Rockin' the suburbs or are they rocking' me?

Okay, two weeks on and I am getting a little worn down. Believe it or not, the euphoria of suburbia has subsided and I am now plotting my escape...or the demise of one (or many?) of my cute and oh so furry but high maintenance four legged 'friends'. I use the term 'friend' loosely as friends tend not to vomit on your table, keep you up at night scratching and barking at your door or crap in your kitchen. At least I refrain from doing those things to ensure my friends are the kind of high calibre people I want to hang with.

I have decided that ten animals, whether finned or furry is probably equivalent to 2 or more children. Parents, I am not sure you would agree but hear me out. Everytime you turn around someone wants something. If you feed everyone, all 10 mouths there's extra things, like helping with math homework and books before bed.

Old Cat likes water to be turned on for him to drink in the bath tub. He lets you know by letting out a deafening yodel, deafening is ironic as he is deaf and hence the decibels of yodel. Tiny Cat also likes water lapped dainty from the drain but rarely coordinates with Old Cat possibly due to his bad attitude so if you're in the bathroom chances are something is thirsty in there with you! And is letting you know about it. In the bathroom you will also undoubtedly have the company of Epileptic Dog who is man's best friend in a similar way to an inability to remove glitter after crafting. She follows you everywhere, yes even to the loo. She is constantly in the way when you go to the door to to open a cupboard and you just feel guilty when you get mad at her for it for she is just so damn happy, even when you step on her toes as she is right behind you, right behind you. Don't turn around! Garage Cat needs cuddling as he is looking for a home elsewhere. Perfect I'd say expect my Mother likes him. Nervous dog whines all the time, shakes in thunderstorms and requires lifting onto beds and couches in addition to comfort during storms. Rats need changing and exotic foods and handling if there is extra time.  

It's kinda like this:

'Hey, could you do my a favour get me some dog biscuits out of the cupboard? That'd be amazing and I'd love you for it! I would! I would!'
'Yeah, sure'

'Hey, could you do my a favour...etc'
'No problem'


'Hey, could you do my a favour...etc'
'Yep'


'Hey, could you do my a favour...etc'
'Uhuh'


'Hey, could you do my a favour...etc'
'Here ya go.'


'Hey, could you do my a favour...etc'
'Yeah, yeah, yeah...'


'Hey, could you do my a favour...etc'
'Seriously?'


'Hey, could you do my a favour...etc'
'GO GET THEM YOURSELF!'

I always like to be part of a project

...however big or small =)

I was contacted by a girl on Couch Surfing. This a present for her sister who is 'fond of foreign languages'. Her birthday is in June and she is from Pavlodar in Kazakhstan. What a wonderful world we live at times.

I will be added to the collection here

quotes

Welcome to Animania!

'I'm Rocking the suburbs...just like Michael Jackson did...'

See Mum, that painter is here =) he's nice.

Happy Happy Animals!

Goodnight! ahh!

Crafternoon, Sat March 24th with Recycled Fabric PILOT

Dear Friends,


I am super excited to invite you to my Pilot for my 'Sustainable
Textiles Social Enterprise' called ReFab It! What a mouthful! What IS
that you say? Read on good people!


WHO: You! Happy friends! Enthusiasts and Experts!


WHAT:
A crafternoon focusing on textiles! Come along to make things out of
recycled fabrics. I will supply materials and LUNCH! The venue has
sewing machines as well as odds and ends to aid us in creating
wonderful things out of reclaimed materials. The aim is to show what
we can create! Share skills and knowledge! The reason why this is a
pilot is that I am applying for funding to turn this into an
organization! Think CERES Bike Shed but for Fabric! YAY!


WHEN:
This Saturday, March 24th! Come anytime from 10am-6pm!


WHERE:
Loophole Community Centre, 670 High St in Thornbury


WHY:
for fun, for learning, for creativity, for the environment, for
networking with crafters, for community, for the pilot and beyond!


BRING:
-a sewing machine (and things that go with it like thread) if you have access
-unwanted fabrics/clothes (you or someone else can re-fab them!)
-a sewing/fabric project you are working on
-IDEAS (never fear, I have some too!)


Sign up to the event and please come if you RSVP as I will need to
know numbers for lunch!


Cara


DIRECTIONS:
-Tram 86 (leaves from Southern Cross, Bourke St Mall & Parliament) and
goes right up High St. Get off at Normanby/Clarendon St and it is a 2
min walk to Loophole.
-TRAINS: Loophole is between Croxton and Thornbury train stations on
the Epping Line. From there it is probably a 10-15min walk.


Loophole:
http://loopholecommunitycentre.org/
Tram 86:
http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/route/view/1881
Similar organizations, CERES:
http://www.thebikeshed.org.au/


MORE INFO:
Australia is a high producer of waste when compared to other developed
economies. It is currently estimated that un-recovered textile waste
accounts for approximately 4% of the content in our landfills- that's
a needless 4%! The waste generated and its negative effects on the
environment concern government, industry and the community. Recovering
textile waste is a multi-billion dollar global industry that performs
a vital social and environmental function.

the world is an amazing place =)

'We've got to let go of this idea of an ideal world. The world is how you perceive it, it's ideal if you want it to be ideal. And they're in love, surely love is the ideal. And I want a bottle of champagne.'

-Simon Amstell

for me this week

http://www.postsecret.com/

Moving things =)

Moved things from Greensborough to Preston with my cousin Kathleen! I got to drive a ute! Hooray! And a nice ute it was too! Oh the power, horse power!

Beginning: Aldo (a saint) was a CSer who volunteered to help! Good thing he was there as there was more then I expected! Here he is roping things onto the ute in Preston.

Middle: Furniture and occupant at the new abode!

End: Returning the trusty steed to Bunnings. Just a typical ute driver clad in my floral attire!

A girls weekend should have...

...a beautiful setting (Nicole's house)...

...tiny cute tomatoes (from the garden)...

...delcious breakfast where one does not have to choose between savory and sweet (both please!)...

...the enjoyment of good coffee and its froth ...

...a dog head! (this is Pepe who loves me...okay, he loves the attention I give him...)

Moths in the pantry...everything out!

Hiiii! So much food!

A rather large moth. Housemate Shaun 'coming out of the closet'...with vigor!

PIE-fection! har har har

Let there be pie and a Sunday afternoon and into the wee hours of Monday morning!

The pies were hot, the chefs were keen to create and the music and wine was flowing! Pie night was a great success and heaps of fun with people coming throughout the party and a non stop flow of both sweet and savory pastries! Sometimes both at once. We made and enjoyed somewhere around 50 pies! Most were cut into pieces and shared between guests so we could taste it all!

My contributions for fillings were roast vegetable with fetta, red wine sautéed mushrooms, mashed potato topping and stewed apple and peach compote! Looking forward to doing it again sometime!

Let there be vegetable smiles! Horray for deformed vegetables, this is a two for one cucumber.

Let there be pie chefs creating culinary masterpieces:

Chef Dave (and proud owner of the odd but party-tastic, pie making appliance) makes roast vegetable and goat cheese (prepared by yours truly).

Chef Nico makes spiced chicken with peas, corn and mashed potato. Chef Bec in the background who was a pie making machine later in the evening!

Chef Yiz (a CSer living in Melb) making Chinese dumpling inspired beef pies (a big hit with carnivores).

Let there be crazy narcoleptic guests!

Let there be euphoria and abounding joy over the novelty of gluten free pie!

Let there be friends from far off places!

Let there be hugs! Daniel is an amazing hugger!

Friends!!!

YOU are invited to a PIE-A-THON!
Yes! We will be making PIES until we can make no more! Savory, sweet and
I'm sure some creations in between with the assistance of a rediscovered
Pie Maker for pastry perfection!

Your presence is most welcome this Sunday eve, February 19th from 6:00pm
until late for a PIE Party! Bring a pie filling if you're feeling creative
or something to share!

Love,


Cara =)

The thing I missed most in China...

I can't stop marveling at the colour of the sky. I forgot it was so blue and magnificent.

Who's so pretty? Who's a pretty sky? Yes you are!

Cara's Birthday Party!!!

Hello friends/ Nihao pengyou!!!

After 4 months in China I have returned AND IT IS MY BIRTHDAY! Fabulous! Please join me to celebrate another year of my life and my return to Australia (again)!

Sunday, December 11th from 3pm until late at my house in West Melbourne. As always, drop by to visit, nibble &dine. Bring something to share and hugs (China was lacking in the hugs department).

YAY! Can't wait to see you all!

Cara

Packing for China summer in Aussie Winter!

Think. Pack. Roll and band everything. Pack all the essentials. Who know's what they'll have in China. Surely they have that...maybe not. Put it in, take it out. But it's pretty! But it's shiny! But I like it! But it's heavy. Put it in, take it out. It's expendable, take it. It's precious, leave it safely at home. Envision it being hot, but its cold right now! Envision it being hot...it will be hot...very hot!

Off toooo....CHINA!

Dear friends,

I'm off to China (on a scholarship)!! I am going to Tianjin (1 hour from Beijing) to take photos and learn Chinese.

Please join me for a farewell soiree on Sunday, August 7th from 3pm until late at my house in West Melbourne. Drop by to visit, nibble &dine. Bring something to share and hugs.

I will not have access to Facebook in China so you can follow me here as usual or email me. I hope to send out regular messages, telling you about my adventures, if you want off the Chinese mailing list, just let me know =)

Much love,

Cara

Visiting Strawberry on the Gold Coast!!

this is not my photo

Hello!

My friend Strawberry had an extra ticket to the Gold Coast for the weekend and so here I am! I left straight from uni and have nothing but a phone, wallet, photoshop book, hard drive, some chocolate....so as I sit here typing I'm in a beautiful dress of Strawberries', have been given a toothbrush and borrowed a Cannon SLR to take pictures with! The stars are aligned and Strawberry is so happy to have me here and with nothing shows my dedication!

Last night I flew into the Gold Coast airport, got a ride with the guy sitting next to me to Surfers Paradise and met up with Strawberry and her contingent of friends. We went to beach and the surreal night view of skyscrapers on beach was my first experience of the Gold Coast and something like an Asimov novel. After, Strawberry took us to 'the Swinging Safari' which is the funkiest place yo hang out apparently. There was live music and a friend of Strawberries started rapping along with the band while we dressed up in floral costumes provided by the establishment!

Strawberry leaves for Europe soon so we are visiting her family (it's nice to finally meet the people I have heard so much about) and relaxing after a busy uni and work schedule last semester! Home Monday night to see my friend Jarrod before he leaves for Peru. Then get some editing done and start working on projects for the holidays. Submitting an application to go to China today through the Australian government and RMIT...life sure is interesting!

Shooting this gig tomorrow!

Want more info?

Girls night photos!

The girls party was amazing! I was so happy and elated to have my house full of wonderful women both friends and new faces! So many new faces! I will upload photos soon! The night kicked off slowly with ladies trickling in and food being prepared and sampled in my cosy and bright 3rd storey kitchen...slowly that is until garbage bags of clothes were unleashed all over the living room. Shirts came off & the party was in full swing including three fellas who were trying on clothes with the ladies and I must say they came up with some fetching combinations!

Girls Night/Clothing Exchange Party, May 13th =)

Hey ladies and men who would like painted toes,

I am having a clothing exchange party/girls night next Friday, May
13th at 7pm. It us at my new house so if you didnt make it to the
housewarming come have a look: 32 Abbotsford St, West Melbourne.

I would love to see you there. Further information about what to bring
and the idea is below. Ladies are already offering up skills! This
party will be in honor of my friend Rachel as she hosted the last
parties I had and we were planning to have a girls night together in
my new place. So now, we will have a great time in her honor! I would
love it if you came or even stopped by so we could catch up. Life is
too short to not see each other.

Cara

BRING:
-Clothes, jewelry, anything (the ones you never wear or have enjoyed
but would like to find another home).
-Beauty suppli
-Nibbles or a dish to share
-A gold coin if we buy ingredients for some creations.

DIRECTIONS:
-Tram 57 leaves from Melbourne Central or Flinders St on Elizabeth St.
It turns at the Vic Market. Get off at Eroll and Victoria and walk 5
mins.
-Any TRAINS that go to the west go through North Melbourne station! My
house is a 2min walk from that station (Upfield, Craigieburn, Melton,
Sunbury, Weribee, Williamstown lines


If you missed the last event, here is the concept:
WHAT TO BRING:
Beauty supplies: raid your cupboards and those of your friends, see
what you can bring to share! Nail paint/varnish + remover,products,
make up, curling iron, straightener, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO SHARE.

CLOTHES/ JEWELRY/PRODUCTS (anything) TO SWAP! The idea is you pile
everything into the middle and everyone tries on what they like and
somehow we decide who gets what, nicely, usually by fit/look.

THE AIM:
I'd like to paint nails (I have paint I never use anymore!), learn
more about make up (a bit clueless really), make some recipes from a
beauty book (I will buy ingredience and we can all put in $2 or
something), learn how to braid hair, mud mask...ya know, anything like
that. We can share what we know how to do and help each other. Hair
cuts are on offer apparently.

MEN- Beware you may end up nail painted!

YAY! It's April!

I talked to my friend Kris last week and she said 'You must be happy March is over' and I've decided that's a great way to think about it! March was terrible, it really was awful. April looks much brighter. House warming party coming up and connecting with local friends.

Thank you to everyone for your support in March. I have had some lovely letters from couch surfers and friends and so many people have offered to help.

Cara