How to make an Australian Quilt

Hubby & I looked at our (made) bed the other day & agreed that having a proper quilt would finish it off nicely. Living in the country now & all.

So I bought myself a pack of quilting mags today. I am a magaholic. But I thought that might be a good place to start. I've never been into the creative stuff before, and it's quite daunting thinking that I am going to make a quilt. What if it doesn't work? What if I spend shitloads of money on material and I do a crap job at it? (For the record, I have never priced quilting material so I don't know what I'm talking about).

There is one particular blogger comes to mind when I think of quilting, and that would be the delightful Anorina from Samelia's Mum, whose handiwork can be seen in several quilting magazines. She even has tutorials on her blogsite. I know who I am going be asking if I get stuck! Just warning you Anorina! I hope you don't mind. I'll try not to be a pest. Really I will.

So I have until I have finished crocheting Liam's bed blanket (this is my only discovered "hand made" ability) to browse pic and materials and decide on what we I would like on our my quilt. Once I choose, I'll let you know. Because I know you will be sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation.

What colours or theme would you choose?

Karen xx

Sugar free means it's for me! (A giveaway)

I've been trying to cut back on my sugar intake recently. And considering doing the same for the rest of this household. I'm sure Mr 9 in particular would benefit from it. He tends to be a bit hyped up at times. Mine is purely to try & shift a few kilos, without having to try too hard.

It wasn't until I was pregnant with Mr 9 that I developed a sweet tooth. I've always had weight issues, but now I love lollies too. Well now, I don't have to feel guilty when dip my hand into the lolly jar. Oh who am I kidding, we don't even have a lolly jar! We don't have leftover lollies. We usually scoff the whole packet. Come on, don't try & tell me you haven't done that too. Every. single. time.

"Wonderland of Wellbeing" (WOW) have introduced a range of sugar free lollies - low GI, no artificial colours or flavours, dental friendly (budget says thanks), low fat and cholesterol free. All round a healthier, more natural, better for you, treat. And that's pretty important if you (like me) are one of the 64% of Aussies who consider themselves to be overweight. Or part of the 82% of people actively trying to lose weight by changing what they eat (that would be me again). Stats from Neilson Global Survey June 2012.

There are 9 flavours available. Yes, nine:

* Buttered Candy Drops

* Chewy Mints

* Fruit Candy

* Ice Mints

* Buttered Candy with Choc Centre

* Eucalyptus Drops

* Chewy Caramel

* Lemon & Lime Drops

* Chewy Fruits

And these "better for you" lollies from WOW "Wonderland of Wellbeing" are uniquely Australian made (yay- jobs!), Australian owned (yay - money stays here!) and are made from the finest natural colours and flavours ( yay - not artificial!), and premium ingredients (yay- quality!).

I took this photo this morning, hands up if you want the last chewy caramel.

So how do they taste?

Pretty darned good I must say. Zac & I scoffed all bar two of the Chewy Caramels on our hour long drive home from cadets last night. We saved the last two in case anyone else wanted to try them. Because we are considerate like that. Just the right amount of chewy-ness without clinging to the teeth like some confectioneries do. And none of the funny aftertaste that sometimes happens with caramel lollies. None at all. Very, very yummy. Will be added to my trolley.

We (meaning I) also got to try the Lemon & Lime Drops, which are also mega yummy ( I'm sucking on one now, just thought I'd share that info with you). I just leave one on my tongue and let it dissolve away all by itself. I am so lazy I don't even suck on them! No scrunched up face from sourness either, simply a perfect blend of two flavours that in some sweets can be overpowering. These will also be added to my shopping trolley.

You can buy these at Coles for $2.69 for a 90g packet. Which you don't have to scoff in one hour like we did. But you don't have to feel guilty if you do!

You can find out more are WOW "Wonderland of Wellbeing" on their Facebook page or at their website http://wowconfect.com.au/. There's lots of interesting info on there about sugar free eating & sugar substitutes. I know because I checked them out. And I recommend you do the same.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY?

I have 5 packets of the super delicious Lemon & Lime Drops to share. That means FIVE of you will each win a packet. (And for any "Pro Pointers" out there, I put these through the online calculator and they were ZERO points. There's an extra Yay right there).

All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment telling me why you should win. It's that easy! Make sure you comment on my blog though, not on my Facebook page. And please make sure I can contact you (email address please) in case you are one of my winners. This competition will close on Friday 10 August at 5pm.

Entry is open to Australian residents only.

Spread the word, and good luck to you all!

Karen xx

Disclaimer: we received a couple of packets of WOW "Wonderland of Wellbeing" sugar free confectionery for sampling and review purposes. Opinions are my own.

Flexibility - I need some.

Today Miss Megan & I started at a weekly early childhood music class. Which we enjoyed immensely. We did some singing and dancing (and jumping, oh my poor old body!), and we played some percussion instruments.

Which was fine, except that most of the time we were all sitting cross legged on the floor. I had pain in my hips the whole time.

What a sight I must have been afterwards, trying to walk out of the building and back to the car. My hips were really stiff and wouldn't move properly.

I seriously need to learn some stretching exercises.

Got any tips?

Karen xx

Being local tourists.

We got to be tourists in our new region over the weekend. It was our first venture north of here.

I have shared on Facebook recently a couple of pictures of how my street looks. It reminds me a lot of when I lived in Bowral NSW, and also about 35 years ago when I lived near Melbourne Vic.

Only a few minutes out of town, you are met with this:

The green paddocks have been irrigated - this is horse breeding territory and the horses need lovely green grass to munch on. So do the cows.

We were thinking it was a little odd that someone would have laid turf along the side of the road. Then we came across this property, it's the breeding/racing stables owned by an Arab conglomerate. Emirates Park. The buildings were awesome, I couldn't get a close enough photo. And down the road was the biggest barn/stable I will ever see in my life. Also owned by them.

On our way back we stopped at Burning Mountain to walk up to the lookout. It's a 4.6km return walk.

Here's the incredible view from the top:

Just breathtaking.

Start & finish point



We found Skippy! Lots of Skippys by the time we finished.

Burning Mountain has a coal seam beneath it, that has been on fire for around 5 thousand years. As you get towards the top you can smell the sulphur. At the top end of the walk you can see the heat shimmer coming off the rocks. And occasional puffs of smoke coming out.

The hot rocks at the top.

There is so much to see around here. On my shortlist are the wash pools. Which is a popular place amongst the locals. Guess I had better have a look for myself.

Do you play tourist in your own town?

Karen xx

Watching Movies with the kids (A Giveaway)

The kids & I had the chance to watch some DVDs recently, which was the perfect way to fill in a wintry afternoon....Thanks Universal Sony Pictures!

AND we've got some to share as giveaways! So keep on reading and I'll tell you what they were, what we thought and how you can win them.

The Jungle Bunch is the story of Maurice, the penguin who thinks he is a tiger. He even has stripes! As an egg, he fell off Antarctica, ended up in the jungle and was adopted by a tigress. He's happily spending his days hunting, repainting his stripes (love how he does this) and teaching his adopted son Junior (he's a Tiger Fish) hunting techniques.

Ping and Pong are penguins from Maurice's Antarctic village, who are searching for "The Great Warrior Tiger" to overthrow the walruses who are demanding the penquins' fish supplies. They stumble upon Maurice who agrees to help them (being a tiger, and all). So he gathers together his misfit jungle friends and they set off from the Jungle to the South Pole, collecting more misfits on the way and getting in and out of strife.

It's promoted as a Madagascar meets Happy Feet adventure and the kids (I'm talking Mr 9 and Miss 5 here, I didn't get Mr 16 to watch it) enjoyed it.

Liam gave it 7/10, liking that it's funny and thinking that the graphics could be better. Bear in mind that he is used to watching blockbuster movies on the big screen. I think he is getting a bit old for "kids movies" now.

Megan doesn't have the capacity to give scores yet, but she has watched it a few times already. Which means she likes it. And giggled in several places.

I didn't fall in love with the characters (like Gloria or Melman in Madagascar, and to have singing and dancing penguins would just be copying Happy Feet). I was looking for something more, but I don't know what. But it's not aimed at an adult audience, it's what the kids think that counts here. But I did like it better the second time I watched it. I found some funny bits! Like the snake. And the penguins launching themselves at the walruses. And Miguel the tappy, tappy gorilla! But Fred the singing warthog didn't do it for me. Maybe he will do it for you.

This is my favourite of the 3 movies we watched.

Anything can happen on NIM'S ISLAND, a place where everything runs wild, especially imagination!

Eleven year old Nim and her marine biologist Dad live a life many of us fantasise about, living on an otherwise undiscovered tropical island, with animals as friends - Silkie the seal, Fred the iguana and Galileo the pelican. And they are determined to stop others from discovering their island.

Nim fills her days with exploration and adventure, inspired by her literary hero, the world's greatest adventurer Alex Rover (think Indiana Jones type character). When her island paradise is in jeopardy from intruders, Nim reaches out to her hero for help.

My opinion: An easy to watch, enjoyable kids movie. Jodie Foster, as the role of reclusive author Alexandra Rover, is fabulous and funny. (I am a fan of hers). Alex Rover is ruggedly handsome. Nim is lovable and believable. The animals play real roles (not just there to fill in space) and they are funny!

Liam's opinion: 9/10 - he like that the animals are funny.

Megan's opinion - it's the first thing she asked to watch the next day, so I guess she liked it!

LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu features the first six episodes of Season Two, Volume One, with bonus mini episodes as well. Evil Lloyd Garmadon has released sinister snake people in an effort to conquer the land of Ninjago. When his plan goes wrong & he ends up a prisoner of the snakes, he must join forces with the ninja team (Kai, Jay, Zane and Cole - good guys) to stop an enemy who is prophesied to cast eternal darkness over their land. Who will rise above the rest and become the Green Ninja? I'm not telling!

Mr Liam, at 9, is a MAJOR fan of all things Lego. And with Ninjago being the latest breed of Lego characters, this was sure to be a hit.

And it is. I got him to give me a review. He gave it 10/10. Loved it. Wouldn't change a thing. So if you have a LEGO fan, this is a must for you.



For those of you paying attention, I mentioned way up near the top, that I have a giveaway. Yes I do. Thanks to Universal Sony Pictures. I have 2 copies of each of these DVDs up for grabs. So 2 winners will win a copy of each. Pretty cool, hey?!

To enter, leave me a comment on my blog (not my Facebook post) telling me the last kid's movie you watched. Too easy!

Entry is open to Australian residents only and will close at 6pm on 5th August. Please make sure you leave an email address so I can get in touch with you if you win.

Thank you and good luck.

Karen xx.

Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of each DVD for review purposes. Opinions expressed are those of myself and my family.

The Bra Off Brigade

Yes, I've become a member of the bra-off brigade.

No, not one of these women who never wears a bra. My boobs are already low enough on my body thanks.

I'm talking the "No thanks, I'm not going out, I've already taken my bra off" brigade.

It used to only be occasional, but now it's become a daily thing.

And I should have joined it yonks ago!

Because bras are ridiculously uncomfortable. Proper fitting is great until the elastic starts going funny. Or if you are like me and your weight fluctuates......And don't get me started on underwires coming out.

What about you? Are you a member?

Karen xx

The Countrification of Us. Part 3.

If you're popping over to my blog & aren't up to speed yet, Part 1 and Part 2 are here and here.

Part 3 sees us moving into the rental house that is to be our home for at least the next 6 months. It's been empty and for sale & the owners have agreed to take it off the market for a 6 month lease, then they will review if they want to renew our lease or put it back on the market. We'd probably like to stay put for 12 - 18 months, until we (hopefully) are in a position to buy, but we'll just have to see what happens.

The removalists unpack to a flat surface. Meaning bench top or dining table. They unpacked and left as I had nothing more I needed them to do. THIS is the point at which I felt overwhelmed. If I didn't have 3 kids watching me, I would have cried. I just didn't know where to start.

NO MORE TUPPERWARE

glassware unpacked

so very exciting!

dining room

lounge room

writing names in driveway

60 steps to the letterbox

kids' bathroom, with a big linen closet

looking from dining room to front entry & lounge

my BIG laundry. massive linen closet opposite now RIP washing mch

pergola area off dining room

Walking distance to the primary school= bonus. High school bus stop is at the primary school = double bonus. Both preschools in town have long waiting lists = bummer. Think we will have to check out playgroup sooner rather than later.

Streets that are three times the width that we are used to. With trees growing down the middle, just like proper avenues. Can't wait for springtime, to see all the colours.

Latest good news - Conservatorium of Music runs preschool music classes at the primary school - Yay!

Tae Kwon Do for both the boys located 100m down the road at another school's hall. Double Yay!!!!

Things have a way of falling into place.

What's fallen into place for you lately?