Cupcake Monday..

I fell in love with cupcakes at the markets one Saturday morning when I saw the sweet creations that the Cupcake Parlour make. I then sought out a cupcake option for my wedding cake, which unfortunately didn't work out (due to the lady changing her prices at the last moment) instead my Mum made gorgeous cupcakes for the children attending the wedding and they worked out so well. This inspired me to start making ones of my own and partake in 'Cupcake Monday'. Im only finding my feet with it all so my cupcakes are only topped with icing, sprinkles and cupcake toppers but eventually I would like to go into fondant and other fancier things.. Simple but they still taste soo yummy! I even bought this cute little cupcake mug tonight at the groceries that hubby bought me a yummy warm milo in.. 2 marshmallows of course! *spoilt!*

Things that I have LOVED this week!

Things that I have loved this week!

1. Mothers Day - last Sunday. Loved it, I love seeing how excited the kids are over the gifts they make at school and how proud they are of them. Got some gorgeous PJ's, Brain Training on the DS and some yummy chocolates.

2. Getting warm! It has been so cold here that flannie PJ's, dressing gowns, marshmallow socks and thick cozy blankets have been our everyday norm! Digging out my winter jacket (which has a nice fluffy neckline) and my red cardi which I love all winter long has been a delight this week.

3. Finding a doctor that comes out to the home.. only came across this ingenius idea the other night after my poor Pop had to sit up at the hospital for 5 hours and STILL not be seen. The doctor was waiting at his home ready to see him by the time we had driven back from the hospital! I also got them to come out and check on my son and were seen within 2 hours. Bulk billed and very professional! YAY.

4. Deciding that we are going to start PAINTING! the house sooo needs a freshen up and although it is easier said than done.. I am going to make a start this week!

5. Catching up with friends at a Birthday BBQ for gorgeous Jake who turned 1! The afternoon seemed to go so quickly and before I knew it, it was dark.. don't get to catch up with friends often, so it was nice!

6. Seeing my Son play his first game of soccer by himself without parents on the feild! He did get a little upset here and there when he was unsure of the game, but overall he did a wonderful job and im very proud of him!

7. Watching the Wedding Singer last night on telly, love that movie.

8. Having a lazy lie in today and making the yummiest Sunday morning brunch ever! Toast with avocado, cheese, grilled eggplant, baby spinach leaves, poached egg and grilled mushrooms and baby tomatoes! YUMMO!!!

Fresh is best!

Mum and Dad live on acreage outside of town, 120 acres of gorgeous mountain views is on their front doorstep. Mum who has always been blessed with a green thumb has taken advantage of the space and grown a massive vegetable garden full of organic produce. Today she dropped in and left us some fresh homegrown vegetables, how good do they look! We have zucchini, squash, cucumber and lots of little cherry tomatoes, all fresh from the garden. I have already eaten a fair few cherry tomatoes and they taste absolutely devine! Nothing like home grown, organic vegetables. Tomorrow I am going to turn some of the zucchini's into a eggplant and zucchini gratin! YUMMO..

Old School Memories..

I went back to my old school this week to do some relief teaching, how odd that was! 2 days with a year 2/3 class in my old year 2 classroom! And how ironic it was in this classroom that I had my heart set on being a teacher 22 years ago!

An older school with its original buildings now being 143 years old, I love the stairwells, brick buildings and gorgeous huge trees that landscape the grounds. I hadnt been back in many years so it was nice to go for a wander and see how I remembered things compared to my memory. Isn't it funny that everything seems so much bigger when your a kid? For example the Library used to seem quite large, but yesterday with the class of kids in it, it seemed quite small - I used to feel like I could get lost in that library. Toilets and drinking taps are another thing that seems to shrink as we get older; as little people sometimes we had to stand on our tippy toes to reach.

Walking down the familiar hallways felt the same and seeing my old friends names up on the school captain/house captain board was a blast from the past. Other areas that bought back memories were the tuckshop, the big tree on the oval (notorious year 7 kissing spot!) and the area where us as year sevens were allowed to 'hang out'.

Things that have changed are obviously new playgrounds, room changes such as the staff room now being in the old special education unit and smart boards instead of blackboards. The school population seems so much smaller than I remember but the general ambience of the school is still the same.. I also went to my Husbands old primary school the other day and he also asked questions about the layout of his school.. its funny how our primary school's can make such an impression on us!

Now I'm Hungry!

Im certainly no 'Master Chef' and dont make a lot from 'scratch' but this week inspired by some yummy cookbooks I was given, we've had some really nice dinners (even when I cooked which is amazing! LOL)

Sunday night was a Pesto Fettucini and it was gorgeous mixed with bacon, cherry tomato's, mushrooms and kalamata olives - it was truly devine! and tonight my 5 year old came up with a recipe that he wanted to make (he just thought of it off the top of his head the other night when we were making garlic bread) 'Garlic Balls'. They were so delicious and it was good fun making them together;

Ingredients:

* Bread (we used damper with its crusts removed) any soft loaf would be suitable, something that is going to hold together.

* Butter

* Crushed garlic

* Salt and Pepper

* Chives or similar (we added a dash of oregano also)

Remove the crusts from your chosen bread and set the bread aside. In a bowl place the butter and garlic (use as much as you need for the chosen serving size) and melt this down in the microwave. Add salt and pepper and herbs to the melted butter/garlic. Roll the bread into balls and coat with the butter mix. Heat the grill (I used a high setting) and place the garlic balls under the grill until the are cooked. take out and serve with your favourite meal.. We had ours with pumpkin soup and it tasted fantastic! Definitely a recipe I will use again.. Maybe there is a mini 'Master Chef' in our family after all!

Have You Missed Me Blog?

Welcome back to my blog! I know it has been ages, naughty me..

**This week for me has been all about the cooler weather.. Sorting through the kids wardrobes and checking what they need for winter, buying them new slippers and warm woolly bedsocks, washing the flanelette sheets & blankets in readyness, browsing through the stores for new winter clothes and of course rugging up in my own pink fluffy dressing gown and gorgeous 'marshmallow socks'. I am usually one who deems winter weather to be awfully miserable but this year I am welcoming the cool change, not because I like it or anything, but because there is no sense in complaining - it will come no matter how much I whinge.. so I may as well make the most of it!**

**The warmer weather will of course be missed.. I have loved the summer bbq's, fishing, playing in the backyard til dark, drive ins, swimming and playing in the park. But with Autumn/Winter comes a whole new set of activities/traditions to participate with the kids, after all it isn't cold each and every day! When I have woken up the past week it has been dark outside still, which makes it all the more harder to drag oneself out from underneath the warm doona but once up, the air is crisp and fresh and the world is lovely and quiet.. The past two mornings I was up early setting up our garage sale and market sale and iv come to realise that 5am is probably my favourite time of the day (as long as its tackled with a warm shower and hot chocolate/tea!) you really do make the most of your day waking up that early.. (although kind of grumpy by mid afternoon!)**

Things I have loved this week!

* Using the rule of tidying or ommitting 5 things a day from your life that annoy you.. it could be as simple as dusting an ornament you find at the back of a cupboard or finally throwing away that pair of jeans that you will never fit back into.. no matter how hard you try! I had a garage/market sale this weekend and I found it so uplifting to get rid of some things I had been harbouring for years.

* Chatting to people at markets/garage sales.. often people have a good tale to tell and enjoy a good chat.. so many friendly people out there.. its nice to see!

* Getting ready for winter! dressing gowns, blankies and winter socks..YUM!

* Hazelnut 98% fat free hot chocolate (cough cough although I do add milk!)

* Seeing my Pop.. although he was in hospital it was nice to take the kids up for a visit twice this week..I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful Grandparent and its so cool the kids still have Great Grandparents too.

*Seeing how well staffed and clean the hospital was.. Pop too was happy with the service so I was very happy with that - speedy recovery Pop xo

* Handwashing dishes - our dishwasher has been annoying me of late.. usually having to be run twice.. so rather than continue to waste water, power and sanity I have now decided to handwash my dishes.. they come out clean first time and there is something theraputic about washing dishes.. I think it must be the water.. I know many would disagree and im sure the novelty will wear off soon enough, but its been nice after so many years with a dishwasher..

* Seeing the fireworks display the other night.. I love fireworks.. so magical.

* Slowly but surely getting to the end of our easter chocolate..

**~Daily Note to Self~** Make a menu plan at the beginning of each week and pre-shop for the week's ingredients.. this will make it far easier to plan dinner each night and ensure you have everything ready to go in advance. Ill trial this and see how it goes this week! :-)

Things that I have loved this week!

• Counting down to the school holidays!
• Participating in Relay for Life.. Although I only walked for 1 hour, I think the meaning behind it is essential and very important.
• Seeing the kids so excited about Easter and doing easter craft, cards and handmade gifts with them.
• Planting new flowers in the garden and seeing everything grow and getting greener.
• Having everyone around for a early Easter BBQ.. was a very fun afternoon!
• Easter Egg hunts.. We had one and the kids have had them at school.. so much fun!
• Seeing my two youngest sons recieve an award for good behaviour choices all term! Well done boys! :-) & taking them out to dinner to celebrate.
• Shopping.. such a great ambience to it..
• Getting my new camera! Love it..
• Setting up for Easter! and looking forward to tomorrow :-)

Hope everyone else had a great week.. Happy Easter and Safe Holidays!