February 23, 2014

my family and me - 8/52



Out there, it's felt like a sad world this week. So we hang on tight and focus on things like family, puppy smooches and friends feasting and sleeping over. It's a sunny Sunday here, perfect for just hanging out together. Wishing you all peace and a happy week ahead.








Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

February 16, 2014

my family and me - 7/52

just an ordinary school morning.

everyone was happy and there were lots of 'have a good day' hugs.

so this picture was snapped.





I love it.


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

February 12, 2014

easy Lightning McQueen birthday cake - cars, cars, cars


This is a birthday cake from last year in our house. Let's just say we went through a significant "Cars" period. I made this cake for the Bowler's 4th birthday. He adored it.


Kids birthday cakes don't have to be overly complex to have impact. This cake was two round cakes wedged together to make an "eight" or track shape. I smoothed buttercream icing all over it (the Bowler wanted purple) and then formed the track using "dirt" made from crushed up biscuits.





Oreos all the way around the edge give a wheel look to it all. And let me say that "freckle" lollies make fabulous track barriers and fencing. A little bit of piped on green grass, some white track lines and some of the Bowlers very own "Cars" and here is our amazing and delicious race track.




Our boy's eyes lit up when he saw it and the sugar rush was long and hysterical.




Thomas will most likely always be number one though!



February 11, 2014

lego exhibition january 2014 - melbourne 'brickvention'


Day by day Lego grows in popularity in our house. The boys both received some for Christmas and have spent some happy hours over the holidays building bricks. They each play with the Lego in different ways. The Batsman loves to make models by following the step by step instructions. He is largely exact in his building standards. The Bowler is a little more 'free form' in his designs and loves to create all kinds of weird and wonderful.

However they use it, it's easy to see that they are learning and growing each time they do. When I heard about Brickvention - a big Lego exhibit at Melbourne's Exhibition Building, it seemed like the perfect time to buy tickets and go. The tickets were cheap too....around $12 per adult and $6 for the kids. Bargain priced entertainment is always welcome during school holidays isn't it?

We forgot to take a big camera so here are a few of my phone pics. I thought you might like to see them. The kids really loved seeing the exhibits, particularly those with movement. The Batsman found the crowded room a little overwhelming but there was space for him to take a breather when he needed to including some areas where kids and big kids could sit and do some Lego building.















































One thing I noticed was that of all the exhibits, there was only one built from the 'Friends' Lego. All of the other exhibits were built from traditional bricks. The visit was great fun and finished off with gelati was one to remember.

Do your kids do Lego? Love it? Hate it?

February 10, 2014

my family and me - 6/52





our amazing big boy turned 7
we celebrated with a pool party at our local
there was swimming and shenanigans, cake and big smiles
such a special family day






February 7, 2014

mindful spending - buy nothing new in february



my last purchase before the beginning of the challenge. the chairs were secondhand on a buy, swap and sell site


I wouldn't necessarily call myself a big spender but when I'm really honest I can see a bit of a pattern of "shopaholic behaviour". In the years I have been a stay at home mum (pretty much for the last seven) online shopping has become a great friend and convenience to me. When the demands of babyhood, toddlerhood, autism and its associated therapies and appointments were too much, I didn't have to brave the shopping centres if I didn't feel up to it. I could browse, search, buy and have delivered pretty much anything from the comfort of my lounge room. And, if I'm honest, in those earlier days of babyhood where you are doing the sleep, change nappy, feed, change nappy, play change nappy, sleep and repeat over and over, online shopping also became a bit of entertainment, an escape of a little bliss and certainly a way to feel like I was organised and in control "when I had bought everything I needed". It was never really about stuff for me - I am not a clothing or shoes or handbags fiend - it was always much more about the boys and the house and "being organised"......hello IKEA spendathon to get organised anyone? How about Aldi? Anyone else love Aldi as pathologically as me? So, putting it mildly, in the last 7 years I have bought LOADS of stuff and yes, the parcel delivery postie and I are on first name terms.

I have also become someone, or maybe always was, who likes to have "plenty" of food on hand. The Captain regularly refers to our pantry and freezer as "the bunker" and "the coolroom" respectively, such is the volume of food stored. Friends joke that in the event of apocalypse they will make their way here because they know they will be fed for at least 6 months. Because I cook pretty much everything from scratch I don't waste a lot of food but I don't ever get to the very back of the shelves and cupboards either.

So, a new year, and time for some reflection, some change and some thinking about how I spend and stockpile. For the month of February I have challenged our household (me mainly) to buy nothing new. Nothing but essentials like petrol. Fresh food essentials like milk, fruit and vegetables only. The goals of this type of challenge have been widely explored and documented on lots of thrifty blogs but for me it's these things:

  • buy what we need only, not what we might need or think we want
  • see how much we save
  • think about what necessity is and how we define it
  • reflecting on the psychology of the "buy" and what it means for me
  • create meals and snacks from what we have, not by buying new ingredients
  • thinking about what we can swap and sell and give away

I am 7 days in and it's going pretty well. When I go near any shops I can feel my "mindful" shopper brain segment kick in and remind me of the challenge. I made a short trip to the supermarket and managed to stick to my essentials list all bar one item. I have joined a local "buy, swap and sell" group on FB and am slowly working on selling or giving away our excess. It feels good to be thinking more about what I buy and the money I spend and I am sure that our mortgage, the Captain and our 'likely to be groaning under the weight of stuff' house will feel good about it too.

I will post here a little later on in the month and let you know how I am going.

Wish me luck.

February 3, 2014

my family and me - 5/52

When I looked through the week's photos I hadn't taken a shot with me in it. Even on the first day of school I stood behind the camera. And then I found this.




This little bloke has become part of our family faster than I could have imagined. He has stolen a piece of my heart and here he is stealing time resting on my belly. So in a way, I'm there too.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone