What a day already!

Today I didn't really have a plan. Was just going to go with the flow. Fridays are usually pretty hectic as all 3 little ones are home and its the end of the week so everyone is a little tired and grumpy. Woke feeling a little blah but soon got my organisation groove on and got stuck into it. Well as much as I could with 3 little ones to help out. I spent most of the morning picking up toys and reminding everyone that you don't need all the toys out at once and you couldn't possibly play with them all (and God knows we certainly don't have the room!). Once I admitted defeat it was time to move on......

I opened the Pantry Doors and discovered something that resembled this...

Pic from {here}

Ok, that's not my pantry but I forgot to take a before photo so that is going to have to do. After pulling everything out, tossing things out of date, finding boxes to use to organise and 2 bags of rubbish later! We ended up with this.....

{after} - its here!

Of course not with out some super help from Zach and Anna and with Mitchell playing with Thomas toys around my feet! There was cereal mess all over the floor and I started to wonder why I had ever started but its done and feel a little better now.

The cardboard boxes I used are not very pretty - yet (although you can't see them very well in the photo). I used chip boxes that I had been saving up for something like this. I plan on covering them fabric and a little mod podge like I did with Mitchell's special books box....and also labeling them.

{made last year to put Mitchell special books in
that we don't want the twins into} - here it is!

I also got into the extra food storage cupboard and tidied that up in the same way. Again using empty cardboard boxes that I will pretty up when I get a chance.

I usually do a bulk shop of most used items when I am in Canberra or going through Canberra as groceries here are sooooo expensive. $4 - $5 for a loaf of bread! Up to $5 for 3 litres of milk! Not to mention all the school and cooking supplies we go through. I also bulk buy my baby wipes - almost $10 for a packet of wipes here that I can pick up at Aldi for about $3. While I use cloth nappies 100% of the time - ok not 100% as I send disposables to Daycare, for now - I still use disposable wipes but I have all the material sitting here to make washable wipes, just need to find the time to sew them! (I currently use flushable liners too but I think I will stick to them for now.) Alright, that may be a whole other post there so more on my cloth nappies later.

My next task is to empty the freezer (the one in the fridge - we also have a chest freezer but that's tomorrows job!) and organise that. I plan on listing everything I find and doing my upcoming meal plans from that. Between the fridge freezer and the chest freezer its going to save me hundreds I tell you!

{ Added: Here is the result of Brett's effort in the chest freezer! I'm quite impressed! Plenty of room now to stock up on meat! Thanks Brett! }

And also a HUGE thank you to Brett for this effort!

Underneath are the baskets I use to store my nappies in, on top of the lowboy.
- they are over flowing a bit at the moment. I need another basket!

In the house we are currently staying in there is absolutely no hanging space in the kids room. All of the things that needed to be hung up were hung in my wardrobe leaving that very cluttered! Then I came up with the idea of adding a hanging rail from the roof! I purchased the wooden wardrobe doubler from Kmart when I was pregnant with the twins - Its hard to explain so this is it (except mine has a wooden rail)

Its brilliant and adds the extra hanging space I needed in the corner of the room. Now all the kids clothes are hung in their room and I have my wardrobe back!

For more Pantry/Wardrobe/Cupboard Organizing checkout Organizing Junkie!

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Yesterday Zach, Anna and Mitchell were all in Preschool/Daycare and boy did I get a lot done!

* Bathroom/Toilet thoroughly cleaned, vacuumed and mopped
* Kitchen cleaned and vacuumed and mopped
* 5 loads of washing done, along with a pretty through clean of the laundry
* Beds made, bedrooms dusted, wardrobes tidied and floors vacuumed
* Lounge room thoroughly cleaned, dusted and vacuumed. Toys sorted and re-organised
* All the sheets/towels etc folded and put away
* Odds 'n' ends that usually end up stacking up on the dreaded piano in the hall put away

By the time everyone got home I had had a few minutes to enjoy my thoroughly clean and sparkling house before all hell broke loose again!

Now I'm off to put anybody under 3 to bed and get the 5 loads of washing off the line and folded before beginning my freezer task. Wish me luck!

Away for Easter....

I'm enjoying staying at Mum's in Canberra over Easter. I have LOVED the break, thought I would have more time to blog....not true. In between kids nap time, keeping up with our 2 loads of washing a day (and that's while we are in disposables!), eating chocolate and making time to shop for an outfit for a wedding on the weekend I haven't really done a lot. But I must say it has been enjoyable!

So, not to much to blog about........I received my lush Cushie Tushies last week - it's LOVE! - Pink and Blue camo Minky, can it get any better?! I have also have a brown with green spots so have indulged in a Pink with white spots to match for Anna - should be here soon. Wanna see my latest 'stash' pics?! Maybe not, but if you keep reading your going too!

[Insert Pics Here] - just realised that they are still on the camera so I will add them later.

Here, however, are my Zach and Anna's new Cushies.....

Sorry about the sideways photos, I'm going to have to fix that later. Anna smells and is not happy about it......Maybe I'll get the chance to blog later this afternoon. For now, I'm off to change nappies, get dressed, get everyone else dressed, kick Ashlee out of bed - come on it 9am already! - and head down to get a hair cut and do some more shopping! Heading home tomorrow, just in time to re-pack and head to Bairnsdale for 4 days. Oh the joys of travels with 4 children! I will do an update on the little ones soon. With photos! Yes, Zach and Anna are 2 in just over a month! Can you believe it?! Or that Ashlee is 12 in June! Mitchell 5 in July!! My babies are growing up [insert huge sob here]. What are my chances of adding another babe to our clan?! Not really promising......just going to have to make do with a new Niece or Nephew arriving in October/November......I can't wait! Better run, the smell is getting the better of me really and I don't think the children are going to get themselves ready or that my hair is going to miraculously cut itself.

Hope you all had a lovely Easter!

It's been tough...

I haven't posted in a while because truthfully.....I haven't felt like it. Things around here have been tough. I'm coping but I'm not if you know what I mean.....

Wednesday March 18th, 11:52am

I started this post the other day and as it says, I just didn't feel like posting at the time. I was sad. Sad because we had just gotten back from our appointment in Sydney with Dr Lowe who told us that in Zachary's future he doesn't see him walk on his own with out the aid of a walker. Why my son, why my little boy?? He is such a happy little man, he doesn't let anything get in his way but why should this be in his future? I've had a few days to process it now and I'm feeling a little better, I guess maybe coming to terms with it all. We will hopefully be getting Zachary's Kaye Walker in the next few weeks but it should be by next week. He had a go of a little boys this week at group therapy and just took off. It is what he needs, it is what I need! Dr Lowe was happy with his hips this time and we are not considering Botox at this time but we are looking into AFO's for the future once he is up and about in his walker.

Today is the first day in a long time that I have gotten up and not had to rush off anywhere. I'm still in my PJ's and it feels great. Although the twins have just gone down for a sleep so I'm planning on jumping through a shower and getting into some house work. Fun, I know......

Also Anna has been diagnosed with Exotropia. Not such wonderful news but treatable. Its has pretty much been a terrible week. First Anna's diagnosis then Zach's long term prognosis then yesterday I was getting wood from the wood pile and the whole lot fell on my leg - OUCH - I'm now sporting cuts and some pretty nasty bruises as well as an extremely sore leg all over. Today I was getting a knife out of the drawer and someone put a knife in that was sharp and I cut my finger. That was a few hours ago and it has only now stopped bleeding......

Some good news to end on though....I'm going to be an auntie! I'm soooo excited! Congratulations to my brother Daniel and his wife Melissa, we can't wait to meet this little one!

I have also been involved (addicted to) the current nappy hunt. I do it every year. I've recently gone back to MCN's and I'm yet again a complete addict! Zach and Anna have out grown all the 'sized' nappies I had so they are going up for sale and I am replacing them. As well as the fitted nappies. I'm not keen on covers anymore. Recently I have brought:

2 x 'Oober Baby' Large AIO - one in this pink and one aqua

This ' Rollicking Rascals' Rainbow Onesize AIO

This 'Rollicking Rascals' Purple Onesize AIO

This 'Caterpillar Cuties' Retro Robots Onesize. Its actually a fitted but I could resist.


These 3 'Whizz Kidz' AIO (one not pictured)

A super cute soaker...by Woolly Bottoms


As well as these 5 'Daddle Doo' AI2's that I love!

Now I have a pretty decent 'stash' again and have cut down a lot of work by eliminating most of my 'fitteds'. All the nappies I have now will fit until they toilet train and thanks to the nappy hunts discount code I have made some savings too!

Buying nappies has cheered me up....lol! Thankfully I'm making back a decent amount of money from the nappies that I am selling. Now just to sort out the covers and get them sold!

Ok enough about that. I best head off and actually do something! Looking forward to getting back into some sewing soon too. I have a few UFO's to get to and some other things I would like to try. I also have some PIF items to attend too - watch out! ( I also want one or two more people so let me know if you are interested!)

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!

Yes, I still sew.....

I just haven't had enough time to pull out the sewing machine! But ...... look at what I have had time to 'whip' up!



Two 'Dot Minky' AI2 nappies all ready to sew up for Zach and Anna. I was going to make them AIO's but since we have had some terrible weather lately and my really sick of having nappies hanging around all the time I decided to make them AI2 as I have a few of them (my favourite being Zada's!) and they always dry really quick.


One with pink inner for my little girl and one with blue inner for Zach.


And LUSH Bamboo fleece already to sew up and snap for snap-in inserts!
(Dot minky & fleece from Spotlight, Bamboo fleece from ummmm...The bamboo fabric store. PUL that I used to make it a little more water proof is from Fairy Fabrics.)

Yes I said SNAP! I got myself a SNAP PRESS!! (and HEAPS of different coloured snaps)
(Snap press from Snaps Australia)

This purchase has made me even more determined to finish the nappies so I can use my new little toy...LOL! I have had some offers to use other peoples and I did really appreciate this but I never seem to have the time to get out and do it. The snap press was a big purchase in my book but the good news is that it is useful for more than just nappies...more on that later.

So check back for the finish product and some actions shots! I'm heading to the machine now - oh and wish me luck! LOL!