And so it begins...

Committed. That's me. While I could have been sitting on the verandah of my mother-in-laws beautiful farm, drinking wine and watching the wind whip the trees, I was instead taking up the mile a day challenge. Maggie came with me. I think she likes this new health kick :)

It's all about me.

I can't even believe I am about to write these words. My fingers are all numbing over, and they aren't even the part of me that will benefit the most from what I am about to admit to the internet.

I have just committed to a mile a day challenge, hosted by the lovely JewelChic. I was leaving random comments on her facebook page, jealous quips about how lucky she is to lead the life she leads (makes jewellery, travels the world, is uber positive) when it dawned on me. 'Em, that can be you'. You don't have to sit back and watch someone else do it. You can actually get up and do it yourself. Not be the next jewelchic, but you know, start working on me.

So I said I would begin by running 1 mile a day over the month of Feb. Not too mean a feat really. But it's less about the mileage and more about smileage. I want to start feeling good about how I look (two babies, post baby weight, snacking all day, drinking red wine etc etc) and I also want to improve how I feel. I spoke recently about my pre menstrual troubles and I feel that there are so many things I could be doing better that I just let slide. Exercise is one of them. It realise good endorphins, right? And if I feel like I'm getting some time for me, perhaps I may feel less trapped that all my time is devoted to the kids.

In conjunction with this new challenge, I am heading to a yoga class on Monday night. It's a free one, and I wanna check out the centre, so no major commitment just yet. But my lovely husband has said he will pay for a full course should I like it. Ben is a big meditation fan and wants me to feel the benefits.

With my new job I also have three days where I can really think about what I'm eating. I am very good with my meals, snack only on fruit, and really look forward to dinner when I get home at the end of the day.

These are small changes, I know, but changes none the less. And I'm proud of even giving it a go. I will document some of my challenge moments here. Share the odd healthy recipe when I come across it, and boost my triumphs as they are realised. Wish me luck people!

The Whirl of Christmas.

Christmas. Over. So fast. So tiring. So much fun. Here are a few photos from the many that we took over the last few weeks. We've been up to so much here in Melbourne.



I made homemade muesli for all the important women in my life. Mum, sisters, mother-in-law. It was very well recieved and they seemed to like it. Will post the recipe as soon as I get uno momento.



Santa brought Tom a trolley to pull around. Annie loved it.



Santa (my father) made this dolls house for Annie. We found all the beautiful wooden furniture in a store called Early Learning Centre. She's had her head in it ever since.



We finally got Tom's seat attached to my bike. On Christmas Eve we all took a little bike ride before dinner. It was so lovely and as you can see Tom LOVED it.



Christmas Eve dinner was just me, my wonderful husband, our delightful kids who I love so much it hurts and this meal I made. Fennel and salt rubbed pork with broccolini, kipfler potatoes and a red currant glaze. Oh, and the most unforgettable pinot noir that I have ever tasted and have since forgotten the name of.

Conversations with three year olds

'mumma? It looks like it will rain'

'yes...the clouds are very grey'

'what you said?'

'I said the clouds look very grey'

'what?'

'the clouds...they look very grey'

'grey?'

'yes'

'yes...like toy story'

What the??

Quick Lunch.

These days it's hard to arrange three meals a day that everyone in the family will eat and will also be kind to my two-baby waist line. So I approached things from a different angle. I'll stop munching on the left over pieces of peanut butter sandwiches and half eaten pasta the kids no longer want, and I will actually sit down and make myself a little something special - and healthy.



I found these little numbers in the supermarket the other day. Vita-Weat Lunch Slices. Ok, so they're just crackers, but they're fancy schmancy crackers and I am a princess and deserve the very best that life and Arnott's can give me. I loaded these up with hummus, cucumber, thin slice of cheese, tomato and rocket. Bring it on!

Not bad for a frazzled mother of two looking to get into a pair of jeans she hasn't worn since they closed the Cadillac night club down. I hope my generous serving of tonight's Osso Bucco wont ruin all this hard work.

The kids and me.

Here's a little photographic update of the kids. Time has just flown recently. Really flown. I feel like this year is a massive blur and all I have to show for it is these two little munchkins who are now just that little bit older and soooo much cuter.



:: We head to the park a lot. Swing. Laugh. Fall over. Being away from our renovating nightmare means Bens gets more done and I stay a little more sane ::



:: I'm in love with a new supermarket. It's called LaManna. Amazing produce, fresh Australian only fruit and vege and the best cannoli hands down! In this picture, Tom expresses his love for the place ::



:: We ventured to the Big West Festival the other day. Annie, Tom and I rolled down a grassy hill and bopped to hip hoppers. I love this side of the city ::

I realise I haven't updated this blog in awhile. I am feverishly trying to get another job and that means ever last second I have is spent emailing, meeting or calling. Hopefully something pops up soon and life can have some kind of routine again.

Doing it Italian Style.

I was given a pasta machine for free. I was very, very excited. I've been waiting for a few days now to try it out, and with kids asleep today is that day. First things first, the dough.

3 cups 00 flour
4 small eggs
1 tsp olive oil
pinch of salt

You're meant to put the eggs in the centre of the flour pile and slowly incorporate into a dough mix without breaking the 'flour walls'. My first attempt was pitiful. Here's my second attempt.



I managed to wrangle this into a dough that looked wonderfully like pasta dough. I used my index finger to mix. Is there nothing the index finger cant do? The dough should not be too dry or too sticky. Tick. It it should bounce back when poked. Tick. And it should look like Jamie Olivers...:(



For this delicious pasta I will be making a roasted red pepper sauce. Peppers were $2.80 at the local supermarket and I couldn't resist a nice big bag for our pizza, Vietnamese stir fry and of course, this dish.

Simply char grill the peppers, peel off their skin and whiz with roasted pine nuts. To see a full recipe go to this awesome site. I will be making little ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta. I'm always looking for more vegetarian dishes, dishes that don't require me buying any ingredients outside my weekly shop, and of course, something that hides vegies for the kids. This dish really does do all those things.



Annie absolutely loved making pasta. We were very careful with the fingers people!







When I saw how well the pasta had turned out, I popped down to Seddon Wine Store and got us a lovely Italian red to go with. My best idea so far!