Simply Living

Menu planning and organising

2009-07-29T00:17:00.003+10:00

I am late posting the menu plan but it is done, I have a 4 week one on our new organiser board in the kitchen.

This week form memory (cause I am too lazy to get up right now) is

- Lentil shepherds pie
- chicken salad
- Fried rice and stir fry
- osso bucco and mash
- pasta (unsure if chicken and veg sauce or justa tomato and veg sauce)
- steak/rissoles and veg
- roast (whatever meat is on special when I go to the butchers mid week)

We've been tracking all spending in our tracking journal. The other half has been doing it diligently also which is good as he tends to be the one who spends more than rest of us. I think this will bring good change.

I was rereading over at lightenings blog about how she tracks and how she tracks backwards from what she has budgeted. This is what we are going to change to doing, going to draw up a new book.

I also did up charts for household choores/every day things needing doing and popped one on the new organiser board. There are alist of about 25-30 things needing doing every week, a lot needing done every day. Some days I feel I carry an unfair weight of the household duties and kids so this will hopefully inspire the others in the house to help. Its only been 2 days but everyone is enjoying adding their intials after they've completed a 'chore'

Its very late and I am constantly complaining that I am tired. Bed for me.

Budgeting

2009-07-26T00:27:00.002+10:00

This weeks overdue task was to redo the budget. Re evaluate where we are at and address where we need to make changes.

Relationship wise we've been taking steps to see what and if change can work and if we can work together. Time will tell.

Back to the budget, it was daunting to write everything out, we included goals and ideals also. Now we have a plan. the next step is document all spending over the next few weeks/months and then reassess and see how accurate the budget is. Then we'll continue to reassess until all debt is removed (its not tooo daunting yet thank goodness)

So I will be browssing blogs for ideas and tips on saving money.

Cleaning fairy

2009-07-22T20:44:00.002+10:00

Today my cleaning fairy came.

I have an ongoing barter going on between myself and a good girlfriend. She cleans my house once a week and i do her photos, including prints etc each year (and usually photograph a friend or two for her too)

Having a cleaner when you work full time makes life a little...sorry no a LOT easier.

Didn't sort through any areas today, was too tired. I did however manage to get tea on the table again by 5pm. The kids demolished it again, they eat so much more and better when fed early. I just have ot keep it up now.

Steps towards a declutered home.

2009-07-20T20:26:00.002+10:00

I have been talking about how cluttered and out fo control messy my house has become over the past few months (probably longer really!)

So I have been taking steps to declutter. It seemed such an overwhelming task when I started and it was so hard to figure out where to start. Usually I would empty a room and focus on that, but honestly that is too overwhelming and time consuming when I work full time running my own business and take care of 3 kids!

So... I have made a decision to every day do at least 1 'spot' this spot can be small or it can be bigger. But not too big.

Yesterday I cleared out the utensil drawer, we had too many old spatulas, serving spoons and more stuff that we never use and wont use so i tossed them and washed the draer out then restocked it heatly and more organised.
I then did the plastics cupboard, this was easy as I did it 6 months ago so i only had to tos one lid that no longer had apartner and then resort it into an organised manner again.
Then I cleaned up the backyard. The lawn (well where there was once lawn) had alot of general rubbish and kids toys and just well mess. So tidied it all then swept and bagged up 3 large garbage bags of rubbish from it.

Then today after work and getting the kids from school I did 2 of the bathroom drawers and the bathroom cabinet top.
I also did one cluttered shelf in the dining room.

It might not sound much but it feels good. I am creating space within our storage. I'll keep doing this and then once a room is all sorted on the inside i can then target it completely and spring clean the room. I am hoping this way things will more easily have their 'space' and we will in the mean time also minimilise our collection of 'stuff' we simply

Menu Plan Monday

2009-07-20T17:19:00.002+10:00

a new week, we did ok last week with the menu, ended up with take away 2 nights so moved those items to this week and we changed Sunday nights as we went to a farmers market and got a yummo whole organic free range chicken to roast instead!

So this week is:

Monday - Chow Mein/cauliflour soup
Tuesday - Fresh fish, home made chips and salad.
Wednesday - Vegiue curry/rissoles and vegies
Thursday - Beef stiry fry, w/chilli for us w/out for kids
Friday - Satay chicken
Friday - Chops and vegies
Sunday - Steak and salad.

a lot of red meat this week so will make changes to that next week!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-07-13T22:44:00.003+10:00

Part of my getting back to (ok getting into/starting properly!!) organising my life is getting back to menu planning. Particularly now as a working mum running my own business away form the home I need to be more organised. I have 3 school aged chgildren and its important i find routine and organisation. I have anew list on my fridge and am getting a new pin board for the kitchen to put dsome of my new orgasnising tools into place. One is a 4 week menu plan, which will usually be filled in one week in advance (but having 4 weeks means if I htink of somehting for next week i can add it right away)

This weeks menu:

Monday - Pork noodle stir fry
Tuesday - Pita pizzas
Wednesday - Spag bolognaise
Thursday - Rissoles/steak and vegies/salad
Friday - Lentil shepherds pie
Saturday - Chicken salad
Sunday - osso bucco and mash/vegies.

Another thing is trying to get dinner ready earlier. I work for myself so can leave work early if I am up to date, but being a new bsuiness out of the home (run at home for the last 6-7 years) and trying to expand at present/build a base, I sometimes need to work a little later. So on the days I can leave I am planning on having dinner ready by 5-5:30pm. I did that today and found that everyone in the house was more settled for the evening, far too often do we eat at 7-8pm which is way too late for the kids. they ate well too tonight, so well i missed out on the stir fry as I was busy pottering round and they all had seconds so I had a steak salad!

knitting

2009-07-13T20:33:00.001+10:00

do I even rmemeber how to do it?

About to go dig it all out and knit myself a dishcloth. Need to reconnect with the litle things that help me relax :)

a better week...

2009-07-12T23:34:00.004+10:00

Finding a bit of motivation again.Looking forward to kids going back to school, hoping we can all gain some more routine/organisation in our lives.I purchased and downloaded the companion from here: http://www.busymothers.com.au/
and only been using it a few days but already feeling a little more organised, still have lots to fill in it though.

Things with Joey are good, for now. I am still apprehensive though. We've ridden this ride before but this does seem different, we're focusing on getting ourselves help being respectful, and being caring. again kkeeping it simple, it is making for a happier household when we are all together.

The house is still in chaos, this week i am going to try leave work a litle earlier each day, pick kids up from school and come home and do alitle bit each day to try get back on top. I did sort stacks of the washing which was amammoth task but there is still more to go.

2 in one day

2009-07-05T19:19:00.001+10:00

Today I felt it a struggle to get motivated. In the end i Have done lots of dishes some qwashing general tidyiung and put clean new flannel sheet sets and beddingon all kids beds. Tonight I am cleaning lounge and folding about 5 loads worth of washing.

breathing

2009-07-05T14:10:00.002+10:00

something I can manage on a daily basis... breathing. moving through the motions.

Things are improving all the time, its stilla roller coaster. We still live together mostly though we share using the back of my studio for a break form each other and form the kids. Love the studio, its so clean, very minimalistic and easy to relax there.

Home is still a mess, a real overwhelming chaotic cluttered mess. I truly believe it impacts on our mental health living like this.

I need to break it down into little baby steps to achieve organisation. I am off to hunt websites for tips (not flylady been there done that hated the emails!)

a fresh start...

2009-06-14T14:38:00.002+10:00

a week and a half ago my 10 year relatioship ended.

At present we are still mostly living together as we sort the best plan of action for our children and for us.

It is a weight that has been lifted from over me. I feel many mixed emotions. sadness through to relief.

I look forward to living a life that will make me happy, whether that be alone, back with him or eventually with someone new. Not making any grand decisions on that, for now I live for me and the children, doing the best I can.

I plan to post here, some posts will be hidden for me, as a record of my growth, many posts will be shared.

I feel my relationship has been a huge contributor to my ups and downs on staying focused on my goals and plans.

This week I have simple plans and goals.

This week I plan to organise the unti behind my studio so I can stay there when needed.
My plan is to continue witht he decluttering of my house at home where the kids are.

Today my goal is to finish declutering my wadrobe. So at least every day I know where my clothes are.

its the simple little things.

a pleasant week

2009-05-17T18:46:00.002+10:00

life feels like its settling into a nice pace.

Had a lovely week, did some op shopping one morning, decided I have ben working hard so on my drive to work I thought I had no urgent deadlines so I took the morning for me and visited 3 different op shops.

I picked up a great bookshelf for eldest dd's (10) room, its in need of another full overhaul, she is such a clutter queen!
I also got a small tv that was in fine workign order for $20 for her room, she has no idea i bought this though it will be gifted to her once her room is organised. Hope she isnt dissappointed that foxtel wont work on it though!

I grabbed myself a few books fomr the the op shop also and dd2 (7) a skirt and top.

I also headed of to the good guys sale during the week, they had an extra special discount evening where i picked up a dishwasher. We have wanted one for some time especially since i am working full time now, it will just free up some time to be witht he family and get other stuff done. It is a Bosch and is a 4.5 star water rating which is good.

I treated myself to a new snapshot camera, the new Lumix waterproof/shockproof camera, looking forward to that, i hate lugging my big slr everwhere so quote simply i just dont do it!

and I got a few things for the astudio, a coffee machine and a microwave, so now I can do a big cookup on weekends and not have ot buy takeaway for lunch (though must admit the cafes near the studio are incredibly good!)

speaking of cookups this week I have been ona cooking frenzy. (did I say how much I love the seperation of work and home home feels more homely hence I have been more homely!)
This week I cooked up 2 quiches, a big pot of stovies 9a scotish dih mum made as we grew up) a beef casserole, a lentil and chick pea curry, a lentil shepherds pie and roast lamb :) I now have alittle set of caontainers of frozen lunches and we've been eating well!

Also been starting to declutter yet again at home. Does anyone else seem to find no sooner have they finished decluttering the entire house that they have to go back to the start as its building up again!!) this week I cleaned the fridge out, cleaned 2 drawres in the bathroom and the sink top and did half my wadrobe (being more ruthless this time, I am notholding on to as many older clothes, have packed a suitcase to pass onto the girls as they grow up)

speaking of the girls growing up, I measured everyone on our wall again today, dd 10 yrs is now 5 foot tall! she's pretty much as tall as both mine and hubbys mums! Pity they arent around to see her.

I am a hopeless blogger

2009-05-11T20:59:00.002+10:00

I think partly because I keep too many blogs, because I get busy and different things take different preference at different times in my life.

Anyway... I'm back, its been 4 months since my last blog post....

LOTS has happened in that time.

The biggest news is i took a shopfront for my business, so am now located at 81 Poath Rd Murrumbena, 3163 for any melbournites who ever want to pop by for a visit! I took the lease early march and spent a lot of the next few weeks renovating the place then shopping and moving in! Its still not finished but is great to finally seperate home and work. I LOVE that work is left at work and when I come home I am just 'me' not worker me. The kids like it more too I think! I'll have to get some photos and post them in here soon.

Personally lots has happened, I finally finally gave up smoking, 100% for good. Its been around 2 months now and I feel so much better for it!

I finally had my hip operation last week, it was found I had torn the ligements across the hip joint, or so i think thats what he said post op when the surgeon visited me! I see him tomorrow for a check up so will find out more then. hopefully this will mean I can start gettigng active again in a few weeks time.

Pet wise we have grown our menagerie by 2 more chooks so we are back at 7 again now. The girls are all still laying well , most giving us an egg every day. the 2 new are only 12 weeks or so old now so are living in the over sized rabbit hutch until they are bigger and can start mixing with the other girls.

We lost one of our guinea pigs a few weeks ago, poor thing, it was the one we adopted a year or so ago form the animal shelter, we knew she ws old when we got her but really no idea how old so no idea how or why she died. At first I was concerned it was neglect as with me growing the business, the hubby has been doing more round the house and taking over what was my role here as he isnt working much at all, but then found out that indeed piggy was still being fed regularly so prob just old age.

Garden wise, its in dire dire need of attention!

Houe wise, ah yep same as garden!

But life is good and I want to try post back here a bit more often.

when i was a kid

2009-01-18T16:37:00.003+11:00

I've been tagged by Donna

Basically she asks
I want to know, where were you and what were you doing when you were 17?? Tell me all (and your readers) about who you were back then. Have you changed? Did you have any idea what was in store for you? Oh and....I want to see a pic!!

The above is me at 17. At 17 I had left school (left at 16 at the start of yr 11) was working full time in a child care centre. was studying child care at tafe 1 day a week. I was insanely thin! crazy thin. I used to see a doctor to gain weight... I did eat... but also smoked a bit of dope, or actually I think I might not have at this stage yet? I think I was 18 when I started that?

I used to go 'clubbing' most weekends, cause I worked and had money. I was really sporty too, playing netball a few times a week. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Career wise or goal wise... I was just living, partying and having fun. I was not in a steady relationship, had been in one and didnt get into another one til I was a bit over 18 or just before 18...cant remember exactly.

I remember being insecure (I still am, but less so) very shy with boys. At 17 I thought would either not have kids at all or i wouldnt have them til I was at least 30 (had my first at 24-25) actually had all 3 by the time I was 30!

I wanted to travel, to go overseas (never really did, unless you count new zealand!)

I in return tag

Kelli

Jayne

and thats it :)

Simple Womans Day Book

2009-01-04T14:48:00.002+11:00

I found the simple womans daybook's blog (click header above to take you there) recently and love the idea of reflecting on the simple things in life. At taking time to look at these things.
FOR TODAY JANUARY 4TH...

Outside my window... the sun is shining, washing is drying on the line

I am thinking... how much nicer the house looks after spending abit of time cleaning this morning.

I am thankful for... my health, my lovely children

From the kitchen... I'm wanting to cook some recipes form new vegetarian cookbook I got for christmas. I made a really tasty mushroom, sun dried tomato, green bean and cream fettucini this week.

I am wearing... Jeans, barefeet and a singlet top

I am creating... a book of photos for january 09, a photo each day documenting our lives.

I am going... for a bike ride this evening when it cools down... some me time, some down time.

I am reading... The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

I am hoping... that the shop front i am looking at this week either works out or inspires me to move my work out of the home environment.

I am hearing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtqjmuUaYXA

Around the house... am doing a lot of decluttering, sorting and rearranging! Today though I vaccuumed the enitre house, did 3 loads of washing and soon to do a HUGE pile of dishes, need to get on top of it all before going back to work tomorrow.

One of my favorite things... relaxing in the tub with a good book... which is something I actually did first thing this morning!

A few plans for the rest of the week: plan to visit my grandmother, she is respite care as my dad who lives with her normally has gone on holidays. start cleaning out the front lounge room and knock out the current bar in there.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

blah - not again

2009-01-02T10:14:00.003+11:00

The kids came in crying this morning... a fox had been AGAIN!

I'm quite deflated really. We have just spent time redoing thir home, putting in new perches etc. 5 of our 6 chooks have taken to perching up high in a shelf near the back door since the last fox attack, the dog sleeps at the feet of this cupboard. they are smart really. But one liked to go into its home so we made sure she was lockled safely each night and since fixing the house had started taking the others in.

Last night we had friends for a bbq, I retired early as was tired from new years. they were sitting right next to the chook house but for some reason Joey (the hubby) still didnt shut it when he went to bed. I'm annoyed but also know he certainly didnt mean it and I know he feels terrible this morning.

We need to work on building their run asap, as much as free ranging is fun for them having the run will mean they are ALWAYS safe.... hopefully.

I quit

2009-01-01T16:00:00.003+11:00

I'm putting this out there publicly. This is something i am a bit embarrassed by! I am a smoker. Yes a revolting yukky smoker. I dont smoke a lot, smoke more when drinking but have found myself over the last year smoking more often during the day. I noticed myself creeping up to 3 packs of 20's a week, waaaaay too much!

So today I've QUIT!

Its all good so far, probably helps I had a few wines last night so certainly don't feel like smoking much anyway. I'm going to go to the chemist tomorrow and get some gum and possibly the weaker patches. I'm going to limit my drinking over the next few weeks as that is certainly when I am weakest.

I will do this!

the big EGG

2008-12-30T13:25:00.002+11:00

Our chooks live a very happy lovely life here at our place. They free range all day long only shut away at night. (though we are bulding a run as we want our grass back! and some of our garden too)

Recently we moved our chooks house form behind the shed to the side of the driveway in the backyard. Into the kids old cubby house. they weren't real impressed by this at first and took to sleeping at the back door with the dog. So yesterday hubby scruubbed the deck and the shelves they were using as a perch near the back door then put new perches in their new home and made it a little airer for summer (anothe reason i think they werte using it was cause its a bit stuffy)

Since their move a few weeks ago they have also taken to laying in odd spots, basically anywhere but their laying boxes. Today after their first night in their renovted home I checked the box and found this.

that is one big egg! It measures 9cms long, weight is over 100grams, not sure hw far over as dont have kitchen digital scales but it registers on my bathroom scales!

Hope everyone had alovely Christmas and hope the new year brings you all much happiness :)

Meme

2008-12-17T02:08:00.002+11:00

Saw this on Kelly's blog

I've GREENED all I have done

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited The Great Barrier Reef.
5. Stood under the stars in the outback, the real outback – think Uluru.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to the Gold Coast’s theme parks – anyone, you take your pick.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sung a solo.
11. Bungee jumped, jumped out of plane, been paragliding or hang-gliding, hot air ballooning – you get the idea, you’ve been hundreds of metres about earth in a seemingly flimsy contraption.
12. Visited Melbourne.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Had a child. Raised a child. Worked with children.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Been to the Snowy Mountains.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Visited the Brett Whitely studio in Surry Hills, Sydney.
20. Slept on an overnight train or bus.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Been backpacking.
23. Taken a mental health day.
24. Been buried in sand with just your head and toes sticking out.
25. Held a possum, kangaroo or koala – or any other native Australian animal.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Been in a fun run.
28. Been on the Blue Mountain cableway.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Played, or watched, summer cricket.
32. Sailed, kayaked or canoed our beautiful waterways.
33. Seen the Daintree.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Visited an Aboriginal settlement or mission.
36. Learned a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Toured the Sydney Opera House.
39. Tried rock climbing (indoor or outdoor), abseiling or just simple bush walking.
40. Visit Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art.
41. Been to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
42. Sunbaked at Bondi.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Broome.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone fishing.
49. Seen Tasmania’s old growth forests.
50. Been to the top of Q1, on the Gold Coast.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Driven the Great Ocean Road.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Norfolk Island.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Guide biscuits.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone jet boating.
66. Visited Port Arthur.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Australian War Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Federation Square.
74. Been on the Murray River.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Travelled, or climbed, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited St Mary’s Cathedral, in Sydney.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Been to Hermannsburg.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited Parliament House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Saved a pet.
95. Been to the site of the Eureka Stockade.
96. Swum in The Whitsundays.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a mobile phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Menu Planning and other stuff

2008-12-16T10:31:00.003+11:00

I missed menu Plan Monday last week and this week its now Tuesday!

OOPS!

This time of year is super busy for me business wise, filling and getting everyone's orders to them on time!! So posting on here has had to be set aside for a bit. I am really looking forward to the slow down that January will bring. I still work but its nothing like the previous months so much more relaxed!

So back to menu Planning.
I did still menatlly menu plan last week and did well. We are loving the asian omelttes, they are really really easy and yum!
The tandoori casserole became a regular lamb one as the eggplant died before I got to use it!
The rissotto was yum, hadnt made that in along long time!

This week is:
Roast Lamb
Chicken curry/japanese
Chicken and noodle salad
a bbq - simple sausages and chicken wings/pieces.
lentil shepherds pie.

and we are eating out 2 times at bbq's/christmas functions.

On other things. I made a large purchase this week. I am NOT a domestic goddess of any kind. I am one of the slckest housewives i know. I have a strong dislike to housework but I also have a like of a clean house (it can be messy/untidy though)

So I purchased a DYSON vaccuum cleaner! Extravagent? yes? I will say I got it at a good price, or so I fell. I got $280 off the retail price (through the sale and then a little bartering)
I've never owned alot of new things, partly because of cost, partly because we get handed down all sorts of things and partly because i think its a waste if we don't need it! Plus i like to shop thriftily when i can.
Our old vaccuum was a hand me down from my grandmother. No its not a heirloom or antique, just a crappy old vac! its been borken for some time, the attchment at the bottom keeps coming off and the suction... well it sucks!
Plus I hated the waste of all those vaccuum bags we seem to constantly buy!

So I am now a Dyson owner. I love the idea of a bagless vac, less waste and I can tip it now into my worm farms or compost.

Menu Plan Monday

2008-12-01T19:43:00.001+11:00

Had a very chaotic week. Last weeks menu only 1 thing got cooked form it so the entire thing is doing a rerun since I have everything to make everything already!

- Chicken rissotto (mushroom, spinach, pumpkin leek)
- spag blognaise
- asian style omelettes and quiche for kids.
- tandoori lamb casserole
- lentil curry (carried over form last week - will be made for hubby and my lunches)
- chicken curry - japanese style to use up some cabbage.
- leftovers and salads throw together (to make use of the sald stuff and any leftovers during the week.
- cauliflour soup (cause I just peeked and there is a full head of it stashed in the fridge vegie drawer!)

- I also am going to bake some zuchini and choc chip muffins this week for school lunch snacks and just extra snacks.

The Simple Woman's Daybook.

2008-11-27T12:39:00.003+11:00

I found the simple womans daybook's blog (click header above to take you there) recently and love the idea of reflecting on the simple things in life. At taking time to look at these things. Especially at present when I feel over worked, am in pain with my hip and find direction to ap ositive place a bit difficult at times.

FOR TODAY Thursday 27th October...

Outside my window...
The sun is shining, the chooks are bathing and digging in the dirt in the shade...

I am thinking...
That life has ben abit hectic lately and really is time to schedule in some forced relaxation.

I am thankful for...
My husband... who took this week off work to help with the children, to take them to and from school and to give me time to rest my hip and finish my current work.

From the kitchen...
a simple quick , yet yummy bologniase for the rest of family... tonight I am going out for tea!

I am wearing...
3/4 excercise pants and a comfy tee, bare feet.

I am creating...
A recipe book for my children.

I am going...
out for dinner tonight with a wonderful bunch of fellow photographers who all volunteer for the ACOCP

I am reading...
blogs, lots of blogs....

I am hoping...
that my husband gets the job he has applied for, he so very much wants it.

I am hearing...
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=39253593

Around the house...
with my recent injury the house has gone to the.... gosh no words can describe!

One of my favorite things...
Watching our new kittens chase and play, having them snuggle and purr on me in the evenings... I was never a cat person... or so I thought.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Continue to get on top of my backload of client work, finish my tax, add some lime to the front garden beds, take some time out with the kids.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... an older picture from my files. I may have shared it before, not sure. It is from a trip to Rye in May. I escaped of the weekend with just the kids as life was feeling overwhelming and the husband and i bickering for no good reason. We spent our time walking on the beach and them playing in the rock pools, sand dunes etc whilst I relaxed and read a book. Below is 'Bushy Island' created by my 6 yr old daughter from things she collected at the beach that day.

Menu PLan Monday

2008-11-24T21:50:00.004+11:00

Its Monday again!
Doing the menu plan last week really made a difference. I've come across orgjunkie.com during the week and see they have aplanned Menu PLan MOnday each week. It looks like a great place to get lots of recipe ideas from!

Firstly as an aside, I have injured my hip. Its avery pain ful injury that means I can not excercise, that I can barely work and barely do anything really! I have been and will be posting about it and the lead up to the surgery on bitsfromme.blogspot.com . The reason I am mentioning it is one thing I can do that I do enjoy is cook. and because I will be very limited excercise wise I will need to eat healthier so to not gain back the 10 kilos I have worked hard to lose this year. Living with this injury for a period of time in the wait til surgery and the recovery wil be a very testing time personally also.

Anyway back to menu planning!
As I said last week was a success and we found we ate almost all of the vegies and fruit in the house and nothing went to waste (not that there is ever really food waste with the chooks around!)

So Left in the fridge: - cabbage (I think there is 3 of them now!), bok choy, little piece brocolli, 1 corn, cucumber, 2 eggplants.

Meat we have already : - 5-6 chicken breast fillets. half a kilo chicken wings. chicken casserole pieces 1-2 kilos

Being delivered this week- 8 litres milk, 1 block cheese, 2 litres orange juice, 5 loaves wholemeal bread.
Fruit veg box this week will contain :-

this weeks menu plan:-
- Chicken salad
- Chicken rissotto (mushroom, spinach, pumpkin leek)
- spag blognaise
- asian style omelettes and quiche for kids.
- tandoori lamb casserole
- lentil curry (carried over form last week - will be made for hubby and my lunches)
- chicken curry - japanese style to use up some cabbage.
- leftovers and salads throw together (to make use of the sald stuff and any leftovers during the week.
- cauliflour soup (cause I just peeked and there is a full head of it stashed in the fridge vegie drawer!)

- I also am going to bake some zuchini and choc chip muffins this week for school lunch snacks and just extra snacks.

need to buy:-
- half kilo uncooked prawns
- 1 kilo lamb (either shouler to cut myself or diced already)
- mince meat

- rissotto rice
- ham (for sandwiches and quiche)
- sesame oil
- choc chips
- wholemeal self rasing flour
- natural yoghurt

- extra carrots
- extra apples
- bean sprouts
- pumpkin
- beans (frozen if no good fresh)

Soil testing

2008-11-23T22:24:00.003+11:00

When we fist moved here 4 years ago I turned the grass out the front inot a bvegie garden, 2 large beds. I had much success the first 2 years but the second year I also had many plants stolen, I grew from seed I had collected from the first year, raised my tomato plants up to a good size just for osmeone to come over night 2 times and dig them all out! It was disheartening.

Then last year I was going to just grow things peopel might beless likely to steal (lettuce/zuchini/herbs etc) but NOTHING would grow!
My father in law had brought in a ute full of soil and added it at the start of the season. I was suss about it as had no idea where it was from etc.

well ever since added that soil NOTHING Has ever grown out the front. the grass wont even grow back. even weeds struggle on the soil!

So this year I turned the soil added loads of compost and organic matter, then planted in piles of compost on top of all that turned soil. At first things grew well.

then they have now turned to this

Yellowed stunted unhealthy looking plants!

So I finally did what I should have done ages ago... I bought a soil test.
The girls had been using soil tests at their school as they are about to plant a vegie garden at school. So I handed the test to them and let them test for me.

This reading of 6 is from the compost on top that I planted directly in.
dig just a tiny bit deeper and the soil is VERY acidic. a reading of 4and 1/2 no good!

well this does explain what I kind of already knew. I thinnk it might be a failed garden this year. I will attempt to improve the soil but have a feeling it really is going to need to have the top 10-20cms of soil removed and to start afresh. we'll see... any ideas?

1st shopping week

2008-11-20T20:15:00.002+11:00

OK did the rest of our weekly shopping. Was easier shopping with a planned list. The hubby spoilt it though as he went out aswell after work and got some items so we went alittle over what I budgeted and ended up with a few things doubled up and things we didnt need. BUT thats ok as I also got some cheaper/discounted items so a few things will last weeks/months (the very large tin of olive oil that was on special, the extra bottle of lime juice cordial as it was discounted if you bought 2)

So no savings into the account this week but I do know we have saved from previous weeks shopping. i found we were creeping over the $300 mark way to often for our food. I know the kids eat a lot and both hubby and I eat all our meals from home (I work from home and he works funny hours so is home during the day a lot)