A trip to the big smoke

Yesterday I jumped in my car and headed down the new freeway to the big smoke. I hate catching the train so it was not a problem to drive. Anyway right into the big smoke I headed. Parked my car at Southbank and forgot about the horrible parking fee ($37 eek!) and took my prepaid tickets off to the following exhibitions. First point of call was the big marquee set up at Federation Square for Barbie.Glad I got to this one early as there were already lots of little girls and their mums there. This one took me back to my childhood big time! Next stop was morning tea at Fed Square when suddenly appeared a big snail, a big elephant and a sea gull. Next stop was the John Brack exhibition at the Ian Potter Centre. I loved seeing this exhibition and this artists work. This gallery was not as busy as the NGV and the Barbie exhibition. After this I had a bit of a break from the galleries and went to look in the shops. I bought a scarf from Country Road that I have been eying off for a while that was on special and some zines from the Sticky Institute. Then I headed over to the NGV to see the Salvador Dali exhibition. It was so packed in the NGV. I am really happy that I bought my ticket online first! I didnt get to see some of the paintings in the detail I wanted too because of the crowds but I did get to see most of the paintings. Before seeing the Dali exhibition I had lunch in the Tea Room cafe upstairs in the gallery. Yummy lunch!
After seeing the galleries I thought I would go to South Melbourne to the market. I could not believe how much South Melbourne has changed since I used to work there. Some of the new additions are Kikki K which I just had to buy something from and Max Brenner. I could not resist having one of the Suckao's with white chocolate. Mmm it was so yummy.
So that was the trip to the big smoke. No, the horses are not from the big smoke they are from Echuca, when I went up there the other day with mum and dad.

Exhibitions

Today I went to see the Archibald Prize paintings again at the Bendigo Art Gallery. There was another reason why I went to see them again. It was so I could see A Camera on the Somme. These photos really fascinated me. It was amazing to think that the negatives were in a biscuit tin in a shed and nearly got thrown out.
It has been weird spending so much time by myself these holidays. Normally it doesnt bother me as I love my own company. But for some reason I am over it a bit now. I am looking forward to going back to work next week and getting stuck into term 3. Yes that sounds weird. Possibly I will regret making that statement this time next week though! I think it has a lot to do with Loz not being here and the limitations talking on the phone has. It also has a lot to do with the conversations that we have being based around the move and what needs to be organised etc.

Mexican Wedding Cake

And Oscar. Just checking out what is happening in the kitchen and making sure he doesn't miss out on anything.

And Mexican wedding cake. The easiest cake in the world to make that tastes delicious and has people raving about it. Raving about it is how I got the recipe from someone I work with. His wife is the master maker of this cake and I think that I make a pretty good version of it. I took it to school in the last week of term as a reward for my year 11's for all their hard work and they said it was better than the one made by the original maker.

So here is the recipe:
2 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons bicarb soda
2 cans crushed pineapple with juice( medium tins)
1 cup crushed walnuts
2 eggs
2 cups castor sugar

Mix all together and place in a greased and lined baking dish. Cook for 45- 50 mins at 160 degrees.

Icing
250gms philladelphia cheese
125 gms butter
1 cup sifted icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Mix all together and put on cool cake. Decorate with walnuts.

Some notes: This recipe is typed out exactly as it was given to me. I find that because the cake does not rise a lot I can make two medium sized cakes from it and have enough icing for both. Sometimes I make a cake and 12 mini cakes in a muffin or friand tin. When I make the icing I do it in the food processor. It makes it so much easier and gives the icing a nice texture. You can buy crushed walnuts in the supermarket. 1 packet equals one cup. I quite often halve this recipe and cook it for the same amount of time. It still works.

Long time, no blogging

Life seems to have got the better of me and it has been over two weeks since I last blogged. Work kept me busy towards the end of term with report writing and despite being organised it took me right up until the last minute to get them finished. Not a lot of crafting or anything else was able to happen. Ass to that mix a student teacher who did not finish until a week before the kids did too.
Lots has been happening in the Brown household lately. For those who don't know Loz has a new job in Benalla. Yes Benalla. Just over two hours from here. He has started full time over there this week and had previously been working two or three days over there and three days here in Bendigo. For the past few weeks he was staying at his parents house and driving over from Shepparton which is only 30 mins away. This week he started renting his Nan's unit which makes things a lot easier. He will stay in Bendigo on the weekends and the odd week day when he is needed here. On Saturday we had Nan's garage sale which Loz and I helped with and then I stayed in Benalla another night with Loz. I had planned to stay two extra nights but caught a nasty cold and decided to come home earlier. So at the end of the year we will be relocating to Benalla permanently. It is a big move for the both of us, but is also something we have wanted for a while. We will be closer to family and closer to the places we like to go to in North East Victoria. At this stage I don't have a job but I am sure I will either pick something up or do CRT work for a while. I have made the decision that I am not going to travel as far as I do now to work. My body is telling me that it is time to slow down a little bit. We dont have a house over there yet either, we need to sell this one here first. That will happen soon. There are lots of challenges ahead of us but we are both looking forward to the end result and we are both really grateful to Baz who is able to look after the dogs at such short notice which has really helped.

So what else has been happening? On Sunday we went for a drive to Yarrawonga to see the drained Lake Mulwala. I have nver been there before and I am looking forward to returning to see it in the next few months when they have refilled it. Yarrawonga is only 40 mins from Benalla and we have already discovered a really yummy cafe there! On the way home we stopped at Wangaratta for afternoon tea. Wangaratta is also only 20 mins away and is where we will need to go to visit Medicare and use some of the services such as the private hospital that Benalla doesnt have. We stopped in at Glenrowan ( 10 mins away) and I snapped this pic of Ned Kelly. Pity it was a cloudy yucky day.

The cupcakes are some fake ones that I made a few weeks ago using plaster of paris, a foam ball and texture paste. I am really happy with how they turned out and they look so yummy I could eat them! They are so easy to make. If you want the instructions let me know and I will email them to you.

I have been doing some scrapping while on holidays. I managed to complete two and a half pages in Benalla and are hoping to get heaps more done. Yesterday on the way home I stopped in Shepp and went to my new favourite scrapbooking store and got my hands on some of the new Kaisercraft stuff. I am in love with the new stamps and accessories. My favourite paper line would be Liore Valley. I love the colours and the patterns so much. I also bought some new BG Lemonade. It is reminiscent of some very old basic grey.
At this stage I do not have a lot planned for these holidays. Yesterday I saw the Albert Tucker exhibition at the Benalla art gallery and I do want to go to Melbourne to see the Dali exhibition and the Barbie exhibition. Mum and Dad are coming up for a few days next week and on Monday I am getting a guy in to clean the rangehood, oven and exhaust fans. My sewing machine is currently in getting a service and hopefully it will be ready so that mum and I can have a play next week. On Thursday I am going to Maree's house for a Stampin Up party. This morning I caught up with Fiona for coffee and went to the Marketplace to the chinese masseurs for a massage on my shoulders and neck. It went for 25 mins and only cost $20. I felt so relaxed afterwards.

Sunday loving

Knee deep in reports, hanging out for them to be done. Wanting it to be holidays.
Loving Sunday weekend cooking. So relaxing. Meals cooked with more love and care. Tonights menu - fillet steak with roasted potatoes sprinkled with moroccan seasoning, served with cauliflower cheese. Double choc self saucing pudding for dessert.
Loving the way Loz is performing in the MGC Annual Club Championships.
Love the Marong Pub. Went there for tea last night. Oh so yummy.
Loving the banana, date and walnut bread I had for morning tea at coffee select yesterday morning.
Love the way my hair looks straight and curly. Love the way it feels after I have been to Coco hair lounge.

What is everyone else loving right now?

Manda and Dave's Wedding

Yesterday Loz and I headed to Melbourne for Manda and Dave's Wedding. I have known Manda for years and met her through our mutal friend Sylvia. It was such an honour to be invited to her wedding and to share their special day. The wedding was a different kinda wedding but it was a lot of fun. Loz even came out onto the dance floor with me! The bride looked gorgeous and it was a lovely relaxing time with the yummiest food.
The favourite photo that I took os the mirror one with the two of us. I love the expression on Loz's face!

Sunday loving

Just hanging with Loz. Out for lunch for yummy pasta from Borchelli and across the street to the Bendigo Art Gallery to see these. None really stood out for me this year like they did last year. I still have the paiting of Heath Ledger stuck in my head.

At the moment we are watching the footy and hanging out. I am writing a history practice examination and the doggies are outside because they have wet feet from running in the dam when we went for a walk earlier.
Loving the owls earrings I bought yesterday at the Bendigo market place, and the owl pendant I bought from this Etsy store. Love the smell of Loz's new CK 1 aftershave we bought earlier and the new tie and shirt we bought for him to wear to the wedding next week.