Here's a giggle and maybe some inspiration if you have teenagers...

Oh, so THAT's how you do it!!? Note...

How you doing?

With these sunny mild days we've been having I'm really looking forward to spring and spending more time outside.We were the broken house last week - within 24 hours the remaining 2 slots of our 4 slice toaster bit the dust and our microwave konked.  So we spent the weekend purchasing replacements plus a new heater given our one...

FrillyFrivolousFriday - Recession 101

I love this - found on a Manhattan billboard: Photo Courtesy: Divine Carol...

With Jo Frost ringing in my head...

I think things are on the improve.  I feel my head clearing, my attitude adjust.  I'm making it out of the fog I think. As much as the public, parents and 'experts' give Jo Frost (the Supernanny) a hard time (well let's face it her 'unasseptable' is a little on the funny side, makes me giggle!) her methods do work. Show love,...

Salmon Macaroni Bake

I love shortcut recipes.  Don't get me wrong - I love pouring love into meals too but with three young children and a busy lifestyle not every night can be cordon bleu! This recipe can have many variations too - so if you have veges in your fridge that need to be used, use them... what I like about this - that even if you don't have...

RealityBites: It's not all black-and-white you know...

I'm missing Masterchef, I'm not into the 7pm Project - it's Rove Live meets the news trying to be the Panel... nup. Love Hughesy though - I hope it doesn't kill his career. Project Runway Oh man, that Michael is such a W-A-N-K-E-R!!!  I mean yes you can be camp and bitchy but seriously?  I loved that Jason called his dress...

It's my turn to 'Make it from Scratch'

Next week I'm going to be guest-hosting the Make it from Scratch Carnival. It's the first time to my knowledge it's been hosted here in Australia. What is it? Bloggers link their recipes or creations - of things they have made 'from scratch'.  If you have an interest in this you can discover a whole lot of new blogs and ideas on how...

One Pot Dinner - Chorizo and Fennel Hotpot

Now when I picked up some fennel at the local fruit market my hubby looked at it with much distaste and a 'what IS that'? I knew at that point there was no putting it in a salad and feeding it to him so cooked it must be.... and guess what? He thought it was yummy! For those who haven't had/cooked with fennel it's like a slightly aniseedy...

Word-to-the-wise-Wednesday - bargains to be had..

If you have a creative streak or you don't like logo clothing or you're after an inexpensive school jumper - check out http://www.blankclothing.com.au/ - plain coloured Tees, jumpers, aprons for babies to plus-sizings - all in good quality fabric and finishing. For example, cap sleeved t-shirts in a lycra cotton blend (think Bonds stretchies)...

signing up for the funny farm....

I'm usually quite controlled and measured, but this past week has been a killer. The downside of having 3 girls in an 18 month age-difference range is what I'm experiencing right now. The testing of boundaries. TIMES THREE. All of them questioning/arguing/challenging/disobeying. This I can handle if one of them is having an 'off day'. But...

What will they think of next #15 - Control your kid by remote?

Control your kid by remote - no joke! Well maybe just a little one!  Every parents' fantasy - a remote control to stop screaming, tattoos, sulking, a button to command a please, thank you, to tidy their room - don't you love it. A great fun gift from Home Couture - maybe a gift for that idealistic parent-to-be or clueless babysitter... $8.95 Instructions:•No...

The recipe for the perfect day:

The BlogThis Challenge this week is to share your recipe for the perfect day - here's mine that I can devise after a challenging day with my kids - I need a break!I get to sleep in to 9.00amHubby has taken the kids to the park by that time and has breakfasted, dressed kids and house is clean, load of washing out (hey, I can do this, he can...

Meal Plan Monday

Tonight - Sausage Fennel Hotpot (I could convince anyone who is dubious about fennel to eat this - it's delicious!)Tuesday - Tuna Macaroni BakeWednesday - Chilli Con CarneThursday - Hearty Ham Soup (made in slow cooker)Friday - Home-made hamburgersSaturday - GnocchiSunday - Roast Lamb DinnerAs we went to Dinner on Friday night - I have some...

A dying art?

on the weekend we were repairing the 'house of broke' (aka replacing the heater, toaster and microwave which have busted over past weeks - also known as goodbye tax cheque) and as I was completing all the warranty forms (after the laptop incident extended warranty is now my friend)  and I realised how awful...

OctoMom plus 14 - coming to your tv soon apparently

Those of you who watch Jon and Kate plus 8 (or rather seper8) might want to stop watching multiple birth reality right now.  Nadia Sulieman - yes 'Octomom'  has apparently signed on to do reality with her 14 kids and it starts in October.  I've read that apparently court documents reveal that each child will be paid $250 a...

Mummy did a bad, bad thing.

On Friday night we celebrated my Mums' birthday (it's on Monday but she was in town Friday) and I did a bad, bad thing. We went to Dee Why RSL (sounds bad but it's actually really nice) and I smuggled in dessert. You gotta have birthday cake right? It was also the perfect excuse to use these fabbo cupcake boxes that I bought from Sugar Daddy...

Discovery

I made a discovery yesterday at Spotlight - the quilting section. Even though I'm not a quilter and I don't see that changing there are some beautiful fabrics! I picked up a lovely rosey pink and red rose on aqua background and some other fabric with the same aqua background (pictured!) and also some red sheeting. What am I doing with...

Lauras' parallel universe...

It's a bit of a Laura day today given that snap-happy Saturday today was her too!I don't know if this is normal for a 3 year old but our Laura has a parallel universe going on.. one that has 'her other Mum and Dad, dog Dougall and baby sister, Charlotte'. This parallel universe has the potential to be very embarrassing should she talk to...

SnapHappySaturday: Red-polka-dot-bikini

I must be wishing for summer weather again, this time last year I took the girls (solo!) up to Cairns to visit with my parents. The weather was amazing. It's lovely up there this time of the year. Whilst looking at the pics I came across this one, of my Dad and Laura, just having a quiet moment at Muddies playground. I love this pic....

Waste Not Want Not Challenge 1 - Let me feed you from my PANTRY.

Let me feed you from my PANTRY. Share your pantry musthaves and a dish you make with them - tinned, boxed, dried, packet...! It can be for a family dinner, a quick snack or when people drop by un-announced... Give us inspiration to not only add some recipes to our repetoire, but non-perishables to our shopping list! Post your link in the...

Me likey.

I'm a nut for kitchenware.  If you ask most people who've been to my house I have enough if not too much but I still love it.  So scouring the net - I've found a few things that I love, and you might love too. Scoop and Sift - I have a tupperware sifter so I don't think I could manage to sneak this in, but it's beautiful no? ...

RECIPE: My Nans' recipe for Lemon Butter the old fashioned way...

My Nan shared with me her lemon butter recipe (and even wrote it out, don't you love her writing!?) and it's not a microwave shortcut like Court's recipe but it's yummy! Just because I can't do anything by the rules, and Court's recipe was a passion fruit lemon butter and at the time I didn't have any passion fruit - this is my Nan's...

RealityBites: Tears and Annoyance

OK, as most of Australia watched this week - Julie won Masterchef Australia.  I myself was pleased, I personally didn't relate much to Poh's food philosophy - although I love hainese chicken!  Julie cooking from the heart - something she does with her family and the most enjoyable part of the day was sitting with her family and...