I Went To The Big Day Out And All I Got Was A Giant Flashing Phallus

This year Mr Bond and I celebrated Australia Day by going to our first ever Big Day Out. I have always wanted to go but for whatever reason (money, breastfeeding, sold out, bad lineups) never managed to get there before now. This year Soundgarden was one of the headline acts and keen to relive a bit of my angsty teenage grunginess I just had to be there. Excited would be an understatement.

Choosing A School–Public vs Private

With all the talk this week of QLD students starting or returning to School and NSW only a week away my thoughts have been on the choices available to us for Skye’s education. Because of where we live, there is really only one Infants/Primary School in our immediate area with a bigger range of options including Private Schools within 15 minutes drive. It would seem a no-brainer that Skye be sent to the local Public School where many of our friends children attend, but lately I have been starting to question whether it is our best option.

Welcome Back Crock Pot–Frozen Roast Chicken

It seems something in blogger ate this post so I have had to republish – just in case you missed the easiest baked dinner ever, here it is again!

Our slow cooker has been a much loved winter necessity in our house for a number of years for its ease of se and the way it can magically transform cheap, tough cuts of meat into tender, warming comfort food. I just loved turning it on in the morning before work and returning at the end of a long day to a house warmed with the smells of delicious casseroles like mum had snuck into the house and been cooking up a storm all day. As much as I loved the convenience of a crock pot, I was never particularly adventurous with the meals I created in it. My standard crock pot fare was usually some kind of gravy beef casserole such as “lamb” ragout or beef goulash but that all changed a couple of weeks ago when I discovered that you can cook a WHOLE FROZEN CHICKEN in your slow cooker and it turns out just like the rotisserie style chickens you buy from the supermarket! I KNOW! Is that the most exciting thing you have ever heard??? OK, OK, I know this is not new to many of you, but just in case there is anyone else out there who was not privy to this information, I just have to share.

Happiness Is… Being Back At The Gym

Even if it does make me look like this.

Front Entrance Makeover: Part 1

Holidays at our place usually involve a project or two. This year we are focussing on finishing off the outside of the house including laying a new concrete driveway and making the front entrance a bit more appealing. These things had always been on our list of the things to do but they all had to wait until the garage was put up, which was an expensive and drawn out process in itself thanks to a mains pipe running right under where we wanted it.

Our house has come a long way since we first bought it almost 9 years ago. 

Mum’s Potato Salad

Technically I think it might be my Gran’s Potato Salad which we have tweaked a little but in any case, its a favourite around our place. If we are having any kind of occasion (including Christmas lunch) I can almost guarantee it will be on the table. It’s super easy and the sauce comes out of a bottle so I promise anyone can make it.

Dora the Explorer AKA Toddler Crack

We have a bit of a dependency problem in our house right now and it’s far worse than any dummy issues we have had. Dora the Explorer has infiltrated my home and taken hold of my innocent little girl. At the moment, I am at a loss as to how to overcome the problem. Actually I don’t know how it even got to this point, it just kind of crept up on us and now we are dealing with a pretty serious addiction to the big-headed demon with the purple backpack.

Dora stop f*%cking around and get a GPS Image Credit

Project Life 2012–It Begins

OK so ignoring the fact that I am still yet to complete last years digital monthly Project Life (so, so slack) I am excited by the prospect of taking on the full hard copy, photo every day Project Life experience this year. I wanted to make sure I was prepared in advance this year so I decided to get the basic layout all taken care of before I began with the photo’s. I was a little overwhelmed by all the different cards and stickers when I first opened the boxes up but after spreading everything out I was able to make sense of it all. Now I have my folder all filled out ready to go, so I just need to start printing my photos and filling out my journaling cards – simple, right?

Returning To Real

Mr Bond returned to work today after 3 weeks of holiday’s. I will miss having him home all day and not just for the opportunity to steal a sleep-in, it was great having the time together as a family again after him being away for so long. But there is something about everyone being on holiday that plays havoc with my need for structure and routine. I don’t know what day it is so I miss things which makes me feel unproductive. This week everything will return to its normal, rightful places, Skye will go back to swimming lessons and day care, my regular gym classes will recommence, mum will make her weekly visit and with any luck, Skye will stop fighting me on day and night sleep times.

Happiness Is… A Day At The Beach

 

 

 

The Sleep-in Stand-off

It’s 7am, I am sleeping peacefully when I hear the familiar call from the front bedroom “MUMMY!, MUMMY!, MUUUUUM!”. I freeze, hoping that if I don’t move it will just be a false alarm, if I wait just a little bit longer she will notice the pile of books at the end of the bed and amuse herself in her cot so I can drift back to sleep. Just another 10 minutes and I will be ready to start the day, please, just another 10 minutes. Suddenly, I remember that Mr Bond is on holidays. He is an early riser, surely he won’t mind getting up, especially since he went to bed about 3 hours before I did last night. But I must remain completely still, if he realises that I am already awake, it’s all over.

Bruschetta

Its quick, easy and just about everyone loves it. I don’t follow any specific measurements but here is a basic guide to my favourite Bruschetta recipe.

• 3 ripe tomatoes finely chopped
• Half a red onion finely chopped
• Gourmet Garden Basil Paste
• Splash of Balsamic Vinegar
• Drizzle of Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Adjust the quantities to your own taste, I like to be pretty heavy handed with the Basil Paste.

I like to make this ahead so the flavours can develop before serving on freshly baked garlic bread.

Always a winner at our place and perfect for a laid back BBQ!

Wordless Wednesday… Testing Out Sports Mode

 

 

 

 

 

Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday.

I Thought We Were Friends

Beer and I have always had a pretty good relationship, a reliable old friend that helped me relax after a long day. We have shared countless celebrations and milestones together and beer has never felt threatened when I strayed for a bottle of wine or bubbly or wanted to bring a little tequila into the mix. This arrangement has worked for us for a number of years without so much as a raised voice so to have beer turn its back on me so suddenly, and right before Christmas, has come as quite a shock.

In happier times

Bye Bye Dummy!

Top of my list of goals for 2012 was to get Skye to give up her dummy. I have never been all that happy about her having one and as she has gotten older, her dependency on it has made me increasingly uncomfortable. Recently, she had been wanting to have it all day and while I tried to restrict it to just sleep times, she constantly asked for it and never wanted it out of arms reach, I thought we were a long way off convincing her to give it up, but a chance incident in the backyard was our opportunity to say bye-bye.

Happiness Is… Reconnecting With The Real World

 

 

 

 

I would like to thank everyone for their support in 2011 and look forward to sharing more of our adventures in 2012. I hope you like my new look, please let me know your thoughts xx.