Thankful For Friday.

Every Friday I will be writing a list of things I have been thankful for this week.

They will vary from the little things that make someone happy in life to silly things and just things in general.

My Car. It feels awkward when I can't drive it. When we had the big freeze here it was stuck on the drive everyday and I had to get my dad to take me to work and pick me up. I couldn't go out anywhere at night, even if I wanted to.

My Health Insurance. I had to go to the dentists this week for a check-up, after not having been since 2005!!! But at least I didnt have to have anything done. I'd like to think that I'm lucky to have my health insurance there just in case.

My Parents. Always there to offer advice and someone to talk to. Our neighbour said something this morning that made me realise just how special my dad is. He's always there when you need him, he's got a heart of gold and will do anything for anyone. Mum's the same.

My Fiance Kevin. I was reading Crystal Jigsaw's blog earlier, her post about finding her soulmate and reflecting on things made me too, think about how lucky I was to meet my soulmate in Kevin. We've been together now three years and I wouldn't change him for anyone.

My ability to cook dinner. Last night I learnt how to make a risotto for our dinner. Mum's just had carpal tunnel surgery so she can't do very much with her hands at the moment. Having to make the dinner for four of us has been good too, I'm learning new things and hopefully when Kevin gets his own flat, i'll be able to do the same for him.

Slimming World. Ok so I'm not a member anymore, but it still helps to have the little recipe books there. I'm doing a sponsored  Six Week Slimathon starting next week.

What things have you been thankful for this week?

I'm Guest Posting Today!

Hello fellow bloggers. I'm doing my very first guest post today for Jennifer over at http://novelistabarista.blogspot.com/.

5 Little Things That Have Made me Happy this Week.

1) Getting a Text from Kevin, just a random text. I love it when he just sends me a text out of the blue. Least when I am not expecting it.
2) Going on the Wii and getting a Wii Fitness age of 33 and under. Having a decent work out on Your Shape and not feeling tired afterwards.
3) Finding Out that I am only needed to do one shift in my other job this week.
4) My favourite soccer team winning last night!!! (Revenge is sooooo Sweet!!!! )
5) A new drama on channel 4 starring "Sex and the City's" , "Mr Big". I had seen this advertised and thought it looked good, sadly I missed the first episode on monday night!!!!!

Posted By Sara at Pink Banana

Thursday Treats

Boeuf Bourguignon Easy


Easy? Well, that is to say if you cut out some of the finer points of the exercise and are content with the thought that Boeuf Bourguignon of a kind is better than none at all! 


Ingredients


1 lb (450 g) or 1 x 500 g pack cubed beef

1 x 200 g pack Tesco Lightly Smoked Bacon Bits

4 oz (110g) chestnut mushrooms - I wont be putting mushrooms in it.

2 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced

1 medium onion, peeled and sliced

6 sprigs of thyme

2 bay leaves

2 heaped tablespoons flour

15 fl oz (425 ml) red burgundy

salt and freshly milled black pepper

Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 1, 275°F (140°C).

Method


This is what you might call an all-in-one recipe – just place the  ingredients in a medium-sized flameproof casserole and season well with salt and pepper. Then sprinkle in the flour and, using both hands, toss it all around till everything is lightly coated with flour.

Next pour in the wine, give it a good stir then – ignoring the unpromising sight before you – put a close-fitting lid on the casserole, pop it into the oven on the centre shelf and leave it there for 3 hours, and look forward to the minimum-effort, maximum-result supper that awaits.

To serve, it needs lots of fluffy mashed potato, which you can by all means buy ready-made (but in this case not from Tesco because theirs is poor) and then add extra butter and milk or cream.

Hopefully It will look something like this!!!

I think I'll serve it with some some nice creamy garlic mash.

The End product.

Yummmy!!!!

Wednesday Wants

I really want one of these

 for Kevin's flat. I think it would look totally unexpected and out of place in his Living Room. But Who cares? Of course I know Kevin probably won't like it. I just hope that when we eventually get our own place together, he will let me make my mark on "OUR" pad.

I've been wanting to get a baseball cap with The SD's logo for ages. Think I might just have to get one of these. Or maybe a cute lil Padres Tee. 

Then again there's a Trevor Hoffman (my all -time favourite Padre) 51 tee that I wouldn't mind getting my mitts on.

 A new hairstyle for Valentine's.

5 Little things

5 Little Things That Have Made me Happy this Week.

1) Getting a Text from Kevin, just a random text. I love it when he just sends me a text out of the blue. Least when I am not expecting it. 

I Love you Baby xxx

2) Going on the Wii and getting a Wii Fitness age of 33 and under. Having a decent work out on Your Shape and not feeling tired afterwards.

3) Finding Out that I am only needed to do one shift in my other job this week.



4) My favourite soccer team winning.



5) A new drama on channel 4 starring "Sex and the City's" , "Mr Big". I had seen this advertised and thought it looked good, sadly I missed the first episode on monday night!!!!!

Posted By Sara at Pink Banana

Charles de Gaulle - "The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs."

New Year Resolutions Update.

1) To eat more healthily and cook more. My mum's originally from the middle east and has always been a wonderful cook, I've learnt a few of her fantastic dishes that she's picked up from her mum and would like to cook more of these dishes myself.  Mum has just had carpal tunnel surgery, so as of Thursday I have had to do most of the cooking for myself, mum, dad and my brother. We had pasta with grilled vegetables and tomato last night. I feel so much better after eating something healthy,


2) To do something fun with Kevin every month. We don't get much time together as we still live with our parents and although Kevin is going to start looking for his own place, it would just be nice to do something fun every month, whether it be going to the pictures or just going somewhere different for a drink.  Once Kevin gets his own place, I think we will be able to watch more films and dvd's together. He's already been in touch with Calico and has applied for two flats. Let's just hope he gets lucky.

3) To do more with my camera. I have always been a big fan of photography and the last few years haven't done much with it so this year i am determined to get out and make the most of my camera.  I still haven't got round to this. Although I have been having some fun with an application called "Framed" on my Iphone.

6) To develop a fitness regime and workout everyday or every other day with Wii Your Shape. I am extremely proud of myself, and love Kevin for getting me this. I've already lost two and a half stones (35Lbs) just through eating healthily and using this, combined with my Wii Sports Fitness.  The weight loss suture I had done in November has also helped a lot.

7) To lose another stone before my birthday in April. I know this is a long way off, but I will do it.

9) Drink A LOT more water. Drink less soda and more Juices. Drink less alcohol. I usually take two bottles of water to work now and sip it through the day. I will be getting some more juice this week when we do the weekly shop. I can't drink a lot of orange juice though, so it will have to be apple juice. Now that Kevin and I only seem to be going out once a week, I'm not drinking half as much bacardi.

20 Questions 26/1/10

1. What's the last sporting event you watched?


That would be the game between Manchester United and Burnley two weeks ago.

2. The world could do without:

All this war and fighting in Afghanistan or wherever it is happening. Telemarketing, Rice Pudding.


3. What is the farthest you have ever been from home?

Australia.

4. What is your favorite kind of cereal?

I like all the Special K berries, yoghurty and Love coco pops!


5. Four sports teams you like:

Manchester United, (Burnley), Liverpool, San Diego Padres, Hawthorne Hawks.

6. What is it time for right now?

My coffee break at work.

7. You wake up and discover that it's a rainy, dreary day out. Does this affect your attitude at all or do you tend to stay happy no matter what the weather is doing?

The weather does affect my mood most of the time. If it's raining, dreary and damp, I tend to get a bit narky but other than that no.

8. What is the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

Chilling out, either with a good book and some music. Or watching soccer as long as it's Manchester United or Burnley, I'm happy.


9. What is your favorite appetizer?

Olives either stuffed with pimento, garlic. Any olives really.


10. Why did you pick the outfit you have on?

It wasn't really picked. More just thrown on this morning.


11. How sensitive are you to cool temperatures?

When the weather changes suddenly, I often find myself feeling much more lethargic in the winter months. But when the summer comes I seem to perk up.

12. What's your favorite blanket like?

My couch blanket is furry, brown and cosy warm. My other one is furry, brown leopard print. Whilst my other one I have had since I was a baby and it's fallen to bits.



13. Did you go to public school?

I went to a privately run kindergarten for a few weeks, then after that I went to local council run school, so I guess you could say I went to Public school.


14. Are you scared of bees?

I don't mind them, but when they start buzzing around and annoying me, then I get scared of them.



15. How many lurkers do you think you have that read your blog, but never comment? Have you ever been successful at getting them to say hello? Do you mind the lurking? Are you a lurker? Or do you try and comment every time you visit?

I think nearly everyone reads, lurks but never comments. maybe I just can't blog as well as you guys! Though I have one comment on a post from last year. I admit I do like to try and comment on blogs I like to follow especially if It's a post I like or it interests me.


16. Desktop or laptop?

I have both. My laptop I use mainly at home when I just want to do random stuff, such as letter writing, as it's rubbish at connecting to the internet right now. My desktop that I use at work.



17. What is your favorite kind of cheese?

Blue Stilton. Ok so it smells like sweaty feet but it's lovely.



18. What is the oldest thing you own?

My christening gifts. my parents were having their dining room decorated so they were clearing out their cupboard and that's when we found my christening cards and gifts. Oh and probably all the bits of decoration from my mum and dad's wedding.



19. How did your car get that little scratch/dent? (Because let’s face it, we ALL have car stories, right?)

I had been away on vacation, my brother was using my car for college as he didn't have his own car, I can honestly say that I came home and it had just miraculously appeared.



20. Which would you rather do: the dusting or the vacuuming?

vacuum. it's fast. it's easy. I don't mind the dusting.

Valentine's Day - Pink Banana Style

It's almost 2 weeks away. I love Valentine's day. It's perfect for showing the one special person in your life how much they really mean to you.

I Love this. Sooo sexy.

I'm hoping that I'll get treated to a nice romantic dinner somewhere. I'm hoping for nice new sexy lingerie and maybe a cute stuffed toy or maybe some pink champagne.

Pink Champagne - My Favourite Champagne!

I'd love to be taken away for the weekend, perhaps one day he'll whisk me off to Paris for a romantic weekend,  but I know that this year it probably won't happen as my wonderful Fiance is saving up for his house. So this time next year, we'll be able to spend Valentine's day snuggled up on his sofa rather than going out.

These are so cute. Especially the one reflecting in the water.

A few Monday quotes and inspiring pictures

A few quotes from the new tear off calendar from my desk at work.

"Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children". Think that one's a bit mean.

"For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe". This actually makes me laugh when I think about it.

"Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened." This one made me laugh again.