What an interesting few weeks, Miss 3 contracted Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. This is not a nice thing to get :( Poor girl started out sleepy, then woke to a high temp, vomiting. Then was fine for 24 hours and then she ended up with these horrible blister/rash things covering her body. This lasted about 2 weeks, and she was isolated the whole time. Nothing like cabin fever. After the rashes went a brown colour and started fading her skin started to peel, this was gross. Then we thought it was over and she was finally on the mend, in time for our QLD holiday and my Brother in law and his new wife's wedding. And Boy, where we excited, none of the other kids caught it. For a highly contagious disease we really did well. Then all her finger nails started falling off. This was even more gross than her skin peeling. She lost all finger nails and 5 of her 10 toe nails. Thankfully they have all grown back or are growing back with no complications.
But we did it, we made it to QLD, I survived the flight, despite my fear of flying without any hassels. Master 9, loved the landing apparently thumping to the ground is awesome. We did Movie World, Sea World and Wet n Wild. and loved it. I really do suggest if you get there to make sure you get the times for the characters public appearances at Movie world, the photo shop has this in the main square. We seen and had photos with Batman, Wonder woman, Scooby Doo, Daffy duck and Slyvester to name a few. I also recommend 2 days at each park minimum, and honestly we still didn't see or ride everything. We did the shows, the Stunt one at Movie World, this was nuts. the jumps, drifts and burnouts. We also did the Seal show and Dolphin show at Sea world. This was fantastic, everyone loved it.
For accommodation try Home Away website. Here you can rent a house/apartment for a period of time, it saved us money. It was cheaper than staying a caravan/cabin park and we got a full kitchen and bathroom as well as a full laundry. Whilst I had to do washing daily, it helped on the amount of luggage we took. Allowing us to bring extra bags home with stuff we had purchased and still come in under our luggage allowance. Plus we had the bonus of Pay TV and a Wii where we stayed which helped the kids zone out a bit after fulls days out.
The wedding was amazing and has given me some ideas for food I want to make. We where worried it would rain but the weather was perfect.
Now to saving money, something we have had to do since we came back with Christmas just around the corner. I thought Id share some money saving food tips. As food is an area where most can save money by making a few simple changes.
When baking I use powdered milk, and make up half a litre at a time or more if I am going to use a lot. Its cheaper than fresh milk and you really cant taste it in your cooking. If you have some left over you can add it to your fresh milk to stretch it and you can barely tell the difference. We aim for a minimum of 1/2 fresh and 1/2 powered. If I have to add anymore powered Milk I wont do it as it changes the taste too much.
To make powered milk, you add 1/4 cup of powdered/dehydrated Milk Powder to 1 cup of water.
My kids love meat on their sandwiches or in cold salad platters. I recently purchased a meat slicer. BEST EVER PURCHASE!!!!! I can make a stick of Mettwurst or block of boneless ham go further by cutting it on that then letting my hubby or kids cut it. Or even by buying the same amount. Plus it makes it easier for sandwiches if its all cut up ready to go.
I slice 1/2 a 700g block of ham, then using a V-slicer, I shred the rest to freeze and use in quiches, omelettes, pizza, Hawaiian hot dogs etc. This prevents and waste as you can get a huge amount of sliced ham from a block, that even with 6 of us eating it daily on sandwiches we still do not finish it all after a week.
Sandwich meat also lasts longer if you place it in a container with paper towel in the bottom
that you change every few days.
Next Cheese, I cut a kilogram block on my slicer, I can get more sandwiches out of a cut block than I can out of a processed slice packet and its Real cheese not processed.
Also hand grating (Maybe even using a food processor), gives you more grated cheese and spreads it further than buying a packet of grated cheese. Grated cheese also freezes really well and prevents it going mouldy.
Salad, recently I started making a large tossed salad in a glass bowl, placing paper towel on top and then placing it in a vegie bag (the ones you can put you fruit in at the store.) Replacing the paper towel every few days. I found this kept my salad fresh for almost 2 weeks. My family just took out serves as they wanted for sandwiches, salads, pick plates etc. It saved so much time in meal prep during the week and prevented waste. So now I just make a large salad at the start of the week. Sometimes add too it if needed.
And if I am really busy or not well, then dinner is pre-sliced cold meat, cheese and salad. Kids can help themselves. Fabulous for nights we have sports training.
What are some of your tips to save money in the kitchen?
Sunday, 2 November 2014
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
Wind Ups, Sweets and Treats
It's that time of the year again when we start the sporting change over from winter sports to summer. Gone is the early Saturday mornings, muddy white football shorts, freezing cold kidlets running to the car after a game and driving across the area for a football and netball game. Now we have summer. For us this means basketball on Thursdays, Baseball on Fridays for the Sparky, Cricket on Fridays for my 9 year old boy, and my youngest lad is trying to convince us that we have time for him to partake in tennis. All whilst we continue Ballet/Cheer on a Thursday for our 3 year old girl.
Our schedule is going to look a bit like this
Sunday : Church and then jobs/family time (Providing we are home and not away on the farm)
Monday: Nothing, yet............
Tuesday: Basketball training
Wednesday: Cricket, Baseball and maybe Tennis Training
Thursday: over lunch Cheer and Ballet, Basketball
Friday: Baseball and Cricket (both for which are in different towns anything up to 50 km apart at the same time)
Sat: Possibly Tennis.........
There is travel time to consider for cheer/ballet, baseball, cricket and tennis matches. One of the few downfalls of country living. Sport matches for us can take place up to 100km away. More if the child is on the local swim team. It is a huge downfall, but the atmosphere is great, kids love it and it also helps give a reason to savour being home when we are home.
Then I get asked regularly why we can't do play dates, sleepovers, and late nights. Hmmmmmmm, let this Mum think about that. :) My goal is to be more organised, Have meals pre-planned, pre-prepared, ready to go so that we can have a more relaxed night time, in and around it all. Also to help prevent last minute buying of fast food/take away and frozen boxed meals. So this summer my planner and diary will be my BFF I think.
Tonight is the windup, for the mini teams, where awards are handed out, coaches get thank you gifts. There's a BBQ dinner put on, parents bring shared sweets and salads.
We are taking a pasta salad, and after a huge success with my kids a Chewy Chocolate Slice. Which I got from the recipe book "Women's Weekly- Recipes To Remember"
The recipe is below
Chewy Chocolate Slice
125g butter, melted (I used margarine and it turned out fine)
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 cup plain flour
1/4 cup self raising flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
1 tablespoon of desiccated coconut, extra
ICING
1 cup of icing sugar
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
10g butter, melted
1 1/2 tablespoon hot water
1. Preheat oven to 180 deg Celsius/ 350 deg Fahrenheit. Grease a 20cm x 30 cm rectangle pan, line with baking paper.
2. Combine butter, sugar, egg and vanilla in a medium bowl. Stir in sifted flours and cocoa powder. Then add coconut. Spread mixture evenly over base of pan. (It is a think layer but trust me its ok)
3. Bake base for 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile make chocolate icing.
5. Spread hot base with chocolate icing, sprinkle with extra coconut. Cool in pan before cutting.
ICING
Sift icing sugar and cocoa powder into a medium bowl. Stir in butter and water. Mix until a smooth spreadable consistency.
Yummy, Enjoy
Our schedule is going to look a bit like this
Sunday : Church and then jobs/family time (Providing we are home and not away on the farm)
Monday: Nothing, yet............
Tuesday: Basketball training
Wednesday: Cricket, Baseball and maybe Tennis Training
Thursday: over lunch Cheer and Ballet, Basketball
Friday: Baseball and Cricket (both for which are in different towns anything up to 50 km apart at the same time)
Sat: Possibly Tennis.........
There is travel time to consider for cheer/ballet, baseball, cricket and tennis matches. One of the few downfalls of country living. Sport matches for us can take place up to 100km away. More if the child is on the local swim team. It is a huge downfall, but the atmosphere is great, kids love it and it also helps give a reason to savour being home when we are home.
Then I get asked regularly why we can't do play dates, sleepovers, and late nights. Hmmmmmmm, let this Mum think about that. :) My goal is to be more organised, Have meals pre-planned, pre-prepared, ready to go so that we can have a more relaxed night time, in and around it all. Also to help prevent last minute buying of fast food/take away and frozen boxed meals. So this summer my planner and diary will be my BFF I think.
Tonight is the windup, for the mini teams, where awards are handed out, coaches get thank you gifts. There's a BBQ dinner put on, parents bring shared sweets and salads.
We are taking a pasta salad, and after a huge success with my kids a Chewy Chocolate Slice. Which I got from the recipe book "Women's Weekly- Recipes To Remember"
The recipe is below
Chewy Chocolate Slice
125g butter, melted (I used margarine and it turned out fine)
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 cup plain flour
1/4 cup self raising flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
1 tablespoon of desiccated coconut, extra
ICING
1 cup of icing sugar
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
10g butter, melted
1 1/2 tablespoon hot water
1. Preheat oven to 180 deg Celsius/ 350 deg Fahrenheit. Grease a 20cm x 30 cm rectangle pan, line with baking paper.
2. Combine butter, sugar, egg and vanilla in a medium bowl. Stir in sifted flours and cocoa powder. Then add coconut. Spread mixture evenly over base of pan. (It is a think layer but trust me its ok)
3. Bake base for 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile make chocolate icing.
5. Spread hot base with chocolate icing, sprinkle with extra coconut. Cool in pan before cutting.
ICING
Sift icing sugar and cocoa powder into a medium bowl. Stir in butter and water. Mix until a smooth spreadable consistency.
Yummy, Enjoy
Monday, 8 September 2014
Instagram, Twitter and Social Networks....... and a snack while you browse
Once again sorry for the absence, I will get into the hang of actually updating this blog more often. In the meantime. If you wish to follow me I am also on Instagram and Twitter under the name PathSimplicity, something we are aiming for. I am also looking to change the things I blog about and adding not only my recipes etc that work but those that don't. Sometimes the only way to success is via admitted defeat. Plus someone might have an idea to help me out, and we can all use a good idea.
My goal for the rest of this year is too start making more snacks and various lunch options for my kids. See my previous entry The Great Lunchbox Conundrum So far I have had a very hit and miss year. We have had leftovers, muffins, pies, sausage rolls, salads, wraps etc but more often than not we still refer back to the same old boring sandwiches.
My kidlets are finishing off a batch of double choc chip muffins today. Miss 3 has finished her devastated lip dropping moment because someone else ate the last yellow wrapper covered muffin. Poor girl had to have a pink one. This apparently is heart-breaking. So in good Mummy form I did some more baking, as the 3 cookies we have left in the jar (from a 1700s oatmeal cookie recipe, ill post that another day) isn't enough to fight off starvation and kitchen raids after school and work for hubby. So today I made some muesli bars/slice, which are similar to granola bars I believe. Now all mine are nut free as well some of us don't like or can't eat nuts. No major reactions just can't stomach them.
Problem with today's recipe is I lost my original, created by me, worked every time recipe. This is what happens when I forget to put it in my little purple book. So I found another one and fingers crossed it worked. This recipe has no link as it was written in an old book I found in the cupboard of recipes I've found along the way and wanted to try.
Choc Chip Muesli Slice
2 1/2 cups of rolled oats
3/4 cups desiccated coconut
1 cup milk choc bits
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2/3 cup plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
Preheat oven to 180 deg Celsius, Grease or line a slice tin.
Combine oats, coconut, choc bits and sugar in a bowl. Sift flour and baking powder together over the top of the oat mix.
Whisk oil, milk and egg together in a separate bowl. Add to the oat mix and stir until well combined.
Press into prepared pan and bake for 20 mins until golden and set.
Stand in pan for 15 minutes., lift onto wire rack. Allow to cool before cutting.
VERDICT:
Cooked this looks amazing, and like a real winner. However, it is more crumbly than I would like for a bar/slice and fairly dry. But it still has a nice flavour. I am thinking that maybe next time I could switch the brown sugar for honey ?? This may result in a sticker bar, but more moist. It also would have helped if I hadn't of been distracted and forgot about it and cooked it for 5 minutes longer than it needed.
My goal for the rest of this year is too start making more snacks and various lunch options for my kids. See my previous entry The Great Lunchbox Conundrum So far I have had a very hit and miss year. We have had leftovers, muffins, pies, sausage rolls, salads, wraps etc but more often than not we still refer back to the same old boring sandwiches.
My kidlets are finishing off a batch of double choc chip muffins today. Miss 3 has finished her devastated lip dropping moment because someone else ate the last yellow wrapper covered muffin. Poor girl had to have a pink one. This apparently is heart-breaking. So in good Mummy form I did some more baking, as the 3 cookies we have left in the jar (from a 1700s oatmeal cookie recipe, ill post that another day) isn't enough to fight off starvation and kitchen raids after school and work for hubby. So today I made some muesli bars/slice, which are similar to granola bars I believe. Now all mine are nut free as well some of us don't like or can't eat nuts. No major reactions just can't stomach them.
Problem with today's recipe is I lost my original, created by me, worked every time recipe. This is what happens when I forget to put it in my little purple book. So I found another one and fingers crossed it worked. This recipe has no link as it was written in an old book I found in the cupboard of recipes I've found along the way and wanted to try.
Choc Chip Muesli Slice
2 1/2 cups of rolled oats
3/4 cups desiccated coconut
1 cup milk choc bits
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2/3 cup plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
Preheat oven to 180 deg Celsius, Grease or line a slice tin.
Combine oats, coconut, choc bits and sugar in a bowl. Sift flour and baking powder together over the top of the oat mix.
Whisk oil, milk and egg together in a separate bowl. Add to the oat mix and stir until well combined.
Press into prepared pan and bake for 20 mins until golden and set.
Stand in pan for 15 minutes., lift onto wire rack. Allow to cool before cutting.
Cooked this looks amazing, and like a real winner. However, it is more crumbly than I would like for a bar/slice and fairly dry. But it still has a nice flavour. I am thinking that maybe next time I could switch the brown sugar for honey ?? This may result in a sticker bar, but more moist. It also would have helped if I hadn't of been distracted and forgot about it and cooked it for 5 minutes longer than it needed.
Thursday, 23 January 2014
Natural Disasters, Are you prepared?
I do apologise for it being a while since my last post, here in Australia we have just had our main school year break, 6 weeks of holidays and time with the kids, but I will go into all that later.
Firstly Merry Belated Christmas and Happy New Year to all, and for Monday (January 26th) Happy Australia Day. Here's hoping for a day of family, bbq's, friends and relaxation.
Unfortunately we have suffered through a horrible week of above 40 deg Celsius temperatures here, hot dry and gross for most of last week.This was followed by a summer storm which caused a huge outbreaks of fires. One for which is still burning nearby and is putting several local towns at risk, its over 22000 hectares and counting. Some of these people have lost everything, houses and contents, cars, farms, live stock, etc. Thankfully though to the best of my knowledge harvest has finished and the silos hold the grain. We have also lost our local forest (approx. 75% at last count), timber preservations and saw mills. The impact financially on this area will be big. Especially for those closer to the heart of it. We are close enough its worrying but far enough away to be safe unless things get ridiculously out of hand. We can see and smell the smoke, and the red glow form the highway at night.
Something as tragic as this though puts things into perspective. My kids asked if what we would do if a fire came. Simple answer, Evacuate. Four kids, a husband that isn't always in town due to work, 2 cats and Me, Id probably panic lol. I explained we would grab our important items and go to Grandmas and Grandpas. This lead to a chorus of we can't forget the Ipods, because you know how that is so much more important than the blanket that their amazing Great Gran who has now passed is. *SIGH* So this lead into a something's can't be replaced conversation, which for a 10, 8, 5 and 2 year old isn't always easy to get.
The plan is in an event of natural disaster we pack up and go. I spoke to my mum who was in a town that they had been asked at one point to evacuate (thankfully at the last minute the wind changed so they were safe) and she was packing up their van to come here. Trying to list what was needed. My 16 year old sister freaked out about her personal items that she may loose and tried to take everything. I stood in lounge and looked around, and got swamped with questions myself.
I know what I would take, but to be honest in the event of "pack and go" or just go, would I know where it all is?? Great Grans blankets are in 3 separate cupboards, photos are all over the place and on multiple computers and external hard drives. I know the log in details for the internet to check our insurance details but my husband doesn't. If there's no internet, how do I get this information? Do I have cash anywhere I can grab to put petrol in car if needed? Is the mobile phone charger is an easy spot to grab? Where is the first aid kit? What medicines in everyone on? If any? Do I have printed pictures of my husband, kids or animals in case something happens and we get separated? This shouldn't happen but if three are at school and I can't get there as I'm in another town shopping prior or visiting. Is there an emergency contact list for people I can/should etc call.
As a result I realised we are so screwed in the even of a natural disaster. :( This year my plan is to prepare for one. I am not talking zombie apocalypse, for this I believe after all his video gaming my 8 year old is quite capable of taking the lead on. I am talking about fire, flood, earthquake type disaster. I doubt we will ever be weeks without power but it may happen, if it is a state/nationwide issue.
This year I am going to organise, prepare and have a plan in place. I am in the process of making a home management type binder. In it I will be making a section labelled emergency. I can grab my folder and put the plan into place. Including what to grab, a list for each of my kids to take and pack, and where it all is. This means I need to rearrange my house, sort out files etc. I do not care about games, video consoles, TV's, clothes etc. They are replaceable I want the stuff I cant replace. My angel baby's ultrasound pictures and hand and foot prints, Grans paintings and blankets, Opas blankets and shawls, enough clothes to wear one/wash one, photos I can't replace, etc. I also want survival stuff, some blankets, fresh water, a spare outfit, food. Though our evacuation point is only 1 and a half hours away, depending on what has to be avoided to get there it may take longer.
Are you prepared? What's your plan? Any tips to help us get organised? Did you pack children's entertainment or leave it home?
Firstly Merry Belated Christmas and Happy New Year to all, and for Monday (January 26th) Happy Australia Day. Here's hoping for a day of family, bbq's, friends and relaxation.
Unfortunately we have suffered through a horrible week of above 40 deg Celsius temperatures here, hot dry and gross for most of last week.This was followed by a summer storm which caused a huge outbreaks of fires. One for which is still burning nearby and is putting several local towns at risk, its over 22000 hectares and counting. Some of these people have lost everything, houses and contents, cars, farms, live stock, etc. Thankfully though to the best of my knowledge harvest has finished and the silos hold the grain. We have also lost our local forest (approx. 75% at last count), timber preservations and saw mills. The impact financially on this area will be big. Especially for those closer to the heart of it. We are close enough its worrying but far enough away to be safe unless things get ridiculously out of hand. We can see and smell the smoke, and the red glow form the highway at night.
Something as tragic as this though puts things into perspective. My kids asked if what we would do if a fire came. Simple answer, Evacuate. Four kids, a husband that isn't always in town due to work, 2 cats and Me, Id probably panic lol. I explained we would grab our important items and go to Grandmas and Grandpas. This lead to a chorus of we can't forget the Ipods, because you know how that is so much more important than the blanket that their amazing Great Gran who has now passed is. *SIGH* So this lead into a something's can't be replaced conversation, which for a 10, 8, 5 and 2 year old isn't always easy to get.
The plan is in an event of natural disaster we pack up and go. I spoke to my mum who was in a town that they had been asked at one point to evacuate (thankfully at the last minute the wind changed so they were safe) and she was packing up their van to come here. Trying to list what was needed. My 16 year old sister freaked out about her personal items that she may loose and tried to take everything. I stood in lounge and looked around, and got swamped with questions myself.
I know what I would take, but to be honest in the event of "pack and go" or just go, would I know where it all is?? Great Grans blankets are in 3 separate cupboards, photos are all over the place and on multiple computers and external hard drives. I know the log in details for the internet to check our insurance details but my husband doesn't. If there's no internet, how do I get this information? Do I have cash anywhere I can grab to put petrol in car if needed? Is the mobile phone charger is an easy spot to grab? Where is the first aid kit? What medicines in everyone on? If any? Do I have printed pictures of my husband, kids or animals in case something happens and we get separated? This shouldn't happen but if three are at school and I can't get there as I'm in another town shopping prior or visiting. Is there an emergency contact list for people I can/should etc call.
As a result I realised we are so screwed in the even of a natural disaster. :( This year my plan is to prepare for one. I am not talking zombie apocalypse, for this I believe after all his video gaming my 8 year old is quite capable of taking the lead on. I am talking about fire, flood, earthquake type disaster. I doubt we will ever be weeks without power but it may happen, if it is a state/nationwide issue.
This year I am going to organise, prepare and have a plan in place. I am in the process of making a home management type binder. In it I will be making a section labelled emergency. I can grab my folder and put the plan into place. Including what to grab, a list for each of my kids to take and pack, and where it all is. This means I need to rearrange my house, sort out files etc. I do not care about games, video consoles, TV's, clothes etc. They are replaceable I want the stuff I cant replace. My angel baby's ultrasound pictures and hand and foot prints, Grans paintings and blankets, Opas blankets and shawls, enough clothes to wear one/wash one, photos I can't replace, etc. I also want survival stuff, some blankets, fresh water, a spare outfit, food. Though our evacuation point is only 1 and a half hours away, depending on what has to be avoided to get there it may take longer.
Are you prepared? What's your plan? Any tips to help us get organised? Did you pack children's entertainment or leave it home?
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Social beliefs the worlds worst bully
I went onto my Facebook today, something I do not tend to do all that often anymore and there was a link from one of my friends,
Kasey Edwards- Letter to My Mum
I highly recommend it, its letter written by a lady called Kasey Edwards and I do not think I have ever read anything more true.
This is what my husband and I were talking about last night. Society is screwed up, it is a bully, it destroys a persons self confidence, self love and ruins relationships. It tells little kids (girls and boys) that the only way to be beautiful is to be skinny, have your ribs showing, no thigh gap, perfect face, perfect hair and perfect teeth. It destroys souls, hearts, love, families, people. It drives some to suicide, self harm, mental illness and the need to seek approval through various activities including sleeping around and never believing you are good enough you look good enough.
Why should a person be based on their looks, isn't each person perfect for them? For who they are? For them? No two people are the same, even identical twins would have one or two slight differences, a freckle, nail shape etc. Why should I be criticized because I don't look like Angelina Jolie, Honestly I don't care to either. Firstly I am me not her and secondly she has got scarily thin.
How are we supposed to teach our children to love one another, that everyone is different and that's ok, that no matter what people look like, no matter there race, gender etc that we need to accept them for who they are. If the media and society wont bugger off and embrace individuality.
How are we suppose to teach our children that its ok to be religiously diverse? That no matter your sexual orientation you are still human and still a person and that you are ok and should not be treated any differently to the straight person the other side of you? When a person can get fired or refused a job because they are fat? Or a 10 year old girl told she is too fat loose weight or she will never be pretty? That a teen is told no-one will ever love them because their teeth are crooked?
Then when the 10 year old develops an eating disorder and starts making herself vomit, she is abused for being sick and acting stupid, when her ribs start showing shes too sick and ugly. The teen with the crooked teeth, how is her self esteem meant to be high when no-one wants to be her friend until she has them fixed.
Society and Media are hypocrites, and the worst form of bullies, they are ones that you cannot escape, that is hard to stand up to. They are the ones that cause more heartache then they are worth. I would rather a world without any form of social media, newspapers, trashy magazines, tv then I would one full of pain and suffering.
I personally am 164cm and weigh 88kg. I have put on 30 kgs since I had my first child, 10 years ago at 18 years old. I carry it mostly in my stomach and thighs. I have stretch marks on my stomach, hips, breasts, thighs. I have cellulite, I have horrible hair that's starting to get grey strands, I'm not even 30! I drink too much coffee, enjoy my chips (crisps) far too much. I wear a size 14-16. I don't play sport, I dedicate that time to my 4 kids sports. I have horrible coordination and would much rather curl up with a book or cook then play a game of netball. I love walking but don't get the chance as much as I should. But I am going to start as its relaxing. I HATE planned exercise. I really do. I own exercise equipment and never use it. Id rather walk, hike or rock climb. Life in my eyes should be about an active busy life not finding 2 hours a day to go to the gym.
So to the world I say SCREW YOU!!!!! I am who I am. I am proud. Yes I want to get healthier, But my god if i want that piece of cake or a hearty meal because I feel like it I WILL. I am going to teach my children the truth behind the bullying, behind the pain. I am going to teach them that even as young as 2 we can say to the world Shove Your Views. I will be ME, I will be FREE, you WILL NOT ruin me, not anymore. I will be healthy not thin. I will love my imperfections and embrace who I am. I will be individual. I will love what I want, wear what I want, look how I want. And you will love me for it or leave. I don't care. If I am a size 10 or 22. I WILL me for me, my friends and family WILL do the same. I will not allow society induced bullying in my house, in my life.
YOU ARE PERFECT! YOU ARE LOVED! JUST THE WAY YOU ARE! BE YOU AND BE FREE!
Kasey Edwards- Letter to My Mum
I highly recommend it, its letter written by a lady called Kasey Edwards and I do not think I have ever read anything more true.
This is what my husband and I were talking about last night. Society is screwed up, it is a bully, it destroys a persons self confidence, self love and ruins relationships. It tells little kids (girls and boys) that the only way to be beautiful is to be skinny, have your ribs showing, no thigh gap, perfect face, perfect hair and perfect teeth. It destroys souls, hearts, love, families, people. It drives some to suicide, self harm, mental illness and the need to seek approval through various activities including sleeping around and never believing you are good enough you look good enough.
Why should a person be based on their looks, isn't each person perfect for them? For who they are? For them? No two people are the same, even identical twins would have one or two slight differences, a freckle, nail shape etc. Why should I be criticized because I don't look like Angelina Jolie, Honestly I don't care to either. Firstly I am me not her and secondly she has got scarily thin.
How are we supposed to teach our children to love one another, that everyone is different and that's ok, that no matter what people look like, no matter there race, gender etc that we need to accept them for who they are. If the media and society wont bugger off and embrace individuality.
How are we suppose to teach our children that its ok to be religiously diverse? That no matter your sexual orientation you are still human and still a person and that you are ok and should not be treated any differently to the straight person the other side of you? When a person can get fired or refused a job because they are fat? Or a 10 year old girl told she is too fat loose weight or she will never be pretty? That a teen is told no-one will ever love them because their teeth are crooked?
Then when the 10 year old develops an eating disorder and starts making herself vomit, she is abused for being sick and acting stupid, when her ribs start showing shes too sick and ugly. The teen with the crooked teeth, how is her self esteem meant to be high when no-one wants to be her friend until she has them fixed.
Society and Media are hypocrites, and the worst form of bullies, they are ones that you cannot escape, that is hard to stand up to. They are the ones that cause more heartache then they are worth. I would rather a world without any form of social media, newspapers, trashy magazines, tv then I would one full of pain and suffering.
I personally am 164cm and weigh 88kg. I have put on 30 kgs since I had my first child, 10 years ago at 18 years old. I carry it mostly in my stomach and thighs. I have stretch marks on my stomach, hips, breasts, thighs. I have cellulite, I have horrible hair that's starting to get grey strands, I'm not even 30! I drink too much coffee, enjoy my chips (crisps) far too much. I wear a size 14-16. I don't play sport, I dedicate that time to my 4 kids sports. I have horrible coordination and would much rather curl up with a book or cook then play a game of netball. I love walking but don't get the chance as much as I should. But I am going to start as its relaxing. I HATE planned exercise. I really do. I own exercise equipment and never use it. Id rather walk, hike or rock climb. Life in my eyes should be about an active busy life not finding 2 hours a day to go to the gym.
So to the world I say SCREW YOU!!!!! I am who I am. I am proud. Yes I want to get healthier, But my god if i want that piece of cake or a hearty meal because I feel like it I WILL. I am going to teach my children the truth behind the bullying, behind the pain. I am going to teach them that even as young as 2 we can say to the world Shove Your Views. I will be ME, I will be FREE, you WILL NOT ruin me, not anymore. I will be healthy not thin. I will love my imperfections and embrace who I am. I will be individual. I will love what I want, wear what I want, look how I want. And you will love me for it or leave. I don't care. If I am a size 10 or 22. I WILL me for me, my friends and family WILL do the same. I will not allow society induced bullying in my house, in my life.
YOU ARE PERFECT! YOU ARE LOVED! JUST THE WAY YOU ARE! BE YOU AND BE FREE!
Monday, 16 December 2013
The Great Lunch Box Conundrum….
Here in Australia we are currently on our end of school year holidays, 6 weeks of blissful sleep ins, kids getting in each others personal space causing mass amounts of arguing, over tired children crying because the cat looked at them and the dog they are asking to adopt barked whilst they where day dreaming about how good it would be to have one.
It is also a wonderful
time for parents to regroup mentally, well sort of, as much as you can with
kidlets running around. Time to plan, make any changes, trial new foods, the
speed of how long something takes to prepared, test out routine changes for
mornings, can you still get out the door in time. And to come up with a reason
as to why the One Direction CD is going to magically break come time for school
to go back. As sweet as it is they tell me I’m Beautiful, I don’t take
compliments too well and forever telling me is sorta creepy.
These holidays I am
using it to make over our lunch boxes. My kids got bored last year and I don’t
blame them, being home Little Miss (2yrs) and I can have a sandwich, toast,
eggs, toasted sandwich, salad, leftovers etc. Those who are away for lunch
don’t get that option. Usually it’s a mad rush of “Quick, have you made lunch
yet?” “Mum is there any sandwich meat?” “MUUMMMMMM, why can’t I have Nutella?” “Mum,
I hate sandwiches, cant I have leftovers” Then the other 2 start they want
leftovers and there’s not enough for all three so no-one has it and Daddy
(Sparky) comes along and takes it with him.
So next year my plan
is to mix it up. Have sandwiches 3 days a week and something else in between,
and something different again on weekends. I have looked at those Japanese
style lunch boxes. And I like it but my kids would eat it all in one sitting,
as they wouldn’t know which is lunch and which is recess. I am also after
something that fills them up, they all appear to be having growth spurts and
last year Missy (10 yrs) used to take food out her brothers, Master (8 yr) and Mister (5 yrs) lunch box when she
was hungry. I increased what I sent and everything came home or the eating
siblings lunches would continue.
In 2013 they each got
-1 sandwich with
filling of their choice (excluding nut-based products)
- 1-2 pieces of fruit
(or a tub of grapes, strawberries)
- 1 tub of yoghurt,
cheese and crackers or boiled egg
- 1 piece of cake
Considering they have
one recess, one lunch (for which they get 10 mins to eat before playtime), and
a healthy snack during class. I thought that was enough.
In 2014 I’m aiming to
replace the sandwich with other things, wraps, pinwheels, scrolls, salads. Make
the crackers myself, maybe with a wholemeal/grain bread to make them more
filling and healthier.
But I honestly am at a loss. Lunch items needs to be able to be made quickly or grabbed and thrown in. I would prefer home made anything over shop packaged chips, museli bars etc. As well as something healthy that fits in with the schools healthy eating guidelines
See:
When I come up with
solutions I will be sure to pass them on. Does anyone have any ideas? What do
you send?
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Do You Know the Muffin Lady?????
Well today I thought Id post a recipe. Seemed simple enough, I have been debating over this past week what recipe to post. Being that its the last week of school for the year, YAY!!!!!!.
For the record I am one excited Mum. I LOVE holidays, not just sleeping in a bit, but there's no rushing, no stress, no complaining about what to put in lunch boxes, or worrying that the kids had a late night due to some event and they will be too tired the next day, and most importantly I get to spend time with my kids. Actual time, not just an hour or 2 in the morning and again at night. I get more of a chance to talk, play games, do activities and socialise with 4 or the 5 most important people in my life. I LOVE holidays, especially end of year, Christmas ones as we get a whole 6 WEEKS together.
So this last week has been a rush of family events, school concerts, town carols, skate park opening, work for hubby, school for kids. It has been chaos. So there hasn't been alot of baking, and the meals I have been cooking are simple, everyday, lots of leftovers meals. Such as sausages and salad. Nothing overly riveting, or spectacular. We had a salad platter lunch time Sunday and lived on it for lunch and dinner for 2-3 days. But that's ok, it saved wasting it and cooking when we are run off our feet.
This morning I found 3/4 of a punnet of sad looking strawberries, and in trying to start my New years resolution early of "Waste Not, Want Not" and "A Penny Saved Is a Penny Earned" I decided to make muffins. And I have to say they turned out quite well, Hubby and his work apprentice stole some on the way outta town, I got a message asking me to deliver them to a town 2 hours away LOL, so I figured
A) No one died, it was safe to then try it myself
B) Delivery that far, is so not going to happen
C) If someone not in this house enjoyed them, then obviously they are not just being nice to keep Mummy and the Mrs happy so it's worth sharing.
Chocolate Berry Muffins
2 1/2 cups self-raising flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
160g margarine, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
1/2 or more a punnet of strawberries chopped
extra sugar
1 cup (maybe more) choc chips
Preheat oven to 210 deg Celsius. Lightly grease muffin trays or line with paper liners.
Put strawberries and the extra sugar into a bowl, how much sugar depends on your tastes, I just sprinkled some over mixed through. You may not want sugar at all. You may like it sweeter.
Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl and mix in sugar.
Make well in center.
In a jug mix milk, egg, margarine and vanilla , pour into the muffin. Mix gently a little bit. Add choc chips and strawberries. Continue to mix gently.
THE MIX SHOULD NOT BE SMOOTH, YOU SHOULD ONLY MIX UNTIL ALL INGREDIENTS ARE JUST MOIST. THERE SHOULD BE LUMPS OF FLOUR. IT ALSO MIXES BEST WITH A WOODEN SPOON. I have no idea why it just does :)
Place ice cream scoops full of mix into muffin liners, bake in oven for 20-25 mins.
This makes about 30 muffins. I do not do over flowing muffins, these rise about even with the top of the liner. Makes it easier for my kids to handle. But please note it really does depend on what size liners and muffin trays you use. We make bit bigger than cupcake size, so that my youngest doesn't waste it, and that its more of a snack then a light meal.
Also the choc chip measurement is that way because well you can't not taste test the packet of chocolate chips, and to help keep my 2 year old happy she scored a 1/4 cup filled with them to eat etc. I'm sure these will taste wonderful with a full packet of chips. Ditto goes for the strawberries.
For the record I am one excited Mum. I LOVE holidays, not just sleeping in a bit, but there's no rushing, no stress, no complaining about what to put in lunch boxes, or worrying that the kids had a late night due to some event and they will be too tired the next day, and most importantly I get to spend time with my kids. Actual time, not just an hour or 2 in the morning and again at night. I get more of a chance to talk, play games, do activities and socialise with 4 or the 5 most important people in my life. I LOVE holidays, especially end of year, Christmas ones as we get a whole 6 WEEKS together.
So this last week has been a rush of family events, school concerts, town carols, skate park opening, work for hubby, school for kids. It has been chaos. So there hasn't been alot of baking, and the meals I have been cooking are simple, everyday, lots of leftovers meals. Such as sausages and salad. Nothing overly riveting, or spectacular. We had a salad platter lunch time Sunday and lived on it for lunch and dinner for 2-3 days. But that's ok, it saved wasting it and cooking when we are run off our feet.
This morning I found 3/4 of a punnet of sad looking strawberries, and in trying to start my New years resolution early of "Waste Not, Want Not" and "A Penny Saved Is a Penny Earned" I decided to make muffins. And I have to say they turned out quite well, Hubby and his work apprentice stole some on the way outta town, I got a message asking me to deliver them to a town 2 hours away LOL, so I figured
A) No one died, it was safe to then try it myself
B) Delivery that far, is so not going to happen
C) If someone not in this house enjoyed them, then obviously they are not just being nice to keep Mummy and the Mrs happy so it's worth sharing.
Chocolate Berry Muffins
2 1/2 cups self-raising flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
160g margarine, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
1/2 or more a punnet of strawberries chopped
extra sugar
1 cup (maybe more) choc chips
Preheat oven to 210 deg Celsius. Lightly grease muffin trays or line with paper liners.
Put strawberries and the extra sugar into a bowl, how much sugar depends on your tastes, I just sprinkled some over mixed through. You may not want sugar at all. You may like it sweeter.
Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl and mix in sugar.
Make well in center.
In a jug mix milk, egg, margarine and vanilla , pour into the muffin. Mix gently a little bit. Add choc chips and strawberries. Continue to mix gently.
THE MIX SHOULD NOT BE SMOOTH, YOU SHOULD ONLY MIX UNTIL ALL INGREDIENTS ARE JUST MOIST. THERE SHOULD BE LUMPS OF FLOUR. IT ALSO MIXES BEST WITH A WOODEN SPOON. I have no idea why it just does :)
Place ice cream scoops full of mix into muffin liners, bake in oven for 20-25 mins.
This makes about 30 muffins. I do not do over flowing muffins, these rise about even with the top of the liner. Makes it easier for my kids to handle. But please note it really does depend on what size liners and muffin trays you use. We make bit bigger than cupcake size, so that my youngest doesn't waste it, and that its more of a snack then a light meal.
Also the choc chip measurement is that way because well you can't not taste test the packet of chocolate chips, and to help keep my 2 year old happy she scored a 1/4 cup filled with them to eat etc. I'm sure these will taste wonderful with a full packet of chips. Ditto goes for the strawberries.
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