years now. This morning I had the strangest phone call.

*Phone rings*
Me: Hello
Mum: Order me a house
Me: HUH???
Mum: Rick said to just get the plans for a house and get it built
Me: Okaaaay, shouldnt you do that together
Mum: You're better at that stuff
Me: So i can choose any house (suddenly I am having visions of building my dream house, and plotting how to ship my parents off to a nursing home in a few years...just joking ;) )
Mum: yes
Me: what kind of house? Brick or weatherboard? How many bedrooms/living rooms/bathrooms/etc?
Mum: Brick, enough to keep me happy.
Me: Right.....

Officially the weirdest phone call ever.

But I am off to chose their house to build. Wonder if i get to decorate it too ;) Pin It

Love at first feel

Remember when i blogged about my desperate need for a burberry scarf?

Well, the husband scored major brownie points when he brought it for me for my birthday earlier this month. MAJOR BROWNIE POINTS! I think I am in love with it, it just feels so lovely on my neck.

Must go and take a photo of it Pin It

A happy dog

I cant remember if i mentioned it or not, but a few weeks ago the husband had a kangaroo commit suicide on his work ute. Thank god the lovely rail network pay for all damage, as he managed to damage a number of panels, including his bull bar. so in goes the hilux to the panel beaters, home comes an x-trail hire car for a fortnight.

Now, this poses a problem. The husband takes our german shepard (Gus) and jack russell (Ben) to work each day. They love it. Gus especially, he loves going in the ute, I think it is the highlight of his life!

Now, the xtrail isnt exactly accommodating for a german shepard who is malting something fierce. So the boys have been left at home during the day, much to Gus's dismay. He has been so sad.

Until yesterday, when the panel beater returned the ute. He was so excited, he circled the ute non-stop for half an hour. I finally relented and opened the tailgate for him, and voila, happy dog.

I worry about what will happen in 6 months time when we get a new ute, which isnt exactly accommodating for puppies :( Pin It

Thongs in Winter?!?

Image from Flickr

Ok, so when it comes to fashion, i am known to have an opinion or two. But todays opinion is one that I really detest.

I live in Australia, right down the bottom without going across the strait (Sorry tassie, but somedays you really are another country). It is winter. It is cold. I have not seen a temperature above 12 degrees in several months now. It snows. It rains. It hails. And that wind is darn icy!

So, given all the above, it is no wonder that I hate seeing people wearing thongs (flipflops) in winter. It is a bogan thing to do, made even worse when you wear socks with your thongs. Seriously, what is with that? Do you like getting frost bite in your toes?

Anyway, last Friday I finally got around to having an ingrown toenail removed. Of course, I booked it in for the same day I had a dentist appointment (ie, i forgot about the dentist until they rang me the day before, and since i have cancelled this appointment two other time, i felt bad cancelling it again).

Now, my toe is bandages quite heavily, making it 3 times as big as my actual toe. Of course, that means I cant wear shoes that come near my toe. Thongs it is. Farrrrk, I am going to fashion hell.

So off i troddle, in my thongs and jeans (I drew the line at wearing socks) to the dentist. Of course, my chauffeur (mummy dearest) wants to do a spot of shopping whilst we are in the city. Double fark, now, not only does my dentist see me commiting this sin, so does 100 other people. I get through it, hiding behind my scarf, and manage to only step in one puddle for the day.

Now, given that i relayed this story, and my opinion, to my boss, she asked if i have changed my ways, and am now less judgemental of those who wear thongs in winter?

My answer: nope, i am in fact more judgemental of them, as not only are they bogans, they are idiotic for willingly wearing thongs. Least i didnt have a choice, and proudly showed off that i had a bandage on my toe for all to see.

Whats your opinion on thongs in winter?

Pin It

It's Tuesday and I can't wait...

Image from Flickr

...for my kitchen to be renovated.

Honestly, I am over the shambles that we currently call a kitchen.

Especially the oven!

Last night I cooked a quiche, and in my wisdom, looked inside the oven, and noticed that the husband has burnt food to the bottom of the oven. AGAIN! I am now refusing to clean the oven until I have a new kitchen, and even then, i might just not clean it.
Head over to Buttons by LouLou to play along Pin It

Ate. Cooked. Brought

Telle, over at Fat Mum Slim recently blogged about and article she read in the sunday paper a few weeks back, and has since made her own. I thought I might follow suite, as i look forward what she has to say on a monday (and every other day ending in a y ;) ) It is such a cute little segment.

ate: a very unhealthy weekend in our household, it all started with a sausage in bread for breakfast, as i hobbled to the chemist for more bandages, following with chips, chocolate and softdrink for the 4 hour journey to the sister in laws house. Am on a diet now.

cooked: absolutly nothing. The closest I came to cooking was chopping kabana at the sister in laws house for nibbles before dinner. The husband made dinner last night. Must say, i like this not cooking thing.

brought: besides the bucket load of junk food, on the way home from the dentist on Friday, i brought some traditional vanilla slices for desert, from the french bakery in Ballarat. Love that shop.

So what did you eat, cook, and buy (food wise) for the weekend.

Pin It

Calling all sewing blogs

Being winter, I tend to spend a lot of time indoors, and I feel the husband is tiring of my renovating talk, so I have turned to sewing.

Now, I am far from a sewer. It took me half an hour to work out how to change the stitch size yesterday on my 5 year old machine (the button was staring me in the face). But I enjoy making basic things, like toys for kids, or simple clothing.

So do you know any simple sewing blogs that I could stalk? Pin It

Something to make you giggle

When I lived with my mum, we had a chincilla cat, named Sasha (or 'eyes' if you are my husband, as before she died she had a yucky eye). She was such a lovely cat, very placid, quiet and very very soft. As long as you were quiet, she was happy, and would let you pat her for hours

One day someone sent me an email with this picture

And I laughed. And laughed. And almost wet myself. I showed my mum, she laughed and then banned me from buying limes. The cat looks just like our Sasha, and i think she could see where I was going with this.

Five years later, I am still laughing.

Now, my mum is a very private person, as she needs to be with her job, so when she set up MSN she didnt want her own picture associated with her profile. So guess what she got? LIMECAT!

Now, that was 2 years ago, and she still can't work out how to change the picture. which suits me fine, as it makes me giggle every time she signs in.

Pin It

I've been shopping

Image from Flickr

Many moons ago, my dad brought my a saucepan set for christmas. He spent a bit on it (well, for an 18 year old who is planning on moving out of home). It is a nice looking Baccarat one. It wasnt used for 2 years after i was given it, the box was opened when I moved in with the husband, almost 5 years ago.

And every day since I have heard how he doesnt like it. I can't work out why, other than he doesnt like how the steamer sits so low in the big saucepan. But he hates the whole set.

So, given I am a little bit of a Mastercheffan, I have been eyeing off the Scanpan CTX range, unfortunately, like most things, you pay for quality. But that is life.

So today I went shopping online. Luckily for him, I only brought one saucepan, and a chef pan. The plan is to collect the other two saucepans, the steamer, a frypan, and a baking dish. I figure there is a few present suggestions in that lot ;)

Oh how I cant wait for them to be delivered. Pin It

Scared of my own...

Remember when I blogged about these shoes the other week.


Well my lovely friend Kir just introduced me to Shopbop and I found the shoes again. Showed husband them. His remark "you would be scared of your own feet dear".

Odd thing is, i couldnt help but agree with him Pin It

26 by 26

1. Renovate the kitchen
2. Start a herb garden
3. Go to a weekly exercise class majority of weeks
4. Learn to take photos in manual properly
5. Lose 20kg
6. Convince Brian we need new scanpan saucepans
7. Buy a new mac
8. Use my mobile less
9. Laugh more
10. Spend more time with my friends
11. Finish my diploma
12. Be on my way to getting pregnant
13. Read more, watch less
14. Visit C in Tassie
15. Buy new designer sunnies
16. Learn to cook a new dish a month
17. Stop being a hormonal bitch to the husband
18. Have a fashionable new wardrobe
19. Finally take my mum to a high tea
20. Get to know my neice and nephew
21. Find a new hobby
22. Save more
23. Donate more to charity
24. Start a HR course
25. Donate blood
26. Go away with husband for some 'us' time. Pin It

25 by 25

well on the eve of my 25th birthday, i thought I better fill this in. Clearly I sucked

1. Drink more water - at least 1.5Ltr a day
2. Cut back on my sugar intake
3. Loose 10 kilos
4. Find a job that keeps me entertained all day
5. Save for our new kitchen
6. Let go of the past
7. Go somewhere neither Brian or I have been
8. Donate blood
9. Pay off my credit card
10. Take my mum to a High Tea for her birthday...we have been saying we will do it for 10 years now
11. Do something interesting locally one weekend a month with Brian
12. Save more
13. Ride the Southern Star - they shut it down about a week after i posted about it
14. Have a dinner with my friends just to catch up
15. Walk our dog 3 times a week
16. Stick to a budget
17. Tell those I love that I do love them
18. Cut back on my internet time
19. Go to Tassie for a weekend Pin It

I need your help

Help settle a debate in our household

We are looking at kitchens currently. we decided on the cupboard colour (the middle one), but we each like a different bench top. Which do you prefer?

Both benchtops are laminate. Our kitchen will be quite neutral, with cream walls, two big windows. we havent decided on our flooring as of yet.

So which do you prefer?

Pin It

A bit of privacy

For several weeks now we have lived with black plastic on our windows (note for other renovators, buy a roll of concreators plastic, it is awesome and can be used for everything!). We used masking tape to stick it to the window. didnt look overly attractive, but it made the room nice and dark for sleeping.

So today the curtain lady came. We still have a pelmet on order (after she forgot to order it *cranky* especially when i thought the quote was already expensive to start off with, even more so when i found out that the quote didnt include said pelmet!! next time I am going to go elsewhere, as i really do feel that i was charged too much.)

But the start looks pretty darn awesome!

We chose to use the same drapes we have in the lounge/dining room, as we are happy with them. The pelmet and tie backs will be the contrasting stripe.

As i have an issue with hayfever and asthma, i didnt want continuous lace, so was thrilled when i discovered sunscreen blinds. You cant tell from the picture, but you can sort of see outside through them during the day. Apparently the darker the blind, the more you can see outside. They remind me of those sunshades you see on car windows for people who have kids, but stiffer.

In fact, I am so happy with the sunscreen blinds i am about to order one for my lounge room window, and will eventually order them for the kitchen windows.

Pin It

A Kitchen Stool?

Browsing tonight on ebay, I was searching for kitchen stools. i came across this little fellow.

Now, i love owls, i think they are uber cute. In fact, if i am ever blessed with a daughter, you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be an owl featuring in there somewhere. actually, that could be said for a boys room too.

But a kitchen stool he aint. Pin It

Twitter Dilemma

Last night I was given a choice in life. It was the major choice of the day.

I use twitter. I only have select people on twitter, as I dont like not having control of who i let into my random little world. I tweet about life, the husband, the house, and frustrations on Twitter. It has become my new facebook.

Then the husband joined. And added me as a friend. Now I can either add him, and find some new social networking thing to vent about him on, or i can ignore his request, and continue on my merry way.

Oh the dilemma.


(Oh, and yes, that is how boring my day was, the most pressing thing i had to do was make a decision about adding my husband to twitter). Pin It

It's Tuesday And I Can't Wait

For my parcel to arrive. I am still waiting for my ironing board cover to arrive. I am super dooper excited about it coming. Pin It

Have you seen these chairs?

The other day when cruising the internetz, I came across The House That A-M Built. I love her house, it is devine, and something I could see the husband and I building in the future.

Now, the other day she posted the following photo of her kitchen, and I fell in love with her kitchen stools.

They are similar to our dining room chairs, and I know I have seen them somewhere recently. But like most things, I cant remember where.

Maybe you have seen them in your travels?


PS, just to prove I am not normally forgetful, last night over dinner at my parents I could recall the time FIFTEEN YEARS AGO when my dad brought me my old tv, and what else we brought, where we went, and what we ate for dinner (maccas with a caramel sundae). Pin It

Blog This: 15 Things About Me

Blog ThisChallenge: Tell us fifteen facinating, far fetched, frightening, funny or frivilous facts about yourself. Those bits of trivia that are floating around in your life.

1. Despite my name being April, I was not born in April, in fact July. I got the name after my mum, grandma, and great grandma (all on the one side) all being born in April.
2. By the age of 18 I had lived in 30 different houses, an been to 9 different schools.
3. My husband and I dated for 2 months before splitting up because I thought he was a dickhead. I didnt see him for 2 years, and obviously changed my opinion on him ;)
4. I classify breakfast cereal as a meal for any time of day, even dinner
5. I love chocolate. it gives me terrible heartburn. But I still eat it.
6. I thrive on trashy novels, the trashier the better
7. I am a nerd.
8. I have a freckle in a secret spot
9. I would love to be an interior designer. I love it
10. I secretly also love renovating. But shhhhh
11. I would love to go on a world tour one day. So many sights to see, so little time
12. I often forget that my grandfather has passed away, and think that I should go visit him
13. I feel like a failure most days.
14. I love my little niece, but it kills me to see her some days
15. I love blogging, but often think I bore you all to tears.

So there you go. Now you know me, well least part of me Pin It

Not your usual folk

Today I had to go to my local Telstra Shop, and was served by a nice young chap. Probably around 20ish. Friendly young thing. But something freaked me out about him.

Mainly his freakishly long fingernails. They were longer than my own. And his hair. Straighter than mine.

Now this normally wouldnt be unusual, but I had straightened my fringe today with my GHD, and it was pretty damn straight.

He was a friendly young chap, but clearly puts more time into his appearance than I!

Pin It

Coffee Mugs

In case you hadn't noticed, I am a little bit OCD about things matching. I refuse to let brian bring a coffee table, that he made at school, because it is the wrong colour.

So when Brian broke a coffee cup last week, I was a little bit upset as I can't buy a replacement. And then I got a phone call at work saying he had broken another cup.

With two missing cups out of a set of 8, I am now on the hunt for a new set. But I can't find anything I like.

So over to you, what online shops do you suggest I look at. They don't have to be in Oz, I am happy to buy from overseas.

Please help me

Pin It

Boom Boom Boom, it's Kitchen Time

With our car now sold, it is time to start thinking about the kitchen.

I am sure you have been bored with my hatred stories of the kitchen in the last 6 months, but just to remind you, this is the kitchen currently.
Attractive, isn't it! I especially love the curtain under the sink that hides the bins. Oh, and the taps that leak down the wall and into the cleaning product box. Nothing better than finding a box of steel wool all rusted out and soggy!

The only thing I like about the kitchen is our fridge and freezer (a wedding present from the inlaws) and my Kitchen Aid

And this is the plan
I know it is a bit small, but the general idea is that on the top wall there is the oven, cooktop, and appliance cupboard (is it sad that I am excited about not having the kettle and toaster on the bench). The big thing in the corner is the pantry, cupboards under the window on the left, and on the bottom wall the sink and dishwasher.

Tomorrow I go to look at laminate colours, and go on the search for the oven.

Bring on October so we can start!!

Pin It

Work Tool Wednesday: Pie Maker

Seeing as though I am on a renovating break, I am swapping my construction tools for my cooking tools.

This week it is the pie maker.

This is my most recent purchase (ok, i lie, i stole it from my mum when she was at work, not that she has used it in 5 years). However i did see them at Aldi recently for under $25. I used it the other night, and I must say I am super impressed. They are so simple to use.

We had left over pork the other night, and i didnt really feel like roast pork two nights in a row, so i chopped the pork finely, mixed it with some gravy, and cut out circles from store brought puff pastry. 10 minutes later I have two yummy pies, served with chips and steamed veggies.

I am now on the hunt for ideas of other pies I could make and store in the freezer. Pin It

A work rant

Today, I am the cat. Actually, I have been the cat all week.

For some reason, apparently not being able to complete End of Financial Year, despite it now being July, is of no concern to the staff where I work.

It all started with wanting to have my creditors started first thing yesterday, resulting in my STARTING at lunch time thanks to a staff member who has zero time management skills. She had been given 2 weeks notice that I would require the invoices back by Friday, yet she finally got them back to me yesterday, but only because I had my big boss have words with her.

I finally got the file done, gave it to my superior to send off to the bank. It doesnt work. I cant resend the file as I am half way through a cheque run, which is also fcuked up. None of my cheques have names on them, and have a massive watermark over them.

I went home in a bad mood. It got worse this morning when IT dont see it as a priority to fix. I have now sat here for 3 and a half hours doing nothing work related, despite having plenty to do.

By the end of this week, someone's day will be fcuked up big time! Pin It