Show Your Underwear to The Neighbors

Do you guys know about the Hills Hoist?

It’s kind of amazing. But more on that soon.

My tummy was not happy this morning, so I had to cancel my free personal training session last minute. So ironic – as a former personal trainer, when people cancelled their free sessions, I would get so mad. Here I was, unable to leave the en suite, and feeling so guilty. I guess everyone has sick days. So, for today’s workout, I sat around (and did a 30 minute speed walk in the afternoon when I was feeling better.) Even on days when I’m not feeling great, I still try to get some form of movement in, and almost always find that I feel better afterwards.

Breakfast:

To keep it easy on the tummy, I had two rice cakes, one with homemade hummus and one with a bit of butter. I also had a cucumber with sliced green pepper, and a few tablespoons of plain greek yogurt that went unphotographed.

The morning was spent mainly cooking for Christmas (which is going to be huge here – 30 people! It will be such a new experience, though it sounds a bit overwhelming) and finishing up some household errands. I also got a pedicure, and now have sparkly silver toes.

Lunch:

Moussaka

I had a beautiful plate of left-over frozen moussaka. Ant’s mom didn’t want me to post the photo as she said it looked like “dog’s breakfast” but I assure you it was amazing, and based on soy-milk and gluten-free flour, it was easy on my tummy as well.

Now, on to today’s post topic – the Hills Hoist, an incredible Australian invention that I’m totally obsessed with.

As a New Yorker, I’m used to fighting with my neighbors to do my laundry in the basement, tossing it in the dryer the second it’s done if I don’t want it removed for me, and always, ALWAYS loosing a sock or two somewhere along the way. Not to mention something always shrinks or rips or tears no matter what I do.

The amazing and humble Hills Hoist

So, imagine my geeky glee to discover the Hills Hoist.

The Hills Hoist is a clothes drying mechanism that is eco-friendly, cost-effective, and totally amazing. It’s basically a four-sided umbrella clothes line, and it holds a ridiculous amount of clothes. I have to say, there is something incredibly meditative about taking wet clothes out on a sunny day and hanging each piece carefully with clothes pins. It’s yet another Australian mechanism to force you to slow down, breathe, and take in the sunshine. They’re really good at that.

The only problem with it is, everyone sees your stuff on the line. Including, ya know, your partner’s mother. Which is only embarrassing when she decides to be lovely, take down the laundry from the said Hills Hoist, and fold it for you.

It’s only slightly mortifying to know that your boyfriend’s mum has carefully folded your lacy, miniscule hanky pankies.

And I still loose my bloody socks. Every darn time.