Christmas is just around the corner! How exciting! I’m still a complete retard when it comes to Christmas, and I am one with the spirit of the season. I only wish Auckland wasn’t playing along and being cold and rainy and windy and disgusting. Sure, Christmas is a winter thing in all the movies, but it’s NOT HERE DAMMIT.

The first year I moved to Auckland I was saddened to realise I was still bundling up in my winter coat in late November. Back in Hamilton I used to be studying (and tanning) in the sun on the deck from October onwards. It’s only an hour and a half away for goodness sake! As it was, the other day I went home from work with cold wet feet, shivering and miserable. Stoopid city of stoopid sails.

The point of this all is that we finally spent Dad’s Christmas money from last year. I figured as long as we got in there before he gave us more this Christmas, it wouldn’t upset the delicate gifting balance. And of course, it’s important to spend it on something for us, and not on bills, or groceries or (god forbid) less important people. Or, say, Dad’s Christmas present – poetic but kinda wrong.

So we bought a blender and an icecream maker. I love me my gadgets.

I’ve been on something of a milkshakey kick lately; I had an awesome iced coffee with breakfast this morning, and I even went and got a strawberry shake from the place near work on Friday. I never order strawberry shakes! Last summer we made our smoothies in the food processor, but that’s an ass to get down and set up, so now we have a cool blenderer ($50 off, bonus). We celebrated by making a banana- strawberry- raspberry- kiwifruit- pineapple- rockmelon- yoghurt concoction as soon as we got home. Mmm… healthy… and filling in a ‘that was great, now give me CARBS’ kinda way.

The icecream maker was like $30 off, so I chalked it up to fate. Of course we have no cream in the house so the chances of me making any immediately are thankfully slim to none. There are a couple of intriguing sorbet recipes included though, so I might experiment on Sam yet! He’s a good sport and rarely complains when it comes to eating my food.

Now I just have to find a use for my birthday money. >.>

Which isn’t today, I know – I’m just likely to forget tomorrow:

• Everyone needs to visit this site with cakey goodness. I requested one of these cakes for my birthday but Melissa and Matt did not deliver.
  
• And because everyone loves mutant (leaves only the fresh scent of pine) pumpkins: EXTREME PUMPKIN ACTION.
• Cute Overload is showcasing costumes for pets, which is always good for a laugh. Although for my money, nothing can beat the Hello Kitty Cat Humiliation System. I would quite like one. Sam-sized.
• And on a similar note, and definitely not to be missed: my costume for next year (this site is killer for tormenting people with cute)…

More earth-shatteringly important updates as they come to hand.

So today at work we got to pose for photos. I do not do photos. I make every effort to be the one with the camera, not the one in front of it. And yet, today I was in photos.

Things I learned:

1. I am short. My calves hurt from standing on tiptoes.
2. I need more ‘energy’ during photo sessions. Apparently. And yet I am such a bundle of enthusiasm usually.
3. Even if you’ve worked behind the scenes with a photographer several times previously (albeit at a different company) there is no guarantee they’ll remember you. You are now just another subject.
4. It pays to dress nicely, do your hair perfectly and wear makeup every day on the vague and uncertain off-chance you may be required to have your photo taken sitting on a beanbag and throwing balls in the air.

I am a sad panda.

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup oats

Bake at 175 degrees C for 10 minutes, or until cookies are a light brown.

Consensus? Mmm cookie… Mmm peanutty… And soggy on day 2.

I’ve been busy!

Here’s something to tide you all over:

Once I, too, partook of team sports. Actually, even though I am fairly ambivalent about physical activity, I did a heck of a lot of it in my younger days. And I have proof!