What's on your telly?

One of my very favorite things is to get whatever project I am currently in the midst of, snuggle down on my couch with some sort of treat (Pistachio nuts, a bit of cake etc etc) a cup of tea and immerse myself in one of my favourite TV Shows. I love it.
I know telly is something that people shouldn't watch ALL the time. BUT. I do think that if you have had a long, hard week at work and you really don't want to talk to anyone, after five days of yapping all day to people, a night in, with soft lights, the curtains drawn, a heater near and maybe a nice black dog called Matilda asleep next to you on the couch....well. Nothing beats that.

At the moment I am plowing my way through Modern Family (This is not the Official website, The link wouldn't open!)  Season Two. I really, really love this show. Chris and I watched the whole of the first season and was tearing up at the end of each episode. Also I have been watching Wilfred. I like the Australian version better than the newly released American one, although if it like The Office,  I will have to learn to like it better than the original (British)
Also; we are absolutely addicted to Underbelly. I have missed so many episodes of the latest series, I will have to buy it in DVD. I never remember things are on. 
This post makes me feel like I am a lazy person who just sits at home all day watching movies, but I really don't!
I might update this as I discover new shows.

For some reason, I did not post this once I had written it. And now I know why. Yesterday, I came home from work sick. Proper sick. The lie in bed, can't even read because your eyes hurt, gross sick. Luckily, Chris brought me Froot Loops and also lemonade. (If you are unfamilair with the wonders of Froot Loops as a remedy, you should try it. No milk or anything, if you cannot eat anything else, just nibble on some dry Froot Loops. The sugar in them will make you feel better) That is one of mum's home remedies. Thanks mum!
What are your home remedies?
X Tash 

Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves

That is Chris's alarm in the morning and it drives me nuts.

An update is due for my 8 week challenge. It is all thumbs up in the Brown/Grime camp, work has been stopping me from exercising me as much as I would like, which is so really the only negative I can think of right now. The funny thing is I really do notice the difference, in my energy levels and my attitude. Pretty amazing really. I have been moderately good with eating healthily and no drinking, which I am proud of!
I think the thing I am learning is that this is not just an 8 week challenge. It is a lifetime challenge. Things never just get to a point where it becomes easy and you don't have to try. Every single morning I wake up and have to make the decision to keep at it. The great thing about this is it a decision that makes me happy and feel good.
Chris's fiftieth Birthday Party is about five weeks away, and so I am starting to make all of the really fun decisions-what set up does the RSL have for the slideshow I have been secretly making? Where are we going to go out for tea on the Saturday night? How do we divide the games for the lawn bowls? What time will we pick up the cake? Etc etc. So FUN!
Anyway. Must go. Chris is home from work and I want to see how his day went. Will write a proper blogpost soon I promise. 

xx Tash

I can, I will, I am!

Howdy.
I am in week 2 of my 8 weeks to empowerment and I am feeling GOOD. I have been getting up when my alarm goes off, I have been eating much much healthier than I was before, (I have slipped up a few times, but that is ok!) I have been working out, and I have been giving myself lots of positive thoughts.

It is Chris's Birthday coming up, (This is Chris above. HOW GOOD is this photo? It is him with his sister.) so I have been making many exciting plans for his birthday. We are going to play barefoot bowls at a lawn bowls club on a Saturday afternoon. Man says he does not want a birthday cake, or a 'wall of shame', or speeches....but everyone knows that is what happens at big milestone parties! I have been talking to Jhanine from The Gallery, who makes the most beautiful cakes! She is going to be making a chef themed cake. I am a bit excited. I will of course be posting photos when I some! For the invitations we made CD's, with all of Chris's favourite songs on it. On the front was a picture of, 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'. (His favourite movie) So far we have had everyone RSVP which is so great because lots of peeps are coming from interstate and we are a bit touched that everyone is making the effort to come out to a wee country town (Stawell) and play lawn bowls with us.

That is about all for now, I will pot again later in the week. Chris is having a very loud conversation with his brother who lives in Perth and I cannot concentrate. ;)
Night Night, Sleep Tight
xx

Old Times

Today I have been thinking about where we used to live.
Here are some nice pictures. Enjoy. x

Empowerment

Do-Re-Mi (Let's start at the very beginning) 

So I mentioned a post or two ago that  I am starting to concentrate on my health and fitness. My friend/personal/trainer/awesome kick ass woman Tash (see her inspirational blog here) and I are doing a new Challenge:

The 8 Weeks to EMPOWERMENT (yippee!)

This is Day 2. And I love it. 

Here are some details: 

I think each person that embarks on this would end up taking diferent things from the challenge. Because everyone has diferent things that they want to improve on. But mine are as follows;

1.) Happiness

(Photo found here)

2.) Fitness

(image found here)

3.) Health.

(image found here)
Since starting training with Tash I have realised these things. (Or am in the process of finding it out!)
Yes. I am happy. I have a very happy life-Lovely Chris, Matilda, Friends and a nice home where I can be myself.  BUT. I am really hard on myself. Judgemental. Do better. Worry what people think about me. that sort of thing. It is time to be nice to myself! to look after myself and tell myself I am awesome!
My fitness could definitely be improved. A lot. I want to be able to run! and jump rope without feeling like I may just curl up and pass out.
And I can definitely be healthier. If I am healthier I will find the things listed above a whole lot easier. 

What do you think? Sounds cool huh!


So. I am following Tash's lead and making myself a contract.
You wanna read it? Here it is....

TASK ONE: Write a list of goals that you want to achieve in the 1st week of the Eight Weeks To Empowerment. 1.) Get up in the morning when the alarm goes off. Don't press the snooze button! Get organised the night before you have to go to work so you can have a cup of tea and watch the news before you leave. 2.) 2x Personal Training Sessions a week. 

3.) 1 x Boxing class with Anna a week

4.) 30 minutes of high intensity exercise every day except Sunday. 5.) Keep my work schedule two days in advance so I am not stressed about what I need to do. Communicate better with my clients. 

6.) Spend Sunday doing something nice with Chris. 

7.) Keep my food diary and my mini challenges up to date
TASK TWO: Write a list of goals you want to achieve by the end of the 8 Weeks To Empowerment.

I, Natasha Brown agree to work towards a Happier, Fitter and Healthier Tash  during the next 8 weeks and beyond which in turn will give me a feeling of Empowerment. 

I promise I will do my very best to be honest with myself and stay committed to my goals and persevere even my mind is telling me I can't.
I will keep at this by congratulating myself every time I make good on a promise (Even just when I get up when my alarm goes off) because every achievement, no matter how small, all add up to big changes that I want to make in my life.
If I fall off the wagon, I will not lose courage! I will get right back on track and keep myself steered in the direction I want to go in. 

I will keep my blog updated for the period of this challenge and make myself accountable for my actions by communicating with Tash and Chris about how I am feeling and progressing. I will work through any challenges my mind presents with Tash and Chris and break through the mental barrier. 

I am on the way to becoming the best person I can be and I am committed to fulfilling every promise to the very best of my ability.

Signed, Natasha Brown 11/10/2011

The idea of this contract is from Tash. She got the idea from another one of her friends. I think it is a great idea. See Tasha's blog for the link.

Talk soon. I have a hot date with my boxing bag. X

New Favourite Things

I have discovered some new magazines which I thought you might like to discover too.
here  and here .
They have so many awesome ideas...my folder for craft projects I want to do is quickly becoming endless...

xx Tash

Teriyaki Chicken-The Best!

I made this for dinner a few nights ago, find the link: here ...
It is AMAZING! Thanks Pip for sharing this recipe....
Pip's Uber Famous Teriyaki Chicken

Serves 6

Ingredients

1kg skinless chicken breast fillets (free range if you can!) cut into rough 1" pieces

1/2 cup of potato starch (from Asian grocers and some supermarkets)

1/2 cup of oil (I just used canola oil)

Sauce :: Mix Together

1/4 cup of good quality soy sauce (like Kikkoman)

1/4 cup of mirin

1/4 cup of sake

1/4 cup of raw sugar

1/4 cup of water

2 teaspoons of sesame oil

To serve::

Short grain rice or sushi rice

Chilli sauce if you are into it

Chopped spring onions and any other chopped raw vegies you like 

(I like to use cherry tomatoes and I steam some broccoli to the right side of crunchy to have with it too!)

Let's Make It...

Tip the potato starch into a plastic bag and then dump the chopped up chicken in there.  Twist the bag a few times to seal it and then shake it all up to coat the chicken well.  We want the starch all over every piece.

Heat your oil in a large frying pan or wok over a medium high heat.  Fry the coated chicken in two batches, just until it's sealed and colouring a tiny bit.  We don't need to cook it right through yet.  Drain the sealed chicken on kitchen towel.  Now, tip out the oil leaving just a teensy bit in the pan.  There will be bits of fried stuff stuck to the pan too.  That is just fine.  Leave that in there.

Put the pan with teensy bit of oil and leftover fried bits back on to a medium heat.  Add all of your chicken to the pan.  It will be a bit crowded.  Stir your sauce mixture to distribute the sugar a bit, then tip it over the chicken and toss well.  It will bubble up and start to look pretty impressive and delicious.

Put a lid on for a minute or two to help cook the chicken through properly, shaking the pan every now and then to prevent things burning. Then take the lid off and toss the chicken for another minute or two, until it's lovely and glazed and caramelizing a bit. (If you don't have a lid, just cook for four minutes without the lid, tossing well to keep things cooking evenly.)  That's all you do!

Serve on top of a few spoonfuls of rice.  Top with spring onions and the raw vegies.  I always put a big dollop of chilli sauce atop mine.  

Serve with green tea and marvel at the amazing texture of the chicken!  SO so so so yummy.  Try it. You will be amazed. Honest.