Sunday: part deux

Following on from this morning's post, Mr Kitty and I went to Rhodes Phoenix for some Yum Cha goodness. We had vegetarian dumplings, steamed chinese veges with oyster sauce, glutinous rice rolls with pork and TWO serves of pork buns. Because I love them so much.

Then off to Ikea where I bought a whisk, some coat hangers, some jam for Mr Kitty and a toilet brush. My life is that exciting.

We also saw Invictus - which I have to say I enjoyed, but take Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon out and it's a made for TV movie. Sorry Clint Eastwood. I liked it but it was a tad hokey for me.

Now That I am back at home I can post the recipes I made yesterday:

Apple, cranberry and almond loaf



50 g rolled oats
300 ml Milk
240 g Self Raising Flour you can use wholemeal
1 teaspoon Baking powder
125 g Craisins or dried cranberries (the original recipe calls for dried cherries but I couldn't find any so substituted these and they were very good)
50 g diced dried apple
3 tablespoons apple juice (preferably fresh)
75 g soft brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
3 tablespoons Honey
1 lightly beaten Egg
3 tablespoons roughly chopped Almonds plus 2 tablespoons extra

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/Gas 4). Lightly grease and line a 1 kg (2 lb 4 oz) loaf tin with baking paper. Put the oats in a bowl, pour the milk over them and leave to soak for 30 minutes. Place diced apple into a bowl and pour over apple juice. Leave to soak for 30 minutes.

Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl and stir in the rolled oats, dried fruit, sugar, cinnamon, honey, egg and almonds. Drain the juice from the apple and add the apple to the mix. Mix together well.

Spoon the mixture into the tin, level the top and sprinkle with the extra almonds. Bake the loaf for 45 minutes, or until it is golden brown on top and cooked through. Leave it to cool a little in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Toast and serve with ricotta and honey.

Recipe from Every Day by Bill Granger, published by Murdoch Books, Adapted by Miss Kitty.

Mr Kitty loved this loaf. It's not too sweet, not too healthy tasting. It's just right...

Choc-chip toffee drop cookies

250 g butter or margarine, softened
200 g caster sugar
180 g light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
400g all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
3/4 cup HEATH BITS 'O BRICKLE Toffee Bits and 1 cup semi-sweet mini chips. Or any choc chips you like.

Heat oven to 180 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets or pans. Beat butter, caster sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in large bowl until blended. Add eggs; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in brickle and choc chips. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheet.

Bake 8 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly. About 6 dozen softly textured cookies.

Recipe from Hershey's. Adapted and converted to Australian measurements by Miss Kitty. Hershey's toffee and mini chips are available from USA Foods in Melbourne.

I'm happy to post the lamb tagine recipe as well if people want it. It was actually very good. I will be making it again.

Kitty xxx

Sunday...

Is supposed to be the laziest day of the week! Not for the Kitties!

This morning we are off for Yum Cha (BBQ Pork buns!!!) and Ikea and we'll try and squeeze a movie in as well.

Yesterday was a cooking day. I made 6 dozen butterscotch and choc chip cookies, an almond, cranberry, oat and dried apple loaf (for Mr Kitty) and a sensational Lamb Tagine for dinner. I'll post the recipes for the loaf and the cookies (and hopefully the review of the movie) when I get home!

Kitty xxx

Awwwww....

Kitty Love!

Kitty xx

Le Weekend - again!

I love these three day weeks. They make the weekend come around so fast.

I don't have huge plans for this weekend. I want to see Invictus with Mr Kitty, spend some time chasing the kitties and I might bake some cookies. I feel the need to get creative in the kitchen this weekend!

Last weekend's efforts went down a treat. If you remember I made the NQN/Martha caramel cake. I brought about 2/3 of it into the office on Wednesday so I wouldn't eat any more. It was sensational. Fabulous. Wonderful. Two thumbs up. Everyone in the office loved it. It was very soft and moist with a tender crumb. And the icing is so good it defies description.



But it did take a long time. There were quite a few steps involved. Cooling things down before I could use them (caramel syrup and browned butter for the icing for example). And the return on investment (time/energy vs. WOW factor) isn't as great as some of the other cakes I have baked more recently. But it was worth the effort.



Kitty xx

Jump on the bandwagon, people!

So the lovely Faux Fuchsia is on a mission to gather 300 followers to her lovely blog by next week. If you don't already follow her fantastic adventures, I suggest you take a look.

She is a Brisbane based blogger who Endorses Good Grooming, Glamour, Blowdried Hair, Dresses, Barbie Nostalgia, Decorating, Cooking and Entertaining, Gardening, Decluttering and Unchipped Nail Polish. She is marvellously witty and I look forward to her daily musings!

Run, don't walk people!

Kitty xx

Birthdays

So usually I get really excited about my birthday. I issue people with gift lists, I plan my own special dinner at a fancy restaurant, and I look forward to the event for many weeks prior (count downs have been known to occur).

Not this year.

You see, this year I am turning 34.

Up until this week I had been too busy to really think about it, but it dawned on me as I was sitting on the bus yesterday morning that 34 is just one birthday from 35. 35 for me is a bit of a milestone age. I had such dreams when I was younger and I thought I would have achieved an awful lot by the time I reached this age. Boxes to tick, so to speak. I thought I'd be married with a family and a fulfilling career. I thought I'd have my own house, a dog, a hobby and be involved in my community. I'd travel, write books in my spare time and have a holiday house somewhere.

Of that list:

* I am married (yay for a tick!)
* No kids
* No fulfilling career. I have a job but it's not really what I want to do long term. In fact, I'm fairly certain it's killing me. Slowly.
* Our house is waiting to be knocked down. Well, I am waiting, at any rate. A long time. A new house is two years away at best guess
* No dog, but two fab cats (who both play fetch which is dog-like) so I am calling that a tick
* No hobbies unless you count shopping and eating, which I don't because one is destructive for my bank balance, the other for my waistline.
* I am not involved in the community at all (revert to point three - the commute from the house I hate to the job I loathe means I have almost no spare time during the week and weekends are spent shopping and eating).
* We do travel a fair amount - usually 2-3 trips a year, so that's a tick
* No book. Not even a chapter. Fail.
* Shit - I don't even have one house let alone two...

Let's tally up the results people: three ticks. Three measly ticks out of ten things. I'm married, I have dog-like cats and I travel. Occasionally.

Wow. When I think about it like that it makes me a little bit sad. I wonder that if I haven't achieved more of the above, it's because I have been wasting my time on things that really don't matter.

The struggle with my birthday and age and things accomplished thus far links to a bigger issue for me which I have been grappling with over the last few months - my mini-mid-life-crisis, for want of a better name.

I hate my job and have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. For me, 34 is grown up. I should have decided by now (or at least be doing something I like). Not only that, I should be well down the road of achieving my goals and aspirations. But I am not - I am stuck in a job where people really don't appreciate me. My talents, such as they are, are being wasted. I feel like I have spent 2009 treading water. Our year was consumed by our desire to try and have a baby, Mr Kitty's incremental changes to our house plans that are still not finished and me sticking it out at a job I can't stand because I don't know what it is I do want to do.

Well, no more people.

Rather than feeling sorry for myself and spending 20Ten repeating 2009 (which could so easily happen), I have decided to make a few changes in my life.

Stay tuned for announcements. Although decisions have been made, it's still to early to post specifics, but in general terms I am going to start putting myself first. Not some company, not other people, me. For a change. I am going to do things that make me happy. And I am going to get a goddamn hobby!

As a wise friend said to em this morning - sometimes you just have to have the courage to step off the cliff and hope that there is something better for you at the bottom.

Let's see how much more I have ticked off my list when I actually turn 35. Despite whatever the Chinese say about it being the Year of the Tiger, 20Ten is going to be the year of the Kitty!

Oh, and for those who are interested, I have tried to get a bit more excited about my actual birthday next week. We've booked dinner at a nice restaurant and Mr Kitty has been buying up a storm. Stay tuned.

Kitty

Le Weekend...

What with all the kittie love going on here, I can't believe it's already the last day of the weekend!

So, what have we been up to?

We've spent most of our time trying to stop Max from eating Millie. And Millie from smothering Max with licks and kittie love. But they seem to get on okay now - the true test will be tonight when we make them sleep in the same room for the first time. Hopefully the screeching won't keep us awake for too long...

(Millie is a howler. She is the most vocal cat I have ever met. She said more in the first 12 hours than Max has said in his entire life. But then again, she is a girl...)

Other than that, we...

* Saw Up in the Air which was great. It's been quite a while since a movie has made me think that much about my life and what makes me happy. If you haven't seen it, put it on your list.

* Took a food trip around Sydney: Yesterday we managed to get to Haberfield (for good Italian deli yumminess), Adriano Zumbo for the Masterchef chocolate mousse cake (which really is all that) and some macarons, the Sydney Fish Markets for some fresh tuna and scallops for Mr Kitty, Northbridge to potter through the Japanese supermarket (we bought panko crumbs and frozen edamame) and finally Dan Murphys at Willoughby for some Innocent Bystander Moscato. A fab drink for a hot summer's day - and so inexpensive at $10 for a half bottle which is just enough to keep Mr Kitty and I happy.

Today I am going to attempt a baking spectacular. Based on this NQN recipe, and a recent episode of Martha Stewart where she interviewed Maya Angelou whilst making this cake, I am going to attempt to make a caramel cake with brown butter/caramel icing. They are essentially the same recipe but I won't be putting cardamon in mine. I'm a purist.

Will report back!

Kitty xx

First night with the furbaby.

Last night was our first night with Millie at home. She is extremely vocal. Lots of Miaowing and jumping and playing... I forgt that this is what a kitten is like!

She eats well and slept like a trooper and is now telling us she wants to come out and play. She's a handful alright!

Here are some more pictures of the bubba. She's too photogenic for words!


And here's one to keep the Max fans happy. He wasn't too impressed with the noise!



Kitty xx

Things I would like: Homewares

For those of you who don't know, Mr Kitty and I are about to knock down our house and rebuild. When I say "knock down" I really do mean knock down - it's start again, from the beginning, from scratch. The definition of "about to" is somewhat more elastic. We've been planning this for almost 3 years. Mr Kitty takes to things slowly. It's a process. A long one, apparently.

As a consequence, I have put off buying anything for the house. I haven't bought much in a very long time and it's killing me. I'm in a real nesting phase and not being able to buy stuff (or even re-decorate our current home) is really cramping my style wings.

I'd say my style is "classic modern". I'm not minimalist - I'm still too eclectic - but I'm not traditional. I love Cape Cod style homes and the warmth they seem to exude so when it comes to decorating our home I want to include some of the principles I see in homes I like. Texture. Movement. Complementary colours. Shading.

Despite not being able to purchase much, I do still have a list of things that I want. That I covet. That I know would make my life more complete.

When I have my nice new kitchen, I would like this, for example:

It's a beautiful new pistachio Kitchenaid. Fabulous, no? I am so sick of using our 30+ year old hand-me-down Kenwood Chef that rattles like it's going to die in a chocolate battered fit every time I make something. I can't wait for the time when I can whip up a batch of cupcakes and not have to catch the mixer as it falls of the bench.

Another thing I am coveting is this teapot:
It's a Limoges Legle Parma Teapot. I have bits and pieces from the tea set already but I really really want the teapot... In mauve. Please.

I also adore modern china and have managed to collect quite a lot from Jenggala over the past few years. It's all white/cream and looks spectacular and many of the items we have purchased are one off pieces. But recently I was introduced to an Australian manufacturer and I have started coveting some of their highly individual pieces, like this:


It's from the fabulous Have you Met Miss Jones who makes some spectacular decorative items. I can just see this in my new (imaginary) home with a stem or two of phalaenopsis orchids in it. Divine. There are many things from that range that I covet - they are all so interesting and cute.

For our dining room I am also very fond of the Philippe Stark designed Kartell Ghost chairs. I think they are FAB. Mr Kitty not so much. I may have to used my superior stills of negotiation and persuasion to get these in the door, but I will try my hardest!

And there are many more things on my list. But I won't bore you with them just now. Save them for later!

Kitty xx

Things that make me smile.

After spending the last 5 days or so being a bit cranky and feeling quite sorry for myself, I have decided to make a list of the things that make me smile to try and get me out of the doldrums.

Mr Kitty. Even though he does annoying things sometimes (like not making a decision about our accommodation for upcoming holidays), he's also been very sweet while I have been less than well. He even washed my car windows this morning so I could see out of them to drive to work. Awww.

Max. This morning we had a super long cuddle in bed and he was very purry. He's a very cool cat when he lets himself show affection.

Cheesymite. God love the stuff. I don't care what they call it - it will always be cheesymite to me.

Cups of Organic Ginger and Lemongrass T2 tea in my Limoges tea cup. The tradition and ritual of tea is something I always find very soothing. It's my birthday in 2 weeks and I hope to get a few additions to my set!

The AAMI ad on TV at the moment. I don't know why but it makes me smile every time I see it. It's just very clever.

I made a decision this morning that I am going to try and think more positively about the future. This past year has been a bit up and down for us and I am determined to try and be happier and more positive in 2010. And no-one else can do it for me - it's up to me.

Kitty x

Operation...

Last Friday I had an operation. It was described to me as "minor surgery" but to someone who has never had any kind of surgery, broken bone or stitch I should have realised that even minor surgery is pretty major in the scheme of things. Dumb huh?

For those of you who don't know, Mr Kitty and I have been trying to have a baby kitten for the last 12 months - with no success. We have had shedloads of tests (just call me the human pincushion) and both of us have come up fine. No issues to speak of. Friday's extravaganza was an exploratory proceedure to discover if there was anything impeding pregnancy - like blocked tubes or a missing uterus. I had 4 procedures while I was under my first ever general anesthetic - a laparoscopy, a hydroscopy, a HyCoSy and a D&C. All of which you can look up on the interwebs if you so choose. It was day surgery so I was home on Friday afternoon with my supply of panadeine forte and instructions to take it easy for a few days.

The upshot is that there is nothing wrong with me. The results of the procedures were totally normal. I guess it's a relief in some senses but we are now no closer than we were on Friday to finding out what is stopping us from getting pregnant. Frustrating. Except I now have three scars and some very painful stitches to contend with.

I don't know whether to be happy or sad. It's one of the hardest things about not having a baby. The emotion is so real and heartbreaking. And sometimes very hard for other people to understand how hard it really is.

Kitty

Sorry for the lack of posting...

But have been freakishly busy this past week and had to have an operation yesterday so haven't been feeling the best. And no-one wants to hear about how I spent the last two days in bed in my pyjamas. Just eating rice pudding. For real.

Promise to post soon. Maybe tomorrow!

Kitty xx

It wasn't me...

I didn't do it... Honest.

And this is absolutely my chair. What do you mean you were sitting in it before? No you weren't. I've been sitting here for aaaaages. It's mine.

Love him. Every single little last hair on his head. And all the hair on the basket of nice clean clothes he slept in yesterday too.

Kitty xx

John Hardy

One of my favourite places in the world is Bali. It’s such a stunning island – the people are lovely, the food is amazing, the shopping is great and I always have a wonderful relaxing time when I go there.

One of my favourite jewellers of all time lives and works in Bali. John Hardy – a Canadian ex-pat – creates beautiful jewellery taking inspiration from the natural surroundings of the island. He uses plants, animals, stones and birds as the basis for his amazing jewellery.

I am a lucky girl – Mr Kitty bought me a beautiful limited edition John Hardy necklace for our 5^th anniversary last year. It’s a stunner. The thing I like most about his jewellery is that it’s practical for everyday and that he support the local Balinese community through manufacturing on the island.

If you do get to Bali, I’d highly recommend visiting the workshop and display room. It’s not far from Ubud and the entire structure is made from bamboo, grown locally by Hardy and his team. In fact, many of the items for sale at the studio fund the regeneration of the island so when you purchase a Hardy piece, not only do you get a beautifully crafted item, you are also helping to save the planet. What could be better than that? Next on my list of purchases is the above beautiful bamboo silver bangle, the purchase of which will fund the planting of 10 bamboo trees.

For those not able to get all the way to Bali, John Hardy’s designs are available at Nordstroms, Neiman Marcus, Net-A-Porter and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Kitty

Millie

This is our new baby Millie. She is almost 8 weeks old. We went to visit her today and she is a tiny bundle of energy and laughs. She's a Blue Tortoiseshell Burmese, and we are getting her from the same breeder we got Max - the wonderful and amazing Melanie Martin.

Max is going to lose his shit when he meets her. He is so used to being King of the House and All He Surveys. She's coming over for a visit next Sunday for a couple of hours and I can guarantee there will be carnage. It will not be pretty. Ce'st la vie.

Lucky he's a sweetie at heart and will most likely fall in love with her - just as we have. After chucking the most massive tantrum imaginable of course. Because that's the way we do things.

Kitty xx

I die.

This post is about one of the funniest people I know: Rachel Zoe.

She is hilarious - one of my favourite comediennes of all time. Better than Lucille Ball. I cannot watch an episode of The Rachel Zoe Project without collapsing in a pile of giggles.

In all seriousness, I really did think that The Rachel Zoe Project was a joke when I first saw it. "No-one could be THAT over the top," I remember saying. But it wasn't, and she is.

Her show is like crack - it's compulsive viewing. I'll spend the entire day watching segments downloaded from Youtube. Awesome. Lucky Foxtel subscribers can watch her on Arena.

People can be unfair and cruel about Rachel Zoe. Someone once said she looked like a cross between a ferret and a twiglet, but I don't think so. My problem with her is that I don't particularly like her style. I'm really not into Boho-chic. It's an Oxymoron. I'm (way way) more minimalist in my style than she. More 1940's, 50's and 60's. Classic. Coco Chanel once said "before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off." Given her adoration of all things Chanel, I think Rachel might want to think about that before she leaves her house. It's advice from La Coco after all.

Having said that, there is a difference between her style and the styles she puts together for her clients. Most of the time I look at them and think "Wow. So beautiful. Good stuff."

Some of the things I find funniest about Rachel Zoe are her quirky Rachel-isms. Some of my favourites include "I DIE!!" (said pretty much all the time - to the point where I sometimes say "Would you?" in response), "Ba-nanas!" (I think this is supposed to mean something is awesome or fabulously funky), and "Shut Up!" (usually said in response to someone who says something outrageous - not literally meaning for them to shut up).

There is no denying that Rachel is a gifted and passionate stylist. And - that despite my not having a love for Boho-Chic, there are some similarities between us.

1. We both have a deep passion for leopard (pronounced Leo-pard, in the Rachel way): clothing, accessories, anything.
2. We both like accessories - particularly bags and shoes
3. ...um...

I guess that's where the similarities kinda stop. Maybe I'm not as like her as I thought. I'm 5 foot 8 inches tall, she's 5 even; I'm curvaceous, she's the size of one of my arms; I love food and I don't think I have ever seen her eat; she's blonde and tanned, I'm... not.

But that doesn't mean I can't love her for being what she is: A funny, fabulous fashionista. Is she my idol? No, but she's a feisty fantastic lady. And I can't wait for the next season of The Rachel Zoe Project (fingers crossed).

Kitty xx

And now for a brief commercial break...

Are these not sensational? Totally uber cool. I love Louboutins and have 5 pairs. They are wonderful - second only to my beloved collection of Miu Mius. More about that later.

These shoesies are Ridiculously Expensive but a must have for those who didn't completely blow their Christmas budget - so that counts me out. Available at Net A Porter, but they won't last long... Start typing now!

Kitty

Faves and Fails...

Taking inspiration from one of my favourite blogs, I thought I'd start up a semi-regular post about things that are favourites of mine and things that just don't work for me.

Faves:

* Eve Lom: I started using Eve Lom products about 4 months ago when I stumbled across them in Space NK in London. I had read about them in numerous glossy magazines but couldn't believe they were really all that. I was wrong. They really are the shizz - never has my skin been as smooth or as radiant as when I use her products. I am currently using the best ever cleanser (it really really is that good - but it is so rich I only use it twice a week), the muslins, the TLC Radiance Cream and the TLC Cream (again very rich so only use it a few times a week - usually after the cleanser). All are fabulous. You can't buy them in Australia (as far as I have found) but by all reports it's cheapest to buy them from the Eve Lom website and have them shipped. International shiping is flat rate of 15 pounds per order. Stock up.
* Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SP 30+: As a grown up, I think it's super important to wear sunscreen all year round. It does make you look younger in the long run by protecting against sun damage and you are less likely to die form skin cancer and all those nasty things. My skin normally rebels vociferously against sunscreen however (spots pimples and blackheads galore), so it was an absolute godsend to find this one. It's light, doesn't give you that ghostly effect that so many others seem to, it doesn't clog pores and a little goes a very very long way. The expense is worth it.
* Korres Rice Bran Mascara: OMG - this stuff is the best. A long time user of DiorShow, I can't believe how the Korres Mascara lengthens and separates my eyelashes. And it makes them GROW. It was given to me as a gift from a beautiful friend and I use it every day. It's fabulous.
* Dorothy Perkins: Cheap, cheerful and on trend, this UK chain has wonderful customer service, good quality clothing and reasonable international shipping. What more could you want (other than dresses that are slightly longer to fit my 175cm body)?
* The Outnet: The spunky little sister of Net A Porter, this fashion outlet is wonderful for us Aussies who are a season behind the US and the UK. Next season's clothes at sale prices? Who can resist?
* Freya lingerie: For those of us who are more than well-endowed, fashionable, supportive lingerie is often hard to find. My pick of the moment is Freya - I have four of their bras and they are amazing - they hold their shape, they give beautiful lines under clothes and they don't give you the horrible 4-boob look... Available at select Myer stores or from Bravissimo. It's cheaper there for sure, if you know what size you are.

Fails:
* Online Stores that charge too much for shipping. Mimco, I am specifically looking at you. There is no way it costs $20 to ship a pair of earrings anywhere in Australia. You should be ashamed. Get with the program.
* People who stop in the middle of the pavement to answer their phone calls. If you stop I am going to run into you and I won't apologise. It's not my fault - it's yours. Deal.
*Books: I love love love books. I devour them like they are boxes of very expensive chocolates. But why do they have to be so expensive? They aren't this expensive in the UK or the US and don't use that crappy argument about economies of scale. It's pathetic. Ditto this rant and apply it to CDs as well.
* People who don't put their dishes in the dishwasher: This specifically applies to work colleagues. I didn't realise I work with people who are such piglets. Is it really that hard to put your plate and your fork in the dishwasher? Or do you honestly think that other people who work with you are your slaves who should pick up after you?

So what makes you fizzle with excitement or stomp your feet with rage?

Kitty xxx

Won't someone give the girl a coke??

This detox thing is harder than I anticipated.

So, day two without caffeine/sugar/alcohol/white carbs and I think I am turning into a heinous bitch. It's really day three, but I accidentally had a coffee on the first day so I have only technically been caffeine free for two days. Blaaaah. It feels like weeks.

The "no sugar thing" is what is killing me. I can live without all the other stuff but I have a real habitual sugar consumption - at 3pm and after dinner. I need it. Always. No buts. And I can't even try and appease it with a coffee because I'm not allowed that. Peppermint tea doesn't cut it. Seriously.

So, if you hadn't guessed, all this "detoxing" is leaving me a bit cranky. Am spending a lot of time barking at people. And I'm not making my life any easier by spending all of my free time reading food blogs. Sucker for punishment, moi? I can't wait for the end of the first two weeks when I can have something yum to eat. Preferably a milo sandwich washed down by a coke.

In the meantime, I have been trying to satisfy my sweet tooth with the occasional Larabar. Last night it was a Coconut cream pie larabar. Am also particularly partial to the odd Chocolare Coconut, Cinnamon roll and Peanut Butter Cookie bars. If you haven't tried them, they are wonderful. Truly marvellous - no added sugar, all natural, gluten free, awesome.

Fingers crossed I don't replace my sugar addiction with my larabar one!

Kitty xx

Maximus Cattus

Meet my baby. His name is Max and he's a chocolate Burmese. After Mr Kitty he is the love of my life (but only because he bites - Max, not Mr Kitty - and don't tell Mr Kitty that I love Max more than him or he might make me do the cleaning).

Max is 10 months old and as cute as a button, as mad as a cut snake and as bossy as... a very bossy person. Maybe Hermione from Harry Potter. She's very bossy.

Max rules our house, our lives and our hearts. He is a very special cat.

One of the things that makes him special is his love of water. He likes to get in the shower with me (but not Mr Kitty as he splashes too much) and get all wet. Part of me thinks it's pretty cute. Another part of me thinks it's a little creepy and weird. But he seems to love it - so who am I to take away his fun, just because it weirds me out?

Anyway, Max is about to go from being an only child to a big brother. Millie arrives at the end of January (she's a blue tortie Burmese) and isn't that going to rock his world?!

Oh chocolate how I love thee, let me count the ways!

Or rather loved. Past tense. RIP.

So part of my new years resolution list was to be kinder to myself. If you extrapolate that out, and twist it around a bit and go around the corner, I’m trying to cut down on eating and drinking things that are not good for me. Ergo – I have decided to do a Kitty-detox in January. Cruel to be kind. Tough love, natch. Makes sense in my brain.

I have spent the last two weeks indulging in anything I want (Doritos for breakfast, plum pudding sandwiches, you get the drift) and I have really started to feel the effects. Or rather, feel my expanding waistline. With that in mind, I will be eliminating, such that I can, the following foods (and drinks) from my diet for the remainder of the month:

Alcohol. I’m fairly certain Fosters won’t go under but perhaps I should ring them just to let them know. What do you think?

Sticky soft drink (including diet drinks). See above, but replace Fosters with Coca Cola.

Caffeine. I know. Poor people that have to work with me.

Refined white carbohydrates (and all simple carbs at dinner, but not complex carbs in the form of veges etc.) – will break this when I have Japanese unfortunately, but my favourite Japanese Restaurant doesn’t do brown rice. It’ll be a treat.

Sugar. Egad. Breathe.

Coupled with the detox, I will also be stepping up the physical activity. I mean, strolling from the couch to the fridge is a start and at the moment, worthy of applause given my current activity levels, but it’s not doing a heck of a lot for my toosh. I want to lose a significant amount of weight before a team trip to a tropical destination in February and the only way I’ll be able to do it and get healthier is less crap, more move.

Sounds simple, no? Will keep you updated. In the meantime, I'm off to eat cottage cheese on rice cakes. Yum.

Kitty xx

Shopping, food and other such addictions...

The reality of life is that we all have things we love to do. Shopping, food, eating and reading are just some of mine.

I don't really have hobbies, as such - no macrame or crochet or underwater basket weaving for me. More things I like to do in my spare time - of which I increasingly have very little.

You see, I work at a very hectic and important job for a very large and busy company. A job that leaves me with little spare time other than on the weekends. I commute long distances each day to the aforementioned busy and important place of work. In the interests of privacy (being the world wide web and all) I decline to name aforementioned organisation. Things I might say may or may not get me into trouble, and besides, this is about me for once and not them.

The reality is that I don't like my job anymore and will spend the first half or so of 2010 trying to do something about it. But more about that later and back to the original premise of this post.

Without crochet and underwater basket weaving, I am left with limited ways to fill my weekends. Although not as often as I used to, I tend to spend them cooking and shopping and going to the movies.

Actually, now I think about it, I don't go to the movies all that often. Maybe 10 times a year. So it's not really something I do all the time now is it? Which leaves shopping and cooking. Both of which I seem to devote large quantities of time and energy to doing.

This post will be focused on my love of shopping.

I love to shop. There is no other way to describe it. I will stroll the aisles of a supermarket just for something to do. I'll pop down to David Jones at lunchtime just to visit the shoes. I'll breeze around the racks at Belinda, Cue, Witchery, Mimco and Ojay just to see if there is anything new in stock. Sales assistants know me by name and put things aside for me they think I might like. I feel sorry for people who live in places where the shopping is bad (say Omaha Nebraska). I love to shop so much that it really is becoming an addiction...

I did consider banning myself from shopping as another new years resolution but realised oh too quickly that it would be an impossible resolution to keep. Case in point - yesterday we went to Chatswood for dumplings (New Shanghai dumpling restaurant in Lemon Grove - if you haven't been already you must go. Run - don't walk). On the way back to the car I bought:

* 2 books at Borders
* 2 black dresses from Jane Lamerton at Myer (only one of which was on sale - the shame)...
* A black silk kaftany type top from Myers, also - ahem - not on sale but will be perfect for upcoming trips to Thailand and Mexico (TBC)
* A dress from Katies - in my defense, your honour it was ridiculously on sale and a very pretty colour (cobalt blue) and it is a jersey maxi so very flattering and most importantly of all it was a MEDIUM and covers the thighs of doom beautifully...

Ahem.

Another thing to note - as above I am very good at justifying my purchases. To myself, others and most importantly, Mr Kitty. Is that not a sign of addiction? Justification for doing something you know is wrong?

The only downside of shopping is that is has a rather impactful presence on my bank balance. And on the spare space in my cupboard. Of which - at the moment - there is none. Hmmmm. Something to learn from this perhaps....

Kitty xxx

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life - it's a new blog!

Like many people this year, I will make and break my new years resolutions. Actually, if I am being honest, I can't remember a year where I have actually remembered them past the beginning of February. They are usually to specific - lose specific amount of weight, get new job, stop buying clothes... And none of them are particularly realistic or achievable (i.e. I am never going to stop buying clothes).

So this year I plan to have more realistic resolutions. My draft list thus far includes:

1. Be kinder to myself and others: That's not to say I'm an unkind person now, but I have a tendancy to set very high expectations for myself and get deeply disappointed when I don't meet them. I have to lay off myself a bit more - I think it might make me happier. And if I am being nicer to myself then naturally it flows that I should be nicer to others.

2. Don't sweat the small stuff: I too often let small things become big things and get under my skin and make me really angry. And most of the time it's stuff I can't control anyway so the anger is so ridiculous. My resolution is to not let that happen this year. Well, I'll try!

3. Don't be afraid of new things: All too often I don't do new things because I am afraid of what might happen. Consequences, right? This fear has grown over the past few years to the point I am to afraid sometimes to do things that I really should and that are probably good for me (see point one above). More on this later.

4. This Blog: So I said I wouldn't get specific, but if I am setting goals I need to have at least one that is specific... I'd like to try and update 3-4 times a week. Achievable but not burdensome...

So that's it - 4 resolutions. None of them about losing weight. Let's see if I can make them happen!

Wishing you and yours the very happiest and safest of new years...

Kitty xx