Iced Tea obsession!

Okay, so I am not kidding when I say that my favourite summertime drink is Iced Tea.
It can't be any iced tea either, the flavour has to be spot on.

It has to be sweet, but not too sweet -
And ice cold but no ice cubes either -
And it has to be chilled to perfection.

Here's my recipe for DIY Home Made Iced Tea...

You will need:

• 1L jug to mix everything into.
• A couple of bags of tea (I like this one: Peach & Pineapple from Red Seal.)
• Juice or cordial or other flavouring to add to and compliment the tea (I like this one: NJoy Fruit Juice Lime with Apple, Lemon & Mint. 
• Cold water, or room temperature water from your kitchen sink taps.
• A fridge to chill the mixture in.

Step 1:
Mix the tea according to the directions, place 2 teabags into the litre jug, adding water 

(I made it up to about half water with the tea mixture). 

Step 2:

Let the tea steep into the cool water for the 3-5 minutes (as per tea packet directions).

Step 3:

Remove the tea bags from the jug.
Add the Lime, Lemon, Apple & Mint juice to the jug of tea mixture.
Refrigerate until chilled to your liking.
         

Step 4: 

Enjoy!

It probably comes to no surprise then that my favourite Starbucks drink is the Passion Tea with Lemonade! (US web link, but similar info for the NZ version).

The ingredients of which of course are: (from the US website linked above).
An Infusion Of  [Water, Hibiscus Flowers, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Cinnamon, Apple, Licorice Root, Lemongrass, Fruit Juice Extract], Ice.

There are lots and lots of YouTube videos on how to make Iced Tea - I watched a few, but a lot of them seem to think you need hot water to steep tea in, not true!

Alexa Golden - she makes green tea in a keurig machine, I don't have one, but you can use your coffee pod machine to make iced tea (who knew?!)

The Domestic Geek  - is a favourite to watch, she's amazing and has LOADS of other drink recipes on her channel.
If you buy the cold/hot brew type you can choose making it in hot or cold water. It's a bit freaky to start with, but it makes sense.  Also I don't sweeten my tea - if you choose good flavourings you won't need to sweeten it.

Diva's Can Cook also has a YouTube channel but I found them here. So good! They also have loads more recipes for food and other beverages, so check them out!

What are some of your favourite recipes for making iced tea?
What's your favourite summertime drink? 

I also want to know what YOU think. I've created a quick survey HERE which shouldn't take too long.  I'd love to hear your FEEDBACK! 

Until next Monday,
xx Lisa.

Sourdough Bread - recipe

Sourdough Bread

Starter - Method One

DAY ONE: Mix 1/2C wholemeal flour in 1C filtered water, cover and leave for 10 days.

DAY TEN: Add 1Tbsp flour and mix.

DAY THIRTEEN: Add 1 Tbsp flour and a little water and mix.

DAY FOURTEEN: It is now ready to use.  It should be the consistency of pancake batter.

Starter - Method Two

DAY ONE: Mix 2C of flour and 2C of water.  

DAY TWO-SEVEN: Add a little flour (and water if required) everyday to keep it at a soupy consistency. It should go bubbly and have a wine-like smell.

DAY EIGHT-FOURTEEN: Leave for 7 days before use.

Making Bread

1C starter

3C warm water

seeds of your desire (sunflower, linseed)

Mix starter and warm water and enough flour till it develops a pancake batter consistency.  Leave for 8-12 hours (overnight is good).

Take out 1C (to replenish your starter for next time, set aside).  To the remaining mix in 1tsp salt, any seeds you wish to add (sunflower, linseed) and enough extra flour to make a stiff dough (stringy-ish).  Put into a pan that has been oiled (and coated in seeds/oats).  Leave to rise for 4-8 hours.

Cook at 200℃ for 1 hour.

Recipe credit.

27 things to do when you're 27

Tomorrow I'll be turning 27 and I remember reading an article about a year ago someone wrote on the "27 things you're meant to do by age 27" or something, and the internet went into an uproar about the suggestions because it was like - don't listen to boy bands when you're over 27... and only wear, do and say certain things.

Well in response there was a pile of awesome bloggers (and others) who replied: Screw you and your thoughts, here's what we have to say! 

Here are my own 27 things while I'm 27, that I hope to accomplish in this year:

1. Continue with my education:
Get my degree.
Seek out the best ESOL teaching training options, and pursue them!

2. On Love:
Get engaged? Get married? Have fun with Dan.
Be smart about what to say when someone asks when you're getting married - it's very personal.

3. Be in the moment... 
Too often I'm busy, busy, busy and too hectic to just be.

4. See more of the world, and the beautiful country I live in. 
Go exploring in a new (to me) part of town. Take photographs and get awesome memories in the process (to later share some on here and Instagram too).

5. Use Sunscreen. 
Skin Cancer in my family means I'm already at a higher risk for it than I'd like.
Use the proper SPF stuff.

6. Stop worrying about what anyone else thinks of you, just what you think of you. Who cares if you buy your clothes on sales, or from the bargain section of the shop?

7. Get more of my university assignments in, on time. Being on time is a great skill to have too.

8. To learn how to appreciate being alone. To think. Plan. Make my own path for the future.

9. On saying No when you really don't want to (or can't) do something.
This is something I've been working on. I find it easier now to say no, but then the guilt gets me. I need to work on losing that guilty feeling (like I'm letting someone down by saying No.)

10. Update my Instagram / social media accounts more. But don't let it become an obsessive need to do it. Weekly updates are probably best.
And to post my blog posts onto my Facebook page each Monday when they're published here too.

11. Have more time with Friends. We're all so busy all the time with work, school, and other commitments that we barely see each other for months on end. (Crazy!)
I'm going to be trying to meet up with a couple of friends for walks/ swims and chats more often.

12. Learning a new skill. I've been working on teaching ESOL for a few years now and I'm still learning constantly. I teach one on one, so those kinds of lesson set ups with a student don't scare me. (They used to!) ... whereas I'm still not 100% in the way I teach, so I'm learning to be more perceptive of how my student learns and adapting my teaching style to them.

13. On food: 
Learn how to cook a signature dish. Mine just might be couscous. A year or so back Dan admitted to me that he couldn't stand rice. One evening I decided to try making couscous and we both love it. I've learned over time that couscous needs more flavour so adding some cumin and butter is awesome.

14. On fashion: 
I'm no fashionista! Generally I wear clothes that are comfortable. I'm not into fashion or the latest runway styles. I have my usual grab and go set that I wear often (I'm looking at you leggings!)... Recently I bought a crop top, so I am keen to learn how to wear that. It's striped white and black. If anyone has tips - leave me a comment.

15. Find, follow, and comment on other people's blogs. 
I recently found Helene in Between on BlogLovin'.
BlogLovin' also has a great email newsletter which puts you in touch with other blogs you may like. I've been subscribed to the main email list for a while, and love it.

16. Use protection: 
If you're like me and don't want a baby now, then use protection. I have my copper IUD in still, but there's lots of other options out there.

17. Figure out your finances:
Student loan? Yeah, and it's not pretty. ~$45,000 owing on mine*.
The good news is though, that I have no other debts. No credit cards and no overdraft. 
I had a $500 overdraft, with my bank and paid it off quickly. I also cut off that feature so I can't go into more debt again.
And just as I set myself a goal to aim for: to buy myself a tablet (to use for teaching, as well as University study...) and then I realise - fully upset now - about how close it is to Christmas.
This year is the final one I'll be having at home with my family; Next year (2016) is all about studying and saving hard to afford TESOL studies in 2017... before moving overseas! (late 2017 / early 2018).
*I haven't finished my studies either, so I have a little more which will go on there in the next 18 months. 

18. Creating a more homely home:
Keeping on top of my chores better, not letting washing pile up, or dishes take over the tiny kitchen.

19. Professional, in attire and in personality:
This is a current gap in my wardrobe, I dress relatively smart casual (so I think anyway?) So I have a distinct lack of black nice trousers and such for interviews and more business attire in general.

20. Making my health a priority: Up until I turned 25 I was biting my nails and making a right mess of my hands. It effected my self esteem and my feelings of worth.
Now I'd like to work on myself as a whole - eating well, drinking more water and just generally taking care of myself better. Since being diagnosed with Asthma at 21, I've let it be an excuse for my bad weight and health choices. I can exercise. I am lazy; I need people to support me in my fitness goals.
I am not trying to lose weight per se, but to become overall more healthy.

21. Facing things head on: If there's something difficult in the way, to face it like an adult and accept that things may be difficult. It's only a challenge for the moment. It won't last forever.

22. On music: 
Listen to whatever makes you feel something (it could make you dance and be happy, or cry...)

23. There's always a lesson to be learned: No matter what life throws your way, there's always something you can learn from the good, the bad or the ugly that comes your way.
Use these lessons in positive ways.


#24 credit

25. Stand aside from those who do not agree with you and your views. Embrace the whole "agree to disagree" vibe of life. 

  #25 credit.

26. Stop comparing yourself to others. 

The Jones' aren't at the same stage of their life as you are, and that's okay. 

Your life is not their life (and vice versa).

Life in the moment and just learn to be.

27. Be yourself.

Stop being ashamed of who and how you are. Embrace your quirks. 

You're you and your friends and family love you for being you. 

Warmth in Winter: Food

Of course during Winter time it's hard to keep spirits high and something I've always found to be good, of course is food. Glorious food. You can keep it all for yourself, or share it with others.

 I like to make enough to share, and then I'm often saddened to see it's just the two of us here for dinner! Ooops! Haha.

After our slow cooker up and died - and was subsequently replaced here, and I had been using it for cooking dinner more. During winter it is nice to come home to a warm meal.
It also makes it easier to face the cold weather and to come home from university for the day knowing that there's warm food (and a warm apartment) waiting for me.

This is my Food board on Pinterest, through Pinterest I found these* easy freezer meals to make and they're perfect to pop into the slow cooker. I changed up some of the recipes slightly - like chicken was cheaper so we had bought it in bulk and I used that in place of some of the beef and lamb things.

In my Pinterest haze I also found Crock pot Roasted Chicken - not in an oven, in the slow cooker:
Slow cooker chicken 1.
Slow cooker chicken 2.

Last night I did a mixture of the recipes and went with my own version, I balled up tinfoil in the bottom of the slow cooker, dried the chicken off, then covered it in cooking oil, herbs and spices and seasoned it well, the let it cook in the slow cooker for about 4 hours on high. While it was going I peeled and washed (a lot) of vegetables: kumara (sweet potatoes), potatoes, carrots, onion (made into a bloom- although I don't use the seasoning in that recipe...), and then when everything was done pour gravy over the whole lot. (Last night gravy turned into cheese sauce, haha. It turns out that I didn't plan the groceries well this month!)
At the end of cooking the chicken - stabbing it has clear juices and not blood, you can crisp up the skin by putting it in the oven under the grill for about ten minutes. While this was going on (with Dan keeping an eye on it, oil tends to alight if not careful), I made up the cheese sauce - no recipe for that, it's a packet one (I'm lazy).

Night two (if there's leftovers) it becomes a stir fry fry up with vegetables, chicken etcetera all in one frying pan. Yum!

Night three (Is that even possible to have three days worth? - It is when there's only two of you.) it becomes another stir fry like the night before, or you add rice and make it a rice risotto?

Photo below: wasn't dinner exactly, but a previous one. 

(Same thing, really, isn't it?)

*Lots of other recipes in there too, 7 more in an hour, and 30 more etc. The links are at the bottom of the blog post in that link.

RECIPE Sweet and Sour chicken

This week's recipe is inspired off Sweet and Sour Pork, although sadly I forgot to get pork when I was getting the groceries! I had chicken though...

You will need: 
1/2 cup of sugar.
1/4 cup of rice wine vinegar.
1/4 cup of soy sauce.
1 Tablespoon of tomato sauce.
450g can of Pineapple.
Chicken - I used drumsticks...I've got about 4 in each pack.
(It should be 700g of meat for two people).

You could also use chicken breast or other meat: just chop it into cubes around the same size.

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients to combine.
Cook in slow cooker / crock pot on low for 6-8 hours until meat is tender.

Serve with vegetables and rice.


We ate this for dinner on Monday evening (which was yesterday).
Yummo! We switched out the rice for a little couscous.
Apologies for the late post! Was due out yesterday morning, Queen's Birthday.

Slow Cooker... Replacement and update

So a while ago I made the comment about my slow cooker biting the dust... It up and died on me.  The heating element blew; We could have replaced it ourselves, but we decided it was safer to throw it and buy a new one. I know, it's so wasteful, and I feel a little bad but safety first in our home!

RECIPE Chunky Beef Stew perfect for Winter

This week I've been thinking about my favourite recipes and dragging out my crock pot (slow cooker) to make some warm wintery meals. Yum!

Stew, the perfect warming food. And what's better than coming home and finding warm food ready to eat in the crock pot?

Chunky Beef Stew:

You will need:
450g of Stewing beef. I chopped mine into bite sized chunks.
2 Tablespoons of olive oil.
4 cups of beef stock. (I think I actually used chicken and vegetable)
1 cup of chopped Onion (I just cut a large onion into rings)
3 chopped Carrots (I used 4 and into large chunks)
2 Potatoes (I used more, because I love potatoes)
1/2 teaspoon each of rosemary and thyme. (I think I just threw in a few teaspoons of mixed herbs).
800g of diced tomatoes.

The recipe instructions:
1. Brown the meat and vegetables in a frypan with the oil before tossing them into the slow cooker.
2. Add the other ingredients.
3. Cook on Low for 6-8 hours until the meat and vegetables are tender.
Season to taste and serve with toast.

What I did:
Threw most of the ingredients (raw) into a freezer bag*, and froze it all. Pretty much on grocery day I decided to make up a load of the meals we eat and turn them into "freezer" versions.

*I didn't add the vegetables until the day I was cooking it though, as I find they go a bit mushy when I freeze them. (Due to the way the cell walls of the vegetables break down from the slow freezing that a home freezer does...)

When I wanted it, I defrosted it enough to get unstuck from the bag, threw it all into the crock pot. Added a cup of Salsa, and an extra cup of water. Turned on the slow cooker on high for about 4 hours, then ate some.
Yum!

The Apartment Year 3

Wow. Oh how time flies!
Dan and I have been living in our rented apartment for over 2 years now, we just signed on for another year - so we're good until January 2016.

During that time the apartment has housed three (or very, very briefly four) of us at any point in time.
Our first flatmate was with us in the first year, and when her and her girlfriend got engaged they decided to move in together. Since then we met Tom from Invercargill, he's a real character!
The three of us get on quite well and we're lucky he said he was keen to sign on for this year too, so we don't have to do the flatmate find any time too soon!

Special shout out to Tom as it's his birthday today.

Rose Tinted glasses, Parties and Birthdays

So it's official. I am older. Wiser? Stronger? Braver? More mature. Oh yes. All of those things!

Today I turned 25.
I'm quarter of a century old.
I now qualify for cheaper car insurance.
I can now also learn how to drive my parents left hand drive car! (I had no insurance until 25, to drive it).

Day 21 Style Cure (Final day!)

Day 21.
I made it. An entire month! Okay, so to sum up: today I vaccuumed the floors as I was cleaning so the 'after' photos would look amazingly awesome and I moved the new red rag rug to find...

Days 16-20 of the August Style Cure

Days 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 all in one go!

Day 13

Day 13... already!

More DIY: Style Cure Ideas

So to complete the Cure,
I need to get some more materials...

Interruption to the usual programming

We have an interruption to the usual programming, to announce that we're being rocked by Earthquakes.

Day 12 Style Cure

Day 12 of the style cure is already upon us!

Day 10 Style Cure

Day 10: Wednesday, August 14
Assignment: Make a Shopping List & Set Your Budget

Day 9 Style Cure

Day 9: Tuesday, August 13
Assignment: Your Decor Pairing: Project or Product

"Yesterday, in addition to locking down a color choice for your upcoming paint job we also asked you to think about a decor pairing - a well-considered project or product that will improve the interior design of your room by fulfilling some identified needs, both visual and use-based. Now that you've decided on the pairing, you need to figure out whether is is something you are going to buy (product) or make (project) and then do your research..."

Style Cure Day 5!

Style Cure Day 5 is to create a floor plan.
Because I'm not doing over a whole room - rather I am doing over parts -due to finances I went with brainstorming more ideas for how I'd like the space to look.

Day 2 of the Style Cure

So we're at Day 2 of the Style Cure already.

“You can have it all. Just not all at once.” 
― Oprah Winfrey
Thank you Oprah, that sums me up at the moment. With a budget at $0 and a head filled with ideas and dreams of ways to improve our situation, ah, one can do little but dream sometimes.
-- Hopefully in the near future I can afford to fulfil some of these ideas!

Today we're looking for ideas of what we like, things we desire and so on.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/day-2-weekend-chore-go-on-a-style-treasure-hunt-apartment-therapys-style-cure-192595


I created an inspiration board type dealio over on Pinterest;
You can look at it here;

http://pinterest.com/listay1/style-cure/

This is my main board which I am adding to every moment I can.


I also have other boards which are pretty sweet.
I started this one about Apartment Style's I adore.
Since we live in an apartment I am always looking for new ways to do things - soundproofing, neighbours noises, quiet zones in the apartment, colours and creating hang out zones.
http://pinterest.com/listay1/apartment-love/

And another one here about life in New Zealand:
Just interesting/ pretty pictures I've found online or added on myself.
http://pinterest.com/listay1/new-zealand-home/


“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” 
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

“People think dreams aren't real just because they aren't made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes.” 
― Neil Gaiman

August Style Cure from Apartment Therapy. Day ONE

This August I have decided to do the Apartment Therapy STYLE CURE:

Here goes, First challenge is relatively easy;

Fill in a questionnaire: 
The questionnaire can be found here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/atads/2013StyleCureInterview.pdf

1. List your favourites in each category:

Actor: Johnny Depp.

Actress: Meryl Strepp.

Artist: Mark Ryden (http://www.markryden.com/)

Writer: J R R Tolkien.

Music: Macklemore's Rapper: "Thrift Shop", "Wing$",  "Same Love" and "Can't hold us".

Restaurant: Tulsi (Indian restaurant).

Automobile: Mini. The old school ones from the 70's.

Movie or Television Show: Moulin Rouge.

Clothing (pieces, designers or stores): Pagani / Glassons. (It's a tie!)

Furniture (pieces, designers or stores): This is a tricky one for me. I'm trying to upgrade the furniture, but it's expensive and time consuming. As a result I have quite a bit of stuff made from MDF and it's on the cheap end of the scale. Ideally I'd like to get a whole bunch of New Traditional type stuff.
(I like the lines and styles of the traditional things, but Dan also likes the more modern pieces.)

2 Choose three words to describe your personal style: Eclectic: I have items from thrift shops and more expensive items (like shoes).
On the edge of the Hip Hop culture. (I love hip hop as a dance form).
Conservative yet slightly Rockabilly: if I could rock the 1950's look all the time, I would.

3. Think back over all the homes you have lived in, both as a child and an adult. Which 
rooms would you choose as your favorites and how would you describe them? 
Favorite room from a childhood home and description: A toy/ storage type room my dad built one weekend in the wall of our shared bedroom (Sister and I shared a room). Our bedroom on the 2nd floor had a void in the wall where the angled roof came down, so dad and some friends cut a hole in the wall and put a floor down. That's where we stored our soft toys and it made a great hiding spot!
Favorite room from an adult home and description: A spare bedroom at the end of the house. I made it into my art studio. It had great light and was very private because it backed straight onto a very large park: Pukekura Park (in New Plymouth, New Zealand).
TIED WITH: Our current bedroom: although I feel it still needs just a little bit of love to make it perfect.

4. Whom do you consider a role model? My Boyfriend Dan.

(Props to those who get the Macklemore reference here).

What three adjectives describe the qualities that you admire in this person?
That he is accepting of whatever I throw at him: no job, no money.
That he is kind.
That he is hard-working to help ensure we keep a roof over our heads and that he succeeds in his occupation.


5. Every home has areas that are “just right”. Which three spots or things in your 
home do you feel are beautiful and feel proud of, right now, as is:
1. My DIY shelf I created from a set of old drawers which had seen better days.
2. Art that I've created around the place. (Paintings).
3. The pin-board I put up a couple of weeks ago, in the lounge, showing off my photography.

6. A month from now, at the end of the Style Cure, how would you like your friends 
to describe your home?
Even better arranged & even more homely!

• Then, afterwards, analyze your responses: Go over your answers and make some connections to reflect upon.
  
  Questions 1 and 2 work together to help form a picture of your style - do the choices feel connected and consistent or varied and eclectic? Which of the words that you chose for question 2 could also be used to describe the majority of your favorites in question 1? What are the outliers? Example: Are you into the classics or searching for what's next? Do the offbeat notes or items in a space make the room for you or simply make you uncomfortable?

Eclectic with Modern Traditional. 

The offbeat things that just don't work in the space don't stay there long, they're not comfortable pieces or designs so they get moved out quickly. One example is our couch. It folds out to a sofa bed thing and it's really uncomfortable as a couch as well as a bed! I'd love to upgrade it at some stage... but it's also the BF's loved piece of furniture. Need to convince him that it's seen better days and can't be around forever. 

Questions 3 and 5 are different ways of connecting with what you find pleasing, comfortable and beautiful. You've tapped into your preferences in both a memory-based emotional way and in a practical, observational way to form a picture of a room you will enjoy spending time in. Example: Bright, simple and sparsely decorated sunlight-filled space or moody, happily cluttered, knick-knack embracing rooms lit by candlelight?

The spaces are eclectic-ly cluttered with pieces on every surface. The walls however are pretty sparse, we have posters, prints, and a lot of canvas' hung but they each have space around them. They're visually pleasing. Some of these surfaces *are* a little too cluttered so I may work on that.  

• Questions 4 and 6 are both about your aspirations and therefore can help to form a direction and goals for your Cure in terms of what you want your room makeover to provide to your homelife. Example: You'd like your friend to say "everything works so well together!" can be translated into a goal of "putting more thought into coordinating pieces". Think about the ways your aspirations can lead you - will they translate into going for better overall organization or finally embracing a more fearless use of color?

Overall better organisation. We moved in to the space around 7 months ago and it still doesn't quite feel like home. On the whole it's 70% home but not quite. Some things just feel a little out of space. However considering we're renting as well we cannot change some of the things - the horrible carpet which is stained, the paint colours, the white-ware, they have to stay. We can't change them.
Our items can be changed however, so I'd like to open up the entry way and declutter things. 

We don't have that table and so many chairs now. So that helps. 

The white trolley things looks better now as well. 

 

The blue smaller table with 2 chairs. 

One chair is now over in the lounge, so it doesn't look so crazy with 2 chairs for one table-space.

The competition/event can be found here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-style-cure-is-coming-sign-up-now-to-update-decorate-a-room-this-august-192191?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DAILY+8113+-+The+Style+Cure+Begins&utm_content=DAILY+8113+-+The+Style+Cure+Begins+CID_05905176652bf7e72764972daf1be485&utm_source=email_newsletter&utm_term=although%20I%20hope%20you%20are

Day one starts here:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/day-1-fill-out-a-style-interview-apartment-therapy-style-cure-192586?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DAILY+8113+-+The+Style+Cure+Begins&utm_content=DAILY+8113+-+The+Style+Cure+Begins+CID_05905176652bf7e72764972daf1be485&utm_source=email_newsletter&utm_term=interview%20questionnaire