Nightwolf's Den

What to do when you get stuck

I often get really stuck for what to blog about. Like really stuck. The times when nothing really ‘interesting’ is happening or when I’m feeling a bit blah or when I just have the real cant be bothered.

I decided to take part in the Blogging Olympics this year as I though it would be a great way to motivate myself & give me some post ideas. So far so good (expect I fell behind after day 3….). I posted in the Facebook group about my ‘hurdle’ of blogger block and had some great suggestions back. So I’m sharing some of the suggestions here with you, plus a few others I thought up.

* Post an infographic on a topic that interests you and your readers
* Minette suggested taking a walk and has some great tips to inspire yourself
* Cate suggested Three Sixty Five. I’ve downloaded it and look forward to using it as some inspiration for future posts. (you can read her review on her blog)
* This reminded me of 2 courses I’d taken over at Shimelle.com – Blogging for scrapbookers & Beyond Blogging for Scrapbookers. The original class comes with a Year of blogging prompts – must dig them out again.

How do you beat blogging block?

From the Den–the DPCON12 edition

(oops this has been sitting in my drafts folder for awhile….)

One of my awesome sponsors for Digital Parents Conference was Belkin Australia. They provided me with some great goodies to use while at DPCON12 – a Verve Folio Stand, the ViewLounge, a Stylus and some different screen protectors.

I can’t review the ViewLounge as hubby stole that as soon as I unpacked the box. I’ve told him he can do a review on it. Update – I did pinch it one night so I could read in bed and I have to say the bean bag like bottom to the stand makes bedtime reading on the iPad a lot more comfortable.

I already had a case for my iPad but I was looking forward to trying out the Belkin Verve Folio Stand.

Belkin Verve Folio Stand <br><h4 class=

I loved the design especially the cut out for the camera (I’ve found other cases can cover the lens slightly). The strap to secure the cover is a nice touch and the leather is good quality.

I was also given a Stylus to try.

Belkin Stylus Pen <br><h4 class=

I found using the stylus to be a great help when I felt like drawing (I love doodling in Art Rage). Trying to type with it, not so much but I guess if you kept using it you would get used to it AND it would be a bonus for those with larger fingers Winking smile

Now over to hubby…..

Caroline asked me to write a review for the ViewLounge so here it is. I like it. We play Dungeons and Dragons of a weekend and the ViewLounge has made it easier to read books on our iPads and take up less valuable table space than books.

Belkin ViewLounge <br><h4 class=

Disclaimer: I received 2 Verve Folio Stands, 2 ViewLounges, 2 Stylus and some different screen protectors to use and review. All opinions are my own (& those of my other half – where noted).

Sharing some bloggy love

As I said yesterday in my Things I know post I love the blogging world and one of the things I really love about the blogging world is sharing great bloggers with my blog readers. Today I thought I’d share 5 of my current favs (& in no particular order)

Lizosauraus. Mainly cause she likes cats. I haven’t met her yet but now she lives in Tassie, maybe soon. And we can discuss all things cats and BlogPurr and web designy stuff.

You should pop on over to Sleepless Nights & congratulate her on the birth of her daughter (born today). Another Tassie blogger I’m looking forward to meeting eventually 🙂

I think most bloggers in Australia know (or know of) Magnetoboldtoo We’ve been chatting online for ages & finally met at DPCON12. She is as awesome in real life as she is online.

What can one say about Eden @ Edenland? She rocks and is an inspiration to so many. I also met her @ DPCON12. Eden went to Niger with World Vision and blogged about the food crisis there.

Edenland - you can't outrun your shadow.

and last, but by no means least, Lori (Random Ramblings of a SAHM). One strong and amazing woman who has been thru so much. I would love to have a coffee with her sometime and just be there to give her hugs

So, anyways that’s 5 of my favourite blogs. Who are your favourites?

Things I know….

Joining in with Things I know this week

…the blogging world is an awesome place sometimes. So much support and love is being shown for those who are hurting or grieving.

…it’s also full of some amazing, inspiring people. I won’t name them, cause they know who they are Winking smile

…that as horrible as things are people can’t blame movies/video games/heavy metal music/role playing games for people going mental. This is a topic that really gets me ranty so I won’t continue Winking smile

… Tassie is an wicked place to live

…I hate being sick. vomiting is not nice. waking at 2am with terrible stomach pains sucks

… I love my hubby for putting up with me while I’ve been sick & for looking after Miss K

… that my footy team rocks! My NRL team not so much. BUT they both had a win tonight so great start to the weekend Open-mouthed smile

… i’m looking forward to taking part in the Blogging Olympics

… i’m also looking forward to taking part in the Sweet Shoppe Summer Games (I haven’t digi scrapped for awhile)

… I’ll be sleeping in not getting up early to watch the Olympic opening ceremony, it’ll be repeated later in the day I imagine.

… I really need to go to bed LOL Night all

What things do you know?

Been baking

again.

Anzac Biscuits

Tea Cake

Choc chip biscuits

cupcakes (vanilla & choc chip – haven’t iced them yet). Tomorrow I plan to make shortbread with unsalted butter from Elgaar. It makes the best shortbread.

Hope you’re all having a great weekend!

Review–The Jungle Bunch

Wanna know a secret? I really love watching kid’s movies, well more specifically, animated kids movies. Finding Nemo, Toy Story, Despicable Me, Fantasia, Go to Hell (oh wait, that’s not a kids film)…. the list goes on. And I’ve just added a new movie to the list – The Jungle Bunch.

The Jungle Bunch is the story of Maurice (voiced by actor John Lithgow), the penguin who thinks he’s a tiger. Two penguins from Maurice’s home in Antarctica travel to the jungle in search of ‘The Great Tiger Warrior’ to save their village. Their search leads them to Maurice’s jungle home where they share their plight. Determined to help Maurice; his adopted son – a tiger fish named Junior; Fred the warthog convinced he lives in a musical; Batricia the bat afraid of the dark; Miguel the gorilla and Gilbert the tarsier afraid to leave his branch form a team and embark on an adventure.

The Jungle Bunch trailer

We enjoyed the movie and there’s lots of scenes adults will find just as funny as the kids. Miss K watched most of it, which is a pretty big thing as she hardly ever watches a whole movie.

The Jungle Bunch goes for 58mins and is available now on DVD. One lucky reader will a copy of The Jungle Bunch plus some other kid’s DVDs.

All you need to do to enter is answer the following question via the Rafflecopter below.

“What is your favourite kid’s movie?”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be Here Now

Andy Whitfield was an amazing Australian actor who many of us would have seen in the first season of the Starz show Spartacus. If you haven’t, check it out – there’s something for both the ladies & the men plus a fair bit of violence. He was also in All Saints, Packed to the Rafters & McLeod’s Daughters

Sadly Andy passed after an 18 month battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, aged 39. After his diagnosis Andy invited a camera to follow him throughout his journey as he explored both medical and alternative healing option in Australia, New Zealand and India. Led by the Academy Award® Nominated and multiple award winning filmmaker, Lilibet Foster, a camera followed Andy and his gorgeous family’s unfolding story, for over a year. Andy also filmed personal diaries and took photographs throughout his journey. Together with the support of Sam Maydew, producer, Andy’s manager and principal of talent management and production company, The Collective, who brought everyone together, the documentary has gotten to a certain point.
But this doco needs our help. They have created a Kickstarter project looking to fund the additional filming and editing needed to finish the film. For your contributions, you will not only be rewarded with amazing, limited edition and collector’s item gifts, but you will be helping to make Andy’s wish come true – to help or inspire others – because the plan is to distribute the completed film as widely as possible internationally.

Andy’s Spartacus co-star, and friend, Jai Courtney discusses the project in the video below along with a few sneak peaks of the film. Have tissues handy.

Please support this Kickstarter, even if it’s only $5. Let’s help make Andy’s wish come true. Let’s “Be Here Now” and live life in the present.

You can also follow the film’s progress on Facebook and Twitter

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation to this Kickstarter project. I’m just a huge fan of Andy’s and would love to see this story out there to help and inspire other.

The Tastes of Winter

This post is a Product Talk by Nuffnang. I was provided product to sample & review. All opinions herein are my own.

Ah winter, you have joined us with a vengeance this year, well at least in Tasmania. It’s been cold and windy, perfect weather for staying inside by the fire. One of my other favourite things in winter, apart from sitting by the fire, is a huge mug of steaming hot soup.

Homemade soup is a staple in our house each winter but when I can’t be bothered we often grabbed the single serve quick packet powdered soups for a warming lunch. My biggest concern with these is sometimes you really aren’t sure what’s in them. Enter Heinz with their new Squeeze and Stir soups. Heinz Squeeze & Stir sachets are a thick and rich soup concentrate paste, and unlike powdered cup soups, are made from fresh ripe tomatoes. Heinz Squeeze & Stir is low in fat and contains no artificial colours, flavours and no preservatives.

We were sent the Rich Tomato with Basil and Ripe Tomato & Vegetables to try and it was a fight for who would try which flavour.

Heinz Squeeze & Stir are super easy to prepare. Just squeeze into a mug, add boiling water, stir and if you’re like me, add a swirl of cream on top.

Verdict – I had Ripe Tomato & Vegetables and wasn’t sure what I would think. I’m a Big Red girl, just plain big red. This was a nice surprise. It had all the tomato flavour I expected plus an extra kick from the vegetable pieces. Hubby had the Rich Tomato with Basil. When I asked him what he thought, “it’s ok but not something I’d rush to buy”, was the answer. Hubby, for the record, isn’t a big fan of what he calls ‘fancy soups’ much preferring pumpkin, plain tomato, Chinese chicken & corn or potato & leek. If it’s homemade all the better. Meh, I tried a small bit & I though the touch of basil was a nice flavour. Miss K is a huge soup lover and I’m yet to find something she won’t eat (am yet to try her on Scottish broth – I don’t eat it or cook it so she’ll have to wait til my Mum makes it for Dad). She had a small amount of both and came back asking for seconds so I’ll call that a win!

Overall, I’m not sure if I’ll be adding these to our shopping any time soon. Maybe as a treat (or so I can try the Big Red one). They would great for chucking in your bag before work for a winter warmer at lunch or great for camping trips or even the footy (nothing beats watching sport in winter, rugged up and a hot mug of soup – unless it’s watching sport, inside, in front of a fire, with a hot mug of soup)

Heinz Squeeze & Stir will bring Australia’s number one wet soup flavour, Big Red Tomato*, along with Mediterranean Vegetable, Ripe Tomato & Vegetable and Rich Tomato with Basil into the convenient pack format. Individual Heinz Squeeze & Stir 70g sachets are now available for RRP$1.25 from all major supermarkets and independent retailers.

* Source: Nielsen Scan Data in Season 2011

Farewell

On Wednesday we farewelled my Grandmother. She was 96 years old.

This was taken at her 90th birthday.

We knew this was coming as she had been getting frailer and frailer. When mum suggested we visit last week I’m glad we did. Hubby, Miss K & I went to visit her last Friday afternoon. She passed shortly after we left.

My cousin did her funeral and it was lovely. Exactly what she would have wanted. And then we all got together as a family afterwards. It was great catching up with cousins even though it was a sad occasion.

Mother’s Day ideas

Mother’s Day is upon us again (yup, its this coming Sunday, 13th May) and I thought I’d share with you some of the great ideas I’d found while looking for ideas.

It’s probably a little to late for this lot, but maybe next year.