A sponsored post for NSW Health So the holidays are still on, but the gluttony of Christmas and New Year break are over and it’s time for me (and most likely you too!) to seriously start thinking about the year ahead and make some goals for myself and the family. It’s impossible to not look at … [Read more...]
Search Results for: one thing
Happy Farm days
January 4, 2016 by 21 Comments
It is almost about 12 years ago now when Rob and I got engaged and when we decided on where we would get married, we both knew that the new block of land that Rob's Dad had bought would be the place. At that stage there was no house, a new stakes in the ground for where things would be, but it had … [Read more...]
Doughnut Cake (Hot cinnamon tea cake)
January 2, 2016 by 38 Comments
This morning I decided to whip up for morning tea a favourite of my Father in law's: the hot cinnamon tea cake. I've made this plenty of times before and the recipe is on the blog already, but this is the tweaked version that I thought I'd share with you. This is served hot. It's DEAD SET like a … [Read more...]
Little old me and you
December 31, 2015 by 61 Comments
Yesterday morning I finished reading Elizabeth Gilbert's book Big Magic. I loved it, so interesting to hear her thoughts and insights on creativity, on learning to tap into our own creative instincts and desires and living our lives creatively as well as hearing about her own writing journey … [Read more...]
Babies: lessons in joy & time
December 28, 2015 by 7 Comments
There's been so many things being a Mother for the 3rd time has taught me. The main thing I think has to be trust. Trust in my body and mind to inherently know what to do has to be the biggest. And while a little comes from practice and old age, it was there from the very first time I became … [Read more...]
I wish you a Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2015 by 20 Comments
Oh my goodness, here we are at Christmas Eve. How are you? Frazzled off your face? I'm a mixture of calm with only having 3 visitors and extras for the Christmas table tonight and tomorrow and also running around like a fruit loop trying to work out what I forgot to get at the shops last night, … [Read more...]
Beth & the very good pre-Christmas eve day
December 23, 2015 by 10 Comments
Today I had quite the to-do list in front of me. My sister and her 3 kids were staying overnight last night and heading off early this morning to get back to Melbourne, Rob was maybe going to have to go up to Sydney for a quick round trip and I had to head into town to get a whole lot of little last … [Read more...]
Christmas Family Palooza 2015
December 21, 2015 by 23 Comments
My goodness we had a weekend of family celebrations...full ON family time with 4 catch up's over 2 days in some of the hottest weather we've seen in Sydney in some time. Everyone had a BALL. Mainly. Mags spent a lot of the time like this: Babies and parties and 15 minute naps between venues … [Read more...]
Monday Meal Ideas: Christmas cooking
December 21, 2015 by 6 Comments
It's the last Monday meal ideas for the year so I thought I would hit you up with just about every kind of possibility for Christmas cooking this week. I'm still not sure what I am going to trot out on Friday...I have a desire to chuck out all the traditions and go with a simple ocean trout and … [Read more...]
Bev’s Never-fail Pavlova
December 19, 2015 by 47 Comments
There's plenty of things I'm no good at in the kitchen. Pastry. I have recently had a dream, actually a QUEST where Maggie Beer came to me in my dreams to get me to make a rough puff, but that's an entirely different story. And Pavs. And lots of other things. But Pavlova for sure. I just haven't … [Read more...]
Jamie Oliver Make Ahead Gravy
December 17, 2015 by 13 Comments
This recipe is high on the search results on my blog this time of year so thought it best to share it again. I LOVE this gravy (or graby as Harps still calls it) and the best bit is you can make it now, whack it in the freezer and you have something done for the big day! Make it a few days before … [Read more...]
Monday Meal Ideas: Bring a plate
December 14, 2015 by 7 Comments
How was your weekend? Host a Christmas gathering of some description? Or did you go to one? It's certainly the time of the year for it isn't it? I thought I'd share a few ideas for things that you can take when you are asked to bring a plate. Salads are always good, but here' some other ideas for … [Read more...]
Get the girls out! A Bella Bathers Giveaway
December 11, 2015 by 110 Comments
A winner has been chosen for this giveaway (Shelley: see in the comments below). Thanks for entering So I was lucky enough to receive some GORGEOUS swimmers from a lovely reader of the blog and her business Bella Bathers. And they have been sitting on my desk for well over a month, staring at me, … [Read more...]
The Flavours of Christmas: Smoked salmon with Created with Jamie
December 10, 2015 by 21 Comments
A sponsored post for Woolworths There are a couple of staples at my place for Christmas. There’s always some kind of seafood (usually a prawn or smoked salmon), always a Christmas cocktail and there is ALWAYS dill. It’s the ultimate flavour for me when entertaining whether it’s used in canapés, … [Read more...]
This is Christmas: The joy of baking
December 8, 2015 by 37 Comments
A sponsored post for Westfield Christmas day is the Grand Final in the Kitchen. The ultimate cook off as you juggle tiredness, over excited children, extra family members, hot weather and a desire for perfection that would meet Mary Berry’s Christmas special. Of course inevitably something … [Read more...]
Monday meal ideas: Seafood
December 7, 2015 by 4 Comments
Are we there yet?! Man, while the days and weeks (and year for that matter) are speeding by, we are all feeling it here in the Macdonald house. Colds, tiredness and a general sense of grump is high round these parts as we limp towards the end of the school year. I have been trying to think about … [Read more...]
Baby Files #6
December 4, 2015 by 31 Comments
So this week I took a photo of Mags in an arm chair this week as I often do. This time she was even more thrilled with herself because she can now sit up all by herself! Well, she sometimes just gets the leans and face plants but mostly she is good to go! Why yes, she is winking at me. As I … [Read more...]
How to make a Kransekake
December 3, 2015 by 14 Comments
I am well and truly in my happy place at the moment. You know why? CHRISTMAS COOKING SHOWS HAVE BEGUN. Last night I put the girls into bed, collapsed on the couch and literally squealed with joy when I saw Paul and Mary on the Lifestyle Food channel with their Great British Bake off Christmas … [Read more...]
Let me entertain you
December 2, 2015 by 34 Comments
Last night Rob, Mags and I hightailed it up to the big smoke for a few hours. It was a whirlwind trip, leaving home just before 4 and getting home just after 10pm. We were heading up to an event at Bank of America Merrill Lynch of all places for a collection of work by Australian artist Guy Maestri … [Read more...]
Christmas Shopping Ideas #2: Kids
December 1, 2015 by 21 Comments
Oh man. Somehow my intentions of getting organised with my shopping have lead me NOWHERE. I've managed to get a few things, but suddenly it's bloody well December and now I am just in normal shopping mode, heading towards panic stations rather than organised. Oh well, one day when I'm not so busy … [Read more...]
