A sense of purpose...

Last night I went through two job specifications for two different schools in the area that want admin assistants.  Upon the merciless hounding from The Husband, I went through each point and wrote down all the examples that I could think of where I had used those particular skills or tools. 

Two hours later and with a head the size of Honolulu, I had completed four pages, both sides.  Wrist cramp and a pen mark on my fingers (remember those from school days?)  I felt elated.  I had a huge buzz that I wasn't just this nothing or nobody.  I have skills!!!

Listing everything that I can do has given me a HUGE sense of purpose. Don't get me wrong, as a mother, I know that we are all important figures in our family's eyes.  I also think it is important to stay at home with your children in the early years IF it is possible (the times we are in are difficult and not everyone can stay at home) but now Little Miss is starting Year 1 in school and Mr Man is approaching three years old and I have been lucky enough to have been at home now for almost four years.  Once Little Man is in full time school what I do with six free hours each day?

I'm not the type to sit around in long flowly bohemian dresses and make cherry pies from scratch to cool on the window sill (not that I'm saying any of my readers are but I've seen it on TV quite alot!) or be a lady that lunches a la SATC! I think now is the time for me to branch out a little and have something for myself where I could possibly take other routes in the future as my children get older.

I am excited about the possibilities.  I have begun organising myself thinking that if I get one of these positions, I have to be uber-organised so that the family still get clean clothes and hot meals.  I actually did the lunches the night before instead of pottering downstairs, bleary eyed in the morning to get them done.  I was up early with a feeling of great positivity that I hadn't felt before because I hadn't understood that this time would come around for me eventually.

So now the goalposts have shifted slightly.  I have learn to go back to work and also to carry on with my fight to be a hot domestic goddess.  I think it might go hand in hand a little.  I could be wrong, but as I see it, I'm going on an adventure and I think my family will enjoy with it me!

But first...I need to get a job!

What's for dinner?

I am glad to say that I am not a total amateur when it comes to some things.  In fact, I would go as far as saying that I am actually very very good at one thing...and that is cooking!

I come from a background that involved food.  My parents were restaurateurs (now retired) and my father a chef.  My mother ruled the roost at home and I have nothing but fond memories of all the delicious meals she would make.  Unfortunately, my repertoire only stretches to making middle eastern or Persian dishes so whilst I learn to make a mean beef stroganoff or simple chicken pie (from scratch of course) you will have to bear with recipes that I've learned over the years that are a hit in any Persian household.

Yesterday, I had no idea what to make for dinner for the children.  I could have done a quick pasta but was bored with the idea myself as we'd only had pasta a few days ago so as I had some minced beef out already, I decided to make something that I grew up on.  Pan fried kebabs served with fluffy white rice.

For this, you need a very good non stick frying pan.  Mine isn't a good one..as you can see from the picture, the kebabs were a little *over-done* and that is due to the pan being no good after many years of being used to the brink of it's own extinction.  The tomatoes make a good mixer with the white rice because there is no sauce.  Iranians mix butter with their rice to make it less dry but tomatoes work just as well and is a slightly healthier option.

You can also add any kind of vegetables you want, it really doesn't matter.  We had mushrooms in so I just simply sauteed them in the pan with the tomatoes after the kebabs were made.

All you need is:

500g minced beef (or lamb)
1 medium onion, grated
2 heaped tbsp natural breadcrumbs
1tsp turmeric (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Mix everything by hand in a bowl and make as many oval kebabs as you can.  Don't make them too thick otherwise they will take longer to cook through and end up burning on the outside.  Don't make the pan too hot and use 2 tbsp cooking oil and keep turning the kebabs.  Have a plate ready at the side for the ones that get done first and as you get space add the others otherwise you'll end up taking forever.  We like to have crunchy vegetables with our meals so I have added radishes as a complement but a fresh salad will do the trick and give a bit more colour to the meal.

If you don't fancy rice with it, pitta bread will do just as good.  The preparation takes a bit of time but trust me, it will only take five minutes to eat it all and the children will LOVE it!

Home sweet home...

I'm not the best when it comes to decorating or interior design as such.  My home at the moment is a work in progress and probably by the time it is done, it will be time to move on to the 10 bedroomed, 27 bathroomed mansion I have my eye on somewhere in the countryside.

Don't get me wrong...I know what I want, I just want to be helped along more with it.  I want style and quality and I want for it not to cost the earth.  I want pretty in some rooms and I want classy in others.

Up until now, that help was beyond my reach.

Up until now...

I have, in my hands, the most awesome sneak preview that has ever landed on my hall floor.  The BRAND NEW Autumn/Winter 2011 Home Collection from Matalan has given me reason to smile like a fool while I poreand drool over the pages and decide over and over again what I want (which is pretty much everything!)




The Ditsy Floral & Vintage Range

Matalan have four key themes in store for us this Autumn/Winter.  Heritage, Ditsy Floral & Vintage, (shown left), Monochrome and Nautical. 

Each has it's own strength of character with Heritage and Monochrome giving us bold, luxurious colours whilst the Ditsy Floral & Vintage and Nautical gives us the softer, more homey side of things.  Every room in the house can have it's own story and character with these versatile ranges.

My personal favourite is the Ditsy Floral & Vintage and I've already earmarked several pieces for my kitchen, living room and bathroom when the range debuts across the stores!

Matalan have once again shown their strength of style with fantastic affordable prices that allows you to have a whole new house without breaking the bank!

For such a novice as myself, the sneak peek is a God send.  I can picture how I want things to be where we are now, and when we move (yes when and not if...I am being optimistic), these timeless designs are easily transportable.

Heritage - Striking British colours!

I find myself one step closer to having a home that is adorned with lovely bits and pieces.  The beauty of the price is that you can buy a few *extras* as well.  At least that's what I'm going to tell The Husband.

So if you're in the mood for updating your collection or fancy re-doing rooms, here is a sneak peek for you too so that you can start making those plans to have fabulous new stuff for your home this year!  

Nautical

Heritage

Monochrome Living

Vintage Green bedding

Find your nearest Matalan store...

Book of Secrets...

My quest for world domination (or at least my own little world) began sometime ago...here is a blog I wrote earlier this year entitled Book of Secrets...

I love that movie National Treasure 2: The Book of Secrets. It's the usual mix of adventure, comedy and touches on interesting historical bits that I have yet to figure out whether even a smidge is true or not but for the moment am content with Nicholas Cage doing his bit for his country and family name ;o)

The *idea* of a book of secrets is intriguing.  Something that holds untold stories of scandal maybe? Not sure but what I want to know is this....is there a Book of Secrets for parents? I mean come on, there is obviously NO manual on childbirth and rearing and if I had just one question to ask of the book it would be this.

**Where the HELL is the switch that turns my children from angelic to demonic and HOW do they turn it on??!!**

As the title suggests, this is a search for a non existant holy grail.  I had a nice day with my kids yesterday.  Little Miss was at school but when she got home she was well behaved, I made dinner whilst the two of the them played nicely and watched some tv together.  Husband was out at a works thing so after feeding them I took on the task of bathing them.  Mr Man is at an age where if I leave him alone he could cause trouble (climbing, falling etc) so I bathed them both together whilst all the time praying they would be ok and behaving and guess what..they did...it was incredible.  No hitting, splashing, crying or anything!  We finished, dried off, got dressed and dried hair.

I believe they lulled me into a false sense of security.  It was over but how? I didn't even turn my back! The pretty smiles and swishy clean hair became gargoyles of naughtiness and foot stomping tantrums within a nano second.  Time slowed and instead of being in the arms of Nicholas Cage (ahem..), I was now walking alongside Keanu Reeves in Constantine where water slows to a drip..drip..drip...surrounded by fire and brimstone and nasty little hell creatures!

It took a further hour to get them to sleep.  I was nearly in tears with anger and upset.  Thoughts raged through my head of taking toys off them and no treats for a month and I too stomped my foot (metaphorically) until they slept.

Then I looked at them.  Pink cheeked and eyelashes fluttering whilst taking tiny breaths in the land of fairydust, rainbows and nice dragons.  The switch had been flipped again and I kissed them both gently.

Do you think Nicholas Cage would go on an adventure with me?

Awoooooga!

Here I stand poised, sword in one hand, shield in the other. I survey the landscape blinking profusely as I do (I have an issue with my contact lenses) and decide that if I want to change big, then I need to not just 'talk the talk' but I need to 'fight the fight' too.

My blog is all about me becoming domestically super fabulous, gorgeously fashionable and beauty queen supreme (don't laugh) and cook extraordinaire...however as I am only three steps up from the bottom of the ladder, this project will take some time.

I have reserved this little corner on the edge of cyberspace for my musings, and my struggles and opinions are all my own.  I hope you enjoy reading my ramblings.

Off now to perfect my battle cry...do you think AWOOOOOOOOOGA will suffice?....