The Christmas parties have begun!
We are just about to head off to Bear's daycare Christmas party, and Sunday is my mothers' group one. For the mothers' group one, we have decided to do a $10 secret santa for the mums. I found a great big biscuit jar at Target on sale from $39 down to $8.88. So I am going to fill that with bikkies for my present.
So, baking will probably fill my morning tomorrow. Bear loves when I bake. He has developed a wonderful fondness for my stand mixer, as it is the source of all things delicious. He likes to sit on the bench next to the mixer and watch it do its stuff. He can say, "mix!" as clear as day.
Friday, 25 November 2011
Happenings
As I am sure you can imagine, things have been getting
pretty busy around here.
As well as trying to juggle all the paperwork and meetings
for starting my two new jobs (on top of the one I already have), Mr and I have
been trying to make the most of this
small window of time we have had where I am work two days, and he is completely
free.
We used our Gold Class movie tickets.
We had a dinner party.
Melbourne Cup lunch with my mothers’ group.
We had other friends (who couldn’t make the dinner party)
around for a mid-week dinner.
We made a trip to visit Mr’s grandparents in northern NSW.
We’ve had my parents around for dinner.
All in all, we’ve been very social.
On top of that, I have still been fitting in my physio
sessions (which are now fortnightly), mothers’ group, and catching up with my
grandma.
Monday, 14 November 2011
Busy busy busy
I will try to get some time this week to update you all on what has been happening, but the long and short of it is that as of this morning, I have three jobs, and a very busy schedule. Especially at the moment, as I try to sort everything out to get them all running smoothly.
So, I am still here, but frantically doing other things. At least is has bought us some financial breathing space, even though it is keeping me very busy.
So, I am still here, but frantically doing other things. At least is has bought us some financial breathing space, even though it is keeping me very busy.
Thursday, 10 November 2011
The Still Face Experiment
I have been doing a bit of reading, and came across a description of the Still Face Experiment. So, I looked it up and found a simple youtube explanation of it.
In couple therapy, couples are often described as being caught in the "dance" of a pursue/withdraw communication style. Put simply, this is where one partner (often, though not always the woman) leads discussions and communication around conflict topics. She approaches, and the other partner, afraid or unsure of how to respond, retreats. The pursuer pursues, and the withdrawer withdraws. The more she approaches, the more he retreats. She becomes frustrated, leading to more aggressive approaches, and he becomes more fearful, completely shutting down (or flipping into a flight or fight response, sometimes the withdrawer will withdraw, and then when cornered, attack).
While it is easy to understand why someone who feels attacked would withdraw, I have always found it harder to understand why seeing someone withdraw would elicit an attack.
I found this video really interesting, because it really cemented the idea that people will do anything - positive or negative - to elicit a response, any response. And it is fascinating to see how intuitive this is, even at such a young age.
In couple therapy, couples are often described as being caught in the "dance" of a pursue/withdraw communication style. Put simply, this is where one partner (often, though not always the woman) leads discussions and communication around conflict topics. She approaches, and the other partner, afraid or unsure of how to respond, retreats. The pursuer pursues, and the withdrawer withdraws. The more she approaches, the more he retreats. She becomes frustrated, leading to more aggressive approaches, and he becomes more fearful, completely shutting down (or flipping into a flight or fight response, sometimes the withdrawer will withdraw, and then when cornered, attack).
While it is easy to understand why someone who feels attacked would withdraw, I have always found it harder to understand why seeing someone withdraw would elicit an attack.
I found this video really interesting, because it really cemented the idea that people will do anything - positive or negative - to elicit a response, any response. And it is fascinating to see how intuitive this is, even at such a young age.
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Lemon Slice
This recipe was requested by my mother-in-law, so while I was typing it up to email to her, I thought I might as well post it here as well.
It makes a slice with a coconut-ty shortbread-y base, and a cheesecake like lemon topping.
Base
125g butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup plain flour
1 egg
Topping
1 tin skim condensed milk
1 egg
Juice and zest of two lemons (or juice of one lemon and pulp of two passionfruit for passionfruit slice)
Mix all the ingredients for the base together to form a dough (this can be done in a food processor, a mixer, or by hand). Press into a lined tray and bake at 160 for 15-20 minutes or until firm and lightly golden.
While the base is cooking, mix together egg, condensed milk and lemon juice in a bowl. The main ting is to ensure the egg is well mixed so as not to end up with streaks of egg in the topping. The lemon juice will thicken the condensed milk. Spread the mixture evenly over the cooked base and return it to the oven for another 15 to twenty minutes. It will still be slightly sticky when cooked, about the texture of cheesecake.
Allow to cool and then cut into squares.
It makes a slice with a coconut-ty shortbread-y base, and a cheesecake like lemon topping.
Base
125g butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup plain flour
1 egg
Topping
1 tin skim condensed milk
1 egg
Juice and zest of two lemons (or juice of one lemon and pulp of two passionfruit for passionfruit slice)
Mix all the ingredients for the base together to form a dough (this can be done in a food processor, a mixer, or by hand). Press into a lined tray and bake at 160 for 15-20 minutes or until firm and lightly golden.
While the base is cooking, mix together egg, condensed milk and lemon juice in a bowl. The main ting is to ensure the egg is well mixed so as not to end up with streaks of egg in the topping. The lemon juice will thicken the condensed milk. Spread the mixture evenly over the cooked base and return it to the oven for another 15 to twenty minutes. It will still be slightly sticky when cooked, about the texture of cheesecake.
Allow to cool and then cut into squares.
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