Ikea dinnerware set review

We bought two of the Ikea Fargrik dinnerware sets - one in white, the other in turquoise, as you have probably noticed in previous posts. The white set is now starting to get lines on it - as shown in the photo above. Whenever cutlery scrapes on the bowl/plate, little grey lines appear. It is especially bad in bowls where little people scrape and scrape for that last skerrick of ice cream.
I have seen this before - hubby's work in Sydney got this set in their kitchen, and I assumed it was due to the high usage. But we have been using our set like a normal family of four, since April, when we moved, and it started marking about the end of July - ie, about three months.
Interestingly enough, the turquoise set is not marking - the glaze seems thicker, shinier and more durable?
My conclusion is, don't buy this set in white... It was only $19.95, but I would sort of expect a bit more durability.

Crazy expensive clothing

Got a clothing catalogue recently, sent to the previous resident at our place.

In one of the Terry Pratchett Discworld books, Sam Vimes muses about the rich actually saving money because they can afford to get stuff that lasts - ie, buy boots that last years, instead of buying cheap boots that last three months, and having to buy multiple pairs. Also, not having to buy stuff, because the previous generation already bought it and it is stored up in the attic somewhere, waiting to be reused.

This clothing, to me, is that sort of clothing.We have been feeling pretty pleased with ourselves, because hubby managed to buy some work shirts (old ones literally falling off back). At $65 a pop, we will be looking after them. But guess how much the little jacket pocket square costs?! $79.95. I'll leave you to guess the cost of the other stuff Mr Serious-Beard is wearing. (you're welcome to submit any estimates!)

We can't think who would wear this - not Obama, the celebrities would be paid to wear it, we wondered about finance types, or CEO's, but it seems a bit too country estate-ish (you have to admit it is definitely dapper)?

Our only answer - cosmetic surgeons? (The ones that do the celebrities?) Any other thoughts?

Pleasure of Allegiance

So, Mr 5 comes home saying that he says the "Pleasure of Allegiance" every morning. I tried to suggest that it was more likely to be a Pledge, but he insists.
A quick search on the internet, and I find the standard Pledge of Allegiance:
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Students can't be compelled to repeat it, and a couple of states have made it non compulsory at the beginning of the school day. Composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892, and taken on formally by congress in 1942. A couple of word changes since then, the most recent being the addition of "under God" in 1945.
This may add to why the flag is so important?
PS - We went to a PTA (Parents and Teachers Association) meeting, and they said the pledge at the start of the meeting!!

Soccer Mum adventures

Everything has started again with the new school year, including soccer. I have made a milestone; I am now a soccer mum (mom?!). I am enjoying it. Tuesday's we go to practise and learn skills, Saturday mornings we watch small children run around after the ball for an hour. Small fields, no score taken. Shirts seem to be a one size is big on most.

Angry Orchard Apple Ginger cider

This was recommended after I shared drinking the straight Apple Cider by this brand. All I can say is, less sweet than straight apple cider, due to a twist of ginger, and most enjoyable. The evil tree has a different smile, not sure of the significance. Possibly the marketing people do.

Last days of summer

This is another 'beach' we can go to with friends. Same deal as the other beach - more a river bank, owned by the community. Lovely to get to the water though, and in that oppressive heat before a storm (although at the moment, we're just getting oppressive heat and humidity. The storms aren't clearing the air, just making it worse).

French Toast Casserole

 

We have managed another cultural experience, and solved a mystery while we were at it. The mystery was 'what was that dish they served at MOPS brunch', and the cultural experience was the French Toast Casserole. A local bakery gave out the recipe on their newsletter, being a breakfast you could make with minimal cooking. I mulled over it for a while, a bit intrigued by the ingredients, then took the plunge and made it.

Ingredients:
1 loaf bread, chopped into 1in cubes (about 10 cups) (recommended loaves included Cinnamon Chip, Apple Scrapple, normal white bread and Challah )
8 eggs
3 cups of milk
4 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 tsp salt (optional)

Method:
Place bread cubes in a greased 13x19x2 in. baking dish. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and salt. Pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 mins before baking. Dot casserole with 2T butter (cubed). Combine 2T sugar and 2t cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Cover and bake at 350 for 45-50 mins or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes. Serve with your favourite syrup. Makes 12 scrumptious servings! ( I made the full recipe, but we are struggling to finish it, I recommend halving the recipe)

We ended up using a whole wheat fruit loaf, sort of - it had raisins (sultanas) and little cinnamon chips (compacted cinnamon?) and definitely sugar in it. So the end result was sort of sweet, but with eggs. We're sort of at a loss about when you could serve this. In the USA it is for brunch, but it seems a touch sweet to serve regularly. The sweetness makes me think it could be a slice for morning/afternoon tea, but then there is the egg element, and the serve with maple syrup element. We're looking at making it more savoury - ie, real proper french toast casserole - just eggs, milk and bread, and that way, it would be an easy dinner. Correct me if I'm wrong, but normally brunch in Aus is bacon and eggs based?!