The Stray Kitten

A lot of people look down on microwave cookery (yes, there is such a thing), but it can be a lifesaver if you need to whip something up in a hurry.  If you're looking for an easy side dish, this is it!  It's not all that healthy, but it's quick and delicious.  This recipe serves about 4 people- or one greedy one :D You will need: Pyrex dish One brown onion Butter Milk 4 potatoes Grated cheese Method: 1.  Peel the onion and chop it into rings 2.  Put the rings in a bowl 3.  Put 2 tablespoons of butter over the rings 4.  Microwave for 3 minutes 5.  Peel and slice the potatoes, thinly 6.  Arrange half the potatoes in a thin layer in the Pyrex dish.   7.  Pour the onion/butter mixture evenly over the potatoes 8.  Arrange remaining potatoes evenly over the onions & add pepper 9.  Pour a bit of milk over the potatoes 10. Sprinkle some grated cheese on top 11. Cover dish with cling wrap and prick with a fork 12. Heat for 8 minutes 13. Carefully remove from microwave and remove

There are several paths you can take in becoming an English language teacher.  Mine was a bit unusual.  I graduated with a BA, and was unsure of what to do with it, when I stumbled upon an ad on the uni job board- to teach English in South Korea.  I will talk about these experiences in another blog! Fast forward one year, and I had decided to pursue a career in TESOL in Australia. With my overseas experience, I was able to work at a few private colleges, but decided to study a Graduate Diploma in TESOL to expand my options.  This only took a year, and after sending my pitch to every English school in Sydney, I scored a job teaching English to migrants and refugees.  Since then, I have gained a couple more qualifications to add to my resume- Certificate IV in Training & Assessment (now essential for working at any RTO), and a Master of Teaching (TESOL). My advice for those who already have a Bachelors Degree is to go straight to the Masters!  There are faster and easier ways to get

Here's a super easy dish you can make in a hurry.  It's not exactly healthy, but you can always substitute the ingredients with healthier options. Ingredients -------------- *  olive oil *  garlic *  large can of tuna (springwater) *  250g of fresh cream *  tomato paste *  250g sliced mushrooms *  pasta Method ---------- 1.  Put 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan 2.  Add 1 teaspoon of crushed garlic and salt, pepper and chilli to taste 3.  Add the tuna 4.  Add the cream and simmer for 2 minutes 5.  Add one tablespoon of tomato paste 6.  Add the mushrooms and simmer for 15 minutes 7.  Serve on your favourite pasta with a side of salad 8.  Enjoy :p

Part of being a good makeup artist is being prepared- for anything!  It's not a great feeling when you realise you've forgotten disposable mascara wands or that magical foundation brush.  I'll never forget the time I did the makeup for a corporate video.  Some of the men did love having their makeup done, but after the shoot, they wanted it removed.  Yikes- I had forgotten the makeup remover!  Luckily, I had some primer and cotton balls, which funnily enough, removes makeup!   You don't need to spend heaps of money on a kit- you can put one together easily bit by bit.  The first thing you need is a bag with lots of compartments.  Train cases look cool, but they can be cumbersome when you're on location.  You'll also need: -------------- Eyeshadow base  Neutral eyeshadow palette Colourful eyeshadow palette Smoky eyeshadow palette Fluidline Black eyeliner pencil Eyelash curler  Mascara  Falsies  Lash glue  Tweezers  Eyebrow stencils Brow gel  Brow powder Primer Po

If you're on Instagram, you'll notice that a lot of women can do their own makeup really, really well.  So how can you turn those skills and passion into a profession?  Well, that really depends on what kind of makeup artist you want to be. If you want to work at cosmetics counter, they'll usually want to see a qualification, and lots of retail experience.  The qualification is necessary because they want to be sure that you've learnt some basic hygiene practices.  Retail experience is important because as well as doing makeup, you'll be expected to meet and exceed sales targets.  You will also be asked to do a trial, so make sure you've had lots of practice on a variety of faces. If you want to freelance, you don't need any qualifications.  However, you do need some business sense and some knowledge of basic hygiene.  You'll need to get yourself some public liability insurance just in case.  The hardest thing about freelancing is finding work!  You'

When I was living abroad, one thing I really missed about Sydney was the variety of food.  Sydneysiders are extremely fortunate to have all the world's culinary delights at their fingertips. However, having an abundance of eateries means that the quality of food and service can be hit and miss.  For instance, many restaurants really overdo it with the salt, which makes you wonder how fresh their ingredients are.  Or sometimes you'll go to a restaurant once, give it a glowing review, only to be disappointed on subsequent visits.  Often a new restaurant will start out well, and then reduce their portion sizes and quality in a greedy attempt to maximise profits. There are a few eateries in Sydney that are consistently outstanding, and I will list them here.  Let me know your thoughts on them, and any others you would add! In no particular order; 1.  Indian - Darbar, Glebe My recommendations: The banquet (minimum 2 people) 2.  Chinese/Malaysian - Neptune Palace, Circular Quay My re

Ever since Dannii Minogue's petite clothing line came out, it has been all I wear.  I had never previously shopped at Target, so I could definitely appreciate the savings.  Now, I can't tolerate ill-fitting clothing.  I am, however, a little disappointed with the quality of the garments.  Stitching comes undone easily, and just not feeling the fabrics. So I've been gradually trying to add other brands into my wardrobe.  My size is somewhere between an Australian size 6 and 8, although I prefer to squeeze myself into a 6 than be drowning in fabric.  I'm yet to find a decent alterations place! Some shops/brands that I've found suitable for petites are; * Portmans - great for corporate clothing, although sometimes their sizing can be a bit off (e.g. Shoulders too wide, pants too long) * Dangerfield - their size 6 is tiny! * Lee jeans - still a staple in my wardrobe,  love the Licks- find the right fit for you * Guess - size XS will fit most petites, and size 24 jeans f