Archive for September, 2007

Sponsored Post – Love and Romance

It is tough when you are a parent of a large family to find a spare moment to spend some quality time with your partner in between taxiing kids to and from sports, helping them with school work, cleaning up their messes, feeding them and keeping them clean and tidy. But romance
is a very important part of every loving relationship and should be made a priority, at least every now and then. Write your partner a love letter, feed him or her grapes, take a walk on the beach, these are all ways to add a little bit of
romance into your relationship. RomanceForEveryone.com has a number of ideas to help you put the romance back into your relationship as well as a number of tips and articles on a number of topics like getting over a break up.

get paid to blogThis is a sponsored post!

Smart Habit Saturday – Eating Better

If I had to list everything that I have eaten over the last couple of weeks I think I would probably die of embarrassment. I feel like I have been living on junk food and not much else. So this week with the support of my partner Rob (who also wants to eat better), I am going to cut out the junk and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. I’d also like to add some exercise into my week but that may just be pushing things a little to far. I think I might need to leave that for next weeks habit ;)
Head over to The Lazy Organizers Blog to read about more Smart Habits Saturday participants!

School Holiday Time

Here in New South Wales Australia our children are about to start two weeks of school holidays. I am both looking forward to and dreading these holidays. I am looking forward to not having to do the nightly school preparation of ironing clothes and preparing lunches. I am also looking forward to staying in my pyjamas until midday if I want to and of course I’m looking forward to spending more time with my kids. But I am dreading the constant noise and hustle and bustle that comes with 5 children in a small house. Not to mention the arguments and the “I’m bored” whining. I have decided that these holidays I am going to plan 1 activity for the kids each day to try and eliminate the disagreements and to keep them from getting bored, so over the next couple of weeks I will try to post some of the activities that I plan.

Some outings that I have planned already are to the local library, the local swimming pools now that the weather is warming up, a card making class at a school in our area, and a few visits to the park.

And some ‘at home’ activities that I have planned are scrapbooking, dressing up, making a home movie, finger painting and beading, baking and setting up the kids little tents in the backyard.

We are kicking off our school holiday fun tomorrow by going to see Bratz at the cinema.

Don’t forget to check back and see what we have been up to.

Dining Room Furniture

Furniture at Home’s online store has some lovely dining furniture. We currently have a 6 seater dining set which is fine for the moment and while Sophie is in a high chair but then we are going to have to look at getting a dining room furniture set that is a little bigger. Furniture at Home have everything from casual dining sets to formal dining room furniture. So if it Dining room furniture that you are after check out Furniture at Home’s website.
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Frugal Friday – Cake Icing

I just got this tip from The Dollar Stretcher Newsletter and thought it was brilliant!

When you buy a container of cake frosting, remove it from the container, put it in a deep bowl, and whip it with your mixer. The frosting will double in size. You will get to frost more cupcakes or a cake with the same amount, but it will give you less sugar and calories for each piece by mixing it.

If you want some more great frugal tips go and check out the other Frugal Friday participants.

My Other Frugal Friday Posts:
Birthday Gift Box
Birthday Card Organiser
Homemade Yoghurt
Double Your Washing Powder
40 Uses For Vinegar
Baby Burpers
Newborn Clothes
Shaving Conditioner
Spray Detergent
Party Loot Bags
Don’t Waste Water
Frugal Shampoo
Playdough
Organise Your Errand Day
Drying Clothes
Freezing Milk
Cut Out Junk Food
Rinse Aid
Freeze Candles

Suggestions for Packing School Lunches

I don’t know about you but if I was given the same sandwich to eat everyday I’d get sick of sandwiches very quickly. You can’t expect kids to eat the same thing day in and day out and you shouldn’t be surprised if you start to find their un touched lunches still in their lunchboxes at the end of the day.

I have a few suggestions to make lunch time fun for your kids.

Freeze Sandwiches:
It is not only convenient but it also means that you can have an assortment of different sandwiches ready to go. Sliced or shaved cold meats and poultry, peanut butter, jam (jelly), cheese spreads and processed cheeses all freeze well and are perfect fillings when freezing sandwiches.

Alternate sandwiches with other foods such as:

Tortilla roll ups – spread a tortilla with peanut butter or peanut butter and jelly, roll up then slice into 1″ pieces to make pinwheels. You could also spread it with cream cheese and add a slice of ham or chicken, or layer with spreadable cheese and various vegetables, roll it up and pack it into the lunch box.

Rice cakes – serve plain or spread with peanut butter, vegemite (for the Aussie’s) or cheese spread.

Pita pocket – fill pita pockets with cheese, ham and pineapple, chicken, tomato and lettuce.

Cheese quesadillas – sandwich shredded cheese in between two tortillas. Heat in the microwave until cheese is melted. Let it cool and then pack in to the lunchbox. Mini pizzas – spread tomato paste or spaghetti sauce onto a toasted english muffin, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese and any other toppings you like. Heat under the grill for a minute or two until cheese is bubbly. Let it cool and pack in the lunchbox.

Some more great lunchbox ideas are:

uncooked 2 minute noodles (ramen type noodles),
crackers spread with cheese spread or peanut butter,
cold leftover pizza,
corn on the cob,
cold baked potatoes,
savoury muffins,
quiche or frittata,
leftover roast vegetables,
vegetable sticks and dip,
coleslaw/salads,
baked beans,
potato salad,
fruit bread,
frozen fruit pieces,
canned fruit (in natural juice)

School lunches should be as healthy as possible but let your kids have the occasional store bought “snack” to pack in their lunch box, this will make them happy and they will be more likely to eat the “good” food you pack for them.

Thursday Thirteen – 1st Edition

Thirteen Things about A Juggling Mum

This is my 1st Thursday Thirteen so I thought I’d start with 13 things about me :)

1. I have 5 children

2. I’m a SAHM and love it!

3. My partner of 10 years and the father of my kids and I are not yet married.

4. I love my Video Ipod

5. My favourite movie is Pride and Prejudice – I even have it on my Ipod :)

6. I drive a black Kia Carens (6 seater)

7. We live in a small 3 bedroom home, yep all 7 of us :)

8. We have a cat called Chelsea

9. My favourite book is Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy

10. I’d love to travel to Ireland and Scotland

11. I’d be lost with out my laptop

12. My parents live just up the road from me and I love it :)

13. I have one younger brother and an aunt who is only 5 years older than me and is more like a sister.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Wordless Wednesday

Last week I posted a picture of Chloe in her ballet costume. So this week I thought I’d share Caitie’s photos. Be watching next week for Clare’s photo :)
Go to 5 minutes for Mom to see more Wordless Wednesday participants.

Works for me Wednesday – Cling Wrap

handy hints and tips

I recently found this tip on how to control cling wrap, so I tried it and it really works :)
The tip is to keep it in the freezer. It pulls apart easily so there is no more tangles and wasted
wrap.

Visit Shannon’s Blog for more Works For Me Wednesday Tips!

Tackle It Tuesday – Summer Clothes

I feel like it has only been a few weeks since I got the winter clothes out of storage and put the summer clothes away and now it’s time to put the winter clothes away and get out the summer stuff again. So that’s my tackle for today. I need to go through the kids summer clothes and see what they have and what they need.
Thanks to Susan and Janice for hosting Tackle It Tuesday at 5 Minutes for Mom , your motivation to get things done around the house is very much appreciated :) Go and check out more Tackle It Tuesday participants.
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