A nice quiet week....

I have had a nice and quiet (ish) week....the twins have not been 100% and my little man has had some shocking nights....so our days have been laying low in our trackies, playing, reading and having much needed cuddles :-)

I headed out on Tuesday to a photoshoot that a good friend of mine asked me to go along to with her....she decided to treat herself to a shoot with her newest little man...Eli....so very special. She asked me to go along to as she was wanting a photo with her and her little man and me and my twins....it is a special friendship we have and often comment that God knew what he was doing when he made us friends....we both waited (at times not so patiently) for all of our babies, and it marks a  wonderful time for us....sitting back and relaxing, having a beautiful moment with our treasured bubbas. I cant wait to see the photo....will be sure to put it on here in a few weeks when we get it.....
The photographer "JAS" has also become such a great friend of mine, since meeting her, not even 12 months ago when she did my pregnancy shoot. Its so special the bond she is getting with my twins....especially my little man, who at times only has eyes for her......


Thought I would share these photos with you..... taken by "JasArt Photography" (you can find her on Facebook)

Ally and Eli - taken by JasArt

"Jas" from JasArt on the other side of the camera with my twins!

"Jas" and my little man - is it that Im a good photographer - or that I have stunning models!

Stealing cuddles with Allys little man - Eli - clearly I took this myself on a phone! 

Wishing you all a HAPPY FRIDAY....and a glorious weekend ahead....hope its filled with fun and laughter, good friends, great food and those wonderful moments that make amazing memories!


Take Care Of You xxx

A great weekend.....

So I felt like touching base and saying hi to my little "blog world" .... I have had a busy and beautiful weekend....

It was a pleasure to watch my sister and some great friends (Rhiannon, Skye and Megghan) compete in their Physie comps yesterday.....It hit me whilst watching them, what a strange sport I "follow" ....one where you work all year, to perform your absolute best and have 2 ladies sit up the front and pick who they like best....not who finishs first, who scores the most points....simple opinions....its quite strange when you think about it! Well my opinion (for those that care!) is that you were ALL AMAZING!!!!!!


Me with Rhiannon.....a great friend of our family.....we have kind of adopted her as part of our family! ......

 My sister, Jes.....so beautiful! After not doing physie for 8 (?) years, she was just as lovely as ever......

And to finish off the weekend, I hosted my beautiful friend, Nicolas, "Babeh" Shower today.....I am so excited to meet her little one and cant wait to cuddle him/her.....she is such a special friend of mine and it was an honour to be able to give her this day......

 Its weekends like this I truly treasure, when I get to spend time with my loved ones, both family and friends, some I get to spend a heap of time with and sit and chat and sometimes just the briefest smiles are exchanged which is just as nice.....I hope you all had a wonderful weekend also....

Take Care Of You xxx

A photo and a laugh....

Ok, so perhaps the neighbours may think Im mad now.....as I go to the letterbox to check for mail a flying insect of some sorts comes out and chases me....I squeel, flap my arms and run inside like I am being chased by a herd of elephants.....do elephants even come in herds....Im not sure but Im sure you know what I mean! It is so similar to a quote I put on Facebook this morning....which I randomly read on the Interent...but describes me to a "T" ....

I discovered I scream the same way whether I'm about to be devoured by a great white shark or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot!

So anyway....thats the laugh for you.... and now for the photo......my most handsome "taste tester" .... Chocolate Crackles anyone.....??????

 Until next time.....

 Take Care Of You xxx

Another day in the kitchen.....

I am not complaining when I say this but I am exhausted! 
My mind is jumbled with recipes, and once again I find myself sitting here reminding myself to "stick to the game plan" 
I made 9 recipes today....all but one were at least 2nd attempts, so it proved to be a productive day,  with 8 of the 9 turning out!
4 of them I was able to take photos of, which was SUPER exciting! So many memories came flooding back....although last time I didnt put all that much thought into the photos (I hope this doesnt sound too bad!) and this time i am putting possibly too much thought into them....I have invested in some new plates as you have seen, next on the list is different materials for backgrounds and different floorings, I have in mind an "old" wooden table type look, so will go on a search for a Recycle/Junk yard next week! I am also on the hunt for "different" looking cutlery...so will add that to my list!
I have a busy week ahead, with a long list of things to do tmrw, Saturday the twins have swimming lessons, then I am off to watch some friends and my gorgeous sister do their "Physie" (dancing) comps...then I am hosting another dear friends Thermomix Baby Shower here on Sunday, I have not seen the Thermomix before, so am interested in seeing it. Monday will bring my favourite Gym class, "Body Balance" which is a combination of Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates, with carrying the twins all the time, this class helps me so much.. then a heap of running around for after school activities....Tuesday brings a photo shoot with a lovely friend, and I am off to Newcastle that night for a "healthy food" information night...Wednesday Gym.....Thursday I am hosting a "Candle Party" here and Friday Im thinking I may pass out! I am hoping that somewhere in between all of that I get a few more photos taken, although they really are not scheduled to be done until Nov/Dec and possibly even sell my house....(thought I may as well throw that one in there!)


Had a minor "woops" moment when taking a photo today.....thought you might like to see it.....

Im just pleased that the neighbours understand now why I sit in my front garden, or lay on the driveway taking photos of food! Im sure they thought I was going crazy last time!


Hoping that this message finds everyone healthy and of course happy. I hope you are all inspired daily with truly yummy food!


Take Care Of You xxx

Still dreaming about food.....

Yep, I am still dreaming about food....why dont I try to make "this" why dont I try to make "that"....I feel that I could sometimes just keep on going and going with the cooking and creating, and find I just have to yell STOP at myself sometimes, and pull back into the timetable I have....if not COTC#2 might not be launched until June/July 2022 - although it is likely to have 10,000 recipes in it by then! Oh my think of all the photos I would have to take and all the new plates I would have to buy!!!!!!

I have Mum coming down again tomorrow to watch the twins so I can have another cooking day! This is my 2nd day like this and I look forward to them so much. I feel like I can just knuckle down and bake and create and just "be" in the kitchen, without rushing because the twins are due to wake up soon, and without feeling gulity that they are not getting my 100% attention. 

Have been handed a couple of recipes from Melody for the book.....a Choc Fudge Cupcake.....Thank you to "Sweet William Chocolate"  ~~~ Im sure the Cupcake is so good that it will become famous worldwide! And a "Garlic and Rosemary" Bread Stick....which turned out well, but Im thinking of tweeking them to make them into Pretzels....my mind is once again wandering!

Well I should keep moving....have a clingy boy who I am hoping is teething as he is needing a lot of Mummas cuddles during the nights over the last 2 weeks or so....I think I get half my daily exercise simply getting in and out of bed what seems 100 times during the nights! He has just started crying and calling out "Mum Mum" ......its the only time he says Mum and even through the tears I love it!

Then off to bed for me....more dreaming about food......


Take Care Of You xxx

My week...

My week has been great, busy (as to be expected in this time of my life) but somehow organized and I'm feeling on top of things.
I am mostly feeling organized after doing up a roster to keep me and my family on track (I know it sounds crazy, but it's working!)
I know when it's housework time, what nights we are out and therefore I have to get dinner ready earlier, when it's time to cook and create.... Etc etc!!!!!!!

My mum was kind enough to come down last Thursday and babysit the twins here at home, so I could get a full day of cooking and creating in. They ended up going to sleep for almost three hours after she had only been here half an hour! It was nice to have the help! She washed up, threw ideas around with me...and was my taste tester! Then my sister came over with my 2 big girls after school and her 2 school age children.....and of course they became my taste testers too! I figure if the recipes pass 4 children that have no intolerances at all, then it's a sure thing for book number 2!

I am on track with recipes....some exciting ones that have been created this week are honey joys, hummingbird cupcakes, choc chip biscuits (thanks to Sweet William Chocolate for sending me choc chips to try) prawn cutlets and sang choy bow! I really am getting more and more excited! The prawn cutlets had me super excited! I have not had a prawn cutlet in over 5 years.....so you could imagine my excitement when they were just so delicious!

I hope you have all had a beautiful week and a wonderful weekend enjoying this sunshine!

Must go....watching The Sound of Music on tv! I know I should be asleep, but who can resist this classic movie!!?? Not me.....

Take Care Of You xxx

Shopping with the Twins......

I decided to head to the shops today after the Gym to get "a few groceries" in preparation for my cake creating day for COTC2 that I am having on Thursday.
After putting the double pram back in the car, I put Mr Twin in the trolley sitting up (as he is the more stable one of the 2...oh and the heavier one!) and I put Miss Twin in the sling, and off I ventured.
What an event it was! Besides the fact that I ended up buying that many things I really didnt need, it took me over an hour to get those "few things" - feeding the twins their finger food lunch along the way....Mr Twin throwing some of it on the ground and laughing at me as I moan and groan trying to get up and down with sore legs from the Gym and 8kg Miss Twin in tow! (How do they learn this fun game at such a young age of 9months!)
They didnt have my soba noodles, rice wine vinegar and more importantly my buckwheat flour in stock....the twins got cranky, fair enough they have had enough....Miss Twin was trying to throw herself out of the sling (another fun game) ....every 2nd person stopped to talk....oh how cute....whats the age difference....gee you have your hands full (I would sometimes like to say "I know! Please let me move on, unless you wish to hold them whilst I finish up here!")
It was "kind of" all worth while when I saw one of my favourite fruits is coming back into season "White Nectarines" ...... although at $14.98 a kilo! I treated myself and bought ONE!
On the way to the car (Mr Twin crying Miss Twin still trying to throw herself out of the sling) I bit into this wonderful delight....oh my...it was worth it! So worth it, that I stood there, in the middle of the centre, closed my eyes and had my quiet moment, just me and the Nectarine! Any other situation, I think I would have gone back and got more, but I decided enough was enough, I still had to get back to the car, unpack, get home and unpack...I was probably pushing my friendship as it was.....
I recall those beautiful summer days last year being heavily pregnant with the twins and buying a few kilos of them at a time, and in the 3 minute drive home I would stop myself after devouring 4, thinking that would do me for the moment!

As it turns out, amongst my fluster, I forgot dinner and rice milk (woops! Thank goodness for Cheap Tuesday for the family and freezer COTC meals for me!) so i do have to venture back in tomorrow, so will grab another then! At $1.30 each, I figure its cheaper then a chocolate would cost me if I was allowed it! Not to mention healthier!
I have a lot of blessings in my life and a lot to be grateful for.....today I am extra grateful for online shopping....I now recall exactly why I have ordered my groceries on line for the last 6 months and conveniently had them delivered to my door!

Hope you are having a wonderful week,

Take Care Of You xxx

5 minutes to stop and say Hi!

School is back! Yay! I think it may possibly be the first time ever that I have looked forward to the school holidays being over & my 2 older munchkins returning to school. We have had a week at home since returning from our annual beach holiday and that week has been jam packed with fun day trips! 
However, I am so deep in COTC2 and seem to have no routine at the moment...hence my comment about looking forward to school being back.....routine in full swing today, was back to the gym, did a spot of shopping, and have had a wonderful afternoon playing with the twins in this gorgeous sunshine! Have 5 minutes to sit and cuppa and blog before household chores yell at me, big kids will be home from school and then off for afternoon sports....to return home around6.30pm!
 
A highlight of my day (as sad as it sounds!) was all the scrumptious plates I bought today, especially for COTC2! 

Hope you have all had a truly wonderful weekend and have the best week possible.....must go....my 5 minutes is up!!

Cakes, Cookies and More......

COTC #2 (CUT OUT THE CRAP FOR KIDS) is happening.........

I am feeling organized....I am feeling EXCITED.....and I am feeling slightly under pressure!

Its funny really, as when I wrote COTC I never thought so many people would buy it, would love it and that it would help! So now, I want to make sure, more then anything, that number 2 does not disappoint in anyway! Especially when I have the harshest critics to please this time....children!!!!!!!!!!

The book will once again be Gluten, Dairy and Preservative Free...I am trying to avoid nuts this time also, due to school policies, and I have had a few people ask me for egg free recipes also.....the challenge is on.....its not an easy one.....but I am up for it.......

I have a list of recipes I would like to go in the book, and seem to be spending every spare moment trying to create one of them....most of my savoury ones are done which is quite exciting.....I have friends testing them (to be sure they pass the test!) and then its photo time for them.....will need to go out and buy more random plates before then, so I dont have the same plates in all the photos.....my collection of single plates is growing, I think its time for me to clean out the shelves in the garage and give them some space of their own, as my little kitchen cupboards are overflowing!

So it means I am up to the Sweets....Cakes, Muffins, Cookies, Slices etc......these for me are the time consuming ones.....these ones you dont know if they turn out or not until they are cooked and out of the oven....and if not.....try again! These are the days that I end up on a sugar high from eating and tasting cakes ALL day! Next on my list is attempting Hummingbird Cake/Cupcakes.....(Banana and Pineapple)......wish me luck! 

Will keep you posted......

 

Our annual holiday

Well our annual holiday is over :-( 
There are not too many sad faces here though, as we are all completely relaxed and we have had the most beautiful time.  Its one of those holidays where you venture to the beach everyday and have a relaxing BBQ every night, and nothing else needs to be done or seen. Time to unwind.
Its a time of the year that we very much look forward to, we get to catch up with some of our best friends, the Smiths and Kerrigans, who we just dont get to see all that often due to distance and busy work and family life. We also get to spend a week with my in-laws, and for most that sounds like a scary event, but for us it is lovely. Its nice also for the kids to have the quality time with their Grandparents. 

Only 360 days until we go back.........

xxx