A long time.

Brent and I have lived in our tiny apartment for over a year now, and we've only just got it looking nice.

It's taken a long time.

I finally put all my nice prints into frames, rather than having them blue-tacked onto the wall like some poor uni student (which, lets face it, I kinda am).

I've wanted a picture wall in the lounge room for a long time, and I finally took some initiative and did it. It only took me a couple of hours to buy the frames, clean them up, put the prints in, and hang them up.

I feel like a real adult now!

Red pesto in the rain.

As I write this, the sun is shining right on me. Even though it's raining and the trees are dancing in the breeze, the sun is warming my body and making me squint my eyes to see the computer screen. If you stand outside, in a sheltered and sunny spot, you'd hardly know it was the coldest day all September. You might even remember that it's supposed to be spring.

I like days like these because I don't feel guilty if I don't go outside. I could stay inside, lounging around, baking things, for days before I felt like I needed some fresh air and to speak to someone that wasn't Brent or Rooney. I'm happy on my own, and I'm not afraid to admit it. I think it's important to be able to enjoy your own company.

The only problem with being at home is that I feel guilty if I'm not studying. Studying is probably important if you're at uni. But there are ways to banish that guilt. To send it to some dark corner and forget about it. Like, for instance, by watching season upon season of some (possibly trashy) tv show that you love. Or by baking and cooking. Or you could do both at once, if you're that clever. Yesterday I felt guilty for not studying so I did three things: I made a batch of chocolate biscuits; I went to my friend's house for coffee and gossip; I made red pesto.

I always have red pesto when I go to my parents house. For some reason, they always have some in the fridge. I like to eat it on crackers, but I could totally just eat it straight out of the container. I've never made red pesto before, but it's super easy. This one has more basil in it than the one from the shop, but I like it that way. That's probably the best thing about making things at home, you can have them exactly how you want them. This red pesto is good anyway you like it. On pasta, on chicken, on crackers, on a finger straight from the bowl...

Recipe:
Adapted from Epicurean

1 Cup semi-dried tomatoes

1/2 Cup Pine nuts
2 Cups Fresh Basil
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
3 Garlic cloves

1/2 Cup Parmesan

salt & pepper to taste.

Put the tomatoes, basil and garlic in a food processor and blitz until roughly chopped.

Add the pine nuts, parmesan and some oil and mix.

Add the rest of the oil and salt and pepper to taste.