So we've been enjoying our meals this week, even with the restrictions I placed on our budget. And for last night's dinner, I decided to make the fried rice as I had a few veggies which needed to get used up... but then my mother in law asked if she & hubby could come for dinner (as it works well with his bus timetable some days)... and offered to give $20 towards dinner... so I gladly accepted the offer & not only did we have fried rice, but also a red chicken curry, steamed rice and spring rolls! Yummo! I didn't end up spending more than the $20 on the extra ingredients either, so I'm still going to claim that we're sticking to our budget, even if we could indulge for that night :)
Saying that, I'm just going to share the fried rice recipe. I love this rice, so do the kids. It's not a very authentic recipe, but hey, I'm not claiming to be authentic in any of my cooking.... so here it is!
Day 4 - Fried Rice
200g garlic prawns (I buy them from the deli section at Woolies) - $3.50
200g diced bacon (also from Woolies) - $1.40
2 eggs, beaten - $1.00
2 cups cooked rice (preferably cold too {not frozen}- use the leftovers from the meal on Day 1) - $ 0.00
1 brown onion (sliced thinly) - $0.80
1 cup fresh veggies (I used broccoli) - $0.80
1 cup frozen mix vegies (I love the peas, corn & capsicum mix) - $0.80
Total: $8.30
Negligible items:
2 Tbs rice bran oil
1 Tbs sesame oil (don't worry if you don't have it)
1 Tbs oyster sauce
2 Tbs light soy sauce (or to taste)
White pepper (to taste)
1. Heat oil in wok. Add beaten eggs to hot wok, wait until almost cooked, flip over, cook til just starting to brown. Remove from wok & chop up.
2. Add prawns to wok, turn frequently, remove when just cooked (just turning orange/pink).
3. Add diced bacon to wok, keep it moving until cooked to your liking (they'll stick to the wok if you're not careful!). Remove from wok.
4. Add more oil to wok if needed, add onion & fresh veggies. Toss for a few minutes til they begin to soften. Add frozen veggies. Toss til cooked. Add rice, sesame oil, sauces and pepper. Toss through til rice is coloured by sauce. Add back eggs, prawns & bacon. Stir through until all hot. Serve!
Easy easy, and very yummy! If you do have some spring rolls in the freezer, you can cook them while making the rice, they just add a little something more exciting for the kids :)
So now you have my favourite Fried Rice recipe... let me know if you try it, and if you like it! Day 5, tonight, will be Salmon patties, oven chips & corn cobbettes... looking forward to that one!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Success for days 2 & 3!
Wow, ok, dinner last night (Day 2) went down a treat, so tonight it's leftovers & a little extra... I can't believe how much they ate last night, so I'm adding some bread and some oven bake chips to stretch the meal further tonight... so pleased with it that I simply must give you the recipe. Though technically it's not my recipe, I got it from my sister, who got it from her mother-in-law (thanks Nanna George!).
Day 2 (&3)- Corned Silverside with Pasta & Veggies
I bought my corned beef from Woolworths, and I got the salt reduced lean one (keeping the heart healthy lol), I got one just under 1kg, but I think next time I'll go bigger, somewhere around 1.3kg so I'd have a decent amount for two meals. As for the chips I'll be using tonight to fill the tummies, I buy mine from the Spud Shed, they're only $0.99 per bag! Awesome! And they're from Manjimup, so buying local, yeah!
1 corned silverside (0.9kg) - $9.80
250g long pasta (I just used barilla spag no 5) - $1.15
1/2 400g tin diced or crushed tomatoes - $0.49
2 handfuls grated cheese (about 1.5 cups?) - already in fridge, estimate $1.50
5 frozen corn cobbettes - $1.20
1 handful frozen beans - already in freezer, estimate $0.75
1 cup vinegar - already in pantry, estimate $0.90
1 brown onion (finely diced) - $0.80
Negligible items:
1 Tbs minced garlic
1 Tbs rice bran oil
1 clove
2 bay leaves
1 Tbs brown sugar
Total Cost: $16.59
1. Read recipe on corned silverside (if you don't have it, I'll add it down the bottom). Cook silverside.
2. When your silverside has 30mins left to cook, start your pasta dish. Boil water in pot on hot plates & cook pasta as per directions. Drain pasta, rinse under cold water & splash with a small amount of oil (to prevent it sticking into a mass of pasta while you cook your sauce) and leave sitting in the colander.
3. In same pot (that the pasta was in), heat some oil, add garlic & onion, over medium heat, and soften. While this is happening, get your water on to cook your vegies (or steamer, whatever you prefer).
4. Add half tin of tomatoes to onion & garlic mix, stir til hot and add pasta back into the pot. Stir it all through. Add your cheese to the pasta dish, stir until it's all melted through, then remove from heat.
5. Remove silverside from water, and place on chopping board. Add vegies as needed to pot/steamer & cook while carving your meat.
6. Serve a few slices of silverside, a generous dollop of pasta and your vegies with some freshly cracked black pepper, and yummo! It will be gone in minutes!
The kids loved this, Big M loved it, I loved it. So tonight I will be heating up the leftovers, and serve it with some bread, chips & broccoli... looking forward to it. Tomorrow night's recipe is ... I can't decide yet actually, either a smoked chicken caesar salad, or fried rice... will let you know.
The recipe for how to cook the silverside:
1 corned beef silverside
1 cup vinegar
1 Tbs brown sugar
2 bay leaves
1 clove
Place all ingredients in a saucepan large enough to fit the meat when it's completely submerged. Top up with water until meat is covered (it may float a little that is fine). Bring to a slow boil (not rapid like you could for pasta), and cook 60mins per kg. Done!
I'm rather enjoying this $60 challenge, I'm feeling a bit more like a supermum :) Might have to keep it going!
Day 2 (&3)- Corned Silverside with Pasta & Veggies
I bought my corned beef from Woolworths, and I got the salt reduced lean one (keeping the heart healthy lol), I got one just under 1kg, but I think next time I'll go bigger, somewhere around 1.3kg so I'd have a decent amount for two meals. As for the chips I'll be using tonight to fill the tummies, I buy mine from the Spud Shed, they're only $0.99 per bag! Awesome! And they're from Manjimup, so buying local, yeah!
1 corned silverside (0.9kg) - $9.80
250g long pasta (I just used barilla spag no 5) - $1.15
1/2 400g tin diced or crushed tomatoes - $0.49
2 handfuls grated cheese (about 1.5 cups?) - already in fridge, estimate $1.50
5 frozen corn cobbettes - $1.20
1 handful frozen beans - already in freezer, estimate $0.75
1 cup vinegar - already in pantry, estimate $0.90
1 brown onion (finely diced) - $0.80
Negligible items:
1 Tbs minced garlic
1 Tbs rice bran oil
1 clove
2 bay leaves
1 Tbs brown sugar
Total Cost: $16.59
1. Read recipe on corned silverside (if you don't have it, I'll add it down the bottom). Cook silverside.
2. When your silverside has 30mins left to cook, start your pasta dish. Boil water in pot on hot plates & cook pasta as per directions. Drain pasta, rinse under cold water & splash with a small amount of oil (to prevent it sticking into a mass of pasta while you cook your sauce) and leave sitting in the colander.
3. In same pot (that the pasta was in), heat some oil, add garlic & onion, over medium heat, and soften. While this is happening, get your water on to cook your vegies (or steamer, whatever you prefer).
4. Add half tin of tomatoes to onion & garlic mix, stir til hot and add pasta back into the pot. Stir it all through. Add your cheese to the pasta dish, stir until it's all melted through, then remove from heat.
5. Remove silverside from water, and place on chopping board. Add vegies as needed to pot/steamer & cook while carving your meat.
6. Serve a few slices of silverside, a generous dollop of pasta and your vegies with some freshly cracked black pepper, and yummo! It will be gone in minutes!
The kids loved this, Big M loved it, I loved it. So tonight I will be heating up the leftovers, and serve it with some bread, chips & broccoli... looking forward to it. Tomorrow night's recipe is ... I can't decide yet actually, either a smoked chicken caesar salad, or fried rice... will let you know.
The recipe for how to cook the silverside:
1 corned beef silverside
1 cup vinegar
1 Tbs brown sugar
2 bay leaves
1 clove
Place all ingredients in a saucepan large enough to fit the meat when it's completely submerged. Top up with water until meat is covered (it may float a little that is fine). Bring to a slow boil (not rapid like you could for pasta), and cook 60mins per kg. Done!
I'm rather enjoying this $60 challenge, I'm feeling a bit more like a supermum :) Might have to keep it going!
Monday, February 7, 2011
How thrifty are you?
A recent post on facebook received interesting and contrasting comments from my friends. I asked if anyone thinks it's possible to feed a family of five, for 10 days, with $60. At first the comments were "impossible", "not in this country"... but then I realised I forgot to say that I had quite a lot of staples in the pantry & freezer, and that we had enough supplies for breakfast for that period and only really need to buy bread & milk to complete the breakfast an lunch menu, sorry girls! So the real deal is asking for 10 days of dinners for $60... minus milk & bread expenses lol!
I then started receiving recipe ideas, and suppliers of great budget meat (thanks Rachel)... so I have come up with a meal plan for the next 10 days, and I will gladly share with you all the recipes, and the family's acceptance of the meals lol.
Please note, when I say family of five, there are only two adults, a 6yr old, a 4yr old and an 18mth old... so really we need to make 4 serves per meal (as the two little ones would only eat one between them).
Day One - Apricot Chicken, Rice & Broccoli
Yes, that meal we remember from our childhood, the gooey, slimy chicken skin, on ugly chicken bones and huge chunks of apricot... ew! I've got my own little version of it here... I do use free range chicken, plus Riviana Ezy Basmati rice which makes the meal a little more expensive, but can be cheaper if you use generic (like I did for the home brand apricot nectar) ... so here's the recipe:
2 skinless chicken breasts, diced (around 500-700g) - $11.27
1 x 400ml can apricot nectar - $1.49
1 packet french onion soup - $0.99
1 brown onion (finely diced) - $0.40
1/2 head broccoli - already in the fridge, estimate $1.20
2 cups basmati rice - already in pantry, estimate $2.00
Total Cost = $17.35 (eek, I know!)
Negligible Items...
1 Tbs Rice Bran Oil
1 Tbs butter
1. In oven & flame proof casserole dish (that has a lid), heat oil & butter over medium heat. Add onions, soften. Increase heat, add chicken & lightly brown (only just a little, otherwise it will dry out).
2. In small bowl/mixing jug, combine nectar & soup mix. Pour over the chicken & stir through until heated.
3. Place in pre-heated 180 C oven with lid on for 30 mins.
4. Cook rice as per packet directions (I do mine in the microwave which takes 15mins, check your method time to match up with serving time for dinner).
5. Get a saucepan of boiling water ready for broccoli (to steam or boil). If steaming in microwave, get that ready now too.
6. Take chicken out of oven, return to hot plate, remove lid & heat again, let it come to the boil, reduce heat & let it simmer until sauce thickens. Cook broccoli now.
7. Serve! Keep leftover rice for another meal (I had about 2 cups rice, now in my freezer for fried rice later this week).
Result from the family - all the plates were clean! From Big M to Little D, dinner was totally polished off. Plus we had a serve left for the freezer (for lunch) and rice for another meal. I really wish I took a photo, because it actually looked so good. So much better than what I'd had as a child. The only thing I would've like to have added would be some slivered almonds to add some more texture to the meal, but they were used up in the last batch of chocolate muffins Big M made :)
So yes, Day 1 has been a success... tomorrow's dinner is my sister's mother-in-law's Corned Silverside & Pasta (which supposedly lasts for two meals)... we shall see how that goes tomorrow!
I would love to receive any more thrifty recipes from my readers, it would be great to share them with each other!
I then started receiving recipe ideas, and suppliers of great budget meat (thanks Rachel)... so I have come up with a meal plan for the next 10 days, and I will gladly share with you all the recipes, and the family's acceptance of the meals lol.
Please note, when I say family of five, there are only two adults, a 6yr old, a 4yr old and an 18mth old... so really we need to make 4 serves per meal (as the two little ones would only eat one between them).
Day One - Apricot Chicken, Rice & Broccoli
Yes, that meal we remember from our childhood, the gooey, slimy chicken skin, on ugly chicken bones and huge chunks of apricot... ew! I've got my own little version of it here... I do use free range chicken, plus Riviana Ezy Basmati rice which makes the meal a little more expensive, but can be cheaper if you use generic (like I did for the home brand apricot nectar) ... so here's the recipe:
2 skinless chicken breasts, diced (around 500-700g) - $11.27
1 x 400ml can apricot nectar - $1.49
1 packet french onion soup - $0.99
1 brown onion (finely diced) - $0.40
1/2 head broccoli - already in the fridge, estimate $1.20
2 cups basmati rice - already in pantry, estimate $2.00
Total Cost = $17.35 (eek, I know!)
Negligible Items...
1 Tbs Rice Bran Oil
1 Tbs butter
1. In oven & flame proof casserole dish (that has a lid), heat oil & butter over medium heat. Add onions, soften. Increase heat, add chicken & lightly brown (only just a little, otherwise it will dry out).
2. In small bowl/mixing jug, combine nectar & soup mix. Pour over the chicken & stir through until heated.
3. Place in pre-heated 180 C oven with lid on for 30 mins.
4. Cook rice as per packet directions (I do mine in the microwave which takes 15mins, check your method time to match up with serving time for dinner).
5. Get a saucepan of boiling water ready for broccoli (to steam or boil). If steaming in microwave, get that ready now too.
6. Take chicken out of oven, return to hot plate, remove lid & heat again, let it come to the boil, reduce heat & let it simmer until sauce thickens. Cook broccoli now.
7. Serve! Keep leftover rice for another meal (I had about 2 cups rice, now in my freezer for fried rice later this week).
Result from the family - all the plates were clean! From Big M to Little D, dinner was totally polished off. Plus we had a serve left for the freezer (for lunch) and rice for another meal. I really wish I took a photo, because it actually looked so good. So much better than what I'd had as a child. The only thing I would've like to have added would be some slivered almonds to add some more texture to the meal, but they were used up in the last batch of chocolate muffins Big M made :)
So yes, Day 1 has been a success... tomorrow's dinner is my sister's mother-in-law's Corned Silverside & Pasta (which supposedly lasts for two meals)... we shall see how that goes tomorrow!
I would love to receive any more thrifty recipes from my readers, it would be great to share them with each other!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
cinnamon & ginger
ahh, the smell of Christmas!
Yes, it's nearly here, only 10 more sleeps until Jesus' birthday! I love cinnamon and ginger, baking cakes, cookies, gingerbread... filling the home with their beautiful warm fragrance... ahhh... yes, I have just baked some mini carrot cakes. It the church's leaders & volunteers end of year function tonight, bring your own dessert is the "theme" lol. And although I'm not attending, Big M is, so I've baked some gorgeous carrot cakes, and will ice them with cream cheese frosting, so yummy.
Thinking of food, how crazy can we get this time of year? Christmas Day ends up becoming one looooooooong feast, eating with this family, eating with that family, over this house to see those friends etc. And how expensive is it?! We love our family, and we want to put on the absolute best meal for them, but why does it end up costing so much? We always over eat, then feel "eaters remorse" afterwards. Solution? A budget friendly, tummy blessing meal! Although I am blessed enough this year to not have to cook for the whole family, I do have a few little recipes up my sleeve which I'm happy to share with you all, if it should help stretch that dollar further this Christmas.
Entrees? H'ors doeuvres? Is that even how to spell them? Honestly, we're not in France, we're Aussies... if we can't spell it, we don't need it! More often than not, our Christmas day Down Under is hot hot hot! For pre-dinner/lunch nibblies I usually serve a bowl of nuts, a bowl of soy crisps (or you can get them in the same bag at Coles - their lime ones are so good!) and a bowl of Christmas m&m's (this keeps the kids happy lol). Ok, I'm not too fancy, sorry, I'd love to have amazingly beautiful foods spread across the table, but in reality we don't need it, and it all costs $$$. So yes, nuts, soy crisps and a little something sweet to tide us over until the meal is finally cooked.
The main event? Well a few years ago I had a budget shortage, and in the end, totally loved everything I made on the day... plus I felt good after eating it! We had: roast lamb (about 1.5kg off the bone - obviously the most expensive part of the meal), chipolatas wrapped in bacon, roasted garlic potatoes, honey mustard roasted parsnips, bacon blessed brussel sprouts, bread rolls and gravy (made from pan juices of course!). This managed to feed 7 adults and 2 toddlers, all for around $70 (including pre dinner snacks).
Blissful endings... I can't actually remember what we had for dessert that year... sometimes I make Nigella's Black Forest Trifle, it's absolutely divine, and looks amazing. Sometimes my mother in law will just serve meringues with fruit & whipped cream and then later on have the steamed pudding with custard... *drools*... lets face it, we all want something super yummy for dessert, but if you just have a little, you'll feel great & still enjoy the decadence of the day. It's the overloading of the bowl we need to watch out for!
Looking for a special drink idea, something a little fancy, not too much fuss, and non alcoholic? I love getting two long carafes (1.5L each) and pouring in each 500ml cranberry juice, 630ml sparkling water (cheapo brand of course), 2 Tbs caster sugar and adding sliced lime & ice cubes (crushed would be better, but we don't have one of those fancy schmancy fridges)... it's delish! So refreshing, the kids think they're having a super treat, and you know what's actually gone in it!
I think the most important thing we need to consider when catering for Christmas is think of our family and what they really need. Don't go over the top with loads of rich, buttery, oily foods. Make your meal with love, time and purpose. They're the most memorable... especially the meals where you've made them with a little too much love & time and they come out a little dry or charcoalled lol, they're the meals that'll be remembered!
Yes, it's nearly here, only 10 more sleeps until Jesus' birthday! I love cinnamon and ginger, baking cakes, cookies, gingerbread... filling the home with their beautiful warm fragrance... ahhh... yes, I have just baked some mini carrot cakes. It the church's leaders & volunteers end of year function tonight, bring your own dessert is the "theme" lol. And although I'm not attending, Big M is, so I've baked some gorgeous carrot cakes, and will ice them with cream cheese frosting, so yummy.
Thinking of food, how crazy can we get this time of year? Christmas Day ends up becoming one looooooooong feast, eating with this family, eating with that family, over this house to see those friends etc. And how expensive is it?! We love our family, and we want to put on the absolute best meal for them, but why does it end up costing so much? We always over eat, then feel "eaters remorse" afterwards. Solution? A budget friendly, tummy blessing meal! Although I am blessed enough this year to not have to cook for the whole family, I do have a few little recipes up my sleeve which I'm happy to share with you all, if it should help stretch that dollar further this Christmas.
Entrees? H'ors doeuvres? Is that even how to spell them? Honestly, we're not in France, we're Aussies... if we can't spell it, we don't need it! More often than not, our Christmas day Down Under is hot hot hot! For pre-dinner/lunch nibblies I usually serve a bowl of nuts, a bowl of soy crisps (or you can get them in the same bag at Coles - their lime ones are so good!) and a bowl of Christmas m&m's (this keeps the kids happy lol). Ok, I'm not too fancy, sorry, I'd love to have amazingly beautiful foods spread across the table, but in reality we don't need it, and it all costs $$$. So yes, nuts, soy crisps and a little something sweet to tide us over until the meal is finally cooked.
The main event? Well a few years ago I had a budget shortage, and in the end, totally loved everything I made on the day... plus I felt good after eating it! We had: roast lamb (about 1.5kg off the bone - obviously the most expensive part of the meal), chipolatas wrapped in bacon, roasted garlic potatoes, honey mustard roasted parsnips, bacon blessed brussel sprouts, bread rolls and gravy (made from pan juices of course!). This managed to feed 7 adults and 2 toddlers, all for around $70 (including pre dinner snacks).
Blissful endings... I can't actually remember what we had for dessert that year... sometimes I make Nigella's Black Forest Trifle, it's absolutely divine, and looks amazing. Sometimes my mother in law will just serve meringues with fruit & whipped cream and then later on have the steamed pudding with custard... *drools*... lets face it, we all want something super yummy for dessert, but if you just have a little, you'll feel great & still enjoy the decadence of the day. It's the overloading of the bowl we need to watch out for!
Looking for a special drink idea, something a little fancy, not too much fuss, and non alcoholic? I love getting two long carafes (1.5L each) and pouring in each 500ml cranberry juice, 630ml sparkling water (cheapo brand of course), 2 Tbs caster sugar and adding sliced lime & ice cubes (crushed would be better, but we don't have one of those fancy schmancy fridges)... it's delish! So refreshing, the kids think they're having a super treat, and you know what's actually gone in it!
I think the most important thing we need to consider when catering for Christmas is think of our family and what they really need. Don't go over the top with loads of rich, buttery, oily foods. Make your meal with love, time and purpose. They're the most memorable... especially the meals where you've made them with a little too much love & time and they come out a little dry or charcoalled lol, they're the meals that'll be remembered!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Does absence make the heart grow fonder?
Hmm... good question? Did you miss me while I've been away? I haven't really been away anywhere in particular, just away from cyberspace really. While undertaking my challenge to become a far more "better woman" by following the great Proverbs scripture about the woman of great worth, I found I was spending less and less time here... sitting in front of the computer... and rightly so. It felt so good. I've been discovering how absent I was in my own home. My older two children can be quite independent at times, so I was allowing myself to escape online. Sadly I wasn't being very present for them. I don't think they realised it, so I'm pretty lucky I did before I became too addicted here :) Don't get me wrong, I'll still be blogging, and facebooking... but not as much as previous. I'm loving being more present with the family.
Which has also brought me to a decision. I'm no longer continuing with my "challenge". Whilst it's been inspiring, and also quite insightful, it's just not practical in my household. All I can ask is for God's grace to fill me, for his Spirit to guide me, so I can become a woman of great worth to my family and home. Toiling all day and night was exhausting, and actually wore me out more than blessed the family! So, yes, for now it is over :( But onto happier thoughts...
Today is the first day of December, and Christmas has hit our home! Mr F and I are constructing the Christmas tree, lights have been strung (well one small string of star shaped felt & led fairy lights)... and I'm hoping to get all the decorations up tonight so I can take some pics of the kids with the tree before they get to it and start playing with all the decorations. Those bells are just too tempting!
We're very much so looking forward to Christmas. This year we're having dinner at my husband's side, and for the first time in a long time, ALL of us will be there. All of my mother in law's children with their children, as well as her own mother, so the table will be full, the house will be full, and while I'm sure it will be exhausting, the kids are going to have an absolute ball with their cousins!
On a slightly less exciting note, now that my sister has moved interstate (with her hubby & kids) my side of the family has no plans for Christmas. My parents will do their own thing, and we'll just see them some time over the Christmas weekend... I like the informality, but it's sad that the kids can't see their cousins, Aunty, Uncle and grandparents (on this side) on the big day. I must admit, my ideal Christmas day is a big lunch with both sides of the family, then heading to the beach at night with our little family of 5 just to run off the last of our energy before a loooong sleep in on Boxing day! Maybe next year?
I've very much become a home body the past few months. Getting very domesticated. I've been sewing lots, and baking lots... I've even made my daughter a quilt! That's a surprise, but a very welcome one. I love it. I love making & baking and then giving it away. Gifts from the heart and the home. When have you been inspired to take time and effort to really give of yourself when giving a gift? I love the blessing it brings to someone when you drop a box of cookies off, or a tray of lasagne... try it, you'll like it!
Which has also brought me to a decision. I'm no longer continuing with my "challenge". Whilst it's been inspiring, and also quite insightful, it's just not practical in my household. All I can ask is for God's grace to fill me, for his Spirit to guide me, so I can become a woman of great worth to my family and home. Toiling all day and night was exhausting, and actually wore me out more than blessed the family! So, yes, for now it is over :( But onto happier thoughts...
Today is the first day of December, and Christmas has hit our home! Mr F and I are constructing the Christmas tree, lights have been strung (well one small string of star shaped felt & led fairy lights)... and I'm hoping to get all the decorations up tonight so I can take some pics of the kids with the tree before they get to it and start playing with all the decorations. Those bells are just too tempting!
We're very much so looking forward to Christmas. This year we're having dinner at my husband's side, and for the first time in a long time, ALL of us will be there. All of my mother in law's children with their children, as well as her own mother, so the table will be full, the house will be full, and while I'm sure it will be exhausting, the kids are going to have an absolute ball with their cousins!
On a slightly less exciting note, now that my sister has moved interstate (with her hubby & kids) my side of the family has no plans for Christmas. My parents will do their own thing, and we'll just see them some time over the Christmas weekend... I like the informality, but it's sad that the kids can't see their cousins, Aunty, Uncle and grandparents (on this side) on the big day. I must admit, my ideal Christmas day is a big lunch with both sides of the family, then heading to the beach at night with our little family of 5 just to run off the last of our energy before a loooong sleep in on Boxing day! Maybe next year?
I've very much become a home body the past few months. Getting very domesticated. I've been sewing lots, and baking lots... I've even made my daughter a quilt! That's a surprise, but a very welcome one. I love it. I love making & baking and then giving it away. Gifts from the heart and the home. When have you been inspired to take time and effort to really give of yourself when giving a gift? I love the blessing it brings to someone when you drop a box of cookies off, or a tray of lasagne... try it, you'll like it!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
A change is as good as a holiday?
I love that phrase, I like to try to believe it. This week it is true too! Yesterday I was all inspired to rearrange my home theatre room... it's the only true adult room in the house, although there is a box of toys for Darby and two gorgeous white leather beanie chairs for the boys... it's the room where no toys (except Darby's) are allowed, the room where it's kept clean all the time... that's what we anticipated anyway lol. I've been trying to stick to the rules, but it's currently the only room with a set top box on the tv (so we can get HD tv), and the boys looooove watching ABC2 in the afternoons, and if it keeps them happy while I'm cooking dinner, who am I to complain? Until it's 8pm and I want to relax and the room is filled with toys, bowls from afternoon tea, crumbs from afternoon tea, dirty socks from school... ew!
So yes, yesterday I got in there and vacuumed. Then rolled up the rug, rearranged the furniture. Vacuumed again. Rearranged the furniture again. Vacuumed yet again. Decided it was good, and sat down, hot, sweaty, but very happy with the result. I was all inspired to vacuum and mop the hard floors today, then rearrange the living area... but I've met with some opposition. There's a pile of clothes & miscellaneous in the front hallway... abandoned by my husband when he was cleaning out his part of the wardrobe the other night. Oh well, time to sit back and enjoy my "holiday" in the theatre :)
Now back to my challenge for the week, to wake before the family and prepare breakfast... how did I go? Well the first day I beaten to it, as Big M had baked muffins the night before, and the kids had ravenously devoured them while I was still trying to clear my foggy head... I still managed to get weetbix for Little D though :) I can't say I have succeeded for the remainder of the week, although the early mornings (even when the kids have woken before me), are serving me well. I've been achieving far more in the home than usual, and have been feeling more accomplished as a wife. So I might continue this challenge for another week to see where we end up!
So yes, yesterday I got in there and vacuumed. Then rolled up the rug, rearranged the furniture. Vacuumed again. Rearranged the furniture again. Vacuumed yet again. Decided it was good, and sat down, hot, sweaty, but very happy with the result. I was all inspired to vacuum and mop the hard floors today, then rearrange the living area... but I've met with some opposition. There's a pile of clothes & miscellaneous in the front hallway... abandoned by my husband when he was cleaning out his part of the wardrobe the other night. Oh well, time to sit back and enjoy my "holiday" in the theatre :)
Now back to my challenge for the week, to wake before the family and prepare breakfast... how did I go? Well the first day I beaten to it, as Big M had baked muffins the night before, and the kids had ravenously devoured them while I was still trying to clear my foggy head... I still managed to get weetbix for Little D though :) I can't say I have succeeded for the remainder of the week, although the early mornings (even when the kids have woken before me), are serving me well. I've been achieving far more in the home than usual, and have been feeling more accomplished as a wife. So I might continue this challenge for another week to see where we end up!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Can you ever be too inspired? Um.. yes
Well it has been a while hasn't it? We've been unwell if you didn't know... for the past 3.5 weeks we've been inundated with gastro, colds and lucky for me an ear infection resulting in a perforated ear drum, oh yay! So please excuse my lack of energy to blog :(
Today has been the first in many that I have felt the energy to get things done, to get out there and make things, to buy things, to bake things, to clean things, to organise things, to build things, to photograph things, to print things... oh dear... I think I have become over inspired! I've been catching up on other friend's blogs, thinking, ooh I love this that they've made, I wonder if I could... ohh I love that photo, maybe I should get my camera out... ooh I love what they made for dinner, I'll have to break the budget this week to try it... argh! So yes, I do think it is possible to become too inspired. I realised that I cannot do everything. Honestly, I cannot. What I need to do is focus on my family, what our needs are first, and then when I have spare time to let my creativity blossom (within budget lol).
So, I did allow myself to make some candles yesterday, I've had feathering palm wax just sitting in my laundry at home, taking up space, and of course it needed to be cleared... so I made a couple of pillar candles. These are the first pillar candles I've made, I normally make soy container candles (and usually in quite quirky containers found at the local salvo store). I have to admit, I'm surprised at how well they turned out...
Now I'm inspired to make lots for Christmas gifts... so my loved ones, you know what to expect :) Until the budget allows me to purchase further supplies, I must put my hand to something else... curtain making? No budget again... I have it! Mr R's birthday cupcakes for school! Not so budget dependent, yay!
So, how's my life application of the "wife of noble character" going? (silence lol) I'm glad you asked! I've been trying to support Big M in all his decisions, but it's rather easy to do so when one is lying on the couch unwell. So this week there is a new task... here's the scripture
13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
Oh dear... is this part of my "too much inspiration" issue? No, not really. I do purchase items to make things from at home... (and in the following scriptures there is more detail about handling money)... I love to try new dishes, food styles from other lands, although I do try to buy local, supporting our local farmers & businesses :)
It's the next part of the scripture I'm having trouble with... getting up before dawn to prepare breakfast for my household? Hmm... at the moment, Big M leaves the home at 6am to get to work... do I need to get up before him to make him breakfast? I have no worries in making breakky for the kids, although they usually get up before I do, I just went over the rule this morning actually, "mummy does not get up until 7, do not make loud noise until after the clock says 7"... the boys usually pop a dvd on, they like to wake at 6am now that the sun is up then thanks to all those people who voted against daylight saving, grrr, lol, just kidding, I don't blame you. As for planning the day's work for my servant girls, well that's non existent... I'm the servant girl! I already know what I need to get done... maybe that can by my inspiration this week... search out a couple of servant girls lol!
No, I guess the first part of verse 15 is my challenge for the week, my "inspiration"? Yeah... ok... YEAH... YES!!! Alright, I'm actually excited about it now... aiming to get up even before hubby, and prepare breakfast for the whole family! It is indeed a challenge. I'll let you know how we go!
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