Girl Time

I'm just a wee bit excited as I've got the house to myself for a few days. I can't wait to have a bit of me time and girl time. This weekend I'll be ....

Shop Shop Shopping for some coushins and throw rug for the living room to cosy up the couch

Having my girlfriends stay over, drinking bubbles and watching chick flicks

Eating toasties for dinner my absolute favourite bachelorette dinner oh how I've missed you!

What are you up to this weekend?

[Images from here, here and here]

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Man Cave - Before The Clear Up

Among a weekend of footy watching, a trip to the hairdressers, birthday picnic and 2 nana naps we managed to make a start on the fourth bedroom - the soon to be Man Cave.

As I've mentioned before this 'spare' bedroom was home to all the random things you have in your home that just don't have a place yet - like old school assignments and reports and every type of cord and electrical device known to man. I'm talking a Walkman from when I thought listening to my Dad's tapes of Richard Clapton was cool! 

EVERYTHING got cleared out, found a new home, or went in the bin. I did keep my Year 7 puberty assignment, the drawings I did were too hilarious to throw away (and I'm willing to be publicly embarrassed for your amusement so if you'd like to see it let me know!).

So back to the clear out here it is all that stuff ..... Going, Going, Gone!

Moving the furniture was a different story. I'm a little weakling and struggle big time which is why I knew the big 3 metre long wooden buffet was going to drop on my foot before it happened, I still can't wear heels to work today because of the bruise.

I can only imagine what the Hard Road is going to be like if this is the Easy Road!

Ok that's enough whinging for now!!

The room is now empty and ready for prepping to be turned into Mr P's Man Cave ... let the next room renovation begin!

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[All images my own]

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Point and Shoot

When: Sunday, 10 April 2011 @ 12pm

Where: Kings Park

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree ... You wouldn't think I was minutes from the CBD but yes Kings Park is full of kids, flies and the occasional kooki! Pete and I had to set the alarm clock Sunday morning (shock horror!) to make it to a family picnic for his brothers birthday. We are the kid-less couple which means we can rock up with chicken and chips from Chicken Treat when everyone else had prepared eskys full of salads, rolls and bbq food. After a windy morning it turned out to be a gorgeous and sunny day, perfect for kicking the ball around, climbing trees (and a little one fell out of the tree, yes there were tears but luckily nothing broken), a few glasses of wine and of course lots of cake. That's how I spent my Sunday ....

Join in the fun and play Point and Shoot with us over at the new host blog Sunny + Scout

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Taking the Easy Road

After some Easy Rd vs Hard Rd deliberations I've decided to take the Easy Rd and start on the Man Cave next. I know its not as much fun as planning a shiny new kitchen and trust me I really really really want a shiny new kitchen now! But it gives us extra time to save up and get the kitchen we really want. The Man Cave is the 4th and final bedroom to be painted so it will be so nice to have it complete and not have to shut the door to hide the mess when friends are coming over!

The Easy Rd isn't work free oh no this room has been our 'spare room' to dump everything in from drying clothes, old curtains, tins of paint, even our fish tank ... those poor neglected fish I'm surprised we haven't had any casualties! So everything needs to find a new home so the room can be emptied, prepped and painted and the floorboards restored and sealed. The best thing is we have the supplies ready to do it so it won't cost a cent (well besides the wine I'll be consuming once we finish for the day!).

So this weekend the tv will be turned off, the magazines are put away and I'm getting off the computer RIGHT NOW to get started.

Have a great weekend everyone!

[Image via iphonethemes.org]

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Prawn Mango Pappadums

I served this entree at my Indian Themed Dinner Party and the spice from the prawns, fresh flavours from the mango and cucumber and crunch of the pappadums were a delicious combo. The recipe used 2 chicken breasts cooked for 7 minutes and shredded but I used Australian tiger prawns cooked for 3-4 minutes and chopped into small pieces. It was easy to make as you could get all the components ready beforehand and then it took only a few minutes to assemble and serve which maked it a perfect (and impressive!) party food.

 

Prawn Mango Pappadums

(Recipe from Taste.com)

Serves: 6 (Entree - 2 each)

Preparation: 30 minutes

Cooking: Less than 10 minutes

24 prawns peeled and de-veined

2 tbs tandoori curry paste

1 tsp vegetable oil
12 plain mini pappadums
1 mango, peeled, cut into 1cm pieces
1 small Lebanese cucumber, cut into 1cm pieces
2 tbs finely chopped red onion
1 tbs chopped fresh coriander
3 tsp fresh lime juice
130g (1/2 cup) natural yoghurt
1 tbs chopped fresh mint
1 garlic clove, crushed
Fresh coriander sprigs, to serve

1. Place the prawns and curry paste in a glass or ceramic bowl and turn to coat.

2. Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Cook prawns for 3-4 minutes until they go pink and curl. Set aside to cool. Chop into small pieces.
3. Meanwhile, cook the pappadums following packet directions (1 minute in microwave). Store in an airtight container until ready to assemble.
4. Combine the mango, cucumber, onion, chopped coriander and one-third of the lime juice in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Put in fridge until ready to assemble.
5. Combine the yoghurt, mint, garlic and remaining lime juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Put in fridge until ready to assemble.
6. Place pappadums on a serving platter. Top with a 1-2 teaspoons of the prawns, mango mixture, yoghurt mixture and top with coriander sprigs to serve.

Linking up to the Remodelaholic Recipe Swap

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Point and Shoot

When: Saturday, 2 April 2011 @ 10.20am

Where: My kitchen

Not a pretty Point and Shoot this week sorry peeps. This is the sight I woke up to Saturday morning after Friday's Indian Dinner Party. I spent the morning washing and cleaning up, smiling at the fact I have way too many wine glasses, toasted some hot cross buns, drank 2 short blacks and I was then awake and not too seedy to enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Pop over to Fat Mum Slim to see some more Point and Shoot

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Hostess With The Mostess - Indian Dinner Party

My latest dinner party theme was Indian and all the dishes we made were delicious (apart from the dessert which was handmade ice cream it was icy in the middle and melting fast on the outside a bit disappointing). You could smell the aromas of spices and herbs down the driveway a great way to welcome guests in for a feast. 

The main and dessert we made the night before which made it so much easier as we just had to heat them up and everything else was prepared before guests arrived and we just kept it warm so we weren't stuck in the kitchen all night while everyone else was having a good time! I'll be sharing the recipe for the entree soon its definitely one that's made it into my favourite recipes book.

The fun bit was decorating the table and I really went to town on that ... I typed up menus and printed them out on textured paper to put onto everyones plates.

I decorated the table in red and gold. I looked everywhere for red linen napkins but couldn't find any so had to resort to paper napkins in the end, not as nice but the colour was a good contrast between the plates. I tied the cutlery with red and gold cord and this weighted the menus down. 

A float bowl with flowers and candles was a pretty centrepiece on top of an orange satin table runner. I put out wine glasses for water and a glass water jug with sliced lemon, oranges and mint. 

The entree was served on 2 platters and everyone helped themselves and the main dishes went into white ceramic dishes and onto the middle of the table and everyone helped themselves.

I must have been having too much of a good time because unfortunately I didn't get any photos of the finished table before we messed it up! 

There were candles everywhere and little paper lantern lights which gave a really nice ambiance ... I'm loving our new outdoor dining area and can't wait to host the next dinner party.

You know you've hosted a success dinner party when parting words from guests are "You're the Hostess with the Mostess!" OK so family probably have to say those kind of things but it made all the planning, decorating and cooking I did this week well worth the effort. It was a great night!

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[All images my own]

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