First Race of the Year!

My, my, what are these? 

They belong to these two, smiling, sweaty (yes we know we are gross) faces.

The little chickpea and I took part in the Twilight Running Festival this evening!
A 4pm start for our 10km race was a nice change from early morning starts. Jess and I really enjoyed the beautiful weather and we were very lucky that the threatening black clouds held off all afternoon.
Finishing time was an unexpected joy at 1:02:52! We were both a little nervous, being morning runners, but the twilight seemed to agree with us!
Tonight we are putting our feet up, eating sushi, and watching lots of trashy TV.
Yep, post race pampering.
Who else has a race coming up soon?

International Women's Day

Today, dear readers, is International Women's Day.

Celebrated throughout the world on March 8th, it is:

 'an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women' (source) 

(source)

I would like to take this chance today to celebrate some of the amazing women who I am fortunate enough to have in my life as daily inspiration and examples of the amazing will and wonder of women.

First in line is my Mum. My first and strongest example of what it means, and what it takes, to be a woman today. This lovely lady is a tour de force of familial responsibility, friendship, personal and professional advice, and warm fuzziness. Of course, as with most mother-daughter relationships we have had our differences, but I can honestly say that this beautiful woman who carried me, and cared for me is a filament of gold woven through the fabric of my life. Mama Chickpea taught me that you should always see both sides, choose a positive outlook on your day with every sunrise, always look to turn a stranger into a friend, and that a cup of tea will solve most problems. Love you Mama.

The next two amazing women who stand as pillars in my mind are my sisters. One of blood, one of coincidence, my darling Jess (little Chickpea) and the beautiful Casey. These ladies are a complex synergy of hard work, dedication, young wisdom, and (it must be said) downright silly dancing and singing combinations. There is no problem that I cannot present to them and receive advice or comfort, or a taste tester. When I am down, they are the ones with the ladder and the light to help me out of despair and illuminate the way forward.

Both of my grandmothers also stand as legendary female characters and influences in my life.
My paternal grandmother (sadly passed) raised five children, built a house and home, married her teenage sweetheart and helped out those in her community. Nanny Dawn, you left an incredible legend behind to live up to.
My maternal grandmother, Mormor (Danish for mother's mother), survived German-occupied Denmark during World War two, left Denmark and all her family to move to Australia with two young girls (Mama and my aunty) and build a life in a new country where she didn't even speak the language. Mormor has always encouraged me to march to the beat of my own drum, and I owe much of my gypsy spirit to this lady.

My closest high school friends whose friendship has followed me into adulthood: Caroline, Josie and Laura. You ladies let me slip back into that easy lunch time feeling and the conversations that we had all those years ago beneath the shade of our favourite Jacaranda tree. The passing years have taken all of us on different adventures but our bond is as strong as those school girl days.

Samantha, my co-chief bridesmaid and one of the most beautiful souls who blesses my life with her presence in it. You are just at the start of an amazing journey little sister, take every day as your own.

 I would also like to take this opportunity on International Women's Day to point out that not only is it amazing women who support the achievements and advancement of females in our society. There are so many men who play a role in actively promoting female interests and encouraging the women in their lives. I must thank my Dad who always wanted only daughters (be careful what you wish for) and then along with Mama set about showing us that there are no limits to what a girl can do. My Dad taught me to cook, hammer a nail, how to watch motor sports, the best way to eat ice cream and jelly, and has supported his daughters in their every endeavour.

Dear readers, happy International Women's Day. Take today to celebrate the accomplishments of the amazing women in your life. Look back on how far we have all come and the path of those that have marched before us.
Be proud to be a woman. To be in an age where there is nothing to stop any of us from achieving our dreams and ambitions. Look at all the women who are powerful figures in our own lives and those who are making decisions and blazing new trails around the world, then set yourself the challenge of being your own woman of distinction.
You don't have to be the first woman on an all male basketball team, there are so many ways that we can set an example of what it means to be a woman today.
Take ownership of your physical self. Love your body, whatever shape it comes in, show it care and attention and take health as your goal rather than deprivation and loathing.
Love your mind, learn from every day and every person you meet. Read, write, create, experiment, share stories and memories. Find mentors and companions who challenge you and support you to grow.
Nourish your spirit. Look for meaning in every day moments. Count your blessings every day.
Love wildly and without reserve.
Make the most of your every precious heart beat.
Be empowered in your life by the lives of those around you.
We are women, watch us soar.

Wedding Week Begins!

In seven days my little sister will wed her best friend and soul mate. Accordingly, this weekend was her hen's night and the girls had to go out!
We started off with our weekly visit to the farmer's markets where Sam joined us! She has just flown in for the wedding (she's Jessica's other best friend and our third bridesmaid!) and of course a catch up breakfast and coffee was essential.

After doing our weekly provision gathering trip, and a final try on of the bridal gown and bridesmaids dresses it was time for the fun to begin! Unfortunately Sam couldn't join us because she had another wedding on this weekend (she is a very popular lady!).
Jess, Casey and I headed down to the Gold Coast to meet up with the rest of the lovely ladies who would be part of the Spring Chicken night proceedings. I refuse to call it her hen's night, she's too young to be a hen!
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Surfer's Paradise, which I had never been to before but we were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed our stay very much!

The view from our hotel room

 We also happened to spot some filming happening around the pool area. Jess and Casey were very excited to notice that Kevin Federline (Britney Spear's ex-husband) and several other celebrities were filming the new Australian television weight loss show 'Excess Baggage'.

Celebrities!

 I was much more interested in our other views of the Gold Coast hinterland and the beautiful Pacific Ocean. We were so fortunate to have such a great view and a gorgeous day to enjoy.

The canal estates that make up part of the Gold Coast.

 We settled in for a little while to wait for the rest of the girls to arrive and plan our next move.

The bride in serious consultation with Casey about the location of the best ice cream shops.

It was a little too cool to go swimming and so we settled on walking to the main mall strip of the coast. I also discovered that my darling sister had never had Royal Copenhagen Ice Cream before, such a travesty that we quickly had to remedy it before she became a married woman!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

 As the afternoon drew on we made our way along the beach and back to the hotel.

Hugging it out.
No need to mention the large dose of ocean water Casey had just splashed all over Jess... 

After some primping and preening we started our night at the hotel bar with a little aperitif. Jessica and I chose a lovely white wine.

The beautiful bride, ready to celebrate.

In search of some delicious dinner we had made reservations at the Amalfi Bistro and Wine Bar at the Watermark Hotel. The service was brilliant, the food was amazing and the company was stunning!
We started with two appetizer plates to share; an antipasto platter and a trio of dips with toasted Turkish bread. Then our mains arrived and I was especially happy when I learnt they had gluten free pasta for a delicious primavera for this chickpea.

Heather, Jess and Fiona

Amanda, Micaela and Jess

Part of the Bridal party - Casey, Jess and I!

After a very satiating dinner we needed to walk a little and we wandered up to Cavill Avenue in search of our type of fun. And so it came to pass that our merry band of travellers stumbled into a gaming arcade! Who says a hen's night has to include cocktails and people taking their clothes off when there can be......
Bumper cars!

Oh Trent, I watched her drive --- don't let her use your car even if she is your new wife!

 And giant teddy bears just out of reach (don't worry she didn't frown for long)....

And Dance Dance Revolution!

The Dancing Queens!

The last stop of the night was Max Brenner - of course the night must end with chocolate! Our transportation for the night was mostly by foot but we were very lucky to have a wonderful taxi driver, who goes by the name 'Gordo the Great' who we were surprised to bump into every time we needed to get off our feet for a while and try some wheeled transportation!
This morning we were met with a beautiful dawn and a delicious discovery in Bumbles Cafe. Set in an old house that also had a dark past as a brothel the cafe now has a shabby chic vibe and each room is decorated in it's own style. We were seated for breakfast in 'the library'.

Gorgeous dressers, flowers and candles decorated every room.

This says it all really!

The bride ready for breakfast!

In order to gain the bride's view I asked for her highlight of the weekend, strangest experience and stand out moment.

Highlight: Eating ice cream on the beach with all her friends.

Strangest experience: Being asked by a stranger who spotted her 'bride to be' sash whether she was off to marry Justin Bieber! (don't worry she is far far too old for him, we just have great genes).

Stand out moment: Reliving her childhood at the games arcade - being grown up is highly overrated! 

All in all a wonderful weekend and great start to Wedding Week countdown.

Only 6 days left until the bells will start ringing!

The Lighting of a Fire

'Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.'

William Butler Yeats

On Monday of this week we celebrated yet another wonderful occasion, my little sister graduated from her university degree!

Doesn't she look super smart in her cap and gown? Born to wear it I say.

After four years of hard work, late nights, and more cups of tea than I can count, Jess achieved her Bachelor of Urban Development in Urban and Regional Planning. For the rest of us that means that she is a town planner, working to make our cities better in the future and consulting with communities to understand what it is they need most from their towns.

I am insanely proud of her.

Congratulations Jess. After all of your hard work you truly deserve to be recognised for all that you have achieved so far. You inspire me every single day.

Jess's group of graduates, and two of their proud teachers.

In our family, education is one of the most important gifts you can give yourself and the world. I am not talking about just university degrees or academic accolades; we value life education, the thirst for learning about the world that comes from really living every second of our lives, the skills that we learn from those who walk the road before us; in fostering the natural curiosity that lies within us all.

There is no end to what we can learn, no limit or bounds to the human mind. Education, learning, wisdom, all of these are the keys to so many doors. There is no lock strong enough to keep out an open mind.

Jess and Rachel, who reads this blog. Hi Rachel!

Growing up Jess and I were surrounded by books. Our parents talked to us about the news, about ideas that were larger than just our lives, about dreams and hopes and the history of our own family. 

Mum and Dad lit a fire, nurtured the two young curious minds that had been entrusted to them.

There were no rules about what girls 'should' learn. Jess can wield a drop saw to help Dad renovate the house just as well as she can frost a cupcake. I can hammer a nail as surely as I can sew a button on a shirt.

We learnt from a young age that hunger is good. 

Hunger that leads to devouring books late into the night, filling pages with stories and poetry.

Hunger that fills your soul with a yearning to observe, to create, to question, to listen, to seek minds greater than your own, to never close the door on an opportunity to learn more about the world and it's people and their ideas.

Two more curious minds. Or just curious people really.

Our parents showed us that you never know who has something to teach you. Your greatest teachers in life may not have an education degree, or work in a classroom, or have even finished school. They will not have succeeded in every venture they have tried. They might be years older than you, from a generation so removed from yours that it would be easy to dismiss them as old fashioned or out of touch. Your teachers might be younger than you; wisdom from the mouths of babes.

Trent and Jess.

The most important thing is that we keep an open mind.

Learn every single day. Discoveries will not always be grand or life-changing or even immediately recognisable.

Just remember to stay curious. Nurture the minds around you, young, old and in between.

Read, watch, listen, write, be in the world every day.

All those around you have walked different roads. They all have something to teach us.

If only we take time to learn.

Take time to light the fire and keep it burning.

'I am still learning.'

Michelangelo

Silver Bells, Silver Bells, It's Christmas Time in the City

One of my fondest memories of Christmas time is going to visit the city to see the tree, and the lights and all the store windows that had been decorated for the season.

Every year Mum and Dad would pack Jessica and I into the car and we would drive into the city, usually after dinner. Our special treat was always a Hungry Jacks (Burger King for my US friends) soft serve ice cream cone.  After all the gorgeous hand churned, locally produced, organic and artisan ice cream I have eaten, one bite of one of these can still take me back to those nights with my family. In fact, whenever I am in the city at Christmas time there is some kind of special magic. somehow I shrink back down to a little girl in a red and white dress, white sandals strapped to my feet and ribbon in my hair.

Trent and Jess

The cobblestones of the pedestrian mall still feel the same beneath the soles of my shoes as I wander up to Myer to see what the window dressers have chosen to display this year, what story they have decided will be animated with puppets, which music will be quietly piping its way into the crowds gathered around the glass. As our ice creams melted a little we would grip Mum and Dad's hands tightly and make our way over to King George Square to see the Christmas tree. Seemingly miles high from an 8 year old's view point it gleamed with huge baubles, and white strings of light, and always perched on top was a beautiful Christmas star.

Papa Bear and Mama Bear

This year, I wanted to recapture the magic. I set a date with my family to have dinner and wander in the city like we did all those years ago. Of course, this year we were five rather than four because Trent is part of our big crazy circus too!

Not little girls anymore

Although the windows were not as good as they once were, the tree was still beautiful and the night was just as magical as I remember. After a wonderful dinner at Vapiano we marvelled at the tree, checked out some of the stores (and did some Christmas shopping for the little Chickpea) and had some quality people watching time. 

Gluten free gnocchi pomodoro with parmigiano - delicious!

 Although we didn't get to have our soft serve ice cream cones, Mum and I shared our favourite (lemon sorbet) while we browsed a book store. 

Now I am sitting at home beside my own beautiful tree, an indulgence I allow myself every night leading up to Christmas when everyone else has gone to bed.

There is something in the glow of the lights that sends time away, shifts me into that special place where I can reflect on all that I have learnt over the past year, all that has changed and grown inside since those lights last shone into the night.

I think that is a tale for another night though. Tonight I am going to sleep with the same peace as my 8 year old self, the same excitement for the magic of Christmas, and the grown up knowledge that the real magic is the wonder of family, the miracle of friends, and the myriad blessings in my life every day of the year.

The Most Important Ingredient

Please forgive my week long silence. Do not take it as a prelude to total abandonment.
You see, preparation for great celebration has been the goal of the past seven days.

Over this past week I have been involved in the use of 3 kilograms of butter, 6 kilograms of sugar, countless packets of flour, numerous bars of chocolate, hen houses full of eggs, bricks of cream cheese and fields of little tiny flowers made of sugar paste.
Thanks to a little magic, a tireless dishwasher and consistent oven, Martha Stewart's sagely wisdom, and free refrigerator space in the kitchens of kindly neighbours all these ingredients came together to form a heavenly morning tea for my little sister's bridal shower!

We had chosen a 'Kitchen Tea' theme and as her Maid of Honour, I was more than excited to take the lead in organising the baked goods for the day.
Mum was chief decorator, and she did such a beautiful job of looping bunting up over bookshelves, hanging paper lanterns, arranging all the tablecloths, napkins and assorted things that always slip my mind.
Casey (also a bridesmaid) brought over delicious salted caramel macarons and raspberry macarons and Sam (Jess's best friend and the third member of our bridesmaid trio) flew up especially from her new home in Victoria, especially for the day!

Over thirty of our closest female family and friends showed up to shower our beautiful bride to be with kitchen related gifts, play games (including the toilet paper wedding dress game - I definitely recommend this one!), share countless pots of tea and laughter, and indulge in a little (well, maybe more than a little) bite or two of a yummy treat.

In my family celebrations of this sort call for generous amounts of food.

Thus we confront guests with scenes such as this.

Plates of mini quiches, potato and capsicum frittata, a cheeseboard, fresh fruit and bite size pastry scrolls.

Perfect for Christmas appetizers, recipe to come.

Of course, the most important part of any gathering in our cottage requires copious sweets!

Chocolate cake (which you might remember from this post), a gluten free orange and yoghurt cake, cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, Jessica's baked vanilla cheesecake, Mum's famous scones and a gluten free variation made up the sugar containing quota of food.

The most important ingredient in any gathering though, is always love.

Friends who are like family and travel long ways just to be here for special occasions.

Family whom we love enough to know that we are also friends.

Sunday marked another celebration on the way to my little sister becoming a wife and starting a whole new stage of her life. I am so glad that we could take the time to gather with our female friends and give her the most important ingredient in starting her new life; love.

Love is always the most important ingredient.

May your cupboards never be bare.

Happy Halloween

Legend has it that once a year the thin veil that exists between our world and the world of the spirits is lifted, but only for a night. On this one night the spirits are free to roam the human realm and cause mischief and mayhem….and screams……

Source

I have loved Halloween for the longest time, in fact I think I can trace it directly back to my primary school days when I devoured 'The Baby Sitter's Club' books, and noticed that there were so many seasonal traditions and holidays that were different to the ones we celebrate in the Great Southern Land.

The autumn and winter holiday period has always fascinated me the most. From late September Australians are preparing for the longest, hottest, and (sometimes) rainiest period of the year; a time when it becomes impossible to be bothered doing one's hair because humidity makes a joke of even the sternest attempt, and when as a child it was perfectly normal to run under the sprinklers at school in our togs (bathing suits) at lunch time. Our northern cousins meanwhile are watching the leaves change colour, getting their winter wardrobes ready, baking all sorts of tempting treats, and celebrating traditions like Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Source

So this year, I am bringing a little Halloween down under. I have two massive and gorgeous pumpkins decorating my table, a bucket of spooky toys and treats for the few trick-or-treaters we may have visiting our door tomorrow night, and these beautiful cupcakes to share with my work family tomorrow.

Of course, I have taught myself to cackle in an appropriately witch like manner as well.

I want to be prepared just in case that really is a goblin knocking at my door on Halloween night….

Pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, thanks Martha

In other news, this is evidence of exactly how much more clever and talented the mini chickpea (my sister, Jess) is than I am.

Yes, we now worship at the altar of Jess.