Life is a Journey not a Destination

I have less than 48 hours to decide if I’m going to go to Heidi Swapp’s Create 08 classes in December. I’d love to go, the main problem is it’s in Brisbane or Melbourne. I decided on Brisbane cause I’d get to meet Chanel, whose blog I read. I had initially thought I’d just fly up and back the same day but since it starts at 8.30am and I have no idea where I’m going I think I’d have to stay over the night before. So now I’m up for the cost of the classes - $240 (loads of goodies included), air fare (hoping to get a cheap rate), parking at the airport, car hire in Brisbane and accomodation. Hmm….. typing all this out I’m thinking it’s really going to cost a bit too much.

Very cold and wet in my neck of the woods today. On the downside my computer got a virus and is away to be fixed, on the plus side I have my laptop to use and my new camera (identical to the last one) turned up today.

Last weeks menu plan was a complete fizler. With just myself and Amy to feed (Christy has toast) we took to having VERY easy meals. This week, however, I’m aiming to increase the amount of veggies we eat. I also need to get back to trying some meal recipes - I’ll tackle that next week.

MONDAY: Chili Con Carne (from freezer): Amy having mexi-bean pizza before dancing

TUESDAY: Pumpkin Cannelloni

WEDNESDAY: Spinach & Ricotta Pasta with Cheesy sauce

THURSDAY:Veggie Pie

FRIDAY: Zucchini Slice

SATURDAY: Nachos

SUNDAY: Cheese on Toast

SOUP : Cheesey Potato Chowder and Pumpkin Soup

BAKING : Ginger Cookies

For more great menu idea visit the organizing junkie

After spending most of Saturday tidying and rearranging the scrapbook room, the girls and I settled down for a GIRLS NIGHT IN. We watched the Hannah Montana/Milley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Tour. We turned out the lights, turned up the music, lit some candles and got comfy on the couch in front of the heater. I even let Christy stay up 2 hours past her bedtime to watch it. Amy fell asleep before the end - she’s my late night party girls that for sure :-). Anyway, we all enjoyed it. Of course, being a girls night in we had to share some chocolate :-).

Life would be easier if only I wasn’t interested in so many things. Today as I was reading though my favourite blogs I realized the conflict. I started off reading some in my “Simple Living” folder and was thinking how I should go through my wardrobe yet again and reduce what I have (after wearing the same 4 outfits for the last month I realize I don’t need as many clothes as I have), spend more times in the veggie garden, and not buy so many “things”. Then I move on my “Fitness” folder and think I should carve out more time in the day for exercise and eating healthier food. Then it’s onto the ‘Home” folder and I’m all inspired to do more baking or buy some new baskets to help with the ongoing organising home project. Then it’s the “Scrapbook” folder and I want to buy more supplies, make more layouts, tidy the scrapbook room. I just seem to go round and round in my thoughts and as you can tell many of them conflict with one another.

I wrote the above this morning and have just returned from shopping. My mission to find a  pair of brown pants for Amy’s choir performance next week. I returned home with some brown pants…..and a dress (for Amy to wear to an upcoming wedding)….and a new hair do!!!! I usually get my hair cut for around $30 but my normal hairdresser couldn’t fit me in so I went to another one in town - $55 for the wash (and sit on the massage chairs), cut and dry. Was definitely something I haven’t done in a very long time. I also had my hair straightened for the first time every - pretty funny when I say I’ve got straight hair but it’s been kicking up at the ends. It’s now in a bob. Can’t share a photo due to no camera but I took a photo with my phone as I’m pretty positive it won’t look as good when I do myself :-). Anyway, despite blowing the budget (yet again), I’m feeling pretty good about myself…and that’s got to be a good thing :-).

It’s been a pretty quiet week as I settle back into my normal routine. I’m missing the rest of my family - it was so wonderful all being together for 3.5 weeks. I got straight back into the gym this week as I had really missed my workouts. Haven’t done my proper cleaning but just tidying up and a vacuum. Next week I’ll get back into everything properly.

I’ve heard from Kevin a few times - I think he’s missing us - and he’s been having a rough time of it so I hope things improve for him. He did tell me he’s ordered a new camera for me. It’s out of warranty and while he’ll try to fix he’s not sure he’ll be able to (if he does we’ll have a spare). I’m glad because Amy has a special choir performance next week and it’s hard thinking of things to blog without photos.

Well, I’m back from vacation and right back into menu planning. The fridge and freezer is VERY empty so I’m just going to a quick emergency trip today and a proper shop tomorrow - when the girls are at school.

We ate all but one of the frozen meals we took on holidays and only ate one dinner out - that I can remember anyway. Hence the scales had a good report - I actually lost 0.2kg in the last 4 weeks.

Anyway, it will be an easy week meal wise - DH is still away and I think I’ll be suffering a bit of culture shock being home and into my normal routine.

MONDAY : Mexi-Bean Spuds

TUESDAY : Chickpea Burger (Fish) & Veggies

WEDNESDAY: Pumpkin Cannelloni (Amy’s request)

THRUSDAY: Rissoto

FRIDAY: Vegetable pies

SATURDAY: Filled veggie pasta with cheesy sauce

SUNDAY: Bean nachos

For more great meal idea visit the orgjunkie

Well, no photos today as the camera is still refusing to work. I woke up around 6am, got myself a cup of tea and headed back to bed to read. Later Amy joined me and we finally got up around 7.30am. I had a shower and dressed and completed my packing. When Dad turned up at 9am I was pretty much organised. He took the first lot of stuff that is staying with the van and came back for the stuff we’re taking home.

After a final check of the cabin I returned the key and headed over to the van. Mum wasn’t feeling well so I sat outside reading (enjoyed another cup of tea) and shortly afterwards Dad took Mum to the doctors. I spent the morning relaxing in the sun, the girls at the park. We organised some lunch shortly before Dad came to pick us up. We had planned to call by the hospital and pick Mum up but she still hadn’t seen the doctor so Dad drove us out to the airport so we could get checked in and went back to pick up Mum.

We got our boarding pass and went through security - getting pulled up because there was a pair of scissors in Amy’s pencil case - I’d forgotten all about them. Oh well. Good they find these things I guess.

We wandered through the shops and got a few things for the girls dance teachers, then went to the cafe. We grabbed a snack and shortly after Mum, then Dad arrived. We sat for about 15mins before it was time to say our farewells. I’m so jealous we miss out on the last part of the trip. It’s been a fantastic trip.

Our flight home was very uneventful. We were served a snack, the girls played theirs DSs and I read. I took the window seat for the first half and got to watch the amazing expanse of desert that we flew over.

We arrived in Sydney at 4.30and went to get our luggage and met our driver for the trip home. He was kind enough to stop at the shops so I could get some milk and bread and we arrived home to a great welcome from Rosie just on 6pm.

Didn’t really unpack, had some dinner and watched some TV before heading up to my wonderful bed.

So much for sleeping in till 7am - today I was awake at 5am. I got up and read some blogs. Later I did a bit of tidying while Kevin got himself organised. At 8.30am we went over to the van to get a group photo of us all before we said our farewells to Kevin - who has now set off on his solo part of the trip. It was after he’d left that I realized my carmera had stopped working. No idea what’s wrong with it. Can’t say I’ll be too happy to be without a camera for next couple of weeks.

The girls went off for a play and I hung out the washing I had put on earlier before we headed out.

First stop was the School of the Air. Fascinating place. We learnt all about the school and how it operates - all done via satellites and computers these days. The girls were quite impressed and Christy decided she’s like to go to school this way. It had become VERY windy while were inside and there is a distinct haze from the red dirt being blown around.

After this we went in search of the Souvenier Warehouse, which we eventually found, to buy some things for the girls to take back for their class mates. We then went into town and had lunch a cafe before browsing through some more shops. Didn’t buy much and we headed back to the van park about 2.30pm.

Had a very relaxing afternoon. The kids got the buggies to ride (though I think they fought more than they rode),

and I got to sit and read for a bit. It’s very warm today and lounging was just the thing to do on this last day of our holiday.

It’s nearly 6pm so I’ll finish up this post, then I’ll head over to the van for our last dinner (and try to find the girls - they just love the freedom of caravan parks).

Tomorrow : Packing and our flight back to Sydney

Another easy morning - we seem to be getting slower as the days go by and I’m even sleeping in to around 7am most mornings now.

At 10am we met up with Mum & Dad and headed to the Old Telegraph Station. This was pretty interesting and informative. Lovely old buidlings.

Next up was the Royal Flying Doctor Service. We heard a talk about how it all works, saw a film and a look around the museum. We had a very yummy lunch sitting outside. Kevin & I shared a delicious Feta and Pumpkin pie.

Then Kevin had to race off for a doctors appointment (he chipped a tooth 2 days ago). When he got back (he was only gone 20mins) the girls and he had a go of the flight simulator.

Then it was onto a cultural center. Not quite what I was expecting but we enjoyed the beanie exhibition in the art gallery and the natural history exhibit.

We arrived back at the cabin about 4pm. The girls managed to get for a ride on the buggies for half an hour - which they were thrilled about.

Kevin & I settled in to write up our blogs. Dinner tonight will be TVP tacos and we might watch a DVD Kevin bought (if I can work out where I put it).

Tomorrow : Kevin departs and we go shopping

Woke up to realize the sun was already up. It was past 7am and we were getting picked up at 7.50 for our quad bike adventure. We made it on time, sending the kids off to the van. After a couple more pick ups we headed out to the Undoolya cattle station where we would ride. We learnt quite a bit about the farm which has been run by the Hayes family for over 100 years. The quad bikes were lots of fun and the landscape spectucular. Unfortunately we only saw a few of the very cute Hereford cows - Mum & calves. Apparently nearly half the herd has been moved to Queensland as they don’t have enough water for them all at the moment.

We were dropped back outside the van park about 11am and met everyone at our cabin. From here we got all organised and headed out to the West Macdonald Ranges. I went on the bike with Kevin and we rode out to Standley Chasm. It was about a 15min walk into the chasm which is best at 1pm - right when we were there as the sun shines right in between the rocks.

We made our way back to the carpark and when to the cafe for lunch. There wasn’t much vegetarian so I ended up with two rather greasy potato scallops (and some of Christy’s leftover bread roll).

Back on the bike and off to Simpson’s Gap. This was a very leisurely walk out to a small section of the river with some water, then a walk back along the dry river bed. It was beautiful as well and the girls really loved it here.

Off again, this time back to the cabin where we had some afternoon tea and a chat. Later we went over to the van where Dad cooked a BBQ dinner and I made a healthy, yummy salad for myself.

Had another bath tonight, then wrote up my blog and am shortly off to bed.