Can I just start by saying a huge THANK YOU to the 179 people who read my blog yesterday. WOW! That is a record and I am absolutely chuffed! I know to some of you that 179 isn't that many, but to little ol' me, it's HUGE. So again, THANKS!
Now for something more serious:
A hot item in the Australian news today is the announcement by our Prime Minister Ms Julia Gillard that our Aussie troops will be coming home from Afghanistan early, with most being home by early 2014. I know that's still a long way away but at least it's something.
You can read the article from ninemsn here.
As the mother of a 16 year old son who is planning a military career, this is wonderful news. I have asked myself if I am giving him a death sentence by encouraging him to pursue his career of choice. I am hoping he can tie his music in with it somewhere (to keep him off the front line). I cried through an English documentary the other day about young soldiers going through their basic training & committing to their 4 years in the army. Two of them were placed in the troop to be deployed to Afghanistan in 6 months. They interviewed their mothers, who were being incredibly brave in front of their sons. Because you have to be. I question if I could be that brave.
We have lost too many soldiers in Afghanistan (32 since 2001 & 209 injured). Australia is not at war so in my opinion our troops do not need to be there. This may be a pretty ignorant statement, but it's my opinion. Yes I am uneducated as to why our troops are there. I choose to be by not reading those pages in the newspaper. I have no interest in politics. I just want our soldiers home so no more families have to lose their sons, dads, husbands, daughters, wives, mothers. Bring. Them. Home.
What's your thoughts?
Karen xx
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Who's on the weight loss roller coaster?
I discovered a new food that you might want to have a closer look at. I've been packing this on the shelves at work for a few months now & curiosity got the better of me. I consider myself to be pretty savvy in the label reading department and this one ticked all the boxes for me.
So I cheekily asked one of the reps at the PR company if I could try it & review it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained hey?!
Spaghetti SlimPasta is low calorie (17.7 cal per serve), low gluten (5.2mg per serve), dairy free, egg free, low carb (2.1g per serve), fat free, sugar free & high in fibre.
Angel Hair SlimPasta is low calorie (8 cal per serve), gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, egg free, low carb (0.6g per serve), soy free, fat free, low sugar & high in fibre.
Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it!
What's the secret? IT'S NOT PASTA!!!!!
It's made from a root vegetable called Konjac, which apparently the Asians have been eating for over 1000 years. Seems they caught on early.
From the website www.slimpasta.com.au, here are the medical & health benefits of konjac:
Reduces the rapid rise in blood sugar after a meal
Obesity Prevention
Reduce the absorption of cholesterol
Treatment for constipation
Promote the excretion of toxic substances / Detox
A few nights ago I had the spaghetti pasta with a creamy mushroom sauce (well, I figured there was nothing naughty in the pasta so I could have free rein with the sauce, plus I don't like tomatoes) & it was SO easy. No boiling pasta on the stove, oh no, with these babies you just rinse them under running water to wash away the liquid they are stored in, then leave them in hot water for 1 minute before draining & adding to your sauce, stir fry, soup, salad or whatever you are having with them.
Friday night I dished up the Angel Hair (same preparation - rinse, then stand them in hot water) in a garlic, ginger & soy sauce vegetable stir fry. I didn't tell my family & nobody commented that it tasted any different. Tick another box girlfriend!
I loved it & I felt full for ages afterwards - there's another box to be ticked right there.
They taste like nothing (not surprising when you consider there is nothing in them!). They have no taste of their own but simply take on the flavour of what you are having with them (kind of like tofu does). I did feel the spaghetti had a slightly rubbery texture, but to be honest I was expecting the standard pasta texture. Remember, it's not pasta, it's vegetable.
I guess the big question is would I buy them? I admit the reason I haven't bought them in the past is the price. From memory they are $3.69 for a 2 serve packet at Kiama Woollies where I work. BUT, given that we don't eat pasta very often any more (in an effort to reduce the carbs), I will definitely be buying them in the future. The younger two kids won't eat vegie noodle stir fry anyway & our 2 serve pack of Angel Hair made 3 adult side serves of it. So dietary wise, I think it's worth the cost.
Go & check out the website www.slimpasta.com.au for some interesting reading. Come back & tell me what you think. Have you tried them or do you think you will?
Karen xx
So I cheekily asked one of the reps at the PR company if I could try it & review it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained hey?!
Spaghetti SlimPasta is low calorie (17.7 cal per serve), low gluten (5.2mg per serve), dairy free, egg free, low carb (2.1g per serve), fat free, sugar free & high in fibre.
Angel Hair SlimPasta is low calorie (8 cal per serve), gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, egg free, low carb (0.6g per serve), soy free, fat free, low sugar & high in fibre.
Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it!
What's the secret? IT'S NOT PASTA!!!!!
It's made from a root vegetable called Konjac, which apparently the Asians have been eating for over 1000 years. Seems they caught on early.
From the website www.slimpasta.com.au, here are the medical & health benefits of konjac:
A few nights ago I had the spaghetti pasta with a creamy mushroom sauce (well, I figured there was nothing naughty in the pasta so I could have free rein with the sauce, plus I don't like tomatoes) & it was SO easy. No boiling pasta on the stove, oh no, with these babies you just rinse them under running water to wash away the liquid they are stored in, then leave them in hot water for 1 minute before draining & adding to your sauce, stir fry, soup, salad or whatever you are having with them.
Friday night I dished up the Angel Hair (same preparation - rinse, then stand them in hot water) in a garlic, ginger & soy sauce vegetable stir fry. I didn't tell my family & nobody commented that it tasted any different. Tick another box girlfriend!
I loved it & I felt full for ages afterwards - there's another box to be ticked right there.
They taste like nothing (not surprising when you consider there is nothing in them!). They have no taste of their own but simply take on the flavour of what you are having with them (kind of like tofu does). I did feel the spaghetti had a slightly rubbery texture, but to be honest I was expecting the standard pasta texture. Remember, it's not pasta, it's vegetable.
I guess the big question is would I buy them? I admit the reason I haven't bought them in the past is the price. From memory they are $3.69 for a 2 serve packet at Kiama Woollies where I work. BUT, given that we don't eat pasta very often any more (in an effort to reduce the carbs), I will definitely be buying them in the future. The younger two kids won't eat vegie noodle stir fry anyway & our 2 serve pack of Angel Hair made 3 adult side serves of it. So dietary wise, I think it's worth the cost.
Go & check out the website www.slimpasta.com.au for some interesting reading. Come back & tell me what you think. Have you tried them or do you think you will?
Karen xx
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Who takes out the rubbish?
Last weekend.......
Today, Friday....(do you think I can make it any more obvious?)
So, who takes out the rubbish? Apparently nobody.
(The bag contains old clothes that are not good enough to pass on or be donated, not old food or anything like that).
Please tell me this happens in you house too?
Karen xx
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Sydney Royal Easter Show - a day in pics
Thanks to Trish at My Little Drummer Boys and 8700.com.au, I was lucky enough to win a family pass to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, complete with VIP passes for access to Members' Only areas. Very spesh!
Here's some of the many photos I took today! I have heaps more (particularly of the unusual chooks!) and there are still bits of the Easter Show we haven't seen. Next time, young legs won't be as young and although they weren't complaining, they will be able to tackle a longer day.
Here's some of the many photos I took today! I have heaps more (particularly of the unusual chooks!) and there are still bits of the Easter Show we haven't seen. Next time, young legs won't be as young and although they weren't complaining, they will be able to tackle a longer day.
 |
| being VIP in the Members' Stand |
 |
| we all like chooks, they are so many varieties (roasted, stir fried, crumbed, lol) |
 | ||||||||||
one more seed and I think I'll explode!
We have only been to the show 3 times in the 16 years we have had children, so one year I would like to book accommodation close by & stay late enough to watch the fireworks. Oh, and blow about $200 on the rides! And about the same on Show bags, the kids LOVED theirs today. Are you doing the Easter Show this year? What's your favourite bit? Karen xx |
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Happy Easter
Happy Easter to everyone. If you are a church goer, enjoy your services, if you are a traveller, enjoy your holidays, to everyone else, have a fabulous few days.
God Bless.
Karen xx
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Last day of Term
This is the sign outside our front door this week.
Yep, last day of term today. LOVE school holidays, not having to be anywhere unless we choose to be. Allows us to slow down a bit. Allows me to catch up on some sleep.
We're not going away for the holidays, just a couple of days out here & there depending on what the weather does. Great opportunity to sort the kids' bedrooms. I think they'd rather go somewhere!
Do you like school holidays or do spend them tearing your hair out? Do you have any plans for these holidays?
Karen xx
Sunday, April 1, 2012
An end to Daylight Savings
I love daylight savings. I feel like I have more time in the evenings to get things done before I go to work. It's summer season. Life feels like it has a slower pace.
When we woke up this morning, time had gone backwards by one hour. Now we are on standard time. Winter time. That means cold weather is coming.
That means the heater will come out in the not too distant future.
That means there will be condensation on the windows.
That means extra housework for me, drying them.
That means extra washing for me - the towels I use to dry the windows.
But what do I like about the end of daylight savings?
Getting into my jammies & bed socks early so I feel nice & snugly (on the nights I'm not working).
Getting the kids bathed & into jammies early so they feel nice & snugly.
The smell of dinner in the slow cooker or a soup on the stove.
The fact that our younger kids fell asleep early tonight because it was dark early!! (one's not well but I'm claiming the end of d/s excuse anyway lol).
There are probably lots of other reasons too, but these are what came to mind immediately.
What do you like or dislike about daylight savings or standard time? Do you have little rituals like the early bath & into jammies too?
Karen xx
image credit here.
That means the heater will come out in the not too distant future.
That means there will be condensation on the windows.
That means extra housework for me, drying them.
That means extra washing for me - the towels I use to dry the windows.
But what do I like about the end of daylight savings?
Getting into my jammies & bed socks early so I feel nice & snugly (on the nights I'm not working).
Getting the kids bathed & into jammies early so they feel nice & snugly.
The smell of dinner in the slow cooker or a soup on the stove.
The fact that our younger kids fell asleep early tonight because it was dark early!! (one's not well but I'm claiming the end of d/s excuse anyway lol).
There are probably lots of other reasons too, but these are what came to mind immediately.
What do you like or dislike about daylight savings or standard time? Do you have little rituals like the early bath & into jammies too?
Karen xx
image credit here.
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