Holiday update...

We don't want to leave. The weather is fantastic. It's wonderful seeing family and friends and Bangalow in particular is just amazing.Here's the loot I picked up at the local farmers' market on Saturday:Fresh tumeric, dried local bananas, pecans and macadamias - got some more other local fare at the Lennox Head Markets - fabulous stuff -...

An important lesson when you start drinking

Do you remember when you were first eighteen and legal to drink whatever you wanted? To be considered an adult amongst your family and friends?Here's a 101 to start your drinking career:DO NOT start earlyDo NOT mix drinksDo not pass out before the party is over, because your PARENTS might do this to you... Lastly, delete all evidence on said...

Heaven and Hell...scarily true.

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend!  Sorry if you read this before or after church.  I thought it was funny. Heaven is Where:The Police are British,The Chefs are Italian,The Mechanics are German,The Lovers are French andIt's all organized by the Swiss. Hell is Where:The Police are German,The Chefs are British,The Mechanics...

Cherry Ripe Cheesecake

I know, I know, I'm on a cheesecake bender!! This is quite easy, and will surprise your guests! Those who don't have access to cherry ripes - you may have something similar - they are cherry bars with cherry and coconut, covered in dark chocolate. Ingredients:250 g chocolate biscuits (I used chocolate covered teddy bears)125 g butter, melted...

SnapHappySaturday: Three times Three

Laura and Olivia are lucky that they always have someone on tap their age that they can play with - but it goes one step further - their cousin, Maya is 13 days older than them.  They are so lucky, I didn't grow up with siblings or cousins my own age - so moments like this I think are beautiful...

FrillyFrugalFriday: The holiday edition...

Yes, we're on holiday as the moment... a driving holiday.   We  lease our car and need to put on 40,000kms a year to beat the tax man slug us FBT so I'd say we'll be keeping this an annual event!  It's practically free travel! How has this been a frugal holiday thus far? FOOD AND DRINKS: A 'to go' breakfast for...

FrillyFrivolousFriday - T-shirts to wear to work on casual friday...

Fathers' day presents perhaps?I can see my hubby wearing this one ...

Irrational fear of ...

the making of my own baklava.  Silly huh? I love baklava. I mean, I ADORE baklava.  But only good baklava.  There's plenty of crappy baklava out there you know.  I fell in love with baklava when backpacking through Europe some 16 years ago.  Since then it's been pretty hit and miss as I'm very dubious about tasting...

Activity Report: Oceanworld, Manly

It's a bit sad that we've been to many of Sydneys' tourist traps and not been to the one virtually in our backyard!  My Mum was in town and staying a short walk from Oceanworld, which I thought was a brilliant opportunity for a day activity.  We've not been to the Sydney Aquarium as a family - I've been pre-kids when it first opened,...

Reality Bites: Roll in the lemmings...

Australian Idol Listening not watching - Well that kind of describes my Australian Idol exposure this week.There have been a few pleasant surprises, and I'm not sure if it's this new crop of hopefuls or the fact that Kyle isn't there anymore, but I'm not hating it.  The only one who has truly stuck in my brain is Ashleigh. ...

Here's a new meme for you...for the love of blog

These are questions I always like to ask... so I'm asking all of you because I want to know ! And if you post on your blog, you'll be asking those who read your blog too! How did you come up with the name of your blog?What was the first blog you followed?What's the latest blog you followed?What blog do you follow that surprises you doesn't...

Healthy Almond honey oat yoghurt muffins - no mixer required

I found myself at the beginning of this year saddled with 3 litres of organic honey and almond yoghurt with limited useby date, and I was stuck what to do. Freeze? Make Iceblocks? Devour? We did all of the above, but I did make a bunch of muffins using this great recipe from Bindi Nestors' blog.  It is a flexible recipe, so use the...

Word-to-the-wise Wednesday - Kids' craft for handmade gifts

Have you got your fathers' day presents sorted yet?  I'm still working on mine but really need to get things sorted!  With Christmas coming up I'm looking at some home-made gifts - it's more personal, made with love and kind to the back pocket.  I've bought some supplies at Edex, and I'll be getting some more - here's...

Coveting....

Blog This challenge this week is to share your 'wish list' - what you are coveting, be it realistic or not, material or not, practical or not.My covet list is a mixture of all these things. Some not remotely realistic on our budget, others something we're working towards... all achievable in over time I suppose (maybe moreso when I go back...

Kids' book review: The Lamington Man

We got this book last week from the Scholastic book club - so glad we did.   In fact the first day we got it, I read it twice! What's it about? It's about a lamington man who comes to life and leads Molly, her cat, the next-door neighbours' dog on chase to the river where a cunning crocodile awaits. What did we love? It rhymes...

What will they think of next #18 - The Smart Measure

I love this.  How cool is it?  A jug that measures not only visually, but digitally - exactly.  Rina,  I think you're going to want this! Source: Gizm...

Truly, I'm just trying to help...

I use this blog for more than just entertaining you guys and recording my somewhat schizophrenic content (yes I'm a bit all of the place I realise!).. I use it as my personal cookbook... and I find the search thingy pretty much USELESS.  Sorry about that. So I have against all my recipes further labelled them - baking, cakes, biscuits,...

Good, to Forgive; Best, to Forget?

Yesterday I passed a sign on a church that displayed this Browning quote.. and it got me thinking - is forgetting really best?I don't know whether I'm a good forgiver - probably but I'm not a good forgetter. If someone has hurt me, it's unlikely I'll forget... I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and in my mind give a million excuses...

Meal Plan Monday - short week

Well as you know - we're off this Thursday so the meal-planning is somewhat different! Monday (Today)    Pasta Bascaiola Tuesday                 Liss' sticky thai chicken Wednesday           ...

If you're after some fun blogs to have a looksee at:

I've discovered the hilarity of these ones - funny-mummiesVodkaMom. A woman after thine own heart. She loves vodka! I mean, why wouldn't you combine motherhood and vodka? Sounds perfectly normal to me! Witty and painfully honest... she pokes fun at herself, her life and her kids (with love of course). and there's just enough seriousness to...

Mini-break

No, not from blogging world, but we're off on a mini-driving holiday on Thursday.. can't wait. We're headed to the Ballina/Byron area with stop overs to break up the driving each way in Port MacQuarie. So now being frugal, and organised I'm looking at making some snacks/treats for the drive (we'll be driving about 24 hours in total...

Board Game or Bored Game?

I have so many board games. I love them, but haven't played them really since having the kids - more because it was a dinner party type tradition - haven't had much opprotunity for that but I think this summer could change that!What do you have and what do you love? What would you like or does the idea of a board game bore you to death?So...

Lemon and Ginger Baked Cheesecake

Maybe I have lemon and ginger in the brain because I've got a cold? No idea but I went to make a baked cheesecake from a recipe my friend Di gave me, but alas, I didn't have enough cream cheese.. so I found another recipe but it seemed a bit bland. I'd bought some gingernut biscuits today (on sale for $1.49 a packet!) and mused how yummy...