and mummy went a little mad trying to work out which cake she would make
Yet again, Pinterest will be the death of me 😉 so many cake options.
Do I do something fancy like these?
or something simpler like these?
or something really simple like a cupcake caterpillar?
What we’ve chosen will be a secret til the day of the party 😉
So. If you’ve been anywhere on the interwebs recently, you’ll probably read about or heard people talking about that book, or things that spark joy. No idea what I’m talking about (where have you been :p)? It’s The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
(From Amazon)
This #1 New York Times best-selling guide to decluttering your home from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing.
Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles?
Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo’s clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).
With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house “spark joy” (and which don’t), this international bestseller featuring Tokyo’s newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home—and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.
Mum bought me the book & I’ve read it, twice and I have started to KonMarie my clothing. So far – 3 bags to donate (admittedly some of the clothing was the girls) and the way she suggests folding and storing your clothes seems to be working well for me. Lots f the book really resonates with me and how I’d like our house to be.
I’ll be interested to see how it goes in coming months and see if I personally can stay decluttered and organised. I’ll keep you updated.
Have you read the book? What do you think? Have you been Konverted?
and found sooooo many ideas on Pinterest it wasn’t funny. Seriously, how many ways can you do food that is themed to the caterpillar?
I’m keeping it simple, mainly cause Miss K has soccer the morning of the party and I need to make it as easy as possible!
How much more simple than taking my cues from the story!!
In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf – devilled eggs on a bed of lettuce leaves
For Monday (one apple), Tuesday (2 pears), Wednesday (3 plums – thinking we might do grapes), Thursday (4 strawberries) and Friday (5 oranges) – a fruit platter
Saturday…
Sunday The Caterpillar ate through a nice green leaf – a salad
The cocoon – these nutella ‘cocoons’
A beautiful butterfly – butterfly sugar biscuits
I’d like to do something like these
but it will most likely be something like these
And somewhere in there I’ll do sandwiches. That look like this.
Oh and the cake, but that I’m saving for next time.
You can check out my ideas on my Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday Pinterest board
This post is brought to you in collaboration with Heinz Australia.
There can be so much confusion over when to introduce solids and what are suitable types of solid food for babies. What ARE healthy baby solid foods?
All babies will be different, but when Miss A turned 6 months we decided that it was time to slowly introduce her into the amazing world of solid foods. Well truth be told, she decided she wanted to eat solid foods, grabbing food off my plate or out of our hands. We started on purees of vegetables. Sweet potato was an instant hit, other vegies, not so much. Fruit was another success. One thing that we found great was the Heinz pouches designed for 6 months +. Easy to use and full of yummy fruits, vegies and meats – Miss A loved them. Great to keep in the cupboard and grab and go (especially when paired with the Heinz soft twist top spoon tips). Downside of the pouches – no awesome little jars to keep things in – seriously baby food jars are awesome storage for crafty bits or nails/screws/bolts etc. Bonus tip there for you all 😉
So why do we personally pick Heinz over other brands the majority of the time? For us it’s not just about price, it’s about knowing what goes into the product. Something that is nutritious and something that is good for my infant. For example, did you know Heinz source their apples, pears and peaches from Goulburn Valley, and pumpkins from country Victoria? Ingredients are delivered to the Heinz baby food facility in Echuca, where they are lovingly prepared.
Creating a diet for our kids that has low to no nasty numbers is also a big thing for me. We have a few different allergies in our families and I’ve seen how numbers can effect behaviours. Heinz infant meals are steamed cooked and after cooking, all of the Heinz infant jars, cans, and pouches are heat sealed, locking in all the delicious flavours and preventing the need for preservatives! No nasty numbers or preservatives. Heinz infant meals have no artificial colours, no artificial flavours, and no preservatives.
I totally love that Heinz infant meals grow with your baby too, providing meal options and snacks from babies from 4 months (if you decide to start introducing solids from this age) through to 12 months +. Miss K (who is 5) still loves snacking on the Heinz Little Kidsfruit bars and sharing the Heinz Nutrios with her sister. AND who can go past the good old Teething Rusks, they were a teething staple when I was young and we’ve used them for both our girls.
We’ve spent the last few days away, relaxing. Spending time together as a family. Spending time with my parents. Going out for a meal. Going to the beach. Spending time inside when it rained. Checking out Wings Wildlife Park (which if you are ever in Tasmania I can totally recommend – we’ll be going back). Limited net access. Playing with new Legos. Reading. Colouring in. Doing creative stuff. Going for walks. Did I mention relaxing. I was awesome. Much needed. Especially after 2 kiddos had been sick with head colds.
Anywho, some photos for your viewing pleasure 🙂
Back to normal soon 🙂
01 Describe a moment from today that you want to remember always.
Having tea with mum & dad. They had been at a funeral so we went out there and cooked tea for them – lemon ginger chicken & rice then steamed sticky date puddings
02 What sort of outdoor activities do you enjoy?
Walking, bike riding, going to the beach, photography, watching sport
03 Write down some of your favourite memories with a grandparent.
Spending time at the beach. French toast. Catching up with soapies with my Grandma when sick. Fishing.
04 What are your hopes for your children?
That they grow up to be happy and loved.
05 What are your biggest fears for your children?
That people will take advantage of them.
06 Find out five things about a distant relative of yours.
I’ll have to work on this one
07 Describe your family’s morning routine right now.
Get up, breakfast, shower, check emails
08 Describe your family’s afternoon routine right now.
Kids watch some kids tv. Dinner prep.
09 Describe your family’s evening routine right now.
Dinner. Kids bath. Skype with my mum. Story time. Bedtime for the kids
10 Write down five funny things that your child(ren) or your partner has said recently.
My armbow hurts (Miss K), Why is it called a beanie bear when it doesn’t wear a beanie? (Miss K)
11 How are you going with your goals for this year?
Pretty good so far. I’ve posted an update for my 100 things list.
12 What are your favourite items of clothing to wear when it’s really cold?
Big thick woollen jackets & cardigans. Scarves in either black, blue or silver
13 What are your favourite soups to drink in winter?
Tomato, carrot, pumpkin, Chinese chicken & sweet corn or leek & potato
14 Write down the recipe (no matter how simple) for your go-to comfort food.
Icing sugar. cocoa (or YIAH chocolate powder). melted butter. dash of milk. Yup chocolate icing. my favourite comfort food
15 How do you feel about speaking in public?
Hate it, with a passion. Which is odd considering a few of my jobs include speaking to groups of people.
16 When was the last time you did something risky? Write about it.
Over 10 years ago. Kissed someone while in a relationship with someone else. The person I was in the relationship was home.
17 What normally happens on a Tuesday?
Swimming lessons in the morning for both girls. Time in town with mum. Afternoon at home.
18 What were the best and hardest parts about growing up?
Best – Having an awesome family and friends. Hardest – the time of teenage rebellion
19 What was your father’s childhood like?
Grew up in Scotland. Moved to Australia when 9.
20 What do you usually snack on throughout the day?
Chocolate. Whatever baking I’ve done. Toast. Nutella
21 Describe your dream garden.
Front – roses Back – veggies, chickens, bees, play area for the kids
22 What does it mean to be brave?
To be able to deal with whatever life throws at you and keep going.
23 If you could have an entire day at home alone, how would you spend it?
Scrapbooking
24 Is there an aunty or uncle you have a particularly close relationship with?
Not really. I’m pretty close with most of my relatives.
25 What are the five things you love the most about your partner or spouse?
26 Is there anything that scares you about growing old?
Getting dementia & loosing my memory. Not having my parents around.
27 What are three things from this past month that have made you cry?
My littliest being sick. Being so tired and emotional. watching silly videos on YouTube
28 What are three things from this past month that have made you laugh?
Watching silly videos on YouTube. My girls playing together. Silly jokes on Facebook
29 How are you feeling today?
A little tired. Miss A has a head cold and was awake on and off all night last night resulting in not much sleep for everyone.
30 What is your favourite thing about winter/summer right now?
Hot chocolate with marshmallows. Warming soups with crusty bread. Wood fire.
Miss A turns one in August and I thought it was high time I got to work on organising her birthday party. After many hours on Pinterest I decided on either a pink & gold theme or A Very Hungry Caterpillar. I showed a heap of pictures to Miss K to help me choose and finally we decided on A Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing some ideas for invites, decorations, food and cake then after the party I’ll share our actual event.
Invitations can be a simple or as complex as you want. From bought invitations like these……
to handmade creations like these ……
we (read me) ended up making ours. Thank goodness for my Silhouette Cameo because I would have hated doing this by hand.
The first circle reads:
We can hardly believe a year has passed
Our little caterpillar has grown so fast
Join us for some afternoon tea & fun
Anastasia is turning ONE
The second circle has the date, time and location while the third has the RSVP details. I’ll include a recent photo of Miss A to the final circle.
So what do you do when you want something a little (hell who am I kidding – a LOT) sweet. Maybe something like Mars Bar Slice (YUMMO!) BUT, oh no, no Mars Bars in the house 🙁 and the shops are closed/you can’t be bothered going out 🙁 🙁 Well don’t despair! You can make Mars Bar Surprise Slice!!
This wonderful recipe I found one night while reading a great little book by the name of The $21 challenge. My whole family loves it and when my daughter asked me to make it for school the next day, just as she was going to bed I thought I’d see how well it converted to Thermo. So here it is – Thermo Mars Bar Surprise Slice (if you want the original non Thermomix recipe go here – page 6)
[yumprint-recipe id=’21’]
Happy Winter Solstice. It’s time to look back over my list for the year and see how I’m traveling.
As with previous years bold is started, strike thru is finished & red isn’t done
You can now find previous In the Den Kitchen posts here or on Pinterest. Clicking Recipes in the menu above will also take you to my In the Den Kitchen Pinterest board. I’m slowly reworking some older posts so they will show up there too.
Links to any Your Inspiration at Home (YIAH) products will take you to my YIAH page. You can shop in Australia, New Zealand, USA & Canada from my page. If you are interested in learning about YIAH jump over to my Facebook page.
This is a family favourite slice. I have fond memories of my Godmother or my Mum cooking it when we went away for family holidays.
[yumprint-recipe id=’20’]
