Mono-tasking in the Kitchen

In a move which will horrify the team at Unclutterer I think it is time to highlight all those fabulous items we could have in the home that serve only ONE PURPOSE. Especially those that are large and difficult to store.

Mono-tasker #1: The Cupcake Stand


An essential item for anyone buying into the current cupcake craze. This little beauty is a steal at $35.95 and can be bought from My Little Cupcake in Neutral Bay, Sydney.

Will store beautifully in any purpose-built cupboard.

However, Fairlie pointed out to me that it could also be used to store onions...so maybe not a true mono-tasker?

The Tale of Two Cakes, One Party and a Lost Tooth

KelpieBlossom turns 9 today and the floor of her room is covered in gifts. There are so many gifts, in fact, that she feels concerned that her dad didn't have as many gifts on his recent significant, large number, birthday. However, this is what happens when you invite 15 friends to an indoor climbing party.

So what's popular with your average 9 year old girl? From her present pile I would guess: notebooks, monkey themed pjs, 3/4 leggings, books, DVD DanceTwister, art materials, the label maker, clothes (but only if purchased by a favorite aunt), monkey themed knickers (!) and anything cat-themed. And anything wrapped in "cuuuuuute" paper.

Yesterday, we had the aforementioned party an indoor climbing place nearby. Fifteen crazy boys and girls did this:


Then they descended like ravenous locusts onto the party food and demolished these cupcakes

grabbed their party bags and headed home.

Padawan Learner left one thing behind - his front tooth. His story is that he accidentally hit his mouth while he was climbing and it fell out. I'm thinking he needed a cash injection to his pocket money supplies and thought that appealling to the tooth fairy was easier than making his bed each morning.

This evening we are planning a roast lamb dinner with all the trimmings and yet another cupcake "cake":

After which we will all need a week to recover from the sugar high.

Happy 9th Birthday KelpieBlossom!

If I didn't have to do my assignment...

If I wasn't such a dedicated student I would be at the Sydney Writers' Festival. If I was more of a recalcitrant I would've gone to see

Sophie Gee talk about her new book The Rape of the Lock in a session called Plundering History.

Richard E Grant in conversation with Jennifer Byrne.

PLUS

The Future of English; William Dalrymple in conversation with Christopher Kremmer; The Writers Life: Don Watson; Ayaan Hirsi Ali in Conversation; Lionel Shriver in Conversation and Laugh Out Loud. And that's without really looking that hard. Next year I've resolved to go to both the Sydney and Melbourne Writers'/Writer's Festivals.

But, alas, right now I am sitting at home avoiding my assignment in other countless ways - like writing to this blog.

Only 10 days to go until I finish....

Happy Birthday RJQEW

Happy 35th Birthday to You

Happy 35th Birthday to You

Happy 35th Birthday dear Uncle RJQEW

Happy 35th Birthday to You!

Introducing "Firegazer"

Thank you to all of you who suggested a new alias for Husband No. 1. We loved the secret agent theme. However, for an alias one has to peer deep into the psyche of the person concerned. So Husband No. 1's new alias is:

Firegazer /'faie,geize/ n. 1. (hist.) Caveman who came back to cave after slaying beast and stared at fire all night. 2. (mod.) Man who comes home after slaying companies to stare at Plasma.