Good news for people who love good news

I got the job which means I don't have to become unemployed next week and the job is 9 days a fortnight instead of full time so it might be manageable with uni. Words can't describe how relieved I am.

Secondly, I got a bike for xmas. I just went for my first bike ride in Brunswick (2nd ride on the new bike). I thought it would be a nice leisurely ride but 30 minutes later I returned puffing with my legs burning and my heart beating like crazy. I'm obviously very unfit. But I still love my new bike.


The one and only pic I took on the ride. RMIT-brunswick.



Lastly, I discovered a new food today that I love: Halva. I adore it. I can't believe I have never had it before. Growing up in Australia I like to think of myself as pretty multicultural when it comes to food. I grew up eating falafal, hummus, baklava, Lahmacun and all sorts of food that many people still don't know about. I think I become even more multicultural after becoming vegan, at least once a month I seem to bring someone new to work that someone hasn't tried. But yet I didn't know what halva was. I think I probably looked at it and dismissed it as cheese. But it's sweet and made out of tahini. The one I tried has pistachios in it, but there are other flavours too. Next time you are in your supermarket or deli ask to try some. I've only eaten it straight but apparently it is very good sliced in some Lebanese bread.

The rejects

These are the reject cupcakes and peanut butter cups that we are not taking tomorrow because they don't look as pretty as the other ones. So we get to eat them straight away instead of waiting. There were a few more rejects that didn't make it into the photo too ;-)

The peanut butter cups were made with almond meal instead of crumbs thanks to christy's suggestion and the cupcakes were made from the vanilla cake recipe and maple icing recipe in How it all Vegan. Erin recently made them so I knew they were delicious before I put in all the hard work.

I really really really wanted to make mini ones, but had to search everywhere to actually find the mini liners. If you are in Melb and wondering I got them from party shop near the vic market.

Happy silly season!

I'm freaking out!

Next week is the last week of my job and I still don't have another job lined up.

I've been employed for a over a decade straight, and had 2 part time jobs since I started doing my masters a few years agao I can't explain how much the thought of having no job terrifies me.

I have applied for 3 more new jobs in the week and lots of casual-ish jobs.

I have an interview next week for one but it is full time so not sure how I will manage once I return to uni, but its the closest to what I was doing that is available.

It's the worst time to be looking for a job, even worse if you need part time. I was so stressed the other day I said to Mr T if worst comes to worst I will work full time and defer uni. But I really don't want to. Another option is to try to get another crappy call centre job or something. But the thought of applying and interviewing for even more jobs I don't really want is pretty depressing.

How did it get to this?

It wasn't planned I can tell you that much. There was so many jobs that I was supposed to get that fell through. There was at least 6 jobs through my current job that fell apart due to funding issues, another that I couldn't do because of obligations to my last remaining job. Another that went to someone who knew someone else even though I was more qualified. I have another lined up that starts in feb and is very casual and another crappy one that I could have got but can't attend the training because I have a interview on the same day. I even said no to one because It was starting in March and I was sure I would have something by then.

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh

On a brighter completely unrelated note I have 2 amazing shows coming up. Modest mouse on 29th dec, M Ward on 30th and then new years eve the following night. I can't wait.

Happy silly season to everyone.

High IQs linked to veg diet

"Children with high IQs are more likely to be vegetarians when they grow up, according to recent research. "

Read the whole article here

So that explains my decision ;-)

Peanut butter Cups


Here is one of the peanut butter cups I made from How it all vegan. They are super easy to make and very good, although a little rich. Sorry for the crappy pic, I always seem to forget to take pics of food until the last minute when it is dark and I rely on synthetic light and then am left with perhaps not the most appetising pic, so you will just need to trust me that these rock.

I took them to work to share because I am the world's best colleague and everyone fell in love with them including one co-worker who said she hated peanut butter.

The recipe asked for graham cracker crumbs which we don't have in Australia, so I just used some vegan biscuits I had lying around. Anyone know the closest thing to graham cracker crumbs here? I actually think you could probably make it without the crumbs, I didn't notice them after it was all put together. The great thing about this recipe is that apart from the cookie/biscuit crumbs you most likely have everything lying around. The other good thing is this recipe doesn't actually require turning on an oven.

Now I just need to decide whether I should make another batch of these or some sort of cupcakes for xmas day.

My latest novel

Ok this post is late but better late than ever, and yes I know some people have already blogged about it. But It's been a while since I've seen a good show, so I can't help myself. Yes, I have been to shows in recent times but most have been sub standard. Besides, I had Mr T's pictures of the band in the camera with no one to show.

A friend messaged me a few nights before the show and asking if I wanted to go? I quickly consulted with my friend google, who revealed one review likening them to arcade fire. That was enough for me, so I said yes and went along. Boy am I glad I did. A few of their songs do sound slightly like arcade fire. But others sounded like sons and daughters, and another like hefner.

Each song sounded different from the next, and they were great!

Mr T arrived a year ago today

We knew that we wanted to be together but him moving here was a not easy decision for either one of us to make.

I had a lot of guilt over him leaving his friends, family, career, and a very different lifestyle all behind.

I also had many fears about him moving here. Worried that he would hate it here, that he couldn't get a job, that he wouldn't make any friends, that he would regret the move, and that our relationship would somehow change here.

Thankfully, all of my fears were unfounded. He made friends, has a job, sure he misses some things and his friends in Hong Kong but he generally loves it here and our relationship is stronger then ever.

I think he adjusted better to Melb life than I did to Hong Kong life.

Thanks for taking such a big leap of faith for me!

Food faces

I took this one last week, the pic doesn't quite doesn't do it justice but I had to show it anyway. It's quinoa salad with chickpea eyes and nose, coriander eyebrows and mango mouth. It doesn't look great but tasted amazing.


This next one is made by Mr T it's a couscous salad with red onion eyebrows, asparagus nose and edamame eyes and mouth.

This weekend was all about fellow bloggers

Friday I locked myself out of my apartment so Ann rescued me and took me to the beautiful Heide Museum of Modern Art for the day. The gardens and general landscape surrounding the Museum are breathtaking. I can't believe I have never been before.

Today I met fellow blogger Christy from no pod over a nice long breakfast. This is my second meeting with another blogger, Ann was actually the first when I met her about 9 months ago and we have continued to be friends since. There was of course concern from my part that perhaps the interactions online wouldn't translate to offline and that I would be left with awkward silences but each time the concerns have been unfounded. Both Ann and Christy are extremely easy to talk to, charming and very interesting people.

Gotta love the blogworld for allowing me to meet great people I wouldn't have met otherwise.