101 Challenge accepted!

Over the past little while I've been ticking some of the 101 challenges off in my head but not really on the list of blogging them....enter this post!


If I think about what the 101 challenge means to me and my purpose for doing it, it would be a few things - to fill in some time, to try out some new things, to actually make some of the things I pin on pinterest (LOL) and to give some more focussed direction to the year. If I was to make a judgement on that now I would say complete. And that makes me warm and fuzzy inside.

So, if it seems like some of the 'ticks' I share today are a little bit of a cop out, it's because rather than complete them exactly as they're written I may have skimmed around the edges a bit, and that's OK with me. :)

#1:

I've done a few things with collections actually.
I've started collecting things with Baboushka dolls on them. I love Baboushka dolls. It's a love fueled by a set of dolls I had as a child (which I think my mum sold in a car boot sale :(!). So now if there's a choice of getting something with or without Baboushka dolls on it, I will go doll! I have seen some other cool things that I would like to buy that fit into the category but alas I'm trying not to fill my house up anymore before we move.. so perhaps watch this space. But look at all the cool things we've acquired so far;

I also took an old collection of stamps that have been passed from my Grandfather to my dad to me to a dealer - nothing worth selling (Bummer, thought I might have a rare gem in my midst. Was mistaken) So although they are still sitting in the Continental chocolate box at the moment I'm planning to buh a nice album for them to display them and keep them in good condition.
Along those lines I've also been thinking of ways I can display or do something with an existing collection of Ology books, games and other parafernalia. No bright ideas yet. It might be something that comes into place in a new house if I manage to score myself a spare room.

Leah in her Baboushka doll hoodie - what a cool dude!

#2:

I think I've been doing this one really well. And more so than anything it's made me think before I purchase. I don't immediately go for black clothes anymore. I'll be honest. I like black clothes, but now I'll try and make sure I match it with something that isn't. I even bought purple pants this year. Success of challenge? I think so!

#3:

This was a really special exercise. Firstly whittling it down to 5 people and then writing the letters. I must say that I had a tear in my eye (or in a couple of cases tears rolling down my face) as I wrote the letters. I have sent all my letters last week, well, all the ones that could be sent. There were two people who I wrote to who have passed so I will hold on to those letters until the next time I go to visit them at the cemetery. The people I finally settled on to write to;

• Dad - probably the most influential person in my life. When he spoke, you wanted to listen.
• My Nana - someone I spent a lot of time with when I was little, and glad I did.
• Damien - the one that didn't get away.
• Mr Alderton - My Year 10 english teacher. The man who inspired me to be a teacher.
• Lynn - A work colleague and friend whose cheery and positive disposition inspires happiness in me.

#4:

DONE! I'm yet to put magnets on the back of these but I don't think I'm going to use them as magnets, to begin with anyway. Think I will use them as just little letters for Leah to manipulate when she's a wee bit older, they're quite small.

"We're going to Party, Karamu, Fiesta, forever"

Our favourite little lady turns one on Monday and I really can't believe it. It sure has been quite a year - all amazing, amazing, warm fuzzy type stuff. Being a mum is AWESOME.

For the best part of the last month I've been working on this puppy;

And plan did I what. There was list upon list, many shopping excursions for party favours, cake trial runs, party food, presents. It always seemed like there was so much to do and so little time. To the point where on Friday morning (the morning 1 day before) I packed a sad and told Mr. Man through teary eyes that I couldn't do it anymore, I'd failed. Oh no no said Mr. Man. A few days of him picking up Leah, and I managed to get everything sorted, coming home without Leah on Friday afternoon and heading out to Party HQ to set up was vital. Mr. Man = THE Man.

Photo courtesy of Lynn Fothergill

And all went on without a hitch today, better than without a hitch in fact - just perfect. The sun shone down, the wind died down, Leah slept well in the morning. Just perfect!

Big one made out of photos - Party Decoration

We had a tonne of people over, family and friends, and Leah had a great time playing with all her little friends. She got spoiled rotten (I need a bigger place to house everything - kids toys are bulky!) and stayed up way past bed time playing with all her new toys - jumping from one to the other utterly excited by everything and it's newness. Yummy food and merriment was had by all. Look at my awesome cake/s! I'm so happy with the way the concept turned out. Proud mumma right here.

'Bubbles and Balloons' was our theme <3

Most of all. I'm proud of us - Mr. Man, me and Leah. We made it guys! 1 year down, tonnes more to go. I love you both so much and you two make me a better person and the bestest mum. <3 How lucky am I to know you both and have you in my life.

Enjoy the photos of our beautiful girl's amazing day. xox

Thank you to everyone who came or wished us well or helped us to make it to one. You are who makes us who we are. We love you <3

Things I'm loving

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

A few of the things I'm loving this week...

1. Funny little first steps.

2. Getting ready for a big birthday party.

 3. This ad.




4. Loving that it's the weekend!

What's making you smile this week? 

Recipes Galore

I feel bad for not posting for so long. Things have just been so busy around here and kinda took priority away from this blog. But I still love you. And I've been good. Still ticking along with my challenges.  Today, in fact, is to show how well I'm coming along with challenge #18 having made 2 more recipes from it over the past couple weeks and another tonight! What a good girl.

 The first I would like to share though is just an old favourite - Peach or apple cobbler.  I have a new trick which threw up a yummy result.

I basically make my cobbler with a normal crumble base and add something to it like cream or milk so I can mould the balls for the top. A couple of weeks back I only had thickened cream in the house (I'm very much a 'throw in what you got kinda cook) so in it went. Well, it made the lightest, most beautiful topping you could imagine.  Try it if you like cobbler :)

Secondly, I have two chicken dishes for you. An oldie but a goodie - Chicken Cordon Bleu with a variation you might like to try (: and Easy Peasy Chicken Pasta.

I have a confession. The chicken cordon bleu I'm about to share was supposed to involve a vegetable and be known as Chicken Supreme. But I don't dig asparagus so I subbed it with ham. I will give both recipes here (:

Chicken Cordon Bleu (Or Chicken Supreme)
1 chicken fillet per person
Tasty cheese - sliced
1 4x4 sandwich ham for every breast (cordon bleu) Bunch of fresh asparagus (supreme) 
Flour, Egg & milk to coat
Breadcrumbs (I like to add paprika, garlic salt and parmesan to my crumbs)
A little olive oil

1. Slice each breast in half to form a pocket (I hate doing this and as you'll see form the photos never do a good job but I hear Rachel Ray has a good video - check it out here).

2. Fill with cheese and asparagus/ham. Close each breast with toothpicks.

3. Coat chicken with flour, then egg mixture and roll in breadcrumbs.

4. In an electric frying pan lined with baking paper add the olive oil and cook until golden brown, Turn and repeat. Approx 4-5 minutes on each side is enough.
I have a husband who is terrified of chicken not being cooked so as you will see I didn't fry mine we did it in the over - still yummy :)

The last recipe I'll share with you today got the following comment from my husband;
"Can we put this on the have all the time menu"?
Meaning, not just a once off because you're trying it from your cook everything cook book.
Yep, it was that good, and because it was so easy I was able to say yes we will make it a reoccurring meal! We both concurred though that in future it would need bacon... what doesn't need bacon right?

Easy Peasy Chicken (and bacon!) Pasta
1T Butter
500g chicken breast fillets thinly sliced
1 clove crushed garlic
Generous sprinkle chopped chives
Salt to taste
2T fresh parsley, finely chopped
300ml Cream (I used light cream and hubby didn't even know!)
Pepper
250g dried pasta
(and I recommend) 4-6 strips of bacon sliced

1. Heat the butter on a medium heat in an electric frying pan lined with baking paper. Add the chicken, garlic, chives and salt.

2. Cover and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the parsley, cream, (bacon), pepper and finally the hot cooked pasta. Stir through to combine.

3. Serve - YUM! Told ya it was easy peasy!

I have mine with Parmesan sprinkled on top.

Dream house....or just a new one please

I've been holding off blogging about this one for a while because I've been meaning to create a vision board and was going to print pictures off and pop them on.
Now, this is still the long term goal, but unfortunately we've outgrown the house that we currently live in and things are just way too crammed as it is.  I'm trying my darndest to stop purchasing and filling the place with more stuff.

We have managed to put a time line on moving into a bigger house though.  Our plan is to get the house ready to see - few odd jobs here and there to make it more presentable - and have it on the market in January when the weather is a bit nicer.

BUT, I've decided to strike this challenge off my list as I've been adding to two boards on pinterest for months and months now - one called household and another called dream house.  There used to be some rhyme of reason as to what I put on which but, just between you and me I think the lines have blurred a bit. Hehe.

So DONE!  I love dreaming. Hopefully when we buy a bigger house that we will most likely stay in for a big chunk of time we'll be able to put some of the dreams into place. Until then, dreaming it is <3

Thanking those who serve

Done a couple of weeks back when Mr. Man and I went out for tea.  I felt good but also really awkward doing it which is horrible... I'm not sure why, but after writing it I just wanted to pay and get outta there. Maybe I just have to do it a few more times to make it the norm?

Anyhow - DONE!

Excuse the shoddy iPad photo.

Things I'm Loving

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

 I think I've told you all before but my class is AWESOME! Last week we made voice overs to help with our persuasive writing.  They came out quite well if you ask me.  See!

I have an 11 month old. Wow. One more month and it's big big party time.

I started a very positive initiative called '3 good things'.  You can find out more about it here. I love the positivity in it and that it fits in with one of my life mantras "Every day might not be good but there is good in every day".  Here are a couple of my 'Three good things' from this week.

 Love breaded Shakey....

Loving this 'oh dad you so funny' face.

 And, this is my 200th post - cool huh?

What are you loving this week?