Lissanthea J Taylor

An ode to my beautiful sister.

An inspiration.

not just for me.

but for you swell.

She says and does great things.

Keeps me on my toes... to do better, see better and be better.

She won't let me rest on my laurels, won't let me sink beneath the waves of commonplace... but keeps me fighting. Keeps my sparkle alive... 

Always fighting, challenging and seeking that one step higher. 

I've spoken of 10 thousand girl before; and now Miss Lissanthea shares her history, wisdom and insight into the world of moolah... this potentially petrifying/ potentially liberating world.

http://www.10thousandgirl.com/2011/03/29/this-stuff-is-for-you/

Enjoy.

xo 
This is also an experiment to see if she checks my blog or not!

Better than sliced bread...

...Pretty obvious that sliced bread, actually bread in general isn't much my cup of tea. Try some nutty little amazing!!




[First and foremost. May I add that... this is not my own creation.
The ever beautiful David, Luise and Elsa have trialed and tested this wonder for us over at Greenkitchenstories.com]

Yet I post this in my own manner. Because so many people have asked me for the recipe. Because it rules. and Because I like posting little bits of fun.

so. You'll need.

2 cups of Nuts. (I used almonds, sunflower, pepitas, and linseeds. But any would suffice!)

1 egg.

2tbsp water.

1 tsp salt.

Num num num sprinkles: Salt/pepper, nigella seeds, sumac, mixed herbs, sesame seeds...What ever you wish!

Nuts!

Prep O.v.e.n at 180 degreeeees.

Put the nuts in a food processor and go Chop chop chop. So they make little tiny nuts = flour.

Transfer into a bowl and add the egg. mix around and add the water if needed ( some eggs are BIG and don't need it) 

Should have a nice firm dough. Divide into 2 or 3 balls. 

Roll out with rolling pin... hmmm 2mm maybe. Yes, I'm very scientific!

(sometimes it sticks to the rolling pin. Cover with extra sheet of baking paper)

Spray with water, add Num num numbs...roll over again to press into dough.

Flat nuts.

Cut into bite size squares.. 

Turn o.v.e.n down to 150. bake bake bake. Keep watch on them...

15 minutes should be premium.

Take out of o.v.e.n and let them go all dry and crunchy.

and then try try try not to eat them all.

so so good.

Such a whole food. Nuts and an egg. perfect!

Make some guacamole, invite some friends over.. and you've got a party!

Lazy saturdays... Making nut crackers to Bonobo.

("for distance we create whimsy to battle the odds"-O) 

Just chillin' 

xo

Quirky Containers.

On resisting a darling little antique colander full of succulents today ( hoarding tendencies on off mode)... Decided to honour some of my self-spawned oddities. 

Always reminds me that growth wants to happen!

Yet on the same note... I am a fan of ye old succulent. Need less drainage = Harder to kill = Less heart break. </3

Not even slightly taking ownership of this piece of beauty. Twas a present from a dear friend, whom is off finding various parts of himself around the world. 

An old memory: my Nanny Mac's donkey and cart planter. Marrickville markets found me my own miniature. Just for nostalgia.

Hey herb garden! You are so fine. 

My lust for vintage drawers right now is gaining momentum. Kale for winter is sprouting in a beautiful drawer i found in my daddy's shed. But thoughts spread to a whole chest of drawers... blooming, edible and bountiful.
Thinking of abundance today. The markets provided me with a sense of all the things I didn't need. 

Oh... except a little red bus.

ps. LOVE is for my Miss Marlie. Whom gives amazing house warming niceties in the form of scrabble fun.

Postal boxes and messages of hope.

Tomorrow marks week 3. Operation High School Teacher.

and after fighting off a stress induced cold.

...Am fighting fit and ready to start a new week.

5 more fun outfits.

5 more pairs of crazy earrings

and 5 more adventures up the mountains.

Until the weekend brings new beauty and respite.

So each day, as Joyce and I tra la la to Big school; no matter how groggy or sooky I am, I drive past this...

...And smile. 

My little yellow ray of postal sunshine.

Keeps the grey mountain gloom away. 

and the "petrol-metre half-full" mentality up.

Now this is me merely showing off: this is my little office space.

Instructions for the first day of school: "Bring a hat and a cup for tea." My kinda school.

The kids eat herbs from the flower beds. On fridays we learn to make mens shirts into all sorts of crazy clothes. I've started my classes with small meditations and yes, the canteen rules. and yes, it uses the spinach from the school garden :)

How's this for a playground = wonderland ... wander land?

Much love to all my beautiful creatures out there.

Thoughts are with my old housemate; recently diagnosed with MS. 

A strong little cookie.

All my love Jamie.

xoxo

"May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near."- An Old Irish Blessing

Reality Check

Sweet Vanity.
Its the 9th of March.
Which means its been a month.
Since the GHD got put away...


...And Miss Pearl Harnessed her mass of crazy.
Who knew my hair was so curly!
And why would i run from this?


Vipassna gave me 10 days with no hair maintenance.
Liberating.
It also articulated that my constant straight, straight straightening...
was not only killing my hair.
But making me unhappy.
Because of the impermanence of it all.
Anicca in hair philosophy.


So I've embraced the reality that is my hair.
That it falls somewhere between brilliant beach hair, sensuous sex hair and fantastic frizz free fun.
Yet I feel, vanity aside... 
It stands as a symbol for larger notions. For some internal shift that has taken place...
Where seeing things as they are. and not how i wish them to be is key.
... where else may we manifest this?
Where else may we need this understanding in our lives?


Just something to ponder on this over cast Mountains day... When I've taken half the day off school to regroup, reinvent and retouch. But mostly just to sleep.


Night Night/ Good Morning World.
xoxo Bryanna pearl

Toms. One for One.

My first day of school today. And a student said 

" Wow Miss, You wear Toms! "

I was so in.

And I remembered how much I love them.

( and won over some kiddies in the process)

So my story starts at the feet... but ends up in the head.

I was ready to start going barefoot everywhere; for shoes became the bane of my existence. 

The cheap ones were too expensive for what they were. Ripping off both the consumer and the planet. Yet I found the slightly more expensive ones were no better. Just more expensive.

I went through Ballet flat to ballet flat... searching for the perfect shoe.

Enter Toms. 

Stands for Tomorrows shoes. 

Socially aware. One for One.

His story is simple and inspiring. 

Went to Argentina, found a whole lot of people ( including kids) that had foot diseases because they had no foot protection. Not to mention many social disadvantages like not being able to go to school because of uniform policy. Rah rah rah... basically.. not wearing shoes sucks.

So what does he do? what any of us would do!! 

Come back home. quit your day job and start a shoe company... the guiding philosophy entertains the notion that when you buy a pair... He gives a pair to those in need! Not just in Argentina now.. but all around the world!

Thus Blake Mycoskie's and my own story become one.

They may not be a 'pretty' as my old preference for ballet flats or pretty shiney plastic nothings.

But comfort factor, lightness factor, social factor, inspiration factor... and according to little mr year seven ' cool factor'.... way up there!!

For the travel inspired. Fancy free foot ware. Pretty excited. Inspired by photojournalist Dan Eldon.

Join me? yes! Head to the website and register. Experiential empathy might be just the thing we need.

The website posts to Australia ( and because of our amazing cha change, end up a little cheaper) But Hype stores also sell them.

www.toms.com

Oh and you get a pretty little Tom's flag. Which I sew into cute little book bags. 

Shoes. Tick.

Book bag. Tick

First day of Teaching Internship. Tick.

Nap times....xo

Easy Peasy Almond Squeezy

Running out of things to put in my tea!!
A dilemma of sorts!
Cow's out... Latest news flash... Soy Sucks.
.. and I'm not a fan of old sugar-free blackie.

So I turn to my old friend.
Le Almond.
(yes, now he is French)

Lets milk it baby!
You need:
Half a cup of almonds. Soak them for a few hours so they are all tender like.
One cup of water.
Pinch of salt.
[One can sweeten with a fresh date or two if you wish. But I don't bother!]
Blender.
Fine Sieve/Cheese Cloth.

So pop the soaked almonds in the blender. Joosh up all messy like for 30 seconds.
Then add the salt and extra cup of water.
On high for 30 seconds.
Or a minute if you dare!!

Pour through strainer into a jug
The stuff that ends up in the jug is milk!!
Num Num Num.
AND! You can add more water, little more salt and go back for seconds. Joosh up again... strain again.
But it doesn't have a massive shelf life. So keep amounts with 3 day consumption mindfulness :)

The greatest thing is the by-product from this recipe. The wet almond meal makes amazing pancakes.
Of which, I will post a recipe... Once I have perfected this no waste miracle.


Easy Peasy Almond Squeezy.
x's and o's from the strange kitchen of Miss Pearl.