Nightwolf's Den

Our very hungry caterpillar turns 1

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.
Hungry-Caterpillar-invite
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.

In the Den Kitchen – Mars Bar Slice

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.

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’]

Reviewing my things to do

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

Increase my social media following (see 2-5)
Get more Twitter followers (Jan 1 – 658 Dec 31 – )
Get more Facebook followers (Jan 1 – 150 Dec 31 – )
Get more Pinterest followers (Jan 1 – 569 Dec 31 – )
Get more Instagram followers (Jan 1 – 227 Dec 31 – )
Organise my Pinterest boards (try & reduce the number of boards)
Learn a new recipe each month. Blog about it.
Blog a recipe a week – one of mine or something I’ve tried (In the Den Kitchen)
Create a back up of my blog monthly
Try something I’ve pinned and blog about it.
Start a new blog series
Finish garden beds and start using them
Get a garden shed
Set up gazebo/outdoor area
Do HabitHacker – Nest (when the site comes back up)
Work on Declutter 365
Finish custom recipe book
Declutter recipe books I don’t use
Paint laundry & put up laminate
~~New door & window in lounge~~
~~New curtains for the lounge~~
~~Get kitchen blinds~~
~~Get new cupboard in hallway~~
Get floors polished
Organise office so it can be used
Organise garage
Start a garden journal
Work through (& complete) Creating your Goddess Haven e-course
~~Tidy the pantry – make it more organised~~
Sort linens and make less cluttered
Have a candlelit dinner with hubby
Family holiday to Melbourne
Have parents & in-laws over for dinner
Go to the Anzac Day dawn service
Get a family photo of me, mum, dad & bro
Get an updated family photo done
Have a weekend away (all booked)
Try and have a date night every month
Put money into Christmas Club account
Put money in the girls accounts
Have a family movie night (complete with popcorn & choc tops)
Spend a day at the beach
Go on a picnic
Go for a drive somewhere for no reason other than getting out
Spend a rainy day in PJs watching TV/movies
See more of Tassie
Work on family tree
Go to Tasmania Zoo
Go to the Botanical Gardens
Visit QVMAG
Get BAS in on time
Keep up to date with work accounts
Work thru Business Goddess e-course
~~Launch new work site~~
Upgrade laptops (decided to keep these & upgrade hard drives)
Make laptop & pc better organised – less double ups of files
Work on better backups of important files
Find an inspirational quote & make it into a piece of artwork
Finish JYC 2012 & 2013 & 2014
Scrapbook with mum more
Finish wedding scrapbook
Do #30Lists (March, September, December)
Organise all my paper scrapbook supplies
Scrapbook with others more
Backup digital Project Life supplies
Organise a scrapbook day
Complete a cross stitch
Work thru Creative Goddess ecourse
Project life date one weekend a month
Do some more classes & finish them
Create a scrapping binder
Apply for more design teams
Get dt work done before it’s due
Actually DO some of the things I’ve pinned
Create more pages about me
keep up to date with Project Life (see #69)
Raise at least $2000 at Afternoon Teal
Do Frocktober
Watch sunrise & sunset in the same day
Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years
Keep a gratitude journal every day for a month (0/30)
Do Habit Hacker’s Create
~~Get a massage~~
Get a manicure
Make a list of 30 books I want to read & then read those books (0/30)
Exercise every day for a month (0/30)
Create a mini Goddess altar
Meditate more
Enjoy life
~~Finish off front yard~~
Redo herb gardens
sort my bookmarks
Burn to CD/DVD stuff I don’t need on my PC all the time
Look at getting built in wardrobe in girls bedroom
Do something special for our wedding anniversary
Have a girls day out with mum
Star Wars!
Sort & cull movie folder
Maybe go to 20 yr reunion for school
Organise some play dates for the girls

From the Den Kitchen–Marbled Chocolate Cheesecake Slice

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’]

Scrapbooking

I’ve started up a place to keep all my scrapbooking stuff in one spot – Nightwolf Scraps. So I’ll be posting all my scrapbooky stuff over there from now on.
Today’s post is all about a new FREE workshop so go check it out 🙂

Time for some bloggy housekeeping

Yup, it’s time for the Biannual Blogathon Bash again. I’m planning on a smaller list this time around as Miss K has soccer tomorrow & Miss A has been pretty unsettled the last week (4 teeth last weekend!) and wanting her mum all the time. Just realised I’ve been taking part in this since 2013.

So here is my June 2015 list…

take part in at least 1 Twitter party
do a couple of the mini challenges
tidy my blog emails
get reviews written & up
write and schedule some posts
check old posts for broken links & missing images

Mini challenges (will add as we go along)

Instagram prompts (1,2,3,4,5)

Binannual Blogathon Bash

It’s nearly time for the Biannual Blogathon Bash again. It starts next Friday! This will be my fourth (or fifth?) time taking part and it’s a great way to get some blogging tasks you’ve been putting of done and learn some new things through the mini challenges.

You can read about what I’ve done in previous blogathons by checking out my posts.

What is the blogathon?

It’s a FREE online event held twice a year (January and June) giving bloggers a chance to “work on all their blogging to-dos and learn more about different aspects of blogging at the same time as many other bloggers. Basically a blogathon=blogging+marathon. Most participants dedicate a large chunk of time during the weekend event to work on their blogs but you can join in even if you can’t dedicate that much time.”

The blogathon is open to all bloggers – new/experienced, solo/group, for profit/not for profit, business bloggers, personal bloggers, those who have one blog, those who have multiple blogs, bloggers of ALL niches.

Sound interesting? Sign up here then join the Facebook group (make sure you have some mention of your blog in your facebook profile or PM Kathleen Garber letting her know you have requested to join the group and where you blog.

I’d love to see some more Aussies join up. Let me know if you do so I can come check out your blog/cheer you along during the blogathon 😀

Another 100 Happy days update

Happy days for May (from day 39 to 69)

May 1. YIAH KFC style chicken & Homemade YIAH wedges; 2. Wearing new shoes to bed. Just like her uncle did when he was little; 3.Dance like no one is watching; 4. May the 4th; 5.With weather like this I’m happy to have a roof over my head, a warm wood fire and a god supply of candles; 6. Getting creative with her old Duplo; 7. My Mother’s Day present made at Kindy; 8. Gorgeous flowers from Mum from my brother in Hobart (delivered via our house); 9. Sorting scrapping supplies; 10. Pretty sunset’; 11. Pencil decoration and photo by Miss K; 12. Crashed in my arms after swimming; 13. Pulling herself up on the seat to watch Play School; 14. School Cross Country day; 15. Clean and organised pantry. Thanks to some help from mum.; 16. Story time with my mum; 17. Glass magnets; 18. Sleepy kitty keeping me company; 19. Waiting for swimming lessons; 20. Soccer training cancelled due to rain. Xbox soccer instead; 21. Love she is happy to entertain herself; 22.Preordered Ali Edwards Week in the Life kit; 23 Love this photo of mum & Miss K; 24 Love these printables from Riot; 25. Good food; 26. Foggy. Would be an awesome opportunity to get the camera out; 27 Brings back memories; 28 New beanie; 29 First visit to the dentist; 30 We’re a happy team; 31. Roast Moroccan style chicken, couscous stuffing and roast veg.

The Life:Captured Project – May 2015

01 Describe a moment from today that you want to remember always.
Our two girls playing together nicely. It doesn’t happen often but when it does, it’s awesome.

02 What are some things that you’ve been given recently?
A heap of clothes for Miss A, some new scrapping supplies.

03 What is your idea of the perfect morning?
A sleep in, something yummy for breakfast and no rushing

04 What is your idea of the perfect afternoon?
Scrapbooking!

05 What songs or music do you listen to in the car?
Lately the Frozen soundtrack or Spirit of the Anzac

06 When was the last time you felt embarrassed? What happened?
Oh god, any time I have to speak in public in front of a group. I hate it (& yet I’ve been/am a party plan consultant lol)

07 Describe your ideal house.
The house we live in now but extended. Put up a wall between the lounge and dining room, knock out the wall between the dining room and our bedroom, create a media room/lounge. Turn girls room into a guest room. Build up. Bedroom for each of the girls. Small bathroom. Bedroom for hubby & I with en suite. Rebuild garage. Redo office off the back of the garage. Build second story on garage with half as my craft space and half for hubby and his mates to play D&D in

08 What are your favourite books to read over and over again?
Pretty much anything by David Eddings. The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Any of the Anne Rice books. The Forgotten Realms series.

09 What subjects did you study at school?
Maths, English, Japanese, French, Social Studies, Music, PE, Home Ec, Science, Design & Tech. Computing

10 What’s the most beautiful gift you’ve ever received?
Both my daughters.

11 Would you like to work for yourself? Why or why not?
Already do.

12 If you could live in another country for a year, where would you go and why?
Either Canada or Scotland. I’ve always had a love for both countries. And we have heaps of rellies in Scotland.

13 Write a love note for somebody you love.

14 What happened at 3pm today?
We’d usually be doing school pickup but because the school did their cross country we did pick up early. Miss k and her dad were watching Star Wars clone wars, miss a was crawling round the house trying to find some mischief to get into and I was working on something for a client.

15 What are the things you love the most about your ethnic background?
That my parents are Scottish, what’s not to love about that!

16 What other cultures do you find intriguing?
Japanese, the Scandinavian countries

17 What are the things you enjoy the most about your work right now?
Awesome clients who aren’t demanding and wanting everything done yesterday 

18 What sort of jobs have you worked in the past?
Hospitality, tourism

19 How would you like to be remembered?
That I was kind, fun and caring.

20 Do you find it easy to talk to strangers?
Sometimes. It really depends on the circumstances.

21 What sort of parties do you like to go to?
At the moment, mainly kids birthday parties.

22 Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
A bit of both

23 Back in your school days, what did you and friends do during lunchtime?
In primary school, played handball or marbles. In high school, hung out on the library or music room, usually just chatting about anything and everything.

24 Name your ten favourite blogs.
In no particular order:
Edenland
MagnetoBoldToo
Little Lioness
Devil’s Panties
Ali Edwards
Cathy Zielske
Heidi Swapp
Simple Scrapper
Autocratik
Life:Captured Inc

25 What was your mother’s childhood like?
Mum grew up in Scotland. They moved to Australia when she was 9. (I must get her to sit down and write about her childhood)

26 What social issues do you feel passionate about?
Animal rights. Glbti issues.

27 Where do you retreat to for solitude and quiet?
Books and scrapbooking
Going for walks

28 What are three things from this past month that have energised and motivated you?
Watching Miss K play soccer.
Talking to others online
Journaling (the Life:Captured project has been great motivation)

29 What are three things from this past month that have comforted you?
Chats with mum
Warm fires
Lots of cooking

30 How are you feeling today?
Tired. Happy the Hawks had a win. Happy the kids are getter better at soccer.

31 What is your favourite thing about Mondays right now?
Time to spend with Miss A while Miss K is at school.

My blogging journey

Today marks the last day in May and therefore the last post for Blog Every Day in May for 2015. I missed a few days this year but oh well.

I started my first blog way back when before blogging was cool, pretty sure it was on yahoo, maybe a geocities site I can’t really remember. Then Blogger came out and I started Ramblings from the Goth in May 2005. It rambled along til 2006 which is when I started Nightwolf’s Den (originally on Blogger until I won a domain name & hosting package a couple of year’s back).

2006 also saw me start a blog documenting our wedding. After the wedding I went back to one blog again then in 2009 I started From the Wolf’s Den when we found out we were expecting our first child. This one is still going but I don’t update it as often as I’d like. It’s all pregnancy, baby and children.

2009 I also started a Christmas blog but decided 3 blogs was too much and ended up just adding all the Christmas stuff to this blog.

From 2010 onwards I’ve pretty much concentrated my blogging journey here with the occasional post over at From the Wolf’s Den. This little space on the net has continued to see and record so many things – the birth of 2 gorgeous girls, my various businesses, scrapbooking adventures, a blogging conference, mum getting sick, Frocktobers, Afternoon Teals, LOTS of house renovations, some great products to review and so much more.

I look forward to seeing what the future brings 😀