Although I'm happy to let the kids dress up, even go to a halloween party or have some halloween treats and decorations at home...I don't like trick or treating.
Thankfully I've never actually had anyone come to my house trick or treating...NEVER! But each year I always grab some lollies or treats just incase. This year I thought we'd make something so we're making the little 'teacup' biscuits and wrap up. So if no one comes past, then we have something cool to eat and maybe we can go visit a friend on Sunday and take them with us.
At the moment Rat_girl (I hope) is too young to understand or know about trick or treating. However when the time comes that she asks I and going to do my up most to talk her out of it. There is a chance that may not work so if that happens I have decided what I will do. I will allow her to do it in out street (close) only and prior to taking her I will do up some packets of treats and drop off to each house with a note letting them know we are coming trick or treating and so that they are not put out and so she is not disappointed I am giving them the treats and would appreciate if they can give them to her when we come around.
But like I said I'll try talk her out of it first!
October 29, 2009
October 26, 2009
Menu Plan 26th October
Alright lets just pretend it didn't happen...
Crappy week and although we did actually eat to the menu just didn't get time to post.
Crappy week and although we did actually eat to the menu just didn't get time to post.
Christmas Gifts
This, or something similar is what I plan to do for Christmas gifts this year.
Plus I am thinking, we're having a little disco party for Rat_girls 4th birthday in December. I might do one for the parents of each child along with some home made playdough as party favours.
Plus I am thinking, we're having a little disco party for Rat_girls 4th birthday in December. I might do one for the parents of each child along with some home made playdough as party favours.
Getting prepared
Food for Rat_boy
Concrete_mans breakfast for 1.5 or 2 weeks depedning if he works 5 or 6 days a week.
Fairies, Orges, Sleeping Teddies and some house work
Photos from the weekend
Tinkerbell on her way to a friends Fairytale birthday party
"I'm an Orge" Baby Shrek accompanying Tinkerbell to the party
PS. Tinkerbell took these photos
Doing the housework in our best outfit!
Some sleeping teddy in blanket biscuits
October 24, 2009
Someone read my mind!
I was deciding how to pre-make Concrete_mans salads for the week..
Well I normally pre chop a lot of my vegies when I do my groceries but to have everything in the same container or something would be great so I can just pull the container out and and put into his lunch container...or he can do it himself HAHAHAHAHA
Anyway someone has just read my mind
The Life of a Super Organised Mum - pre make salads
The only thing I want to do different is I would prefer if the container was square or rectanlge, I have a phobia of round containers, they just do fit they waste space etc and my fridge doesn't have a lot of space as it is. Hmmm unless I can incorporate it into my big tupperware fridge smart container. Maybe I can...I wonder if I could just get little fridge baskets and put in the container to make compartments then I can keep the salad vegies serperate until I'm ready to make the salad.
Just thinking out aloud now.
Well I normally pre chop a lot of my vegies when I do my groceries but to have everything in the same container or something would be great so I can just pull the container out and and put into his lunch container...or he can do it himself HAHAHAHAHA
Anyway someone has just read my mind
The Life of a Super Organised Mum - pre make salads
The only thing I want to do different is I would prefer if the container was square or rectanlge, I have a phobia of round containers, they just do fit they waste space etc and my fridge doesn't have a lot of space as it is. Hmmm unless I can incorporate it into my big tupperware fridge smart container. Maybe I can...I wonder if I could just get little fridge baskets and put in the container to make compartments then I can keep the salad vegies serperate until I'm ready to make the salad.
Just thinking out aloud now.
October 23, 2009
What a hot bum
Awwww babies look so much cuter in cloth I think.
Although you are not technically looking at a cloth nappy, just the cover, but under neath is your good ol fashion terry towelling square....
Although you are not technically looking at a cloth nappy, just the cover, but under neath is your good ol fashion terry towelling square....
October 22, 2009
Kids Cooking Thursday 22/10/09
In this post we have some old photos of Rat_girls cooking, my Virtual Girls Night In submission and down the bottom my first Kids Cooking Thursday entry YAY.
We babysat her BFF a few days and to keep them busy we baked
Cupcakes
Gingerbread ummm shapes
Our "Virtual Girls Night In" Jelly Cakes
For more details click here
Please consider making a donation
We died the inside pink also as she didn't believe dipping in the jelly would make the cake pink...they were very pink.
We used a very cheap vanilla cake mix, raspberry jelly made to the packet directions with just a touch less water and partly set in the fridge (till it's nice and thick and just starting to set).
Once cakes were cooled and jelly ready we dipped cake in jelly and gave a good coating then rolled in coconut. Left put in fridge to set then cut off the tops and put a dollop of double cream MMMMMM
Almost all eaten before I could take a photo!!!
Our first actual "Kids Cooking Thursday"
They looked nothing like the picture in the end but boy did Rat_girl have some fun. When she saw that some of the biscuits were pink she decided she wanted pink and purple but also the brown. So that's what we did!
Rat_girl kneading the colour into the dough, Rat_boy supervising
all the colours done, in the fridge (perfectly lined up)
finished product....ummmm minus a few :-P
Next week: We're going to move away from sweets, my thighs are starting to hate me... Thursday we will be making Nachos for lunch.
October 21, 2009
Happy Blogoversary to...
Go and check out her blog, you will be glad you did...though perhaps your waistline won't be so happy, but I'm sure it will be worth it.
It is her 1 year blogoversary and she is celebrating with a gorgeous giveaway.
Check it out here
Or maybe don't...the more people that enter the less chance I have of winning hmmmmm :-)
I'm getting clever in my old age
Last night I had a brilliant idea and can't believe it has taken me that long to think of it.
Concrete_man is not a breakfast eater mainly as he prefers to sleep an extra 5 minutes and, unlike me, does not feel like eating as soon as he wakes up. With the physically demanding labour that he does he really should eat breakfast, and lets face it he's thin enough as it is he needs to eat. Most mornings he would stop at the servo and grab a ham and cheese toasted snadwhich which now costs close to $7...$7 x 5 days x 52 weeks is a lot of money. So I have been making him ham and cheese sandwhiches for him to take and toast at his shed before he heads to site. The shed is stocked, sandwhich maker, espresso machine...seriously!
But I just realised, the bread I use is frozen and then I make his sandwhich either each night or morning. Why don't I just buy a fresh loaf of bread make up a stack of ham and cheese sandwhiches and just freeze them. That way he just has to pull one out to take each day. And on the weekends it's a quick snack. So that is what I'll do.
Now if only I can work out how to make and freeze his salad bowl that I make every day.....
Concrete_man is not a breakfast eater mainly as he prefers to sleep an extra 5 minutes and, unlike me, does not feel like eating as soon as he wakes up. With the physically demanding labour that he does he really should eat breakfast, and lets face it he's thin enough as it is he needs to eat. Most mornings he would stop at the servo and grab a ham and cheese toasted snadwhich which now costs close to $7...$7 x 5 days x 52 weeks is a lot of money. So I have been making him ham and cheese sandwhiches for him to take and toast at his shed before he heads to site. The shed is stocked, sandwhich maker, espresso machine...seriously!
But I just realised, the bread I use is frozen and then I make his sandwhich either each night or morning. Why don't I just buy a fresh loaf of bread make up a stack of ham and cheese sandwhiches and just freeze them. That way he just has to pull one out to take each day. And on the weekends it's a quick snack. So that is what I'll do.
Now if only I can work out how to make and freeze his salad bowl that I make every day.....
October 19, 2009
Menu Plan 19/10/09
@
Last weeks menu was great we didn't have take out at all and the only change in the menu was the Butter Chicken, we just had an easy dinner that night instead.
The Cheesy Stuffed meatloaf was definately a hit, though Concrete_man said it was a little too tomatoey and suggested perhaps next time instead of topping with pasta sauce use BBQ sauce as like a glaze over the top. The Spanish Tortilla Pie was probably my least favourite of the week, if you follow the link from last week to the recipe you will see what I plan to change next time I try it.
And pizzas, from now on Pizza night will be Jelly Ring Pizzas, just can't see to get the perfect base and Concrete_man said he'd much rather the jelly ring pizza...I'll give more info on these soon.
Anyway I'm about to head to the shops to do the groceries....OH BIG BIG news I managed to make it through the whole week only going to the corner shop to grab milk or bread, no in between grocery trips which is great.
Here is what we are eating this week
Monday
Salad and garlic bread (if I'm game I'll make my own pull apart loaf)
Tuesday
With pasta and vegies
Wednesday
Thursday
Rice, Naan and vegies
Friday
Hambugers and Chips
Saturday
Free - possibly takeaway as we have a birthday party on in the afternoon
Sunday
BBQ - Rib Fillet marinated, sausages, salad and bread.
October 17, 2009
"Fake" Nicoise Salad
"Fake" Nicoise Salad
Super Food Ideas November 2009 pg 58
Fake because it should have tuna but I don't do tuna so replace it with sliced crumbed steak
12 (650g) small chat or baby potatoes, halved
400g baby green beans trimmed
425g tuna in oil, drained flaked (I'm going to use a piece of crumbed steak each cooked and sliced)
250g grape tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup black olives
2 baby cos lettuce hearts (or just cos lettuce) seperated and washed
4 hard boiled eggs, peel quartered
3 anchovy fillets (blurg I'm not using) option, halved length ways
Dressing - whisk ingredients in jug
1/3 olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tbl dijon mustard
Boil potatoes for 10mins or until tender, transfer to large bowl. Cook beans in same saucepan for 2-3min until just tender, drain and refresh under cold water, drain and add to potatoes
Add meat or tuna, tomato, olives, lettuce, egg and anchovy to potato and beans. Add dressing toss gentle to combine and season with S&P.
Can you fresh tuna if you like about 3 (150g ea) steaks cooked 2-3 mins of each side and flaked into pieces
Super Food Ideas November 2009 pg 58
Fake because it should have tuna but I don't do tuna so replace it with sliced crumbed steak
12 (650g) small chat or baby potatoes, halved
400g baby green beans trimmed
425g tuna in oil, drained flaked (I'm going to use a piece of crumbed steak each cooked and sliced)
250g grape tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup black olives
2 baby cos lettuce hearts (or just cos lettuce) seperated and washed
4 hard boiled eggs, peel quartered
3 anchovy fillets (blurg I'm not using) option, halved length ways
Dressing - whisk ingredients in jug
1/3 olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tbl dijon mustard
Boil potatoes for 10mins or until tender, transfer to large bowl. Cook beans in same saucepan for 2-3min until just tender, drain and refresh under cold water, drain and add to potatoes
Add meat or tuna, tomato, olives, lettuce, egg and anchovy to potato and beans. Add dressing toss gentle to combine and season with S&P.
Can you fresh tuna if you like about 3 (150g ea) steaks cooked 2-3 mins of each side and flaked into pieces
Spanish Tortilla Pie (from Super Food Ideas)
Spanish Tortilla Pie
From Super Food Ideas March 2009 Issue pg 28
1 Sheet frozenn read-rolled quiche pastry, partly thawed
400g packet baby potatoes with butter and herbs (see note)
2 Chorizo sausages (120g eac) chopped
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
4 medium tomatoes chopped
4 eggs
2 tablespoons chopped flat leafe parsley
Preheat oven 200c
grease 22cm base loose-based, flute flan tin, line with pastry. Refridgerate for 10 mins.
Blind bake with baking paper and weights or rice for 12-15mins or until edges are golden, remove weights
Meanwhile, microwave potatoes until cook, thickly slice
Reduce oven head to 180c
Heat fry pan, cook chorizo until browner, add cayenne until cook till fragrant. Add tomato and half the potatoes, (keep other half warm) cook till tomatoe starts to soften then remove from heat.
Spoon mixture into pastry. Crack whole eggs over mixture season with salt and pepper bake for 15-20mins until just set. Sprinkle with parsley.
Serve with left over potatoes and salad.
NOTE: Potatoes can be bought prepacked with butter and herbs at supermarked. If you can get them, I just used potatoes microwaved with a little butter, garlic and mixed herbs.
I liked the flavour of this, but next time I'll take the skin off the sausage and use more like a mince, just break it up. Plus Concrete_man asked for bacon and I might not leave the eggs whole I might mix up and pour over the top.
From Super Food Ideas March 2009 Issue pg 28
1 Sheet frozenn read-rolled quiche pastry, partly thawed
400g packet baby potatoes with butter and herbs (see note)
2 Chorizo sausages (120g eac) chopped
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
4 medium tomatoes chopped
4 eggs
2 tablespoons chopped flat leafe parsley
Preheat oven 200c
grease 22cm base loose-based, flute flan tin, line with pastry. Refridgerate for 10 mins.
Blind bake with baking paper and weights or rice for 12-15mins or until edges are golden, remove weights
Meanwhile, microwave potatoes until cook, thickly slice
Reduce oven head to 180c
Heat fry pan, cook chorizo until browner, add cayenne until cook till fragrant. Add tomato and half the potatoes, (keep other half warm) cook till tomatoe starts to soften then remove from heat.
Spoon mixture into pastry. Crack whole eggs over mixture season with salt and pepper bake for 15-20mins until just set. Sprinkle with parsley.
Serve with left over potatoes and salad.
NOTE: Potatoes can be bought prepacked with butter and herbs at supermarked. If you can get them, I just used potatoes microwaved with a little butter, garlic and mixed herbs.
I liked the flavour of this, but next time I'll take the skin off the sausage and use more like a mince, just break it up. Plus Concrete_man asked for bacon and I might not leave the eggs whole I might mix up and pour over the top.
Kids Cooking Thursday
If you want to know more check out the link to the side.
I'm just quickly putting it out there now as it's something I really really want to get involved in. Thursday is my day at home with the kids so it's perfect.
The only problem is I have only a small amount of patience...but I guess this good be a good exercise for me!
Last night Rat_girl helped with making pizzas and made her own star shaped ones with only the toppings she wanted and today we've started making some 'pink' food and she helped. I let her have a bit more freedom and make as much mess as she needed. The only stressful part is that she doesn't listen and we tend to lose whole batches of things or she comes very close to getting hurt.
Little by little, maybe the more often we do it the more she will learn.
Now to just keep an eye out for what we can make, I don't want to always to cakes and stuff would be good if we can make somethings that she can put in her lunchbox at kindy and tell her teacher she made it!!!
I'm just quickly putting it out there now as it's something I really really want to get involved in. Thursday is my day at home with the kids so it's perfect.
The only problem is I have only a small amount of patience...but I guess this good be a good exercise for me!
Last night Rat_girl helped with making pizzas and made her own star shaped ones with only the toppings she wanted and today we've started making some 'pink' food and she helped. I let her have a bit more freedom and make as much mess as she needed. The only stressful part is that she doesn't listen and we tend to lose whole batches of things or she comes very close to getting hurt.
Little by little, maybe the more often we do it the more she will learn.
Now to just keep an eye out for what we can make, I don't want to always to cakes and stuff would be good if we can make somethings that she can put in her lunchbox at kindy and tell her teacher she made it!!!
October 15, 2009
Going Pink for October
Ok so I have changed the look of the blog for Ocotber in support of Breast Cancer month and to help raise awarness. To check out who else has gone pink check out Pink For October.
And I also plan to take part in the Virtual Girls In being hosted by Silver Moon Dragon @ Dragons Musings.
If anyone else would like to take part, feel free to drop by and check out how it all works. So now I have to get out my pink foods (or my pink food die) and get cooking all things pink. Rat_girl will love it!!!
You can also help out by making donations towards this event.
I'll get some pink food happening soon I promise, problem is I'm not very creative so it will probably be something simple like pink cupcakes, pink jelly cakes....or I wonder what Concrete_man would think of pink mashed potatoes for dinner tonight.....hmmmmmmmm
October 13, 2009
Mere Male...
I wanted to update my facebook status about what just happened but I don't believe in airing dirty laundry on there. And seeing as no one that knows me in real life actually reads my blog I figure here is a good place to vent...
Gee I'm blogging up a storm today.
Anyway I just went to pull the meatloaf out of the fridge for dinner ( I got my days mixed up so we're having meatloaf tonight) to put in the oven and as I did I managed to bump the pasta sauce jar and it tumbled out of the fridge and smashed on the floor. As you can imagine it was messy!
So Concrete_man and his offsider are outside talking work and stuff and they here the noise and call out "what was that??" after they heard a few un lady like words coming from the kitchen, I replied "dinner". Offisider comments that it sounded messy to which Concrete_man replies "well I'll just stay away, I seriously can't believe how much glass gets broken in this house these days" and they wander off to the shed without a single offer of help!!
I would have though considering I just scattered broken glass all over the floor and I am barefoot and they are in work boots that perhaps they may have come in to help but NOOOOOOOOO instead lets discuss how hopeless I am and how I am constantly breaking things.
I've cleaned it up, hopefully I've done a good job. I cut myself in the mean time. I went to wipe some pasta sauce off my leg that obviously had glass in it and I put a scratch up my leg, lots of blood. Not that I could tell I thought it was sauce.
So anyway I'm now over 40mins late to pick Rat_girl up from kindy. Would have been nice for someone to atleast say, while you are cleaning up would you like me to go pick her up...but I'm possibly asking too much.
Ahhhhh men, can live with them, can't kill them.
Gee I'm blogging up a storm today.
Anyway I just went to pull the meatloaf out of the fridge for dinner ( I got my days mixed up so we're having meatloaf tonight) to put in the oven and as I did I managed to bump the pasta sauce jar and it tumbled out of the fridge and smashed on the floor. As you can imagine it was messy!
So Concrete_man and his offsider are outside talking work and stuff and they here the noise and call out "what was that??" after they heard a few un lady like words coming from the kitchen, I replied "dinner". Offisider comments that it sounded messy to which Concrete_man replies "well I'll just stay away, I seriously can't believe how much glass gets broken in this house these days" and they wander off to the shed without a single offer of help!!
I would have though considering I just scattered broken glass all over the floor and I am barefoot and they are in work boots that perhaps they may have come in to help but NOOOOOOOOO instead lets discuss how hopeless I am and how I am constantly breaking things.
I've cleaned it up, hopefully I've done a good job. I cut myself in the mean time. I went to wipe some pasta sauce off my leg that obviously had glass in it and I put a scratch up my leg, lots of blood. Not that I could tell I thought it was sauce.
So anyway I'm now over 40mins late to pick Rat_girl up from kindy. Would have been nice for someone to atleast say, while you are cleaning up would you like me to go pick her up...but I'm possibly asking too much.
Ahhhhh men, can live with them, can't kill them.
'Maggi' Butter Chicken
I cheat and use a packet sauce base..
Butter Chicken
1 pkt MAGGI Butter chicken
1 tbsp butter
500g skinless chicken fillet (I use thighs), diced
1 onion chopped
3/4cup (190ml) cream
Heat butter in pan, add chicken, cook 2 minutes
Add onion, cook for further 2 minutes
Add combined cream and Maggi butter chicken mix, bring to boil, stirring
Cover and sminner until chicken is cooked, stirring
I always serve with rice, steamed greens, pappadums (for lil Rat) naan (for big rats) and sometimes I have a little natural yoghurt.
There are heaps of recipe mixes for Butter Chicken they are all good.
Butter Chicken
1 pkt MAGGI Butter chicken
1 tbsp butter
500g skinless chicken fillet (I use thighs), diced
1 onion chopped
3/4cup (190ml) cream
Heat butter in pan, add chicken, cook 2 minutes
Add onion, cook for further 2 minutes
Add combined cream and Maggi butter chicken mix, bring to boil, stirring
Cover and sminner until chicken is cooked, stirring
I always serve with rice, steamed greens, pappadums (for lil Rat) naan (for big rats) and sometimes I have a little natural yoghurt.
There are heaps of recipe mixes for Butter Chicken they are all good.
It's a sign
I need some help.
I need to make up a couple of signs and rather than just print them out all boring like on white paper, I'm wondering if anyone can show some pics or give me some ideas to help me create something a little more interesting.
Sign 1
'No door to door traders"
Sign 2
"I'm busy working right now, please call again later"
and perhaps on the reverse side
"Friends Welcome"
I work from home so this is necessary as some people just like to stop by as they think because I am home and Rat_girl is at kindy that I am bored!!
I need to make up a couple of signs and rather than just print them out all boring like on white paper, I'm wondering if anyone can show some pics or give me some ideas to help me create something a little more interesting.
Sign 1
'No door to door traders"
Sign 2
"I'm busy working right now, please call again later"
and perhaps on the reverse side
"Friends Welcome"
I work from home so this is necessary as some people just like to stop by as they think because I am home and Rat_girl is at kindy that I am bored!!
Bitsa ....
...this and bitsa that :-)
I sometimes think I need a telepathic link to my blog so that as I'm thinking things and doing 'mental' blogs it starts a posts and jots them all down for me.
Weekend
BIG weekend, well kind of. Saturday was first week back at dancing this week for little miss Rat_ballerina. Though it didn't go as smoothly as I would have hoped, She was so excited about the whole thing and when we got there ran straight into the classroom and didn't bat an eyelid. But then the door to the class started to close (we don't watch the kids, it's distracting to them and the other kids don't always like other parents watching) and she put on the tears and "mummy mummy". Now I have a lot less patience and tollerance than most parents and I don't put up with a lot, the last time we had an incident like this I gave her a quick ultimatum "Mum will count to 5 and then you either sit with the class or we go home". Otherwise I end up sitting there and cuddling her and trying to leave and having to come back again and it goes on and on and on till we either miss half the class or we get in the car. Anyway she decided under sufferance to sit. After the class she was all smiles but told me she didn't dance she just watched. She told me this alot last term but her teacher assures me she is very active in the class. So this time I responded "well if you didn't dance and you don't like dancing then we don't have to come anymore" her faced changed and she told me "no mummy I did dance I was just tricking" So at the moment we're taking it 1 lesson at a time. I'm not big on dancing etc we're more of a sporting family and you can even tell that as much as she loves it, she loves being outside running and jumping and throwing and tumbling much more. I think next year we might find something different to do.
After dancing I had my hot stone massage, which I snored through but loved loved loved!!!
Did a bit of shopping with mum and the kids, and finally made it home about 1:30 and then realised I had a jewllery party to attend at 2pm, needless to say I didn't make it.
Sunday was our usual family breakfast outing to McDonalds, even Rat_boy joined in for breakfast, scoffing down his 1/2 a banana and rice cereal. Must have been just what he wanted as we got home he had a quick BF and was out like a light for over 3hours...day sleeps link that for him are few and far between. Then the afternoon came and it was full on 2 birthday parties, who's silly idea was that. Anyway it worked out pretty good (except for someone telling me the punch was non-alcoholic when it was...4 glasses later), the first party had slip and slide and I'm glad we went as it turned out most of the kids that were coming fell ill so for pretty much the whole party it was us and the birthday girl. Oh and the birthday girl got a kiddy camera as a present Rat_girl loved it, which is good as she is getting one. The next party was hard to get into to start with coming an hour late but by the end I had trouble getting her to leave. At this party they had one of those tennis ball machines and all the kids had butterfly nets and were catching the balls, it was hilarious!!! The good part was both kids again passed out early the downside 1 party bags. Thankfully she is good at making them last, they are in a container and she is allowed just a couple a day.
Other stuff
Rat_boy has progressed (but to my dislike, I'd rather he just be BF so much easier) in his eating and is eating 2 x 2 cubes of food a day. So mid morning some fruit (apple, pear or banana) mixed with his cereal and at dinner (mid arvo) he has vegies (pumpkin, peas, corn so far he has tasted). I've got a bit of a stock of food in the freezer and I'm being really good. Zip locked bags with frozen cubes of apple, pear, pumkpin (almost run out), peas and corn. I have a head of broccoli to do up next. In the next shopping I'll buy some more pumkpin and do some sweet potato also. PLUS I still have container of frozen mango from last season which I'm certain should be fine for him a little later on.
He is also very very determined to crawl soon, he is all the way up on all fours now, but he is still a little frustrated and has his head down and doesn't realise what he is doing. He can now also sit for a few seconds on his own before he head butts the floor.
Oh and as much as I sometimes go on and on about Rat_girl she really is a sweet little girl. I often wonder what I did wrong to get a child that behaves like her...but really I should be wondering what I did right to get 2 such beautiful kids. At the second party on Sunday there was another little girl who was having a bday the next day, we couldn't make it to her party so took a card and present. As we were about to leave Rat_girl ran back to the party to give her friend a kiss and cuddle and say happy birthday for the next day. Then yesterday we baby sat a friends little boy she was so good with him and played so well and shared her toys I was so proud of her.
Right I should get to work now I actually have heaps to do. Life was a bit grim for a bit there as we had no work and no income on the horizon, suddenly it's coming from everywhere...atleast we hope it is...we can see it coming just hope it doesn't get side swiped on the way. So I need to get some things sorted and out of the way in the hopes we will be very busy very soon!!!
PS I don't proof read so please excuse my errors!!!
I sometimes think I need a telepathic link to my blog so that as I'm thinking things and doing 'mental' blogs it starts a posts and jots them all down for me.
Weekend
BIG weekend, well kind of. Saturday was first week back at dancing this week for little miss Rat_ballerina. Though it didn't go as smoothly as I would have hoped, She was so excited about the whole thing and when we got there ran straight into the classroom and didn't bat an eyelid. But then the door to the class started to close (we don't watch the kids, it's distracting to them and the other kids don't always like other parents watching) and she put on the tears and "mummy mummy". Now I have a lot less patience and tollerance than most parents and I don't put up with a lot, the last time we had an incident like this I gave her a quick ultimatum "Mum will count to 5 and then you either sit with the class or we go home". Otherwise I end up sitting there and cuddling her and trying to leave and having to come back again and it goes on and on and on till we either miss half the class or we get in the car. Anyway she decided under sufferance to sit. After the class she was all smiles but told me she didn't dance she just watched. She told me this alot last term but her teacher assures me she is very active in the class. So this time I responded "well if you didn't dance and you don't like dancing then we don't have to come anymore" her faced changed and she told me "no mummy I did dance I was just tricking" So at the moment we're taking it 1 lesson at a time. I'm not big on dancing etc we're more of a sporting family and you can even tell that as much as she loves it, she loves being outside running and jumping and throwing and tumbling much more. I think next year we might find something different to do.
After dancing I had my hot stone massage, which I snored through but loved loved loved!!!
Did a bit of shopping with mum and the kids, and finally made it home about 1:30 and then realised I had a jewllery party to attend at 2pm, needless to say I didn't make it.
Sunday was our usual family breakfast outing to McDonalds, even Rat_boy joined in for breakfast, scoffing down his 1/2 a banana and rice cereal. Must have been just what he wanted as we got home he had a quick BF and was out like a light for over 3hours...day sleeps link that for him are few and far between. Then the afternoon came and it was full on 2 birthday parties, who's silly idea was that. Anyway it worked out pretty good (except for someone telling me the punch was non-alcoholic when it was...4 glasses later), the first party had slip and slide and I'm glad we went as it turned out most of the kids that were coming fell ill so for pretty much the whole party it was us and the birthday girl. Oh and the birthday girl got a kiddy camera as a present Rat_girl loved it, which is good as she is getting one. The next party was hard to get into to start with coming an hour late but by the end I had trouble getting her to leave. At this party they had one of those tennis ball machines and all the kids had butterfly nets and were catching the balls, it was hilarious!!! The good part was both kids again passed out early the downside 1 party bags. Thankfully she is good at making them last, they are in a container and she is allowed just a couple a day.
Other stuff
Rat_boy has progressed (but to my dislike, I'd rather he just be BF so much easier) in his eating and is eating 2 x 2 cubes of food a day. So mid morning some fruit (apple, pear or banana) mixed with his cereal and at dinner (mid arvo) he has vegies (pumpkin, peas, corn so far he has tasted). I've got a bit of a stock of food in the freezer and I'm being really good. Zip locked bags with frozen cubes of apple, pear, pumkpin (almost run out), peas and corn. I have a head of broccoli to do up next. In the next shopping I'll buy some more pumkpin and do some sweet potato also. PLUS I still have container of frozen mango from last season which I'm certain should be fine for him a little later on.
He is also very very determined to crawl soon, he is all the way up on all fours now, but he is still a little frustrated and has his head down and doesn't realise what he is doing. He can now also sit for a few seconds on his own before he head butts the floor.
Oh and as much as I sometimes go on and on about Rat_girl she really is a sweet little girl. I often wonder what I did wrong to get a child that behaves like her...but really I should be wondering what I did right to get 2 such beautiful kids. At the second party on Sunday there was another little girl who was having a bday the next day, we couldn't make it to her party so took a card and present. As we were about to leave Rat_girl ran back to the party to give her friend a kiss and cuddle and say happy birthday for the next day. Then yesterday we baby sat a friends little boy she was so good with him and played so well and shared her toys I was so proud of her.
Right I should get to work now I actually have heaps to do. Life was a bit grim for a bit there as we had no work and no income on the horizon, suddenly it's coming from everywhere...atleast we hope it is...we can see it coming just hope it doesn't get side swiped on the way. So I need to get some things sorted and out of the way in the hopes we will be very busy very soon!!!
PS I don't proof read so please excuse my errors!!!
October 12, 2009
Menu Plan 12/10/09
at
So I'm ready to post my second MPM YAY!
Last week I thought I was pretty damn clever using the left over bolognese sauce from spaghetti to top my crumbed steak to make parmigiana, it was deliscious. The wheels fall off the wagon on Friday after I had my ummm down day and we ended up with take out. Then the weekend was full on with a huge day out Saturday and resorting to 2nd spaghetti for the week (missing out on meatloaf) and then after 2 birthday parties Sunday afternoon....2nd take out for the week! Ah well these things happen.
Anyway I've added the meatloaf back in and hoping to actually get to make it this time around.
**Oh and I just remembered, it's thanksgiving in Canada so MPM will be loaded a little later than normal**
So here is what we are eating this week.
Monday
green salad and herbed potatoes
Tuesday
Rice, naan bread and steamed vegies
(chicken wrap or friend rice for Rat_girl)
Wedensday
Cheesy Stuffed Meatloaf (see MP 05/10/09 for recipe)
Steamed or mashed potatoes and vegies
Thursday
Crumbed Steak
Chips and salad
Friday
Saturday
Freeeeeeeeeeeee
Sunday
Slow Cooked Roast Lamb (was on special this week)
Roast potatoes, pumpkin and steamed vegies
October 10, 2009
Banoffee Pie
Pastry
1 1/2 cups plain flour
sugar (damn it can't remember how much i used)
140g cold butter chopped
1 egg yolk
2 tbs of water
Pie filling
Tin top n fill caramel
3 med bananas sliced
300ml thicken cream whipped
Pre-heat oven to 180/200c
Crumb flour, sugar and butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add egg and water and knead until it forms a dough. Wrap in plastic and refridgerate for 30mins. Roll out on baking and press into a greased pie/tart tin, pierce with fork and refridgerate for 30mins. Place baking paper on top of pastry and fill with rice or pastry weights, bake for 10min. Remove from oven remove weights and bake for another 10mins. Cool
Spread caramel filling (mix in tin if it's too thick), top with banana and whipped cream. Sprinkle with choc to serve!
1 1/2 cups plain flour
sugar (damn it can't remember how much i used)
140g cold butter chopped
1 egg yolk
2 tbs of water
Pie filling
Tin top n fill caramel
3 med bananas sliced
300ml thicken cream whipped
Pre-heat oven to 180/200c
Crumb flour, sugar and butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add egg and water and knead until it forms a dough. Wrap in plastic and refridgerate for 30mins. Roll out on baking and press into a greased pie/tart tin, pierce with fork and refridgerate for 30mins. Place baking paper on top of pastry and fill with rice or pastry weights, bake for 10min. Remove from oven remove weights and bake for another 10mins. Cool
Spread caramel filling (mix in tin if it's too thick), top with banana and whipped cream. Sprinkle with choc to serve!
Right
My apologies for my post yesterday.
Though I'm not feeling completely better I am feeling a little better.
But we'll see how I am going after the weekend.
Today though I had a hot stone massage, I had a gift voucher from my 30th bday earlier in the year. Wow it was great so relaxing, I snored through pretty much the whole 1.5 hours!!
Though I'm not feeling completely better I am feeling a little better.
But we'll see how I am going after the weekend.
Today though I had a hot stone massage, I had a gift voucher from my 30th bday earlier in the year. Wow it was great so relaxing, I snored through pretty much the whole 1.5 hours!!
October 08, 2009
If you don't want things to turn bad
....don't ever ever ever, under any circumstances talk to anyone, or blog about how good they are!
It's a sure fire way to jinx yourself.
I post about how sleeping was going well etc etc etc and there were no bed time arguments, then guess what happened the next night, yup you guessed it BED TIME FIGHT! 1.5hours to get the Rat_girl to sleep, mind you she was still asleep by 8pm much earlier than when she would have been asleep.
Thankfully though tonight....well lets just say "I am not going to talk about it" :-)
It's a sure fire way to jinx yourself.
I post about how sleeping was going well etc etc etc and there were no bed time arguments, then guess what happened the next night, yup you guessed it BED TIME FIGHT! 1.5hours to get the Rat_girl to sleep, mind you she was still asleep by 8pm much earlier than when she would have been asleep.
Thankfully though tonight....well lets just say "I am not going to talk about it" :-)
October 07, 2009
Just some things I've made
Not to fantastic but not bad for a beginner..
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Some birthday cards for 4yo girl who loves rainbows and a 3yo princess
I made these cards at a workshop so not my design,
there was a 3rd on (pink and green) but I already gave it away.
Birthday card book I made for my mum, this was another workshop
Surprise boxes (another workshop) no photos in them yet
Another birthday book this one was for my mother-in-law
October 06, 2009
When did it all change...
How did it all change ???
A little while ago I posted about the sleeping dramas with Rat_girl. It's just now this week become apparent to me that we haven't had a bed time argument for awhile, Concrete_man thinks 2 weeks since our last bed time fight.
Just out of nowhere she is putting herself to sleep with no arguments and I don't have to sit with her and she doesn't cry it just kind of works.
She's still not sleeping in her bed all night every night, but there have been some childless bed nights. And the nights she does come in I carry her back to bed once she is asleep.
Even her moods and behaviour during the day are improving.
I must read back through my old post to see exactly what it is I'm doing differently...and make sure I keep on doing it.
A little while ago I posted about the sleeping dramas with Rat_girl. It's just now this week become apparent to me that we haven't had a bed time argument for awhile, Concrete_man thinks 2 weeks since our last bed time fight.
Just out of nowhere she is putting herself to sleep with no arguments and I don't have to sit with her and she doesn't cry it just kind of works.
She's still not sleeping in her bed all night every night, but there have been some childless bed nights. And the nights she does come in I carry her back to bed once she is asleep.
Even her moods and behaviour during the day are improving.
I must read back through my old post to see exactly what it is I'm doing differently...and make sure I keep on doing it.
Hmmmm am I becoming obsessive ????
Do you think that perhaps Concrete_man and my mother have noticed I'm starting to become a little obessessed about where things go??
Mum came over today while I had a massage and she said to me "I'll do a couple things around the house for you as long as I am not going to get into trouble for putting things in the wrong spot" I told her just to look and she'll be able to tell where things go, just use some common sense.
Anyway I went to bath the Rats tonight and their dirty clothes basket was missing from the bathroom, I asked Concrete_man if it was in the laundry to which he responded "Damn it, I thought I had put everything back where it should be so you wouldn't get made at your mum, I miss one damn basket"
See he tried to change it back before I saw it because he knew it would send me over the edge.
HAHAHAHA
He still won't tell me exactly how she got it wrong.....
Mum came over today while I had a massage and she said to me "I'll do a couple things around the house for you as long as I am not going to get into trouble for putting things in the wrong spot" I told her just to look and she'll be able to tell where things go, just use some common sense.
Anyway I went to bath the Rats tonight and their dirty clothes basket was missing from the bathroom, I asked Concrete_man if it was in the laundry to which he responded "Damn it, I thought I had put everything back where it should be so you wouldn't get made at your mum, I miss one damn basket"
See he tried to change it back before I saw it because he knew it would send me over the edge.
HAHAHAHA
He still won't tell me exactly how she got it wrong.....
The adventures of Rat_girl
My daughter is clumsy, she is 4 and she had been walking since before she was 1 yet she still can't seem to go a day without falling over or hurting herself. Here is a recount of the last few days.....
Thursday - Playing at McDonalds playgound she 'broke' her wrist, well not realy she hurt her wrist on the slide and she couldn't use it, couldn't even wriggle her fingers. I never know what to do when she hurts herself because I can never really tell how bad it is as she gets so upset. SO I told her she could only have a dotti (smartie) cookie if she could hold it with that hand. "Oh mum it's ok my wrist is all better look" ** waves hand in my face** I have no doubt it did hurt, but I have to be sure it's not really broken!!
Friday - Phone call from kindy, which is never a good sign! Thankfully this time though it wasn't so bad. A friend of her had accidently shut her thumb in the door. So really more bad lucky than clumsiness, the top of her thumb was actually cut open a bit and there was a tiny bit of blood. Still a little sore now. Later that night though she managed a MAJOR stack on the living room floor. I swear her head bounced, she bruised her head, knee and elbow. However was more concerned she lost her Batman swapcard. We searched for hours only to find she never had it with her in the first place it was in her room :-S
Saturday - At the shopping centre she was playing in a little makeshift playground, she came to be rubbing her knee but said nothing. Next thing she was sitting on the ground and couldn't get up. Again I tried not to worry too much and see if I could coax her to walk on it. She wasn't crying or upset this time but did seem to be in pain. She decided not to play anymore and we walked/hobbled over to sit and wait for Nan to show. When Nan arrived and Rat_girl didn't jump out of her seat and run to her I thought she must really be hurting. So I offered to put some money in a ride and let her on only if she could walk there. She tried but limped there and back...hmmmmmm. We rested and had something to eat. Then a dance show started she wanted to join in. I said she could but only if her knee was ok at which point she jumped up and said "look mummy I think it's all better now" and limped ever so slightly to go and dance. After that I never saw her limp again.
Sunday - Playing with her new toy wheelie bin, being silly as usual and doing something Mummarat had said not to do. She ran over the back of her own foot with the bin and cut her heel open she screamed from the sight of blood. She did a good job of it I must say.
Monday - Scrapbooking with a friend at a hall, first she runs around like I tell her not too and lands on her bum. Then she some how manages to bump her shoulder on a table and ends up with a bruise on top of her should and a little cut. I'm not even sure how it happened.
So now today she is at kindy and I'm dreading the call...surely she has nothing left of herself that she can hurt...well lets hope that is the case!
Thursday - Playing at McDonalds playgound she 'broke' her wrist, well not realy she hurt her wrist on the slide and she couldn't use it, couldn't even wriggle her fingers. I never know what to do when she hurts herself because I can never really tell how bad it is as she gets so upset. SO I told her she could only have a dotti (smartie) cookie if she could hold it with that hand. "Oh mum it's ok my wrist is all better look" ** waves hand in my face** I have no doubt it did hurt, but I have to be sure it's not really broken!!
Friday - Phone call from kindy, which is never a good sign! Thankfully this time though it wasn't so bad. A friend of her had accidently shut her thumb in the door. So really more bad lucky than clumsiness, the top of her thumb was actually cut open a bit and there was a tiny bit of blood. Still a little sore now. Later that night though she managed a MAJOR stack on the living room floor. I swear her head bounced, she bruised her head, knee and elbow. However was more concerned she lost her Batman swapcard. We searched for hours only to find she never had it with her in the first place it was in her room :-S
Saturday - At the shopping centre she was playing in a little makeshift playground, she came to be rubbing her knee but said nothing. Next thing she was sitting on the ground and couldn't get up. Again I tried not to worry too much and see if I could coax her to walk on it. She wasn't crying or upset this time but did seem to be in pain. She decided not to play anymore and we walked/hobbled over to sit and wait for Nan to show. When Nan arrived and Rat_girl didn't jump out of her seat and run to her I thought she must really be hurting. So I offered to put some money in a ride and let her on only if she could walk there. She tried but limped there and back...hmmmmmm. We rested and had something to eat. Then a dance show started she wanted to join in. I said she could but only if her knee was ok at which point she jumped up and said "look mummy I think it's all better now" and limped ever so slightly to go and dance. After that I never saw her limp again.
Sunday - Playing with her new toy wheelie bin, being silly as usual and doing something Mummarat had said not to do. She ran over the back of her own foot with the bin and cut her heel open she screamed from the sight of blood. She did a good job of it I must say.
Monday - Scrapbooking with a friend at a hall, first she runs around like I tell her not too and lands on her bum. Then she some how manages to bump her shoulder on a table and ends up with a bruise on top of her should and a little cut. I'm not even sure how it happened.
So now today she is at kindy and I'm dreading the call...surely she has nothing left of herself that she can hurt...well lets hope that is the case!
October 05, 2009
Rat_boy starts on slop AKA solids
I had been getting a lot of pressure to start Rat_boy on solids the day he turned 4months old and even before. Just because he was such a big boy born everyone I guess assumed I wouldn't be able to keep up breastfeeding him....Well news for them, I did and I do think I could possibly keep him fully exclusively breastfed for another month and a bit until he is 6months old. But I thought I'd just see what he did if I put a spoon infront of him...well he grabbed the spoong from me and stuck it in his mouth the looked at me as is to say ....UMMMMMM something is missing!
So i tried some rice cereal and he seemed to like it. Each day for the last week he's had just a little bit, like 2 teaspoons of cereal with either breastmilk or water just once a day. And in the last 3 days he's tried banana and pumpkin (not together) in his little mesh food feeder thingy. Basically it's a little mesh baggy thing you put food in and they can chew and suck and get the flavour and the juices without worrying about choking. THIS HE LURVES!
I'm trying to get a bit organised and doing up some food now so that once he is well and truly eating I'm prepared. So I've been boiling, pureeing and freezing. I use ice cube trays for portions, cover with a plastic bag and pop in freezer once frozen I then pop out the little ice cubes into ziplock bags.
Right so I've done the normal, pumpkin, apple, pear. What else to do, it's been so long I can't remember. I'm thinking some peas, carrot maybe even some zucchini and squash. It's no big deal if he doesn't like it, whatever purees he doesn't like I'll use the fronzen cubes to add to cooking.
I'm hoping it might be good for Rat_girl also, hoping she might want to try what he's trying and perhaps eat a little bit more...wishful thinking realy!
So i tried some rice cereal and he seemed to like it. Each day for the last week he's had just a little bit, like 2 teaspoons of cereal with either breastmilk or water just once a day. And in the last 3 days he's tried banana and pumpkin (not together) in his little mesh food feeder thingy. Basically it's a little mesh baggy thing you put food in and they can chew and suck and get the flavour and the juices without worrying about choking. THIS HE LURVES!
I'm trying to get a bit organised and doing up some food now so that once he is well and truly eating I'm prepared. So I've been boiling, pureeing and freezing. I use ice cube trays for portions, cover with a plastic bag and pop in freezer once frozen I then pop out the little ice cubes into ziplock bags.
Right so I've done the normal, pumpkin, apple, pear. What else to do, it's been so long I can't remember. I'm thinking some peas, carrot maybe even some zucchini and squash. It's no big deal if he doesn't like it, whatever purees he doesn't like I'll use the fronzen cubes to add to cooking.
I'm hoping it might be good for Rat_girl also, hoping she might want to try what he's trying and perhaps eat a little bit more...wishful thinking realy!
October 04, 2009
What is the last thing you want in a house of rats
.....................A CAT
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Incase you can't tell she is the cheshire cat...
Menu plan 05/10/09
Right I'm doing it, I'm going to add this weeks menu into
at
This is very scary as up until now I have had no readers at all of my blog, well none that I know of, I guess I'm kind of hoping that my menu will get lost in the 400 or so that get posted each week and no one will actually see mine :-) Plus I hope that Laura doesn't mind that I
I did ask Rat_girl what she wanted for dinners this week and she said "nothing. Oh and spaghetti". Concrete_man was no help, though he did ask for a chicken salad as he enjoyed the one we had this week and spaghetti. I feel like I've cheated this week as I have 2x mince meals and 3 x steak meals but I really wanted to try the Cheesy Meatloaf and I have some crumbed steak and rib fillet in the freezer that I want to use up. Bought it on 'bulk' special last week and after sharing it out with the exteneded family I still have plenty left over!!
So here it is for this week...note no roast this week, BBQ instead...it's getting to be BBQ weather.
Menu plan 5th Ocotber 2009
Monday
Spaghetti Bolognese, garlic bread and green salad
Tuesday
Crumbed Steak - Parmigiana style with mashed potatoes and salad
Wednesday
Chunky steak and vegie pie with chips and salad
Thursday
Chicken ceasar style salads with croutons
Friday
Cheesy Stuffed Meatloaf with steamed potatoes and vegies
Saturday
Free
Sunday
BBQ Rib Fillet, sausages and salad might even try this Easy Marindae
October 03, 2009
Menu Plan 28/09/09
Right as I've posted this so late (my apologies busy busy busy) I can actually post what I had planned for dinner and what we actually had as there were some changes.
Monday
BBQ - Rib Fillet Steak, sausages, salad and fresh bread
Tuesday
Chicken Primavera Fettucine
Only thing this needed was maybe some bacon, but was great for getting vegie serves, HEAPS of vegies
Wednesday
Crumbed Steak, mashed potatoes and steamed vegies - PLANNED
Rat_kids and I went to a sweet 16th bday party and had pizza
Concrete_man had lenards filo chicken pastry and vegie
Thursday
Chicken BLT salad (didn't have last week) - PLANNED
Actually had Wednesdays planned dinner as the steak was already defrosted
Friday
Homemade BBQ meatlovers Pizza, garlic bread and salad
(I didn't make based just bought lebanse pizza bases)
Saturday
Free - PLANNED
Thursdays Chicken BLT salad. I didn't actually follow a recipe for this in the end. Basically BBQ chicken, some bacon cooked, salad vegies, some corn & 4 bean mix all thrown together with some mayo and salad cream for dressing. Was very very yummy!
Sunday
BBQ Sausage Hot Dogs
It's grand final day you gotta have hot dogs
Monday
BBQ - Rib Fillet Steak, sausages, salad and fresh bread
Tuesday
Chicken Primavera Fettucine
Only thing this needed was maybe some bacon, but was great for getting vegie serves, HEAPS of vegies
Wednesday
Crumbed Steak, mashed potatoes and steamed vegies - PLANNED
Rat_kids and I went to a sweet 16th bday party and had pizza
Concrete_man had lenards filo chicken pastry and vegie
Thursday
Chicken BLT salad (didn't have last week) - PLANNED
Actually had Wednesdays planned dinner as the steak was already defrosted
Friday
Homemade BBQ meatlovers Pizza, garlic bread and salad
(I didn't make based just bought lebanse pizza bases)
Saturday
Free - PLANNED
Thursdays Chicken BLT salad. I didn't actually follow a recipe for this in the end. Basically BBQ chicken, some bacon cooked, salad vegies, some corn & 4 bean mix all thrown together with some mayo and salad cream for dressing. Was very very yummy!
Sunday
BBQ Sausage Hot Dogs
It's grand final day you gotta have hot dogs
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