KimGriff's Profile

This makes sense for people with limited knife skills, but otherwise I agree with those who are in the corner of the knife and chopping board. I actually can't remember the last time I used kitchen shears, if ever.

Like LouiseVN above, I live in New Zealand, but I live in Wellington. In comparison to the rent/income table above, I would say it is much more expensive than even San Francisco as our median wage/salary is far below that listed above.

We currently pay about $1800NZD ($1500USD) a month for a two bedroom, moderately sized (about 800sqft) and appointed apartment in the central city, right in the middle of the entertainment district (the building we back on to is quite literally, a strip club). Before I left my full time job to become self employed, we earned around $74,000pa gross (before tax about $61,000USD) combined in our moderately skilled incomes - my husband is a butcher and I used to be a retail store manager. So, comparably, if those figures above are for individual incomes, then I'm a little baffled at how these rents can be considered 'expensive'.

We lived very comfortably before I left my job and were able to purchase frivolous items without too much forethought, and do any entertainment activities we felt like, in fact comparative to many people we would probably have been considered reasonably wealthy.

Compare that to Nelson, where we used to live where our mortgage is $200 a week (we still own the property) but our incomes were around $8k lower each a year, and quality of life was probably comparable to here in Wellington, but with less fun stuff to do. I'm not planning on going back to the cheaper housing any time soon, it's more fun in the capital!

I know it's not exactly a revelation, but smoked paprika is kind of like mushroom powder. Adds a boost to pretty much anything (as long as adding a bit of red isn't going to ruin the look!)

My personal faves are adding it to chilli or a batter or crumb for fish or chicken.

How about having like as a default for statuses/shares but having an option to change to dislike if it's something negative like getting fired, or someone dying? You know, so there is a radio button with two options, 'like' and 'dislike', and when you post your status you select which one it should be before sharing...

@mrs_mouse - ditto. Although I had a period in between for about three months where I had a flatmate who used to go away a lot. Found myself making ridiculous salads (usually containing normal salad ingredients, plus bacon, and caremelized nuts, maybe some random fruit sitting in the fridge) and eating it directly out of the massive salad bowl. I also watched a lot of movies with Colin Farrell in them.

Now? The stupid salad has been replaced by an enormous bag of salt and vinegar chips. Also, for some reason when I'm alone I drink wine when I'm usually a beer or scotch drinker. Last time I was the one away on business, I bought a bunch of junk food from the convenience store and ate it exclusively for dinner for three days.

In all seriousness, though, when I first moved into this apartment, I was on my own for two months while my hubby finished up a contract in another city. The place was reasonably unpacked by the time he got here, but I left all the newspaper we had used for packing under the dining table in a huge pile. My excuse was that it was a play fort for the bunny rabbit.

Basically, I get exceptionally lazy.

I saw this and thought 'YUMMY!' and then realised I'd read about it in last month's Your Home and Garden Magazine! So great to get an expanded photo shoot of such a beautiful home.

How timely. I just re organized mine! I have these beautiful glass jars with wooden stoppers on the top for mine, three different sizes depending on how much I use them (the smoked paprika and cumin are in the biggest ones) I also store my honey in one because it looks so pretty. Also, they stack really well and look beautiful out of the pantry and on the counter (just make sure you keep them in a dark corner or your spices will degrade).

My main problem is I'm always experimenting with new spices. Thankfully the bulk retailer I buy them from also sells the jars! One stop shop!

I really don't understand the rejection of the color coordination thing. Not everyone thinks the same way and I, like bijaydi, find it easier to search for books by their visual markers rather than alphabetical (although I spend all day working in a bookstore where EVERYTHING is alphabetical).

Also, who says it has to all be the same? I use the color block method for most of my books, but for series (like my Harry Potters and LOTR) I create vignettes, and for ugly mass market paperbacks I usually either store them once they're read or take them to the thrift store.

If you ever have problems with it ACCEPTING remote signals (rather than picking up random ones), it's probably your CFLs. They emit infra red signals which TVs interpret as a signal. Although I've never heard of them turning stuff on ;P

Lots of tabbing and hit the space bar to select any check boxes. Arrow keys or tab will select the radio buttons.