Flying by ...

Now that I'm back teaching full-time - life has taken a new sense of normal.  I haven't blogged for ages (well, about five months?); Facebook doesn't see me during the week, and my daily phone calls to amazing friends are limited to weekends - and if that sometimes :-(

BUT ... I love being back at work.  It is working amazingly well for our family.  DH is an absolute star, juggling home and the business.  The kids have settled into a wonderful day-care centre with staff who are caring, attentive and just brilliant. 

I'm starting to feel a bit of a writing mojo coming on - so at the moment it is just simmering away in the background.  Lots has happened in the past two years since our last baby was born.  Lots spiritually - I am in such a different space than then (in a good way!); family wise, job wise ... learning to just settle back, take stock, talk less, think more and then move forward again :-)

Off now to finish my prep for the week - see you on the flipside - hopefully sooner rather than later.

Sewing

Hey there ...

I have to admit it has been a month ... a very busy filled month - which has meant meaningful blog posts have taken a back seat.  I have enjoyed just reading a few of my favorites in my spare time, but did not feel that I had a whole lot of anything coherant to contribute during this time.

BUT ... exciting news (and no, I am NOT pregnant) ... I was gifted my mum's sewing machine after my one (an old second hand low level brand machine) died.  This is like the gift that keeps on giving.  This year I am working on upskilling myself and doing much more sewing for my family.  Along with my family - I am hoping to upcycle and create things to sell.  This money will hopefully fund the sewing for family and what my friend and I term the "pretty ladies fund" - given that there are two little ladies in this house as well - I hope it goes well.

You can have a nosy at www.facebook.com/fiveundernz

So ... along with sewing, study (part time this year, I am hoping to complete a Certificate in Business), the kidlets ... this blog will get back up and running to profile some of the 5 Under products, review known products as I am able, and generally just be there for the chitter chatter of the somewhat coherent variety :-)

Thirty-two

Today I turn thirty-two.  I don't feel much older than yesterday, but I love birthday's and am totally excited to be able to celebrate with my family.  I got spoilt with a few kitchen presents from DH and the kids ... we'll try out the new chip maker this evening.

Here is me with my munchkins this morning ... We'd just had a morning tea treat of sausage on bread ...

Cutest pants ever

A friend gave me some of his old shirts ... Nice thick cotton long sleeved versions.  Since they didn't fit DH I decided at I was going to re-purpose them into a few dresses for my small girls ... First attempt didn't work, but i still had two great long sleeves.  Cue internet search for a tutorial on how to make pants from a mens dress shirt.  After reading through a few of them, i settled on the one that had step by step pictures.

Over all, very happy with them ... And plan on making a few more pairs.  

Special bowl

Do you have any bowls, platters, glasses, kitchen bots that make you smile whenever you use them.  I have two ... My whisk, which my oma won for me when i was 12 in a Chelsea Sugar baking competition, and it is still going strong( although missing at the moment, suspect it is in miss fours drawer) .... The other is a plain glass bowl.

When i first started going out with my husband, he was living in the shearers quarters.  When i came over to visit, being the nice girlfriend, I wanted to bake, but baking bowls are not standard gear on shearers quarters.  So, the next time we were in town together he picked out this one for me to use when at his place.  It has a nice lip on the edge to hold onto, and is big enough to mix a roasting dish size cake (just, if you are super careful).  Trying to impress him, i tried a dutch recipe boeterkook (kinda like almond shortbread) .... It didn't work so great, so i went back to the Edmonds ccokbook after that.

So, what are your favourite kitchen items, and what memories do they hold?

Um .... No

The reason we now leave packing the dishwasher till missy is in the highchair. She loves it!

Make now

Seriously, if you have ten dollars to spare, buy some ground almonds and try this ....

Recipe from www.thedutchtable.com, i omitted the lemon zest and used one cup ground almond and one cup icing sugar and a generous glug of almond essence.

New Knickers

I don't know if you have ever tried to buy knickers for little girls with tinsy tiney bottoms, but the fit doesn't work for my little miss.  Last year i purchased a very awesome pattern from That Darn Kat from Esty to make a boy leg type knicker that did not have to use elastic.  They cover the entire bottom area which is an added bonus for decency and modesty.  I made eight last ya for her in size two, which has fitted snugly, but in the last few weeks have suddenly become a tad too snug ... Given that I had the material in the cupboard I couldn't justify going out and buying her new ones.  So, with the kids playing reasonably nicely this morning, i got some whipped up.  I have nine pairs for her in total, so have made four and a half up, will hopefully finish the other four and a half within the next few days.  If you have a basic sewing machine, can sew a straight stitch, you can make these.

  Last year I also   adapted it into a bigger size for myself - while they are certainly  not super sexy seducing material (Ii call them my Bridget Jones knickers) they are comfy and the cotton lycra has worn very well. 

Jehovah Rapha

Last week an ex-student and friend of mine was in a serious car crash ...
Believing for healing.

Source

Knitting Projects

Source

This is my next project .. Herring (a knitted cowl)

Well, as soon as the yarn and buttons arrive, but I'm not in a rush ... I won some yarn from Little Fantail and while I would love to knit something for the kids, they will just outgrow it, so after some thought, since the pattern is by the owner of Little Fantail, I thought it would be a great winter wear.

The yarn comes with some cute pukeko buttons which I plan on featuring on the cowl, and the wool will be dyed to match pukeko colors ... so excited!!!!

One week in

The start to the year has gotten us off on an amazing foot, the kids are happy, DH and I are working towards a bit of a different system that helps us both to get things done in a more organised manner.  I am enjoying my FB group Mama's with Menus, and giving myself a fifteen minute dash challenge each day.  My challenge to myself this year is to get top of the grocery budget while ensuring the family eats well and healthy.

There is still three weeks before school heads back, and we are looking forward to a visit to Pukaha Mt Bruce tomorrow with friends to check out the baby kiwis and eels.  Last year we bought a season pass, and have been pretty much monthly since, it is a very kid friendly place, and seeing it throughout the year has meant we have actually spotted many of the smaller birds as well.  

I haven't made any news years resolutions this year.  It is all too easy to resolve to do something and then disappointed when life happens and things get put to the wayside ... Instead I want to just rest in the knowledge that I am loved, and in that knowledge pass the love on to others.  I am hoping to do a few new things, but we will see how they pan out, I am not in a huge rush, so if they happen in one or in four months time, we will go with it.  

Happy New Year

Source

Little Fantail

Right ... this is a just a quick shout out, hopefully back with some q&a from the CEO herself, but for now, if you've got a chance check out Little Fantail on Facebook.  Created by a friend of mine, I am constantly amazing how creative she is and following her passion! 

Check out her Facebook page and have a drool over the yarn

KIWI MUMMY BLOGS: REVIEW – BABY BELLY BUTTONS

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KIWI MUMMY BLOGS: REVIEW – BABY BELLY BUTTONS

I was lucky enough to be chosen to review a “Baby Belly Button”  via Kiwi Mummy Blogs which I was able to on-gift to two friends (one due Jan, one due March) who will try out it’s practicality and I’ll report back then as well J.   It is always great to be able to gift on products that our usual budget wouldn’t cater for – thank you KMM and Baby Belly Buttons!

So … the Nitti gritty details …

This is a fun and unique  idea where you can “create a unique memento of your baby's first moment on earth with a Baby Belly Button and add style to your baby's umbilical clamp.”  You can choose from a variety of colours and styles and what I liked best was that for those of us who didn’t find out baby’s gender, there were still lots of options.

I had a bit of a fiddle with the clip, and it is clean, tidy, sturdy and would nicely cover that hospital yellow clamp with a bit of bling.   Order it (they promise delivery within 7-10 days) ; pop it into the hospital bag and once bubba has arrived, it can be simply clipped onto the clamp – easy peasy – and it doesn’t add much bulk to the clamp, so shouldn’t get in the way of the newborn nappy either.

The part I liked best was the presentation box.  I don’t know about you – but in my keepsake box I have five yellow (probably eew gross by now) clamps sitting somewhere at the bottom.  This clip is packaged in a small box (7cm by 5cm approx.) that magnetically holds shut, and the clip is cushioned inside.  GREAT presentation – especially if you are buying one to on-gift,  or are planning on popping it into that memento box.

KIWI MADE – this was the biggest HUGE incentive for me as it is something I look for when  gifting or ordering anything baby related.   I love buying and supporting NZ business (especially smaller ones) and the Baby Belly Buttons are made right here in NZ out of safe, non-toxic materials. 

Price range:  Above $29

If you are very sentimental, a hoarder or want a gift that is out of the box – then this is the product for you (or if your loved one is one of the above).    

I probably wouldn’t get it if I wasn’t one of the above – as the price range would limit me personally.  My product also came with a pen (VERY handy to have in the hospital bag) and a bookmark with a list of hospital essentials for mum/dad to check off (and the list was nice and sensible, no namby pamby suggestions) – little extras any new parent would appreciate. 

ps ... Cuddly toy is my daughter's ... Thought it would make a cute photo!

Teary

You know, there are just some things that make you go all teary at certain times - songs, stories, end of year school concerts ... Spot the mushy mum.

 Yip - I did, totally got weepy as I watched my two big boys stand with their classmates and sing the school song, followed by being awesome dogs in a jump jam rendition of "Who let the dogs out". We have an amazing school community - and I'm amazed at the energy their teacher had towards the end of the year, pulling it all together.

 I thought I would share with you the song that's gotten me teary this week ... I love his music, find the words have meaning - and make you think. Hope you enjoy (don't watch if you don't have tissues!!) Mark Schultz - Everything to Me 

Birthday season

My middle child has just turned four.  I have no idea where that has gone ...
Life is trucking along amazingly - I have a review for you nearly written up - lots of ideas in my head and lots of photos of cooking to share ...

Until I manage to get the birthday cake pictures onto the computer ... I hope you enjoy this view from my deck the other morning.  I love it!

Taking a Break

Hello ... I have been taking a bit of a break from the blogging lately - it was getting to a stage where I didn't have anything that useful to say - and I need to concentrate of my real life wonders .... I am so blessed with them and the husband and friends.  Hoping to get back into it with some new ideas ... possibly a switch of direction with some more food/product focused blogs.

Some quotes

Keep on keeping on ...

It has been a full on weekend at our house.  My big boy (nearly six) complained of a sore hip on friday and i put it down to fridayitis and bundled him off to school with promises of checking up on him at lunch.  He was fine at lunch, didn't do pe, but was still grizzly when he got home.  By 1am and four wake ups in tears and owies we decided i would take him into A&E  .... Best case scenario, nothing wrong and since it is the middle of the night we get seen quickly and are home for breakfast .... Worst case ... Well ... Turned out to be a case of blood tests, CAT scan and Xray ... Then off to theatre at 10am to have a germy appendix removed.  

So thankful that we got in in time, as while it hadn't ruptured, it was leaking.  He spent the next three nights in the children's ward, with my mum and DH taking turns and dh staying overnights.  i was camping at home as we were down to one car (hopefully fixed soon) and Miss A is still breastfeed very regularly, day and night.

We are thankful for the care from the ED and Theatre and Ward, the doctors and nurses were amazing.  Have a tired wee boy home now again ... Siblings all over the moon to have him back ... A week off school at least, so will be just hanging out here for a while longer.