Who am I kidding? The blog I didn't have time to write

I constantly have ideas popping into my head of great posts to make and I jot them down on post its, in my one of three notebooks and on old business cards I carry around in what I call a handbag (really a bag with so much stuff I can't find anything in it type!) and also in my mobile. But getting the time to blog them is really rather hard. When I started my blog I was a mum of two, had just started a new part time job after my second lot of UNPAID maternity leave and thought my life while hectic, was going to move in a new direction. Well that certainly was the case, but not quite in the way I had expected. My best friend decided to move O.S. There were lots of farewell do's and I also scored her sofa bed, so decided to turn our spare room where the relies come to stay into more of a play room. That way we still had a place for people to sleep if they stayed over. The room took a while to get organised as we ebayed the old bed etc. This led into Christmas, Christmas parties, shopping and a holiday at the beach. I also had a goal to start to get into better shape. So what better way to start than a brisk walk, with a little jogging on the beach each morning. The problem with this however was I felt terrible. The festive wine tasted terrible, I felt really sick each morning, then I started to feel sick at every meal time. This just wasn't right. A girlfriend urged me to take a pregnancy test but I wasn't hopeful given we had received fertility treatment with our first two children. I took the test on New Years Day and to my utter shock and excitement baby number three was on the way. What a wonderful Gift! Now this explains my utter slackness in 2009 as I dealt with the worst all day "Morning sickness" the most intense of my three pregnancies. Who was I kidding I had created the blog I didn't have time to write! Well I have another years worth of invaluable insight to give and would love to share. Even if it has taken a little while to get back to it as they say. I have just gone back to work after my third lot of UNPAID maternity leave to another new Part-Time job. I am looking forward to this challenge juggling work, home life and enjoying every minute (well mostly) of the time I spend with my three tiddlypeeps.

Contemplating the next Birthday Cake

My third tiddlypeep is turning 1. I can't believe how fast the year has flown! Once again it is the countdown to the birthday celebrations with family and friends. And the big decision what to do for the cake? I am thinking a big cupcake. Not too tricky but a little different. I have bought some icing roses, edible glitter dust to decorate the cake. This will be the 9th cake that I will embark on for my three kids. A great place to search for ideas is Google. Just type in the theme, character or item such as "Butterfly" or "Buzz Light Year" and you will be overwhelmed with all of the fabulous ideas people have shared on the web. I thought I would post the pics of all of the Birthday Cakes I have made so far to help out with ideas. Start collecting your ideas a couple of weeks prior so you can obtain all of the lollies, colouring etc you need prior to the day or so before when you embark on the cake making and decorating. I usually make the cake in the afternoon and ice the night before the party. For a little less stress order your sponge cake/slab from a supermarket for less hassle. The Belle & Snow White cakes are icecream, very easy to make! Use a dolly varden tin line with cling film and baking paper and freeze the icecream of your choice in it a few days prior. The morning you need the cake and hollow out the top so you can insert your doll (a doll with removable legs is ideal) then ice with a cream and icing sugar mix (checkout the Women's Weekly children's birthday cake books for tips) pop back in the freezer minus the doll until just prior to serving. I wrap the doll in cling film or paper towel ice the body and pop in the fridge. Then I pop the two together just before I put the candles in and present to the Birthday princess. So goodluck with your birthday cake creation! The joy on your little persons face is worth the late night before - I am usually up till midnight as usual. PS In all your excitement about making the cake don't forget to wrap their birthday gifts!

Quineoa Fried Style (Similar to Fried Rice) - great for leftovers!

Take your leftover Quinoa or cook up a fresh batch (I had cooked mine in some stock made from Vegeta)

Then fry an egg or two like a pancake (with a little salt n pepper) and chop into small pieces.

Fry some bacon and chop up.

(I used a nonstick pan so there was no need to add any extra oil)

Then saute celery (chopped), carrot (cut with the peeler) and mushrooms chopped (you can use any veges you may have) in a clove of garlic and a little soy sauce add in some marinated peppers (capsicum).

Then add your Quinoa, egg and bacon heat through and serve this was delicious!

A tip: If your kids won't eat combo type meals , I cook some extra bacon and egg for their dinner so you're not really making two meals!

Child restraints

Child restraints

Here's the qld government link to the new laws in regards to child restraints which come into affect in March 2010. Don't risk your child's safety!

Changes to child restraint laws - Kidspot Australia

Changes to child restraint laws - Kidspot Australia

Reversible Newborn/Baby Hat

Reversible Newborn/Baby Hat

Tid Bits from a busy week!

I always seem to have weeks that roll along and then weeks that are jam packed! Friends are coming to visit at the end of the week so I have been doing some major spring cleaning which has been totally neglected while the big job hunt was on. I can't believe how the spare room goes from liveable to total disaster zone in just a few months from when the last visitors came to stay - lots of to do piles and toys everywhere! Dust inches think under my bed and too much reading material accumulating beside my bed. There are just not enough hours in the day.

The kids have been sick with colds which has meant they are waking up and causing major sleep deprivation and if their sleeping it's in our bed, so this means that myself and hubby aren't sleeping.

This week I started my new job and as usual have left any "maintenance" to the last minute. So at 5am the morning of my first day I have a major deforrestation job ahead of me. I would have thought that years of waxing and epi Ladying the hairyest legs ever, would finally be paying off but this is still such a chore ouch! and why am I always doing this at the last minute before a holiday or an occasion where I want to throw on a dress!

On my first day caught the bus or two buses which took about an hour, double the time of driving (on my second day) and so much for relaxing and reading a magazine! I had to stand the whole way in to town and had a huge walk from the end of the second bus trip which stopped no where near my new office! There are hardly any bus stops and I'm working on the fringe of the CBD, so much for encouraging people to catch public transport. So I think I'll try and carpool with hubby when he relocates into the city.

I still seem to be running around and getting the kids organised in a mad dash, while hubby cruises around in his own world getting ready for work! Need to start setting his alarm the same time as mine!

Other than a huge headache from my first day it went well. It is a nice friendly office. This is my third workplace this year, more than I've had in 15 years of work. I think once the first few weeks go by and I get into a bit of a groove with all that happens at the new company it should be quite enjoyable as far as work goes.

Watched an interesting interview with Isabel Allende on Enough Rope this week, it was part of the Elders series. It actually moved me to tears at one point when she spoke about losing her daughter. She is an author and talked about many interesting things including how lucky many women are to have the right to vote, work, enjoy so many aspects of life in the western world. There are so many cultures that still fight for these basic rights. To watch the interview click on the link http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/

So now my house is the cleanest it's been for months, I've whipped up a cake, the kids are sleeping at the same time, I've had a quick nap myself and can sit back and relax and enjoy the company of good friends over the weekend.

Actually it's time to get the roast on and have a wine I think.......