I love pizza!

 
We love pizza in our house!  I mean we really say those words....and this week we discovered our new love, homemade pizza dough in the kitchenaid.  So good!  I followed this easy recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 1/2-3 1/2 cups plain flour

Directions:

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed bowl.
2. Add salt, olive oil, and 2 1/2 cup flour.
3. Attach bowl and dough hook, turn to speed 2 and mix 1 minute.
4. Continuing on speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough clings to dough hook and cleans sides of bowl. Knead on speed 2 for 2- 5 minutes.
5. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top.
6. Cover, let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour).
7. Punch dough down.
8. Brush 14 inch pizza pan with oil.
9. Press dough across bottom of pan forming collar around edge to hold filling Top with fillings and bake at 200 degrees celcius for 15 to 20 minutes.

(edited by me, original recipe found here)
http://www.food.com/recipe/kitchenaid-crusty-pizza-dough-64860#ixzz1WbMI0FAT

Do we still not get it?

I work part-time, and am very blessed to have a really easy and flexible boss who allows me to choose my work days and lets me work from home when I need to.  I don't mind my work, but if we were rich I would rather stay home full-time.  I have worked in my organisation for a really long time, but what really suprises me is when colleagues of mine wonder what I do with all my 'spare time'.  Even today a lady I work with asked me what I do when I am not at work...I have 2.5 year old...isn't that answer enough??  She was also suprised when I told her I don't ever plan on returning to work full-time.  So even when society tells us that being a mother is important why are people still so suprised when we choose to leave our careers to raise our children.  I thought people had got that already...

A recent change...

For a few months now I have been thinking about how the animals that we eat are raised...in particular pigs.

So I have been making a concsious decision to buy free range ham, pork and bacon.  I think sometimes we are under a bit of an illusion imagining a friendly farmer lovingly raising his animals in green open pastures till the day they are made into the meat on our plate.  I hope that the animals I eat are raised that way...but in reality they probably aren't.  The fact is that most pork products we buy are from animals raised in tiny stalls where they can barely stand up or see other pigs, they never see outside or are able to furrow in dirt (I won't post any photos of it...it's pretty distressing).

So I am trying, (where I can get enough information) to make a more informed choice, and support those farmers that are living that nice vision in my head.

For more information you can read this.

Finding a good fit

Have you ever tired an 'alternative therapy' ?  Over four years ago I started monthly reflexology sessions with an wonderful reflexologist that lives not far from me.  I just found her on the internet, but must have struck gold because she was wonderful (and the proof of that is that I stuck with her for so long...I am not usually that loyal to health professionals).  I love reflexology because not only is it good for me (boosting my immune system, helping in my pregnancy & treating general ailments etc) but it was really relaxing and enjoyable.  I was reminded of just how relaxing it was when today I went to get some accupuncture....useful-yes, enjoyable-no.   

My reflexologist retired last month so now I am on the hunt to find myself another 'Jan'.  I have found over the years that with health professionals, you can be as selective and biased as you want...its all about you, so don't worry about offending them if you don't want to go back, or just want to try someone else.  If they are good, they will not mind a bit.

The same rule as applies to the health professional also applies to the therapy.  Not every alternative therapy will suit everyone, so find one that you understand and suits your situation.  In my experience you will know if it is a good fit, because you will make the effort to go back a second time.

Falling in love again

We have now lived in our house the longest of any other home in our marriage.  It was starting to annoy me...and I wanted something new.  Unfortunately in today's housing climate, and if we are trying to be responsible we really should stay in this home for many more years.  

The solution:  Falling in love with my home again!

I am doing this in a few ways:

1. List all the things I love about my home....location, the backyard etc.

2.Make sure I have a place for everything I need.  

We have started to rethink storage in our home and have already redone the laundry in this fantastic system (it was well worth the money).  We are also redoing our wardrobe spaces to follow the theme of 'a home for everything'.

3.Re-evaluate our stuff.  

This guy is my mentor and I re-read his book regularly.

4.  Remember how nice it is when the whole house is clean...all at the same time!

5.Move furniture around to give a fresh new look  + my failsafe feelgood item: buy a new bedspread.

And not officially on the list, but one that I have realised effects me a lot "Remember that summer is just around the corner".  Qld homes are just not designed for cold weather!

So here is to a fresh look on old things...and saving money in the meantime.