The Dutch do it again~!
Check out this awesome product from Taga.
Is it a bike? Is it a stroller? A cargo bike? Twin stroller? TOTALLY AWESOME!
Can't get them in Australia (yet) and the current price is £1,695 if you want to go to the UK and buy one......... bummer. One can dream.....
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
More on 'bicycles'
A peaceful night's rest....
.... was not had by a certain toddler mamma last night. A particular 2 year old woke at 3 and 3.30 and 4.00 and 4.30 until her mother gave up and got into bed with her so that she could give her a strangle death grip cuddle around the neck. Which apparently is the best way to sleep. For some.......
Grrrrrrr *yawn* rrrrrrrrrr
Where's my damn coffee?
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
On the stove....
... pea and ham soup. Yummo!
Just need to pop some bread in the oven so I can eat crusty bread with it. Perfect for this cold, dreary day.
Carry on from previous post......
I'm beginning to see a theme here..... as I saved the previous post I remembered two of my other favorite illustrators - A A Milne and Karl Larsson. Can you notice a theme? A certain style?
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
On my want list......
... I just LOVE Belle and Boo. You can buy something for me from here. Yes, you can!
Pleeeeeeeese~~~~~~
Birds and Trees
Went to the opening of Mike's exhibition this evening. Totally wanted to buy an ink drawing but all my favorites had red dots already. So did many of the larger works - GO MIKE!!
I'm really in love with birds and trees, particularly silhouettes so this exhibition was right up my alley. If you'd like to check it out visit Metro 5 in Armadale.
A couple of people there asked me if the painting above was inspired by our daughter. I don't believe so and the child in the picture is older than Annie, but yes, it kind of reminds me of her........ She's the kind of kid who would run up a lane way for a lookee see!
On a side note, as we walked into the gallery my BIL was talking with a couple and he proceeded to introduce me to them. The guy looked really familiar and I thought I must have met him at one of the other gallery openings (these things have a lot of the same people at them) and I almost said, 'Have we met before? You look familiar...' Suddenly, I realised that although I 'knew' him he wouldn't know me because TVs don't work both ways. It was a famous game show host from a few years back (Tony Barber) and I'm SO glad I didn't embarrass myself by asking him if he knew me!
I'm really in love with birds and trees, particularly silhouettes so this exhibition was right up my alley. If you'd like to check it out visit Metro 5 in Armadale.
A couple of people there asked me if the painting above was inspired by our daughter. I don't believe so and the child in the picture is older than Annie, but yes, it kind of reminds me of her........ She's the kind of kid who would run up a lane way for a lookee see!On a side note, as we walked into the gallery my BIL was talking with a couple and he proceeded to introduce me to them. The guy looked really familiar and I thought I must have met him at one of the other gallery openings (these things have a lot of the same people at them) and I almost said, 'Have we met before? You look familiar...' Suddenly, I realised that although I 'knew' him he wouldn't know me because TVs don't work both ways. It was a famous game show host from a few years back (Tony Barber) and I'm SO glad I didn't embarrass myself by asking him if he knew me!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
What do I have to say today?
I made it past 10,000 steps! I've got one of those little pedometer doodads that hubby put in my Christmas stocking a few years back (because I asked him too, not because he was making any hints or anything!)
Supposedly, walking 10,000 steps a day indicates an 'active' lifestyle, but I tell you what, it's really hard to make it to 10,000 steps every day! To reach this goal I had to walk to the train station, and then to my friends house, then walk all the way back home (almost 2 stops on the train) and then use my Wii fit for 30 mins on the 'cardio' activities. I'm not sure if the pedometer is accurate or if I'm just a lazy sod...... but reaching 10,000 steps a day leaves me with sore feet at the end of the day. And who has time for all this? *blah*
But, today I made it! Yay!~~~
Supposedly, walking 10,000 steps a day indicates an 'active' lifestyle, but I tell you what, it's really hard to make it to 10,000 steps every day! To reach this goal I had to walk to the train station, and then to my friends house, then walk all the way back home (almost 2 stops on the train) and then use my Wii fit for 30 mins on the 'cardio' activities. I'm not sure if the pedometer is accurate or if I'm just a lazy sod...... but reaching 10,000 steps a day leaves me with sore feet at the end of the day. And who has time for all this? *blah*
But, today I made it! Yay!~~~
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Latest deliciousness
Hot soup and cheesy toast is one of our winter staples. Lately, it's been chicken and veg soup. We make it like this:
Throw 3 organic chicken drumsticks in a pot. Add lots of vegies (today was leek, pumpkin, potato, celery, zucchini & carrot) and enough water to just cover. Season however you like. Try salt and pepper, garlic, ginger, Kelpamare, curry powder - not all at once!) Boil until meat falls off the bone. While the soup is cooking (I use a pressure cooker so the cooking time is very short) throw a couple of pieces of bread on a tray, cover in grated cheese and chuck it all in the oven at 180. Spoon cooked soup into a bowl. Dip in some toast. Eat. Lick your lips (and then the bowl!).
Usually, I take the chicken out, puree the vegies and then throw the boned and chopped chicken back in because Moo won't eat all vegetables in chunks but will eat anything if she can't see it. Yep, the old, 'hide the vegies from the kid' trick. Today I also added some ground brown rice which results in a thicker, heartier soup. B vitamins, magnesium and fibre are an added bonus!
It takes no effort at all to make but is incredibly delicious and I do love a healthy dish that results in Moo yelling, 'More Mummy! MORE!'
PS I hope I haven't offended anyone with my live chicken photo on a post about cooked chickens..... But, the chicken we eat was alive at one point..... That's one of the many reasons I prefer organic meat. Taste, texture, nutrition and knowing the animal led a natural and free life before it made the ultimate sacrifice. I think about that when I prepare it and when I eat it... Wouldn't you like to think that your dinner roamed about scratching in the sunshine rather than in artificial light, cramped in a crowded shed?
'Off on a tangent' rant over. : ) Yep, I have opinions and I'm not afraid to share them! : )
Throw 3 organic chicken drumsticks in a pot. Add lots of vegies (today was leek, pumpkin, potato, celery, zucchini & carrot) and enough water to just cover. Season however you like. Try salt and pepper, garlic, ginger, Kelpamare, curry powder - not all at once!) Boil until meat falls off the bone. While the soup is cooking (I use a pressure cooker so the cooking time is very short) throw a couple of pieces of bread on a tray, cover in grated cheese and chuck it all in the oven at 180. Spoon cooked soup into a bowl. Dip in some toast. Eat. Lick your lips (and then the bowl!).
Usually, I take the chicken out, puree the vegies and then throw the boned and chopped chicken back in because Moo won't eat all vegetables in chunks but will eat anything if she can't see it. Yep, the old, 'hide the vegies from the kid' trick. Today I also added some ground brown rice which results in a thicker, heartier soup. B vitamins, magnesium and fibre are an added bonus!
It takes no effort at all to make but is incredibly delicious and I do love a healthy dish that results in Moo yelling, 'More Mummy! MORE!'
PS I hope I haven't offended anyone with my live chicken photo on a post about cooked chickens..... But, the chicken we eat was alive at one point..... That's one of the many reasons I prefer organic meat. Taste, texture, nutrition and knowing the animal led a natural and free life before it made the ultimate sacrifice. I think about that when I prepare it and when I eat it... Wouldn't you like to think that your dinner roamed about scratching in the sunshine rather than in artificial light, cramped in a crowded shed?
'Off on a tangent' rant over. : ) Yep, I have opinions and I'm not afraid to share them! : )
Monday, May 4, 2009
Menagerie cake
Space on top of the cake was at a premium!
The horse sank into the quagmire.
The dog fell over and got covered in 'grass' and had to have a bath.
But Moo loved it and that's what counts!
I really enjoyed the party. I did a lot of preparation way in advance so wasn't busy running around on the day. Once again, true to form, I over catered and sent a bunch of relatives rolling and groaning to their homes........ : )
Bento
Cleaning out the cupboard the other day I found my old lunchbox from when I lived in Korea. I have to pack a snack for Moo when she goes to creche so I thought I would put it back into service - with knicker elastic (new!) to hold it together because I lost the original strap........
Bentos are great for toddlers because you can put in lots of little snacks without using lots of different containers to keep them seperate. And it goes in the dishwasher!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Brrrrr
It's only 9 (48) degrees outside. That's pretty cold for us! And seeing as it has been a pretty warm summer we are freezing our butts off! Great start to the ski season.
This morning I went shopping for supplies for Moo's birthday party. Came home and made sausage rolls to put in the freezer. Space in our fridge and freezer is currently at a premium as we had our organic meat delivery yesterday too. Thank goodness for our giant fridge/freezer combo!
It's Moo's birthday on Tuesday and I just can't believe my little poppet is turning 2 already. Although I might complain about her 'spiritedness' every now and then I am so proud of her 'spunk.' She's not shy and loves to walk up to strangers in a cafe and tell them about her stuffed toy. She'll run off when I drop her at creche yelling, 'Bye bye Mummy!!~~~~' She's an enthusiastic (if somewhat sloppy) kisser and loves a good leg cuddle. She's full of energy and love for her friends and family. She not afraid to say what she thinks or ask for what she wants. I hope she can continue to do that through her life - but she might like to learn some tact along the way.....
I'm so thankful for our 'little' surprise. She really is one in a million billion squillion.
Friday, April 24, 2009
We're all set until 2020
We spent 2.5 hours this morning going on the Montessori Primary school tour, filling out reams of paperwork and relieving ourselves of some hard earned dough. I never ever in a million years thought that we would be enrolling Moo for school so early but once I found out what kind of competition there was for the limited number of places I HAD to do it now. But it's done and dusted now - until we face the horrors of choosing a secondary school! *sheesh*
Thursday, April 23, 2009
They don't put this on the Huggies commercial
This afternoon I was afraid to go into Moo's room after her nap..... I smelt a 'smell' in the hall and heard her saying, 'Poooooooo.' My mother's intuition was right and I won't go in to the sight that greeted me. Let's just say that the washing machine is on, the windows are open and baths were had...... *sigh*
Moo's sleeping
Woo hoo!
Gotta love a sleeping toddler.
I've done the ironing (inspiring stuff) while watching the Lifestyle channel - Jon and Kate Plus 8. I love that show. That woman is my hero..... I find it challenging to look after one little girl. I can't imagine raising twins AND sextuplets. The kids are super cute too!
We are getting rid of our cable TV when the contract runs out and it is about the only show I'll miss. That and Grand Designs. We got it when Moo was born because we were sick of watching infomercials when feeding/pumping during the night. (As a side note, I'm still haunted by the sight of anything Medela. I might write about my year long relationship with the breast pump one of these days.)
Nothing exciting going on here. We went to Mum's Group this morning and the weather was nice enough that we could sit outside. An incident that sums up the day is one toddler stabbing another in the head with a plastic pitchfork (no harm done). Sharing is hard......
I've done the ironing (inspiring stuff) while watching the Lifestyle channel - Jon and Kate Plus 8. I love that show. That woman is my hero..... I find it challenging to look after one little girl. I can't imagine raising twins AND sextuplets. The kids are super cute too!
We are getting rid of our cable TV when the contract runs out and it is about the only show I'll miss. That and Grand Designs. We got it when Moo was born because we were sick of watching infomercials when feeding/pumping during the night. (As a side note, I'm still haunted by the sight of anything Medela. I might write about my year long relationship with the breast pump one of these days.)
Nothing exciting going on here. We went to Mum's Group this morning and the weather was nice enough that we could sit outside. An incident that sums up the day is one toddler stabbing another in the head with a plastic pitchfork (no harm done). Sharing is hard......
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Mummy: Annie, did you do a poo?
Moo: Nooooo
Mummy: Then what's that smell?
Moo: Rabbit poos?
Pity we don't have any rabbits. Although, I did find a dead one in our front yard a few days ago. Ewww~
Missy Moo is turning two next week. Where did that time go?
After much deliberation I've decided on a farm yard cake because Thomas is a little too ambitious for me this year. I think it will be a chocolate cake with chocolate icing around the outside and a 'path' through the middle of the top of the cake. The top icing will be green and I have bought some new 'Schleich' farm animals for the top which she can play with later. It'll be fairy bread, sausages rolls and party pies in the way of food (home made). Punch (of the non-alcoholic kind!) and paper bunting because I haven't gotten around to making the fabric bunting that I wanted to and can't envision getting it done in the next week or so.
I can't wait to see her face.
Moo: Nooooo
Mummy: Then what's that smell?
Moo: Rabbit poos?
Pity we don't have any rabbits. Although, I did find a dead one in our front yard a few days ago. Ewww~
Missy Moo is turning two next week. Where did that time go?
After much deliberation I've decided on a farm yard cake because Thomas is a little too ambitious for me this year. I think it will be a chocolate cake with chocolate icing around the outside and a 'path' through the middle of the top of the cake. The top icing will be green and I have bought some new 'Schleich' farm animals for the top which she can play with later. It'll be fairy bread, sausages rolls and party pies in the way of food (home made). Punch (of the non-alcoholic kind!) and paper bunting because I haven't gotten around to making the fabric bunting that I wanted to and can't envision getting it done in the next week or so.
I can't wait to see her face.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
You've got to laugh! Even when you smell like petrol......
I decided that I was in need of some retail therapy so I went with my MIL and Moo to Ikea.
On the way the following happened;
- I stopped at the service station to get some fuel
- pulled up to the pump, got out of the car and noticed it was out of service
- lined myself up with another pump on the other side (tricky as I am a learner driver)
- realised I had pulled up on the wrong side for the petrol cap! D'oh!
- re-maneuvered to another pump
- tried to fill the car but the pump wouldn't start
- the attendant wasn't paying attention and didn't turn on the pump.....
- I was waving and trying to get his attention when the pump suddenly turned on, the spout wasn't quite lined up so petrol came flying out of the car and covered me : (
- Went in to pay and the attendant was listening to his MP3 and so didn't see me
- I yelled but he didn't flinch so I ended up having to throw a pack of gum to get his attention
-(perhaps I should have had a go at highway robbery....?)
- I end up having to swipe my own credit card and all that because he can't be bothered
- He asks me to sign and I have ask him for a pen when he doesn't understand the blank look on my face and lack writing implement!
*sigh* I really felt then like I shouldn't have bothered getting out of bed! I stank like petrol and was a bit worried about naked flames!
But, I had such an awesome time walking around Ikea with MIL and Moo. Moo was VERY well behaved and enjoyed the showrooms. Apparnetly Ikea beds and furniture are great to jump on! I had meatballs with boiled potatoes followed by Daim cake for lunch - lingonberry cordial and all! MIL had a fish bake which reminded me way too much of school lunches in Sweden. : )
I bought a Billy bookcase with doors for inside our front door. It's now our 'runway' with space for bags and shoes on the inside, a mirror on top so I can check my face for chocolate smudges and my shoulders for boogas (Moo's not mine!) before leaving the house, an 'unkillable' house plant (we'll see about that), and a dish for keys and mobile phones.
I'm so pleased with myself. I've wanted to do this for ages and it feels so great to strike something off my 'to do' list. YAY~
Don't you just love the modern sculpture (aka dead house alarm)? You can also see that I haven't quite finished stripping the wallpaper. Eventually the walls will be white (?) and so will the door jams. I'd like to get a larger mirror and mount it on the wall but this one I already had will have to do for now.
- I stopped at the service station to get some fuel
- pulled up to the pump, got out of the car and noticed it was out of service
- lined myself up with another pump on the other side (tricky as I am a learner driver)
- realised I had pulled up on the wrong side for the petrol cap! D'oh!
- re-maneuvered to another pump
- tried to fill the car but the pump wouldn't start
- the attendant wasn't paying attention and didn't turn on the pump.....
- I was waving and trying to get his attention when the pump suddenly turned on, the spout wasn't quite lined up so petrol came flying out of the car and covered me : (
- Went in to pay and the attendant was listening to his MP3 and so didn't see me
- I yelled but he didn't flinch so I ended up having to throw a pack of gum to get his attention
-(perhaps I should have had a go at highway robbery....?)
- I end up having to swipe my own credit card and all that because he can't be bothered
- He asks me to sign and I have ask him for a pen when he doesn't understand the blank look on my face and lack writing implement!
*sigh* I really felt then like I shouldn't have bothered getting out of bed! I stank like petrol and was a bit worried about naked flames!
But, I had such an awesome time walking around Ikea with MIL and Moo. Moo was VERY well behaved and enjoyed the showrooms. Apparnetly Ikea beds and furniture are great to jump on! I had meatballs with boiled potatoes followed by Daim cake for lunch - lingonberry cordial and all! MIL had a fish bake which reminded me way too much of school lunches in Sweden. : )
I bought a Billy bookcase with doors for inside our front door. It's now our 'runway' with space for bags and shoes on the inside, a mirror on top so I can check my face for chocolate smudges and my shoulders for boogas (Moo's not mine!) before leaving the house, an 'unkillable' house plant (we'll see about that), and a dish for keys and mobile phones.
I'm so pleased with myself. I've wanted to do this for ages and it feels so great to strike something off my 'to do' list. YAY~
Don't you just love the modern sculpture (aka dead house alarm)? You can also see that I haven't quite finished stripping the wallpaper. Eventually the walls will be white (?) and so will the door jams. I'd like to get a larger mirror and mount it on the wall but this one I already had will have to do for now.
On reading my favorite blogs this morning.....
... I noticed that so many of them apologised for not posting in a while. I particularly liked Hoppo Bumbo's reusable post. Tee hee.
I was chatting with hubby last night about my 'pit of despair' and he asked me if I had been blogging because I enjoy it so much. I told him I hadn't. I asked him, 'Who wants to hear; today I washed the dishes, washed the clothes, fought with a dead tired child who didn't want to nap, tidied the living room, made a sandwich?'
Yes, things have been mundane. But what he said was right. I need to start blogging again. It helps me to make time for myself. It inspires me to find the beauty and it lets me release some steam by whining out into the internets......
So, I am going to keep at it. I might not blog too much about craft but I can certainly share my adventures as a stay at home mum! And oh, the adventures that we have!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Hmmmm
I've been pondering how much I should share in this kind of forum. I'm a little wary of things being 'out there' and I know hubby doesn't like me writing about our personal life. Fair enough.
But this means that I haven't posted in a long time. No crafting news. No creativity documented.
I have, however, had things on my mind. I've written about Moo the 'spirited child.' She's great fun but she's also A LOT of work. And since she hasn't been sleeping during the day like she used to there's been limited time for me to do things I can't when she's awake. During school holidays it's worse - no creche! Anyhoo....
The main thing that's been plaguing me is that we have been on the TTC roller coaster for over 6 months. Our first pregnancy was a 'surprise' so we hadn't experienced deliberately trying to have a baby. Our second pregnancy was also a 'surprise,' in that we got pregnant first try and then soon lost it. That was last October and we have been trying since. If any of you have been through this before you can understand. This really hasn't been too long when I see how long some people try (some in vain : ( and I know that we 'are lucky because we already have a child' but that doesn't change the fact that we want a brother or sister for Moo. I'm a bit of a focused person sometimes so this has been (in this case) a bad thing. Obsessive POAS from 12 DPO - and if you can understand what I just wrote it is possible that you too may be a little obsessive and we should start a club called 'POAS anonymos.' ha ha ha
Last week I was feeling a little upset and hubby suggested I go out with one of my friends. Yes, I said, my two best friends are pregnant, both my SIL are pregnant and all my Mum's group friends are pregnant or just had babies. ALL OF THEM!
I'm banning myself from using the computer for anything other than blogging and emailing so that I can't wallow in my misery with others who are on the same rollercoaster.
And whatever you do, don't leave a comment saying, 'Don't worry, it will happen', or 'Just relax.' or I will have to hunt you down.....
PS - If you happen to be a 'best friend' or SIL please understand I am totally happy for you and want to hear all about your beautiful belly! Don't tip toe around me and pretend like you don't have a giant tummy poking out in front of you - there's a complete difference between my longing for a child and my happiness at having another bundle of joy around.... : ) I love you guys!
But this means that I haven't posted in a long time. No crafting news. No creativity documented.
I have, however, had things on my mind. I've written about Moo the 'spirited child.' She's great fun but she's also A LOT of work. And since she hasn't been sleeping during the day like she used to there's been limited time for me to do things I can't when she's awake. During school holidays it's worse - no creche! Anyhoo....
The main thing that's been plaguing me is that we have been on the TTC roller coaster for over 6 months. Our first pregnancy was a 'surprise' so we hadn't experienced deliberately trying to have a baby. Our second pregnancy was also a 'surprise,' in that we got pregnant first try and then soon lost it. That was last October and we have been trying since. If any of you have been through this before you can understand. This really hasn't been too long when I see how long some people try (some in vain : ( and I know that we 'are lucky because we already have a child' but that doesn't change the fact that we want a brother or sister for Moo. I'm a bit of a focused person sometimes so this has been (in this case) a bad thing. Obsessive POAS from 12 DPO - and if you can understand what I just wrote it is possible that you too may be a little obsessive and we should start a club called 'POAS anonymos.' ha ha ha
Last week I was feeling a little upset and hubby suggested I go out with one of my friends. Yes, I said, my two best friends are pregnant, both my SIL are pregnant and all my Mum's group friends are pregnant or just had babies. ALL OF THEM!
I'm banning myself from using the computer for anything other than blogging and emailing so that I can't wallow in my misery with others who are on the same rollercoaster.
And whatever you do, don't leave a comment saying, 'Don't worry, it will happen', or 'Just relax.' or I will have to hunt you down.....
PS - If you happen to be a 'best friend' or SIL please understand I am totally happy for you and want to hear all about your beautiful belly! Don't tip toe around me and pretend like you don't have a giant tummy poking out in front of you - there's a complete difference between my longing for a child and my happiness at having another bundle of joy around.... : ) I love you guys!
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