inarizushi

Tonight I made inarizushi for dinner, (I also made enough for bento tomorrow and to freeze a couple). All I can say is YUM. They were absolutely delish and so easy to make! I got the recipe/inspiration from JustHungry. JustHungry (& JustBento) is an awesome blog for Japanese style food. That said, there are lots of fantastic non-Japanese style recipes too. I highly recommend a trip over there to check them out.

Despite being REALLY good (I did go out to Flying Burrito Brothers for a work dinner one night - but I didn't have dessert!) I haven't lost a lot more weight. I think I've only really maintained last week's 4kg loss. I'm consoling myself with the thought that I would have been perfectly happy with two weeks of 2kg weight loss - so whats the difference!

My daily walks home with Natalie have been really good and we've walked in lots of different weather! Boiling hot sun to gale force winds and sea spray. Last week I took my camera on one such day and took these snaps: (which meant I had to run to catch up with Nat!)

Rest in peace Puppy Dog

My beautiful darling doggy was euthanised this week. At a grand old age of 15. I'm still dealing with losing her, as is the rest of my family. When I think about it she was the last link to my 'original' family (i.e. mum, dad, paul and me). Cleo was a very lucky dog in that she had so many people that loved her. She had two mums, two dads, two brothers, two sisters, two nephews and a ton of friends. All of whom I know are grieving her passing.

I was fortunate enough to be there when we said our goodbyes and the vet euthanised her at home (dad's house - where she'd lived for the last two years). Some of the above pics are from then. I don't think the vet had ever seen anything like it - a room full of being sobbing over a puppy dog (including men!).

My heart goes out to my mum and my brother who couldn't be there. I am eternally grateful to my dad and my step-mum for the amazing loving home they provided to her in her final years.

Rest in peace my beautiful puppy dog...

M

bento time

A group of friends and I have started some kind of Weight Watchers/healthy eating escapade. My approach has been to eat as much as possible during the day - but all low in WW points. This has meant that I've started making bento again! Our bento are no where near as cutie cutie as the ones below, but they do the trick. Somehow, cucumber in the shape of a flower just tastes better. It looks like it takes ages, but it doesn't really. I probably spend 30 minutes each evening putting together lunch for D and I.

Natalie and I have also started walking home! I've been really good and haven't yet gone off the rails! So far I've lost 4kg!!! (only 1 week in). It seems everyone lost heaps of weight the first week, so we'll have to see what the second week brings.

Our house is still a big mess from moving - we've been here a month(!) and I haven't finished unpacking. I really just want it all sorted. Today is Wellington Anniversary day so I'm going to try and get into it today! D went to work so hopefully I'll make some progress :)


Pretty sunset I snapped from our veranda

M

Happy birthday Rochelle

Today is my sister-in-law's birthday...

Happy Birthday Rochelle!!!

We are going to their place for a BBQ this weekend, so I'll have to whip up a fantastic birthday cake.....

M

amazing bento

amazing sailor! bento

During some internet surf time... (god I spend far too much time on here) I discovered the most amazing bento maker! LuckySundae is a mother in Japan who makes the most incredible bento for her sons. There is no way my bento lunches are EVER going to look that good. Maybe one day when we have kids, I'll try for more cuteness, but for now Bento is just a way for David and I to have a fun healthy lunch that stops us eating/buying crappy food.

And look at this one:

Its the very hungry caterpillar! I LOVE that book. I am so buying it for my kids..


In more bento news... (lol) I found a site that sells the funkiest bento goods.. however they don't post outside of the USA. And they are probably really expensive. But still - fun to look!

My favourites:

M

another one bites the dust

While the 101 list has fallen by the wayside just a tad lately, I realised I have completed another item!

#63: Buy/build a new cage for the furkids

Also - you'll note the shelfs have liners!! However, I got our fabulous Ratclub shop to make those liners. I think I need to make some myself before I can cross off:#64 Make shelf covers for furkids(new) cage

I believe that takes me to a grand total of 14 out of 101 completed...

*scans list for other completed items.....*

M

pie, glorious pie

We've had a good friend staying with us for a week and while she was here, she made pie! Glorious pie. Pumpkin pie, lemon pie and chocolate pie! Talk about pie heaven! She has ruined my husband who will now expect pie on some kind of regular basis.

M

farewell two furry friends...

Sadly, our Christmas season wasn't quite as festive as it could have been. We lost two of our precious darlings; kohana and shadow. Kohana passed at the vets after discovered severe internal tumours which caused some nasty bleeding. She wasn't even two years old.

Shadow had tumours also and life sadly got too much for her. She was a sweet girl who was ever only meant to be with us temporarily. However, we were lucky and got to keep her :)

Full post on the furkids blog here. Rest in peace my girls.

M

Christmas baking

Once again, my blogging has not been as regular as I'd like. Perhaps if I actually posted more often, people would read my blog? I am going to try and update in the orderish that things happened..

Before Christmas, we did a bit of Christmas baking. You know, for Santa. (god that seems sooo long ago now) I baked some Stained Glass Cookies. They turned out quite well, despite my terrible photos. They looked pretty and according to D, tasted good.

I also baked some carrot cupcakes for Santa's reindeer

Yes, those are fake carrot lollies on top. Like I was going to peel down REAL carrots!!

Christmas was great this year, we spent the morning with D's family and the afternoon with Sconey and a bunch of friends. We played games all night and ended up eating our Christmas roast dinner at 2am! It was fantastic Christmas fun.

M