Life is a Journey not a Destination

  Monica tagged for for 7 random things (which was good since I have nothing much else to blog about this week as I’ve been far too busy to sit down for more than a few mins at a time)

1. I’ve just been to the beauticians to get my eyelashes and eyebrows tinted (if I don’t it doesn’t look like I’ve got any as they are blond)

2. My absolutely fav. movie of all time is Pirates of the Carribean (I can still remember how excited I was when I first heard they were making it)

3. I LOVE orange flavoured chocolate

4. I have 2 dogs, 2 budgies (parakeets), 3 guinea pigs, and 6 chooks

5. I love to lift weights and am usually the only woman in the room

6. I love going to partyplan events - any time I’m invited I’ll go unless I have something else on.

7. We go to bed at 8.30pm and I try to read for an hour or two (Kevin watches TV) but lately I’ve been getting up at 5.30 so I’m fast asleep by 9pm

I’ve done this tag a few times now and it’s always fun. I invite anyone reading this to join in.

I can’t believe how tired I am this afternoon. But it has been a busy few days and I’ve not been sleeping well. Yesterday I cleaned all the bedrooms, went to the gym, took the birds to the vets, went to the craft shop (stocked up some scrapbook supplies and wool), had a bite for lunch, picked up the girls from school, came home and helped Amy to make dinner (she had a delicious sour cream quiche), raced off to the hairdressers, raced home, had dinner with Nan & Pop, cleaned up and crashed on the couch to watch Supernanny.

Today I walked the girls to school, cleaned the kitchen - including the fridge and all appliances, then off to do some errands and get the groceries, home for a bite of lunch, unpack groceries, wash floor, up to school to pick up girls (drove as my feet are killing me), home, help girls make up lolly bags for her sleepover party on Saturday night, finish tidying kitchen bench.

I’m exhausted yet still have to make dinner. Changed to an easier type of cannelloni (my friend Leanne made it for us a few weeks back and it was delicious) . Also have to do some ironing so the girls have a uniform to wear to school tomorrow. Oh, and the girls want to make cookies but I’m letting Amy be in charge of that.

MONDAY : Mac n cheese for Amy, Rice Paper Rolls (hopefully) for us

TUESDAY : Amy to make dinner - it’s a suprise!!

WEDNESDAY : Pumpkin Cannelloni

THURSDAY : Curried Soy Sausages (pkt mix) with mashed potatoes

FRIDAY : Falafel in pita bread with hummus (inspired by Dana)

SATURDAY : Amy’s birthday party - Dominos Pizza

SUNDAY : Leftovers (having friends for BBQ lunch)

For more great menu idea visit Laura at the Organizing Junkie.

Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:20
Categories : Vegetarian

Amount Measure Ingredient — Preparation Method
——– ———— ——————————–
1 cup cracked wheat (burghul) — 1SM
1 small red onion — finely chopped
420 grams canned chickpeas — rinsed
1 large garlic clove — crushed
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 bunch parsley — coarsely chopped
1 bunch coriander — coarsely chopped
plain flour for shaping

Place what in a med bowl, cover with hot water and soak for 15mins.
Drain well, sqeezing out excess liquid.

Place in food processor. Add the onion, garlic, spices and most of the herbs until combined.

Shape the mixture using floured hands into 8 patties.

Heat oil in frying pan over low heat. Cook falafel for 5-6 mins each side until golden. Drain on paper towel.

Source: “Recipes+ Jan/Feb 07″

Serving Size  : 4 - 6
Categories    : Main Meal                       Vegetarian

Amount  Measure       Ingredient — Preparation Method
——–  ————  ——————————–
4        tablespoons  low fat spread
4        tablespoons  plain flour
4               cups  skim milk
750            grams  pumpkin — peeled and chopped
200            grams  low fat ricotta cheese
135            grams  instant cannelloni shells

In a med saucepan melt the low fat spread. Blend in flour to a smooth paste and cook for  1 min. Remove from heat an gradually add the warmed milk, stirring constantly. Return to low heat and cook for 5 mins till thickened. Set aside.

Steam or boil pumpkin pieces for 20min until very tender. Drain and mash with a fork. Add ricotta cheese.

Spray a large baking dish with oil spray. Spread some white sauce into base of dish. Place pumpkin mixture into a plastic bag or piping bag and snip off corner. Pipe the mixture into each shell and place into baking dish so they fit snug.t

Pour over remaining white sauce and bake for 20-25min till pasta is soft and top is golden.

Source:
“Healthy Food Guide Magazine”

Well, I did manage to get up fairly early - I think it was 5.3oam - to participate with the Super Saturday I mentioned yesterday. I did go further than we were supposed to and actually put my room back together - I just could not cope with the mess any longer - especially since my room is right by the front door. It’s not 100% finished but it’s almost there. And I didn’t even have to buy anything besides the cute little blue and green bins.

Okay, I’ll give a little run down with before and after photos.

Moved the sticker box off the computer desk, added brads and chipboard alpabets and flowers.

Big changes here. LOVE all my buckets and new ribbon storage.

I have four of these - one for journalling cards, paints/glitter, tags and ink pads.

New ribbon storage and large flowers in the bowl (which I found in a bathroom cupboard)

Baskets under the desk - one has projects to be finished, one has class notes from Big Picture Scrapbook online classes.

This would be the biggest change I made. Took the doors off the cupboard and it’s now used for photo storage. May put doors back on after photos are organised doing the Library of Memories class with Stacy Julian. Papers are all now in vertical storage - will see how it goes for patterned paper. Moved sticker storage. I’m really happy with this area. Drawers are used by the kids and some for memorabilia (still to be sorted).

top drawer before

top drawer after - much of this is now storage in a bucket and the Making Memories desktop organiser (thinking I might even get another of these)

second drawer before

second drawer after - LOOOOVE this drawer!!! Can’t wait to scrapbook using it.

Third drawer before

Third drawer after - pages not yet in albums, scrapbook kits, tissues and candles

Main desk before

Main desk after - still want to get a new light. On the left I have a tool basket, then my bucket with scissors, tape runner, all the essentials, then the making memories desk organiser which I’m using for new products, then scrap paper drawer and finally, my ideas folder.

Will post some photos of the WHOLE room once I finish tidying.

I am absolutely exhausted now . I’ve had a spa and some nachos for dinner and am off to watch Doc Martin.

Well, I am VERY tired this morning. Around 1am I was woken up by the wind slamming Christy’s door shut. At 1.30am I still couldn’t sleep so I read for an hour and finished the latest Sandra Hill book. At 2.30am just I was dozing off again I heard Christy start with the asthma cough. I had to go downstairs for her spacer so I could give her ventolin while she was still mostly asleep. Back to bed, still couldn’t sleep after cuddling Rosie for half an hour so at 3am I went downstairs to use my computer - read blog, check e-mail, etc. I was searching PST time for my BPS Get Organised Be Inspired Super Saturday chat thing. Anyway, this is when I made my discovery. For some reason I had always thought my California friends (Hi Annie and Joann) were around 10 hours behind us. So when it’s morning here it’s evening there and vise versa. Boy was I wrong. Currently they are just 5 hours ahead (but a day behind). So when I discovered this at 4am Sat it was 9am Fri for them.

I finally went back to bed but didn’t get to sleep right away cause this totally spun me out :-). It does make a lot of sense though cause I was often confused when they wrote posts that seemed to be published at very strange times (to me anyway). But now I know why - I was just completely off with my time conversion. However, after my very bad nights sleep I doubt I will be up at 4am to start Super Saturday…. so I’ll try to get a bit of head start today - it’s all about resorting/storing my scrapbook supplies.

NOTE: Above photo taken on this mornings walk - no make up, hair not done, listening to a selection of Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Justin Timberlake and Timberland (my new favourite).

I’m so enjoying life right now. I seem to have gotten myself into a great routine with a good balance of working out, cleaning, scrapbooking, helping at school (with canteen and the uniform shop), time with the girls and Kevin and even time shopping with my Mum. The house is running really well - meals are planned (as you will know from reading this blog), the house is tidy and clean, the animals are cared for, the girls are following their morning and evening routines and helping more around the house. I have time to sit at night and watch some TV with Kevin and Amy. Today I’ve been for a manicure and pedicure and am about to go do some scrapbooking. Life is just great. I know losing weight has played a HUGE part in all of this. I have more time available - since I’m not eating all day, and I have more energy due to weight loss and improved strength and fitness. I find I can get so much more done in the day and seem to be better able to cope if anything extra does come up. I certainly haven’t always been like this and it’s taken time to work out what works for me. But this is it!!! I’m loving my life right NOW!!!

Here’s some more photos taken on this mornings walk. I’m so lucky to live so close to this beautiful lake and get to see so many lovely sunrises.

Not much happening in my neck of the woods so I thought I’d just share some photos taken over the last few days.

Photo of Belle and myself. She doesn’t venture too far from her bed these days (unless it’s dinner time) so I took the opportunity to get a photo of us together.

Christy and her hippo - who had just had a bath.

So cute - the girls sitting doing their homework together. Not sure if my girls are strange or not but they LOVE having homework. Amy’s biggest complaint last year, in 3rd class, was not having enough of it.

MMM….. m&m’s. I didn’t see these until after Valentines’ Day but I’m a real sucker for packaging and just couldn’t resist these.

Made all meals except one last week. Everything was enjoyed so that was good. I’m pretty sure Kevin is appreciating more variety in our menu plans.

MONDAY :Chunky Butternut Pumpkin Soup (veggies from our friends and recipe from Keeper of the Home)

TUESDAY : Mushroom and Cashew Pilaf (as requested by my Mum)

WEDNESDAY : Sweet and Sour Stirfry with rice noodles (new recipe)

THURSDAY : TVP Tacos

FRIDAY : Rice Paper Rolls (trying to make at home for the first time)

SATURDAY : Veggie Roast Rounds (new recipe on BBQ)

SUNDAY : Leftovers or from freezer