This Is Our Sunday Afternoon Soundtrack

We're madly getting ready for back to school tomorrow, ironing, cooking, tidying and warming down the kids after an ace holiday. I love school holidays. It's an extra good time to spend extra time with the smalls, and do super fun. We did lots these holidays. I'll report in laterz. 

But right now, I wanted to share this tune with you. It's addictive. When we're in the car, the smalls and I do eyebrow dancing to it. It's a good work out for your forehead. And it's funny. And it's fun. And that's what I am all about.

You? What are you all about?

PS - I've installed Disqus to my blog so I can reply to your comments. I did a quick Twitter survey last night and asked bloggers if they replied to all comments. They all said YES! And it echoed in my ears. And I went to bed wracked with guilt. I just can't do it - not for lack of want - but I work almost full time, when I get home I am on parenting and wife-ing duty, I do blogging in 20 minutes and it's just not possible for me. But I read all of them, and appreciate everyone who comments. So I am hoping Disqus will help me respond to all of you awesome readers. Thank you for taking the time to visit my space. You are the bomb. And then some. BOM! BOM! BOM! x

Are You There Friends? It's Me. Lexi.

Right now, for all I know, I could be the only one here. I'm banging out this written word, and it might just be me reading it in a quick edit before hitting publish. It's oh so quiet.

Are you there reader? Because all I can hear is an echo.

I'm madly putting together lists of gift ideas - but do you like them? Do you care? What is art? What is normal? Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

I'm not asking for a marching band, or a ticker tape parade every time I post - but girl, gimme a little sign.

Do you hate that I turned off the anonymous commenting? Well I did it because I was sick of Simone and other fabulous nobodies opening cans of whoop ass on me. I got tired of it actually. As soon as I turned it off, life got better!

But dudes. You gotta throw a girl a bone. It's boring being just being all by myself all the time.

BTW - do you think my small girl-child will like this book? Totes unrelated. But you get that on the big jobs.

Thigh Slap!

This is my post to alleviate my guilt factor turned up to ten.

If I've not replied to your comment, I promise I have good intentions, but with parenting, wifeing, working, houseworking, and thigh slapping, I hardly have any time to floss my teeth let alone reply to all emails. But if you have your email as the reply thing, then I can easily flick you an email and you won't feel unloved. I do read and enjoy every single comment (unless you're calling me an ugly old troll and then I just hit delete because I HAVE THE POWER!). My inbox it runneth over. I am doing my best to clear the backlog but sometimes my best is not good enough! (which movie, which movie??)

Secondly, ricotta gnocchi recipe. I was meant to email it, I never did. I am sorry! Here it is. Print it, roll around on it, do anything you want to it. It's out there and I've done it. Sorry it wasn't sooner!

Ricotta Gnocchi

500g good quality ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
100g plain (all-purpose) flour
1 quantity tomato pesto (will type up in a minute too!)
butter & grated parmesan cheese to serve

If you are serving these with tomato pesto, make sure it is ready before you cook the gnocchi.

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Mix together the ricotta, parmesan, flour and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. With lightly floured hands, roll out the dough into thin sausages (about 1.5cm thick). Try to avoid adding extra flour or your gnocchi will be tough. Cut with a sharp knife into little dumplings about 2cm long.

Drop the gnocchi into the boiling water and cook for about 45 seconds until they float to the surface. As they bob up, lift them out with a slotted spoon and put them into warm serving bowls. If you need to, stir a couple of tablespoons of the cooking water through the pesto to give a good coating consistency, and spoon a dollop over each serve. Add a little butter and grated parmesan and serve at once.

Serves 4.

Tomato Pesto

100ml olive oil
2 garlic cloves, peeled
400g tinned diced tomatoes
25g basil leaves, torn
3 tablespoons pine nuts
30g parmesane cheese, grated

Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a saucepan with one of the garlic cloves. When it sizzles, add the tomato and season with salt. Simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes until the tomato thickens and becomes smooth, curhsing it up with a wooden spoon from time to time.

Finely chop the other garlic clove and put it in a small processor or blender with the basil leaves and pine nuts. Pulse until finely chopped. Add the remaining olive oil and the parmesan and pulse just long enough to combine. Stire into the tomato sauce and heat for about 20-30 seconds. Fish out the whole garlic clove before serving.
Note: if you are making the tomato pesto in advance, keep the pesto separate and add to the heated tomato sauce just before serving.

Serves 4.
-------------------------------------------------------
Both recipes are from Tessa Kiros' 'Apples for Jam'.

That is all on my guilt list. For now.

So I'm An Old Troll Am I?

just a shot of me getting my make-up done, via

Following on from my previous post, someone kindly told me I was an old troll. Of course they're hiding behind the old anonymous shield. But I think they had a typo - I think they meant doll.

My previous post wasn't a - woe is me, I'm almost 30, it was a - hey look at the way society is evolving. It was about the fact that I have 26 year old friends doing 'preventative' Botox in the hope it will make them look younger. It was a - hey - I've heard if from beauty editor's mouths - girls are getting younger and younger, and are looking for ways to stop time itself.

It was about the fact that I have a daughter (and heck, while I'm at it, my son's vulnerable too) and I don't want them to feel like they need to meet any aesthetic standard except their own.

In essence, it makes me shudder to think about the length some people go to preserve their looks.

Where and when did things change? I can blame a whole lot of things. But then really, we all have to point our fingers at ourselves in some ways. Media deliver things you and I 'want'. Magazine sales go up when they show pictures featuring models and superstars sans make-up. The catwalks show impossibly thin beauties pony-stepping. Madonna is a work in herself. Oh and here comes another 14 year old front cover beauty - I can't ever live up to those standards. Not to mention the photoshopping. Oh and did I mention - Botox has become an adjective?

There is no magic potion that stops wrinkles from appearing. But by looking after yourself, you can look your best. And by reading, eating well, exercising, laughing, living, you can live the best life you can. Nurture yourself. Love yourself. So I think that's what I was talking about... So Anonymous, thanks for giving me the opportunity to expand on my previous post.

Dear Anonymous,

Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful insights into the wide, wide world of:

- direct marketing
- online marketing
- bisnis marketing (hey who knew there was suchathing)
- best forex robots (robots? I want in!)
- diet tips
- diet menus
- and other things that I can't decipher

Seriously, those 20+ links you left in the comments have changed my life. It would be criminal if I didn't click through and check out all those links (but I haven't, I live in fear of viruses and we have enough of those in our house at the moment) - because quite frankly, that list of website after website was so subtle, I almost didn't see myself. Like I was in a trance. Like you were the new Patrick Jane (but hey, I have NO idea if you have those gentle curls, those delicious eyes, the mischievous manner, no idea).

From the heart of my bottom, I thank you kind commenter, I may soon have a new vocation as a forex robot (I still don't know what that is, sounds a bit like fox, and anything foxy I am down with).

With great love and respect,
PottyMouthMama

Apparently John Is Catching. He's Contagious.

You may have heard word on the street that John is in town.

John has a few issues and has decided to spread the word. From here on in, and following in the path of RicRac and Two Pink Possums, comments will be moderated. I know, I know - there's nothing like seeing your name up in lights as soon as you decipher the word verification. But poor John requires some personal counselling since he's decided to tell everyone about his wee problem. Poor, poor droopy John.

Superheroes

In some crazy attempt to steer my son onto another interest other than trains, even if it's just for a fleeting moment, I've told him I am going to make him a superhero cape.

I told him on the drive up to Tamworth, to which he replied, "That's a good idea". Or something to that effect.

So while I was home I went to Spotlight. I think they must seriously have a mega-store because I could have got lost in there for days, happily, alas I had to get home for lunch and a visit from my grandmother. There are so many goodies to pick up there, it's sometimes difficult to stay focussed, but you'd be proud, I stayed on target.

This is what I've hunted and gathered to transform my son from train driver into superhero. What Superhero doesn't like a bit of bling? Keeps them looking schmick as they cruise through the air at high altitude. Think it can be done? Gosh I hope so for all of our sakes (otherwise you'll get some very funny after shots after I've had a go!). Luckily my sewing classes start in approximately three weeks, but I'll be darned if this isn't just the ticket to stretch my sewing know-how beforehand and show myself I can sew, even if it is wonky and wobbly and all of that. At least it will be made with a whole lotta love. Or even better, I will look for a simple tutorial.. Yes indeedy! If you know of one that's uber simple, can you let me know? Muchos grazias!

Edit: My good friend Google and I just found one here if anyone wants to create a cape too.

PS - If you were the Anonymous commenter (and we all know how much we love Anonymous when they have an acerbic tongue) who commented please send me your address. I have a Lucky Door Prize for you. As the winner of my Lucky Door Prize I'd love to send you a brand spankin' Webster dictionary, so that next time you comment, you can ensure your comment is spelt correctly. Because there's nothing more embarrassing than cussing on the mike when you can't spell the word, is there??