. . . for Lauren and Lauren: Stress baking and an Australian friend

November 7, 2012

Stress baking and an Australian friend

Apparently one way I handle stress or anxiety is to bake.
That and watch teen drama.
This week has been somewhat stressful and overwhelming, and I have baked three times in three days.

Like these banana chocolate chip muffins.


or this pumpkin chocolate chip bread.


or these peanut butter chocolate chip bars

Or maybe it's that anything with chocolate chips can help an anxious heart.

That and some blog reading.  I seriously look forward to the evenings where I have time to catch up on blogs, like my daily reads and favorites and finding new blogs too.

And that is what I have for you today.  I'm excited to have Samara from The Secret Life of Samara share a little about herself and her life in Australia.  Which just learning that intrigued me when I found her blog.  And today she is sharing some Australian quirks that you had no idea existed!


Over the past week I have been reading all about the havoc that Hurricane Sandy has caused over in America and now we are getting taste of isome nasty weather over here in Australia, albeit on a smaller scale. While admittedly there are no roof tops flying or trees crashing, there is certainly a lot of rain, a lot of lightning and a lot of thunder. In fact, I am currently writing this post in the pitch black as our power has gone off. Something I love about blogging is that while I am over here sitting in the middle of a raging storm typing away, there is someone over the other side of the world in some gorgeous tropical location or someone else who has been snowed in. It suddenly makes the world seem not so small and it is exciting to connect with people from all over the world. I always feel like the odd one out though and I think that comes from being a weird little Australian. You may not realise, but there are a whole lot of little quirks about us that really make us stand out from the crowd and make me feel a little bit..odd. Let me explain...


Australian quirks that you had no idea existed.

1. Our Accent
Have you ever noticed our crazy accent? We were settled by the British yet sound like we've been put in slow motion when we speak. Such a long draaaawl. Do we speak slower because the heat has sapped all of our energy? Or because we really are that relaxed?


2. We are teeny tiny
I wrote this blog post about the amount of comments my husband and I get whenever out in public about his height. You see, he is 6"8. It would seem like no one has ever seen anyone of that height in Australia as we end up having so many gawkers and people making comments all the time. After writing this post I had a whole heap of Americans say that people don't tend to notice height in America- is this really true?? Are Australians really abnormally short or are Americans abnormally tall?


3. Our obsession with big things (including my giant husband)
I have been to the Big Lobster, the Big Orange, the Big Rocking Horse and the Big Koala. All around Australia there are big every things- pineapples, bananas, sheep- you name it, we've got it. We love anything giant sized. I don't understand it really but some how find myself sucked into the trap of wanting to visit them. Next on my list is the Big Pineapple in Queensland.

4. We go overseas but then just end up in the Aussie Pub
Guilty as charged. Do Americans do this? Go overseas just to find yourself hanging out at Maccas? (do you call it Maccas? Or is it McDonalds?). We like to think we are cultured when we travel, but the reality often tells a very different story!

5. We have an aversion to saying full words
My name is Samara but I constantly have people calling me Sam. I don't mind too much however sometimes I feel like I am being a kill joy by making someone say my whole name. We also shorten other things too- sandwich is a 'sanger', sausage is a 'snag' and Australians are "Aussies". I think this is just our laziness coming out!

Are there any other Aussie quirks that you have noticed?

 Come on over to my blog and see what life is like in the Land of Oz. Or to see pictures of my rabbit Nibbles. She's adorable and well worth the visit...and quirky in her own right.

xo
Samara


Now we all know how I feel about abbreviations   But I'd place money on that fact that if Samara said Maccas instead of McDonalds or sanger instead of sandwich with her Australian accent, she'd sound cool doing it.  Now go check out her cute Australian self over here.





25 comments:

Erika said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

I am totally a stress baker too!! I made brownies last night, which are now almost gone. Your treats all look delicous!

Ashley said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

I'm a stress eater, so we need to get together!! :-)

Brittaney said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

I wish I could be a stress baker! I have a tendency to ruin each and every recipe some way or another. I on the other hand, am a stress cleaner. Nothing like a good bathroom scrub! Hope your week starts to chill out soon!

Jenee C. said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

OH how adorable and you really were on a baking frenzy. Off to check out Sam's blog now, I always love coming across fellow Aussies.

xx Jenee C.
{camo meets couture}

Denise said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Yummy, you made me hungry.

Franziska said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Um yes to all of your Australian things. I went to Australia earlier this year and I could NOT understand half of the things people said because you guys shorten everything!

Danavee said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Sounds like we need Thanksgiving break to GET HERE FAST! Hope you have a decent chunk of the week off!?!?!

Head to Toe Chic said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

I need to check out her blog!! I really want to go to Australia some day. People in New Jersey seem to shorten a lot of words too :)

and where can I get the recipe for the pumpkin chocolate chip bread? It looks delicious!

xo,
Angela
headtotoechic.blogspot.com

Kristin said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Stress baking leads to over-consumption of sugar in this household.
I hope things get better in time for the weekend!
It was fun reading about Australia. I have family there, but have never been!

~julee~ said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

If we were neighbors, I'd help you eat all of that! Hope things get settled soon! xoxo

Samara said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

If you hate abbreviations, you would HATE Australia- we abbreviate everything. Sometimes, it is too painful for words!

Abbey said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Cute post and I wish I had an Australian accent...or a any really.Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are my favorite to bake...I have the recipe on my blog if you ever need more chocolate chip ideas.:)

Laura said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

I loved Samara's post! she's hilarious and I loved the differences she pointed out. Headed to her blog now...

I hope you start to feel better soon! I'm sorry you've had a stressful week :(

Always Maylee said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

This has been a stressful week for me too, but instead of baking, I shop. I think I've spent hours looking at things online this week!

Samara is adorable and the quirks she listed are so funny!

xo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee

Denise Pacurar said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

I stress bake/cook/clean & shop! Everything you bakes looks delicous! Samara seems so sweet!

<3 Denise
http://allthingsnew-denise.blogspot.com/

The Olive Tree Blog said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

fun post! I heard on klove the other morning that baking fresh goodies in your home actually does lift the spirits ;)

Kayla Peveler said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Can't wait to check out her blog! So cute :)

those baked goods look incredible; send some my way!! ;)

Melissa Krystel said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Actually it is normal to see super tall guys with short girls here in California. Myself included. ^^'' I'm 5 feet and my boyfriend is 6 feet tall. lolz! Same with my sister!

The Krystel Book

Annie said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Um can I come over and eat all your baked goods? They look amazing...baking is such an awesome way to relieve stress. And get fat :)

Annie
The Other Side of Gray

Lily Marek said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

A. I want you to come bake for me, and
B. What a cute post about Austalia! I'll have to hop over to her blog!

Whitney Cypert said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Psh...I wish I only baked when I was stressed. Girl, I bake ALL the time! It's a bad habit I have formed. And what a cute Australian friend you have made! Love her post!

Ashley said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

she is cute! must go follow her now.

next time you are stressed, please come visit :)

hope things are ok for real though friend

Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Gee, I wish I had that baking problem when I'm stressed. I think I just become lazy and do nothing but peruse the internet when I'm stressing out!Can I just love that Samara taught me a new word for mcDonalds? Maccas! I love it.

sburton1130 said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

I'm such a stress baker, too. All three of those things look so yummy.
Hope your weekend is stress free!

Unknown said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Great post! I would like to invite you to me :) Let's follow each other =]
xxx from Spain


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