Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Moving home

Yes, we did only recently move home.

This time, I'm talking about my blog. It is moving.

There is a whole new name, a new home and a new look.

Thank you for supporting rambling mum over the past couple of years.

You will now find me at the huntered housewife and on Facebook here.

See you there real soon!

Karen xx

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Who's trying to reduce their sugar intake? (Giveaway)

I've noticed a lot of posts on Facebook and Blogs recently about going sugar free. I really need to have a close look at some of those recipes. We could do with reducing the sugar consumption in our household, I'm sure. Particularly because I am in the high risk category for Type 2 diabetes. And carrying too much weight on my frame (aren't we all). But sometimes it just seems like too much hard work.

So when I was offered the chance to try some chocolate with 80% less sugar than regular chocolate, I had to say yes. Let's face it, chocolate has a place in every girl's life. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, flavoured chocolate.....you name it, we love it!

Well Naturally is a brand I have tasted before. Whenever I've been on my low carb phases, I've snacked on their sugar free dark chocolate, discovered when I was packing shelves for a living late at night. (Do you have any idea how snacky a job like that makes you?!). And I found the chocolate yummy!


Most foods contain sugar, natural sugar. A lot of foods have more sugar added to them in the manufacturing process. That means more calories for a start, with no extra nutrition.Well Naturally's No Added Sugar milk chocolate retains the natural sugars from the lactose, but all excess sugars are eliminated. Which means that the finished chocolate bar has 80% less sugar than regular milk chocolate. And fewer calories! I'm wanting to reduce both my sugar and calorie intake to improve my health, so that ticks a box or two for me. How about you?

Well Naturally's No Added Sugar Chocolate is available in Creamy Milk or Fruit & Nut flavours. I've tried them both. More than once! And there are no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives in either variety. Great if your are looking after your health or have reactions to some of those nasties. (Like me with the sulphites in cheap wine lol).

So how do they taste, compared to regular chocolate bars? They do taste different, If you are expecting Well Naturally to taste like your favourite other brand, then you'll be wrong. These do taste yummy, but they are not what we are used to. If you are trying to be healthy & still need your chocolate fix, then Well Naturally provides a happy medium. Have your naughty food (PMT & mood fixer) without so much naughtiness.

You can buy them at Woolworths for $2.69 for a 45g bar. They're in the health food aisle. I know because I used to pack them there.

But if you don't want to part with your hard earned cash, you can win some right here. 3 lucky readers will each win a pack containing one bar of each flavour (Creamy Milk and Fruit & Nut). Try before you buy!

To enter, leave a comment on my blog telling me the importance of chocolate in your life. Or (if you are one of those really good people), the role you wish chocolate could take in your life!
Make sure you leave me an email address, so I can contact you if you win.

Competition is open to Australian residents only and closes at 5pm on Fri 2nd Nov, Sydney time.

The 3 best answers as judged by me will be the winners.

Ready, set, go!

Karen.

Disclaimer: I received Well Naturally No Added Sugar Chocolate bars for review purposes. Opinions are mine and are honest. 



Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Recent bits of my life.

Mental blank without my phone (with photos in it) beside me! Be right back.

Right, so what's been happening in my world then? I swear, if I don't write it down, I've got Buckley's of remembering.

* I snuck back to Shellharbour to surprise Bek for her baby shower. This pic was taken at a quickly organised  picnic the next day, which gave the kids & I the chance to catch up with friends. Thank you to Deb for organising the baby shower & my Mother in Law for allowing her home to be invaded by me & 2 of her Grandkids.
that's me on the left & Bek on the right

* Trixie the dog jumped the fence into the neighbours yard. Again. She can't jump back home. Thank you nice lady for not getting cranky with us. I don't think I would like someone else's dog landing in my backyard. Ever.

* Looked up & noticed the filthy hanging pot holder in the kitchen. How often do you look up?




* Took on a gym class. And survived! It will be my Tuesday night regular whilst Zac is at cadets.

* Discovered a fantastic App called My Fitness Pal, thanks to Rachael from Fat to Fit and Fabulous by Forty.

* Liam and Megan started tennis lessons last week:
orange & blue shirt



* Zac is about to go on Year 11 Retreat for 3 nights with school. Feel like I haven't seen much of our big son lately - he was away with cadets the first week of the school holidays and I was away with the younger two for 4 days of the second week. And nobody told him to stop growing - he'll be 17 on the 26th. Please pass the tissues.

* Ray's been putting the hours in at work & taking the kids for a bike ride on the weekends. And even getting time to escape with a mate to go fishing. In his words "No fish have been harmed in any of our expeditions".

That's a quick wrap up of what's happening here.

What's happening there?

Monday, October 1, 2012

October is here.

Yep, a new month. Another calendar page turns.

This month our eldest son turns 17. Wow, time is flying by. He's starting Year 12 in just a few weeks. His high school finish line is getting closer.

The weather is warming up. We've had a few 30 degree days already & there are a couple more forecast this week. 30 degrees inland is nothing like a coastal 30 degrees. Not as humid. Much more comfortable. So far.  Ask me again when summer arrives.

This week we discovered that the plant winding its way up the pergola post is a grapevine. Yes, we live in the Hunter (wine country as well as horse country) & we have a grapevine. Cool, hey?

Speaking of plants, today was a nice day to get stuck into some gardening. Not too much, as this is a temporary house for us. But something to prettify it.

pots of colour -to-be by the front door


radish, parsley & chives in vegie patch, flowers in left pot,
mystery plant in pot on right was already here

And next weekend Daylight Savings Starts - YAY!!!! Love, love LOVE daylight savings. Brings a whole new attitude & pace of life with it.

There will be more that October brings, but this is just a snippet.

Oh, and I am also informally doing Ocsober. It's like Dry July in that I am giving up alcohol for the month. Informal because I am not seeking sponsorship, I am simply doing it for me.

What's October got in store for you?

Karen.