vanilla biscuits in the thermomix

January 17, 2016 By 11 Comments

So I worked out that I’d made so many batches of jam drops during the week and because 6 little people are all at home with me that they are lasting about 30 minutes and then all gobbled up. Even hubby came in and asked what happened to the baking we’d done this week. All gone. And I haven’t eaten any because I’ve tried to do GAPS. Well try being the key word because I’m not ready to give up my coffee with a dash of milk. Well that and I did have 2 handfuls of hot chips because they were so hot, smelled so good and were in my hand so I couldn’t say no. So excusing those two things I’ve stuck to the full diet on GAPS last week and lived to tell the tale. Just. Remind me to write a post about it. Great for your waistline because most of my favourite foods are not on the allowed foods list. But week 2 here I come.

Anyway, back to the biscuits. So we make these as jam drops but I realised I had to stop making them as individual biscuits and just double batch them. And at first I was using all self raising flour but they were expanding on the tray so I settled on a mix of self raising and plain and they were just right. And I finally found a use for the mix of tins I had in my pantry for a few years. I love to save tins but don’t always get around to using them but these are great for jam drops as you don’t need to stack a layer on top and ruin the lovely jam.

To make these gluten free just use a good gluten free flour like white wings or woolies macro (I say good because they are a cup for cup substitute and work well) and check your jam if you are using it that it’s gluten free too. No other changes and we use a range of flours and have great results.

5.0 from 4 reviews
vanilla biscuits in the thermomix
 
Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Serves: 36+
What you'll need
  • 1 cup raw sugar or caster (about 250g)
  • 250g unsalted butter
  • 1-2tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1½ cups plain flour (225g)
  • 1½ cups self raising flour (225g)
  • jam for jam drops
Instructions
  1. Place raw sugar in TM and process 10 seconds on speed 9. If you are using caster sugar skip this step as it's just the way I turn raw sugar into caster.
  2. Add in butter (cubed) at room temperature and mix for 20 seconds speed 4. Scrape down sides of bowl.
  3. Add in vanilla and eggs and process another 20 seconds on speed 4.
  4. Add in flour in 2 batches and I process on speed 3 for about 30 -40 seconds and do a scrape down inbetween.
  5. **Roll into balls about the size of a walnut or smaller and then flatten with a fork for a plain biscuit or press down with your thumb to create an imprint and fill with some jam
  6. Bake in a preheated 180 degrees oven for about 12-15 minutes. Leave to cool on tray for a few minutes as they are soft but will look lightly golden. Then transfer to a cooling rack.
  7. It is from the cooling rack that they seem to disappear in our house!
  8. Enjoy!
  9. If you don't have a thermomix then cream the butter and sugar. Add in the vanilla and eggs one at a time and combine. Add in the sifted flour gently stirring as you go and then mix it all together well. I often use my hands to get the last of the flour in. Follow from **
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Filed Under: baking, thermomix

another rainbow ripple baby blanket finished

January 14, 2016 By 4 Comments

Yes I love this pattern. This is my 2nd rainbow ripple baby blanket and I love this one just as much as the first one I made. I made this my summer holiday project while the kids were off school and I’ve finished before the holidays are over so that’s a first (and a win).

Everything came from my stash – bendigo cotton 8 ply in parchment, wild lavender, teal, glacier and the pale pink is bendigo’s harmony (no longer available). I used a 4mm hook to make it soft and drapey rather than tighter. Usually with Bendigo cotton I go down a size but love how this has turned out.

It’s going into my big girl’s room as it matches her bedding perfectly and also because the kids have been wanting to keep something that I make because I give so much away. Love the pattern, great for a confident beginner in crochet as it’s all double crochet and nothing complicated. I think it looks fancier than it really is as you don’t need to follow the pattern once you’ve done a few rounds and got the hang of it. I haven’t blocked this yet but I could to make the points sharper.

And  I made a dent in the stash. Win win.

And it’s a stinker of a hot day here with the temps predicted to hit 40 and it already feels like that outside at 11am. I cleared up the garden beds to take this photo as there was plastic from a kids art project in front of this gate. I placed them behind me to take the photo and then while I was taking the photo a gust of wind made a warm soft thing hit the back of my leg and I screamed like you wouldn’t believe. The kids yelled in a panic what’s wrong….oh just a bit of plastic that I thought was an animal! Thankfully it was just plastic and I’m back inside in front of the fan.

 ravelry details are here

Filed Under: crochet

Organising your craft room and linen cupboard with a Brother Label Maker + Giveaway

January 13, 2016 By 96 Comments

Brought to you by Brother

congratulations Lois who won this giveaway! Thank you everyone for entering

Recently I shared this post as I started to get organised with my Brother label maker. Over the holiday break I tackled some of the biggest problem areas of the house. The linen cupboard and the craft room. Tell me I’m not the only one that needs a little help in this area but in a weekend I had both sorted. Well the craft room is a big project but I did half of it so am happy.

I tackled the craft room. Well part of the craft room. The bit just as you walk in the room and stuff gets dumped. That right hand cube had mail and stuff that was on my kitchen counter and over the last term as I was busy with the craft stall stuff just got dumped.

Step 1 was make a coffee, I needed something to get me through.

Step 2 was to work cube by cube. I just couldn’t pull everything as there would be no floor space so I worked one cube of the wall unit at a time and worked out what I needed. I also just used what I had in terms of storage containers proving that this doesn’t need to be a difficult or expensive exercise. Just some time up your sleeve. And this will save money in the long run because who knew I had so many pairs of scissors or white thread. Usually they go missing but I’m thrilled to have spots for them.

Step 3 was to put like with like and make my labels. This was probably the biggest job as things drift into other containers and I have a tendency to run out of time and shove things somewhere, close the door and leave my craft room. Having everything labelled and in the right spot is going to seriously cut down the time I spend hunting around for things when I actually get some time to craft. And I liked using the Shadow font for these labels just for something different.

even the label maker got it’s own shelf for me to put stickers, tapes and labels for school and home.

and the plastic tubs which store my knitting stash all got a sort out, cull and were labelled too. I know that there are more glamorous ways to organise your yarn stash but the containers keep moths out and the stash sorted.

And while on a roll from the craft room I decided to tackle another big problem area in my house.  The linen cupboard. Also known as that place at the top of the stairs where I hide stuff. We’ve all seen the beautifully organised linen cupboards and perfectly folded fitted sheets on pinterest. So I had a few goals with the linen cupboard. Firstly, I wanted to be able to open it up and not have things fall out on me. Second, I wanted to be able to close the doors perfectly and thirdly I wanted to have a good cull and keep the things we used and lastly I wanted it all organised and labelled so that everyone else in the family could help to keep it looking good.

Step 1  was to pull it all out, everything. Get everything out so that you can start afresh. You’ll notice that the shelves have seen better days. It was definitely time to give this cupboard a big clear out and lighten the load on those shelves.

Step 2 was to grab some garbage bags. One for stuff to throw out and one for charity. I worked my way through everything, sorting through what I wanted to keep and throw out as I went. I started folding and making spots for items and moved things around the linen cupboard a few times. Put the things you hardly use and the big bulky items up high. Every day items and things that the kids need like towels and hand towels at their level.

And no more hunting around for preschool sheets and hanging hand towels on a sunday night or monday morning. I gave preschool items their own little area in my lovely organised linen cupboard. With 2 still to finish preschool it’s nice to have everything kept in the one spot to make my life easier. And I just love looking at all of the lovely handmade things that I’ve made or been given over the years.

Step 3 was to get my Brother Label maker. I found it easier to have everything in a place that I was happy with first and then make the labels and stick them on. Another little tip is to have the label sticking on top of the shelf rather than facing out on furniture and shelving. It’s up to you but I saw it on Martha Stewart and thought it looked great.

Step 4 was take a photo and admire it. Yep, I was pretty proud that the linen cupboard looked neater than when we first moved in. Even later that night I was watching tv and thought about my lovely neat and tidy cupboard. I know, that’s a bit sad to admit. But with a busy household, just organising a cupboard gets put on the big jobs list however this didn’t take more than 2 hours and looks wonderful.

Let’s hope the bath towel section can keep looking this neat as the year goes on.

Last words of advice

Think about how you use things when you are organising and the items you want easy access to.

Labelling helps you keep it tidy and organised in the long run and also helps other members of the house know where things belong.

Use different fonts and tape colours to have fun with your organising. The kids just love the coloured ones and for the rest of the home I’ve been liking the black on white tape.

Use what you have to organise. Bowls, platters, crates, jars, bottles and old drawers all make great storage ideas so there is no need to buy more containers. Label what you have, pile things neatly and stay organised.

Garbage bags are your best friend when organising. Think about the last time that you used an item and if it’s been too long or your tastes have changed then pass it on to someone else who can put it to good use. I give some things to friends and family and the rest to charity

Keep your label maker out of reach of your children. One boy thought he’d have fun writing his name lots of times and used a whole roll of tape. Not happy. Luckily you can pick up tapes easily from shops like Officeworks, independent stationery shops and more.

I have enjoyed getting organised with my Brother Label Maker and as a special little gift to you I’m giving away 1 Brother Label Maker and tape to my readers.

Just let me know the first area of your house that you will tackle if you win!

Entries close 21 January 2016, giveaway is open to Australian residents only, full terms of my giveaways can be found here.

Filed Under: brother, craft, my craft room, review

back to school lunchbox ideas

January 12, 2016 By 11 Comments

The kids will be back at school before you know it. And I’m already thinking about lunchboxes. You might have someone starting school for the first time, someone on a special diet, someone complaining they need a bit more variety, someone who never eats what is in there or you just need some new ideas. I always need some new ideas. There is nothing wrong with a vegemite sandwich and piece or two of fruit but my older children are often telling me of their friends with sushi, schnitzel or sausages in their lunchboxes. Oh and chips, I always hear about the kids who get chips in their lunchboxes too. Mine don’t.

Each week I start out with loads of fresh fruit, packs of tortillas, 2 loaves of bread in my freezer, a spinach or salad bag, ham, cheese, hummus, rice crackers and a few other things.  For morning tea and snacks think of a variety of fruit, try something new like raspberries, blueberries or cut up watermelon, homemade biscuits or muesli bars, hummus and crackers and carrot sticks, sultanas, homemade popcorn, cherry tomatoes, an egg sliced up, homemade banana bread or a healthy slice.

For lunch instead of sandwiches think about wraps, frittata, savoury muffins, sushi, rice, cold pasta, cooked quinoa or couscous with tuna or some veggies stirred through, crackers and dip. If you have really picky eaters then leave out the spinach but they will love wraps with something simple inside. Cream cheese and smoked salmon is a nice treat on a friday.

Think about a protein source when you are packing the lunchbox especially if you are packing for a bigger eater or your hubby or someone on a gluten free/special diet. Protein fills you up and if you have a few choices in your fridge then you are sorted for lunchboxes. Cooked chicken (you can do it in the slowcooker the day before or poach some chicken breasts on the stove), cooked eggs sliced up, some canned tuna (out of the can) with some crackers or to put in a wrap during the day.

I have some people with an aversion to lettuce and spinach but I can put at least 3 or 4 pieces in a wrap and it gets eaten even at home. Grated carrot is also great in a wrap. Tomato is a bit hit and miss here with my little customers.

Last words of advice

Keep nuts and peanut butter at home and away from school. Check the school’s food policy as eggs, yoghurt or other foods might be banned if there are serious food allergies.

Always have a spare loaf of bread in your freezer

Buy fruit in season, mandarins are always popular and last well. Have a fruit bowl on the kitchen counter if you don’t already so that kids can pack their own fruit.

Always check school bags for leftover fruit. We’ve had a banana incident and a few apples go bad in the bottom of bags and they can stink out the bag and require a big clean up. You’ll always have one member of the family who leaves some food in their bag.

Make up biscuit dough and keep it in your freezer wrapped up in a log in baking paper with the ends twisted. Take it out, leave it for 5-10 minutes, slice while still frozen and then bake. Perfectly round biscuits.

Have little containers that you can send cut up fruit, crackers, biscuits in as a little snack

I always have a pack of tiny teddies tucked away in my pantry just in case

Quinoa only takes 20 minutes to cook and is great in the fridge and can be used plain or with some salad ingredients and it’s great for older eaters who want something different or complain about boring sandwiches.

Cherry tomatoes last well during the week, are sweet to eat and bright and colourful in a lunchbox.

Don’t pack too much food especially for kindergarten students as it can be too much choice and they just want to play

No chips or chocolate, start out with good habits from kindergarten and then your children won’t ask for them – no, well they might ask for them but at least you haven’t set a precedent

Water, water and more water. Always water. A good drink bottle and ditch the juice or cordial. Again it’s better to start out the good habits in kindergarten and primary school and better for their health and teeth. Even some of my kids who haven’t been big water drinkers are now great because there is nothing else on offer at our house but water. Trust me on it, my 3 and 5 year old are the best water drinkers but it wasn’t always that way.

Ask your kids what they like to eat – if like me you have a vegemite sandwich lover then go with it. Let them cut their own sandwiches and make their own when they start to show an interest. If we’re having a crazy morning then it’s not uncommon for me to ask my big 3 to make their own sandwiches with some help from me as I run past!

 

Filed Under: back to school, healthy eating

back to school shopping this year

January 7, 2016 By 37 Comments

Just 3 weeks until our baby girl starts school for the first time and the big kids head back. This year we send 4 kids off to school, 1 returns to preschool and the baby stays home with me. And yes it’s proving to be an expensive time of year getting everyone ready. One needed a complete uniform to start big school, two need a few bits and pieces as they move on from infants to primary, most needed a new pair of trainers, one needed new black school shoes, everyone needed new lunchboxes, one needs a full list of stationery, three need a few textbooks and me? I need to give my bank balance a rest. I’ve been tallying everything up in my diary and it’s all adding up.

SHOES

Well the first thing I did was make everyone bring down their school shoes and trainers. 2 of the kids had new school shoes midway through last year, 1 girl had a choice of 2 school shoes a size up from a girl who never scuffs her shoes so that was one nice relief. 1 boy had the stinkiest trainers out there and 1 girl had a pair that were too small. And our sweet little girl needs trainers as her school shoes. So I went to the kids shoe shop who had 20% off Clarks and 3 pairs of trainers, 1 pair of school shoes later we were done school shoe shopping. I did think about the day I might need to get 6 pairs of school shoes and trainers. Oh boy.

Last year I had this great idea to do all the kids school shoes at a budget shoe place. It was ok for 2 girls with the school shoes but the girl trainers fell apart and the boy school shoes lasted half way through the year before falling apart. So it wasn’t the cheapest option in the end and one of the girls needed a wider shoe.

Everyone has a different budget so look for good quality that you can afford, a solid back of the shoe that gives support and that you can’t push down easily, width of your thumb at the end of the shoe for growth and if you can get them fitted then go for it and get the correct size. It’s ok to get fitted and shop around to get the best price. My other advice is if you have very narrow or very wide – we fall on the very wide side of shoe fittings – then don’t leave it to late. Oh and wear those shoes around the house before school starts. Or if you’re like our 5 year old, wear your shoes to church with a nice dress because you just can’t take those shoes off. She loves them.

LUNCHBOXES

Next up was lunchboxes. This year I’ve decided to go stainless steel. The tupperware/lunchbox cupboard is heaving and things fall out on me. We’ve got mismatched containers, broken lids and who knows what else lives in there. I decided to bite the bullet and go stainless steel for lunchboxes this year. I know that there are cheaper options but I’ve wanted to do it for a while and just decided out with the old and in with the new. And my Tupperware cupboard will get the mother of all cleanouts.

I settled on the lunchbots for most of the kids (I bought mine here) and the yumbox (not stainless steel) for our school starter as it is easy to open herself. I’ve never sent a little one with special needs off to school but I know that they will have some help with lunchboxes but this is an easy clip on the yumbox and she seems fine with it.

I’m going to write a post on lunchboxes but have to say if you’re looking at a good affordable one you can’t beat the nude food mover lunchboxes from the supermarket which have pretty much lasted the year and were great with the small containers for fruit break in the morning at school. Even my biggest boy with his huge appetite had enough room for plenty of food in there.

DRINK BOTTLES

Drink bottles? Well I just love the Tupperware ones. We have them in an assortment of colours and you can write their names or place the stickers on the top or bottom sections and they are a good size with no leaks. I hate leaking drink bottles. We also have a few good stainless steel ones in the mix but make sure that your kids can close them properly…if you want a dry school bag.

STATIONERY

This year I did stationery online with officeworks and their free delivery to avoid the shops and taking all 6 lovely little ones with me. Don’t forget to buy contact to cover books. My girls did use some of their Christmas money to buy smiggle pencil cases which is definitely not the budget option but was a practical way to use their Christmas money. That shop is just heaven for my girls and my littlest one loved it.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS

I tend to always buy new because I have little ones to hand down to. Anything that I won’t need because our little girl is going to a special school will be going to the 2nd hand uniform shop along with the netball uniform since art and gymnastics are on the activities list for 2016 and not netball.

Look after your school uniforms especially winter dresses/skirts and blazers as you can get a good amount back on them in the uniform shop. I hand wash most of mine and dry clean blazers during school holidays.

Don’t be afraid to buy extra shirts or summer dresses 2nd hand to keep as spares/back ups. I always do a quick scan of the 2nd hand rack and we got a great sports jacket when my big girl started school that is still going strong.

Please be sure to buy yourself 2 sunhats for the playground. The kids hate missing out on playtime because they’ve misplaced their hat or had it taken. Hats going missing kill me because they always do but it does get easier when the kids get older/more responsible. But trust me I have a few who lose their hats on a very regular basis. Get the name written on the hat with a sharpie as soon as you get the hat or before you leave the uniform shop!

 

NAME LABELS

Name labels well of course I used my lovely new label maker. However for my little girl starting special school I wanted something very big that she could recognise so fruit and her name in big letters made it easy from a personalised label shop were in order. I bought her a complete set.

And that’s that. With most of the back to school shopping done I can now look forward to saving for term 1 fees.

Any tips or words of wisdom from my readers?

And while we’re in a back to school mood, here are a few posts you might like

gluten free lunchboxes

baking for lunchboxes

Filed Under: back to school

Why you need a Brother Label maker

January 6, 2016 By 17 Comments

Brought to you by Brother

When my big girl and twins started preschool I went crazy with personalised stickers. But over the years and many house moves later I tend to lose them. I’ve thought of a label maker before but had never used one before so had no idea just how handy they could be……..until I got one. And if someone had told me that I could be making pink labels then I would have been on to it much earlier!

And this couldn’t come at a better time as I work my way through the best selling novel that everyone is reading. ‘The Life Changing Magic of Tidying’ by Marie Kondo.  I’m married to a born organiser but I am definitely one busy mummy who doesn’t put things back in the right place and then it all catches up with me. So I went through the house and nothing was off limits. Once you start labelling and organising there is no stopping you…or the kids. My girls were very excited with the label maker and the pink tape got a good workout. It was so easy to use, pop the batteries in the back, the tape goes in too and you don’t need a PhD to put it in, back back on and off you go!

First to be labelled was my iPhone charger to end all debates over whose is whose because apparently someone’s always go missing. No more problems now. I know what mine looks like.

My cupcake carrier was next up as well as my favourite Tupperware containers that I take a cake or slice in. Also great when you need a take a plate and want your plate back. Because the labels are waterproof (amongst other things) they won’t come off in the dishwasher or while you do the dishes.

I also had fun with my organiser. I tend to be a scribbler and have good intentions for a neat and tidy organiser but scribble and cross things out and use pencils, pens and any of the kids pencils I can grab if the phone rings and I need to jot something down. I do however sit and put regular activities in for the month ahead and love the look of the labels in my diary so will stick to this for 2016 I think.

Next up were kids wardrobes. We pulled everything out and decided what we wanted to label each section with. My big girl made her own labels and had some fun putting everything back. I’m just kidding she didn’t have fun putting the clothes away but loved that she made her own labels and that they were pink.

One of my biggest jobs is keeping wardrobes under control. We have some children who grow quickly and others who have a stockpile of the hand me downs. We also have one who stuffs everything into the one cube, another who wears 3 outfits in a day and some kids who never touch their wardrobe! I think the labels look gorgeous and I hope that she can now put everything in the right spot and keep it organised. One wardrobe down and 5 more of the kids to do. Also great for babies as you could do nappy, wipes, singlets, onesies etc and it would make it easy for people to help out if they wanted to.

Now I found more things around the house to label while I was on a roll. Flippers for swimming lessons as we lost a pair this year (but thankfully no more now that we have our name on the flippers and not just the bag they come in). And with back to school right around the corner it’s a great time to label drink bottles, lunchboxes and school bags. The great thing about having your own label maker is that you won’t get caught out at the last minute if you have an item that needs a label. Just a minute later and you’ve made your own label to go straight on a school item. And why not get the kids to make their own. Mine are still fighting over who is going to use it next.

And Christmas handmade gifts had a little personalised touch with these gold labels. So easy and I just trimmed the tape to the width of the space on the jar and done! So sweet and I think the gold tape became my new favourite.

And my biggest job was turning my mess of a pantry into something lovely and organised. Now this took a whole afternoon because it was in such a state but I was speaking my husband’s love language when I did this job. Usually he stages an intervention in the fridge, pantry and car when things get out of control. Once upon a time I would put things back in the right spot but with 8 people in one busy household things kind of go everywhere and anywhere. But I pulled everything out of the pantry, grabbed some garbage bags, cleaned it out and got stuck into labelling all of my containers.

One afternoon later and the kids fighting over who was going to do the labels. It was great to be able to make your own for all the odd things you have in there like gluten free flour or quinoa or cupcake wrappers. And if you’re not into plastic containers they look great on jars too. I just love how the pantry looks and it brings back memories of going to cooking school where they had the same labels and everything super organised.

You get a lot of use out of one roll of tape and I did the whole pantry with one roll which was pretty good. The TZe laminated labels are sun, germ, water, chemical, abrasion and temperature resistant and that means you can use them anywhere inside or out and for any job that requires a label. Or as I’ve discovered any surface you want to make a label for.

I think the Brother Label maker makes a great gift and is an essential for any busy household. There are so many uses and the different coloured tapes make it fun and offer something for everyone. Who knew how addictive it would be? I really just thought I’d have one font and one kind of tape but am really impressed with how many options there are. I was given the PT-H105 and you can view the complete range of Brother Label makers here. And if you’re having trouble convincing someone that you need it just say you will organise the pantry from top to bottom if you get one………….I could be getting tapes in every colour if I keep up this organising!

And come back for my post next week where I tackle the craziest parts of my house – the craft room and linen cupboard. These really are the disaster areas of the house but I’m hopeful………

Filed Under: review

lovely lemon slice (gluten free)

January 5, 2016 By 18 Comments

Rainy days in the school holidays just call out for some baking. And when it comes to dessert and sweet treats I love anything with lemon. Sadly no lemons are ready to pick off our trees just yet so with 4 lemons from the supermarket and a pantry full of ingredients I wanted to make lemon slice.

This tastes so much like lemon meringue pie that I’ve made it twice and love it. We made it gluten free by using gluten free flour (that is a cup for cup substitute) but you can use plain flour instead without any problems.

This is a great recipe for your little egg crackers too! My little miss elodie loves to crack all of our eggs and has got it down pat. It’s also a great activity for counting the lemons and eggs. Ok we just love baking and using it to teach numbers and important skills:)

The hardest part will be leaving it to cool before you slice it but you can do it. I actually had a little corner then popped in the fridge to help it cool down so I could take a photo….and eat it as soon as I could!


5.0 from 4 reviews
lovely lemon slice (gluten free)
 
Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Serves: 12
What you'll need
  • BASE
  • 185g (3/4 Cup) raw sugar or caster sugar
  • 200g butter, cubed
  • 260g gluten free flour (about 2 scant cups) (we used white wings)
  • TOPPING
  • 275g raw or caster sugar (about 1½ cups)
  • 55g gluten free flour (about ¼ cup) (we used white wings)
  • 3-4 good sized lemons, juiced
  • 4 eggs
  • icing sugar to serve (make sure it's pure icing sugar if making gluten free)
Instructions
  1. Line a lamington tin with some baking paper. You could also use a small foil tray about the same size. I like lining with baking paper so I can lift the slice out when cool.
  2. If using your thermomix then place raw sugar in TM bowl and process speed 9 for 10 seconds. Set aside.
  3. Place butter in TM bowl and melt for 2 minutes, 100 degrees, speed 1. Add in flour and sugar and combine speed 4 for 20 seconds. Scrape down and process another 10 seconds.
  4. Tip into a lined lamington tin and press down with your fingers.
  5. Bake in a 180 C oven for about 20 minutes until lightly golden. Carefully remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly. I just set my oven timer for 20 minutes and made the filling
  6. To make the filling juice the lemons. Make caster sugar by processing the raw sugar on speed 9 for 10 seconds. Add in lemon juice, eggs, flour and process 20 seconds speed 4 scraping down the bowl once in between.
  7. **When your base has cooled slightly pour the filling over the top and bake for about 20 minutes in a 175-180C oven until the top has a bit of a wobble and looks cooked right through.
  8. Leave to cool complelely, yes I know this will be difficult for some of us then slice, dust with icing sugar and enjoy.
  9. if you are making the old school way or without a thermomix then start with the base and melt your butter and stir in the flour and sugar and press into the lined lamington tin. For the topping combine all topping ingredients and follow from **.
  10. Enjoy! If you find the filling too sweet leave out a little sugar the next time. Some people prefer a really tart slice but I love sweet with just a hint of tartness.
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Filed Under: baking, gluten free, thermomix

Simplicity 1121 first dress for a new year

January 1, 2016 By 6 Comments

Happy New Year! We were  up early and hit the cinemas to see the new Charlie Brown, it was such a sweet movie and I think the 3 year old and adults loved it best but we all loved it. OK I might have been the most excited to see the movie. See if if you’re after something that the whole family can watch together. Not too long either and our little guy was yelling out ‘go charlie brown’ and killing himself laughing. It was just a gorgeous family movie.

Anyway I’m talking about this lovely dress that I made yesterday. The pattern is Simplicity 1121 and I had my eye on it for a while. An hour with just my big girl and the baby at Spotlight was a nice way to spend the morning of New Years Eve and we came home with some sewing supplies. My big girl chose the pattern and fabric herself.

She measured a 7 but we went up to an 8 because I like to get at least 2 summers out of it. The pattern instructions and construction of the dress were very straightforward. Thank goodness for that. I found them very clear and really like the way they attached the shoulder ruffle so that it was lovely and neat. Often I make vintage patterns and there is some hand stitching here or there or vague details on how to attach ruffles but this pattern was better. However you’ll want to have some experience reading patterns as a few details weren’t made obvious like making the other strap which required positioning of the ruffle on the other side of the strap. In fact I don’t think the pattern even tells you to make the other strap but obviously you will. And the straps are adjustable as they tie through the loop on the back so it’s a dress that can grow over seasons.

We bought enough fabric to make option c which is the long chevron dress on the pattern cover but we ended up doing option b without the lower ruffle to make it a bit more grown up for her.

The fabric was on sale so the total cost of the dress comes in about $20 and I’m happy with that. Now trying to get photos of this girl modelling are now hilarious as she wants to act the whole time.

Overall I think this is such a great pattern for both the little and big girls. It would suit a confident beginner who has done gathering stitches and can read a pattern and it’s not too complicated, no zippers or buttons or anything too fancy. The instructions really are step by step with good pictures alongside but I would say to make sure that your back before the elastic goes in matches up to the front finished bodice, mine didn’t and I’m still not sure what went wrong but on my 2nd dress I’m sure I’ll work it out. Make the elastic channel for the top elastic on the back just a teensy bit wider as mine was a tight squeeze and before you sew the elastic ends in measure on your child as I could have made the elastic a bit tighter. Oh and the little tab for the straps to go through was a teeny piece of fabric that I couldn’t pull through so I doubled the width, pressed in the ends and then folded on itself and sewed a seam. So much easier than mucking around trying to pull a narrow strip of fabric right side out. Trust me on that one.

And that’s the last bit of sewing for last year and a new dress for a new year. Now the girls are lining up patterns and their choice of fabric for some pjs and shorts so I think my night times will be at the machine!

Filed Under: fabric, sewing, sewing machine, sewing room, spotlight

the baby of the family

December 29, 2015 By 12 Comments

I have to say that the youngest member of our family is the cheekiest, fastest and most adventurous member of the lot. He has a lot of kids to keep up with and is learning to get food fast, squeeze in between kids and when the back door is open he is out of there and off! Thanks to my lovely SIL for these amazing photos she took.

Filed Under: babies, baby, family

looking back on 2015

December 27, 2015 By 12 Comments

2015….another busy year is over. Full of ups and downs and stress but we’ve come out of it all the better for it.

I celebrated my last birthday before 40

I was on TV with a very funny lady

I knitted a cardigan that still remains unworn…..must pass it on to someone else since it wasn’t popular here

my baby turned into a toddler before my eyes! plagued with ear infections he had grommits put in before the year was out and despite another ear infection we are hopeful he’s on the way to clear ears.

 

I made a few cardigans for babies! This one  was a real favourite………

and another one by tikki was this one, also in red. I sense a theme here.

in threes in hot pink, all the details are here.

We made a big effort to get out and about and do fetes and fairs and noisy events with our big family and we survived.

my cousin got married, I love family weddings so much

we had a relaxing easter at home, not everyone enjoyed a few days at church over the weekend but we survived! And you wouldn’t believe these photos were taken a few days apart. Good Friday was freezing cold and rainy and then Easter Sunday was beautiful and warm!

I became the mother of a 9 year old………..

we loved picking the mandarins and oranges from our trees and gave away as many grapefruit as we could. Not grapefruit fans here.

One of the biggest highlights of our year was the beautiful ‘first’ First Holy Communion that we celebrated in our family. It was just perfect in every way and now all of the kids want to make their First Holy Communion just like their big sister.

and we used the occasion to get a very rare family photo with all of us, not all in our sunday best but these days I take what I can get it. We were all in the photo so that’s something and I love looking at the twins gappy smiles.

I knitted a jumper for the baby of the family but then couldn’t get it over his head again! Must learn new technique for neckholes after that one. But I’ve passed it on and I’m sure it will bring joy to another family. Such a sweet pattern.

lawson6

we visited an animal farm for one of the little one’s birthday and everyone loved it

 

there was a little bit of sewing

this dress is still going well and I’m looking forward to tackling a second version and nailing the zipper.

I cut into one of my all time favourite fabrics and didn’t cry over it and I taught 3 classes at the Better Homes & Gardens show which was so much fun. I love meeting people and despite my nerves had a really great time.

we fell in love with Disney on Ice! In fact we loved it so much that someone is getting tickets nice and close to the rink for Christmas this year. Pure joy for this little one and still ticking the box of getting out and about and doing lots of noisy big kid things.

the kids all came down with whooping cough which meant lots of swabs, medicine and home time. I put it to good use…knitting wise

someone turned 40 and we had a gorgeous weekend away in Kangaroo Valley, loved the peace and quiet down there and that fresh air. The kids just loved playing golf and exploring.

After years and years of telling you all how much I love Bendigo Woollen Mills they sent me some before it was released which was the greatest thrill and fun.

I ditched deodorant full of chemicals and went natural and am loving it. I have to confess it took a few months for my body to adjust but now I’m happily still using the tea tree without an issue. Or chemical.

I got a very fancy sewing machine that I just love and am still learning how to use but feel the luckiest sewer in the world. Embroidery has been the best fun and I’m itching to make some girls clothes and a quilt over the Christmas break. We are still in discussions with hubby over how many sewing machines one person needs.

we went to school camp and I tried archery for the first time and loved it!

I still rave about the beautiful chapel and share photos whenever the venue comes up in conversation, we need more beautiful places to worship like these. Just a very special place and I look forward to visiting again.

 

we had beautiful blossoms at our house…………

out beautiful elodie turned 5, had her IQ test for the first time and got accepted into both special schools that we were looking at. She’s happy and fun to be around and weekly speech sessions as well as using proloquo2go on the ipad have helped her improve her vocabulary. The greatest thing is being able to have little conversations with her. Some of her favourite phrases are ‘oh my gosh’, I love you mummy, I’m pine (for I’m fine) and a great achievment is telling us I want eat/water/biscuit/banana/bed etc. She can tell us when she’s tired, sick, thirsty and hungry and had the best year at preschool. The best.

I sliced my finger with my rotary cutter and needed 7 stitches. It took a while to heal because of the way our fingers bend but thankfully is looking great and doesn’t give me any pain. Oh boy you should see me use a rotary cutter these days, total concentration. You’ll only do it once.

I whipped up a baby blanket for my cousin’s baby shower and loved it. I don’t usually love neutral colours but love how this turned out and it really is a great little pattern.

I ran the craft stall for our school fete and lived to tell the tale. It was a lot of work and stress and in the end I’ve realised that I’m a crafter not an organiser so next time I’ll just make the stuff and go crazy making rather than having to co-ordinate it all. But it was fun, I met gorgeous mums at school and it was successful so it was worth it.

we had a very special night at Taronga zoo that we just loved

we finished up school and preschool for the year and drove up to Noosa in a day. We survived and had a wonderful rest. If money and work weren’t an issue I’d spent my winters in kangaroo valley and summer in noosa. I think that would cover off some beautiful parts of Australia and keep everyone happy.

Work wise it’s been a bit of a quiet year which I really wanted.  I’ve been spending less time on the blog and more time with the family – also out of necessity because the workload at home always seems to increase. When an opportunity came up to do social media for my favourite hospital I jumped at the chance and am really enjoying it. It’s not easy working from home and I’ve stopped comparing myself to others who are really growing their blogs.

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And that’s where I say thank you to my loyal readers out there. You have stuck by me and still pop in to say hi whether it’s here on the blog or FB or instagram. I always love seeing your comments and questions. It’s been my busiest year with the family and trying to fit everything in but now that the year is over it’s nice to look back on 2015 with fond memories and get excited about a new year and what it holds.  I sometimes find myself a bit grumpy as I do another load of washing or stand at the sink washing dishes when everyone is asleep but then I remind myself that I never could have imagined the big and beautiful family that I have. I feel so lucky to have these beautiful faces in my life and call them my own. My house is noisy, busy and cluttered and while it’s getting harder to get a minute to myself at least I’m never bored.

Thank you and I hope you’ve had a wonderful 2015 and if you haven’t then I hope 2016 is your year!

 

Filed Under: everything else

our Christmas celebrations

December 26, 2015 By 4 Comments

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. We did. Our celebrations begin on Christmas Eve with the children’s mass and for the first time in a long time we didn’t have anyone in the nativity as we’d been away. But then our big girl Keira was asked to carry up baby Jesus with the procession and put him in the manger. Such a special job for her and she did a lovely job. I was so proud of her. You’ll never see as many people at mass like on Christmas Eve and it can make for a long evening for the little ones but just our littlest guy needed to be taken out and it was a gorgeous service and always gets me excited for the day ahead. One day I look forward to midnight mass when everyone is a bit (or a lot) older.

Once home I did my best to try to get everyone together for a photo in their jammies before they went to bed. That was too hard to co-ordinate but the littlest member of our family Lawson did want to re-decorate the tree for me for the 50th time this year. I think it’s been a few years now that I haven’t even worried about how the tree has looked. In the early years I would let the kids decorate the tree and then I would carefully rearrange it but now I just let them do it and leave it that way. At least there is a tree and it’s up and standing and looks festive!

Now it wouldn’t be Christmas without a bit of drama. And we did have a slight problem with a trike that didn’t go together and is ready to be returned to the toy shop tomorrow. I was so upset as went to a good toy shop to get it and it looked so wonderful with a little passenger seat at the back for another little brother to be riden around. But the holes were in the wrong place for the screws for the seat so the seat wouldn’t stay up. Last minute scramble to make up present numbers and just go without the trike in the morning. There was also some late night cooking thrown in there so I finally put my head on a pillow and weary feet to bed at 2am. To be woken at 6am. I tried to stretch it out with things like please turn the jug on for me, go and have a look and come back and tell me and so on and then I came down to do presents with the big 3 while the little 3 kept sleeping.  And yes it was Lego city for a while with 3 big sets under construction and I’ve hardly seen the kids as they play with them now that they are up.

Lunch was at my sister’s house and so lovely not to host after about 5 years in a row. Mind you I did realise that it meant we had to drive to lunch with the rest of the city and I missed my nice glass or two of champagne. But I didn’t miss the big clean up before and after and it was lovely to be a guest for a change. We skyped my brother after lunch as he couldn’t make it and the kids were so funny with questions like what’s your middle name, how old are you again? what did you eat for lunch?

Lunch was perfect and the kids had the best time especially with 2 little sweet dogs in the yard. I think the littlest member of our family wants a dog, he just spent most of the day with them and adored them.

Like all good family celebrations we had the kids table.

After lunch it was presents and lots more things to keep the little ones entertained. And can you believe this little guy…only his 2nd Christmas and at 16 months he’s got it all down pat. Knows the drill. Thank you for my present.

I made trifle for dessert and it was a success. Thank goodness. Usually if I’m making a dish to take somewhere or for guests I like to try it out once before trying it out on other people but took a risk with this one. Wow it was amazing. You make each of the layers in your thermomix- chocolate brownie, raspberry coulis, chocolate custard and a marscapone topping then topped with fresh raspberries and grated chocolate (or a flake bar since I did the top layer once I arrived). Now I’m not a trifle person but this was just the most delicious dessert I’ve had in a long time. So delicious I’m doing a blog post on it as I had to tweak it to get the raw eggs and alcohol out but gosh it was delicious. If you’ve got Festive Flavour for your Thermomix then you’ll have seen it there. Ten out of ten.

We hit the road home and must have hit everyone else leaving their Christmas lunch too but made it home safely. The kids were just happy to see their toys again and played. After everyone went to bed I enjoyed learning how to use Apple TV, 2 episodes of Brides of Christ later and I took myself off to bed. But can anyone tell me how I can get Big Love on there? I got so excited when I saw that it was on Stan but looks like a movie not my all time favourite tv show.

Boxing Day was a bit more relaxing until I realised that I got the start time for lunch wrong and should have been in the car instead of having half the kids in their pjs. But at least I had managed to do my usual boxing day sales online for the very important bath towels, bras and some bedding for kids who needed sheets and pillowcases. Then I herded everyone up and headed off to the RSL for our big family catch up (27 of us all up) which we usually do boxing day or around Christmas time. As the family gets older and everyone gets married it’s lovely to come together at Christmastime and catch up and the kids had a ball. If you have a little one with special needs then you know that family gatherings and outings can be tricky but our little girl had the best time ever and it was great to sit back and relax and see her have fun with everyone. Like when daddy pretended he picked the baby out of the present lucky dip.

The huge fish tank was a big thrill and it was a such a great way to spend boxing day. I expected the club to be busy but it was nice and quiet and since I love a good lemon lime bitters I was very happy.

We did our usual kris kringle with a $20 gift and made sure that everyone had their photo taken with nana. She has 8 great grandchildren (soon to be 9) and yes I’ve given her 6 of them:)

And that was that. Christmas celebrations over for another year and beautiful memories made. Oh and I even finished one crafty thing this Christmas. Just the one. I don’t usually use panels but this was so much fun and cute and will be nice for my niece to use each Christmas.

If you’re still enjoying your Christmas celebrations then keep enjoying them and hopefully a break from work. Mind you being a mum means the work never stops at home but hopefully you are getting a bit of time for yourself before the new year.

Filed Under: christmas

wishing you a happy & holy Christmas 2015

December 24, 2015 By 10 Comments

Well it’s Christmas Eve. While all of the preparations are underway for tomorrow the most special thing we do is mass on Christmas Eve and preparing our hearts for Christmas day.

Each year I try not to get caught up in the busyness, rush and commercialism of Christmas. Yes I love the baking, treats and gift giving but am forever reminding myself of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Thank goodness for Advent and beautiful carols to sing. We’ve been singing along to the radio and some of our favourites during Advent. Mind you we have one little one who only wants to sing jingle bells.

Every Christmas I get a bit older and learn more about the true meaning of Christmas and as my faith grows so does my love of this special time of year. It really is a miracle when I reflect on what happened all those years ago in Bethlehem. It was no coincidence that the Holy Family were humble and that Jesus was not born into wealth or royalty. In a world today that praises the celebrity, the rich, and the flashy we should never forget that Jesus and his family were none of these. I know who I want to follow and teach my children to follow as well.

My Christmas wish for everyone is a happy and peaceful time, a time to reflect on the year and its ups and downs. To be grateful for the roof over our heads, the comforts we have, the people around us, to keep praying for peace and happiness to people who don’t have it and an extra hug for those who are missing loved ones who have gone before us. I hope you have memories of those special people and carry them in your heart and your celebrations this Christmas season.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  

Isaiah 9:6

Filed Under: christmas

can you believe it’s almost Christmas!

December 22, 2015 By 8 Comments

I can’t believe we are so close to Christmas! We’ve been having the nicest time at home and staying away from the shops and just loving it. It usually takes a while for the kids to get school and routine out of their system and I think we’re good now. I’m still required to listen to who took something from so and so or isn’t sharing or to turn off horrid henry which I can’t stand. But everyone is helping out with the little ones who are having THE best time with their big brother and sisters home all the time. Mind you it’s rained all day today so there were forts in the playroom, a cake was made, Elf and the Polar Express were watched…….perhaps more than once and there were lots of snacks made, water cups filled, one mug broken and put back all in pieces into the cupboard by someone, singing and dancing to Elf radio, one child tried to shave their legs which didn’t end well and I vacuumed the floors at least three times.

But the Christmas shopping is all done and that’s always a relief. Mind you I haven’t wrapped a single present and do my best wrapping the night before. This year is a lot more relaxing as I’m not hosting Christmas day or boxing day and it’s been about 5 years since I haven’t hosted so I really am enjoying it. There is so much to do when you are hosting and I usually end up going to the shops 4 times just to get everything foodwise so it’s really nice to be taking a few dishes with us and not having to worry about the house looking perfect too.

With that extra time up my sleeve there was a bit of last minute quilting today as I decided to make 2 quick quilts to give as gifts before the big day. Nothing like a last minute project and while my little guy napped or played with the big kids I got most of it done. And then someone decided to plop themselves down on it. Luckily I bought 3 of these panels from here because now all of the kids want this quilt made for themselves.

I bought a few Christmas fabrics that I still haven’t cut into but there is always next year. I even had the crazy idea that I was going to make everyone’s pjs for Christmas eve but it’s not looking too good at the moment

But I hope your Christmas plans are coming along nicely and that your little ones are getting along nicely too………………….

Filed Under: christmas

let the Christmas making and baking begin

December 16, 2015 By 3 Comments

I can’t believe how close it is to Christmas and not even one batch of rocky road or rum balls has come out of my kitchen. It’s a first. I better cracking….here are my top 5 Christmas treats that I’ll be making this year! And I’m not hosting Christmas lunch this year which means I’ve got more time to make sweet treats this year………..

Pineapple Fruit Cake is super easy and delicious. I’ve been asked how best to store it. Nice airtight container and if you live in a hot climate keep it cool. You could refrigerate if you wanted to but remove from fridge at least an hour or two before you want to serve it. Also lovely hot with ice cream or custard!

Rocky Road with a variety of ingredients. Never fails and you’ll always get an empty plate afterwards.

turkish delight yum

Rum balls because it wouldn’t be Christmas without them and I still use this recipe about 15 years after I first started!

Peppermint Bark which is so easy and fun and a great way to use those candy canes that come from school

peppbarkimage

and little Christmas puddings because they look so sweet and pretty

 

Filed Under: baking, christmas, christmas recipe

travelling to noosa with kids..again

December 14, 2015 By 11 Comments

After writing this post a few years ago I thought I’d update it after our most recent trip away. Another really lovely trip away with beautiful weather, great food, the most beautiful beaches and memories made. Oh and a family of 8. I won’t say that I’m relaxing by a pool drinking cocktails and reading a book or doing my crochet the whole time but there were some relaxing by the pool moments. When the kids weren’t in the pool.

Where to stay
This was the first time we stayed in a house and we just loved the space. The last time we stayed in an apartment I just knew that we needed some space for kids to run around. And so this time we organised a 4 bedroom house and pool in Noosa Sound.  It was perfect but we did miss being on Hastings Street. If you had bigger kids like my eldest 3 then the walk is easy and I enjoyed the walk when I just took a few of them (kids, that is). But little ones wouldn’t last and we only took one pram.  We drove down to the beach and Hastings St each day and got a carpark each time. Just. It was a few minutes drive or about a 10-15 minute walk.

The house we stayed in was perfect, spacious and comfortable had a front lawn and the back was paved and great for the kids to play out there. It was all enclosed so no one could run out and escape and it also had it’s own boat ramp and a jetty too. 10/10 and the price was reasonable when out of holiday season. If you’ve ever tried to book accommodation for a family over 2 adults and 2 kids then you know how expensive it can be or almost impossible so a house really worked for us this time.

If you’re looking to stay on Hastings St then you can’t fault the Sebel and a private rental there saves you money. They have 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms with a sofa bed too and we managed to stay there even with 4 kids and a baby. Step out the front door right into Hastings St. The carpark even fits the VW Multivan height which at 2.1m can be an issue in other carparks. We have used this company twice before and they do a beautiful wine and cheese hamper for you which is just lovely to enjoy during your stay.

I do have a serious case of envy when I see the beautiful pools and apartments as you walk along the beach at Noosa but we can’t find a 3 bedroom in any of the complexes. If you have a smaller family or are looking for a romantic getaway then I would definitely stay on the beach side of Hastings or at the Sheraton.

When we were out at dinner we had a lady from the Emerald Noosa come up to us and let us know that our children were well behaved (thank goodness!) and that they had 3 bedroom apartments.

Look on stayz for an apartment or house that meets your requirements. People do book early so don’t leave it too late and one advantage of booking early was that we paid for our accommodation in 3 instalments which was great for cash flow. Something to remember though that with a private rental you might need to provide a cash bond for your stay and the cleaning the house while you are there.

Where to eat
Betty’s burgers was a real favourite this trip. A fun place to eat right opposite the surf club and I’m still thinking about how great that chicken burger and onion rings were. Top of my list and the kids loved it. Get there before 11.30 for lunch, we went after a swim at the beach and the kids were busting to go again.

Noosa surf club has the best views, great prices and great for families. We do the fish and chips and nachos and always have a nice time and get a great table and view. I think it’s a must do when visiting. That and I just love a lemon lime and bitters on a hot day.

Zachary’s for the best pizzas. There are a few locations in Noosa and it made for a quick and easy takeaway the night before we went home.

Rock salt was right near where we stayed and owned by one of my readers, I’m sure she made sure we had the best table (we did pay for our dinner). Beautifully cooked food and I’d call it french bistro style food in the park with very friendly service. All of the diners around us appeared to be older (I guess we do eat at seniors hour) but all repeat visitors which I think says a lot about a restaurant when they know the waiter and come back again and again. The kids coloured in and ran around in the park while we waited for our food and they loved their fish and chips. Great for families and the service was very attentive.

Sails not this time but we always go and love it. I didn’t book and I knew we wouldn’t get the front table we have had in the past and I just knew it wouldn’t be the same. This is a special restaurant and our kids have always been welcomed. The kids think it’s fun to go to a fancy restaurant and we’ve always had a table right out near the beach. Beautiful food and views and a fancy treat while you are away. We go at 5pm to eat.

Massimos has the best ice creams on the beach. I get coconut every time and it’s always delicious. Cash only and no tasting and sometimes a short queue but always worth it. Set aside some money in the holiday budget for this one because one or two visits is not enough. Trust me.

Where to shop

Go bananas for swimmers, pretty dresses and cute jewellery for kids. A nice range of babies and kids wear and the only place I shop for kidswear in Noosa. You’ll notice the matchy matchy swimmers because I know it won’t last long so might as well make the most of it now before the kids get too big for it!

Noosa Civic for Big W in case you’ve forgotten anything. This is the place we loaded up on new DVDs after our santa photo. Also great if you need swimmers or clothes and don’t want to pay big prices. Nice to have up your sleeve just in case  you need a few thing especially for the beach.

Holster you’ll find the complete range of Holster sandals and also all of their clearance shoes at $12 and $15. Always on my list and their shoes just last so well! This was the little girl’s wall and my girls loved it! Lots of oohhing and ahhing.

Boom Shankar just near Holster so if you are driving to Holster then pop in and grab some bright and colourful dresses.

Noosa longboards is great for the perfect tourist t-shirt. We always buy one or two and they make great presents too.

Signature on Hastings is my little treat each time I visit. I buy a little pearl bracelet and some soaps each and every time I go. The soaps are wrapped beautifully and always make a nice little gift.

Other things to do
We love Peregian beach and discovered sunshine beach too
Eumundi market is popular but our little kids went a bit haywire when we went so we gave it a miss this time but if you love markets you’ll love this one.

Check out all of the other beaches on the Sunshine Coast for a drive and to give the kids a change of scenery.

Drive or fly ?
We pack the car to the brim, get up before the sun and drive to Noosa in one day. It’s a bit brave and crazy all at once with 6 kids in the back and I might have to bribe little ones with a happy meal for lunch but we get there in the end.
We have flown before but because we are a larger than normal family we needed to organise mini buses to pick us up at each end and it all got very expensive plus you are limited with what you can take. If I could only go for a short time then I’d fly and perhaps leave our car at the airport to save money. It’s only a short flight to the Sunshine Coast and jetstar and virgin both fly there.

When to go?
December is fun, hot and busy. We love September when it’s a bit quieter and the kids can swim and have fun without the really hot days. I think we’ll be going back next september since we won’t have the luxury of that extra week up our sleeve that we had this year and it was a bit crowded. I like it a bit quieter like in September but it was a fun and happy place to be in December unless you are my hair…..that humidity…I had a bit of frizz control going on.

last words of wisdom

tire out the kids in the pool and at the beach and you’ll get them into bed early!

stock up at the local coles or woolies and have plenty of fruit, ice blocks, juice, crackers and foods the kids love on hand for snacks

we ate most of our meals in and made it fun for the kids by eating tacos, burgers, salads (for us), wraps, chicken and chips and so on. We had a variety of tubs of ice cream and sorbet for dessert fun too. Mind you the ben & jerry’s tub lasted one day.

car dvd players are the best! We ran 3 in the car and had 2 ipads on the go to keep little ones busy as well as snacks and water bottles for the long road. McDonalds playcentres became our best friend when everyone was getting cranky and needed a play and run around

keep smiling! even when someone was losing the plot or was overtired just keep smiling and act like you’re having the best time!

help out mum! hubby took over the washing while we were away which was really nice.

quiet afternoons in…sometimes hubby would take the big kids out and I’d stay in with the littlest 3 and just let them play with their toys and watch a movie to get them off for a nap. It was just the quiet time they needed with all of the excitement of being away.

take a walk after dinner. Hastings St is safe, fun and full of diners and walkers when the sun goes down. We went out for ice cream and to look at the lights and the kids loved it. They thought it was the best with music playing and families out walking.

pack toy bags, we had a variety of toys and a paw patrol matching game that kept the kids happy and occupied

Been to Noosa? Have I missed something? Got a tip to share? Love to hear from you………………..

Filed Under: everything else
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