One Day. Why is relaxing so stressful?

This week marks the end of my education. After 14 years of schooling, (a 2 year working break) and 3 years of a university degree, I have finally finished [formal] learning. Handing in my last assignment and presenting my final presentation earlier this week I expected to feel a wave of relief; a bit of time to relax and unwind…

Instead I felt panic.

The word ‘relax’ has never really been part of my vocabulary. At some point it seems I became that person that doesn’t know what it means to ‘chill out’.  In any one day I would normally be up at uni for up to 12 hours before coming home to do the food shopping, eat some dinner and continue working on assignments or work for work. But if the truth be told, I actually like it that way.

I’m not entirely sure what to do with spare time. If I’ve got a morning free I’ll say to myself ‘great some relaxation should be good’, but a few hours spent watching a movie or lazing around makes me feel terrible and eventually I’ll find myself staring into space, frantically trying to remember something urgent I absolutely have to get done.

Over the years I’ve tried meditation and yoga. It claims to be stress-relief but for me it may as well be torture. I’m not sure why I thought sitting still in a room, doing absolutely nothing for an extended period of time was going to be helpful. “Quiet the mind,” they say… and I’m certainly not one to shy away from a challenge, so I make every attempt to think about nothing. ‘Think black, darkness, empty, vacant…. (which magically transforms into) vacancy, no vacancy, the horror movie, who was the actress in that again, she reminds me of that model who was in last month’s Harper’s fashion shoot, she wore neon Calvin Klein, I should go back to Witchery to buy that vibrant yellow t-shirt, perhaps I could get there on Thursday…’ You get the point.
Never. Again.

The only relief I seem to find comes from writing 'to do' lists. Getting it all down on paper is the only therapy I need, then as I achieve things, I take great pleasure in [somewhat violently] crossing items off one by one. Trouble is when the list is completed, I'm back to square one - feeling panicked because I'm list-less. So I start the system again: new list. It seems this is the best strategy for me and I'm sticking to it.

Must Have. Jennifer Meyer Wishbone Necklace

One of my original 'Must Have’s' was another Meyer piece, you may remember this elephant necklace. Here is yet another talisman – the lucky wishbone. Crafted from 18-carat rose gold, this is a beautifully delicate piece that I would feel honoured to have hanging around my neck, plus if I’m lucky it could bring me some good fortune. At $3,000 I would hope that it improves my lottery chances so I could cover the debt.

Photo by Jennifer Meyer.

Plate Up. Massaman Curry

I’m a lover of thai food but I’ve always found cooking it myself a little daunting – numerous ingredients (some of which I’ve never even heard of) and lengthy cooking times… But I’m proud to say I think I have mastered this one, the massaman curry, my personal favourite. This dish is delightfully fragrant, not too spicy and so delicious. It is a little complex and requires several pots but it is definitely worth it. Follow my lead… (Serves 4.)

What you’ll need

For Curry Paste

2 dried long red chillies

1 teaspoon ground coriander

2 teaspoonds ground cumin

2 teaspoonds ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cardamom

½ teaspoon ground clove

3 cloves garlic

1 large brown onion, chopped coarsely

2 x 10cm sticks of fresh lemon grass, sliced thinly

3 fresh kaffir lime leaves, sliced thinly

4cm piece of ginger, chopped coarsely

1 tablespoon peanut oil (you can also use sesame depending on your flavour preference)

For Massaman Curry

800g of your preferred meat (I like to use chicken, but you can use steak or pork as well)

1½ cups chicken stock

¼ teaspoon ground clove

1 tablespoon grated palm sugar

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 x 400ml cans of coconut cream

1 brown onion, chopped finely

4 potatoes, quartered

450g tin sliced pineapple

¼ cup roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

1 green onion, sliced thinly

What to do

First you need to make your curry paste. You can buy the bottled stuff from the Asian aisle in the supermarket if you are a little short on time, but I love to make it myself. Fry off the coriander, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom and clove in a small fry pan, stirring until fragrant. Place these spices and remaining ingredients into a blender and process until smooth. Easy! (This paste will keep for 2 weeks in a sealed container in the fridge.)

Now for the curry. Place stock, clove, sugar, sauce and half of the coconut cream into a large saucepan. Simmer uncovered until fragrant (usually about an hour, but if you are short on time 30mins will do). Remove from heat and reserve this fragrant liquid in a container.

Meanwhile, cook rice in another saucepan, and cook potatoes in a third saucepan. (Don’t worry this is the most pots you will have going at once!)

Using the empty saucepan that had the fragrant liquid in it, cook onion, chicken and 3 tablespoons of your curry paste, stirring until fragrant. Add remaining coconut milk and bring to the boil. Add 1 cup of the fragrant liquid back to the pot. Stir. When chicken is cooked, add cooked potatoes, pineapple and peanuts. Stir and remove from heat. Serve with rice and garnish with green onion.

I promise it’s worth the effort! Delicious.

Photos by Krissie.

One Day. A bird in the bush or something new?

As a typical Gemini, I really don’t like change. I thrive off the familiar, the regular and the expected. Anything else and I feel as though I’m thrown off the deep end. Which got me to thinking, should we keep visiting the same place and doing the same things in life or should we invest in a new adventure?

I’ve always thought that if there’s something you really enjoy or a place you really love then why not keep doing it, keep going back? It’s like the saying, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. For instance, you’re going to dinner; do you choose your favourite regular restaurant where you don’t even need to look at the menu before you order, or do you lash out and go somewhere completely new, risking that it could be completely awful? I do think that there is something comforting in the familiar; you know how it works and what to expect and therefore maybe you enjoy it more.

Up until now I’ve been a firm believer in the power of the familiar, or perhaps that is just the complacent side of me… But lately I’ve been thinking maybe I need to kick start my adventurous DNA. I know it’s in there somewhere. So, I’ve made a conscious effort to try some new things, visit some new places and throw myself off that deep end. After all, what’s the worst that could happen? I hit my head on the figurative ‘bottom’? If that’s the case then I’ll bounce back and return to my norm. Here goes…

Must Have. Marc Jacobs Katie Bunny USB

Save your files in style with Marc’s gorgeous 2gb USB. Doubling as a key fob, this neon pink tech-sessory is a stylish way to remain organised, and nod to Marc’s playful aesthetic. $49.

Photo by Marc Jacobs

Skimlinks Test

Plate Up. Curried Chicken Pie

I’m not a huge fan of red meat, so when it comes to a ‘meat pie,’ ironically my favourite kind is chicken! This one is a much-loved dish in my kitchen, it’s a cheat’s pie (just pastry on top) making it easy and scrumptious! Follow my lead…

What you’ll need:

350g chicken

2 tablespoons butter

1 leek

1 white onion

2 celery stalks

1 carrot

3 teaspoons curry powder

½ teaspoon chilli powder

1 tablespoon plain flour

1/3 cup chicken stock

1/3 cup sour cream

½ cup chopped fresh parsley

2 sheets puff pastry

1 egg

What to do:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Chop vegetables finely. Heat butter in a large frying pan, add leek, onion, carrot and celery. Cook stirring until vegetables are soft. Add curry powder, chilli powder, cook, stirring until fragrant. Stir in flour. Add stock. Stir until mixture boils and thickens. Add sour cream, chicken and parsley. Simmer for 2 minutes.

Spoon mixture into a large ovenproof dish. Place pastry on top, tucking in the sides. Pierce the pastry in a several places and brush with beaten egg. Bake pie for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Photos by Krissie.

Suitcase. Travel [in] style

I guess you could say I’m a bit of discerning traveller – carry-on luggage = impossible, coach is so crowded and anything less than 4-star and I’ll probably unwittingly wrinkle my nose.

I’ve never been camping; the idea of going without a bathroom for several days in the wilderness, with all kinds of bug-friends sharing my sleeping bag gives me the creeps. I’ve not stayed in a hostel, to my way of thinking, spending some extra $$’s for a bit of decadence is a far-more worthy investment. The concept of backpacking makes me weary just thinking about it; the idea of carrying all your possessions around on your back sounds not only exhausting, but impossible. How could I possibly fit everything into a backpack? I have enough trouble getting my luggage under 20kgs for a week in Melbourne, not to mention the excess shopping I have when I return. So as much as I would be open to giving it a go, I honestly don’t think I could possibly do it!

The world of comfortable travel is much more my niche. There’s something so nice about a lovely hotel room; a wardrobe to hang your clothes, soaps and bathroom products (which I often pinch, I’ll admit), the option of buffet breakfast, cocktails by the pool, smiling concierges there to help you make plans, 1000-thread-count sheets to soothe your sun-drenched skin and multiple pillow sizes (if you’re like Goldilocks and I, and need to find one that’s justttt right!).

I understand that there are those of you who would say that camping and staying in a hostel is so much fun with your group of best friends, but wouldn’t it be just as good, if not fun-er in a hotel with some luxuries to play with? But if there’s someone who wishes to take me on an amazing weekend (not of the luxury kind) and change my mind I’m more than willing. Step right up!

Must Have. ASOS Ox Blood Embellished Dress

I’ve got a bit of a colour crush on this Ox Blood trend that is on the runways for the upcoming season. It’s a red with a bit of ‘oomph’ or put more simply I suppose you could say wine. Plus, it looks great on blondes and brunettes. I think this dress is the perfect way to wear the season’s favourite colour. This little number has enough detail to stand out yet maintains classic and flattering lines. An ASOS bargain $130.

Photo by ASOS.