Is your suitcase packed?

6 (SIX - count 'em!) days until take off!!!
Have you packed? What are you taking? I'm finding it really hard not to pack summer clothes, simply because it's MY SUMMER (and probably about the same temp as the aussie winter!). For fun I googled 'Australian Street Fashion' and found this:
Street-Chic - Aussie Style

Ok. Kinda fun. Definitely not Summer wear... no tropical flowers, etc. But very cute. For our dancing girls.

Do I really have to bring long jeans?

14 days til Australia !!!

In 14 days, we will be on a plane, heading to AUSTRALIA. 14 Dancers, 14 days. Bunch of parents. A few siblings. 3 Dance teachers.
WHOO HOO!!! If that doesn't excite you, well, ... I have nothing to more to say!
It's been a long year. We've raised funds, raised more funds and then a bit more. We worked our fingers to the bone. We worked until the cows came home, and then we sent them back out again.
But NOW it is time to start packing our bags! NOW we get to go to the drugstore and buy TRAVEL SIZE containers of sunscreen and toothpaste. NOW we get to start having some FUN.... ok, we've been having fun along the way too! Still. IT"S TIME TO GET EXCITED!

FIRST STOP: SYDNEY!

Australian Terminology Quiz

It's time to learn Aussie-speak!

Here's a few phrases to get you going.
Guess at the meaning of the colored phrases (you could leave your answers in the comment section )!

• I'd just love a big, cold glass of Adam's Ale.
• He's sure is in need of a Dad 'n Dave.
• I'm so hungry! What I'd give for a jaffle.
• If there isn't a jaffle spot around, I might consider Macca's.
• That wasn't just any kiss mate, that was a pash!
• He's a tall poppy, that one!
• Well, that's better than being a yobbo!  

Winner gets a SPECIAL BLOG FEATURE !!!!
Dancers! This one's for YOU!!!

ANZAC Biscuit Recipie (as promised)

 These traditional biscuits (Cookies!) are associated with the joint holiday shared by Australia and New Zealand to commemorate the Gallipolli Landings during WWI.

Yield: 2 dozen (serving size: 1 cookie)

Ingredients

• 1  cup  regular oats
• 1  cup  all-purpose flour
• 1  cup  packed brown sugar
• 1/2  cup  shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/2  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/4  cup  stick margarine, melted
• 3  tablespoons  water
• 2  tablespoons  golden cane syrup (such as Lyle's) or light-colored corn syrup
• Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325°.
Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl; stir well. Add margarine, water, and syrup; stir well. Drop by level tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 325° for 12 minutes or until almost set. Remove from oven; let stand 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from baking sheets. Place on wire racks; let cool completely.
Note: We found these cookies were much better when made with golden cane syrup such as Lyle's. Cane syrup is thicker and sweeter than corn syrup and can be found in cans next to the jellies and syrups, or in stores specializing in Caribbean and Creole goods.

Monday Dance Class: Aussie Bites!

FIVE (count 'em) Australian delicacies to look forward to (12 weeks to go!):

1. Meat Pie. Statistics: 260 million pies are consumed every year in Australia. Of those, approx 62% are filled with chopped steak.  Just 2% are filled with chicken!
2. Barramundi. An 'Australis' fish.  Good for you. Check out the link:http://www.thebetterfish.com/recipe/Barramundi_and_Lemon_Butter_
3. Shrimp on the Barbie. Ok, My mouth is watering for warm summer evenings and good smells wafting off the grill.
4. ANZAC Biscuits. ANZAC is the  acronym for Australia and NewZealand Army Corp.  Apparently the Army makes really good biscuits! Photo right, recipe tomorrow.
5. AND, last but not least: VEGEMITE! Perhaps it's an acquired taste? Maybe, like PB&J, it helps if you grow up with it?! All I know is that our Aussie dancers visiting in December were homesick for it. This yeasty spread seems to be the quintessential Australian comfort food.