!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BLANKET FORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey wassup wassup! Well, I dunno about you all, but I have been a busy bee lately, and I'd like to share with you a cool thing I was involved in: The unforgettable Blanket Fort Party! The night of nights for many, myself included, was a great achievement by all those involved and will go down in history as one of my favourite birthdays everrrrrrrr!

As my 25th Birthday approached, I realised that to some this is a big year. It's half-way to 50, and I tend to believe that quarter-life crises are very real indeed. So I had the choice of going two ways: adopting a fear of ageing and locking myself away in my bedroom, rummaging through baby photos and brushing my hair until i go bald (much like my infantile self), or...accepting it. I went for the latter...sort of.

I often reflect upon my childhood, and how blissful my youthful ignorance really was. I mean, kids shouldn't have to deal with all the scary realities of life and they are often protected. Well, i was anyway, and many kids in a similar socio-economic-developmental-middle-class. Those were the days, when nothing concerned you, and you could lay around all day because there was nothing else pressing to do. I decided that at this point in my life, an injection of childlike delight was just what the doctor ordered so I decided to have a Blanket fort party!!!!!!!!!!!

On Community they did a few episodes about building a Blanket Fort, and the idea resonated well with my inner child. Blankets, sheets and pillows, crawling, PJs... how could anyone be unhappy in a blanket fort?! Then one day I heard on the radio that a guy was decorating his apartment for a Blanket Fort Party so i was determined to make one myself. I did a little research on other people's success or FAILS online, and decided it could be achieved pretty easily.

My supplies: A few rolls of fishing line, tacks or small nails, LOTS of safety pins, sheets, blankets, rugs, pillows, beanbags, fairy lights, and of course, plenty of this junk:

Josh and my housemate Maki decided they would be the engineers for my fort dreams. A bit like Inception but not. I wanted people to still be able to walk around - not 100% crawling, so to create the roof of the fort, Josh put little tacks into the top of the door and window frames and then ran a netting of fishing wire from one point to the other. We also ran it along the walls so we could hang sheets straight down.

Once that was all rigged up, we started draping sheets, curtains, blankets and whatever we could find over the netting, then joining them together/hoding them in place with many, many, many safety pins.

We ended up borrowing sheets from friends and family, then buying most from op-shops, I got some great designs like Batman, E.T, BMX rally... oh they were awesome. I gathered up all my romantic lighting and fairy lights, made some paper snowflakes, some mulled wine, fairy bread, ordered some awesome anime costumes from ebay, and then, got ready to parttyyyyyyy:

We had a giant Pass the Parcel early in the night too - a great gift from some mates. This is me in my dinosaur costume opening one of the layers!

And the fun wasn't contained to one room either.. the hallway was decorated like a tunnel and there was a table in there that you had to crawl under/climb over - it really forced people against their will to tap into their inner child. It sucked on Sunday though cos nobody could be bothered moving it yet it killed us to keep going over or under. There was also a Nintendo / cuddle room in the spare bedroom! As you can see, it got very cuddwy! See my green leg poking out? I'm in there somewhere...

We also paid homage to both Community and Workaholics (<3) at the party. The blanket fort and human being were Community:

And Maki dressed as The Ders. So good! My skinny-boy friends and boyfriend found it challenging to fill out the caboose of their costumes so they stuffed it with balloons....

Oh what a night! I recommend everyone do a blanket fort PJ party, it's so fun!! The next day was nice too as we all lay about in PJs and blankets watching TV all day, ate Fish 'n' Chips for lunch, then a roast chicken/veg for dinner. It was just like old times where we had no commitments or cares, just hanging out doing sweet f.a. I talk like I'm about 100 remeniscing back on my happy youth but if you don't excercise your inner child and chill out it will run away. I've got mine on one of those kiddie leashes so it wont get away, and sometimes it goes hyperactive and tries to bolt off, and i clutch on and get dragged along for the ride. It's a fun ride. 

B-B-B-Birthday!!

When it comes to Birthdays, I really like to drag them out. Dinners, Lunches, Catch-ups, Holidays - anything that can be connected with celebrating my Birth - I will do. This year was no exception, and it all kicked off with a little quiet weekend away to Bendigo with Josh.

We made no delay in hurrying to Bendigo town to see if the 'Po Boyz' store was still open. We got lunch fron there years ago - maybe 4 or 5 years ago- and it was the first time I had heard of Po' Boys. I got quite the education on New Orleans cuisine and history when I googled it ;) Good stuff. Luckily the store was still there so we indulged in a little late-morning chicken sub!

Nothing fancy, but oh-so-yummy! It's all in the bread I think. We didn't really get up to much during our time there, just relaxed and ate. We ate some sandwiches by the lake too, and attracted quite the array of bird-life :) We also played 20 questions trying to guess animals, plants and minerals, and Josh threw me into a spin when he chose 'Dragon'. It took me almost all 20 questions...

On my actual Birthday, Josh and I went to the nearby Shadowfax winery in Werribee South for the first time! It was so nice, we had a tasting plate followed by Carpaccio and Squid....

They also had a woodfired pizza oven on the grounds - maybe next time ;) On the night of my Birthday, I had a nice catch up with family at my dad's place. Here are a few cute things I got - selected from the big range of lovely presents..

Yes, that's right - a Sheesha! It has been very fun, let me tell you!! I also caught up with some friends at Red Bennies on Chapel Street and had cocktails, saw some amazing circus shows and dances to swing music until 3am! It was so good!!! Here is a picture of the rope lady:

So strong and talented, she was!! Well I can see that I am very very behind on my posts, but the good news  is that I intend to update more regularly. Peace Y'all - happy Birthday to everyone for this year 2011!!

~-*-~the sound of wonder~-*-~

ohmygosh! Last night I got home from work and checked the letterbox for bills or other stupid letters, and to my ultimate supreeze (Count Olaf) there was a little letter in there for me from OVERSEAS! YAY! I love getting personal mail! This one turned out to be from my family in England. My uncle was transfered there for work early this year and they are having a blast! My 2 cousins are attending Primary School there, and they have been travelling all over Europe every chance they get. Amazing opportunity, nay? Here's my birthday card:

After I got all excited about getting this card I said to Maki that I was expecting a package from my cousin Andrew too and was worried nobody would be here to collect it. That's when he pointed out that it was sitting on the table and I had totally overlooked it. I was like double triple a billion excited! OK, I want to explain about my cousin! So, my dad's side of the family is HA-YUUUUGE! He is the youngest of 8, and he is nearly 51! My nana was/is a good Catholic woman and swears that each child was an immaculate conception. Ah-huh, sure thing sweet cheeks! So Andrew is a bit older than me and we didn't really grow up together. As soon as he was old enough he was out in the world travelling and having fun with his camera skillz - and i guess i was still in school so in a total different place!

Anyway so I can probably count the amount of times I've talked to him on my fingers, but it's cool cos he's awesome and it's not awkward at all when we do. Except for this one time about mmm 5 years ago haha! i was seeing the "Ramones: End of the Century" documentary in the city with some friends - and I was fresh out of high school in my tight black jeans, chuck taylors, purple/black hair and probably a Ramones t-shirt for the occasion. After the movie we were leaving the building when i saw him (on a date?) entering the building to see the next session. I was like "ANDREW!!?" and he spun around with a smile on his face, expecting to see a dear aquaintence, which faded ever so slowly as he failed to recognise who I was. He looked pretty confused, so I explained "It's Jade!.....(nothing).... your cousin!" then he clicked and was all apologies! He explained later that it had been years since he'd last seen me and I look way older and super different to what he expected. I think he feels pretty bad about it though, especially since at my Birthday dinner last week Josh told him that I still go on and on about that Ramones day, and Andrew kinda belived him a little i think. I was trying to disprove Josh's cheeky antics... hopefully he doesn't think I'm hung up on it. To be honest I had forgotten all about it until he brought it up at dinner. On my card he wrote something along the lines of "If you have received this card and gift it means I recognise you. You are my cousin. Jade." which i totally didn't get and he had to remind me! haha!

So anywayyyy he has been travelling the world and works as a photographer and has some cool pictures and lots of stories! Some of which are about India as he spent 3 months there one time! I am dyiiinnngggg to go to India - possibly late next year - so he said I should read this book called "Holy Cow". He said "I'll post it to you!" and he did. I am discovering that he is an action man:

And he also included this CD he was telling me about called "The Sound of Wonder" which is a compilation of the best 60's and 70's tracks from Pakistani Lollywood films:

I put it on last night and was blown away. I only wish there was someone with me to experience it too. Maybe tonight I will play it for Josh and dance a little? It is soooo trippy and crazy and awesome. I cannot explain, you will just have to hear it for yourself...

I made that lame little track listing there for my own reference. When I listen to it again i can pick out my faves. I remember track 3 having a really strange beginning where the guy was making lots of bonkers noises with his mouth! So anyway, I am thankful to my Random Action Man cousin (RAM) {ramalamadingdong} for sending me those gifts. I'll have to figure out what to do with the book cos he is going overseas soon to hang out with my other cousin who lives in New York with her photographer husband Keate Barker (who is by the way apparently a big deal these days). I'll keep it safe until his return :) YAY for snail mail!!

go shawtie, it's your birfday!

¿Cómo estás bitches?!?! Today marks the 1 week anniversary of my bee-day. I have been pretty pretty pretty busy lately, so I haven't had a chance to organise myself and my presents until last night!! I felt like such a spoiled brat on my birthday, I got so many amazing gifts! I guess I'm just a super cute and lovable person! I basked in the bright spotlight all day! Josh made me some breakfast in bed at his place, and put on True Blood to keep me occupied while he went to make it! After that I had to go register my car at the Carlton Vic Roads, which was definately NOT the highlight of my day. The staff there are totally not friendly and made me feel like i was about 2cm tall and that i know nothing about cars. Well that part is true, but those sperm whales didn't have to get up in my grill about it. Lucky i had birthday magic going for me and they didn't get me too low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low (Shawty had them Apple Bottom Jeans [Jeans] Boots with the fur [With the fur] The whole club was lookin at her.....) ahem. Now that I have fluffy dice in my car I am no longer immune to Flo Rida.

So after spending $757 registering my car at Vic Roads (Happy Birthday to me...) Josh and I had some Pizza on Lygon Street seeing as we were there. We went to this place called Tiamo across from the Nova Cinemas which I'd been to before and really like! Not only is the food great but they serve Mandarine Juice and the waiters are cute boys with broken English. Josh if you are reading this, that was the reason I was smiling to myself when you asked hehe! After that I went home and ended up napping for a few hours. On the night of my birthday I had a big dinner party of 14 people at my favourite local Indian restaurant! Even my estranged cousin Andrew (will explain later) came along which was awesome! And I got super spoiled by everyone! So after my party and dinner and everything, I decided to take pictures of a few of my gifts like Krisatomic would.

I didn't get this for my birthday, but I bought it from the antique shop in Nagambie when we went there for my pre-birthday getaway! How pretty is it!? I want to put perfume in it, I will have to make sure I don't stuff it up though :P

Ah yes, True Blood! My friend let me borrow the first 3 books to read. I had just gotten through 1.5 books before my birthday and obviously hadn't stopped talking about it because I got season 1 and 2 (from different people) as well as these from my estranged cousin:

Haha I didn't even know there were Merlotte's shirts available! I was curious as to how he knew that I would LOVE this present... turns out my dad told him :) And of course I got some Twilight stuff:

Hayden got me the t-shirt which I wore to the MIDNIGHT SCREENING at IMAX on the night of my birthday! I was super excited, what a good day/night!

Somehow Jackson Rathbone tracked me down - no doubt through his obsession with my blog - and gave me this card! What a thoughtful guy! *sigh*

Oh yeah and I got some new nail polishes which i've tested 2 of so far, and a cool harajuku lovers perfume, and this L'Occitane Jasmine perfume i have been drooling over for months. I am a VIP cardholder at the store but only because i have spent so many hundreds there on presents for other people! I haven't got one thing for myself until this perfume - which funnily enough was a gift too! It is so beautiful, go check out the store!

I got some lovely bottles of plonk which i have safely put away in my wardrobe for a special occasion.

Oh yes, and I got these lovely teacups! There were many other beautiful things not pictured and I love them all and I will get around to having them in pictures soon I promise :) So if anyone thinks i didn't like their present they are sorely mistaken. Very sorely!

So there you have it, my 23rd Birthday in a very small nutshell. It's scary how fast time flies, i still feel about 17-18 in the head. I have been asking people lately how old they feel in the head, it is interesting what some of the responses have been. Try asking yourself or your parents :D

spontaneous combustion

I will explain that little reference later! Firstly, let me catch you up on some things that have been happening of late. While in Nagambie the other week, I fell in love with a farmhouse kitchen hutch at the local antique store. Nobody understands my love for it. All i know is that I LOVE it. Let me re-iterate... L.O.V.E! It is pretty wrecked but i like history that goes with it.

This hutch, more affectionately known as "Billy" was built in the back shed of a local farm in country Victoria. Once built, it was proudly moved into the main house - positioned right in the kitchen, next to the family table. It wasn't long before all the hooks were filled up with graters and colanders, and even Mum's special tea cup as the family grew. Even the ole meat grinder made it to Billy's edge. One day, years later, Mum blearily stumbled into the kitchen at dawn to make a cup of tea before the day commenced, and to her horror discovered her beloved hutch was gone. All of her kitchen trinkets had been moved to the floor where the homey structure once stood. Nobody knew what had happened to it, and Mum was flamin' mental - for lack of a better Australianism. Unbeknownst to Mum, her 22 year old son Peter had taken it to his shack, which he had been slowly furnishing so he could run away from his abusive father. Peter wasn't very good at looking after himself and sadly died sometime later, in his shack in the middle of the bush with nobody to pray his soul to the next life. It wasn't long before drifters moved in, and began using the hutch as a place to skin animals for their meagre bushman dinners. Eventually the drifters moved on, and the shack sat there virtually untouched for nearly 30 years. Only birds and other critters moved into the doors, creating nests in the safety of its country womb. Some mushroom hunters stumbled across the shack one day in the late 1990's and decided it would be the perfect place to set up a meth lab. That carried on for a while until the Police received a tip-off and shut it down. The hutch became evidence for some time until the Police all decided it was too feminine to keep in the station and had to go, so it was sold at a Police auction like on the Simpsons! A nice old lady bought it, and gave it a good home until she passed a few years later. This is when the man from the Nagambie Antique store found it when her family held a garage sale for all of her belongings. Then in came me.

Whoa. Anyway here is Chester in a bow-tie:


He was celebrating my birthday with a red bowtie - to fit in with the red theme of the little party i held at home.

I got very spoilt, and my friends made me all kinds of goodies (ie. Cookies and cake)! I kind of mangled the rainbow cake when i cut it up. It was a giant cupcake with yummy icing :) I hear it took Michelle and Jess 5-6 hours to make!!!!!

A few people got really into the spirit! The next day Josh's step-bro went to get me some coffee while i started the clean-up... and it was in this weird product placement cup!!

As i was walking around drinking it, Maki realised my foot was gushing blood..

EEEEWWWWWW - i should have warned you not to look...

EXPLANATION: DO NOT DRINK OUT OF PRODUCT PLACEMENT CUPS OR YOU WILL SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST STARTING WITH THE FOOT

Anyway that was LASSTTT weekend, and then my birthday was after that sometime - i will take some pixxx of my cool presents!! On Saturday just gone I went around to my dad's place cos my bro DK had gotten me a present. Turns out it was "Liquid Smoke"! I thought i took a picture of it, but i guess not. He got it from "USA Foods" in Moorabin. Here's what else he got..

Woah. So many lollies. So many... American... lollies. Yeah anyway so now that my Crater Face car is operational, Josh and I took him for a little spin up to Trentham to get some nice Red Beard Bakery Pies for lunch. It was a slow start cos we are kiiiinda obsessed with watching True Blood so we watched 2 eps while we drank coffee in bed, and THEN hit the road:

Awwwww yeah! My boss got me those dice for my work b'day party. We buy eachother $2 presents :D awesome present Steve, awesome present!

Josh and I got out of the car and went wandering around, and saw these cool train tracks...

And then after that long lazy day I went home and capped the night off with some nice tea - in beautiful teacups courtesy of my friend Simon - for my Birthday!

I think i now have a teacup fetish.... I want to get my own tea-pot!!! OMG I AM TURNING INTO MY MOTHER!

mulled wine and beetroot salad

Last Thursday we hosted a roast dinner for mum's birthday. It was really yummy! I whipped up this cool beetroot salad thing with the beetroot leaves - and it was great! I just wilted them in a pan with a bit of oil then added pine nuts and goats cheese. Mmmm

Then the mulled wine was also awesome! I used a Cab Sav, and sort of made up the recipe based on all the ones i saw online hehe. I think i put in 1 stick of cinamon, 4 Tbsp brown sugar, orange zest, lemon zest, 1 squeezed orange, 1 sliced lemon, 1 orange studded with cloves, 1 whole nutmeg and a few shavings of it, a few crushed cardamom pods, and some vanilla bean. Anyway it was hot and sweet and delicious!