Two friends reunited (via facebook) bridging the time gap of 30 years, the geographical gap - Australia and USA, and the generation gap; by blogging about food, fashion, fotography, fitness, family, and friends.
Renotta ........http://rrtdesigns.blogspot.com/ Web- www.shopatnextdoor.com/ http://projectknitway.blogspot.com/
Clara ........"Developing a fusion of contemporary food with health, fitness and creative ideas.
http://fitinyourjeanscuisine.blogspot.com - Web www.fitinyourjeanscuisine.com/
http://babyboomerconnections.blogspot.com/ Web www.babyboomerconnections.com.au/


Thursday, December 30, 2010

Oscar Wilde, "A New Year Resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other."

Hi there R and the rest of you all out there about to celebrate the New Year. 
Time to reflect and move forward with or without a New Years' Resolution.

Oscar Wilde wrote," A New Year Resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other."
and "Good resolutions are simply cheques that men draw on a bank where they have no account."


I like this one by Hal Borland - "Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us."
Love them all!    So do we or do we not make one????
Sonja Lyubomirsky's recent book 'The How of Happiness' follows a summary of a goal's / project's ideal characteristics. 
Identify what you expect to accomplish
* Imposed by self
* Approach rather than avoidance
* Flexible and be able  to work with other aspects of your life
* Activity based - not relying on circumstance
Identify and Imagine the most positive outcome of your goal and the biggest obstacle  that stands in the way.  (The obstacle bit apparently is the tricky part which most of us don't think through.)  They give the example re specific details of when and where and how the person wants to act in critical situations.  For example; If the goal is to "eat more fruit and vegetables", the subject might think of how they will act in restaurants, when travelling , and at other situations where they may be tempted not to follow through with the goal.  Then they have to specify the behaviour they would do with an ..."if I am at a restaurant and they ask about dessert, then I will choose options with fruit, not cake."

Cheers to a New Year and another chance
for us to get it right."
We are under the influence of Oprah after her recent visit, so I close with her  "Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right."
We know she struggles too with getting it right.

Happy New Year.
Clara





 Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Sensational Salads link to traditional and modern holiday menus

Hi R
Wondering what you guys ate for Christmas dinner?  A typical Aussie Christmas menu will include simple and creative salads to accompany ham or cold turkey etc.  However, even if the temperatures soar and the humidity rises, many of us still insist on a traditional hot Christmas dinner (usually a late lunch) but this is often accompanied by salads.
Two salads follow - great for post Christmas and holidays as well as enormous health benefits. Just leave out the creamy dressings and concentrate on the wonderful tastes of herbs and creative dressings.
Clara
http://fitinyourjeanscuisine.blogspot.com/2010/12/thai-bbq-prawns-with-mango-and-avocado.html
Leafy salad with Salsa Verde is the ultimate flexible
elegant salad ladened with flavours of caper and anchovy


Mango & avocado salad - tangy accompaniment
to chicken and seafood.




























Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

Monday, December 27, 2010

"I only need a belt in case my jeans burst."

I only need a belt in case my jeans burst
Hi R
Thought you might benefit from some post Xmas hints on how to fit in your jeans.
G said,"I only need a belt in case my jeans burst."

Or Peter Hinchliff's experience, "The other day I got a clean pair of jeans out of the wardrobe. Then began a two-minute nightmare as I struggled to get into them. I couldn't get the wretched things past my knees, let alone fasten the button at the waist.


"Oh no," thought I in the midst of the wrestling match. "No more cake. No more biscuits. No more eating for a week." Then I noticed the label on the jeans. They were my wife's. She'd hung them in my wardrobe by mistake.


Everyone should be lucky enough to find a smaller person's jeans in their wardrobe after Christmas feasting. The relief at discovering they belong to someone else makes up for having gained an inch around the waist.......... and then about why it happens...... "Eating up every chocolate and biscuit, draining the whisky bottle to the last drop isn't mere self-indulgence. It's a duty. A display of appreciation. A way of saying thank you." Let waist-lines bulge and buttons strain as we accept the responsibility of showing appreciation to our gift-givers.

Like many people today we are more conscious that good food can taste indulgent without necessarily being so, with the obvious exceptions of course. So here are some of the delicious, less indulgent dishes we enjoyed on Xmas day, which I will post over the week. At this time of the year, one needs to keep on making the dishes rather than write about them.


Capsicum Dip with Parmesan Cheese Rounds
Thai BBQ prawns served with Mango and Avocado salad with snowpeas and roasted sesame seeds
Stuffed Turkey Breast, and honey cured ham with Green salad with Salsa Verde, and Roasted beetroot and pumpkin salad with goats' cheese and walnuts
Potato salad with yoghurt dressing
Pavlova with berries served with Yoghurt and Mascarpone cream.

We were very fortunate to have some wonderful wines to accompany each course, thanks to our resident wine expert.


I hope you all had a fantastic festive dinner and can still 'fit in your jeans.' If not, all is not lost - visit http://www.fitinyourjeanscuisine.com/ for tasty healthy food or if all else fails, read the instructions below on How to put on Skin Tight Jeans


Clara
Handy Hints
Put the jeans on in the morning, after a cold shower. Putting your skin-tight jeans on in the morning will increase the chances of success since you haven't eaten much. Also, a cold shower will get your body as taut as possible, making you slightly slimmer.
Wiggle into the jeans. Putting a belt through the jeans' belt loops will help you pull the jeans up. Using the belt as a grip, wiggle side to side to get the jeans over your hips.
Zip up first. Closing the button is almost always the hardest part of putting on skin tight jeans, so try get the zipper closed first. If the jeans are really skin tight, hook the end of a hanger into the zipper so you can leverage the zipper up.
Hold your breath. Like an athlete at the finish line, the last step takes a deep breath in. Breathe in deeply so you contract your midsection and in one quick and deft motion get that button closed.


Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Living Christmas Spirit with scarf project

R wrote - I've decided to finish out my year of blogging by knitting as many of these scarves as possible by February 9th, 2011 and donating them to area shelters. You can join me if you like. For more information go to http://www.shopatnextdoor.com/bluedotspecial.html



Hi R and other scarf lovers
Would you believe this was the joke in my Christmas Bon Bon.
"What did the scarf say to the hat?"

"You go on ahead and I will hang around."

Congratulations to everyone involved in this wonderful project - Living the Christmas spirit!
 Clara


Back to the Work at Hand...December 26th
















Merry Christmas...December 25th


The best gift of all!




















 Twas the Night Before Christmas...December 24th

The scarves were hung by the chimney
with care in HOPE



Scarf On...December 23rd



I'm to say we are delivering another 18 scarves to Hebron House today!



Fence Line...December 22nd



A Scarf in the Hand...December 21st














Delivery...December 20th



26 scarves were delivered to the Hebron House today, keep that yarn coming!








Scarves Don't Grow On Trees...December 19th






Day 314...a day of rest


Day 313...December 18th






The pile of scarves is growing. I hope to make my first delivery on Monday.


Day 312...December 17th






53 days left. I hope to knit at least three scarves a day for the Hebron House Shelters


Tis the Season...December 16th






I've decided to finish out my year of blogging by knitting as many of these scarves as possible by February 9th, 2011 and donating them to area shelters. You can join me if you like. For more information go to http://www.shopatnextdoor.com/bluedotspecial.html


Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au



Friday, December 24, 2010

Happy Birthday Roberto

Hi there  - moving on from the Christmas messages - scroll down  for these.

Moving on to ............

Serious December Baby Greetings Video
Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Refreshing the Christmas spirit with friends and family


 R wrote - "Baby AJ is so precious.  He's really reacting with us and we just sit around and admire him and laugh together over our good fortune.  Christmas will be fun."
*  *  *  *  *
Clara - Yes, it will  - new life, fresh and joyous, reflects the Christmas spirit. 


Toys waiting to be wrapped








As does spending time with generous minded, joyful family and friends.  One particular friend is just that, and her home was in wonderful chaos as she prepared for the big event.  The dining table was ladened with items to include in hampers for elderly relatives and one for the local shopping centre charity.  Toys filled the spare room, with the bed strewn with lovingly chosen gifts for her grandchildren, whilst the lounge  was home for presents for adults.

 It was good to be part of this amazing activity and preparation but the best part was to witness her enjoyment in the process.  And of course, as so often is the case, S runs her own business so has very little spare time.

Happy Christmas to all the wonderful people behind the scenes who renew our hope and refresh our optimism.
Love Clara
  
Mrs Claus no doubt works hard behind the scenes







Santa will no doubt visit here
















Hampers put together for the elderly

Grandchildren are fascinated by Xmas decorations


Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Reviving the Spirit of Christmas

Hi R and all you guys out there

I have to agree in principle with Fifi Box, in her article in the Sunday magazine from the Daily Telegraph,



"What we seem to have lost among the garlands of tinsel and the reams of wrapping paper is the spirit of Christmas. Yes, it may all seem a bit touchy-feely, but it's not the giving and receiving of material things that we should celebrate, it's the sharing of time and love with our family and friends. If, like me, you're exhausted by the exchange of meaningless, last minute presents and want to share your love in a different way there are alternatives...... Kris Kringle schemes, home-made presents or World Vision purchases of a goat or a duck which is delivered to a family in a Third World country."


Fifi concludes by "wondering how many of our carefully chosen presents end up in the temporary purgatory of the bottom drawer. Then after a respectable time lapse, of course, they find their ultimate resting place, either regifted or on offer at a garage sale."


And Fifi would most likely only be in her thirties, if that - a surprising viewpoint from a young person, perhaps we would expect this attitude from someone older. I have to say reluctantly, that I share her sentiments, and whilst I enjoy Christmas when it arrives, the brainstorming for the perfect gift is stressful, attempting to gauge the interests and desires of each person and reconcile that with the budget. We are up to our 13th grandchild, nearly 14th, (two marriages!), so have had to become more efficient at the process.


To conclude, a few words about opening presents and showing appreciation. As a single parent of two, one Christmas I was overwelmed by stretching the already stretched dollar and time factor, only to have toys etc strewn all over the house after Santa took all the credit for this enormous effort. The next year, things were different - Santa's stuff in the stockings (pillow cases), could be opened on waking, a quick breakfast, off to church to celebrate the religious meaning, then to sit around the tree to open other presents, one at a time, thanking and appreciating. It felt much better.


Clara

UNICEF cards help raise money for UNICEF is committed

to creating a world where children can grow up happy,
healthy ... and hopeful... where they can learn with pride
and live with dignity... where every child is free.....
simply to be a child.
http://www.unicef.org.au/



Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

Monday, December 13, 2010

Winter style maketh the older woman visible

Hi there R & Roberto
You look fabulous!!!!!
Bonnie and Clyde - move over...
Clara

















Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au
 http://www.babyboomerconnections.com.au/

Friday, December 10, 2010

Come away with me on a cloudy day

Hi there


















I'm back from a very beautiful part of our northern coastline.   On a cloudy day I walked down to the surf club for a coffee and found a few feathered friends with which to share the horizon.
Clara


Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au
 http://www.babyboomerconnections.com.au/

Baked Moroccan beef fillet gets universal tick of approval

Hi there from Nonna land

Baked Moroccan Beef  Fillet with chermoula paste
OJ will be 1 month old next Tuesday - I am having a sleepover at his house for a few days.  He is a very hungry caterpillar at present - you forget how demanding three hour feeds can be but his mum is a very good mum. 
Last night we decided to have Beef Fillet for dinner - Moroccan style - which received Daddy's seal of approval as well as the heart foundation's and nursing mum wanting to shed a little weight.

Moroccan Beef Fillet baked with chermoula paste
185 g (6 1/2 oz) beef fillet

 Chermoula paste
1 red onion
4 garlic cloves
1/2 bunch flat-leaf parsley - about 75g (2 1/2 oz)
1/2 bunch coriander leaves - about 40g (1 1/2 oz)
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp ground cumin
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp ground tumeric
1 tsp ground chilli or 2 to 3 dried chilli
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
sea salt
Blend or process ingredients to form a paste.
Marinate for an hour
Marinate beef in the chermoula for about an hour.
Preheat oven to 200 C (400 F).  Line a baking dish with baking paper and heat dish in oven before adding beef.  Cook for 20 mins for rare and 30 for medium.  Rest in a warm place for 10 mins before slicing and serving on a bed of couscous with a green salad or Moroccan veges (to follow).  Tomorrow not today -  because we have a baby around and you know what that means
Nonna Clara

 Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Donkeys have pride of place in Tuscany


http://www.timeintuscany.com/

R said "Is that a mule or a donkey? At any rate, you look great in every setting, including my studio! "
Clara said...
Thanks R - They are donkeys - except for me that is. "Once the main source of transport and farm power for the velley, Amiata donkeys are now protected by a special program to maintain the species, of which there are only 200 left. Cosimo and Concerto are particularly fortunate because Alvina and Umberto had them microchipped and built a lovely warm donkey house for them, a fact that amused and astonished local farmers who think the stranieri (strangers) from Australia are very odd indeed - A house for the donkeys! What next?" ........ from "Irresistible Italy"


Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

Friday, December 3, 2010

Italian connection needed to find an Exacta Mini Linker

R wrote -  I need an Italian connection to find an Exacta Mini Linker for me. I've searched everywhere on google and ebay, none to be found. It was my favorite piece of equipment, linked thousands of sweaters together till it finally died on me. I know they are still available in Italy as I found a demo video on U Tube. Know anyone?




Clara in R's studio
Clara - Very sad to hear that your Mini Linker died. I know you look after your machines well and keep them for ages. 

The book I sent you, 'Irresistible Italy' by Bill and Patsy Rowe, features Alvina and Umberto's farm in Tuscany where they enjoy an agriturismo lifestyle which they
share with others by renting out two fabulous villas on the 8 hectare property.  Why don't you contact her on the website http://www.timeintuscany.com/
Good luck.


Cosimo  (and Concetta) are much loved donkeys at
Podernuovo in Tuscany

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Waiting for the mini linker

Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au
 http://www.babyboomerconnections.com.au/


Thursday, December 2, 2010

Knitting Machines make short work of creating beautiful garments

A Shrug to Hug
R wrote - Snug as a bug in a shrug...I love shrugs and I especially love making them. My next project on projectknitway.blopspot.com will be how to. It's never too late for you to become a machine knitter. Just google bond knitting machines and you'll find one. Knit up a bunch, set up at your local craft fair and a couple of sales later you have you knitter paid for. You can be the Shrug Queen of Sydney! Seriously.

Clara - Serious Shrug Queen of Sydney!  Has quite a ring to it.  Sydney is actually a perfect place for a shrug as the weather is changeable and can be cool in the evenings.
When I visited you I was fascinated by how quickly you shaped your beautiful garments on the knitting machine.  When you are accustomed to knitting stitch by stitch, the knitting machine seems amazing,  similar perhaps to how women felt in the past when they first used as sewing machine.

I look forward seeing how a shrug is fashioned on http://projectknitway.blogspot.com/.
Clara

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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Shrugs add glamour and warmth to winter and summer - as well as cover arms in summer

'Shrug' rhymes with 'Hug' and that's exactly what it does.  A shrug sits over a basic palate  - in winter to drape over a basic T of any shape, neckline etc, with best jeans or pants.  It adds warmth, glamour, and  style to a basic palate and as such is seriously Schick.

In Summer, non focus now re Wisconsin but Down Under , they cover the dreaded upper arms, whilst providing for necessary warmth when temperatures drop. 
Clara adores shrugs and will post a few summer numbers


A shrug a day ...November 26th
























Shrug of the Day...November 2






















Fairisle is Back...November 24th




















This snowflake pattern is appropriate. If you look carefully, you will see our first snow on the ground.
Shrugs and Kisses...November 18th




























Shrug It Off...November 17th






























Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au