My Mum says that when jam is bubbling away on the stove for about 15 minutes, it starts to get a smell about it. A good smell. A smell that takes her straight back to her childhood, into her own kitchen, seeing her own Mum watching the pot and stirring. That’s what I love about cooking, and food. … [Read more...]
Miscellaneous 66
February 2, 2015 by 27 Comments
It's Monday again. And the first of many Mondays with a full school week and extra circular activities ahead of us. I'm sure it's not just me, but I feel very strongly the need to hop into bed and pull the covers over my head. I dropped little Harps off to School this morning and while she was good … [Read more...]
Monday meal ideas: Pasta
February 2, 2015 by 2 Comments
Pasta always features in our meals during the week because: PASTA! I love all the different variations, the speed in which it can be made, the fact you can make the sauce earlier in the day and just reheat when the pasta is boiled....and leftovers! Here are some pasta recipes from the vault, … [Read more...]
One thing: the herb patch
February 1, 2015 by 30 Comments
You know how you have lists of ALL OF THINGS that need doing? Things that really bug you, like changing light globes on the front verandah that you mean to do for months, but then forget, and eventually do 5 months later? I KNOW it's not just me. These are the things that aren't essential but are … [Read more...]
Roasted sweet potato, fetta & spinach rigatoni
January 31, 2015 by 24 Comments
If there's one thing I have been craving this pregnancy it's been vegetables. Lots of leafy greens and mushrooms, give me ALL the mushrooms. I've been cooking them up and having them with lots of eggs and on toast and sometimes...pasta. Because sometimes, more carbs is MORE. I usually roast up … [Read more...]
Preggo files #9
January 30, 2015 by 32 Comments
It's been a big week. Emotionally mostly. Harps has gone off to school, Daise into the 'big class' at school (3-6) and Frank this morning to go get his nuts seen to. How much can one pregnant woman cope with I ask you? We've had sickness (colds and coughs and SO MUCH SNOT) and colder weather and … [Read more...]
Today is your day
January 29, 2015 by 89 Comments
Harps, it's my job to remember all the bits that you won't growing up and today was a big one. You started School. FINALLY. After asking me over and over if it was Thursday yet, it was and the time was here. It was cold this morning, unseasonably for late January with an autumnal chill in the air. … [Read more...]
Isn’t life hard enough already Clingwrap?
January 28, 2015 by 112 Comments
It's been a while since I had to buy cling wrap...must have had a big roll but the time came so I grabbed some last week at the supermarket. I had heard some noise about a "redesign" of clingers on social media, but had yet to experience the full joy. But over the past week I have managed to lose my … [Read more...]
Summer holidays {the recap episode}
January 27, 2015 by 20 Comments
I was feeling a little sad and reminiscent this morning, thinking about the great summer holidays that we've had, about how much I will miss spending time with the girls, the girls with each other and Frank with the girls. Then we had to go and get haircuts and back to school supplies and they were … [Read more...]
Monday meal ideas: Australia day Lamb
January 26, 2015 by 2 Comments
Happy Australia Day friends! Whilst we aren't entertaining or have any plans to celebrate the day in style I know plenty of you will be. Here are some ideas for our beloved national food obsession: lamb. And lamb on the BBQ at that! May your Aeroguard be strong, your bubbles cold and your BBQ … [Read more...]
Miscellaneous 65
January 25, 2015 by 34 Comments
It's the long weekend! Are you having a marvellous one? I hope so! We are having a very quiet home one...doing nothing. It is SO good. Garden has been done (I do have to deal with the veggie patch at some stage) so we can just sit and hang out and not feel guilty about anything. I've been reading, … [Read more...]
Solving the big issues: how many cushions on a bed?
January 23, 2015 by 81 Comments
I got a text message yesterday from a friend who had just returned home from holidays (Hi Linda!) and had feared that she had gone overboard with some holiday cushioning purchasing. You see she had been in Byron, caught up in what appears to be superior homewares shopping up there and found herself … [Read more...]
I want to ride my bicycle
January 22, 2015 by 72 Comments
We got both girls for Christmas bikes. Proper bikes. Bikes without training wheels, that we didn't have to put together from a proper bike shop. And it was all very exciting on Christmas morning, but we left a few hours after they got them and went away for 3 weeks, until we arrived home on the … [Read more...]
Preggo files #8
January 21, 2015 by 80 Comments
You guys, Kate wouldn't be happy with me. "Beth darling" she'd say, "I told you those potato scallops, iced coffees and milkshakes were only going to end one way. In tears. Buck up old girl, and get back on the bandwagon, we can do this together. Here, have a nutri bullet juice and go for a jog with … [Read more...]
Things I like {The 20th January 2015 edition}
January 20, 2015 by 40 Comments
We are home! And while driving in the driveway I was greeted with some dead pot plants and shit everywhere from Christmas morning and an instant headache, I have slowly got back into the swing of things and unpacked and tidied up and been shopping. 2015, I am almost ready for you! Kind of. Not … [Read more...]
A curly one
January 19, 2015 by 110 Comments
Calling all people with curly hair or have kids with curly hair I NEED YOUR HELP! This has happened to Daisy's hair: It hasn't always been the way. It used to look like this when she was little. LOOK AT LITTLE DAISY! But now she is BIG Daisy and with each passing year what started as … [Read more...]
Weekend entertaining ideas
January 17, 2015 by 8 Comments
It's the weekend! And even better than that, it's a beautiful summery weekend in January! Got some people coming around for brunch, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner today or tomorrow? Here's some entertaining ideas for you! Pulled pork tacos with salsa Lemonade scones Tuna dukkah dip Pork … [Read more...]
Feeding crowds this summer: BBQ shortcuts
January 16, 2015 by 12 Comments
A sponsored post for Woolworths created with Jamie If there is one thing I have been doing while we have been away on Summer holidays, it’s feeding hungry mouths. That’s the thing when you are a Mum, or partial to the entertaining like I am, you tend to keep it going whether you are away or at … [Read more...]
Miscellaneous 65
January 15, 2015 by 38 Comments
The holidays are coming to a close...we have been away for 3 weeks(!) and had the very best kind of holiday: lots of time with family, and visitors, good food and friends, and LOTS of time swimming in pools and in the ocean. Man, it has been GOOD. I have read books, slept well, watched my belly grow … [Read more...]
January: A case of the vulnerable, wandering mind
January 14, 2015 by 52 Comments
The last few days I have hit my usual January straps. Much like the way I still get surprised when I get my period even though I KNOW it's coming, it's more of a huh, oh that's right, I've been a little like that, huh January, the past few days. January is always like this for me. It can come later … [Read more...]
