What to Eat When Moving in 2 Days

It is getting intense around here. 


I just finished my second last exam. I have one more tomorrow morning and then life gets crazy for approximately 36 hours and then I can relax. Let me tell you my schedule:


Friday 9.30-11.30 am - Psychology Exam
Friday 12noon - 2.00pm(ish) - lunch with family for mothers birthday
Friday 2.00pm(ish) - 5.00pm - packing up bedroom, cleaning bedroom, being sad about leaving the Village, drinking
Friday 5.00pm - 8.00pm - dressing up for the pirate party (my costume is 'Why Women Weren't Allowed on Pirate Ships' a.k.a sex bomb, hanging with Smoochy Fox, drinking
Friday 8.00pm - 12midnight - at Pirate Party, drinking
Friday 12 midnight - Saturday 8.30am - sleeping off previous drinking
Saturday 8.30am - 12.30pm - packing room, cleaning room, loading cars with stuff from room, scrubbing bathroom, checking out of Village
Saturday 12.30pm - 1.30pm - drive with Smoochy Fox to airport (so she knows the way), then she will drop me off at The Boyfriends house
Saturday 1.30pm - 4.30pm - pack for Europe, ensure The Boyfriend is packed, repacking The Boyfriends poor packing, have all documents photocopied and distributed to the appropriate people, putting together a Tarot Reader costume
Saturday 4.30pm - 5.30pm - drive to Mandurah for a 21st party
Saturday 5.30pm - 12 midnight - PARTY!!
Saturday 12 midnight - Sunday 1.00am - drive home, go to bed
Sunday 1.00am - 3.45am - sleep
Sunday 3.45am - 4.20am - wake up, final Europe preparations, shower etc
Sunday 4.20am - 4.30am - drive to airport
Sunday 4.30am - 6.50am - check in, breakfast, hang out in airport
Sunday 6.50am - FLY TO EUROPE!!!!


Yes, I am a control freak. But with that many things to do, I really don't see how it could be any other way.


So, at the moment I'm trying to study for my final exam (I'm on lunch break right now), pre pack as much as I can for Europe and for moving and of course, eat everything in my cupboard. There have been some interesting menu options in the last week, including one very appetizing 2 cups of soups with a tin of mustard mayo chicken. But I am quite proud of todays lunch, not only the fact it tastes reasonable, but also the amount of stuff I managed to use :). I thought I would share the recipe:


1 packet of beef 2 minute noodles
1/2 bag English spinach
3 carrots (slightly old)
1 bread bun
1 packet of parmesan sheese (the one you find on the shelf, not in the chilled section.


Make noodles on stove according to instructions. Throw in 2.5 chopped, peeled carrots (I say 2.5 because I had to chop off about 1/2 a carrot worth that had gone funny). Slice your bun into well, slices. Top with copious amounts of parmesan cheese. Grill. At the last minute, add the spinach to the noodles. 


Ta daaah!!! 

Aren't I ridiculously clever? And yes there is a bucketload of food there, but I figure, the more I eat now, the less I'll need for dinner :) 


I have decided on a project. Given my life is going to be so hectic in the next couple of days, I thought I would document it. So, starting at 12.00noon tomorrow, I will be taking a photo every hour until I fly to Europe. Yes that means waking up every hour to do this as well. I wasn't going to be sleeping much anyway. I'll post them while I'm in Europe, or possibly at the airport. Exciting for me? No exciting for you! You will get an exclusive look at a day (and a half) in life of Ashleigh. Opportunities like this do not come around every day. Seize it! 


Until next time, stay happy :) 

More Questionnaires....

I have discovered memes.


This is going to be painful for you. Here's some background info: I am super organised. I am super anal about filing, and other organisational type activities. I'm also a control freak (example - I must, must, must have in my hands all the relevant documents when we go on holiday. The Boyfriend also likes to hold them. We have had full on arguments over holding the documents before - while on holiday). So it follows logically that I like to fill in forms. And I discovered memes. For more info on memes, click here.


So for today, I am once again going to answer a whole bunch of questions about myself. This also ties in with the I'm-so-fricken-busy-and-stressed-I-cry-at-random-times-and-can't-string-a-decent-post-together-to-save-my-life vibe I have going on right now. So here is my latest meme, stolen from a blog called Sunday Stealing.

TRUE OR FALSE

Q: Kissed someone on your friends list? Friends list? I'm not sure what this means. Probably I have ;) 

Q: Been arrested? No, I'm far too much of a good girl 

Q: Held a snake? Yes a few times. But they still freak me out!

Q: Been suspended from school? Nope, see above 

Q: Sang karaoke? Yes! This was on my list of things to do before I'm 30 and I did it! It was awful. I feel very sorry for the people listening - Bohemian Rhapsody will never be the same. 

Q: Done something you told yourself you wouldn't do? Plenty of times. I have no willpower. Don't eat those chips, don't watch TV all day, don't deliberately provoke The Boyfriend, don't drink so much - did them all. 

Q: Laughed until you started crying? Yep - I went to the zoo with my mum and sister the other day and we were narrating the animals antics. It was hilarious, but I think you had to be there. And also, last night I watched Love, Actually and the line 'He's Colin Frissle and he's GOT A BIG KNOB' brought me to tears. 

Q: Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Nope, I've never seen snow - one of the blessings (curses?) of living in Perth 

Q: Kissed in the rain? Not that I remember, but it could have happened 

Q: Sang in the shower? Yes, but I try not to if other people are home - I am a terrible singer

Q: Sat on a roof top? You know, I actually haven't. I should though. Maybe at my new house...

Q: Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? No, but my dad threw me into a river fully clothed once. It was in New Zealand and it was fricken freezing

Q: Broken a bone? Nope. I thought I did a couple of times, but it turned out to just be major bruising and soft tissue damage

Q: Shaved your head? No, I'm too vain about my hair. Although, its something I've been thinking about lately. 

Q: Played a prank on someone? Probably at some point, but I can't remember specifics

Q: Shot a gun? Yep. I was awful - no aim whatsoever

Q: Donated Blood? I was supposed to when I was 17, but the Red Cross messed me around a bit, and I've never gone back. I will though - just have to get off my arse and do it. 

LAST PERSON...

1. You hung out with? My flatmate, Peter. He's a sweetie who always watches movies with me 

2. You texted? Smoochy Fox. She brought me dinner from work - it was delicious!

3. You were in a car with? True Blue Kangaroo - we went out for breakfast yesterday. It was good to catch up

4. Went to the movies with? The Boyfriend, to see Pirates of the Carribean 4. And before that, Smoochy Fox to see Water for Elephants

5. Person you went to shop with? Smoochy Fox - are you seeing a pattern here?

6. You talked on the phone? The Boyfriend. He's away right now, and he called me to say goodnight <3 

7. Made you laugh? Peter my flatmate

8. You hugged? Peter my flatmate :) 

IN THE LAST 48 HOURS HAVE YOU...

1. Sang? Yep, I was singing 'Take me aawwwaaay, a million miles awway from here'. 

2. Listened to music? I'm doing it right now! I've got Howie Day's 'Collide', John Mayer's 'Your Body is a Wonderland', Jewel's 'You Were Meant for Me' and 98 Degrees 'I Do (Cherish You)' going. Yeah I'm in romantic mood.

3. Danced Crazy? Mudrock! Its the big end of semester party at Murdoch, and I danced like crazy. 

4. Cried? This morning. I woke up feeling awful, almost hungover, but without the fun drinking the night before. Peter thinks its fun to provoke me when I'm feeling delicate like this. 

FIRSTS .....

1.Who was your first prom (or homecoming) date? A boy named Tom. I thought I was so in love - don't we all at 13? 

2. Who was your first roommate? At boarding school, a girl named Sophie. And Flying Monkey when I moved to uni. 

3. What alcoholic beverage did you drink when you got drunk the first time? Oh god, probably something like Vodka Cruisers. Good ol' lolly water 

4. What was your first job? I was a checkout chick at the local service station. Plus I did food prep and sometimes cooked. 

5. What was your first car? My Hyundai Getz. I still have it, and I love it. Its one of the best cars around  

6. When did you go to your first funeral and viewing? I went to my friends mums funeral in 2008. It was awful, she was far too young to be taken. 

7. Who was your first grade teacher?  Miss Temme 

8. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane? 18 months old :) My dad is from New Zealand so we went every 2 years or so - I'm an experienced little traveller

9. When you snuck out of your house for the first time? When I was about 14. The fly screen on my window was broken so my friends and I used to sneak out. But we didn't actually do anything, bar talk to some guys who lived near us. It was the least rebellious sneaking out ever.  

10. Who was your first best friend? Natika - we don't talk anymore though 

11. Who was your first Best Friend in high school? True Blue Kangaroo. We've been best friends since we were 13

12. Where was your first sleepover? Probably Natika's house. Or possibly Julia. Someone. When I was around 6 or 7 

13. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day? The Boyfriend, Smoochy Fox, mum. In that order

14. Who's wedding were you in the first time you were a Bridesmaid or groomsman? I was a flower girl in my uncles wedding when I was about 8. And I'm a bridesmaid in The Boyfriends sisters wedding in September. And my friend asked me to MC her wedding in October :) 

15. What is the first thing you did when you got up this morning? Washed my face, then sat on the couch and cried 

16. First time you tied your shoe laces? Maybe I was 4 or 5? Who remembers that stuff?

17. Are you Facebook friends with your first crush? Uh no. That was probably Tom. And yeah, I haven't seen him in years

18. Who was the first person you met from the blogosphere? Jono from Inside a Students Mind. That's what got me blogging actually

19. What was the first music album that you bought? Something like So Fresh probably.

20. Who was your first celebrity crush? I can't remember. I wasn't really a celebrity crush kind of girl. 


So there is me.... again. I will try and give you a proper post soon, I just can't right now. Too many things in my life and in my head. 


Stay happy :) 

ABC of ASHLEIGH

Hi guys

Sorry, I'm neglecting you awfully at the moment. More separation is to follow as well. If you cast your eyes to the right of the screen you will see a lovely pink countdown box. What? Its into the single digits now? No way! Yes, dear followers. That is the number of days until I go on the ultimate Europe adventure. So I won't be posting much - but I promise copious pictures and stories when I return :) 

So, as a consolation prize, and because I don't have a lot of time, I ahem 'borrowed' this idea from Steph at The Odd Duck, who borrowed it from Deer Donna, who borrowed it from Elycia, who probably got it from somewhere else. Yes, if you also follow The Odd Duck, I did just blatantly rip off that paragraph from Steph. What can I say? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. 

So here it is. The ABC's of Ashleigh. 

A. Age: 20 and soon-to-be 21! 

B. Bed Size: Currently a king single, which is awkward when The Boyfriend sleeps over - snuggly, but awkward and down-right awful in summer. BUT - given that I'm moving in a week, I will be getting my lovely double bed back! I bought it with my very first paycheck and I LOVE it! 

C. Chore that you hate: Oh god, where do I begin. Dishes, washing, cleaning in general. When I'm rich and famous, I plan on hiring a cleaner 1 day a week (preferably Friday so I come home to a clean house) and having a dishwasher :) 

D. Dogs: Can't stand them. I don't think I have a more hated animal **shudder**

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee. I cannot live with my coffee.

F. Favorite color: Pink! Actually I'll go with almost any bright colour. I love expressing myself with colours, as shown in the pic above

G. Gold or Silver: silver

H. Height: 5'4" or 163cm - I'm only little :) 

I. Instruments you play: I played keyboards in the school band in primary school. But I haven't picked up an instrument for years, and don't really have the inclination to. I'm a hideously uncreative person. 

J. Job Title: Administration Assistant: Human Resources and Special Projects. Although I prefer to think of myself as Awesome Go To Person who Rules the Office. 

K. Kids: Not a fan. Don't have any myself, and I struggle with them anyway. Maybe this is the stage of life I'm at, but I can't imagine having kids. My current favourite blog is STFU, Parents. 

L. Live: Life To The Fullest and In Bright Colours? I reside in Perth, Australia. I can't imagine wanting to setting anywhere else either. Why would I leave The Lucky Country? 

M. Mother's Name: Amanda

N. Nicknames: Ash, Ashy, Smashleigh, Lobster - the last one is what The Boyfriend calls me, and the second last is my drunken alter-ego :) 

O. Overnight hospital stays: I've been in the emergency room twice overnight, both times for this weird chest pain I used to get. They never figured out what was wrong with me, and they let me go, and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to die. I'm tougher than that. 

P. Pet Peeve: Oh so many. Probably people not being considerate and polite. Like, if you want to cancel a plan, just tell me. Or if you fuck up, a simple apology is all thats needed. I'm a reasonable person, and I generally don't hold grudges, unless someone doesn't behave appropriately and apologise. 

Q. Quote from a movie: "If you're a bird, I'm a bird'" The Notebook

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: 1 younger sister. 

T. Time you wake up: Usually around 9/9.30. Unless I have to work. But I find it hard to get up in the morning :)

U. Underwear: Comfortable. Usually Bonds. Black, white or grey. Sometimes I splash out though - I just bought a pair of Superman underwear oh yeah :D

V. Vegetable you hate: I like pretty much all vegetables. I HATE mushrooms. **gag**

W. What makes you run late: Other people! I'm never late, unless someone else has done something or delayed me. I value being on time. It's almost sacrosanct 

X. X-rays you've had: Quite a few actually. There was my chest when I was in hospital, and my teeth at the dentist, and my foot when I nearly broke it on the bus coming back from rowing at school, and my hand when I jarred my finger so badly at basketball it swelled for like a week. 

Y. Yummy food that you make: Everything I make is good. Cooking is actually one of my hidden talents. I have to say, my risotto kicks arse though - pumpkin, spinach, chicken and feta - om nom nom nom nom. 

Z. Zoo Animal: Um, elephants, otters, monkeys, giraffes, zebras, lizards, penguins. I LOVE the zoo! I want to be married at the zoo. I went to the zoo yesterday actually. One of my favourite places ever :) 

So there you have it. The ABC of Ashleigh. Hey that rhymes. 

Okies, I will be back later this week - I will post before I go on holiday I promise :) 

Until then, 

stay happy :) 

Top 10 Guilty Pleasures - Lu3Lu from Lu3Lu's Crossing!

Hello again!


I would like to introduce Lu3Lu from Lu3lu's Crossing! She has such a sweet blog, with her inspirational posts and pretty pictures. If you ever want to feel good about yourself, and about the world, head over there!


1) Vampire Diaries
I have this joke that I wish Vampire Diaries would become like Days of our Lives and have an episode everyday for the rest of our lives. It's crazy but I absolutely love this show, like nothing no one says will get me to think otherwise.
Not only because Vampires are so in right now, but there are two sexy vampires that I get to look at and swoon over nearly everyday. How can I say no!

2) Disney Channel
I don't really watch cartoons, although I could sit through an episode of Phineas and Ferb and not complain a bit, but I do love Hannah Montana and Wizards or Waverly Place, Sonny with A Chance and Jonas LA, basically I just love love love all these teeny bopper shows on Disney.
I've been told I'm too old, and that I'm crazy for even being interested in them but what can I say they make me laugh.
Sometimes I even set my alarm for the next morning because I don't want to miss and episode and over sleep.

3) Cocktails
I could go out for cocktails everyday if I had the chance. There is just something so glamorous about saying 'I'm going for cocktails', my favorite has always been Sex on the Beach but I love trying out new ones. In fact writing this makes me feel like a cocktail right now, anyone up for drinks?

4) Potato Chips
I can never order any meal without chips even if it's a salad there HAS to be a side plate of chips. The meal just seems incomplete without it. I love them, but I feel guilty about it because of the carbs! I can go through two plates of chips.
Gosh.

5) Sleeping with the lights on or the TV light on
I'm not one of those people that has to have the light off in order to sleep. I kind of like light, the darkness freaks me out, and I get scared easily so I guess ever since I was a child I always felt better sleeping with the light on and I've never really stopped.
Sometimes I feel uber bad for leaving the light on so I just 'forget' to switch off my TV instead.

6) Free things
Who isn't a sucker for free things.

7) Tall men
I am pretty tall, and with heels even taller so I get excited when I see tall guys. Obviously not freakishly tall but taller than me both with and without heels.
Also, weird fact.... I like feeling short. I have a friend that says Your  tallness is such a great quality about you, and even though I love it, I love feeling short. I wouldn't mind standing around a group of tall people.
The boy is tall so I'm happy.

8) Cyber Stalking
It's not so bad, but when I get bored I like to 'check up on' old friends and sometimes people that aren't even my friends. It's fun.
I guess it's good that I am not bored all the time.

9) Long steamy showers
I just love showers, hot hot hot showers. Kind of just takes me into another world.
The boy always says I take longer showers than I need to, and I do kind of feel guilty for using that much water, but I can't help it.
I feel great after and during the shower.

10) Watching people fight
This may sound crazy but it's not what it sounds like..... or really sounds like.
I find watching shows like Jerry Springer hilarious because it's just a bunch of people arguing and fighting.
I don't like shows like boxing or wrestling though, I don't like seeing people get hurt.

Head over to Lu3Lu's Crossing to read more!

If you would like to guest post for me, with your top 10 Guilty Pleasures, another Top 10, or a different topic altogether, shoot me an email with a photo and I'd be happy to link it back to you!

Top 10 Guilty Pleasures - Lea from Becoming Super Mommy!

I would like to introduce Lea, from Becoming Super Mommy!

I've only just started following her blog, but it is fantastic! I urge you all to check our the latest post, Supermommy vs Tech Support, where she has to argue the existence of October 1, 2009. 

My Top Ten Guilty Pleasures
1. Candy bars.  I hide them everywhere.  I have a stash in the cupboard where I keep the spare extension cords, in my underwear drawer, and in my least-used pocket in my backpack.  I also have a few kitchen hiding spots, a pocket in my purse, and a conveniently placed pile of papers near my desk in which there is frequently a hidden piece of chocolate.  I'm not constantly eating it, but once in a while I get the bug, I but TONS of candy bars, and then I hide them.  And then, whenever I'm having a bad day or a rough time with homework or my kids won't let me eat dinner... I eat a candy bar instead.

2. The song, "Somebody to Love" by Queen.  I will sing this song so loudly that it shakes the windows.  One of my daughters is terrified- I wouldn't be surprised if she grows up to have a Freddy Mercury complex.  But singing along to that song just kind of makes me feel awesome.

3. John Fluevog shoes.  Best. shoes. ever.  SO expensive, though!  I buy a pair for myself every year for my birthday, and it's always an agonizing choice.  But now I have five pairs, and I adore all of them.  Guilt when it happens, sure.  But no regrets.

4. Sleeping in past my husband on weekends.  On weekdays, he's up and out of the house before our kids wake up.  It sucks, but it's true, and then the girls wake up and then I wake up and take care of them before I go to school.  But on weekends, I like to lay in bed and let HIM take care of the dirty diapers and the early morning silliness.  And I lay in bed as though I'm getting some sort of nice break, even though I'm the one who sleeps in all week anyway.  And it's awesome.

5. Blasting the music in my car.  I don't care where I'm going or how slow, if the music's too loud you're too old.

6. "America's Next Top Model."  Seriously, that show is addictive.  It's a problem.  You'd never guess looking at my crazy hippie clothes or my unwashed hair that I was obsessed with barely-legal toothpick girls covered in make-up and engaging in dumb petty drama, but there you have it.

7. Cheese.  Fancy cheese.  GOOD fancy cheese.  Stilton, roquefort... the stinkier, the better.   Especially if it's not from cow milk.  They know me on sight at the Whole Food's cheese counter.  I could set myself a weekly cheese budget and it would be significantly more than what I spend on clothes, books, and booze.  Combined.

8. Facebook Scrabble.  Have I ignored my children throwing their food all over the place while I tried to find the perfect place to play my seven letter word more than twice?  Oh yes.  Yes, I have indeed.  Bingo!

9. Zombie comics and movies.  Yes, I am a hippie, crunchy, progressive lady.  And yes, I love reading comics where people have their limbs eaten in front of their families.  "The Walking Dead" is pretty much the best comic ever.  And "Sean of the Dead" is near the top of my list of favorite movies.

10. Coming home from school and telling my husband how stupid all the other students are.  Which, of course, they are.  But it's not nice, and I wouldn't ever do it to their faces.  I'm small and they could kick my ass.

Lea's blog can be found at http://becomingsupermommy.blogspot.com 

If you would like to guest post for me, either with your Top 10 Guilty pleasures or with another Top 10, or another topic entirely, please email me, including a photo, and would be happy to post!    

This is my little sister Sam's 10 Guilty Pleasures that she wanted to do, and since I love her so much and she's being really annoying right now, here they are:


Blah blah blah we all have blah blah guilty pleasures that we don't want to admit to, but considering my only follower is sitting next to me, here we go!

1. Stealing chocolates from other people and never actually eating them

2. Watching myself get dressed in front of my mirror

3. Sleeping with more than one teddy

4. Picking my toenails, it may ruin my fingernails because I have such boss tough strength toenails but I can't help it!

5. Squeezing other peoples pimples, I literally fight people for a crack at their pimples.

6. Annoying the crap out of every single person that may choose to talk to me, this could be a very generalised thing, but it makes me laugh (like now with ashbash)

7. Palmolive naturals shower milk, its the honey one... (L) i brought a different flavour not long ago and it makes me want to cry

8. Drawing little cartoon animals, I won't lie to you... I do a MEAN rabbit in a carrot farm, also a great stick figure cat and horse.

9. Soy milk, I have recently discovered it because I wanted to try a soy latte at work, and it was love at first sip.

10. Quoting gay movies, e.g. Mean Girls, Step Brothers etc.

This was when my friend Daniel brought me this tassle thing on year 11 camp... I was pretty stoked and I wore it on my shorts for week.


Sam's blog is http://year12findingabalance.blogspot.com

Ten Guilty Pleasures

C'mon. Everyone has them. Don't deny you don't. Some are worse than others, but we don't judge here. I want someone to guest post for me, so email me with your 10 guilty pleasures  and a picture of yourself at your happiest, and the best one will be posted on here - linked back to you of course! 
I'll start you off. My 10 guilty pleasures are:

1. - Watching back to back episodes of Friends, wrapped in my doona on the couch
2. - Licking my finger and putting it in chicken salt, and eating the chicken salt straight (I know, I know, heart attack here I come)
3. - Tea with milk and sugar - I realise this is normal for some people, but I was always taught growing up that 'you don't put sugar in tea' - so whenever I need a comforting drink, thats it. 
4. - Taking my hot water bottle to work with me
5. - Putting on a pair of heels (no matter what I'm wearing), closing my blinds, blasting some music and dancing in the mirror - while lip synching and thinking I'm hot stuff by the way :)
6. - Deliberately setting my alarm 25 minutes early, so I can feel like I'm being rebellious and 'sleeping in', even though I'm right on time. 
7. - Blogging. I know, weird right? But I don't really tell people I blog, and if I do, I never give them the address. I don't advertise or put my posts on FB and The Boyfriend always refers to it as "blogging" (yes with the hand quotations). I feel like its my thing, and maybe the bloggy me is different from the real-life me. I think I'm more honest here, and I'm not sure I want others to see that. 
8. - Sleeping with 2 doonas. If The Boyfriend stays over, I feel that this just makes good sense, as I tend to be a blanket-hogger, but even when I'm alone, nothing feels better than being all tangled up in blankets. So snuggly.
9. - I never make my bed. Maybe this is an age thing, but I prefer getting into an unmade bed. As before, its just snugglier. 
10. - Researching wedding stuff. No, I'm not engaged, and don't plan on being engaged for a long time, but just the whole thing fascinates me. I'd love to get married somewhere funky and different, like Perth Zoo, or an aquarium. And bridesmaid dress - I have in my head exactly what colour they will be - fuschia a.k.a HOT PINK. 

So there you have it. My 10 guilty pleasures. Let me know yours by emailing me at freeman.ashleigh@gmail.com, along with a pic.