Oh, Hi There.

Hello, world. It's been awhile.

I've finally made the conscious decision to come out of hibernation and get back into life. It's actually more of a hassle than it sounds, but surely it's worth it. While in lock-down, I've been missing my friends. I've missed writing and crocheting. I've missed planning, dreaming and scheming.

Ash has settled into a vague routine, Boo is as compliant as a fiery four year old can be, and I'm generally caffeinated enough to function effectively. I think it's time to get out of my metaphorical pajamas, and put on a flowing hippy dress to dance around the campfire of an active and fulfilling life in.

So, bring on playgroup and coffee dates, blogging and projects, crocheting and craft, (...perhaps a tiny bit of study) - and above all, extreme housewifery.
Hey, I need to make what I do sound exciting somehow.

Take care, and I hope to catch up with you sooon!

Woolly Mammoth Lamingtons

So. A week after the first Cake Challenge, I am finally ready to post about it. I had intended to BLOG about it that night (which will be the aim for Cake Challenges in the future) however, Miss Boo came down with a temperature and so the rest of that day was spent cuddling on the couch.
However, we are here now. Better late than never, right?

The Cake Challenge:

LAMINGTONS

Just to recap from my last post: each week I'm choosing a cake from this book to create at home. And where else to start, but from the beginning? The first cake of the chapter: Lamingtons. A real 'Aussie' thing. Also plain and easy and yawn - in my opinion at the time.

I was wrong.

For those unaware of what lamingtons are, essentially they are a sponge cake dipped in chocolate icing and covered in coconut. They are fiddly. They are time consuming. They are something I would usually snort "stuff that" at and bake cookies instead. However, the book said I must make these little coconutty jerks, and so I did. 

For starters, you need half a dozen eggs. That made me a tiny bit concerned that I would wind up creating chocolate coated quiche, but still I continued. They are beaten for what feels like a bazillion years (10 minutes) and then beaten some more while sugar that is gradually added dissolves. Luckily, we have the mixer these days - prior to my wedding (which was catered for by friends and family) I didn't have any form of electric beaters. I would have been incredibly cranky trying to do this by hand.

Then there was the sifting of the flours (cornflour, self raising flour and plain flour). Now, this apparently is a big deal. The flours wanted sifting three times. THREE TIMES. Who has the time or patience for this wankery? However, I continued. 

And then there was the folding. But not too much folding, because a sponge is a precious creature that needs to be light and fluffy. Well. Light and delicate is not my way, and there were lumps and boy did those lumps need to come out.

...which may have been my downfall. 

But hey - my cake mix was so bubbly. LOOK AT ALL THE BUBBLES. I had never made a sponge before so this was super odd to me, but I was impressed. BUBBLES. 

And into the oven it went.

Oh yeah - this was supposed to be my helper. 

And this is me drinking peppermint tea while waiting, and ignoring the massive pile of washing beside me.

The cake seemed to take forever. And I got quite impatient and began to poke it with things to see if it was ready yet. After forty-five minutes or so we had this:

A SPONGE.

Then there was the waiting for it to cool, and the slicing of it into around sixteen pieces. The chocolate icing consisted of three cups of icing sugar (the recipe said four. I said "recipe, ease up. You're a little excessive"), cocoa powder, butter and milk. The pieces of sponge are dipped in the icing mix, and then tossed in desiccated coconut. 

 This I found infuriating. The chocolate icing went everywhere, the coconut went everywhere, the sponge fell off into the icing, the icing mixed in with the coconut and then some of it just ran off the sponge anyway. FIDDLY.

BAM. LAMINGTONS.

I also didn't have desiccated coconut. I had shredded. Which I was like "hey, it'll look more rustic". My husband, however stated that they looked like "woolly mammoth lamingtons" and so the name has stuck. BEHOLD. MY WOOLLY MAMMOTH LAMINGTONS.

For my first attempt, despite my fury, they didn't turn out too bad at all. The sponge was a little dense - I put this down to a) over enthusiastic mixing and b) the wrong size cake tin, therefore thicker sponge and different cooking time to recipe. The shredded coconut didn't hold on as well as desiccated coconut would, however, I kind of liked it. 

Best part of lamingtons - they got even better after a day or two in the cupboard, believe it or not.

So there we have it. My first Cake Challenge was a ragey success. 

NEXT TIME: APPLE CUSTARD TEA CAKE

The Cake Challenge

I was given this cook book by my lovely Mother-In-Law.
I'm not usually one for cook books; to be honest, I generally despise following recipes.

This book is AMAZING.

It actually does have 'absolutely everything'. From meals, to bread, to salad dressing... I am in love with this book. 

Trouble is, I'm finding it hard to find time and energy to broaden my horizons and use this book more in my day-to-day housewife life. Which is a shame. Thanks to this book, I can make PIE. PIE, GUYS.

So, I'm setting myself a challenge to share with you all.

Each week, I'm picking out a cake from this book to try and make. I'm not the best at baking - I'm good at what I'm good at and don't bother with anything too precious - so this should be interesting.

Today's Challenge: Lamingtons.

Wish me luck!

Why Disastrous

Disastrous: 1. Causing a lot of damage or harm.
                2. Very unsuccessful.

Now, before we jump to conclusions: no. This blog is not going to be an ever-lasting tirade announcing my short comings and failures. 

Actually, I find the term "disastrous" almost endearing when relating it to my life.

I am constantly attempting to "start over" or, really, tackle life from a different angle. I want to be more organised. More connected to people, form better relationships. I want to be the perfect wife, parent, student, daughter, sister, friend. 
Crazily enough, it never works out.

I finally came to the realisation that I am never, ever going to meet my own expectations of myself. That really, every day is one disastrous attempt after another to reach those unrealistic goals. 

And so, I'm happy to relate myself and my life to being disastrous. Nothing ever really works out as I planned, and that's what makes it wonderful. 

In fact, I'm fairly certain my attempt at blogging itself is going to be disastrous. Doesn't that tie things up nicely.

Attempt #1156

You know those people who constantly claim: "I could NEVER be a housewife! I need something more mentally stimulating to do with my life. I'd die. Seriously" ? Those who believe the idea of simply being a home-maker is tiresome, unbelievably dull - as though you've given up on your own life and have settled for a slow death involving snotty noses and The Wiggles?

I was one of those people.

I never wanted to spend my days reasoning with a miniature rage-monster. To be wiping bottoms and answering numerous ridiculous questions. To continuously maintain a neat and welcoming household,while keeping a husband organised, happy and well fed.
...pass, thank you.

And yet, here I am. In my early twenties. Married. One almost-four-year-old and another on the way. Completely settled down and half wondering how on earth that happened.  

However, that's just the start of it. Oh yes. Just the other day, I was sweeping the kitchen floor and was struck with the most ridiculous realisation of my life: 
I'm a housewife - and I love it.

I love my routine of housework. I love baking and preparing meals for the family. I love Playdoh and tea parties and quietly laughing at the nonsensical statements a toddler makes. I love the husband coming home to us, and spending the evenings together as a family.

I must have lost the plot entirely.

With identifying as a housewife, however, came another realisation: I was quite alone in that. I don't have any married friends my own age, nor do many of them have children. Not that it's a major issue, but from time to time, it feels a little isolating. I've also taken a break from social media recently as well. I found I wasn't enjoying the way I was using Twitter and Facebook, and wanted to make a few tweaks; focus more on life and relationships. As inspiring and uplifting as I've found the time offline, I've also found it isolating all over again.

Which, in a way, is why I'm here. I've been thinking of writing for a long time. So I figured, why not. I don't want to write because I think my life is of any great importance, or because I think I'm incredibly intelligent, or witty, or an amazing writer. And I'm definitely expert on anything in particular.
I simply wish to share, enjoy and connect with others.

So, welcome to my little bubble. 
If you were actually here, I'd make tea.