Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
My Place & Yours
I have just signed up to my first blog group - My Place & Yours. I haven't really got into the whole linking up with groups of bloggers as usually I don't spend enough time on here to warrant joining.
HOWEVER! this all changed when I saw that this weeks theme for My Place & Yours is all about your favourite tea cup. Hmm I have oooooooooodles!!!!!
I have never been into china - I'm a farmers daughter, coffee drinking, solid mug kinda girl. BUT this all changed when sorting and selling off my grandfathers treasures when he moved into a retirement home. I am in love with it now. So much so that my new china cabinet is now overflowing!
Linking in with Deb at Work In Progress
HOWEVER! this all changed when I saw that this weeks theme for My Place & Yours is all about your favourite tea cup. Hmm I have oooooooooodles!!!!!
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| Inherited from my beautiful Gran. I love the busy Scottish themed pattern. |
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| This little gem and the Bunnykins one in the above photo are very precious to me. They belonged to my grandmother when she was a little girl. |
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| This one also belonged to my beautiful Gran. I love its simple design. |
I have never been into china - I'm a farmers daughter, coffee drinking, solid mug kinda girl. BUT this all changed when sorting and selling off my grandfathers treasures when he moved into a retirement home. I am in love with it now. So much so that my new china cabinet is now overflowing!
Linking in with Deb at Work In Progress
Cereal Review #2
MMMMMmmmmmmm they have done it again!!!!! Be Natural have created a YUMO cereal - Manuka Honey & Spice Clusters with Flakes. Oh my goodness it was good.
We are a Weetbix household however Crazy 1 loves to try new foods and loves muesli - so do I.
This flavour combination would have to be my favourite. I tried and reviewed their other flavours late last year and was impressed, but this one comes out on tops.
How can I describe it???? Think hot cross bun flavoured muesli, but its meusli that stays crunchy. It is devine.
It is certainly one that I would buy regularly.
We are a Weetbix household however Crazy 1 loves to try new foods and loves muesli - so do I.
This flavour combination would have to be my favourite. I tried and reviewed their other flavours late last year and was impressed, but this one comes out on tops.
How can I describe it???? Think hot cross bun flavoured muesli, but its meusli that stays crunchy. It is devine.
It is certainly one that I would buy regularly.
Easy Saturday Night Dinner
What a week riding the good old emotional roller coaster!!!!!! In the past week we received confirmation that Crazy 2 is booked for surgery on the 16th March (Hallelujah!!!!), our house is on the market, all the real estate agents came through our house on Wednesday, Mr W was away at a work conference for 3 days, and I got the house ready by myself for our first open home on Saturday. Needless to say I was couped up in bed all day yesterday feeling like CRAP!
Anyway, after all that I couldn't be bothered cooking tea on Saturday night (I know 2 weeks in a row - my poor family!) so I pulled out a little gem given to us years ago but we have hardly used - the Hot Diggity Dog!!!!!! We had American Hotdogs for tea.
I have no idea if you can still get these but they are an absolute novelty!
It was a real hit. Just put some Smoked Hickory sauce down the middle with some grated cheese and add the sausage.
YUM
Anyway, after all that I couldn't be bothered cooking tea on Saturday night (I know 2 weeks in a row - my poor family!) so I pulled out a little gem given to us years ago but we have hardly used - the Hot Diggity Dog!!!!!! We had American Hotdogs for tea.
I have no idea if you can still get these but they are an absolute novelty!
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| If your kids watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse you will appreciate that my boys then walked around the house singing 'hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog' |
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| Sausages in the container, and a hot spike to heat the buns |
YUM
Organise My Home Challenge - Week 3
Week 3: Organise pantry, spices and food storage areas
Now this doesn't include your fridge and freezer - thats next weeks job!!!
1. Declutter and get rid of expired food items. Remove everything, yip I said EVERYTHING! Get rid of things that don't belong in there. Throw away expired food. If it is unopened and not expired, but you know you will never eat it - donate it!
2. While everything is out of the pantry, get scrubbing.
3. Sort everything into groups - dry goods, canned good, dried food, boxed items, spices, root vegetables. This will give you a clear idea as to what you actually have in there and if you have duplicates of foods you know you won't get through before they expire - donate it!
4. If you are up for it make an inventory of what you have - sure helps at grocery shopping time. Obviously you need to mark off when you use them though! :)
5. Put everything back! :) I am a huge fan of using containers for dry goods. I sourced a heap of old school Tupperware containers from TradeMe to hold all my baking and dry goods. Yes its extra handling and time, but when you do it all at the same time (on grocery day), then you can just forget about it. And it makes it easier to see at a glance if you need more (obviously if you have clear containers).
Labels, labels, labels. Again although it takes a bit of extra time to write them up, think LONG TERM!!! There are a heap of options to choose from - write straight onto the container (I have done this), use printer labels, use washi tape (http://www.washinz.co.nz/) there are heaps of ideas.
That's it - I'm sure theres lots of other things you could add to this list but I am all about small and simple.
Looking forward to seeing your photos :)
Now this doesn't include your fridge and freezer - thats next weeks job!!!
1. Declutter and get rid of expired food items. Remove everything, yip I said EVERYTHING! Get rid of things that don't belong in there. Throw away expired food. If it is unopened and not expired, but you know you will never eat it - donate it!
2. While everything is out of the pantry, get scrubbing.
3. Sort everything into groups - dry goods, canned good, dried food, boxed items, spices, root vegetables. This will give you a clear idea as to what you actually have in there and if you have duplicates of foods you know you won't get through before they expire - donate it!
4. If you are up for it make an inventory of what you have - sure helps at grocery shopping time. Obviously you need to mark off when you use them though! :)
5. Put everything back! :) I am a huge fan of using containers for dry goods. I sourced a heap of old school Tupperware containers from TradeMe to hold all my baking and dry goods. Yes its extra handling and time, but when you do it all at the same time (on grocery day), then you can just forget about it. And it makes it easier to see at a glance if you need more (obviously if you have clear containers).
Labels, labels, labels. Again although it takes a bit of extra time to write them up, think LONG TERM!!! There are a heap of options to choose from - write straight onto the container (I have done this), use printer labels, use washi tape (http://www.washinz.co.nz/) there are heaps of ideas.
That's it - I'm sure theres lots of other things you could add to this list but I am all about small and simple.
Looking forward to seeing your photos :)
Organise My Home Challenge - Week 2 Photos
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| Recipe books and big utensils |
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| Add caption |
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| I love it when you take everything out and find piles of 'fuzz' in the corner - YUMMY |
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| Everything removed and cleaned. I also turned the soup spoons, smaller forks and knives upside down |
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| Semi organised but still not happy with it. |
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| Help you can see the bottom |
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| A work in progress. Removed half my recipe books that I don't use, but can't remedy the large utensils side. |
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| This no slip stuff is fantastic |
Monday, February 20, 2012
Organise My Home Challenge - week 2
Welcome back for another week! Hope your benchtops are still in ship shape order. Ours is thankfully, but should add that our house went on the market last week, so it kind of has to stay clean!!!
Anyway, onwards and upwards. This weeks challenge is still in the kitchen.............
Week 2: Organise kitchen drawers and cabinets
1. Declutter - your drawers should be able to open and close smoothly.
2. Sort out duplicates, broken items, EXCESS items, orphaned lids or containers, things you never use
3. Remove anything that doesn't need to be in the kitchen
4. Sort what is left according to how often it is used.
5. Give the drawers/shelves a good scrub and rearrange everything back in its place according to how often it is used.
Again, sit back and enjoy your sparkly clean, easy access cupboards/drawers.
Anyway, onwards and upwards. This weeks challenge is still in the kitchen.............
Week 2: Organise kitchen drawers and cabinets
1. Declutter - your drawers should be able to open and close smoothly.
2. Sort out duplicates, broken items, EXCESS items, orphaned lids or containers, things you never use
3. Remove anything that doesn't need to be in the kitchen
4. Sort what is left according to how often it is used.
5. Give the drawers/shelves a good scrub and rearrange everything back in its place according to how often it is used.
Again, sit back and enjoy your sparkly clean, easy access cupboards/drawers.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
When Mum Can't Be Bothered Cooking Tea............
And its Friday night - Fish & Chips at the beach, running from the waves and throwing stones it is.
Last night I just plain couldn't be bothered cooking tea (home made burgers for our takeaway night - we alternate between burgers and pizza) so decided fish and chips at the beach sounded like a much better idea. The hubby was stoked!!!
I don't think the Crazys had moved so fast all day! They LOVE going to the beach to run from the waves and throw stones, but add tea to the mix and Fish & Chips and that's just a whole new level of excitement.
Lots of running, lots of sand, home for a warm shower and bed! Perfect evening
Last night I just plain couldn't be bothered cooking tea (home made burgers for our takeaway night - we alternate between burgers and pizza) so decided fish and chips at the beach sounded like a much better idea. The hubby was stoked!!!
I don't think the Crazys had moved so fast all day! They LOVE going to the beach to run from the waves and throw stones, but add tea to the mix and Fish & Chips and that's just a whole new level of excitement.
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| Um!?!?! Have you ever seen a SQUARE sausage in a hot dog?? |
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| Getting the technique |
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| Hmmmm a bit big perhaps dude? |
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| Portrait time (with reluctance) |
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| With even more reluctance hence being blurry |
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| Attempt at family portrait, timer style - shambles!!! |
Lots of running, lots of sand, home for a warm shower and bed! Perfect evening
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Organise My Home Challenge..... Photos
Week 1: Kitchen benchtops and sink
Before
After.......
Now to keep it like that.
Before
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| Our collection corner! |
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| There are ALWAYS dishes |
After.......
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| YA! |
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| So thrilled the floors even got a mop!!! |
Now to keep it like that.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Organise Your Home Challenge
I have decided to join up to a organise your home challenge - well sort of. I found one online that took you through 52 weeks of challenges but when looking through them there were a number that didn't relate to me (pets, attic, basement etc).
So instead I am making up my own. Instead of 52 weeks, I have cut it down to 35 weeks. I did wonder if maybe I make it a one month challenge but really don't think I would complete some of these in a day - or I would just get plain sick of it.
Each week on a Monday I will be setting the challenge and showing a before and after photo.
Join in if youneed want to :) Leave me a comment so I know you are joining in
So are you ready, set, go ...........
Week 1: Kitchen benchtops and sink
Put unused/or sometimes used items away (breakfast spreads, teapot, kids artwork, mail etc)
Do the dishes! (try to have a dishes free benchtop at least twice a day)
Clean all benchtop appliances
Tend to any plants with a good trim, water and spruce up
Give all surfaces a good scrub
Sit back and admire a clutter free benchtop
So instead I am making up my own. Instead of 52 weeks, I have cut it down to 35 weeks. I did wonder if maybe I make it a one month challenge but really don't think I would complete some of these in a day - or I would just get plain sick of it.
Each week on a Monday I will be setting the challenge and showing a before and after photo.
Join in if you
So are you ready, set, go ...........
Week 1: Kitchen benchtops and sink
Put unused/or sometimes used items away (breakfast spreads, teapot, kids artwork, mail etc)
Do the dishes! (try to have a dishes free benchtop at least twice a day)
Clean all benchtop appliances
Tend to any plants with a good trim, water and spruce up
Give all surfaces a good scrub
Sit back and admire a clutter free benchtop
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Washi Tape - FINALLY
I have been reading lots about this thing called washi tape and how great it is to use (for what seems like anything). Well I found it and its here in NZ!
Check it out at http://www.washinz.co.nz/ it is so cool and you really can use it for nearly everything.
Check it out at http://www.washinz.co.nz/ it is so cool and you really can use it for nearly everything.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Creating Memories with Crazy 2
It dawned on me today how little time Crazy 2 gets of my attention. Its not that I ignore him, I guess I have just always figured he would play on his own while Crazy 1 was at kindy, so that I could get on with housework things.
So today I decided housework can take a back seat and we just played for 2 hours. He was most impressed that Mum could make a garage out of Duplo and knew how to make truck and car noises. The astonished look on his face was priceless, and a nice reminder that they are only little (and think you are just the bees knees) for a short while - so down tools and play.
So today I decided housework can take a back seat and we just played for 2 hours. He was most impressed that Mum could make a garage out of Duplo and knew how to make truck and car noises. The astonished look on his face was priceless, and a nice reminder that they are only little (and think you are just the bees knees) for a short while - so down tools and play.
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| Just excuse the I'm filling my pants stance! |
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| Oh and again! Duplo city in the making |
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| Big Trucks house |
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| Little digger/bulldozer/don't really know what it is house - complete with magic doors |
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| Slim cars house complete with missile security on top |
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