Hetro, Retro, Metro, Homo, Hobo

I was asked a very strange question in a very casual conversation at a play ground by a young-ish mother (my age), Somehow the conversation came to 'How freaked out would you be if your son turned out to be gay?'

..........

Very casually.....

I have thought about this not in the same manner as this lady. I know it is a lot to ask from today's society but I want my little man to grow up where whatever sex you are attracted to makes no difference to anyone. No second glances at two women or two men kissing, no feeling like being attracted to the same sex is wrong. I grew up in a house where we where never told that being gay was right or wrong. We never had any opinion forced on us. From this I choose to believe that being gay was normal for some. I don't know if it is a choice, I don't know if people are born gay. But I do know that I want my boy to grow up knowing that whatever the case may be he will be accepted and loved by his family friends and his community.

I could not believe the way this lady asked me this question like she already knew the answer. I could not believe that someone so close to my age someone in my age group still had these views that this was 'wrong' 'scary' or something to be 'freaked out' about. I love my son so much and I am sure there are things that he will do in live that will make me very angry or upset but who he loves man or woman will not be one of the things that will upset or anger me. I don't ever want him to witness the hate and discrimination that is still around today. I dont want his generation to have to 'come out of the closet' I want it to be as natural as just being straight. We straight people do not have to announce that we are straight why should gay people have to announce to their family and friends that they are gay.

Sorry I am blabbering on a little I have had friends since I was a young teen that where gay. One 'came out' and ended up being ridiculed so much he ended up being anorexic and he passed away. This should never have happened and should never happen again.

Please people out there open your minds. Let our kids grow up in a society where they will not be judged for who they love.

Cupcaking... Kind of

Oh so Yummy

Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes

Makes 24 cupcakes

2 1/4 tsp. or 1 packet (1/4 oz./7 g) dry active yeast

1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided

1 cup warm milk (approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit)

2 eggs, room temperature

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 tsp. salt

4 1/2 cups bread flour

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 1/2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

1/3 cup butter, softened

1. Dissolve the yeast and 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar in the warm milk in a large bowl and let stand for about 10 minutes until foamy.

2. Mix in the eggs, butter, salt, and other 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. Add flour and mix until well blended and the dough forms a ball. Put in a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about one hour).

3. After the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners (I like to double them up because these cinnamon rolls are so moist), and lightly spray over the top of them with cooking spray.

4. Roll dough into a 12×22 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 24 rolls (I use a length of dental floss–works like a charm!).

5. Place each roll in a cupcake liner. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 10-12 minutes. Let rolls cool completely before frosting (or else the frosting will melt and slide off).

Frosting

2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners’ sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.

Stressors

I am generally not a person who stresses I am very good at emptying my mind and meditating ect. I have always enjoyed being able to clear my mind and think clearly. In more recent days maybe the last month or so I have really been struggling. I am stressing like I have never before in my life. It may have to do with pregnancy or just being older or being a mum I don't know but I don't like it. I have started thinking of worst possible scenarios which is just not me. When I hear other people talking like that I poo poo them I think they are insane for being so negative and thinking so distressingly but I feel like I am becoming one of them so I am putting my foot down, turning a corner ect. I have never used so much energy for such a horrible purpose in my life and it is going to stop now. For you people out there that do this, if you can handle it go ahead and stress but your way is not for me.
Also just a quick note I have had people say to me in the past and recently the old saying 'there is bigger things to worry about'...... NEVER say this to someone who is stressed it is a horrible thing to say its like saying oh yes you should be worried about your child growing up to be a car thief but while your worried just imagine if he turned out to be an axe murderer. My point being it just makes you think of bigger things to worry about it does not take any stress off the matter at hand.

The Number 3

I am in the first week of my third Trimester two thirds of the way there. Yay
This is what my baby would look like at this point. He is weighting a little over a kilo now.

Cupcaking- these are amazing

These are truly delicious read and make and get very large while you eat them. 

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cupcakes with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cupcakes

Oven: 325 Bake time: 20 minutes

swEEts original 

Yields 20 cupcakes

3/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 cup AP flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325. Line pan with cupcake liners and set aside.

In a large bowl cream butter and sugars until fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.

In a small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

Add vanilla extract to buttermilk.

Mix dry ingredients into butter/sugar mixture, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.

Using an ice cream scoop, fill each cupcake liner with one scoop of batter.

Transfer to oven and bake for 20 minutes or until cupcakes bounce back to touch or toothpick comes out clean.

Immediately turn out onto table and place on cooling rack for at least 30 minutes before frosting.

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8oz package of cream cheese

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup white chocolate, melted

1 TBS crisco

In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.

Slowly add sugar, whipping cream and vanilla extract- beating until smooth and creamy consistency is reached.

Melt white chocolate and crisco using a double boiler or in the microwave* make sure to watch your white chocolate as it is much more finicky than its darker counterpart. If microwaving stop to check on it every 30 seconds or so and if using a double boiler constantly stir until crisco melts in.

Allow white chocolate to cool slightly before adding it to icing mixture.

Add melted white chocolate to frosting mixture and beat on high for a few minutes.

Place frosting in fridge for a few minutes before using.

Use piping bag to frost cupcakes.

For garnish:

Cook one tortilla cut into small triangles in skillet over medium heat (with 2 TBS oil).

Make cinnamon-sugar mixture and place in small bowl.

Place cooked tortilla triangles in cinnamon-sugar mixture and mix to coat.

My Favorites

Kulfi- Peach and pistachio to be exact. It is a Indian dessert, it is like the Indian version of ice cream but it is custard based rather then milk or cream based. http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/15887/peach+pistachio+kulfi


Beautiful sunny Autumn days. The air has a chill and in the shade it is cold but the sun is beautiful and warm and takes the chill out of the air.


Showers with a sleepy son. Hastings just cuddles into my shoulder and lets the water run over his back

These are some of my favorite things

My Story

This is a part of my life I don't share with everyone but I now am accepting the facts and appreciate my life that I have.
While I was in America I was diagnosed with a Medulloblastoma the size of a twenty cent piece. It is a brain tumor that is found in the Cerebellum (the back of the brain).

There is a 5 year survival rate of 63% and a 10 year survival rate of 38%. Because of the size and the position of the tumor I was given two years to live. They suggested that there was a very poor chance of survival. I went through very intensive chemo and radiation on a limb of the doctors, they where not confident but they wanted to try. After multiple rounds of chemo and hell on earth they saw that the tumor had shrunk it was some what exciting but it was still there. I was put through more chemo after a short break all of this over 2 years. I was told the only thing left was a little scar tissue. This is an amazing result. In most cases similar to mine there is not much of any chance.

As a result of the chemo, and the amount and intensity I was told that there was a very small chance that I would be able to have children and would most certainly have to have IVF treatments to conceive.

It has been 3 years since I have been given the all clear. I have naturally conceived 3 times. Unfortunately we had a miscarriage but we have one healthy happy baby and soon to be another one.

Anyway that is my story. I have decided to share because my most recent scan has shown that I am still 100% healthy and I couldn't ask for anything more. I am thankful for everyday that I have lived but it has become more apparent since this part of my life. I cant even imagine only living until I was 20 never being married, never having my beautiful son and never seeing him grow up. But I don't like to think like this because I am healthy, happy, loved and in love.  

Oh Baby- Nursery

We have officially decided on the colors Light blue Dark blue and Cream. It will be in a bit of a sea theme. Hastings has Brown taupe and Green in a forest theme. I cant wait to get his new room set up this is going to be so much fun.

Husbands away the wife will...

Clean, cook and look after the baby.
About the same as I would do if the Husband was here.
Josh went to America for about 4 weeks at the end of last year so two days is nothing.
My baby and I keep busy and keep working, Hubby is in Sydney at some course, for work.
We miss him when he is gone but I have such a super kid that it is not much different without an extra set of hands.
Here is Hubby's trip to America/ Mexico. What a good looking man

A Weekend Affair

We had a busy old weekend my son and I.
First wake up 4am (me not him) then off to the markets
So Flemington markets we are here let us through your doors.
At the markets we picked up these little mandarins that are about half the size of the normal ones but are twice as tasty. Josh and I used to pick them up when we went down there before I had my little man. So this has been my one craving, not just mandarins but little sweet juicy delicious mandarins. But as we walked through the door of the fruit market we were greeted by a little pastry man who exclaimed it was to early for such a little boy and he deserved a croissant and promptly gave him one. Which he loved to no end. So after that we headed over to the flower market to pick up some flowers for my lovely friends and my mother. Back into the fruit market to pick up some strawberries and blueberries because the ones in Coles looked revolting, then off we went.
Next stop to see my beautiful nephew and my sister in law. I had multiple cups of tea and lots of chats with my sister in law but that boy just kept sleeping. As babies do they sense when they should be sleeping and they stay awake and visa versa. So eventually I think my sister in law woke him up and I got  a quick little cuddle and Hastings got to see his little cousin. They did a little E.T. finger thing but my nephew is 5 months younger then Hastings so not ready to play yet but it wont be long. They are so close in age they will be good buddies.
So back down their hill and over to the excessively busy kings st.
Finally after a lap or two we found a car space and waited for some people to arrive. As long as I don't get lost I have a habit of being early. So I met up with my lovely high school friends and had a lovely salad and hamburger lunch and I supplied some cupcakes for dessert. Hastings at this stage said he had had enough and was sick of being awake so after dessert we promptly took our tired tails back to the car and headed home.
Home by 4 Hastings had a walk with his Gramps and I took a 30 min nap that was more then wanted it was a necessity. We then had dinner with the family and headed home where I promptly crashed and died for the entire night. Thank goodness my baby can sleep.
The next day the dad and mum cleaned house. I love playing house except when it gets dirty. No really I keep our place pretty tidy as I have not much to do during the day but our bedroom has slowly been ganging up on us. Hubby has a trillion clothes so he had the job of sending some to a better home where they will be loved and worn. Then after a break I took up 7 pairs of pants and did a couple of sewing projects that have been patiently waiting for quite some time.
So that was my weekend busy but lovely.
Just a note while I was away in Sydney Hubby watched the NFL draft then wnet and had a big Sushi lunch with my bro and then they went and saw a movie. He had quite a bit of his own fun.