violet.

today's a month of prompt is violet, so i thought i'd share my latest beanie project...



i cast it on while we were in sydney, to teach myself the magic loop technique on circular needles.

i followed this tutorial and it was not NEARLY as hard as i thought, albeit a little slower than my normal technique.

my main reason for wanting to learn is so that i can get knitting on a different project... socks!
i've been wanting to get knitting on some socks for a while, but the thought of all of those double pointed needles, for the amount of time it'd take me to knit TWO socks... well, there'd be far too many! it would do my absolute head in!

what's on your needles at the moment? have you learnt anything new recently?

meal planning tuesday.

just doesn't have the same ring to it huh?

it's been a few weeks since i played along... but this month i'm hoping to get a meal plan in EVERY week! 5 mondays in april = 5 meal plans! wish me luck?



tonight, i've got pilates plans with a friend, which means i'll need something that i can cook quickly and easily and that i can reheat when i get home... chicken pad thai sounds perfect! i haven't cooked it in an age!

tomorrow night, there're two bananas that desperately need to become a loaf of banana bread. while i'm whipping that up, i'll throw together some meatballs. easy, delicious and served with wholemeal spaghetti and some greens, relatively healthy to boot!

thursday night, i'll grill up some steaks, whip up some garlic butter and throw together a steak. yum!

friday night is my late night at work so i'll leave the slow-cooker in charge... i cam across this recipe for teriyaki chicken (via pinterest, of course!) so i might give that a whirl! hopefully it comes out ok!

i have the whooooole weekend off from work with NO plans! i'm hoping to have a super productive day on saturday, lots of cleaning, lots of cooking and baking, lots of de-cluttering and organising and hopefully even a spot of gardening.
then i'm hoping to spend allllllll day sunday relaxing. pyjamas will be staying on! it will be the best!

oh, and today's prompt for the a month of challenge is grey...



so here are my two favourite grey things... my nice warm slippies, and my laptop. i'd be lost without the two of them!

what are your favourite grey things? what are you eating this week? have you made a meal plan?

april.

goodbye march. hello april.
i don't even want to talk about how quickly march went... i feel like i've lost a month!

i feel like i did ok with last month's goals...
i've got two beanies on the needles, about to be cast off, my laptop is fully operational once more, i caught up on my assignments a bit while i was in sydney (more on that later...), and have big plans to catch up even more, i managed half a stripe on my granny stripe (pitiful i know...) and not only did i make garden plans... i got them implemented! i'm so happy with how it's coming together! i'll share that soon too, i hope!

now, onto april!



i'm quite excited to join in with the a month of challenge. the theme this month is colour! it's been ages since i joined in...

today's prompt is red!



so here's a RED biscuit tin, repurposed to hold the bulk amount of fish oil i bought from the health food shop! why is it always cheaper to buy 123709234 of something?

i'll be back tomorrow to share my meal plans for the week... we're having cheese, bread and smallgoods for dinner tonight, not worth putting on the meal plan ha!

what are you up to this month? are you playing along with the a month of challenge? what are you having for dinner?

stakin' a claim.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
as you may know, google reader is shutting down!!
i read pip's post, and bloglovin seems like the closest thing to my beloved next button.

what are your plans for when google reader shuts it's metaphorical doors? have you signed the petition?

an interstate finish.

last night, i cast off the cowl i've been working on over the last couple of weeks!



i've got some ends to sew in but i LOVE it! so nice!!

of the 5 and a bit balls i started with, i've only got this much left...



there's another 5 balls from the stash ;)

have you finished anything recently? are you busting your stash?


oh, and it's an interstate visit because i'm in SYDNEY! yay!

meal planning monday.

helllllooooooooo monday! i'm in a little state of disbelief that it's monday over here...
it's a public holiday in sunny (no really, it's bloody hot) victoria so it very much feels like a sunday... but yesterday was sunday so it MUST be monday today!



well on with the meal plans then!
tonight, we're ordering in. chinese is on the menu as i'm not feeling so well and therefore have a hankering for some chicken and sweet corn soup. should get me fixed right up!

tomorrow night, we'll be wanting something quick and easy, and with a 37 degree day on the cards, something that doesn't require the oven being turned on would be ideal. cheat meal coming up! tortellini and sauce, courtesy of the kitchens of leggos. i'll put together a salad to go with it. easy peasy!

wednesday night is ncb night! so i'll make sure i get up nice and early in the morning to pop some osso bucco in the slow cooker. that way, when i get home, i can chuck on some pasta, serve it up and race out the door to northcote!

thursday night will be quite laid back comparatively. another meal of pasta, this time, meatballs! more salad needed too me thinks!

friday night, i'll be at work. so i'll make sure i pop some cashew chicken in the slow cooker for when bb and i eventually get home!

saturday, i'm working all day! so bb has promised to pop a roast in the oven for us! can't wait!

aaaaaaand sunday... i'm flying off to sydney! hopefully i can find something that's not atrocious to eat at the airport!

what are you eating this week? are you meal planning too?
pop over and visit the lovely pinkpatentmaryjanes for some more meal planning monday inspiration!


the photo above, is of the breakfast i made myself this morning. homegrown zucchini from my mum's garden, and leftover vegies from the crisper, served with crispy prosciutto, goat's cheese and fresh chives. they were delish!

my creative space.

for the last few months, i've been trying to think up someway to store my seemingly endless collection of glasses.

i thought about maybe hanging them on a coathanger... or sewing up an elaborate pocket sleeve hanging...

all of these thoughts were going around in my head, spinning around in idea land, and then last night, i saw sampson use this...



... my neat line of glasses, arranged on my dresser, like a set of bowling pins.
GAH!
necessity being the mother of invention that it is, had me come up with this...



a cheap suction cup toilet roll holder, stuck on the mirror above my dresser.
devil cat can't reach it, and it will hopefully stop the dust settling on my lenses!

oh, and if you were thinking it looks a little plain and boring, have no fear!
i have some decorative plans in mind... it's time to get my yarn bomb on!


what are you getting up to creatively today? pop over to village voices to check out more creative spaces!