WFMW - Linky love

I have so many things saved in my bookmarks that have found through blogs and other places. I really want to get into some of them! There are just sooooooo many of them (and I'm talking hundreds) that its hard to pick where to start!

I'm also incorporating this with Works for me Wednesday - Frugal edition.....

So - this weekend I'm going to start trying some of them out, hopefully with the help of my lovely daughter Ashlee. Tomorrow I'm going to spend doing my usual Saturday clean and make sure my washing is all up to date so when Saturday actually comes around I won't have anything to do.

Lets move onto some linky love now. Here are some things I would like to try out this weekend:

Stop using plastic zip lock bags!

We use so many lunch bags around here. You know those little snack sized ziplock bags. I'm really need good with washing and reusing them, I really can't be bothered...I know I know such waste. So here is a great tut about making your own reusable snack bags. I think they are a great idea but will probably add a little snapable flap to it so that it can be closed up for the lunch box. This is a maybe....

Don't buy them a bag for preschool - make them one!

Zach and Anna are in need of a little bag to take to preschool. Something that will just hold their lunch box, drink bottle and a change of clothes. I thought this would be a good idea consider I have a ton of ton of towels around here.

Make your own kids clothes and save money!

I wouldn't mind giving this a try either. I actually have a couple of pretty tea towels in the fabric cupboard that I kept just for something like this.

Then you have Shorts from tea towels! This also appeals to me. Tea towels can be picked up for very little in your local Sam's (or dollar store).

I love Baby Legs but we only have 1 pair each for the twins because the cost so much. Now I can get out the old stockings of Anna's and cut them up to make these. Great idea I think and would be a huge saving!

I think that would be it. I don't even know if I will get through them! We will see what the weekend holds.

For more frugal ideas head over to We are THAT family and Works for me Wednesday!

Where does the time go??! {The Organisation Edition}

This week I think the terrible is beginning to happen! NOOOO! My delightful two are no longer a dream to put down for their day time sleep......I have been dreading the day.....How in the world am I going to get anything done now?! They don't even seem to need it - most days. So today I did spent a little time reading some posts in bloglines that I saved because I wanted to sit down and read them later. I thought I would share some with you....

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Firstly we have some Organising and Cleaning posts:

: Simple Mom has one great post about Starting your day off right and also these great post on 4 Simple Ideas to Help you Clean a Messy House, Weekly Home Managment at a glance, 40 Tips to go Greener in your home.

: Simple, Green, Frugal has 20 uses for Vinegar. What about giving the gift of an All Natural Cleaning Supply Basket! Or this post about living Frugal with Children.

: Jolly Mum shows us how to make Homemade Cleaners at a fraction of the cost!

: Organising Junkie has some brilliant information including this Free Grocery Template, or this Menu Planning Template,

: Virtually Organized has Bedroom Storage Tips

: Some Wardrobe Organizing Tips - and here!

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Decorating Posts:

: How about some Wall loveliness with A Sassy Affair

: Etch some glass with Create Studio

: Add some Silhouette's your walls with Home Sweet Home

: Domestic Fashionista teaches beginners how to get started in furniture painting

: Some DIY wall Art with EightCrazy Designs

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How about some Gift Giving Ideas or Just fun Crafting:

: Sew a Burp Cloth and Dummy Holder with Create Studio

: Diamonds, Fur and Laundry shows you how to sew a crayon and notebook cosy

: Make some lovely Bath Salts to give to Mum with Three Peas in a Pod!

: This is a fun idea! Rubber Band Prints with Pajamamama

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Lets Cook!

: Find out how to cook once and eat 10 times at MoneyWise Moms

: So many things to cook here at Fabulessly Frugal!

: A year of crock potting! Brilliant, what more can I say!

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My delightful two are getting up to some mischief so I better step in before someone gets hurt! Ashlee is back to school today and Mitchell is in Preschool. Think I better go and get something else done before everyone gets home.

Went to Canberra yesterday for Zach and also received my Mother's Day Pressie early so more on that soon......

A big success!

That's what today was!

The kitchen cupboards are done, the linen closet is clean and organised again and the clothes are folded and put away. Dinners over, kitchens cleaned up, toys are cleaned up, kids are sleeping and I'm pretty happy (and so much more organised). Although I didn't get it all completed before the Twins woke up and it ended up taking me a bit longer due to the 'help' I still got it finished. Tomorrow I will be tidying up the fridge top and culling a few kitchen items, for example a toaster grill that was given to me quite a few years ago and I have never used.

Also on the list for tomorrow is:

* Put away filing
* Empty plastic drawers and move all the kids craft things in
* Reorganise craft cupboard

I want to get some sewing done too. During my cleaning today I found these lovely tea towels that are to thin to really be useful for tea towels but they definitely have a use in the sewing room! What will they become??

Now I'm off to do a little sorting in the pattern and recipe department while I sit and watch a bit of LOST. I'm a LOST addict!

Oh My Goodness!

I'm actually blogging! Who would have thought.....a lot has been going on around here, some of which I won't go into. Blogging hasn't been top priority but now here I am at 9pm blogging when in all honesty I should be cleaning up and getting ready to hop off to bed!

I'll start by saying.....

I hope you had a lovely evening and a great time bringing in 2009!

I have been home since the 1st. Still trying to get everything unpacked and put away from our time away - what fun! Ashlee stayed with Nan in Canberra for a few more days which was good because we had the car absolutely jammed packed full coming home (plus we had to leave a couple of things there until next time) and I know we wouldn't have had any more room for Ashlee let alone all her stuff! HAHA. Ok, its getting later so I'll try and keep this short.

Here is a small look into some of the favoured Christmas presents the kids received....


I also got some crafting in while I was away. Here are the finished pencil cases Ashlee sent off to her friends for a (belated) Christmas present. (I printed out some birdies, ironed them on, stitched around the bodies and stitched on the legs.) They don't look to bad.

These are some little bags that I made up for Mum to store all her leads, cables, etc from her DSLR, external hard drive, camcorder, etc. I made the boxy ones using this tutorial from Three Bears.


And some how I was actually able to sew up this bag on my very last day night in Canberra. (That's what I was doing at 12 midnight!) I used a combination of this tutorial from Ric Rac and ideas from this post over at Twelve22. Its not the most wonderful bag (making wise) but its great for a very first try and I actually REALLY love it! (Don't look to close!)

Its even lined!

This idea I took from a bag my Mum has that I really love. Its a little zippered side pocket that holds my purse, keys and phone. I no longer have to go searching for things in the bottom of the bag.


And inside there is another pocket that holds dummies and things and I add some slots for a couple of pens because I'm always looking for one.

I also made a lovely little pillowcase dress for Anna too. I think it is so pretty and she really loves it too!



I did some shopping at Spotlight and was able to pick up a Knitting Loom similar to this. I have wanted one for a while and now I'm blissfully happy knitting away with this. And nearly finished my top that I have been working on for months.

Ummm, a bit more went on but my mind is blank so I will come back for that. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas break.

Until next time I will leave you with a page I scrapped today (yes! I scrapped - Its been a while)...

{Sweet Precious Baby Girl}

Credits: Hugs 'n' Stuff Kit by SJTowers - Random musings of a Scrapaholic

(Oh and I changed internet providers too! Good Bye Forever BigPond!! Hello super fast and super cheap TPG!)

Some progress made!

Firstly I finally got some pencil cases (kinda) finished as presents for Ashlee's school friends. I still need to embroider some birdies on the front but other then that they are ready to go.


Mum - don't read from here on...........





































I was able to complete a zippered travel pouch for Mum. These pouches only take about 10 minutes and are super easy!


Lastly, nearly completed some appliquéd t-shirts for Zach and Anna. I might get around to making matching shorts/skirt but I doubt it, we will see.

Ok, kids call better go......Merry Christmas

Do you remember?

Just wanted to quickly add these photos, not sure if I ever blogged them!

Little shorts I made for my girl....


And......she walks!! I don't think I've seen her crawl for a good few days now - exciting!

I surprise myself sometimes + Sunday Stash + a recipe!

For the last few days Ashlee has been at me for a new pencil case. Her old one had really bit the dust. Being a small town there was no way I was paying the ridiculous amount they wanted for a small one down at the local general store! Then.....Ashlee had the brilliant idea to 'just make one!'. Well, you say, just make one.......easy for some to say but I have never just made one before and only had a day to do it in. A bit daunting really. So I decided to just do it and see how it all went. Ashlee picked out the fabric she wanted, I decided to use calico for the lining and I also added a middle layer of PUL (this I use when making MCN's) just to give it that extra bit of leak proof. Leaking pens can look ugly! So we don't want to keep you waiting, after a few hours sewing, a trip to the Op Shop for a white zip (which we picked up for a few cents), a bit of unpicking and re-sewing - zippers on pencil cases aren't my thing, I have never put a zipper on a pencil case - we finally came up with this..........(excuse the photos - sun was going down and it wasn't the best light, oh and promise not to look to close!)

Looks good, Ashlee loves it. The little birdie was meant to have a sort of rustic frayed edge look going on. Didn't come out to bad but not as I had pictured. Look out for more little things like this though because I did enjoy trying something new.

Now when I say plus Sunday Stash (week 2) I totally mean 'take a look at the fabric on the pencil case'!. I kinda like it - well I did buy it - but never thought I would be making a pencil case out of it! Find more players here.


I also promised some photos of the super yummy Apple (and Blackberry) Custard Slice. Now bear with me as my 4 slice tins have gone walk about (grrrrrrr!) I can not for the life of me find them so this one got cooked in a smaller cake tin. Worked fine I guess - definitely didn't change the taste, it was soooooo yummy! To explain the blackberries, I only had one tin and being a weekend the shops weren't open. My lovely neighbour kindly offered me her last tub of homemade stewed blackberries! I jumped at the offer and was very grateful.



And here is the recipe for you all:
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Apple Custard Slice

Makes about: 16
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cooking: 1 hour

1 cup plain flour, sifted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
125g butter, melted
icing sugar, to dust
FILLING:
800g can pie apple
(I used 500g pie apple & 300g stewed blackberries)
3/4 cup thickened cream
2 eggs
2 tbsp caster sugar
TOPPING:
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup slivered almonds (I didn't use these)
1/3 cup brown sugar
60g butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 180c. Lightly grease and line an 18 x 28cm slice pan with baking paper.
2. Combine flour, brown sugar, coconut. Blend in butter. Press mix firmly into prepared pan. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes until lightly browned, allow to cool.
3. FILLING: Spread apple (& blackberries mix) over base. Whisk together cream, eggs, caster sugar. Pour over apple (& blackberries). Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until firm.
4. TOPPING: Combine all the ingredients. Sprinkle evenly over slice. Bake for 12 - 15 minutes until golden. Allow to cool in pan. Dust with icing sugar, cut into squares and serve! YUMMY!
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In other news, while I was getting the photo's off the camera I came across some that I didn't take - which is rare. Daddy's been taking pictures of his boy! Here is Zachary, my budding artist.

....And check out the new teeth he is sporting now!

That brings the total up to 10 with the two new molars he has recently cut.

Zach is such a determined little man, even with his limitations he surprises us every single day! Attempting to crawl, trying to climb - unfortunately falling a lot, but trying all the same. His speech is behind but he gets around it and he is super cute to boot!

We also got the long awaited phone call from DADHC regarding Zach's intake. He has been accepted and will start his therapy very soon. Thank you to all those who prayed! This will mean that all his therapy will be government funded and this will save us thousands! We are very happy about this. We are also heading off on Thursday to Sydney to meet with Dr Lowe, that I mentioned before, to hopefully get some more help. Unfortunately this will cost about $350 just to walk in the door but from what I hear it is worth it.

Alright better be heading off - I'm trying to decide (by tomorrow!) if I'm going to join in on the fun with Sew, Mama, Sew! Give-Away Day.......do I have enough confidence??

Well here I am (again)

A little bit more to say before I head to bed. Its late and Brett is going to wondering where I am.....

This afternoon I was able to finally finish some shorts! Yes, I couldn't believe it either! But its real look, I have photos to prove it!

Zach's (on the right) are completely finished and are also post-wear in the picture. He loves em'! Anna's are pretty much finished but the hem and waist are still currently pinned. I had a 'problem' with the cotton and ended up having to pick up some more while I was in town picking up Ashlee from school - she was getting back from school camp! I had to unpick all the hems and the waist too! Boy was that a job! Long story but it looked, well, cheap. Its done now and when I get two seconds tomorrow I will sew it all up and stick it on her! Photos to follow.

Here is my little man in his new adored shorts! Doesn't he look 'chuffed' - oh you melt my heart 'little J man'

Other things that went on here to day...Anna decided she wanted to cuddle! Zachary though and ONLY Zachary. He loved it to begin with.....

Took it for a little bit more....

Then decided enough was enough and wanted to be left alone. Anna didn't really want to :(

After a while she found my sunnies and proceeded to 'model' them - darling you crack me up!

Yes, little Anna. You are a stunner!

And how could we have a few photos with out one of my big boy - complete with photoshop-ed off (does that even make sense?) sauce from around his mouth....

Photos of the Apple Custard Slice (which became Apple and Blackberry Custard Slice!?) to come tomorrow and some more sewing! Oh and I'm going to tackle Ashlee and get Mitchell to sit on her so I can get at least one photo of her before she is 30!

And here it is!

Yesterday I promised you a more personal post. Well one thing led to another and it never got done, but don't stress - I'm here now!

Here is my Wednesday - 'On my desk...' Friday post for you, I'm slack like that sometimes....

This has been on my desk for a few days now so I'm not cheating...it was there Wednesday too! The fabric on the machine is Zach's mostly finished shorts. I just have to hem them and add elastic. The fabric in front is for Anna's shorts - isn't it just great! They are cut out and half pinned so we will be getting to them today - shortly.

Later on I will be making this...

I really can't wait! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! I'll get you some photos and the recipe when I'm done - are you excited?!

But for now I will be sitting for a moment enjoying this...

Ashlee gave it to me one year for my birthday (? - maybe Christmas, I'm hopeless today!) and I just love it! My little 'tea for one' set complete with a chocolate cake tea strainer - Oh I'm really hungry now!

And also......you know that fabric shelf in my office craft cupboard I showed you before?! Well I cleaned it up the other day, looks a lot better now.

Better back in second...I have been awarded!!!

Going's on at our home - in pictures! (warning PIC HEAVY!)

We have been mildly busy here. Still trying to come to terms with our recent news but also trying to move on - if you know what I mean....

Saturday: Decided to do some painting, well for the kids to do some painting. Zach and Anna were sleeping so it was the perfect time. I proceeded to have a cup of tea and relax for 5 minutes while they were doing this. It was great! The paint we used was home made from this recipe found here. Although I was in a bit of hurry to make it so it could have been better but the kids enjoyed it and the paintings turn out alright. The other great thing is this paint is totally eat-able! Totally toddler friendly!

Here is the painting session: in pictures (well a few anyway)


Excuse the boxes in the back ground I was also in the process of unpacking a few (more)

Mummy's sweet little boy

I also decided to take a few photo's of the beautiful flowers that have been popping up in our yard lately. They are all so lovely I just had to share!

Who's hiding in there?!

Here is a few pictures of Anna modelling her new shorts (thanks to mummy). She loves them.

And Ashlee on the other end of the camera ...this is what you get....ENJOY!

{ More coming - Photo bucket is just playing up on AGAIN! }