Thursday, November 20, 2008

Mom-preneur Shop-a-thon Giveaway!

Check it out!

Tip Junkie is hosting an amazing give away - that goes for 12 days!

There are heaps of prizes and there are also TWO WINNERS each day! You have to head over there, 'gotta be in it to win it'! Hurry though we are already at day 8!!

This 'little' giveaway is to help promote the women who are selling their products in the Mom-preneur Shop-a-thon. So be sure to head on over to Tip Junkie, enter the contests and check out all the amazing gift-giving possibilities in the shop-a-thon!

Homemade Gift Ideas!

I have been loving the blogosphere's recent onslaught of homemade gift ideas! I have saved many of them to my bookmarks for future reference but I thought you might enjoy to see a few of my most favourite ideas....



Over at Little Birdie Secrets you can find a tutorial for these great 'Fish in a bag' Soaps! I think they are an absolutely brilliant idea! Something you could whip up quite easily for the kiddies in your life - or even an adult! I know I would love it : )

There is this divine body scrub if you check out The Tip Spot! The pictures alone make me want to run a nice warm bath and soak (for hours!). Ha, what am I thinking?! The last time I had a bath was (literally) about 2 years ago! But it would make a great pressie for a special recipient.

Head to Angry Chicken to see how to make this beautiful Lip Balm. I am hanging to get to Canberra next weekend to get the ingredients for this. Sadly our local area does not stock most of these things - well really, would you expect them to?!

Dollar Store Crafts has a great little tutorial for stamping a onesie. This idea can also be used on other fabric projects as well!

One of my favourite blogs, Ric-Rac, has a terrific tute for making a 'one hour bag'. Simple, easy and fast - great gift idea.

This idea over at Atomic Shrimp is just brilliant! What a great idea to re-use a soft drink can. We collect them here to give to Brett's dad who then takes them swap for money. Great idea but sorry 'Pop' - your going to be a few short this time.....

Lastly, I love this idea for a Collapsible Bucket that I found at Instructables.com. I can think of a million uses for this bucket and I just have to have one - or make one I should say. I can think of a few other people that might like this for Christmas too!

Hope you enjoyed this little post! For more great ideas make sure you head over to One Pretty Thing...A hive of SUPER great ideas to be found there - I {heart} One Pretty Thing!

Check back, after I have caught up on the dreaded house work I plan on a more personal post. Lots of sewing went on on my weekend in Canberra. I even made a Train Softie! (by request)

Also, I am planning a Give Away! Not sure yet when, but it will definitely be before 150 posts!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Menu Plan Monday


This week I'm not really 'into' doing a meal plan. To tell you the truth, I really couldn't be bothered! But all that aside with a household of 6 (7 if you include the cat) it HAS to be done, I have no choice. I'm going to go with a couple of easy favourites and one super yummy new recipe that I 'experienced' over the weekend while staying with my Mum. It was so yummy that I am definitely going to serve it up to my family. So here goes before I run out of 'want to' ...

Monday - Super easy Crunchy Top Meatloaf tonight. That couldn't be bothered 'tude is popping up everywhere!

Tuesday - The ever faithful Macaroni Carbonara tonight

Wednesday - Tonight is going to be the NEW Super Yummy Pizza Chicken - you have to try it!

Thursday - Mongolian Lamb - Yummy!

Friday - Take Away - love Fridays!

Saturday - Chicken Bolognese

Sunday - Hamburgers with the Lot

Other things we will be (or at least probably will be) cooking this week:

Apple Custard Slice
Choc-Chip Pikelets
Banana Bread
Bacon & Cheese Scrolls
Short Bread - We will be making it Two Toned!
(I might add more things to this shortly!)

There you go! Enjoy! Make sure you check out Organising Junkie's blog for more 'Menu Plan Monday' !

Now off to organise next weeks meals ready for my fortnight shopping on Wednesday....

This is....

.....my favourite thing from nature!

Clear blue sky on a sunny day!

And...Beautiful, majestic animals at my back fence.

Thank you to Cloth and Fodder for this weeks 'This is...' and to ThreeButtons for hosting!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

On my desk...

See these....


I spend an unbelievable amount of time during the day picking them up! If they are at the table, I'm picking them up off the floor. If they are in the pram, I'm picking them up off the ground - it is really starting to bug me....

So today's plan....

See these....

I'm going to use them in conjunction with this....

And make some tethers to attach them to either the highchairs or the pram - Problem solved!

Oh I'm so happy!! hehehehe

I also REALLY need to do something with this. I picked it up ages ago really cheap and it has been sitting in the office ever since! (It has hooks on it too)

To check out more "On my desk..." 's (make sense?!) head on over to here! Thank you to the lovely Kootoyoo for hosting!

Tip Junkie 12 days of Christmas!

A favorite blog of mine, Tip Junkie, is hosting a '12 days of Christmas' giveaway! Lots of excellent prizes to be won over there!

They also have a mom-preneur shop will all sorts of fun Christmas gifts. Make sure you check it out!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Where is my witty title? - VERY photo heavy!

Well, what has been going on here lately??

Not to much apart from everyday life - busy busy! I don't seem to have much time to get on here and blog - as much as I want to! The days seem to be flying by even with daylight saving. By the time I get everything done around the house its time to head to bed it feels like!

I have had a few minutes here and there which has been spent reading mostly. Organising a few last minute handmade gifts and organising some Christmas food ideas. Today I have spent a bit of time with this.....

Although I don't usually buy this magazine, this issue had some super yummy recipes in it for Christmas. I have found myself spending a bit of time hovering around this page

Looks like Christmas dinner might have some delicious dessert!

But I'm really keen on this too!


I thought this idea was cute...

Might even try it! I certainly have plenty of baby socks hanging around here!

I have been loving the 'practical uses' in this book (and have been using a lot of them too!)

Cleaned the microwave with a simple wipe after boiling up vinegar, water and bi-carb for a few minutes. Adding vinegar to my rinse cycle in the washing machine to cut down lint and even smells. I especially love using vinegar with my MCN's now. No more lingering 'smells' that make you think somethings gone on down there when it really hasn't.

Yesterday I had a lovely prize arrive in my mail box. A sweet smelling package from the lovely Angelique from No life without Wife! When I entered this giveaway I never thought I would win anything (I never win anything). Well I in fact came second, and only through luck as even having a second prize winner was never mentioned.

Take a look a this lovely fabric and some absolutely beautiful smelling soap! You could smell it before you even opened the package! Devine!


THANK YOU Angelique! The package has arrived and it is loved!

Lately I have been spending some time in my garden with my camera, I am loving spring. This is our first spring here and I can't get over how this garden comes alive in spring!

The beautiful flowers that adorn our carport - complete with little bees!

The gorgeous pink flowers that are growing in a corner by the pond - which is now full thanks to Mitchell and the hose today!

We have heaps of rose bushes around , all producing lots of lovely flowers...


We have an old shoe cleaner by our back steps and I thought this would make a lovely 'antique' photo. (Thanks to Coffee Shop Photography Free Actions and Tutorials!)

Just enjoying the sweet clear sky and.....

...the beautiful view from our back deck.


I have also been loving the water shots over at Sarcastic Mom. I thought I would try some out myself.
Lots of fun!

We also took a little trip down to see 'Pop' at the farm. I did get some lovely shots while there. Loving the blue sky! It was a beautiful warm sunny day!

See for yourself! When I say warm - I mean warm!


Mitchell did some 'fishing' in the river. Brett and 'Pop' fixed the water pump.

And its always fun throwing rocks in the water too!

We also marvelled at the circle of life...

I think that is about all for this post. I decided not to join in this week with 'Not Me Monday' as I was just Not Me. Feeling unwell and lacking for words. Lets hope this week goes a bit better.

We are heading to Canberra this weekend too! Looking forward to seeing everyone again....

Catch you all later!

Monday, November 10, 2008

I {heart} it





More {Love} here

Just quickly..

I was doing a quick blog check of my favourite reads and I fell in love with these! They are lovely little Paper Suitcase Gift Sets from Pink loves Brown.

Aren't they just gorgeous?! I have fallen head of heels for them and totally want one! Here's hoping that someone reads my blog and buys me one ... hehehe...

My favourites are the blue...


So lovely!

And of course I am smitten by the pink!They would make really beautiful Christmas gifts too! Check them out here!

Menu Plan Monday!


This week has been planned since last week. Since I only shop fortnightly I have to do that. A couple of things got pushed back to this week from last because we had some left overs that I was able to utilise for the next meal - which was great because I didn't have to cook every night, just a matter of reheating. Tonight is going to be the same as last nights Cheesy Chicken Pasta bake was HUGE and there is heaps left over. It was also a big hit, even Ashlee who regularly complains about dinner (but being the good girl she is still eats it!) loved it and went back for seconds!

So here we go - this weeks meal plan....

Monday - Left over Cheesy Chicken Pasta bake

Tuesday - All-in-one Quiche

Wednesday - Chicken & Veggie Pie

Thursday - Pasta & Sauce (an easy one pot wonder)

Friday - Beef Casserole

Saturday - Spaghetti & Meatballs

Sunday - Meatloaf

All easy and cheap meals this week as we have to travel to Sydney at the end of the month and with price of fuel around here (city dwellers may not realise that fuel is still at least $1.65 per litre here in small country towns - usually more!) we need to save every cent we can! Pasta is always a good bet, cheap & easy and goes down well around here.

That's all folks! I do have another few post coming up - sometime today when I get a chance - I received a lovely prize in the mail, we took a trip down the farm, we did some cooking, there is some more sewing and of course - NOT ME Monday!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

GrosgrainStore.com Grand Opening & Giftcard Giveaway!!!!!!!!

What an amazing giveway! Make sure you check it out!

GrosgrainStore.com Grand Opening & Giftcard Giveaway

This is.....

My favourite Quote....

'My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can. '
~ Cary Grant


Need I say more?

Thank you to Strawberry kisses for choosing this weeks theme and to Angela for hosting!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Love Fridays!

{We heart it} - Get one of these HERE!
I {heart} Ink & Spindle!


{We heart it} - You can also pick this up HERE!