a common sydney story

Goodbye Sydney

2010-03-21T21:30:00.000+11:00

As I mentioned, I've left Sydney. My contract for my job ended and I've returned back to the United States. I have a new blog and I have a few exciting projects coming up [including one that involves vegan dessert recipe creating for a cafe- more on that on my new blog soon].

When I was brainstorming what to write in my last [and 99th! post] here, Megan suggested I make a list of things I will and won't miss about Sydney.

Miss List:

Deborah
Durand
Lindsay [and her sidekicks: Tim and Coral]
My favorite places [especially the dark chocolate sorbet at Gelato Messina]
Perpetual summer
Being so close to the beach
Long walks on the Harbour
The Eveleigh Markets
Exotic tropical fruits
Wearing yoga pants to work

Won't Miss List:

How expensive everything is [especially rent]
Sunburns despite my serious spf wearing
Giant, fuzzy spiders in my apartment
Tall poppy syndrome
Not being able to find certain key foods, like black beans

So with that I say goodbye to this space- and to the wonderful time I had in Sydney. Please follow me over here, where I am trying out a few new creative ventures and ideas.

Places to Go, Things to do in Sydney

2010-03-16T15:58:00.000+11:00

Confession: I no longer live in Sydney (!). I moved back to the States on March 5, but I wanted to do a few more posts here before I move on to new projects.

Here is a list of my favorite [mostly food-related] places in Sydney:

For Brunch

Four Ate Five
485 Crown Street
Surry Hills 2010
[Best vegan breakfast, great fresh juice, excellent coffee- ALWAYS crowded]

Sloane's Cafe
312 Oxford Street
Paddington 2021
[Cozy and sophisticated, beautiful courtyard out back]

For Coffee

Coco Cubano
97 Darlinghurst Road
Kings Cross 2011
[Free wi-fi, really good coffee and sandwiches, great place to people watch**]

Tripod Cafe
262 Abercrombie Street
Darlington 2008
[cheap good coffee, friendly staff, nice outdoor spaces in front and back]

Toby's Estate
129 Cathedral Street
Woolloomooloo 2011
[Seriously good gourmet coffee, lousy staff/service but a decent place to take up real estate for a morning]

Sweet Infinity
53 Riley Street
Woolloomooloo 2011
[Cheap, good takeaway coffee, no real seating, pretty books and magazines to browse while you wait]

For Food

Iku Wholefood
25a Glebe Point Road
Glebe 2037
[Vegan, lots of gluten-free options, lots of health-related magazines to flip through]

Gelato Messina
241 Victoria Street
Darlinghurst 2010
[Lots of delicious dairy-free sorbet options, dozens of gelato and frozen yogurt flavors, always completely packed]

Laurie's Vegetarian
286 Bondi Road
Bondi 2026
[Amazing burgers, great salads, grab food for takeaway and head down Bondi Road to the beach]

Thai Times Nine
45 King Street
Newtown 2042
[Lunch special is $6.50, really nice courtyard in the back, the only Thai place I trust in Sydney to make something vegetarian- lots of bad experiences at other Thai places with meat in my food]

Betty's Soup Kitchen
84 Oxford Street
Darlinghurst 2010
[Big bowl of soup and bread for <$10, fun atmosphere, very vegetarian friendly, nice staff]

For Drinking

Macquarie Hotel
42 Wentworth Avenue
Surry Hills 2010
[Only microbrewery in downtown Sydney (as far as I know), live jazz every night of the week, very comfortable, great crowd]

East Sydney Hotel
Corner of Cathedral and Crown Streets
Woolloomooloo 2011
[old school pub, great local crowd, no drunk bogans, the only bar in Sydney without poker machines!]

Name This Bar
197 Oxford Street
Darlinghurst 2010
[oh so hip apparently but on the week nights its really relaxed, not terribly loud, great location to meet friends]

Signs of Sydney: Not a Sign BUT Very Confusing

2010-03-04T07:00:00.000+11:00

Lindsay and I were in a dollar store in Newtown a few weeks back when I spotted this box. This box looks like it has brightly colored Easter eggs and glittery streaks painted on it, yes?

Wait til you see what was inside when I opened it ...

A bizarre day-of-the-dead skeleton wearing an Uncle Sam hat.

Easter eggs meets traditional Mexican holiday meets American independence? Made in China.

It was $2 and no, I did not buy it.

Words of Paddington

2010-03-03T07:00:00.000+11:00

One of my favorite things about Paddington is all the different signs and words on all the shop windows running down Oxford Street. These are a few selections I snapped on my walk home from brunch on Sunday.

St. Stephen's Graveyard in Newtown

2010-03-02T07:00:00.000+11:00

Sorry for all the Newtown-related posts recently. I've been spending a good bit of time around that neighborhood recently with Lindsay. It's also, hands down, one of the coolest Sydney neighborhoods. I promise more diversity this week, especially given that it's my last week here in Sydney!

Monday Morning Cute: Paddington Puppy edition

2010-03-01T10:49:00.002+11:00

I literally almost took him home with me. [On Oxford Street in Paddington yesterday morning.]

Let's Eat: Baked Falafel Salad

2010-02-28T13:40:00.000+11:00

This should also be called: I was trying to use up the leftover things in my kitchen before I move salad.

I diced a slightly soft tomato, 1/4 head of a cabbage, and 5 baked falafel patties which I reheated first, making this salad slightly warm. I tossed the whole salad with ... [don't laugh] malt vinegar. No, I don't remember when I bought or why I have malt vinegar in my cabinet- but it was quite tasty on this salad.

Flower Houses

2010-02-27T11:47:00.001+11:00

There's this little sidestreet behind King Street in Newtown that has four little row houses on it.

Each house is 'named' by a specific flower.
I think they're really adorable.

Signs of Sydney: Secret Sandwich Society

2010-02-26T11:29:00.000+11:00

All I have to say is: can I please become a member?

[Sign on King Street in Newtown.]

Newspaper Taxi in Newtown

2010-02-25T10:22:00.000+11:00

Artisan soaps ...
Pretty displays ...
Stationary ...
Vintage tablewares ...
Adorable French postcards ...

AND MORE!!!!

Newspaper Taxi in Newtown [ http://newspapertaxi.com.au/] is my favorite store in Sydney.

Walk from Eveleigh to Newtown

2010-02-24T09:54:00.000+11:00

This is the sort of bicycle I want [to learn how to ride].
These flowers [whose name I do not know] smell and look lovely.
I love this adorable little house with the blue roof and fence.
There is a very hip flea market near the Newtown train station on Saturday afternoons.

Let's Eat: [Vegan] "Toll House" Cookies

2010-02-23T07:36:00.000+11:00

I made these beauties the other week for my flatmates. They devoured them within 6 hours.
This recipe yields 3-5 dozen depending on the size of the cookie. [That's a lot of cookies to eat.]

The original recipe is here. For Megan [and anyone else who wants vegan substitutions!] here are the changes I made to the recipe.

Instead of:

butter I used margarine [Earth Balance would be the best American alternative.]
granulated/white sugar I used raw sugar. Raw sugar is great in this recipe because it gives them a nice texture since raw sugar doesn't dissolve all the way like granulated/white does.
eggs I used 1/3 cup of water. I'm sure egg replacer or even soy milk would have been better, but I didn't have any so I simply used water to get the cookie dough moist enough. I didn't really notice an issue with the cookies not staying together. Use an egg alternative if you have it, if not, tap water will do fine it seems.
obviously using dairy-free dark chocolate chips is the way to go. I also really like using walnuts. I tend to use a cup of each when I make them.

I've actually made this recipe so many times I have it memorized! [That's really sad, Robin.]

Well, then again, so is referring to yourself in the third-person on your own blog ...

Monday Morning Cute: Animals in Newtown

2010-02-22T07:40:00.000+11:00

I came across these cute pets on my walk from Eveleigh to Newtown on Saturday afternoon.

Signs of Sydney: Free Toilet Paper and Rice

2010-02-21T07:01:00.000+11:00

I'm just saying: I'd like to live somewhere with free toilet paper and free rice.

Late Night Walk in Woolloomooloo

2010-02-20T16:32:00.003+11:00

Woolloomooloo Marina at dusk.
Tidal pool near Woolloomooloo Marina after dark.
St. Mary's Cathedral at night [on an angle].

I'm not a feminist BUT: Read some of these

2010-02-19T10:49:00.000+11:00

Despite what girls in Sydney think- tights are NOT pants.

Speaking of checking labels- don't buy anything made in El Salvador. Here's why.

I have a lot to say about this. [Simba Russeau has a powerful voice and does amazing work.]

Leya shared some tea wisdom this week that I think we can all appreciate.

Right, because blaming the victim gets us everywhere. Great job UK women.

They've been married for 85 years. That's longer than some people ever live. Think about it.

This is so clever.

Is it finally time that we have a serious conversation about women in the US military? Please?

I really, really love data. Especially data about food.

E's two part series here and here is worth reading and chewing on.

I'm not a lesbian, but there's a lot of gender value in overall society in what's being written here.

Scroll over on this picture, its worth it.

Let's talk about laundry.

I want to go to graduate school so that I can dress like this. Think I should write that on my applications?

PS- I've been really into playing with my food recently. Hence the deconstructed fruit salad you see pictured above. ... I need better hobbies.

Pardon My Dust...

2010-02-16T17:05:00.003+11:00

Nicholas Bate seems to think I have something to say, so I'm trying to prove him right [and doing a bit of reformatting around here].

Forgive the transition, I'll be tweaking some things on here over the next few weeks. I'll also be moving about 12,000 miles very soon ... more on that to come.

Let's Eat: Crazy Eastern European Rice Diet

2010-02-15T08:51:00.000+11:00

A few weeks ago, I embarked on a Crazy Eastern European Rice Diet with my flatmate Zuzanna. She's apparently done this diet lots of times before (and each section of the diet is supposed to last for 9 days or something ridiculous like that). I was only willing to commit to one day for each of the four sections, just to try it out. Each day consists of 3 meals of the following:

Day 1: just wholegrain brown rice

Day 2: 75% wholegrain brown rice and 25% selected steamed vegetables

Day 3: 65% wholegrain brown rice, 25% selected steamed vegetables, and 10% legumes

Day 4: 60% whole grain brown rice, 20% selected steamed vegetables, 10% legumes, and 10% fresh vegetables

It was not a pleasant 4 days for me. I can see the value of this diet for someone who has a meat, dairy, or fat heavy lifestyle. It's a stripping down to very basic food elements of whole grains and vegetables, without any salt or fats. But I'm a lifelong vegetarian and an almost 10-year vegan who tends towards raw foods, so this diet, for me, just felt very limiting. No fruit and only certain vegetables [ones that are supposedly "cleansing"] prepared in certain ways.

I did not feel particularly "cleansed" by this diet. Mostly I felt tired, but I did not feel especially hungry, which I suppose was a good thing. One side effect was my skin [which is normally fairly clear] looked like a 15 year old male pizza delivery boy's face. It's getting better now, but I was not pleased. Zuzanna said its the toxins in my body coming out through my pores. I'm not sure that I buy that, but I do not like having gross skin, so I'm happy my skin is returning to normal.

So would I recommend this diet? Only if you're really eating poorly and need a dramatic change of pace. Otherwise, just try to eat more vegetables and fruits and less burgers and fries.

PS - the picture is from Day 3 of a mixture of wholegrain rice, steamed vegetables, and legumes.

For Another Rainy Weekend in Sydney

2010-02-12T18:07:00.000+11:00

I will need this survival guide from Marta in 2 weeks when I am hopelessly unemployed.

I will also need to know how to buy a bike this spring. Hmm there are no instructions on how to ride one.

I'm sorry, another good medical reason to drink beer? Cheers mate!

Recently, I've been nuts about chai. Then I found this blog. Now I'm more nuts.

My hair is this long now, I wonder if I can get it to look this good?

Lauren said she would make me this sweater, gah- please? Please? Please?

Talk about using marketing.

I love the concept behind this blog.

Jessica was my roommate in Jordan, I don't necessarily agree with her views on flowers and cards, but they're worth reading.

Happy Valentines Day, Happy Chinese New Year (Year of the Tiger!!), and Happy Being One Day Old Evan (your Abla loves you and will see you in a few weeks!).

Have a great weekend everyone.

PS - Photo taken on a walk over the Harbour Bridge. I did say to the Opera House, right?

Graffiti Tunnel at the University of Sydney

2010-02-12T11:22:00.000+11:00

I like that the university allows this area to be graffitied by students.

Let's Eat: Raw Salads

2010-02-11T13:22:00.000+11:00

Purple "green" beans from the Eveleigh Market.
A salad of heirloom tomatoes, squash, and purple beans.
A pear, an apple, a mandarin, and a pomegranate.
A delicious fruit salad with the above ingredients.

Sorry I haven't been posting much this week, I haven't had a whole lot to say and I've been working a lot [I leave Sydney in 2 weeks!]. I promise more posting soon! Hope everyone is doing well!

Not in Sydney

2010-02-09T11:29:00.000+11:00

This is what it looked like on the East Coast of the United States over the weekend.
Remind me that when I go back, it'll be spring.

[Photos taken by my amazing significant other, who I did not ask permission from to steal his photos- opps! Sorry honey.]

Made My Day

2010-02-08T09:28:00.002+11:00

I was humbled this morning by Nicholas Bate.

Now I feel like I need to stop yacking about food and get serious.

To the Opera House!

More Things Around the Internets

2010-02-06T02:02:00.000+11:00

I have a giraffe tattoo on the back of my neck, think I can submit it?

Nicholas Bate has taught me a lot- like how to be more intelligent.

Unacceptable. H & M may be the only company have a worse press year than Whole Foods.

Speaking of unacceptable- I need to move back. There's a lot of work to be done.

Ah, the metric system. I am only faintly aware of it because I've lived abroad the majority of the last 5 years.

Who was it that said David Caruso was from the "cute puppy dog school of acting" because he does the head tilt to one side? Hmm, well whoever it was would like this.

I would like a kitchen where I can lay on my counter please.

If I were snowed in [like my significant other currently is in his apartment] I would make these and wear my pjs all day.

Karen posted gorgeous jellyfish pictures earlier this week.

PS- photo was taken inside Luna Park while on a walk last weekend over the Harbour Bridge.

Full Moon Over Sydney

2010-02-05T23:14:00.000+11:00

Last weekend I took a really long walk with a friend over the Harbour Bridge. There was an amazing full moon that night, I snapped this slightly blurry photo with my not-great-at-night-pictures camera. But you get the gist of it.

Let's Eat: the Fruits of Tu Bshvat

2010-02-05T11:10:00.000+11:00

Two kinds of figs.
Seeds, nuts, and fruit.
A rather dark pile of fruit (apples, mandarins, pears, nectarines).
I made lemon and pistachio shortbread cookies. The recipe is here. [Megan- I substituted margarine for butter, that was the only thing I had to do to vegan-ize them.]
Tart, gooey passion fruit. Delicious.

More Eveleigh Farmers Market

2010-02-04T12:19:00.000+11:00

The backside of the stalls at the Eveleigh Market at Carriageworks.
The sky above the market while I waited for a very late friend.
One of the windows of the old electric factory next to Carriageworks.
You'd think it was winter or something with these vegetables.

Let's Eat: Heirloom Tomatoes

2010-02-03T09:43:00.000+11:00

I just can't get enough of them. Heirloom tomatoes are the highlight of my trip to the Eveleigh market each Saturday morning. I usually only buy 3-4 at a time, so it's fairly cheap* [always under $2].

*I realize more and more how 'cheap' is such a relative concept.

Let's Eat: Noodle Soup and Starfruit

2010-02-02T09:58:00.000+11:00

I love everything about homemade noodle soup, but mostly I like that I can simply toss in whatever is in my kitchen and it's always good.
The tastier starfruit are the dark green plump ones, the more yellow/narrow the more ripe and less delicious. [This is what I've learned.]

Monday Morning Cute: Not my balcony edition

2010-02-01T09:17:00.000+11:00

It's not my balcony [it's one just up Palmer Street], but I'd be delighted to see them some morning if they ever want to come visit me. As long as they don't crap on my clothes line.

Things on the Internets

2010-01-30T11:26:00.004+11:00

Here are some things worth browsing on a lazy Saturday afternoon:

I have a necklace with an ampersand on it that people always comment on. My love of this symbol is shared by others it seems.

Mocking the recent trend in home design websites [no offense Jane!] is really, really funny.

This Purple Sticky Rice Tart looks amazing - but it's too complicated a recipe for my taste.

Joanna's Notes is the cleverest thing I read everyday.

Remind me never to confess any stories publicly about urine.

I love my hometown and the spirit behind this blog. And I would Free Hug this guy.

Here's a recipe that's more my speed. One ingredient ... but I don't have a blender. :(

Why don't I own these?

Dear Pantone I don't need any more reasons to want to get married, thanks.

I need to think less about doing this and actually do it.

Think I could tweet myself a job?

I'm used to Whole Foods having sketchy policies, but this crosses a line.

Oh, Paris. You're so pretty. I mean, you're no Istanbul but I still love you.

PS - photo was taken on a very nice and very lovely walk around the Bay last week.

Signs of Sydney: This Little Guy edition

2010-01-29T10:22:00.000+11:00

On Broadway as you approach City Road/Victoria Park. I see him every morning on my walk to work, he always makes me smile.

Let's Eat: Nigella's Perfect Chocolate Cookies

2010-01-28T10:16:00.000+11:00

The other night my flatmate and I had a chocolate craving. So I made Nigella Lawson's Perfect Chocolate Cookies for us. And I ate mine with a giant glass of orange juice [don't ask- I love chocolate and orange together]. Recipe here. [Note: I modified this recipe to be vegan and it was amazing, I'm sure it's even better with real milk/butter.]

Beach Game

2010-01-27T10:22:00.000+11:00

My flatmate and I went to the beach last weekend and played this children's game. The object is to match the colored pegs to the [hidden] ones that the other person has selected.

Does anyone know what this game is called? [It was ridiculously fun!]

Let's Eat: Brunch at Four Ate Five

2010-01-26T07:33:00.000+11:00

Kitchy snow globes on the table are a real win.
Justin's haircut is adorable and he was really excited about his fancy coffee!
Fancy coffee!
Durand's very English-inspired breakfast. Really, I expected fruit.
Deborah's colorful [and delicious] ricotta sandwich.
Inside Deborah's sandwich!
The vegan breakfast: cous cous with roasted veggies, tofu, Moroccan spices, and rocket.
Vegan breakfast, all mixed together!

Monday Morning Cute: Dog in the Park edition

2010-01-25T09:14:00.000+11:00

This little fellow was in the park last week [with his human or I might have taken him home with me!] while I was having a picnic dinner with a friend. He seemed very interest in sharing our food with us, but his human said no so we didn't let him join in.

Eveleigh Farmers Market in Redfern

2010-01-22T10:13:00.000+11:00

Heirloom tomatoes
More beautiful heirloom tomatoes
Blurry photo of a tomato Deborah was munching on
Yes, that is a man who sharpens knives on the back of a motorcycle- what you thought it was something else?
This cat is uninterested in fresh fruits or vegetables, but he/she was cute

Signs of Sydney: Image that Was edition

2010-01-21T11:24:00.000+11:00

The remnants of whatever this image was are on a wall in Chippendale.

Let's Eat: Veggie 'Chili' edition

2010-01-20T09:31:00.000+11:00

I made this 'chili' to share with Lindsay for a lunch date last week. Lindsay doesn't like heat spicy, so I swapped the standard chili spices for smoked paprika and cumin. The 'chili' included two tins [cans for us Americans] of diced tomatoes, four diced carrots, frozen peas, red kidney beans, and garlic. What I love about 'chili' is that whatever you have on hand will probably taste good in it.

After Work Walk: Darlington, Chippendale, Redfern

2010-01-19T09:13:00.000+11:00

Wall in Darlington at the University of Sydney.
Pretty blue flowers in Darlington.
I have no idea what these flowers are, but I love them. They're also in Darlington.
Greek Orthodox Bible in a window display in Chippendale.
Aboriginal flag painting on the side of a building in Redern, with the CBD in the background.

Monday Morning Cute: Mama Duck and Baby Duck edition

2010-01-18T09:50:00.000+11:00

Mama duck.
Baby duck!
Mama duck.
Baby duck!

I walk by the pond on the University of Sydney's campus every morning and there are new baby ducks! I am often late to work because I stop to watch them [and snap photos].

Let's Eat: Picnic at Sydney's First Night Festival

2010-01-16T03:42:00.000+11:00

A repurposed sarong and heaps of food make for a great picnic at the First Night Sydney festival in the Domain.

I contributed this vanilla tofu cake with lime glaze icing. Recipe here. It was AMAZING. I may have to make another for the next Kesher.

Sorry Posts Have Been Slow Recently

2010-01-15T01:58:00.001+11:00

Someone hacked into my Gmail account. They managed to get ahold of some financial information and the whole situation was very, very scary.

That being said, it seems like things are okay now. I am going to have my laptop gutted and rebuilt though, so all my important files [read: pictures!] are temporarily not available while I make sure my privacy is super safe for the future.

I have a few posts saved that I've been working on so I'll get those up so there's not a big gap in my posting. Hopefully I'll be fully up and functional soon! Think happy hackerless thoughts!

PS This is the beautiful salad I made for myself the day of the attack. Spinach, nectarine, and blackberries ... all on sale at the market! I never got to eat it because I felt so sick once I discovered what had happened to my electronic information. Those hackers owe me a salad.

Signs of Sydney: The Oriental Joint

2010-01-14T11:02:00.000+11:00

Yeah, there's really a place- right next to the Chinatown gate in Haymarket- called the Oriental Joint.

Let's Eat: Raw No Bakes!

2010-01-12T11:31:00.000+11:00

A raw twist on an American midwestern classic. Recipe here.

Monday Morning Cute: Puppy Statue edition

2010-01-11T10:44:00.000+11:00

Have I mentioned how much I want a dog? [Really, really badly.] But I travel too much and need to focus on getting into grad school before I can make that kind of commitment.

I did however, contemplate getting this dog statue at the market in Surry Hills two weekends ago when I met my friends Lindsay and Tim for brunch.

I didn't get him [because how would I get him home, he's huge!] , but isn't he cute?!

Signs of Sydney: Woolloomooloo

2010-01-08T18:44:00.000+11:00

I dare you to find a better sign in Sydney.

6 Goals/Resolutions 2010

2010-01-08T10:50:00.000+11:00

Worry less [this was suggested to me by my significant other]

"No more complaining about high class problems" [probably the best resolution, ever]

Show the people I love that I love them, everyday [not just tell them]

Spend more time with the people I love [I've been epically bad at this the last two years]

Live below my means [as far down as I can get]

Learn to ride a bicycle [it's just about time]

Why 6? Eh, Leo's idea.

Everett, Megan, and I are all on board.

2010 is already amazing.

Alright your turn for 6, let's hear 'em.

[Photo credit: Shawna, one of my roommates from university, took this in Croatia.]

Let's Eat: Homemade Guacamole

2010-01-07T14:06:00.000+11:00

For the record, I'm baffled about why black beans are (1) so hard to find and (2) so expensive here. I've been using red kidney beans as a replacement, but I miss black beans for their (1) deliciousness and (2) cheapness. Only 9 weeks until I'm eating yummy inexpensive black beans in America again.

Speaking of America - my good friend/former coworker Megan is doing a 21-day vegan jumpstart to get back on the "eating healthy" track for the new year. Here's her progress so far.

Good luck Megan! [And everyone else trying to stick to their new year's resolutions/goals!]

Signs of Sydney: You edition

2010-01-06T11:35:00.000+11:00

This is on a wall in Darlinghurst as you walk towards Oxford Street. Obviously, someone with stickers has a sense of humor.

I'm not a feminist BUT: Hot Waitress Economic Index

2010-01-06T11:11:00.002+11:00

Deborah and I have been discussing the hot waitress economic index the last few days. Check out her post about it here.

Let's Eat: Raw Fennel and Apple Salad

2010-01-05T10:50:00.000+11:00

This salad came to the beach with me on Christmas. Nothing like jumping around in the waves at Bondi to work up an appetite. Recipe here.

PS The salad was really good and I'm not a huge fennel fan, so that says a lot!

Changes: Weeks 4-5

2010-01-04T09:30:00.000+11:00

I am feeling much, much better from last week's yuckiness. I'm still spotted but that's getting better too. I've been good at sticking to the changes from weeks 1 and 2. I have been on holiday this week while my office is closed but I have been trying to stay active and eat well.

I mentioned two weeks ago that I was making some big changes and I have been fairly successful in overhauling my diet and adding in a new exercise regiment.

I've been eating almost all raw food. Aside from my morning coffee, my diet was almost completely raw for two weeks. Raw food is incredible. I feel amazing! No more sugar crashes when the carbs wear off, tons of energy, and I'm sleeping better.

I think a total raw food diet would be a bit extreme for me all the time, but I like the idea of incorporating more raw foods into my diet [something like one totally raw meal a day or only raw after 2 pm, something along those lines]. There will be a few raw recipes coming that I've made over the last few weeks that I would like to share with you, so be on the look out.

I've also started running again! I ran a good bit in 2007 - 2008 but got out of the habit after I graduated from university and got a "real" job in DC. I've been transitioning myself back into running the last few weeks with the help of the Couch-to-5k plan. I'm taking it slowly, doubling the sessions in each "week" of the program to help my muscles remember how great running is. I'm running every other day and on my non-running days I'm trying to do other activities [today for example, I'm playing tennis with my former boss after work]. I'm feel really great after I run, the good kind of tired, and- my jeans fit without a terrible struggle yesterday!

I think the changes over the last five weeks are already starting to show improvements in my body, mind, and health so my plan for next week [and the last 9 weeks I have left in Australia!] is to stick with them and keep you updated on my progress.

The Decade Review

2010-01-02T07:39:00.003+11:00

I wasn't going to do a review post, mostly because I haven't been blogging that long, but everyone's talk about the last ten years got me to thinking ...

a lot has happened to me in the last ten years.

*I realize that I am not that old and that ten years is a little less than half of my life and that this exercise is very self-indulgent.

That being said, in the last ten years I ...

-entered high school [September 2000]
-became a vegan [November 2000]
-got my first job as a cashier at Linens 'n Things [September 2003]
-got my drivers license and first car [April 2004]
-graduated from high school [June 2004]
-went to university by myself in another state [August 2004]
-became a legal adult [October 2004]
-voted in my first national election [November 2004]
-my grandmother died [February 2005]
-my mom moved to North Carolina [May 2005]
-my mom married my stepfather [November 2005]
-moved to Ankara, Turkey [January 2006]
-moved to Amman, Jordan [January 2007]
-got my first real apartment in Pittsburgh [May 2007]
-turned 21 aka became a "real" adult [October 2007]
-met the man I love [New Years Eve 2007]
-defended my thesis and graduated from university [April 2008]
-got my first real big girl job in DC [May 2008]
-got my second real apartment this time near DC [June 2008]
-my grandfather died [August 2008]
-found out about the impending arrival of a close friend's baby [May 2009]
-took a magical trip to Lake Erie with the man I love [July 2009]
-moved to Sydney, Australia [August 2009]

And there we have it, a self-edited look at the last ten years.

The next ten years? Hmm ... what will I do between 23 and 33? That's a very good question ...

I know a few things for certain:

-there will be a baby in California born early this year that I am anxious to meet
-I will leave Sydney in March and move back to Pittsburgh
-hopefully grad school [maybe in the UK?]
-lots and lots of quality time with a certain tall, glasses-wearing man [please?]

Think about your last ten years, what were the major milestones?

What do you want the next decade to be?

Let's Eat: Brunch at Sloane's Cafe Paddington

2009-12-31T10:49:00.003+11:00

Durand, per usual, got fruit.

Deborah got the quinoa and ricotta hotcakes.

I got toast with avocado, olive tapenade, and tomato basil salsa.

Sloane's Cafe is 312 Oxford Street, Paddington.

[Walk straight back on the right-hand side and there's a beautiful garden in the back to brunch in.]

Coogee Beach

2009-12-28T19:07:00.000+11:00

Full disclosure: Lindsay took all these amazing photos on our trip to Coogee Beach last week. [I forgot my camera! Not that my shots would have been anywhere near as good as hers!] We had a brilliant afternoon. Coogee is lovely.

Monday Morning NOT Cute: Hives edition

2009-12-28T14:07:00.002+11:00

I have hives. It's not cute. It's itchy.

Real posts coming soon ...

Let's Eat: Lychees

2009-12-26T15:55:00.000+11:00

Lychees have been a recent wonderful discovery of mine.

Anatomy of a Bowling Game

2009-12-25T02:52:00.000+11:00

I got a strike on my first roll down the lane!

I know they're leather, but I really enjoyed my rainbow bowling shoes.

Second game, we all got 8 [which is a lucky number here in Oz] on our first frame.

Vera got two strikes in a row the second game. It should be noted, she won both games.

It's official: I'm a worse bowler than President Obama.

Life goal: break 100 in a game of bowling.

Signs of Sydney: Christmas Jesus! edition

2009-12-24T12:51:00.000+11:00

This is the same church sign space I've mentioned before. I noticed that they've mixed it up for the Christmas season, so I thought I'd share. [Yes, I realize I am giving them a lot of PR on this blog, however, their signs amuse me when I walk by them.]

Enjoy your Christmas if that's your holiday of choice! And if you're not celebrating, enjoy whatever tradition you partake in on December 25. [In America I'd be eating Chinese food and going to the movies; here I'm going to the beach!]

SIgns of Sydney: Male Strippers edition

2009-12-23T13:45:00.000+11:00

When I picked up my American friend at his hostel on Kent Street this was the sign in the lobby.

Changes: Week 3

2009-12-22T12:37:00.000+11:00

I'll be honest with you: I made no changes during Week 3 of my plan to get healthier. I got really sick with a sore throat and ear infection and it was all I could do to stick with the four previous changes I made during weeks 1 and 2.

So I walked to and from work every day, only drank one cup of coffee, ate tofu instead of toast, and really tried to go for walks with friends [but no tennis or anything else I just wasn't feeling up to it.]

Now that I'm feeling better [thanks to some illegal antibiotics I got from another immigrant friend that I swapped for sauerkraut- long story there] its time to make up for some lost time. I've got big plans for Week 4, in addition to keeping up with the changes I implementing during weeks 1 and 2.

I'll give you a hint: it involves lots and lots of raw food. [!]

His and Hers: Longest/Shortest Day

2009-12-21T16:33:00.000+11:00

His

Hers

His

Hers

I'll go home when the snow is gone. But I wish it'd hurry up, I miss him.

Monday Morning Cute: Postal Penguins edition

2009-12-20T12:02:00.005+11:00

Despite the postal workers strike here in Oz [just in time for the holidays!] I received this adorable mailer last week from my mom. Mom was worried with all the air mail and customs stickers she had to put on the package that the penguins wouldn't be visible. But they were! So cute.

Signs of Sydney: Wrong Flag edition

2009-12-19T01:18:00.001+11:00

I took this photo in the map shop on Pitt Street in the CBD.

It seems the Turkish flag wants to either be Swiss or Thai.

[I checked- the entire stack is Turkish flags, there are no Swiss or Thai flags hiding behind the crescent moons.]

Why is it that I could spot a Turkish flag anywhere, you ask? Sigh ... I lived in Ankara with some incredibly amazing people in 2006.

Let's Eat: Carob Banana Cookies

2009-12-18T10:22:00.000+11:00

I made these banana carob cookies last week for a friend and I to enjoy. The healthy basic dough recipe is a real winner, I will be using it again. I substituted banana for egg [since I like to live in an egg-free world] and put a piece of carob on each cookie before baking for some extra added health benefits [and because I had no chocolate in the apartment!]

Blue Mountains II

2009-12-17T11:08:00.000+11:00

I took my second trip to the Blue Mountains last weekend while I was playing host to a visiting American. We just took the train to Katoomba and went around Echo Point, but it was a really fun trip, gorgeous hiking weather not too hot.

Unlike current Sydney temperatures. [40 degrees C + having to work = when does my holiday start? Oh right, next week.]

Signs of Sydney: Out on the Street edition

2009-12-16T11:12:00.000+11:00

Have I mentioned I live in Woolloomooloo?

W'loo as I call it, is a rapidly gentrifying area. It's got the navy marina on one end and coffee shops, art galleries and design studios on the other. In between are brothels, the vestiges of public housing, and shanty towns set up by the homeless under the overpasses that carry train passengers from the eastern suburbs to the city.

It's the only place I could imagine living in Sydney. Everyone here thinks I'm nuts; but it's cheaper, no one hassles me, and its really convenient to everywhere I need to be. And I love it, for all its particularities.

This photo was taken on my street on the "design studios block" before Riley Street. I like to think it was the result of a gay lovers spat that resulted in a handful of French cuffed dress shirts being tossed out onto the dirty sidewalk. But that's probably just my overactive imagination.

I'm now curious to see if any of the homeless people picked them up and will be rocking them around my neighborhood later this week?

Changes: Week 2

2009-12-15T11:15:00.000+11:00

Tuesday

Friday

Saturday

I just finished my second week of making changes to my lifestyle to combat my recent weight gain and get healthier.

Just as a refresher, my plan is to make two changes each week and then compound them the following week with two new changes, so that I am improving all the areas [diet, fitness level, attitude, etc.] a little at a time.

The changes from Week 1 were:

1. Walk to and from work = 5 miles a day, roundtrip.

2. Limit myself to ONE cup of coffee per day.

Last week ["Week 2"] I added these changes:

3. Tofu not toast. You probably noticed from earlier posts that I love scrambled tofu. But usually I only get around to making it on the weekends and during the work week I wolf down toast and fruit for breakfast. I thought, what if I swapped my morning carb intake for protein-rich tofu instead? Tofu is cheap, easy to prepare, and keeps me feeling full.

4. Go out and do something active! Aside from my walking to and from work, I don't move very much. I like coffee shops and reading, neither of which gets my heart pumping and my muscles in motion. So this week I decided to say YES to every physical activity offered to me. Tennis on Monday with my former boss, bowling on Tuesday with friends, swimming in the ocean on Friday, and hiking in the Blue Mountains on Saturday.

So how am I doing? Well, apparently I'm 15 lbs, not 10 lbs heavier than I was when I got here in August. Stepping on the scale was a bit of a blow to my self-esteem. Normally I wouldn't step on a scale, but I tried on a pair of pants that no longer fit and I wanted to see how I'm doing weight-wise. The answer is: not well. :(

The tofu instead of toast idea is a keeper, I don't feel hungry when I get to my office, even after walking 2.5 miles to get there. I realize that I was really active this week [tennis, bowling, swimming, and hiking] and that for normal weeks when I'm working full-time that may be a bit ambitious and unrealistic. But I am going to make a conscious effort to be more active.

My new roommate Suzanna wants to go running, so I am going to do that with her. And I am going to go to the beach more [the close proximity and summer weather would be wasted if I didn't]. I am also going to try to meet up with friends and just go for walks or do something that doesn't involve eating or coffee shopping going.

I've been sticking to the one coffee-a-day rule and I feel fine! I didn't need that much caffeine running through my body and walking to/from work has become unconscious habit already that I don't even think about taking a bus or train.

I'll keep you updated on how I'm doing with the first two weeks of goals as I establish new ones for this week. Here's hoping I can get those pants to fit soon!

Monday Morning Cute: Chubby Baby edition

2009-12-14T08:22:00.000+11:00

This little guy was chewing on a piece of pineapple [the juice mixed with heaps of baby drool was running down his hands/face] at a birthday party I went to last weekend in Centennial Park.

Look at the fat rolls on his thighs, I can't handle it.

Signs of Sydney: Closed Bakery edition

2009-12-12T12:52:00.000+11:00

This is the window of the now closed Bourke Street Bakery on Broadway. It's hard to tell from my poor quality photo [sorry for the glare!] but the window is covered in plywood except for part of the old daily special chalkboard sign poking through at the top.

View from my office window

2009-12-10T10:03:00.001+11:00

I took this quiet, calm picture a few weeks ago.

Now there is a 20 man construction crew tearing up the road between my office building and the building pictured above. It's really, really loud.

The WYEP livestream from my computer helps drown some of it out, but not all. Sigh.

A Color to Heal Us

2009-12-09T17:47:00.003+11:00

Pantone revealed Turquoise 15-5519 as the Color of the Year for 2010. Why? Apparently, the color is part of "restoring our sense of wellbeing" over the next year.

I can get behind that.

[Photo was taken north of Sydney on the beaches below where the zoo is located.]

Signs of Sydney: Mystery

2009-12-09T10:31:00.001+11:00

This is the name of a hair salon on Glebe Point Road, close to the intersection with Paramatta Road.

I would never get my hair cut at a place with the word mystery in the name.

That being said, I'm on the hunt for someone in Sydney to cut my overflowing curly hair.

And soon, before it takes over my life.

Australian Thanksgiving Recap

2009-12-08T09:35:00.001+11:00

This was my first Thanksgiving abroad. [!]

While I've lived abroad before [Turkey, Jordan] I've always managed to be in the States in Novembers of years past.

The last three, I've been the Thanksgiving hostess: last year [2008] for a dozen "orphaned" friends in DC with nowhere else to go, the year before [2007] in Pittsburgh with work friends, and the year before that [2006]- perhaps my favorite Thanksgiving- when both of my parents came to Pittsburgh and stayed with me.

This year I was determined to continue my hostessing, despite my geographic predicament. Australia is not America, late November is late spring not late autumn, and well, its hot and they don't grow cranberries here! So I invited three friends over [the maximum amount of people that can fit in my tiny flat*] who seemed game for this most festive of American holidays.

I epically failed at making a plum upsidedown cake [see photo above of the gooey mess that resulted from my having a convection oven and not a real one]. To salvage dessert I bought mini frozen apple pies [note: finding a frozen pie without animal fat in it is almost impossible at the Kings Cross Coles and apparently in Australia in general].

The stuffing was a big soggy, but the choice of stuff tomatoes as a main dish was a big hit. There were honey-glazed carrots, haricot verts with crushed walnuts, a leafy green salad, garlic mashed potatoes, and heaps* of white wine. Overall, it was quite tasty I think.

I forced everyone [as tradition dictates] to say what they were thankful for. Collectively, the responses were: proper* friends, the good health of family members who have been ill, steady jobs, loving partners and families of choice [guess who that was? hint: me!], and human capital**.

I don't celebrate Christmas, but Aussies sure seem to be into it. So I think I'll go to the beach. Or hiking. Or down to the coast of NSW. Or something. I'll keep you posted.

[Others who celebrated near and far: David in Paris, Meaghan in Seoul, and Courtney in Uganda.]

* look at all my Aussie English!
** no joke, he really said that. It was bril.

Monday Morning Cute: Koala edition

2009-12-07T11:08:00.001+11:00

Sometimes I forget I live in Australia. And then I see koalas and I remember.

Changes: Week 1

2009-12-06T12:34:00.000+11:00

I've mentioned that I gained 10 lbs after I moved here to Sydney in August. I have been really down about the weight gain; part of moving here was an attempt to lose some extra weight, not gain more.

I thought without a car, living in a sunshine-filled city, and being generally more active than I was in DC that I could lose the last little bit of extra weight that I gained last year working two jobs and not taking good care of myself.

Since that didn't happen, I've decided I have to take a more proactive approach to helping myself feel better and be healthier.

I tend to be one of those extremist people who thinks I can magically do everything all at once: eat better, work out more, make big lifestyle changes and then everything will be all better, real fast! Which usually just results in my failing, terribly, because its the exception, not the rule that you can overall everything at once and it'll all work perfectly and everything will be good.

Incremental changes seem to be the way to go. Start by changing one thing this week and then next week, continue with the change from the first week and add another change, until you've managed to improve all the different areas you aimed for.

I started this approach this past week. I can't do just one change though [not enough of a challenge for my super competitive personality] so I started with two changes:

1. Walk to and from work = 5 miles a day, roundtrip. The weather is perfect; there are no excuses for taking the train or a bus.

2. Limit myself to ONE cup of coffee per day. Instead of my usual 2 - 3, which is not good.

I've been really successful with these changes this week. Even when I was running late Thursday morning, when normally I would take the train, I forced myself to walk and stayed a bit longer at work to make up for the time difference [I realize I have a flexible job, so this works for me, but maybe not for other people on a stricter time schedule].

I have also treated myself to a $3 AUD soy latte at the bakery on Riley Street on my way to work, as extra motivation to walk. Instead of getting coffee in the afternoon I have brought peppermint tea bags to my office to use as an afternoon pick-me-up. If I start thinking that cheating on the one coffee rule is okay, I remind myself that not only is this healthier for me- I'm saving heaps of money by not buying/consuming so much coffee.

I'm going to keep up with these changes next week [and the week after, and the week after that ...] and set one or two new goals for next week. I'll keep you posted!

[PS Latte photo is not from the bakery on Riley Street- it was from Artisan Focaccesia 230 Palmer Street Darlinghurst, in case you're curious.]

Signs of Sydney: Thai Restaurant

2009-12-05T06:56:00.000+11:00

Apparently all my favorite things to do can be found at Thai Passion Plus at World Square in Sydney's CBD.

2010 Day Planner: Year of the Bicycle

2009-12-03T10:39:00.002+11:00

I have been hunting for a day planner for the upcoming year.

I'm too much of a scribbler for an e-planner [I would have an Outlook or Google calendar if I worked in a real office or had to share it with anyone, but I'm a lone ranger these days].

I wanted something that would fit in my bag easily, that did not have a soft cover [they rip, tear, fall off- you should see my 2009 one and the stapling/taping that has had to occur to keep it together. It's a war victim, a veteran, and its almost ready for a discharge with distinction for good service].

I also wanted to see my full week when I open it to a random page. This criteria has been difficult to manage in the land of Australian day planners [diaries as they call them]. Diary? Am I a 14 year old girl who needs to keep "secrets" or draw hearts around someone's initials?

<3> CAC <3> [heaps]

Last week, I found what I've been looking for. Available in pink or blue from the Swedish style company Kikki-K, this day planner embodies the theme I want for 2010: the year of the bicycle.

Confession? I am 23 and I do not know how to ride a bike. But this year, I am going to learn.

My boyfriend is going to patiently and carefully teach me and once I get good [and I will! I am determined!] we are going to take the bike trail from Pittsburgh to Greensburg and it will be a fantastic.

World AIDS Day

2009-12-01T12:05:00.000+11:00

December 1 is a day of remembrance.

If you don't do anything else today, please take time out to remember and be aware.

If you are in Pittsburgh and you want to do something more than remembering: the Student Global AIDS Project is hosting the 5th annual [I think it's the 5th? I'm getting old] Inter-Course (International-Discourse) event on Friday 4 December at 8 pm in the William Pitt Union to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS not only in the Pittsburgh community, but in the world.

I'm not a feminist BUT: Shameless Self-Promotion

2009-12-01T11:01:00.000+11:00

I was a fellow at IWPR last year. I learned a tremendous amount there and got to work with some of the most inspiring women [and men] in DC who do research on women's rights. One of the projects I started working on in May 2008 just got published in a report.

Apparently, the US and Australia are the only two high-income countries without paid parental leave [read more here]. Which is UNACCEPTABLE, and we need to work on changing that.

While I am not currently working on gender issues, I champion everyone who does. And I look forward to getting back in the field soon.

[Congrats to Kevin and Allison on the release of the report!] :)

Monday Morning Cute: I miss my mom

2009-11-30T09:19:00.000+11:00

I took these photos on a trip last month to Phillip Island. I really miss my mom [she's in North Carolina, USA].

Or, as she has taken to calling herself in her emails- my mum*.

*Note: I am not the only one trying to use Aussie English!

Signs of Sydney: Shaking!

2009-11-29T00:12:00.000+11:00

This sign was sitting outside the Sydney Harvest Church on Norton Street in Leichhardt last Sunday.

I'm not anti-Christian- despite how this blog mocks their signs.

I'm just not sure what it means to shake a city for Christ. Any thoughts?

Sydney Spring in Purple

2009-11-27T16:17:00.001+11:00

I suppose the 40 + degree days last week mean that summer has officially hit Sydney. But before the heat, it was spring here- and everything started blooming in purple.

[Photos: first two University of Sydney Camperdown campus, tree in Woolloomooloo, and last two Hyde Park.]

Let's Eat: Scrambled Tofu with Cherry Tomatoes

2009-11-27T09:07:00.000+11:00

It's obvious I really like scrambled tofu. I don't really like cherry tomatoes, however. But I had some left over from a dish I made for a Kesher dinner, so they got salted and tossed into my breakfast because I just can't stand wasting food.

Entertainment: A Serious Man

2009-11-26T13:49:00.003+11:00

I saw the Coen brothers film A Serious Man last night in Bondi Junction.

Absolutely fantastic. Completely worth the $17 AUD.

Signs of Sydney: Starting Line

2009-11-26T10:45:00.000+11:00

This is what is written on the sidewalk outside a community center in Woolloomooloo [or as I affectionately call my neighborhood W'loo] not to far from the Old Fitzroy Hotel.

Croatia

2009-11-25T10:09:00.000+11:00

Shawna, one of my amazing roommates from college now lives in Switzerland [where she will be starting grad school next year!]. Recently she took a trip to Croatia and I sweet talked her into letting me steal some of her incredible photos [there are so many more I will post in the near future].

I'm not a feminist BUT: Really America?

2009-11-24T16:16:00.002+11:00

I understand that posting this gives her more attention and that will only prolong her sticking around- but I am just so flabbergasted by what the people in this video say that I felt like I needed to share my outrage.

Yeah. Really? Really?

Let's Eat: Curried Potato Salad

2009-11-24T10:21:00.000+11:00

My obsession with potato salad is relatively new. This is not a low-fat, help-Robin-get-her-body-back recipe. But it is REALLY delicious.

Monday Morning Cute: Foreign Cats Edition

2009-11-23T08:19:00.000+11:00

Three adorable cats and a kitten (!) under a stack of chairs in Croatia.

[Photo taken by Shawna, one of my incredible college roommates, more photos from her trip coming soon!]

Blue Mountains

2009-11-22T09:58:00.001+11:00

The entrance to the Glow Worm Tunnel.

Last week, before it got ridiculously hot [42 degrees C, really?] a few friends and I went hiking in the Blue Mountains. I would highly recommend going through the Glow Worm Tunnel, where you can see gnat larvae twinkling like little stars inside a 400 meter long tunnel.

A word of caution however, if you want to take the hiking trail around the tunnel: start on the right hand side of the loop and go counterclockwise. If you start on the left side and go clockwise, it will be mostly uphill [very, very steeply uphill]. It's also 9.5 kilometers, so its not a trek for those wanting a nice quick stroll in the woods.

Let's Eat: Spinach Tofu Lasagna

2009-11-21T12:05:00.001+11:00

I made this spinach tofu lasagna recipe for a Kesher* a few weeks ago. It was a big hit. Someone even thought the tofu was ricotta (!) I have made it again since, as an item to take with me for lunch so that I don't buy any more sandwiches.

*more on Kesher soon, I'm going to do a separate post about being religious here in Sydney in the near future

I used to live here

2009-11-20T10:23:00.005+11:00

My former [sniffle] neighbor Jane took this picture last week at her apartment [which is directly below my old apartment]. Absolutely beautiful- makes me miss living there even more than I already do.

Not only is Jane awesome, but her blog is fantastic.

Signs of Sydney: Jesus!

2009-11-18T22:54:00.004+11:00

I walked by this church sign yesterday on George Street in Haymarket/Chinatown.

At least these Christians are self-aware enough to know that they often undermine their own cause of bringing people to Christ? That says something, right?

Let's Eat: Blueberry-Banana Bread

2009-11-18T09:42:00.001+11:00

I think a lot of my weight gain recently has been related to my coffee-and-sandwich diet.

I drink heaps* of coffee and eat way too many sandwiches.

I'm starting to retake control of what I'm eating from the top down: starting with breakfast.

I found this recipe for blueberry-banana bread. My loaf didn't turn out quite as beautiful as Susan's but I will certainly be making it again.

*heaps is currently my favorite Aussie English word.

Monday Morning Cute: Piglet Edition

2009-11-16T09:42:00.002+11:00

I know a lot of discussion is going on about the 'dark side of cute' and what it means for us as a society that we can't stop looking at videos of sneezing pandas and pictures of fuzzy bunnies. But I still plan on regularly posting pictures of 'cute' things, including Kimmie, this 4 week old piglet I met at the Newtown festival last Sunday.

Happy Monday morning- skip the ham sandwich at lunch, okay?

Let's Eat: Scrambled Tofu with Leeks

2009-11-15T16:25:00.001+11:00

Confession? I've gained a few kilos since I moved to Sydney a few months ago.

I'm working hard to get the weight off, by eating better, exercising more, and trying to have a positive outlook on life [and my body].

This morning for breakfast I made scrambled tofu with leeks.

Another confession? Leeks are quite possibly my favorite food.

I also really, really love kiwis. Kiwis are really cheap here, I buy them by the bagful for less than $3 AUD and can therefore justify eating one at basically every meal.

Signs of Sydney: Furniture Store

2009-11-14T17:16:00.002+11:00

There's a secondhand furniture store on my walk to work, near where George Street turns into Broadway. For awhile they had a sign in their window with a different person's name on it each day. They were offering 20% off if you had the same name as the name on the sign that day.

I checked every day they had this promotion going for my name [not that I need furniture or even planned to buy anything, but just because I wanted to see my name on the sign].

I am disappointed that (1) I was the very last day and (2) that I have to share the sign with so many other people.

Lame.