50 Shades of Grey - Book Review

50 Shades of Grey - book review

Well I just couldn't resist reading this book any longer. I am usually a "late adopter" of things. It took me a long time to use handy cards (I still have a cheque book though). I was one of the last of my friends to move to smart phones ( I love a good old Nokia that you can throw and it doesn't smash). There are many other examples but I wont go on.
I do think this book will be one of those "cult" books. Lot's of references are already been made in every day goings on and I don't understand all of them. I can make assumptions about some of the comments. "Oooh, could do with a bit of "Grey" at the moment" etc etc and so on. But direct references to the "Red Room", I have no idea what people are talking about. My Mother has even read the book and can "knowingly" laugh at references to this cult affair !!
So I decided to put "The Fiery Cross" aside and jump in, so to speak.
I am going to do this review as I read the book and will just pick up each block that I read with a # rather than a date. I will try to make my thoughts flow as best as possible.

#So far it gets a big Snore Snore from me. The main character is a winging pain in the arse and I don't think I am going to be able to finish it. My mind is wondering all the time and I have to re-read paragraphs
#Starting to put my detective hat on! Why is Kate saying that she should stay away from Grey? That he is dangerous! Why do I feel this will have some significance later in the book
#The writing style is not my cup of tea, dare I say it, its a little sloppy. But, is that what will give the book it's charm in the end? I like this Mr Gray's calmness and control. Does this come with being a cajillionaire or are you like that before hand? OK, so now is about where I start thinking the characters are real people, it's how I bond with a story. I just let myself go.
#I find romantic much more sexy than raunch and as I get into the more juicy parts I am thinking I am really not going to like this book. I hate male review shows and poster pictures of hot men all over the place. Don't get me wrong, I totally appreciate a good body and face, but I have all I want at home (brag brag) so I'm not enticed by that stuff. This book is starting to give me that trashy ---- mag feel! (I also don't have anything against raunch, just not tacky)
#I am now finding Mr Grey very intriguing. I am instantly thinking he has mummy and or daddy issues and can't wait to find out more about him. She is still boring me, to the point where I keep forgetting her name.
#If she says "inner goddess" one more time I am going to burn this book !!
#I know this is pretty woman crap. What can I say ? I am a sucker for it. "I've never slept with anyone, never had sex in my bed, never flown a girl in Charlie Tango, never introduced a woman to my mother. ..." That stuff I love, I just find myself not liking that he has fallen for Anna !
#My first time was horrible - haven't we all been there? How do we teach our boys to be better with their women? Without all the details. I guess we just need to give the details, and get over ourselves and the stigma of what we share and don't share with our children. The real question is what age do we start talking to them? Anyway I have digressed.
#I probably shouldn't divulge too much more (for those that are yet to read the series). I do like the idea of the contract though. The details are maybe not my cup of tea, but the concept is good I think. Is that what marriage contracts were originally about?
# Even though I am a strong independent person, I quite like the concept of clear roles in a relationship. I don't think the roles need to be fixed, they can certainly change over time and different stages in the relationship life cycle. We do need to know what is expected of each other though, and that involves clear, and sometimes difficult conversations. I like how the book is really exploring this.
#I have checked out all the music references and music suggestions by the "Mr Grey" and I really like all the music. You tube   has some suggested play lists, with the key songs in them. Definitely worth a listen.
So in closing, I am on to book number two ! I guess that is a good thing (or not). I am intrigued to find out more about Mr Grey and it distracts me from everyday serious stuff. That's not so bad. It's my B105 book I guess. Everything I read has a purpose and those purposes are all different, neither good nor bad just more ideas. Everyone takes what they want out of every experience they have. I mostly choose to find some value or good in everything. With that in mind, I will not be persuaded by the nay-sayer's and I am enjoying the series (with all its imperfections). I recommend you persevere through until at least half way through, it gets better.     

Read the book xxx



           

New Years Resolutions !

 

Hi All

I have decided not to set a New Years resolution this year. They haven't worked for me in the past, so I think a change of habbit is long over-due. 2013 will be what it will be, my attitude in general is what I am going to shift. I mostly have a good positive approach to life (I think), but I am going to put a little bit of more ME in what I do this year, and see how that goes.

I like this from  Miss Millionairess

 

A lot more self-loving coming on this year. I am working on the premise that, if I look after and nurture me. In the end I will have more to give to others.

 

What have you got in store for YOU this 2013 ?

 

Boxing Day Dinner - creamy scallops

 

With a house full, I had ordered extra seafood for boxing day dinner. And it went something like this:
Fresh scallops
Fresh green prawns
Leek
Coriander
Garlic
Creme Fraiche'
Snow peas
Angel Hair pasta

Just toss it in the pan in the usual order and add parmesan cheese to serve x
Yummmmmy
All the kids ate it to, from age 6 - 15.

What did you cook for boxing day dinner ?


 

Christmas Day and Night

 

Hope you all had a Merry and Safe Christmas ?

 

 

Mine was full of family, children and laughter. The big and little kids enjoying the magic of Christmas morning. Full of wonder and possibility. My mother sister and I shared a bottle of Moet - yumm. We visited some of my husbands family in the morning (he is one of eight) and that was, well, better left unsaid. Suffice to say, it was not welcoming, giving and Christmassy! (well I had to say something).  So, back to our house, where all our guests were chipping in to make the day fabulous. Full of food, of which I forgot to take photos of !! I must say that I bought one of Avon's  inflatable iced servers, and it's the bomb ! Loved it. All the seafood and salads sat in it on a serving table.

The menu was:

Roasts turkey, lamb and pork, with cold ham

Roasted potatoes, sweet potatoe, purple carrots, and pumpkin

Prawns, bugs and oysters

Rocket, pair, almond and parmessan salad

Roast beetroot,sheep feta and spinach salad

Green salad, tomato,advocado,spanish onion,cucmber

Potato salad with chorizo

And all the trimmings - cranberry, apple, seafood, dressings and sauces

Some nice wines and other heart warming resfreshments

Then Christmas pudding

Trifle

and other treats

All served with lots of love.

Kids then ran and jumped in our summer Kmart above ground pool that everyone loves and played in the cubby house.

Parents crashed on the couch and beds for an afternoon of rest.

 

So Christmas was lovely. To me it is about making it that little bit more special than other days of the year. When you make a bit more effort and a bit more allowance for those that need you to. You are more forgiving and understanding and you are celebrating how grateful you are to be in the world. With the people that surround you.

What is Christmas for to you ?

 

 

 

 

Rise of the Guardians - movie review

 

I went to see Rise of the Guardians with all the family (husband included) and I must admit I am a softy for kids movies. This one was particularly pertinent to our family at the moment because my kids have started to question the whole "Santa" thing. Other children at school have been telling my children that Santa does not exist, that "your parents put the presents out" and "when you get older, you will understand". They also go to a school that teaches religion, so there are a few teachers that are also very vocal about the non-existence of not only Santa but all the other guardians as well.

So, I took a deep breath and told the boys that, we have never given any details as to who and what Santa is, we have never lied to them (as suggested by the other children). We just have a special magical tradition in our houses that include the wonder of the possibilities of Santa, the tooth fairy and so on.
Human beings need hope, whatever that is to each of us individually. Hope is what makes us human.
Hope
Wonder
Joy
Dreams
And the courage to get through our darkest days for the chance of a better tomorrow. Without hope, there is only fear and emptiness.
If you are religious you are taught to believe in the Wonder of Jesus. Encouraged to Dream of the time you will join him. It is in this you get through each day to be the best you can in the Hope that you will please him.
If you are a person that follows other divinities you also believe in Dreams and hope, the Wonder of the universe and the Joy it can bring now and in the after-life.
If you just believe in yourself and the guidance of something bigger than you, then you too will have Hope, Wonder, Joy and Dreams in your world, too.
With all these things you will also then have Courage. The courage to get up and try to make each day better than the last, or to just make it through the next one.
So to all  those naysayers that want to remove this wonder in our children's worlds, I say to you. You might want to think this out a little more, you might want to think about what your children will replace this lack of Wonder and Hope with. Because one thing that is for certain (and you wont even know it) they will fill that gap. Don't let it be filled with fear and sadness. I understand that most peoples argument would be that it is not right to lie to your children. My answer to you comes straight from this movie. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
My husband and I have told our children that it's not the physicality of Santa that they need worry about. That we want them to just enjoy the magic of wonder and the possibilities in the world. Because it's wonder and possibilities that Do exist, they make us dream, invent, create and make the world a better place. So don't crush this spirit in our children, let them Dream a little longer. God knows we all live with reality for such a long time.
I loved this movie, and yes I shed a tear. My husband was asleep at the beginning, but woke for the rest of it and said he didn't mind it. The kids loved it and vowed that they didn't care what the other children said, they were happy to believe. xx

 

 

 



Sunday night dinner - Lazy

 

After a day in the garden and inside sorting out which of the kids toys to keep and what to give away (exhausting). I really could not be bothered cooking ! However, since I really don't like take away I usually start just throwing something together rather than get take-out. As any other foodie will contest, once in the kitchen, well, you know, the creative juices take over.

So tonight I cooked:

Voila ! 

Scotch fillet steak with sauteed vegetables and steamed corn.

Vegetables were shallots, fennel, leek, carrot, zucchini, brocolini. I caramelised the shallots,fennel and leek with some crystalised honey I had. I then cut the other vegetables up smallish putting in the stalks of the brocolini in as well and leaving the heads until the end.
 

You can see in the background the odd lengths of corn, that's because they are fresh from our vege garden.

 

The finished product, just a little coconut oil garlic and dill and the vegetables do the rest. Husband and kids satisfied xx

 

If you would like more detail on the cooking of this dish just comment below - thanks guys x

 



Annies Lane Kaffe Scarborough - Review

This is the first of what I hope to be many reviews on food providers. Of all shapes and sizes, cafes, restaurants, take-away, fast-food and more. I am in them a lot, so I figure, why not share what my experience's are. So to kick this off I will share the opening night at Annies Lane Kaffe. Annies Lane Kaffe   is situated on the beautiful Scarborough Beach Queensland. This cafe has been recently taken over by the lovely Annie and the gorgeous Ed. Thank god for the new owners, the previous ones were beyond ridiculous (that's another story) Crisp linen table clothed tables add to the already lovely environment, looking out over moreton bay. They had a duo singing and we also had a special appearance from some carolers, awwwwh.

 

 

You can check this and other reviews of mine at

Urban Spoon

 

Annie's does breakfasts and lunch from Wednesday to Sunday, and have just started Tapas. Tapas will be on Friday nights to begin with and if last night was anything to go by you will need to book to get in.

I do love Tapas style eating and this was an attack on the senses. Beautifully presented and good portion sizes for sharing - tick. Calamari melted in the mouth with a lovely crispy covering an aioli dipping sauce. Prawns were on a crispy julienne salad with sweet chili sauce (were a little over cooked but still delicious and fresh)

Beef empanadas were a hit with the whole table. Chicken and mango lettuce parcels. Mushroom and feta on rocket salad and mussels with garlic butter sauce were all divine. There are a few other items on the menu (which I will try next time) The prices start at $8.90 and go up to $12.00. We were certainly full bellied at only $22 per person.

Annie and Ed are still awaiting their liquor license so they invited Ocean View Estates Winery  to supply the wine for this evening. We enjoyed a smooth Shiraz.

I have been thinking about how I am going to rate my experience's, which I am a little adverse to doing. I am also sure I will want to re-rate earlier reviews as time passes, but a girl has to start somewhere.

Hmm so what to use, Sun dried Tomatoes ? Juicy grapes? Crispy Croutons? Hot fries? That gets me thinking. I will be reviewing all different venues, so maybe I should have different scaling systems for different categories. So for High level Restaurant / Cafes I will use Truffles. For all other restaurants/cafes, Sun dried Tomatoes. For other types of venues that aren't really trashy take-away let it be juicy grapes and for takeaway venues, hot fries.  All out of ten.

So the verdict on this Tapas experience will be (drum roll) 6 sun dried tomatoes. I have had two other real tapas experiences, one in Sydney and one here on the Peninsula and I am using these to help me come up with this rating.

Definitely worth a visit, it was their first night and from our perspective the entire night went smoothly. Oh and the kids loved it so thats always a bonus- well done Annie and Ed x