And with that another footy year is over.
(check out the original & some other awesome art at grangewallis.com)
The Life:Captured Project – September 2015
Read more about Life:Captured here.
Catch up with my previous Life:Captured posts
01 Describe a moment from today that you want to remember always.
Mum & Miss K having some Grandparent/Grandchild time. The two of them love spending time together.
02 What hopes do you hold for the new season thatās upon us?
Spending more time outside and doing stuff
03 What are your favourite flowers and why?
Roses or gerberas. They make me happy
04 Recount the last conversation you had with a stranger.
Um I canāt remember :/
05 What do you always order at your favourite cafe?
Iced chocolate and a toasted ham, cheese & pineapple sandwich
06 What were you doing at 2pm today?
Itās Fatherās Day and weāre spending time with my parents at their house
07 How would you describe your personal style?
Me hahahaha I really donāt have a style
08 Whatās on your mind today? Write a list.
love swimming. canāt wait for tax return. looking forward to doing up the girls room.
09 Describe (and/or sketch) your dream bag.
This (and I may be getting it for Christmas lol)
10 How are you going with the goals that you made at the beginning of the year?
Pretty good. You can see my half year list here
11 Write about a song and why it holds a special place in your heart.
Fade to Black by Metallica. Reminds me of an interesting time in my life
12 What changes have you made around the home recently?
LOTS! Check out my reno posts.
13 What (or who) has been of inspiration to you lately?
Pinterest. Looking for so many ideas to do up the girls room
14 What condiments can you not cook without?
Used to be salt and pepper now itās my YIAH collection
15 Write down three of your earliest memories.
Visiting one set of grandparents at the beach. My parentās black cat watching me when I was little. LOVING to read and devouring any book I could.
16 Who do you turn to when you need to talk?
My mum
17 What have been your go-to meals during the winter/summer just past?
Casseroles, soups, baked spuds, pasta dishes
18 What are three things you are thankful for right now?
warmer weather, getting a bit more back on our tax return allowing us to do some more renos.
19 What normally happens on a Friday?
During the day, stuff with the kids. Hubby usually heads out to a mates place to play D&D after the kids are in bed. I catch up on podcasts, sometimes scrapbook, sometimes cook, sometimes blog. watch TV. surf the net.
20 Write about all the projects you currently have on the go.
Project life. Renovation of the girlās bedroom. Decluttering – itās an ongoing project
21 Find out five new facts about your grandparents and write them down.
Iāll have to sit down with mum & dad for this one and get back to you all š
22 What are five (or ten) things you would want your grandchildren to know about you?
I loved to cook. I was kind. I was a crazy cat lady lol. I loved their grandad and their mum. I am lots of fun
23 What is the most romantic thing someone has ever done for you?
Bought me flowers and looked after me when I was sick
24 When was the last time your family got together? What did you do and talk about?
Fatherās Day (minus my brother) We had lunch and then had a quiet afternoon.
25 Describe something youāve made in this last month.
A banner for the girlās bedroom. You can see a preview here
26 What are three things from this past month that have been difficult to process?
Gun control (or lack thereof) in the US. Online trolls – seriously how hard is it to be nice, use your energy for positive. Sickness – I seriously can not wait for it to warm up
27 What are three things from this past month that have been amusing?
Miss A learning to walk. The girls playing together. silly videos on YouTube
28 How are you feeling today?
Excited. My footy team is in the grand final this Saturday
29 What is your favourite thing about Monday evenings right now?
That Miss K goes to sleep quickly cause sheās tired from school š
30 What are you most looking forward to next month?
The AFL Grand Final & doing the girls room
Official last day in jeans til November 1st 2015
Yup, itās that time of year again. Time for me to Frock up for a great cause!
So hereās the obligatory last day of jeans wearing til November 1st selfie
For those who have no idea what Frocktober is all aboutā¦..
Held throughout the whole month of October, Frocktober is a fundraising initiative to raise
funds and awareness for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF). The classic
Frocktober challenge asks participants to wear a frock every a day during the month. Itās
all about increasing public awareness of ovarian cancer and raising money to support the
development of an early detection test. Since its inception, Frocktober has raised over $1
million for the OCRF.
One woman dies every ten hours from ovarian cancer. As there is currently no early
detection test and a lack of symptoms in the early stages of disease, women are usually
diagnosed in the late stages of the disease – when the cancer has spread to other organs
in the body. If the cancer is diagnosed and treated early, between 80-100% of patients
will survive for more than five years. But only approximately 30% of women diagnosed at
advanced stages will survive for more than five years.
As Iāve done every year for the last 4 years Iām going to frock it up every day in October. This year Iām aiming to wear a different dress every day.
You can donate here and keep up to date by following me on Instagram
And if you think you’d be stuck wearing a dress a day, check out this post by The mummy & the minx.
Currently #2
TIME: 7:30, Wednesday 30th September, 2015
LOCATION : Dining room table
FEELING: Good. Excited that weāll be doing the girls room this weekend.
LOVING : spring flowers. That Hawthorn is in the AFL Grand Final
READING : course notes. expanding my knowledge
DRINKING : Coke or hot chocolate
ANTICIPATING : the AFL Grand Final. Frocktober!
LISTENING TO : MUSIC : Jewel, Iron Maiden, my 101 tunes playlist PODCAST : The Paperclipping Round Table, Talk is Jericho
WATCHING : AFL, course videos
PLANNING : a big Project Life catch up and getting ready for my 2015 JYC album
LOOKING FORWARD TO : Doing the girls room. Christmas shopping.
CREATING : a plan to clean up
NEED TO FINISH : Week in the Life album
WISHING : there was more hours in the day
MAIN GOAL : to get caught up with Project Life
What are you āCURRENTLYā doing?
The road to our new bathroom pt 3
Well there you go, I never got around to posting the final pictures of our new shiny bathroom. And it was finished over a year ago. So my bad.
Anywho hereās the before as a reminder for you all
Stunning wood panel hey! And now it looks like this ā¦ā¦.
So much better. Warmer in winter. No nasty breezes. Glorious white tiles on the walls. So much easier to clean. Less storage but less clutter. Mind you it doesnāt look this tidy at the moment LOL
Letās get creative
Disclaimer: The following post is brought to you by Nuffnang and Spotlight
If you know me well, you know Iām a bit of a Spotlight junkie and I love the wide variety of crafty goodies they have. When I was given the opportunity to have a play with some crafty products from Spotlight I jumped at the chance.
I received a package containing some of the American Crafts DIY Shop goodies – the pennant banner in black & kraft, the kraft scallop banner, kraft treat bag, and some kraft cards.
As soon as I saw the black pennant banners I had an idea for what I wanted to do – a banner for the girls bedroom. Weāre about to redo the girls bedroom in an Asian theme so the black pennants fit perfectly with the black, red and gold.
The kraft pennant banner is going to become a decoration for Christmas. No photos as yet but I will be sharing them once they are done.
The kraft scallop banner I wasnāt sure about but after surfing Pinterest for awhile I formulated a few ideas. I mini banner for our bedroom. Iām also thinking it could be used to make a super cute mini album as the shape makes it pretty versatile for things other than banners.
The treat bags Iām not sure what Iāll do with as yet. And the cards, hereās a few I whipped up.
The banners are so versatile and I look forward to creating more with them. Blank cards are always handy to have on hand and kraft is such a great neutral base and something different from the usual white/cream. If you are interested to see what else I create with the DIY Shop range (& to see the complete Asian themed and Christmas banners), jump on over to Nightwolf Scraps.
So if you are after some DIY cards or pennants for your next do, head into Spotlight and check out the American Crafts DIY Shop range.
The Life:Captured Project ā August 2015
Read more about Life:Captured here.
Catch up with my previous Life:Captured posts
01 Describe a moment from today that you want to remember always.
Dad reading to the girls when we went out there for a visit. Love that my girls love books as much as I do.
02 What are five things that you do every day without fail?
Email, cuddles, hot chocolate, eat, social media
03 Would you prefer to live by the ocean or up in the mountains? Why?
Ocean. Total mermaid in a past life. Love swimming. Love the beach.
04 What games did you play with your siblings when you were growing up?
Lots of board games – Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit. Card games
05 When was the last time you and your partner went on a date? Write about it.
Um before Miss K was born. From memory to see Star Wars
06 Do you have any fond memories of camping with your family?
Don’t ever remember camping but do remember bush walking lots
07 If you had an empty room, what are the ten things you would add to it?
I’d turn it into my craft room and I’d add…
1. BIG craft desk; 2. lots of storage; 3. a space for my laptop & printer; 4.a couple of inspirational quotes; 5.pretty vases for fresh flowers; 6.LOTs of family photos; 7. space for my tools so they were out (& I might actually use them); 8. a stereo for some tunes; 9.a small area for kids crafting cause I know the girls would have to join me; 10. books & a big comfy chair for when I just want to get away and read
08 Whereās your favourite place to write?
Either at the kitchen table, in bed or lying in a hammock
09 Do you prefer going to cafes by yourself or with other people?
Depends on my mood, some days it’s by myself, other days with friends
10 What are your ten favourite movies, and why?
In no particular order and for no reason other than I enjoy watching them – Natural Born Killers, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Highlander, Grease, Gleaming the Cube, Pulp Fiction, Star Wars (prefer 4, 5, & 6), Dead Poets Society, Erik the Viking and any Bond movie with Sean Connery
11 How do you cope with stress and anxiety?
Not well. I usually get sick when I’m stressed and my thyroid plays up.
12 What do you usually have with toast?
Butter. nutella. Cheese. mayo & tomato
13 Write about one of your childhood friends.
She lived round the corner. We walked to school together every day. We spent most weekends at each others houses.
14 What are some of the things you tend to do when you procrastinate?
Facebook. Instagram. Mobile games
15 Describe a typical Thursday.
Drop Miss K at school. Do housework or go to town. Occasionally get to sit down and do something I want. Pick up Miss K. After school routine. Tea. Kids to bed. Quiet evening either online or watching TV
16 What are three things you are thankful for right now?
A few minor monetary wins that helped pay some bills. Itās slowly warming up. That I have an awesome family.
17 Is there anywhere in particular you would like to go with your family?
Iād love to take the girls to Disneyland and New Zealand.
18 What currently inspires you?
Pinterest
19 How did your grandparents make a living?
Grandfathers – one was a butcher, the other worked but Iām not sure where. Grandmothers both worked in retail.
20 What is your favourite hour of the day, and why?
When the kids go to bed, because itās peaceful & I get to spend some quiet quality time with hubby without little people wanting our attention
21 How do you comfort your child(ren) when they are sad?
Lots of cuddles
22 Has somebody been kind to you recently?
Friends passing on a tonne of kids clothes
23 What happened at 1pm today?
We were having lunch with mum, dad & my brother (who was up visiting from Hobart)
24 What are some things weighing on your heart right now?
Worrying about my parentsā health. Frustrations about our house
25 Are there any habits that you would like to develop?
Being a bit more tidy and organised
26 What do you like to snack on in the evenings?
Chips, chocolate, biscuits, toast
27 What are three things from this past month that have been challenging?
Colds, colds, colds. Iām sick of everyone having a cold
28 What are three things from this past month that have uplifted you?
Having the money to pay some bills
29 How are you feeling today?
A little tired. Looking forward to spring and all of us getting better.
30 What is your favourite thing about Saturday afternoons right now?
Having quiet time after soccer. Doing things together as a family
31 What are you most looking forward to next month?
Warmer weather! Bring on Spring!!
Currently #1
So I saw this over at Kellieās blog and Iāve been meaning to do it myself for ages. No time like the present right? Not sure if Iāll do this monthly or weekly yet, most likely Iāll do it at the end of each month.
TIME: 8:30, Monday 31st August 2015
LOCATION : Dining room table
FEELING: tired and sick of coughing
LOVING : that spring is almost here.
READING : blogs and a book on keeping backyard chickens
DRINKING : Coke or hot chocolate
ANTICIPATING : Spring!
LISTENING TO : MUSIC : Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, The Fairies (thanks to Miss K) PODCAST : The Paperclipping Round Table
WATCHING : Ramseyās Hotel Hell, AFL
PLANNING : my Week in the Life album
LOOKING FORWARD TO : Summer. Getting better (I hate being sick)
CREATING : a mess. a plan for a bedroom makeover
NEED TO FINISH : Week in the Life album, bedroom plan
WISHING : it would warm up
MAIN GOAL : to make sure everything is planned and ready to go for the bedroom makeover
What are you “CURRENTLY” doing?
Sharing a magical moment with your little ones every evening
Disclaimer: The following post is brought to you by Nuffnang and Disney Junior The Channel
Story time can bring horror to some parents or, if you are like my husband and I, itās something you love doing. Reading to children from a young age is such a great way to introduce a love of books and reading and itās also a wonderful bonding experience.
For both our girls, story time has been an important part of their bedtime ritual. Now Disney Junior is inviting parents and carers to settle down and share a magical moment with their little one every evening on Disney Junior around bedtime with Disney Juniorās The Book of Once Upon A Time.
Series two of this a locally-produced, interactive story-telling series hosted by Australian actor and playwright Kate Mulvany launched during Book Week (seriously one of my favourite weeks ā I mean a WHOLE week. Dedicated to books. Whatās not to love?) on Monday 24th August with āSnow White and the Great Jewel Huntā. Later episodes will include new Disney stories from āWinnie the Poohā, āAladdinā, āSleeping Beautyā and āFrozenā. I know the latter will be a popular inclusion in our household, especially for a young Frozen obsessed 5-year-old. The āLand of Once Upon A Timeā lullaby follows each episode, encouraging children to prepare for bedtime. Children, Parents or carers can tune in for a story every day at 7:10pm on Disney Junior The Channel, or anytime on the website.
Disney Juniorās The Book of Once Upon A Time brings classic storytelling to life, with traditional elements of story time – turning pages, character voices and re-enactment, and classic touches of animation that ignites the imagination. As a parent I aim to seek TV and online content that stimulates our childrenās imagination. Parental expectations around āeducationalā content have broadened from a focus on academic learning to also include social skills, moral values, motor skills, good basic habits and creative thinking. Disney Junior’s animated and live action programming, blends Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and beloved characters with learning components, including early language and maths skills, as well as healthy lifestyles, with an emphasis on social and emotional development.
So what does our 5 year old think?
āI love it and itās the best story ever.ā Then asked if we could watch more and if we could download the Disney Story Central app so Iāll take that as itās pretty good.
Disney Junior The Channel is where magical storytelling comes to life! Available in all Foxtel subscribing homes; channel 709. If you donāt have Foxtel, you can access Disney Juniorās The Book of Once Upon A Time online on your laptop, PC, tablet or mobile at any time.
The Book of Once Upon A Time features Disney stories that are available as eBooks from the Disney Story Central app, available to download from iTunes
In the Den Kitchen – Chocolate Cake
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. Iām 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.
Last week I mentioned I made chocolate cake. This is a recipe Iāve made for years and came from an Australian kids cookbook called Clarryās Kitchen Capers (I think, it was in a blue plastic folder, designed for kids.) The recipe was called Motherās Day Chocolate Cake. Anywho here is my Thermomix conversion
[yumprint-recipe id=’22’]To make it without a thermomix, chuck all the cake ingredients into a bowl, mix then pour into your cake tin š