after the change

I arrived at the salon yesterday round about 4:30pm and walked out pretty much 2 hours later. I received more than twenty-two foils, a fair cry from the six I had done for the formal in 2002. Which was the first and until now the only time I had, had a professional dye job. On two occasions previously I had dyed it at home with the 6-wash stuff. It didn’t just stop with the foils, after they were all folded up and looking pretty on my head, out came the bowel of 773 to give some oomph to my natural colour.

Kaliope had made sure to pick a colour that requires little care because she knows me 🙂 I am not one to spend anytime on preparing myself for the day, I need something that can get up and go with me 🙂

Then I sat under the heat thing that looked like an alien waiting for the colour to set and having some more quality gossip time with Kaliope. How us girls, had changed since High school, a mere 2.5yrs ago, both of us loosing weight, her relaxing and me becoming more girly (all about the pink) and as well as the rest of us growing up and developing into who we are today.

Then all of a sudden it was all done after the rinse out and drying and some halo shine to finish it all off. I love it so much!!
after

before the change

Well this afternoon I did the unseen, I went to visit Kaliope at work and had magic worked on my hair, I can’t take a photo till tommorow when there is light but let me just say they were the greatest two hours of the day, chatting to Kaliope whilst having my hair done, sitting under a very weird heat setting contraption and having fun.
I leave you with this picture, what my hair looked like – after the cut in London but before the magic of this afternoon.
before

The Girls

I have to admit I don’t get together often enough with the girls from school, with most of us at uni and Kaliope busy working we struggle finding the time but when we do such as tonight there is nothing better.ciok
Dina, Belinda, Kaliope and myself met for coffee at the local Toscani’s, we all ended up having Cioks (utterly dreamy italian hot chocolate), so having them again.

The big news of the night was that Belinda now has a boyfriend, a fellow chem eng student from Lismore and like Stewart and Dina, they are in all the same classes 🙂 – Had a few collective awws for Bindy over Jason. Spent the rest of the time talking about life, shopping, our guys, family and uni/work. Making plans for a Sunday shopping in a few weeks and hopefully a get together of some sorts for the guys to all meet each other. I am going to visit Kaliope her at work (Tsiknaris Hair)next tuesday to get my hair done 🙂

It was one of those nights when you leave with a smile that stays on your face for hours. I miss my girls when we don’t get together enough. Damm Uni.

I just watched the final Alias episode for season 4 and it gave me a total fright – I jumped in my chair but what a cliffhanger, cripes hey, man they have a lot of explaining to do next season.
This is my Kaliope girl, the violin playing, remedial masseuse, apprentice hair dresser and all round full of fun.

Kaliope

Happy Birthday Mum

Happy 54th Birthday Mum 🙂
Hope you have a good day and enjoy having a birthday in Iceland again.

Matthe and I are surving quite fine 🙂

X marks the spot

Stolen from Nadine
So tired at the moment, woke up at 3am this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep before had a 3hr nap before to prepare me for work tonight 8-12 and I start uni at 8am in the morning – argh.
Night before woke up at 5am and couldn’t get back to sleep.
This means I have gone to bed quite early both nights between 6 and 8. Silly sleep.

[ ]I am a cuddler.
[ ] I am an okay dancer.
[x] I am a morning person.
[x] I am a perfectionist.
[ ] I am an only child.
[ ] I am Catholic.
[ ] I am currently in my pajamas.
[ ] I am currently pregnant.
[ ] I am currently single.
[ ] I am currently suffering from a breaking heart.
[ ] I am okay at styling other people’s hair.
[ ] I am left handed.
[ ] I am married.
[ ] I am obsessed with my myspace.
[ ] I am online 24/7, even as an away message.
[ ] I am shy around the opposite sex.
[ ] I bite my nails.
[x] I can be paranoid at times.
[ ] I currently have a crush on someone.
[ ] I currently regret something that I have done/am doing.
[x] I curse frequently.
[ ] I don’t hate anyone.
[ ] I enjoy country music.
[x] I enjoy jazz music.
[x] I enjoy smoothies.
[x] I enjoy talking on the phone.
[ ] I have a car.
[x] I have a cell phone.
[x] I have a hard time paying attention at school.
[ ] I have a hidden talent.
[x] I have a lot to learn.
[ ] I have a pet.
[ ] I have a secret that I am ashamed to reveal.
[ ] I have a tendency to fall for the “wrong� guy/girl
[ ] I have all my (real) grandparents, none of them have died.
[x] I have at least one brother and/or sister.
[x ] I have been in a real relationship.
[ ] I have been in a threesome.
[x ] I have been to another country.
[x ] I have been to Europe.
[x] I have been told that I am very smart.
[x] I have been told that I have an unusual sense of humor.
[x] I have broken a bone.
[x] I have Caller I.D. on my phone.
[ ] I have changed a diaper/nappy.
[x] I have changed a lot over the past year.
[ ] I have cheated on a significant other.
[ ] I have done something illegal.
[ ] I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
[x] I have had major/minor surgery.
[x] I have had my hair cut within the last week.
[ ] I have had sex with someone I was not in a relationship with.
[ ] I have had the cops called on me.
[ ] I have kissed someone I knew I shouldn’t.
[ ] I have kissed someone of the same sex.
[x] I have mood swings.
[x ] I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.
[ ] I have passed out drunk at least once in the past 6 months.
[ ] I have rejected someone before.
[x] I have seen The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
[x] I have seen the television show The O.C.
[ ] I have tried a drug that is illegal.
[ ] I have watched Sex and the City.
[ ] I have watched the television show Spongebob Squarepants.
[ ] I like Shakespeare.
[ ] I like the taste of blood.
[x] I love to cook.
[x] I like to sing.
[ ] I love Michael Jackson.
[x] I love my friends.
[x] I love sleeping.
[x] I love to play computer games.
[x] I love to shop
[x] I miss someone right now.
[ ] I own 100 CDs or more.
[x] I own and use a library card.
[ ] I practice a religion that is not considered mainstream.
[x] I read books for pleasure.
[x] I shave my legs.
[ ] I sleep a lot during the day.
[ ] I strongly dislike maths.
[ ] I think Britney Spears is pretty.
[x] I was born in a country other than the US.
[ ] I watch soap operas on a regular basis.
[x] I will try anything once.
[ ] I work at a job that I enjoy.
[ ] I would classify myself as ghetto.
[ ] I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free
[ ] I can name all 7 of the dwarfs from ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’.
[x] I am currently wearing socks.
[ ] I hate summer.
[x] I am tired.
[x] I love to paint/draw/sketch/sculpt.

Pumpkin Soup

Growing up I never had a taste for pumpkin probably because I had never tried it, however after a few Guide camps where you took what you could, I started to like pumpkin. Then when we were at the Casino for dinner one night after Sean had played netball down the coast I decided to try the pumpkin soup – so very very yummy. So when my friend Beth was telling us about this wonderful pumpkin soup recipe she had found on the net, I thought I have to try this and oh my kitchen, it was wonderful 🙂

Yesterday I made a double recipe, using a whole butternut so I could have some for lunch and the rest to freeze for later lunches. mmmm 🙂

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND APPLE SOUP WITH BACON
Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

2 slices bacon
1/2 medium onion, chopped fine (about 1/2 cup)
white and pale green parts of 1 large leek, chopped fine and washed well (about 1 cup)
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 bay leaf
1 1/4 pounds butternut squash, seeded, peeled, and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
1 medium Granny Smith or other tart apple
2 cups low-salt chicken broth
1/2 cup water plus additional for thinning soup
2 tablespoons sour cream or crème fraîche

Accompaniments
Sour cream or crème fraîche
chopped unpeeled apple

In a skillet cook bacon until crisp and drain, reserving 1 1/2 tablespoons fat. Crumble bacon.

In a heavy saucepan cook onion, leek, garlic, and bay leaf with salt and pepper to taste in reserved fat over moderate heat, stirring, until softened.

Add squash, apple, peeled and chopped, broth, and 1/2 cup water. Simmer mixture, covered, until squash is very tender, about 15 minutes, and discard bay leaf.

In a blender purée mixture in batches, transferring as puréed to a clean saucepan, and add enough additional water to thin soup to desired consistency.

Whisk in sour cream or crème fraîche and salt and pepper to taste and heat soup over moderately low heat until hot (do not boil).

Serve soup topped with crumbled bacon and accompaniments.

Makes about 4 1/2 cups.
Gourmet
October 1994

From – Epicurious

Helen’s notes:
I have never added the Leek and just use chicken stock powder for the broth.
I use what ever apple is in the fridge and rarely thin it out with water, instead adding a bit more sour cream and blending it with sour cream in.
I always skip the salt and just add a few more bay leaves.