I have to do 2 hours of study so that I’m allowed to go on a date with him tonight to the movies.

Romantic huh?

I’m in the home straight of finishing the uni term, and it means I’m starting to cram. I have one assignment piece to finish, I have an online presentation that’s due on the 25th, and an exam next month to begin studying for. Annoyingly, the presentation that I’m doing on the 25th of May will be performed while I’m on holidays in Sydney visiting my sister. Could the timing have been any worse? The other time slots available I was either working (no chance of being able to get the afternoon off), in the air flying to Sydney, or in the air flying from Sydney. Thus, presenting it while in Sydney was the only option (thank you to my sister and to C for being so understanding, and working around my schedule).

I’m a few weeks behind so this week every spare moment will be dedicated to reading a text book or watching a uni lecture. Copious amounts of caffeine will be consumed as I stay awake reading or watching or writing. Focus and concentration skills will be under stress.

In a sickening sense, I’m actually kind of excited about it.

I’m excited to finally have found my motivation again. Excited about wanting to beat the deadlines and come out on top. Excited about learning again. All of this, combined with my desire to exercise again, shows that I’ve come through my recent slump and I’ve found my determination and will to succeed.

Thank god.

I’ve drawn myself a plan with day-by-day milestones and goals to achieve, and even allowed myself a “catch up day” in between just in case I have overestimated how much I can achieve each day, which is incredibly likely.

Time to stop blogging about it now, and time to get cracking.

After all, I really want to go on that date.

Ever had a partner use blackmail to make you do something you’ve been procrastinating over?

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I had tried to do this same one last year, but after planting the seeds I ended up splitting with my bf at the time, moved out, and never saw the pot again.

I wonder if it survived.

This year when I mentioned it to my beloved C, he was all for it. We decided we would buy a greenhouse (ensuring the dogs wouldn’t get to the plants), which we managed to find a great one at Aldi this week for only $50. Stoked!

Yesterday I picked it up from the store and put it together. Like a proud little munchkin I took pictures, and sent them to as many people as I could. This was the finished result:

It stands 1.98m tall

Once C got home from work and inspected my efforts, we set off to Bunnings to pick up some gear to fill it. We ended up with:

• Lettuce
• Coriander
• Chives
• Chillies
• Parsley

All of those I have full intentions of eating, minus the chillies. I’ll burn my mouth, and I’m not a fan of super spicy foods.

Where we have the greenhouse may change though, as at the moment it’s really only getting about 3 hours of full sun a day. It’s a warm area still, temps are mid 20′s during the day, but one of the herbs tends to prefer full sun. We’ll see how it goes after a week and reevaluate then.

Parsley, Jalapenos and Chives

The lettuce seedling trays

So stay tuned for progress shots as I attempt to grow some herbs. In about a month I believe we have to relocate them into bigger pots and whatnot so they have room to grow, woo exciting!

Have you ever grown any herbs before? Got any tips for me?

Related posts:

1. Project 365 (2011): 5/365 – The seeds have been planted

Now before you think that sounds like I’m some sort of pickpocket zoning in for the steal, I’m not. What caught my attention was the photo of the beautiful elderly lady smiling a huge, genuine smile. When my eyes followed to where he was sitting, I discovered the woman also sitting there; it appeared she was his wife. They were both in their 70′s at least, if not older. Put simply, they both just looked right together, and it made me wonder about the photo in his wallet.

Did he do it because he loves her? Because he’s proud? Or because it’s just the thing to do?

I don’t carry a photo of anyone in my wallet except myself – my drivers license.

I don’t have kids so I don’t have any school photos I can cut out and put in there. I could add a photo of C, or my dog, but somehow the effort of finding a picture, printing it out and then displaying it my wallet has just never occurred to me before. I know C doesn’t have anything of me in his either, but his dog is the background on his phone.

Does that mean phone wallpapers are the wallet photos of the 00′s and 10′s?

Do you have a photo in your wallet of a loved one? If so, why?

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Tonight C is out for a boy’s night for one of his friend’s birthdays, taking one of my housemates along with him. My other housemate is in Hawaii, which meant I got the entire house alone.

Oh yeah.

Alone.

STOKED.

Needless to say I have been living it up lazy style, with a bit of housework thrown in for good measure. After all, on his days off C does a lot around the house so I’m only too happy to do the same when I can.

Tonight my evening consisted of the following:

Lazy? Definitely. Enjoyable? Absolutely.

What’s your idea of an enjoyable night alone?

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This morning I dragged myself out of bed at 5.45am to get ready to go and meet a friend and a new trainer at Kawana beach. The plan is to get super fit again and prepare myself for the event I’ll be competing in next year called “Tough Mudder“, an obstacle course lasting approximately 19km. Put simply, I have about 12 – 16 months of torture ahead; it’s going to be great!

As much as I enjoy doing exercise, actually getting myself to go and do it is by far the hardest bit; sometimes the call of the couch is far too strong. So this morning when I woke up at stupid o’clock, getting out of bed was the last thing I wanted to do. Particularly when I had a snoozing C beside me looking so warm and comfortable. Alas, I’m one of those people that hates to let others down, so I grudgingly climbed out, got dressed and left. What greeted me at the beach was the stunning view you see above.

There was no time to feel cold and tired when I got to see that. Instantly I remembered how much I loved getting up early and going for a run, when the world is quiet and so beautiful. Instantly I looked forward to the training session.

Instantly I was glad I was getting back into this again.

What’s your reason for getting out of bed in the morning?

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1. I haven’t had much motivation for anything at all lately – uni, health or fitness. This needs to change.
2. Last night I went and saw Passenger in concert at the Hi-Fi bar, where we were even treated to a duet with Kate Miller Heidke and a marriage proposal! C and I went to the concert courtesy of my sister – she bought the tickets for my birthday back in February.
3. This coming Friday I will  be wearing a full length dress for the second time in just under 2 months…the same dress in fact. It’s my cousin’s wedding, and this time I will be sure to get photos of C and I that don’t include us being intoxicated. Something worthy of being published anyway.
4. Yesterday I went shopping with C to get some clothes for me during the winter period, and from memory it’s the first time that I’ve ever been clothes shopping with him to buy clothes for me (we’ve picked up stuff for him before). He earned himself about a thousand brownies, insisting on carrying the clothes I picked up, and also pointing out things that may look good on me, including some new sunnies. I actually didn’t drag him along at all, and he seemed to enjoy finding stuff that he thought would look good on me. I really truly have struck gold with this guy!
5. I’ve discovered that writing 10 things about what’s happened to me lately is a lot harder than I expected.
6. In the next few months I will be embarking on a new fitness regime that will include a few different boot camp groups with friends, and also even pole fitness! Yes, I’ve finally given in after being talked into it by friends, and I will be learning how to swing myself around a pole stripper style. I won’t, however, be doing this in a sexy way. I like to think of it as uncoordinated retard chic. Stay tuned for pictures of bruises.
7. I’m blogging when I should be finishing off a uni assignment, or vacuuming & mopping the house. I am clearly the best procrastinator on the planet.
8. I went to the roar grand final, and got incredibly emotional about the result. I LOVE the fact that we won, don’t get me wrong, but winning from a penalty was just cruel. I knew immediately that there was going to be a lot of controversy about whether it should have been a penalty or not. I became incredibly defensive about it, and I was going to write a blog post about the way people handled themselves about it, but I think it’s best to just let it be now. Either way, it was a bit eye opening about how ignorant and rude some people can be.
9. Our back deck at home is sinking. The real estate agent sent some workmen around the other day (we rent here) who discussed with us what work would need to be done. Basically, the fence would be pulled down, the deck pulled up, and a new massive concrete slab put in place before eventually retiling the deck. If that happens, the poor dogs are going to be cooped up in the front garden for a while, which will send them mental. I’d better prepare myself for a lot more exercise for them than usual as a result.
10. I’ve got two products that I’m reviewing at the moment, and they are pretty kick-ass. Some ingrown hair serum and deoderant. Did someone tell the blogging products company that I was embarking on some sort of hygienic make-over or something? I also scored a free eyelash tint the other day! Woo!

So that’s brought you pretty much up to date. Now just to get back into the habit of blogging regularly!

A friend and I (i'm on the left) at the grand final

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We all first met working in our first jobs when we were 15. We became quick friends, and stayed mates for several years before life eventually pulled us all away in different directions.

The one who I am surprising tonight has led an amazing life. A foreigner, she and her family had some major visa issues which forced them to have to leave the country about 5 years after they arrived. It wasn’t anything dodgy mind you. The community rallied around them, held protests, and in the end the Australian government sent my friend and her family to NZ while new residency was arranged. They returned to a lot of hugs and tears.

Power of the people.

Following that, she then decided to travel around this great country of ours to enjoy the place she could truly call home. It was then that she met a man, who I termed “her Swedish backpacker boyfriend”. Isn’t it most people’s dreams to meet an amazing Swedish man while backpacking, and fall in love? Note – I don’t know if he’s good at massages.

They married, and for work reasons now live in one of the southern states of Australia. We catch up online from time to time, but not as often as I would like in person. She has had quite an eventful life, and I think it’s for that reason she doesn’t take anything for granted. She’s an amazing woman.

So to see her tonight, and surprise her with my other friend from way back in our first job, I can’t wait. I think there might be tears tonight, or at least excited screams.

Life is wonderful sometimes, isn’t it?

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Right now you’re lazily spread out on the couch with a blanket over your feet. You’re slouched to the side in a position your Chiro would hate. But it’s comfy.

Your throat is sore, you sneezed as I typed this, and your eyes are hot. You just want to crawl into bed.

You have a big weekend. Tonight was meant to be a games night at a friend’s place, but you piked so that you could go to bed. Right now the couch seems like bed. Tomorrow you have a truckload of uni to get through before picking up a friend from the airport and having some friends over for a BBQ. Sunday is the big one.

Sunday is grand final day.

After a morning breakfast with family and an appointment to get your iPhone fixed, you will be forced to endure a delicious lunch and several beverages. Following that, you will head to Suncorp Stadium for the most important day of the A-League calendar, the grand final. Hopefully Brisbane Roar will win back-to-back, and body, you need to be prepared for a LOT of cheering. Your throat will be under stress, the adrenaline will be surging through your vessels.

Body, you have a big weekend ahead. Don’t get sick now…please?

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Perhaps it’s just there’s no tension, we are feeling good and we have spent some time appreciating each other. It’s like we are completely unrestricted in sharing our deepest/darkest thoughts; stuff that we had previously struggled to communicate with each other. It’s not only me by the way, he has been able to really open up and tell me stuff too. It’s actually a really wonderful bonding experience.

Maybe I should keep it in mind in case I ever need to discuss something to my advantage with him. For example:

*sexes it up*

Me: Babe, we need to talk.
C: Mmmhmmm
Me: I think I want to…

Ok clearly I suck at thinking of reasons to exploit him. I couldn’t even think of an example. Guess that’s a good thing right?

For obvious reasons there was no photo of either me or C associated with this post

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So I have let my hair down.

Yesterday I shared a box of chocolates with C and tonight I’m doing something crazy. I’m going to have some puffy dogs in tomato sauce.

TOMATO. SAUCE.

Giving up tomato sauce was hard for me in the beginning. I had it with eggs in the morning and quite frequently with dinner. Then all of a sudden nothing. No sauces.

I imagine my withdrawals again next week are going to be hell. But I’m prepared and I know what to expect this time. And even though I have had some chocolates and sweets, they don’t hold the allure they used to.

I’m enjoying the sugar for the moment but I look forward to cutting it out again.

How’s everyone else’s Easter travelling?

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Earlier in the week, I had been on the phone to my mother when she mentioned she would be meeting my aunty for morning tea/lunch at a nearby cafe my aunt had discovered. She invited me along, to which I graciously accepted.

When I woke up this morning, I was pleased to find it was an absolutely gorgeous day outside. I put some clothes on to wash, did a quick spot of weeding (the more serious effort comes tomorrow, but at least I’ve cleared the weeds from the back deck), and then cooked breakfast. I made myself some poached eggs on toast, which tasted as amazing as I hoped for. I have really nailed the poached eggs thing, leaving them for just enough time ensure the yolk is solid on the outside, but when you slice it open the yolk just oozes everywhere. Divine. Now I just need to nail hollendaise and I can make an eggs benedict.

Finally the time rolled around for me to leave to meet my family. After a cautious glance towards the darker clouds on the horizon, I decided it was such a nice day that I should ride my bike the short distance rather than drive . The clouds looked too far away for there to be any real threat of rain. As I rode along I was so thankful I had made that decision, as the roads were gridlock trying to get into Mooloolaba. It looked like everyone had planned on spending the morning at the beach.

I parked my bike at my aunt’s unit then we walked down to the cafe. It was AMAZING. I don’t know my design terms, so the best I can do is point you to the photo at the top. There was lots of wood with flecked paint, antique sewing machines, gardening tools and wrought iron everywhere, and the women were dressed like housewives of the 50s. Floral dresses, bright red lipstick, and immaculate hairdos. Even the barista had overalls and a french cap on his head. It’s the cafe with a culture that Mooloolaba has been pining for, and it’s hidden away and no one knows it’s there except for locals.

It’s a local’s paradise.

I had a coriander chicken baguette which I couldn’t finish despite my best efforts. It was fantastic. The coffee was of a great temperature and tasted incredible. The juice that I bought to wash everything down was recommended by the waitress, and the mix of pineapple juice, passionfruit, mint and something else was just superb.

It was so good that I’m going there tomorrow with C and my friends.

Good Saturday too perhaps?

Now because you’re reading my blog I will let you in on a secret. The place is called The Velo Project, and it’s currently a hit on Bean Hunter.

See you there?

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So this evening I set out to get a chunk of study done. On my list, I had videos to watch and pages and pages of text to read.

Instead I organised my social life.

One of the challenges on my list of 52 in 52 for 2012 is to visit a winery. So this evening I set about creating a facebook event for the trip, and invited a bloody long list of friends. To be honest I’d be shocked if there’s more than a carload of us. The place looks amazing though, and I really can’t wait to have some nice wines, enjoy the company of whatever friends do come, and look out over the range. Check out the place I plan on visiting – Flame Hill. How amazing does it look?

But back to the point of my post.

Typically, what comes after the creation of such an event on facebook is all the discussion about it, which was how I spent the following 15mins. Then I realised how much I had procrastinated, how productive the time actually was since I was working towards a goal, and then proceeded to blog about it.

Which leads me to now.

I’m still procrastinating, yet I’m productively procrastinating. Have I invented a new term?

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I got home yesterday to find that C had been hard at work with chores around the house. All the clothes had been washed (and folded by the time I got home from netball), lawn mowed, fence mended, hole in the garden from the dogs filled in, car washed after the beach trip on the weekend, and because i was late home from work he was entertaining my friend who came to visit.

All without complaining, or even my asking for anything to be done.

Goddamn I’m lucky.

**update**

I’ve now been informed there will be a pork roast waiting for me when I get home tonight!!

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1. What lays in waiting for C

Last night – netball, picking stuff up from one mate, dropping stuff off at another’s

Tonight – night at home (wee)

Wednesday – trivia with mates

Thursday – netball, games night at friends

Friday – Easter long weekend begins. Hooray.

Glad I got to spend a great weekend with C, and guess I should spend the time at home with him that I can.

What has everyone else got planned?

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1. Busy week ahead
2. A productive Saturday

I cannot wait.

It’s been ages since I have been to the beach, even longer since it was rainbow beach, longer again since I took a 4WD on the beach.

I cannot wait.

The weather is looking spectacular this morning. After weeks of dealing with rain (with small interludes of sun) I’m looking forward to being able to be outside enjoying the warmth. Coincidentally all recent beautiful sunshine days have all fallen on days where I’m working in the office. Yet not today my friend. The sun is shining, and the sand dunes at Rainbow Beach are going to be spectacular.

Can you tell I can’t wait?

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

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Today C gets home from camping, where he has been since Monday. I’ve missed him terribly while he has been away, so as a little surprise for him I decided to treat him a little.

I know from past experience that when I come home from camping the first thing I want to do is just shower. I want to stand in there for just 5mins with the water washing over me; hot water has never felt so good. Then I get on with the business of getting clean.

The next thing I look forward to is my bed. After sleeping on an air bed or thin mattress for a week, the feel of a proper mattress with clean sheets is simply amazing.

Thus when C gets home he will find the following:

The dog has been designed to have one ear down and one ear up, so it’s more like his dog in real life.

Hopefully he gets a laugh out of it, as well as a case of the warm fuzzies. After all, it took an hour to learn how to fold that dog!!

Have you ever done anything similar for your other half?

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In the 1.5 weeks preceeding last Saturday, I spent approximately 10 – 15mins with C alone. All other times he was entertaining a house guest, an old friend of his. They stayed up late at night together hanging out while I went to bed. When I rose the next morning to go to work C was asleep, so I wouldn’t see him until I got home that afternoon…when he was hanging out with our new house guest again.

To be fair, it wasn’t C’s fault. His friend is going through a rough patch at the moment and was very much in need of a friend. I was happy to have the friend here, and I never complained once. However, knowing that C would be away camping this week I did ask to make sure that I would get some alone time with him before he left. As it turned out the friend went home early Saturday morning, and I was lucky to get in some quality time with C over the course of Saturday and Sunday.

C arrives back home on Friday, less than 48 hours away now, and I can’t wait. Today I began planning a surprise for when he gets home (tweet 1, tweet 2) as I won’t be home until possibly 7 or 8pm Friday night due to a work function. During the course of talking to one of my other housemates (who in an unrelated story is now the recipient of a LOT of text messages from said house guest, although not quite a willing recipient mind you) I found out that said house guest will be back this Friday night.

The same day C gets home.

For fuck’s sake.

I don’t know if C knows if his mate is coming back again, as we’ve had limited conversation while he’s been away camping this week (reception is patchy). If he knows, I will have to tell him in the future that I would prefer if he kept me in the loop and told me when people were coming over. I would have also thought that C would let him know that we’re going away the following morning for the weekend, so probably not worth the visit. That may have been said, but the decision was made for him to still come, I don’t know. That’s the part I’m not liking much – not knowing.

I also don’t know if I’m being selfish or not. I understand that since I won’t get home until 7 or 8pm that night he has hours to kill socially, but as it’s my first day in seeing C since Monday I would really love to have that time alone. I also understand that we’re going away to spend the weekend together with some other friends, but that’s still not alone time. Plus it’s also not going to be the first time I will have seen him in nearly 5 days. Let me know if I’m being selfish or not, but if it’s the first time I’ve seen my boyfriend in 5 days then goddammit I want him to myself.

Now…feedback please. Am I being selfish? Is this something that I should be bringing up with C (something along the lines of “I actually didn’t want him here”). Should I just suck it up and put on a happy face when I get home on Friday? Should I bring it up with C via text before he gets home, just to find out if he knew (to be honest, I’m not a fan of the whole text messaging thing since C and I have a history of misinterpreting what the other says).

What would you do?

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1. It’s the small things
2. I moved house and I’m buggered

I had one of those two nights ago with regards to Uni. I have a lecturer to thank for that. She said a few choice words, then something clicked in my head.

I’m excited to study again. I’m excited for each lecture because I understand exactly what it is I’m looking to learn. I see the key points loud and clear.

I need to thank her and let her know that she got through to one person at least.

After all, everyone wants to know when they are doing a good job.

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1. Once again I leave it to the last minute

What I have NOT had is biscuits, lollies (other than a single chocolate eclair) or added sugar to drinks. I have days of sugar free, and it’s only when I allow myself a down day or weekend with a treat here and there that I actually have something sugary. Or a special occasion, like a hen’s party or wedding.

I’m damn proud of myself.

I was someone who had juice for breakfast, a treat with a coffee (with a teaspoon of sugar) for morning tea, a post-lunch sweet, and not the healthiest of dinners. I was addicted to sugar, and I’m proud to say I’ve kicked the habit.

Finally.

I still have the odd craving, particularly now when its approaching *that* time of the month (sorry – overshare). The difference is that I can recognize its a craving, and not a need. Thus I can ignore it.

I’ve dropped a few kilos without trying, and if I made more fine tuning to my diet and exercise I could easily drop more. However for this first month my aim was to ensure I wasn’t totally deprived of all treats for fear of a relapse. As a result I have rediscovered my love for cheeses, chips and dips, and general savory items.

Trust me when I say everything tastes more amazing.

I have also discovered how good coffee can be without sugar.

Honesty, I am SO glad for the likes of friends and books for I never would have been able to take this step. Let’s see how month 2 goes now.

Here goes nothing!

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1. Sugar free grocery shopping, oh my!
2. One week sugar free
3. The withdrawals are well and truly here

OH YEAH! BACHELORETTE UNTIL FRIDAY!!

Now usually that would mean lots of girls nights, partying in our underwear having pillow fights, and general mayhem.

Or in Kelsbells land, that just means that I will be able to study for hours on end every night and not feel like I’m neglecting my other half.

Oh yeah. I’m hardcore.

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