Food for the week

This might sound strange but I've just worked out our weekly food shop - 10 years after leaving home! These are the basics we'll get through each week, with a bit of wiggle room when it comes to making quick dinners and work lunches. It's nice to have a list that doesn't change much, and a fridge that's almost empty at the end of the week.

Here's what's always on the list:

Apples and bananas for snacks.

Berries if they're in season, to make packed breakfasts a bit more exciting.

Avocados and tomatoes for work lunch sambos.

Baby spinach for smoothies, emergency tuna pasta and chickpea salad (a super easy weekday lunch).

A bunch of parsley for salads and soups.

Lemons for avocado toast, pastas and salad dressings.

Yoghurt for lazy breakfasts, porridge and curries.

Milk and bread.

Things like carrots, celery, onions, eggs and cheese get bought a couple times a month if that. If we're both home for the whole week, I'll also shop for ingredients for two dinners.

And just in case you're wondering, I look after 95% of the food shopping as a trade off for Tony doing all of the laundry! I love grocery shopping -  this was my favourite book as a kid.

Am I missing something delicious or great? Let me know!

A shopping experiment

I read The Art of Frugal Hedonism last year and it inspired me to try a simple shopping experiment. I spend a lot of time online, so I made a point of unsubscribing to every business e-newsletter that popped into my inbox. I also unfollowed companies on Facebook and Instagram, which included everything from local cafes to clothing labels and florists.

I loved getting ideas from these accounts and being reminded of what they made, just in case I had to buy a present for a friend or needed something new. But not finding out about a new menu or an upcoming sale has really helped me spend my money more carefully. I also visit shops a whole lot less.

I am still buying things but it's more on a needs basis. In preparation for winter, I tried Caroline's capsule wardrobe planner. I didn't make it through all of the steps but I did sketch out (!) most of my cold-weather clothes, which is how I discovered that I have a million tops but hardly any pants. It also helped me work out which items of clothing I love wearing, and that's made the times I do go shopping a whole lot easier.

Sweet things for $20 or less

I picked up a few souvenirs while I was in Sydney last week, including this funny make-up pouch that I'm planning to use as a clutch. I considered buying its furry mate too. They remind me of Anya Hindmarch bags, which I love but admire from afar.

I went to the MCA zine fair on Sunday and I cleaned out my wallet in 15 minutes flat. I made a beeline for Lee Tran Lam's table because she always puts together a dense and well-written zine based on a theme. This year it's work, and it's a steal for $10. I've been reading bits before bed and in my lunch break - the interviews are funny and energising too.

I also picked up an Indonesian recipe zine (my Dad grew up in Surabaya) and thought about buying these Seinfeld badges for a friend. I bought an emoji zine instead :)

Two good things landed in my letterbox while I was away. I can't wait to get stuck into Molly Wizenberg's first book, A Homemade Life. I only started reading her blog a few years ago, and I feel like her memoir is going to fill in a lot of blanks. It's also a recipe book in disguise.

There was also this little pin (with eyes!), which  is going to take up residence on my trusty stripey t-shirts and add a bit of cheer to my work blazers too.

Creature comforts

It was properly cold over the weekend and while I'm a little nervous about winter, I'm also really excited about the cosy months ahead. Here are a few things I'd love to gather, starting with this subtly scented candle. My sister-in-law gave me one for Christmas and it's very hygge.

A box of spicy tea to brew in my flask for weekend walks and work days on the road.

The power issue of Salad Days, to keep me strong and motivated during the coldest months.

A bright woollen blanket for nights spent reading on the couch and watching Netflix with Tony.

And a new baking book that promises to re-invent the classics because nothing heats up a small space like having the oven on :) I'll be making apple crumble whenever I can.

The market shop + a favourite treat

I've never been one for meal planning but I've found a way to make it flexible and easy. Most weeks I head to the farmers markets with two meals in mind. This week it was spaghetti and meatballs (my favourite) and a sausage and kale soup. The week before it was lasagne (Tony's favourite) and Sophie's coconut Thai stir fry. Bonus points if the meals have a shared ingredient!

There are also weekly staples, usually apples, tomatoes, salad greens, eggs, lemons, yoghurt and a block of really nice cheese. All up, it's enough fresh food to last us the week and minimise food waste.

I really look forward to the market shop and there are so many to choose from in Canberra - they run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Sunday market is my favourite, I head there as soon as I wake up and it's always buzzing with people and every kind of cute dog. And now that it's warming up, I get an orange slushie (with a blood orange swirl!) for the trip home.

P.S Here's what student nutritionist Kate Levins buys each week, I've also been inspired by Yasmeen's weekly market shops and food writer Michael Pollan.

A gift giving challenge

I love shopping for presents and can easily go overboard at Christmas time but this year I've set myself a few simple rules. Here's what I have in mind:

Making use of my local book shop

I try to support my local bookstore instead of buying books online. I feel like it's good for local business and hopefully better for the environment too. And if they don't have the titles I'm after, they're always happy to order them in. Bonus: my local bookstore has a loyalty program :)

One or two people at a time

Instead of trying to tick people off my list when I'm out shopping (and getting sucked into special sales), I'm focussing on one or two people every week. Often it's a family member and a friend. It's really nice to mull over ideas during the week and seeing what comes up.

Staying local

And I would love to limit my shopping to places I can walk or ride to, either from home or my office. There are so many great independent shops in Canberra (lots of gallery gift shops too!) and I figure it'll be a fun way to shop, and environmentally friendly too.

Two small ideas - in the past I've given family presents like a zoo pass or an oversized beach towel. My friend Angie will often pick a theme for the little people in her life, one year all of the kids received a pair of PJs featuring a print of something they love. Last Christmas my friend Sophie gave Tony and I lunchboxes and we used them that day. Can you guess which one is mine?

Pretty things

How's your week going? I had a bit of a bumpy start with a few things going wrong at work and not enough sleep. I also think the crazy wind has something to do with it :) So here are a few pretty things to make it all okay, starting with these amazing earrings because I'm starting to feel like wearing glasses and big earrings at the same time is really no big deal.

I messaged my friend Danie about this book the other day and she already had one on order! It came out in the States last week and I've been seeing non-stop great reviews on social media. I'm going to order a copy tonight :)

And finally, we're this close to booking a beach getaway for summer and I've been daydreaming of things to pack. This sunflower pinafore is super cute and 100% cotton too.

A new dress for spring

My spring dress arrived last week and for once it's not black. It's actually part of a shopping ritual that started accidentally, a couple of years ago when I bought a black Witchery dress for a job interview.

I didn't get the job but I've worn the dress everywhere, to my hen's party, on my honeymoon, out to dinner and to work most weeks. It's still going strong after two years :)

So inspired by my fluke purchase (and my attempt to give my jeans a break every now and then), I've been buying two new dresses each year. One for the warmer months and another for the cooler ones. 

My most worn dresses are super flattering, work in the office and on the weekend, and they're always machine washable. The last three dresses have been either black or polka-dotted or both - so I'm especially excited about wearing some colour as the weather warms up.

P.S If you're interested, this was my autumn/winter dress from last year. I still wear it every week.

Photo by Steele. 

An awesome vegetarian cookbook

My latest go-to cookbook is The Love & Lemons Cookbook. I bought it for myself last month as a belated birthday present :)

I used to go to the farmer's markets with a very specific list of ingredients for whatever recipe I wanted to cook that weekend. I love this book because all of the recipes are built around one hero ingredient. It makes it easier to buy what looks good at the markets and make a meal around it.

The book is based on the blog of the same name and it's divided into 17 chapters, each based on a different fruit or vegetable. So far I've made the crispy baked eggplant (my favourite), miso and brussel sprout fettucini, pumpkin and black bean enchiladas (a hit with Tony) and the almond granola. It's been an excellent way to eat more veggies, which was one of my goals for the year.

If you're curious there are plenty of recipes to try on the blog. I started with this pumpkin and sage penne and added parmesan cheese and chilli flakes. I'm keen to try these almond butter brown rice crispy treats soon.

P.S - When it comes to eating more greens, I've been washing and spinning a big batch of rocket or salad leaves on a Sunday. And I've been making heaps more salads as a result :)

Pretty new things

I went shopping for winter clothes on Saturday and came home with a spotty scarf (on brief), a pepper grinder I've been admiring for ages and some bright wrapping paper. While I'm not so great at wearing colour, having a few colourful things around the house always makes things that little bit cheerier.

Clothes-wise I tried on lots of different things but didn't find anything that was hands-down great, and so I've decided to change my approach. Instead I'm going to save so the next time I see something I really love, I can buy it.

Also, I have a little goal in mind. I've never been camping (I came close last year only the weather got in the way) and would like to save for a little tent, so I can try out super short camping trips with Tony. I might practice here first to see if like it :)

I hope you're having a lovely long weekend. It's back to work for me on Monday but I've had a super relaxing weekend and am ready for it.

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