Winner of JAWS Cleaning Products.....

And the 2nd winner for my JAWS giveaway is:

marybelle said...

No one like cleaning. So, it's just like ripping off a band-aid. Do it as quickly & easily as possible.

Congratulations Marybelle! I just sent you an email - you have until Dec 1st to claim your prize.

A masisve "Thank you" to the ever supportive Tina Gray for the shout out for my giveaway! I'm pretty sure you all are followers of hers already, but make sure you pop on over to her blog anyway, just to be sure. It's well worth the trip!

And as always, a big big "Thank you" to all those who took the time to enter. Your support is very much appreciated. I have been visiting your blogs & am in awe of the talent out there. Make sure you are a follower of my blog so you don't miss anything!

Karen xx

Table of Plenty Nicely Nutty Muesli Winner

 ************Winner could not be located - redrawn 12 Dec - new winner is gemmiealliston - have sent you an email**************

Firstly, a big big THANKYOU to Erin at Imperfectly Erin for the shout out for my giveaway. Make sure you go and visit her if you haven't done so already......

Welcome to you new followers - thanks for coming over - it's lovely to meet you! I have been visiting your blogs too and becoming a new follower of your own.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment and enter.

And the winner is........

Chont said...

I actually tried a different kind of muesli from this brand and absolutely loved it. Had a beautiful vanilla flavour and I loved the fact there wasn't dried fruit in it, because they hurt my sensitive teeth. Hate sultanas and have to pick them out of many other brands of muesli, which is annoying.

Congratulations!

You have until midnight Monday 28 November to claim your prize, either on here or by emailing me at mummabear1970@live.com.au. Otherwise the prize will need to be redrawn.

Yours in fruit-free nutty goodness,

Karen xx

The Numbers Game

I've read a few posts over the last 24 hours about numbers in minds. They were quite interesting so I thought I'd play along....

Here's what I've been reading:

* Tina Gray {dot} Me here

* Beast and Beauty here

* The Girl Behind The Dress here

* Through My Own Looking Glass here



So here we go:

2 - the number of umbrellas we own in our household of six people

0 - the number of physio visits I still need to recover from my minor work injury (yay!)

20 - the number of dollars I need to put in for the unsold fundraiser chocolates

2 - the number of hubby's pays before Christmas (need. more.)

0 - the number of dollars leftover from my pay after the direct debits come out of the bank account

2 - the number of bills waiting to be paid, one is already overdue

3 - the number of paper newsletters I get each week

3 - the number of washing machines I have had since being married

19 - the number of years I have been married

70 - the number of guests at our wedding

1 - the number of days our Year 10 son has left of school this year

3 - the number of weeks extra holidays he gets as a result of Yr 10 finishing early

2 - the number of other kids in our house spitting chips about that

24 - the number of years I have been in the workforce (surely that is enough?)

9 - the number of jobs I have had in my working life

17 - the age I joined the workforce

13 - the number of time I have moved house in my life

0 - the number of times I want to move house again

Join in & play along. What numbers are on your mind?

Karen xx

Image from here on Google images

i98fm Camp Quality Convoy for Kids 2011

What is i98fm?

My favourite Illawarra radio station. Check them out here.

What is Camp Quality?

A charity who helps families that are affected by childhood cancer. Check out their website here and their Illawarra specific site here.

Personally, I first heard about Camp Quality in my teens, when a girl I was at school with (Janet) went on one of their camps as a buddy to a child with cancer. Janet is a child leukaemia survivor, thanks to a bone marrow transplant she had in primary school, which would have been 1980. Imagine how many other families have been touched and supported by Camp Quality in all the years since.

What is Convoy for Kids?

Motorbike riders & truck companies can register to ride & drive in the Convoy. They get a Convoy tshirt to wear & the money goes to Camp Quality. Over $410,000 was raised in the lead up to today, with Illawarra Truck Repairs & Spares bidding/donating a massive $66,000 to have the honour of being the lead trucks. All the other companies whose bids are unsuccessful still donate the money. Another reason I like trucks!

Last I heard, there were 671 trucks and 617 motorbikes participating in Convoy this year. The bikes go first as they are a bit faster than the trucks! (Ray used to ride in it when he had a motorbike). This is the 7th year Convoy has been running.

Here is my day!

8:30am - day of Convoy - set up has already started:

Trucks arriving:

Zac when we found him after a few hours - he started there at 8am:

Bits of the day -

Wes Carr performing

One last glimpse as we were leaving at day's end.........(lots of trucks had left already)

This is the same paddock that was empty in the 1st photo.

As a side note, I really, really, really wanted to see Diesel perform (he was on after Wes Carr). I took the kids back to the rides during Wes Carr's set so they would be done & ready for a sit down when Diesel was on. We lined up, we frowned at the kids who pushed in (which meant my kids missed out by 1 kid on being in the next group to go on the ride) and cursed (under my breath) the parents who teach their kids to push in. I gave my kids their "last ride" warning - by this time I could hear Diesel singing. They were pushed in on, again. They had their last ride & we walked back towards to stage, just in time to hear Diesel say "Thanks for having me". I didn't even get to see him.

So, if you are a parent who permits & even encourages your kids to push in, you owe me a ticket to a Diesel concert. Even though today's was free - at least if you have to buy me a ticket, you might learn something.

But I don't want to take anything away from the real reason for the day. It wasn't about me, it was about the kids who are living with cancer, and their families.

Thanks i98fm and Camp Quality, bikers, truckers & everyone else involved with today for a fabulous day out. The kids and I are exhausted!

What did you get up to today?

Karen xx

Swim session

that's my brother Paul who lives in London. All 6 foot 6 of him.

Paul's partner Stuart, Stuart's Mum Irene - she lives in Scotland

Our own mermaid Missy Megan

Zac on lifesaver duties lol

Liam LOVED having Uncle Paul play on the boogie board with him

Two against one!


We haven't seen Paul & Stuart since they were last in Australia 4 years ago. I've never met Irene before. I'm glad she came on the trip too. They are only here for 2 weeks so it was lovely to be able to spend so many hours with them. And I'm pretty sure they enjoyed their day as much as we did.

Karen xx

Another Winner Wanted!

I recently write a post about JAWS environmentally friendly cleaning products here and the lovely Nat has won a set of the three bottles shown. (Email your address to mummabear1970@live.com.au & I will get your prize out to you - no excuses not to clean now!).

Which means I still have one set to give away......

So if you want some of these,



simply leave me a comment below, telling me what you think about cleaning.

Giveaway will close Sunday 27th November. Open to Australian residents only.

Good luck!

Karen xx


Hosted by Three Lil Princesses

Waiter, there's no fruit in my muesli......(A Giveaway!)

Isn't it funny that when we think of muesli, we think of sultanas, dried apricots and maybe some cranberries & the like?

I've discovered a new muesli that has none of the above. Nope, none. None whatsoever.

So......if it has no fruit, then what does it have? Nuts. Pretty appropriate for me, considering I've been told my surname means "hazelnut" in another language. (Macedonian I think, but feel free to correct me - my surname is Leschnik). Yeah, there are lots of nuts in this nuthouse. But I digress.

I was asked to road test Table of Plenty's Nicely Nutty Muesli (fruit free mini clusters), which they tell me is "A delicious blend of whole rolled oats with almonds, cashews and seeds, oven baked with our signature vanilla recipe." (note - no hazelnuts!)

It

Is

The

Best

Muesli

I

Have

Ever

Tasted.

I had mine with milk but you could have it with yoghurt, with fruit on top or even as a dry snack. My kids love having dry cereal as a snack. But I didn't share this one. It's mine, all mine!

Features:

• In keeping with Table of Plenty’s philosophy, Nicely Nutty is delicious AND nutritious!
• Totally natural and with no preservatives
• Fruit free
• Fructose-friendly, wheat free and dairy free
• High in fibre

It really is super yummy & contains just the right amount of sweetness - you know how some mueslis are super sweet - well, these guys (lady, actually) got it "just right".  And great for those who are health conscious or who have allergies. Unless you are allergic to nuts. Der.

Here's what it looks like:

Go and get some right now. From Coles. It's $4.99. Go on. I'll still be here when you get back.

Table of Plenty was established by Kate Weiss, the mother of a daughter with a rare genetic disorder, who needed to give up her intense full time job to be able to be the best Mum to her Amy that she could possibly be. So she started her own business (clever lady). Kate & her company's mission is to create food that you can trust from one mother to another that fits into our busy lifestyles. She wants to prove that food can be quick, delicious and nutritious all at once.

Today, Table of Plenty specialises in creating unique ranges combining taste and nutrition: a range of international-inspired spice blends and dukkahs, sweet Mini Rice Cakes and deliciously natural mueslis – with a flavour to suit any taste!

I was given the opportunity to try Table of Plenty's Mini Rice Cakes here. And you can check out their website here.

Now for the giveaway. I have a 500g box for one lucky winner. Oh, I should mention that it is a box of this yummy scrummy muesli, it's not my empty box!

To be in the running, simply leave me a comment telling me about the best or worst breakfast cereal/muesli you've ever had. You need to make sure I am able to contact you if you win. Open to Australian residents only.

Competition will close on Friday 25th November at 8pm (that would be Sydney NSW time).

Good luck!

Karen xx


Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



Disclaimer: I was sent a complimentary box of Tale of Plenty's Nicely Nutty Muesli to taste and review. All opinions in this post are my own.

Things that annoyed me today....and it's not even midday yet.

1. Hey kids - do you realise why you can't find clean lunchboxes in the cupboard? NEWSFLASH! They are all in your bags that you don't bother to empty in the arvos.

This is the pile that came out of bags this morning.....

I don't believe I should have to buy more lunchboxes. We have 12. There are 3 of you at school. You study maths, figure it out.

2. Something shorted out our power in the early hours of yesterday morning & we've been doing the ol' process of elimination with our appliances to figure out what it was. Found it! Today I will become the owner of a new washing machine. Not liking the expense but can't live without one. Am washing some clothes by hand today, as the high school kids have a concert tonight & need some of the clothes they wore yesterday. Of all days.......

3. The getting tighter of my clothes.......yep, all those cakes I baked over the last 2 months combined with restricted duties due to a work injury are taking their toll. My work is a physical job so I count it as my exercise. Not being able to do full duties = loss of exercise. Very frustrating.

So, I've hit that time of year, as I do every year, when I wish that I had tried REALLY hard to lose weight. Then I could wear all those pretty summer dresses that I am too embarrassed to even look at in the shops. I can be girly, when my weight is under control. So today I am writing down everything I eat. Make myself accountable.


Has anything annoyed you today?

Karen xx

How You Know It's Getting Closer to Christmas.....

I know the Christmas decorations & confectionery start being sold in stores right after Father's Day here in Australia, (I was SO excited when I spied the boxes in the stock area all those months ago at the supermarket I work at) but here are some other ways you know Christmas is finally getting closer.....

image from here

*  Christmas Carols playing on the instore music thingy (yeah, that's a technical term).

* Hams are instore - yes, I know one can always buy ham at Woollies but there are signs around the place telling you to get your Christmas ham now! (But please finish reading me first).

* The paper towel rolls have Christmas designs on them!

* The nappies have Christmas designs on them! Check them out Here.

* The Christmas issues of all the food / house related magazines have hit the shelves, making me want to buy them all.........anyone in PR want to send me a copy of the newest Better Homes & Gardens or Family Circle to review? We try a new recipe every year as part of our Christmas celebrations & I NEED each magazine to find just the right one.


* You wait eagerly for favourite blogger Tina Gray {dot} Me 's next Christmas related post (she started them 100 days prior to the big day).

I heard somewhere the other day that there is only 50 something sleeps until Christmas. I guess I had better start shopping!

What things make you realise Christmas is getting closer?

Karen xx

To Clean or Not to Clean........A Giveaway!

Some people have this image of me that I am a house cleaning freak. If that's you, you may want to stop reading now. But please don't. I like it when you read my blog.

So because I dislike cleaning so much, and because it seems to be a never ending job around here, I was pretty chuffed to be asked to try JAWS products and write what I thought of them.

Here's what I was sent (I used them a few times before I photographed them):

* Glass & Hard Surface Cleaner (blue)
* Bathroom Cleaner / Deodoriser (purple)
* Multi-Purpose Cleaner / Deodoriser (orange)

Each spray bottle comes ready to use & has a refill attached. The Just Add Water System (JAWS) is simple - once the bottle is empty, place the refill cartridge in the bottle, add water to the indicator line (on the back label) & shake to mix them. Then voila! Ready to go again.

I love that each bottle is 946ml......that's almost a whole litre! Most other cleaners come in 500ml bottles. These babies are gonna last for AGES!

I have been using the blue one on the bathroom mirrors in particular (because I hate cleaning windows) and it smelt so much better than other cleaners I have tried. And you know those spots that usually take some elbow grease to remove? (please tell me you have them too)...Gone! With a spray of this & a wipe with my cloth. I like that. And I can use it for my hard surfaces like the vanities and the kitchen bench. But I have been trialling the other bottles for those jobs.

The purple one has been getting a workout on the bathroom vanities and the toilets. I have to admit I don't like the smell very much but the product does get my bathrooms clean. With the small amount of effort I like to put in. Effort vs smell? Effort wins so this cleaner's a winner.

The multi-purpose cleaner & deodoriser has become acquainted with my kitchen. I like how my bench tops come up but don't think it brings the fridge door up to scratch. It smells nice too, which I wasn't expecting. I wish the smell lasted longer - I like to smell the clean, unlike others who can't stand the lingering scent of cleaners. It's a personal thing, I guess.

Now, if you are an environmentally aware person, you would love to know that jaws cleaning products are biodegradable (why does that look misspelled) and each bottle can be reused up to 26 times, simply by purchasing complete bottle the first time, then refills when it is finished. This is what's available in the range:

JAWS products:

• JAWS Bathroom Cleaner/Deodoriser (plus one cartridge)- $6.99 (RRP)
• JAWS Glass & Hard Surface Surface Cleaner (plus one cartridge) - $6.99 (RRP)
• JAWS Multi-Purpose Cleaner/Degreaser (plus one cartridge) - $6.99 (RRP)
• JAWS Bathroom Cleaner/Deodorise Cartridge (two pack) - $5.99 (RRP)
• JAWS Glass & Hard Surface Surface Cleaner Cartridge (two pack) - $5.99 (RRP)
• JAWS Multi-Purpose Cleaner/Degreaser Cartridge (two pack) - $5.99 (RRP)

Do you know that we Aussies spend a whopping $700 million dollars a year on cleaning products, generating 44 million tonnes of waste. Imagine the difference we can make by making the simple switch to the jaws system. Now that would make my son Liam's environmentally savvy school teacher very happy!

The lovely people at JAWS have given me not one, but TWO packs to give away. Yay!!!! Each pack contains what is in my photo (up there - if I knew how to do an arrow I would - lol) - 1 x 946ml Glass & Hard Surface cleaner with refill attached; 1 x 946ml Bathroom Cleaner / Deodoriser with refill attached; and 1 x 946ml Multi-Purpose Cleaner / Deodoriser with refill attached. So there will no longer be any excuses for not cleaning.

How do you enter? Easy - be a follower of my blog (existing or new - make sure you let me know in your comment) and leave me a comment on what you think about cleaning. The giveaway will close at 8pm on Saturday 19 November, with the two winners to be chosen at random. Open to residents of Australia only.

Hope you win!

Karen xx

Disclaimer : I was sent a complimentary set of 3 JAWS products (as depicted in my photo) to use & review. The opinions in this review are my own. I have not been paid otherwise for this post.