This year I’m going to be really big on keeping lists, like obsessive about them. I guess that’s a weird thing to have an aim for right? a new obsession? Anyway, here’s a list of the lists I’ve already started constructing…

• Books Read in ‘09 - Naturally. My plan is (as usual) to read 50 books over the course of 2009. I got a fair few for Christmas, and have a few others that I plan on re-reading before the year’s out. I’ve almost finished A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire (book 3 in the Wicked series), and then I’m either going to move onto the Twilight Saga or the Eragon books :D Yay for young-adult lit!
• Films seen at the cinema - I constantly forget the films I’ve been to see. I could probably only name half of the ones I saw in ‘08. List currently stands at Twilight (x2) and Australia. Damn, need to get me to some action films and cancel out all that girliness!
• Things to achieve - I made a pact with myself this new year that resolutions were dumb, so instead I’ve made a list (hopefully one to be continually added to) with tasks I want to achieve this year. They range from the mundane (pass driving test, go to the gym 3/4 times a week EVERY week) to the captivating (Visit Hong Kong, do some kind of creative writing course… ). This list also doubles as my ‘Quarter Century’ list, I turn 24 on Saturday and have a damn lot to get done before my 25th.
• Things to buy - This is a bit of a ridiculous list, really. It’s more of a reminder-list, certainly not as exciting as it first sounds. I always have moments when I’m like ‘Oh, I could really do with a potato masher’ or ‘God damn, times like these certainly DO call for a bookmark’ (that’s quite a regular thought). So, I now have a list of generic items that I need, at some point, to acquire.
• Blog Article ideas - I’m planning on becoming a much better blogger this year, in order to achieve this I’ve made a purpose built list of blog article titles. Obviously a growing list…
• List of Lists.. - And this is where the obsession becomes apparently. Yes, dear Readers, I have constructed a list of possible Lists that I can list in my List book.
• To-Do lists - Such a boring, but necessary, list. These lists exist in my red moleskine daily planner rather than my book of Lists :)

This year my lists will be housed in a hot pink volant moleskine notebook (courtesy of the boy at Christmas! Still undecided over what I will use the baby pink one for…). Oh, notebooks….

Oh, dear readers, I am slightly knackered today. Last night was my works Christmas Night Out which involved eating Thai food (omg so omnomnom), drinking beer (not too much, mind) and wearing hats. Much fun was had by all! Alas, my mind isn’t correctly engaged to bring you a full-on Weekly Good Stuff post, fear not though… here’s a few bits.

• It’s totally nearly Christmas and I’m so freakin’ excited this year. Zomg it’s gonna be spectacular!
• Yesterday in the Office shoe sale I managed to snag not one, BUT TWO pair of fabulous shoes. Ah! Such a great 10 minutes of my life. One of the pairs are even heels, and super pretty ones too. They’re made by Lotus Hallmark :D
• I have been very much enjoying Nigella’s Christmas this week on the old TV, she’s such a personality!
• We’ve been eating quality streets all week at work, super good for you!

Oh… that’s all I can manage.

Such frivolities this week my dear readers!

• We put up our fishmas tree last weekend :D Now our goldfish can celebrate with us.
• Last weekend the house also smelt wonderfully of Cinder toffee, sugar and syrup. Yom!
• Oo OO, on SUNDAY we got an offer accepted on the most piece of shit house in existence, it’s totally amazing though and we got it for dirt cheap. Now the scary part of working out finances, talking to banks and figuring out legal jargon is really taking up our time. Oh well, it’s still ah-maze-ong.
• Saw The Mighty Boosh on Tuesday evening, they were deliciously funny. Had some reservations because season 3 was only so-so, but the live show was ace…
• Some more cute little chickens have been talking about finestimaginary on their blogs, it’s fabulous!
• I have been looking at kitchens, wood floors, paint!, wallpaper, vinyl decals… Sooo much fun!
• My bestie is coming back from HongKong for a week over Xmas! Much excitement!
• other things of note: cooking shows; watching heroes; loads of duvets; mince pies! I’m turning into one :/ ; christmas shopping; christmas markets.

Meet the Christmas Salmon. Adam’s mum gave us this amazing old christmas ornament, made from glass (you know, like the baubles that turn into shards and stab your hands in the decoration box). It’s fucking amazing, a christmas fish! Who would have thought! We’ve put it on the pink tree that lives next to the goldfish (Terry and Neil), so they can celebrate their own Fishmas.

This is what we put on top of the Fishmas tree, the Fishmas Woodpecker!

So, you picked up the nachos, got the chili cooking and even boiled up some rice… but oh no! You forgot to pick up a jar of salsa! What to do! Well, I’m sure you have these simple store cupboard and weekly shop items to make a tasty 5 minute salsa fresca!

What you’ll need (to serve 3 people):

2 Ripe medium sized tomatoes
3 Spring onions (or more/less to taste)
A tablespoon of chopped jalapeno peppers (the pickled kind)
A handful of coriander
A splash of lime juice (fresh is best)
Chopped/minced garlic (to taste)
Your favourite tomato based hot sauce
Salt & Pepper

It’s super easy to make, too. Chop up the tomatoes, spring onions and coriander, combine them in a bowl with the rest of the ingredients and voila! a tasty salsa fresca for all!

Alongside this you might want to serve a deliciously easy guacamole. Here’s what you’ll need:

1/2 ripe Avocados (like, squidgy!)
3 spring onions
Chopped jalepenos (it’s always best to use regular unpickled chillis, but they’re not always to hand so these will do!)
Chopped/minced garlic (to taste)
handful of corriander
splash of lime juice
and if you want, although not entirely neccessary, you can throw in 1 chopped up fresh tomato. Also for a smoother texture you can add a couple of spoon fulls of sour cream.
Salt & pepper to taste

Mash up the avocado coarsley, add the chopped up spring onions. Combine with all the other ingredients, and that’s it. Enjoy!