Ballina Caravan trip with meal plan.

                                                               Happy friday friends!

 

 

 Look at my pretty holiday toes...I hate my feet, ugly, ugly, short stumpy feet and toes but i have pretty 'french manicured' toe nails I did my self the night before we left for our Ballina caravan holiday.

Last Saturday we got back home from our wonderful holiday at ballina.  As mentioned in my last post, we went away with my brother, his wife and his delightful daughter, my six year old niece.  It was a mixed bag with the weather.  The first 2 days it was very hot (around 29 degrees) and the 3rd day it was heavy rain & wind, the 4th day was blowy but sunny and warm and the 5th day was nice.  So over all, it was good.

We went in the caravan, but before we left we preped everything so all we had to do was R.E.L.A.X!
As a mum, im in charge of cooking cause we all know that if it wasnt caught that day and cooked on the barbeque, the husband dont cook it.  You know, Im fine with that because I dont mind cooking AND that means husband cleans up after...win, win!  hehe.
Anyway, this time round I thought Im going to be super organised.  My goal was to plan everything we were going to eat BEFORE we left, shop BEFORE we leave and cut up and wrap everything so when it comes time to cooking on holidays its less fuss as possable with the maximum nutrition. This was my kitchen 24hours prior to leaving...

I chopped, seperated, wrapped and packed EVERYTHING before we left.  Even the snacks.  Here is a general run down of the meals we had...
MONDAY... Lunch~ Ham rolls & a bannana (on the road)
                      Snack~ Packet of chips (in the car driving)
                       Dinner~ Mexican burritos

TUESDAY...Breakfast~Bacon and egg burgers, made on english muffins.
                      Morning tea~ fruit
                      Lunch~ Crackers with avocado, cheese and ham
                      Afternoon tea~popcorn
                      Dinner~ Chicken skewers and salad with flavoured rice
                      Dessert~ chocolate

WEDNESDAY...Breakfast~ Pancakes with chopped strawberries, bannana, yoghurt and syrup
                            Morning tea~ Chips, carrot and celery sticks and dip
                            Lunch~ sausage sandwhiches
                           Afternoon tea~ friut and nibblies
                           Dinner~ slow cooked chicken (yes I even packed my slow cooker)
                                    with corn cobbs, baby potatoes and salad.
                           Dessert~ chocolate

THURSDAY...Breakfast~ Breaky wraps (bacon, scrambled eggs, baked beans and cooked
                                            tomato on a flat bread wrap)
                          Morning tea~ Crackers
                           Lunch ~ cheese and avocado and tomato on crispbread.
                          afternoon tea~ popcorn
                           Dinner ~ lamb and veges
                          Dessert ~ marshmallows
                         
FRIDAY~ Breakfast~ Toast/cereal and coffee/juice
                   Morning tea~ yoghurt
                    Lunch ~ sausage sandwhiches
                  Dinner~ Pasta cabonara and salad
                   Dessert ~ Marshmallows

SATURDAY~ Breakfast~Toast/cereal and coffee/juice
                         Morning tea ~ crackers/cheese/chips/fruit (anything we could find to eat in the car
                         for the trip home)
                         Lunch~ we had hot chip sandwhiches.  On the way home we stopped at a little beach
                         Pottsville and bought hot chips, white bread and tomato sauce.  Not real healthy but,
                         hey, we're on holidays!

Saturday night we were home and eating our regular food.  Actually we eneded up with takeaway that night as we got home late and after emptying the caravan, doing 3 loads of washing and putting everything away I justt wanted to put my feet up, have a glass of merlot and have dinner made for me, hehe.
Here are some happy snaps of our holiday...
                                          

SERIOUSLY!!! Does it get much better than this??  Me sunbaking watching the kids spalsh in the pool.

 

This was taken Thursday night.  We went for a bit of a night 4wd drive along a beachy track.  Was fun!

Lying on my towel on the beach...ahhhhhhh.....


                                     
Whats a camp/caravan holiday without a fire and marshmallows...?

Chip sandwhiches by the sea..Lovin' it!

 

GoOdByE bAlLiNa...waiting to board the ferry back home.

Ahhhh...its that time of year again!

We are in the process of getting ourselves organised for another caravan trip.  Yay! So excited and well and truly overdue.
This time we are heading to Ballina.  I cannot wait. We are heading off for 5 nights and 6 days.  We are heading off with my brother and his wife and their 5 year old daughter.
It's the start of spring and I hope the weather stays as perfect as it has.  Ive been making list {as you can see in the pic} planning and packing.  Today we aired out the caravan and washed all the curtains.  Its been closed up a little too long over winter so its nice to get in and get it ready.
Im in the process of planning meals.  Ive visted many websites for inspiration for example applevalleygirl and taste.com.au.
Even though we are caravaning I still enjoy my cooking and having a nice meal with a glass of wine after a long day reading and at the beach.  Im honestly not one for baked beans on toast or sausages on stale white bread for dinner. (although the odd sausage for lunch is good) Even on a budget we can still cook wholesome, tastey, yummy, gourmet meals.  Once ive decided on the final list I will post what Ive come up with. hehe.
Anyhoo...i will update with pics as time goes on...happy spring, all xoxo

Im so excited!!  Ahhhh....just thinking about it makes my body relax.

New beginings...

Hi all...Ok Im playing catch-up today with my blog as Ive had so much going on.  To be honest I havnt had a lot of energy to put into my blog...or anything for that matter.  Its been a hard year this year and I havnt had my mum either as she is still in rehab so Ive also being trying to deal with that and the r est...BUT its all ok.  Im telling myself it will be ok...not perfect.  Far from perfect but its ok. 
Today is officially the first day of the spring school holidays and we are out the backyard, in the pool. 
It is a stunningly warm day.  I have my little neice here and the neighbors little girl, as well as my two.  The four of them are swimming and playing games.  Its nice. After such a long, cold, depressing winter its nice for this day.
Im happy, content and thankful for what I have.
I have the most incredable husband any woman could EVER wish for. My kids are beautiful, loving souls.
im thankful for my homely home and for the joy my family give me.

On that note I want to introduce a new memebr of our family to you all.
Harry...

 

 

Harry is our new baby. After much sadness we couldnt bare the emptiness and the spots where Jojo used to sit.

We decided a few days later to get a new baby, which we did.

Again we went to the animal welfare legue and we were thrilled to discover this little fellow arrived there that morning.

He is a 5 year old male maltese.

He isnt Replacing Jonah but he is defintly filling that big hole.

For about two weeks I tried to let poor Harry in but I think I was still grieving for Jonah.

I just couldnt love him like I did Jonah.

However last week, I had a day home with Harry.  Just him and I.

I think we bonded.  We reached a new level in our relationship. LOL

Now I think Harry and I are great friends.

Im still sad for Jonah but Harry now brings a smile to my face and melts my heart.  He is my new little baby.

He is somewhat smaller than Jonah but so, so cute still.

He has differences to Jonah but alot of simalarities too. 

He too is a gentle little soul.  A snuggly, cuddley little friend.

 

He is getting used to our family and fitting in nicely.

 

 

 

His tiney little face is just too cute and we welcome our new little baby, Harry with open arms and open hearts.

Welcome Harry...we will have a lovely life together.

xoxoxo

 

 

Another sad loss for our family!

Oh My!
what a few months we have had.  First the loss of our baby (as my last post explained), then on the 3rd of September we lost our beloved little Jojo (Jonah).  our loyal, loving, almost human like doggy. :(
I wont go into the details of how we lost him but all I will say is that I found him and the circumstances werent nice.  I was devistaed...the whole family was devistated.

Jonah was our dearest baby!  He came everywhere he possable could with us.  He listened to us, knew us and connect with us in every sense.

 We rescued Jonah from the Animal welfare legue back in 2009.  He was only 4 years old then.  He was instantly apart of our family.  Even though he was a little white fluffy dog he was a mans dog, never afraid to do anything.
 He wasnt scared or agressive.  He always seemed to have a big smile on his face and was always so happy.  Even at the park, the biggest, loudest, scariest, agressive dog could come up and jojo just bounced around as if to say "can we play?" totaly obliviouse of the fact that anydog could ever be angry.  He was just always happy and friendly to everyone and everything.  He even loved our neighbors cats, LOL.

Jonah was a little burst of sunshine!

He was my little shadow, my companion and buddy.
Everyone who knew him said he was such a unique, beautiful dog.  Everyone in our neighborhood new him and loved him.  He would go and visit them all and they all loved him visiting.  One neighbor was devistated the day he died and came over sobbing with flowers.

Jonah understood each of us as individuals. I didnt even need a leash for him as he would stick by us and if he did happen to wonder off, we just say 'jojo' and he waould casually wonder back.

We buried him  under a big beautiful tree in our back yard ourside our bedroom window. 
We are still doing renovations in our back yard but when we get to fixing that area we will put a proper little plaque there in rememberance our our awesome little dude.

We, as a family had a memorial service for him and layed flowers on his grave.  We placed a rock there with his collar, bed and bowls, as well as flowers.

JoJo...We loved you more than any pet ever!  You will forever be in our hearts, minds and family.  You were a legend and will always be remembered as our friend and gentle being as well as fun, cheeky and mischieviouse.  We will ALWAYS LOVE YOU!
                                                              

                                                                  ♥♥♥♥

                                                               JONAH

                                                             2005-2012

                                                                 ♥♥♥♥

One of lifes greatest pains!

Hi all,
Sorry I havnt been back here for a while.  Ive been quite unwell.  You see the sad news is that we lost our little 'suprise' on Monday 2nd July 2012.
I have been on a weird and strange roller coaster of emotions since then.
Let me explain our story...
Sunday1st June, I wasnt feeling the greatest.  I had a headache that had been nagging all day.  I was feeling sick, tired, achy and just unwell.  I put it all down to pregnancy hormones and being away and in the car for too long.

Sunday night around 10pm, i went to the toilet and there I saw the most undesirable thing a pregnant woman could see while pregnant...Blood!
I wiped again thinking it may just be a small amout but no...there was more, alot more. :(
As it was school holidays my kids were still awake.  Trying to hold back the tears I called my husband into our bedroom.  As soon as the door was shut I burst into tears.  He asked what was wrong and I told him.
He tried to comfort me saying things like "it might stop" "cant that happen in pregnancy?" "It'll be ok"
Just like my firt miscarraige...I just knew.  A woman has a strange way of 'just knowing' when we're pregnant and we also have a way when its slipping away.  I sat in bed and cried...no, sobbed uncontrollably.
My kids were wondering what was happening but my husband just said it ok and put them to bed.
I took some panadole and my husband told me to get some sleep and we'll see how we are in the morning.
SLEEP? 
Was he kidding? I tossed and turned all night, my baby was in my thoughts the whole time and each time i fully woke I teared up.

The next morning I woke at 7am.  I went to the toilet and yep...sure enough lots more heavy bleeding...this time accompanied with lots of pain,
My husband wonderfully organised the day off work, dropped the kids at a friends place and drove me to the hospital.
By this stage the pain was getting alot worse.  I had a heat bag for the pain.

When we arrived at the hospital they took me straight in.  Took my details and bloodpressure.  That was all over the place. I felt dizzy and sad.
Once they got me into a bed they took blood test and they needed and they needed a urine sample.
I was ushered down to the toilets with plastic specimen bottle in hand.
As I peeed, I felt a strange sensation.
I looked down and saw a blood clot, then again another much bigger clot right after.  Perfectly round bubble like.

Right there, staring at me in the hospital toilet was what I believed to be...my baby...my child...my love!

Weirdly for a moment I was thinking of fishing it out...yep.  Discusting, but at times like this you do think very bizzare things...but then I thought..'ugh, it a public hospital toilet...who knows what I could catch'
I stood there staring at it for while, crying.
I hesitated to flush the toilet but I had to.  When I did, this terrifying thought went through my head..."UGH, I JUST FLUSHED MY BABY DOWN THE TOILET"  I started sobbing again.
Anyway, I cleaned up and pulled myself together.

I walked out of the toilet and handed to specimen jar to the nurse.  She said to me "are you ok?"  I starting to tell her what happened in the toilet but started crying again, I couldnt get it out.  I finally did.  He rubbed my shoulder and told me to lie down and rest.  I hugged my husband and just cried and cried.

I was taken for an ultra sound and was told "there was no visable matter left" {Nice way to talk about my baby, huh?}
After being in the hospital for a few hours my blood test came back too, and said that the pregnancy hormone is still there but dropped dramaticaly since my last blood test (the ones I had the week earlier that appeared to be perfectly fine). 
They sent me on my way home and told me that i must have had a complete miscarraige.  I was told to just go home and rest.

Which I did. 

I layed in bed and slept till dinner time.  When i woke my husband came home with the kids.
We told the kids and they were devistated.
Mis mimi just broke down and cried her little heart out, and Little T just went deathly silent. With a few tears rolling down his cheek.
My babies broke my heart as I know exactly how they feel.
I had no answers, no reasons just cuddles and lots of love.

 We got pizza for dinner that night, rented out 'toothfairy 2' and chilled out.
We had a lazy, chilled out night,  Bedtimes didnt count, nutrition went out the window.  It was all about comfort and healing.  Which as a family we are still trying to do.

We planted a beautiful gardenia tree at our front door in rememberance of our little poppy seed.  (nicknamed as we imagined the tiny size of a poppy seed as the size of the baby...even though it was actually about small fingernail size) Placed at the front door so we can see it everyday.

3 and a half weeks later...this is where Im at.
I thought I was going ok.  I rested for a few days and got back into life.  I was going to the gym, shopping...going about as normal.  As though nothing happend.
Im due to get my next period tomorrow and I feel so yuck.
Im so hormonal, cranky, tired, and emotional.
Im angry, sad and fragile.
I have constant headaches and my body hurts.
Im tired and just want to sleep. 
I want to hide.
I feel as though Ive had a slight delayed reaction with the whole ordeal.  Yesterday i thought alot about my baby.  It realy actually sunk in what happened. 

I have put on loads of weight, got pimples and look anemic.
im constipated.  I feel nauseas 24/7.

Im going to get another check up with my doctor and see a natropath again.  I just feel unwell.

Overall, it just sucks!

I know I will be ok.  I know life goes on and things will ease.  But for now Im just taking life slow.  Being with my family and keeping warm.

Our New journey!

Big Hello to all in blog land today.  Im feeling on top of the world.  I have some big, big news.  First of all..I have created a second blog.  I deleted my muffinshmuffin blog as I found I never used it, and recreated a new one....But more on that later.

I wanted to tell you a story... Actually Ive cut and pasted it from my new blog...so enjoy the long read...

Our New journey!

I met my wonderful, wonderful husband back in 1996 when i was just 17. We fell in love and we married in November 1998...the Best thing we EVER did! I love that guy!
In 2002, we found out we were expecting our first baby. We were very, very happy. Although we wanted to wait 5 years, once we got that news...all that didnt matter.
All was pretty straight foward. Not feeling too sick, not much in the way of cravings. In April 2002, at 15 weeks pregnant I started spotting.
That sickening, horrorfying feeling in the pit of my stomach came. I instantly broke down and sobbed. I just knew.
A trip to the E.R confirmed the bad news. A long story short, a few days later I was admitted for a D & C and that was the most empty, sad feeling. I cant even begin to explain.

Two months later, when all was settled with my body we got the green light to try again. Right on Cue...we fell pregnant again that month!!
We were very lucky.

At 12.36am Friday, 28th March 2008 {after a 27 hour labour} we welcomed Our beautiful, amazing, precoiuse little girl into the world. That was such a surreal moment.

When our baby girl turned 14 months, We once again we were thrilled to discover bub number 2 was on their way.
At 7.30am Friday 8th February 2005 We met the most amazing, handsome little man. Our son. Our little dude!

For the past 7 years, hubby and I have been tossing up whether we should have another. Weighing up the pro's and cons...well they were kinda equal, so it has been a VERY , VERY hard choice to make. Ever since I was 9 years old I said I would have "3 babies". We knew we always wanted another...we just needed a 'woopsy' to force that decision. LOL.

On saturday 19th May 2012, I got my period...4 weeks later, around the 16th June I was to get my next one. It never came. Sometimes my period can do this. I have been known to be 'late' at times. Sometimes going 5 weeks. But a few more days past and I was getting suspicious.
I told my hubby I was going to get a Home pregnancy test and he said "nah, just wait another week"...are you kidding me!!!???
Once I have my mind set I have to test. This was what I got...

FRIDAY 22nd June 2012 test done at 3.30pm...6 Days late...



So, so feint...I almost thought I was imagining. I had to hold it up to the light and kinda squint to see anything. Hubby told me it was all in my head. He 'claimed' he couldnt see anything. What do you think?

SATURDAY 23rd June 2012 taken at 8am...7 days late

Yep...Im pretty convinced theres a line. Hubby still deny's...but with a silly grin, LOL.

SUNDAY 24th June 2012 Taken at 9am...8 days late.

Ah, yeah...we're PREGNANT! Hubby couldnt deny this. Even though its still not DARK, DARK...there is a line...and that line keeps popping up, ever darker each day.

That makes me 5 weeks pregnant.
{I have to still make a doctors appointment to confirm with blood test, scans etc...I still freak a little with the whole miscarrage thing.}

Ok, so we are having a baby!! A little aprehensive...but alot happy. Not planned exactly, but defintly wanted.

This blog will be a week-by-week diary/journal of our baby bean. I plan to journal what happens as a keepsake for my baby.
For my other two, I did this by hand but with one, ive decided to do it online.

Feel free to follow my, our journey as a family, as we go from 4 and become 5.
Here we go..."

My new blog you can find here! and it's aptly named... "Oh Baby, Baby!".
So our nest is growing from 4 to 5!  Yay!

 

Pizza Capers {part two}

Ok so, Last week I did a blog post on my homemade pizza's.  I said as I made different ones I would post about it.  Well, Sunday night we had friends over for a Lazy, fun catch up.  We actually originally planned to go to the beach and watch the sun set over wine and nibbles but as it turned out it was freeeeeezing, wet and miserable out so I told them to come here, to our home instead where it was warm and cosy.  They still brought their nibblies {cheeses, shaved hams, olives, etc, etc} but I thought seeing we were staying home I would cook sum pizza's for us all.  So along with the ones I posted about last, I also made these two...

1) My take on an Italian favorite...
I have on it...
*Pizza sauce
*Proccuitto
*cherry tomatoes
*Kalamata olives
*Philedelphia cream cheese
* Fresh  Rocket Leaves (to top)

It is a very simple, basic pizza that ALWAYS seems to cook up so lovely and tastey. Its always a winner. The cream cheese, although a little unusual for pizza is devine. A bit like fetta once cooked.

Next is "pizza roma with rocket & Parmesan...

This has *Red onion

*2 cloves of garlic

*450g minced beef

*6 thin slices of salami, chopped

*140g tomato paste

2 teaspoons of smoked Paprika

* 2 Tblsp chopped fresh oregano leaves

*4 tbspn water

* 2-3 tbspn pinenuts

*Fresh rocket leaves

* freshly shaved Parmesan cheese

Heat Olive oil in a non-stick frying pan.  Add sliced red onion and cook for about 2 mins untill tender. Stiring continually.  Add Garlic, minced beef and salami..  Cook untill beef has changed colour, making sure to break up any large peieces.

Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, chopped oregano and water and cook for 2-3 mins. Stirring occationally.  Set aside to cool.

Spoon cooled meat mixture onto the dough evenly and sprinkle with pinenuts.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180*C for 15-20 mins.

Serve topped with fresh rocket leaves and parmesan.

*Also nice with 2 tablespoons of olive oil combined with 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar...drzzled ove the top...yum!

  To be totaly honest...this was lovely but not my favorite, however my husband couldnt get enough of this one.  I think its a great "man" pizza...LOL.

All these were made, of course on my homemade pizza bases that I gave the recipe for in my last post.

 All ent down very well with good friends and red wine and was topped off with dessert....

Can't forget dessert!