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!)

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

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

labour weekend

Labour weekend seems to traditionally be a weekend of crap weather. Well not this year! Its been absolutely gorgeous. And now that summer is on the way and we've turned our clocks forward, it is 6pm and still sunny as. I love it! Roll on summer!!

I haven't posted for a wee while for a few reasons. Firstly, I got struck down with the flu and it was horrible horrible. I was very tired, grouchy, and snotty. I also started my new job (at the same time as getting the flu) so I have been very busy busy at work. I also now go to Guides twice a week, once to my training unit and once to my permanent unit. Still, no excuse not to blog. And especially no excuse to ignore my 101 list. It will be April 2010 before I know it and I really really wanna complete this list.

So for the tiny amount of people who actually read my blog, apologies. Lots of updates to come :)

Another birthday has been and gone so a bit belated:

Happy Birthday Ron aka Father-in-Law!

We went to the in-laws on Saturday for lunch and cake. D and I made a train cake!! I've always wanted to make one. Sadly, I didn't get any really good photos of the cake. It turned out HUGE at 1 metre long. D and I had a blast making it and Ron seemed to really like it. I'm sure they will be eating cake for a week! I think next time we make this, we might just do the engine!

Each carriage has different cargo. One has mini marshmallows, one has fruit jellies, and one has oreo 'wheels'. Our niece Abby loved it.

Ron is really into model trains and the family put together to get him some new trains for his railway track.

It seems D and I have become the birthday cake makers of the family. Its D's sisters birthday next so we have a special cake in store for her!





After the birthday celebrations we visited my dad and his family. Dad cooked a lovely roast beef (which admittedly I didn't eat much of - too full of cake!). D and I watched 'Toy Story 2' with our cute little nephews Latrell and Lazereth.

D and I in our Phoenix gears

D and I being the staunch Phoenix supporters that we are, headed off to the game last night against the Central Coast Mariners. Unfortunately it was a loss, but still a really good game. The Mariners are at the top of the table and we definitely game them a run for their money. It was one all at full time and then the Mariners scored a second goal in overtime. I have my reservations about the yellow card happy ref and his decisions (or lack of). At the end of the day, it was the Phoenix's defence that let us down. One of the goals was literally walked in by the Mariners' player. All that said, they are our team and we love them. (And Perth lost this weekend so we aren't bottom of the table!!).

gorgeous weather for the football

It has been a weekend of football, D and I headed to our nearby park and kicked a ball around for an hour or so in the sun today. We really enjoyed ourselves and plan to do it on a regular basis. D is playing his indoor football game at the moment (I'm supposed to be preparing dinner...)

Speaking of food, I only have one bento to post. We've been quiet slack these past weeks and really need to get back into the swing of things. Maybe this week can be the first week of my regular posting of bento! (Item# 87 on my 101 list)

mini meat patties (made+ frozen specially for bento), mini vege fritatta, toast onigiri, cucumber flowers, laughing cow cheese wedge, and wine gum lollies to fill the gap.
lime flavoured jelly, mandarin slices, and tamarillo.
peanuts and raisins, and some durian chips.
citrus herbal tea and an instant miso

M

bento, *yawns* and work

Bento #3
fruit salad with banana, plum, mandarin & raisins (with nutmeg+cinnamon), cheese wedge, haw flakes, mochi & lime jelly
rice with mixed furikake and boiled egg with nori flowers
left over deviled sausages with peas
instant miso and a citrus herbal tea

I've been pretty slack this week, with only one pretty bento. D had a day off sick and I am feeling pretty rundown. Work has been uber busy and I am moving into a new role which is very exciting! I have a lot of work to do before I can finish up where I am. I am really looking forward to the challenges of my new role - I will be quite self sufficient with a varied task list.

I've been meaning to send photos and thank-you cards to everyone that sent us cards and gifts for our wedding. So far, I've only managed two but I am working on more this weekend!! We are so blessed that so many people thought of us.

The Phoenix play Queensland Roar tonight (11pm NZ time) so I am doing my best to stay awake. It is proving difficult and I need to get up reasonably early tomorrow as I have a baby shower for D's brother's partner, which sounds like it is going to be fun. I love looking at cute baby stuff, I was hoping the baby would be born this week so we'd have her to play with! (and yes before you ask - I am extremely clucky but NO I am not having babies anytime soon!!)

Speaking of babies, the furkids have had their issues lately. While the boys are completely moved into the aviary - there is still a lot of scrapping. Also Geisha had a tumour removed last week. She is recovering really well, but I am starting to realise that the bulk of our crew are approaching (and passing) two years.

I'm off to snuggle with my hubby on the couch til the Phoenix play...

M

farewell winter

pretty daffodil in nelson

Once again, I have soo much to update and no time! I guess it is really a good sign as it means I actually have a life!

Nelson was great, it was good to catch up with friends and family. One thing I could not get over was how visually obvious it was that spring had well and truly arrived in Nelson! There were blossoms everywhere, including these daffodils on the side of the road:

There are also magnolia trees planted all over town and they are just beautiful in the spring. I took LOTS of photos of blossomy springness so hopefully I can do a nice big gardeny post soon.

D and I have been very excited about the Wellington Phoenix! (Our brand new local football team!) We have been to 2 of the 3 home games so far with another one this weekend. We both love football and really enjoy jumping up and down screaming our lungs out.

It seems the referees in the series are very bias - the crowd actually booed the refs off the field on Saturday. (which was kind of ironic as it was supposed to be a "fair play" match.)

Hopefully the Phoenix work and play hard and do well this season. The prior NZ teams in the series (the Kingz and the Knights) both sucked big time and never made it further than the bottom of the table. The Phoenix are doing pretty well and there have been some VERY close games.

I have been raving about wanting to make bento lunches for D and I. Well I'm finally doing it!

BENTO #1
boiled egg, sliced cucumber flowers and mini tomatoes
sliced tamarillo, green grapes and a small lime jelly
heart shaped rice onigiri, cheese+ham on sticks, more cucumber flowers and star shaped cheese


BENTO #2
banana+pineapple on sticks and sliced tamarillo
bed of rice with furikake and nori flowers
peanuts, lime jelly, wedge cheese, sliced crab stick, cucumber flowers, boiled egg, corn on cob and some lollies for D. (mine had marshmallows)

Its official, I am addicted to bento-ing. Luckily for my wallet, there aren't many places around NZ (especially wellington) that sell bento boxes and accessories. D is loving it as it is a guaranteed packed lunch each day.

(goodness this is a mammoth post...)

Last but not least, I managed to cross off number 38 on my 101 list. D and I went for a fantastic picnic yesterday. Originally planned as a sunrise breakfast (but we couldn't haul ourselves out of bed) we instead heading up to Raumati Beach. It was a gorgeous day, and felt like Nelson in the summertime.

It was so relaxing and so good to spend such quality time together (with my husband!!). We had a lovely drive up, listening to a special mix CD made for us by Sconey - "music to be in love to".

anyways... bed is calling...

M

big catch up...

On Tuesday night we were lucky enough to see the lunar eclipse. The weather wasn't the best in Welly so the moon was often obscured by clouds. Apparently it was the best kind of lunar eclipse as it lasted so long. It was very cool -and quite freaky to see the moon so red.

And yes, I am obsessed with Bento. I have spent countless hours looking at bento blogs and wishing we could get cool bento accessories in NZ. I am making a bento of sorts for lunch tomorrow. I'd love to get into the habit of making really funky packed lunches - first I'd eat healthier and second its cheaper! Maybe then I can justify spending money on a bento box!!

My 101 list hasn't been progessing so well, with all the getting married excitements. We did managed to open a joint bank account so that is number 56 crossed off. Sadly that only brings me to a total of 6 completed! I have managed to read a few more books, and change a few of the books that were on my list.

It has also been a busy week for my Guides involvement. I had a full day workshop yesterday that goes towards my leaders certificate. It was really fun and great to meet some other leaders. I am also selling Girl Guide Biscuits! The "season" is basically over, but both the units I am involved with have a few boxes left. So if you want some Girl Guide biccies..... hehe.
In fact, I think I have taken enough steps towards becoming a Guide Leader than I can cross of number 26 - Become a volunteer. I am really enjoying Guides and I am keen to get more involved.

And I cannot forget a very Happy Birthday to my bestest friend Kate, her birthday was on Monday 27 August 2007. I'm afraid I haven't been a very good friend this birthday time - things have got away on me. However, I am very lucky she is coming up to visit me and help celebrate our marriage.

Happy Birthday Kate!!

It is only 4 days til D and I actually get married. I am not in the slightest bit stressed (yay for low key weddings) but I am getting very excited and a tad nervous... I am also looking forward to catching up with my family and good friends that are coming to help us celebrate.

I also have some very sad news. My dear Grandad is very ill with pneumonia and is not expected to recover. It is very upsetting and I really feel for my mum at this time as she is stressed about coming to Welly for our wedding and also about what will happen to Grandad.

Love you Grandad.....

M

bento boxes!!

First of all; a picture of the Green Elephant Cake we made for Angela:

It didn't turn out the best - but we are learning all the time! We had a great day at D's folk's house. As usual, we played lots of games and ate far to much food! Today the card game of choice was memory, which is good game when Abby (D's niece) is there too.

I haven't done any of the tidying/cleaning I promised myself I would do this weekend so its going to be busy busy in the days leading up to our BIG DAY... (God, I am so excited and so NERVOUS!). Mum + G are coming to stay for a few nights so we need to make room to fit them in. Only 12 days til D and I are married! I booked the hotel today using my new last name - god it felt weird - but very exciting. I noticed D had a huge grin on his face when he heard me using it. How cute is that?

Today, while doing my usual blog reading procrastination I found/remembered BENTO BOXES! Bento boxes are basically a Japanese concept of lunchboxes. Mums in Japan go hard out to make flash bento boxes for their kids/husbands to take. Anyway there is quite an online culture of bento - lots of tutorials/advice and tips for new bento-ers. I also found several cool bento flickr groups. Best of all, a bento blog! Lunch in a box has heaps of cool ideas/recipes and funky bento ideas. I wish we could get all that cool stuff in NZ!

I think lunch would be far more exciting if we had an amazing bento to open each day. I think I'll keep an eye out for any containers I could use for bento. It would be much cheaper than buying lunch and would hopefully motivate us to spend the time making lunch. And of course - bento is so visually attractive so that makes for great photos for you dear blog!

Here is a beautiful bento made by lilergy (a flickr bento member)

I've looked at ALOT of bento pics today and I consistently love Lilergy's styles.

I've been neglecting my 101 list lately, with all the getting married plans :P You'll be pleased to know that "get married" is one of the private items on my list, so I will be able to cross that off soon... :D

M *bounce*