Muesli Bars

This was a recipe that my sister gave me a few months back.

It came home with me with good intentions then got filed in the overflowing "must try" folder.

With Kinder lunchboxes high on my priority at the moment, I decided to dig it back out and give them a go.

I'm not sure how long they will last in the pantry though, as I have taken quite the liking to them! Must.save.for.the.kids!

They are easy. I like easy.

It's the kind of recipe that you get to chuck in whatever you have in the pantry. Love those recipes.

Ingredients:

1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup of oats
1/2 cup of sesame seeds
1/2 cup of sunflower seeds
1 cup of sultanas
1/3 cup of sugar
125g of butter
140g of honey
Other optional ingredients: chia seeds, dried apricots, pepita's, wheat germ, LSA ect....

Method:

• In a fry pan, dry roast all your dry ingredients for about 7 minutes until they are nice and toasted (not the sultanas or dried fruit).

• Let that cool down a little and enjoy the delish smell in your kitchen ;)  Time to add your sultanas / dry fruit.

• In a saucepan, bring your butter, sugar and honey to the boil then bring it back to a simmer for 7 minutes while stirring. Don't take your eyes off it.

• Pour your sticky butter into your dry ingredients and mix it well.

• Pop the finished mix into a lined slice tray and refrigerate.

• After a couple of hours your free to slice and dice it as you please. The kids liked theirs chopped into little mouthful squares.

• (Note: This recipe is quiet sweet. Especially if you have the sultanas or dried fruit. So feel free to drop the sugar / honey amount, I will be next time.)

Now we needed the perfect spot to hang the masterpieces!

This morning brought yet another trip to Bunnings, we are frequent flyer's there that's for sure!

While we were there I sprung it on Dad'n that I wanted him to whip us something up for above the kids craft area. Somewhere that we could hang paintings to dry or show off what pretty things the kids had created.

Here is what he came up with. I love, love, LOVE it!

 

 



Here is a list of what we used:

2m of Braided wire rope ($5.60)

Zenith Screw eyes ($4.30)

Zenith Wire rope grips ($6.40)

So it came to a total of $16.30. Not to bad at all.

 





Now Boo is working over time so she can change all the pictures over. Bless.

A little corner to create a masterpiece...

After researching (ie. scrolling through Pintrest) playrooms, I had come to the conclusion that I liked the concept of creating zones within the playroom.

I liked that the kids could focus on that one task and have everything there in that space that they need to keep them engaged. They can then they move on to another area once they were over it, and hopefully tidy up before they do so. Wishful thinking that last point.

At the moment, I am on my way to finishing their first zone. Their little corner to create a masterpiece. A few more little finishing touches to go, but I can see the finished product.

Boy has it been getting a work out. The kids LOVE this spot. So much drawing, colouring in, sticking... It's been amazing how much it has encouraged them to create by just having the area set up to use as they please.

I know that it may not be appropriate for everyone to have crayons and texta's available on hand as some little cherubs may take to walls ect. I have given my two the benefit of the doubt and until they abuse the privilege of having free run of the crayons... they can stay.

Where is that wood to touch?

 

 

Now to move on to their second zone. The kitchen / pretend play area. Waiting on Dad'n to approve the plans I submitted, just like council approval here LOL. Not really, but I need his builder hat on to get it finished. Beyond my scope of practice it is ;)

 

 

 

When kids say things that could be taken the wrong way!

You know the one when your kids say something that makes you cringe like crazy and want to explain yourself for the next 20 minutes?

Yep. That one. I've got a bit of a scenario like that happening at the moment.

It all started weeks back.

We were all in the car. Dad'n, Boo, Ace and myself. We were driving and half way through a round about decided to change where we were going, so continued around the round about in a full circle and go back the way we came from.

Kids thought this was great that we were going right around and Dad'n was adding to the excitement by yelling "Woooo round and around we go... it's circle work!" This is where it all began.

Now I already feel the need to explain here. It was definitely NOT circle work. Dad'n does not do circle work, and I most definitely do not do circle work. It just came out of his mouth LOL.

I now have a situation on my hands with Boo.

Every time we go around a round about or do a U turn, Boo feels the need to yell out "WOOOO MUMS DOING CIRCLE WORK!!" I sometimes just randomly get requests from her while driving to "do circle work Mum".

Oh dear. So so SO awkward!

I've explained to her so many times that it is NOT called circle work. It simply driving in a circle, and that we should stop saying that.  Apparently, circle work, as it is now known, is stuck.

So please, people that know us, people that live around our area, maybe go to our Kinder? If you hear a delightful little 4 year old girl divulging that her Mum always does circle work in the car, remember this post.

I promise. I don't!

Any things that come to your mind that kids have said that make you go "wha tha?".

If you liked my cleaning schedule, here it is for you to save and print out...

Last week... Possibly the week before? I shared a cleaning schedule that I had just made up to help keep my sparkling new house in order.

I had a few messages asking for a copy so thought I might pop it up on here so you could follow / save / print it out.

If I was a fabulous blogger, computer whiz banger, I would have it available as a downloadable for you... but I'm not :)

Has the schedule been helping here?

Absolutely!

My housework has been completely up to date.

Still early days yet, but I am liking only having the few tasks to do each day. I can get them done while kids are having down time, instead of trying to rush through a never ending list.

It really has helped us free up a lot of time in  our household.

Is there anyone else that follows a cleaning schedule? Has it helped you?

This is just the funnest ever Mummy...

To hear the words "this is just the funnest ever Mummy".

It gives me the warm and fuzzies.

It would have to be like getting employee of the month at your work. Not that I would know what that's like? But I would say it would feel similar LOL. It makes me feel like I am doing my job and doing it well. I am making memories and helping them have a wonderful childhood.

Yes I know my kids have fun most days. Playing play dough, going to swimming lessons... but today was EXTRA fun.

It all started when I decided to give the barbecue a bit of a clean.

This is how it ended!

 

 

 

                                

So the barbecue got half cleaned... This was WAY more fun to sit back and watch!

P.S: We can't wait to see Dadn's face when we show him what we got up to today.

And just like that... Our new nest is complete.

Two weeks ago today, we moved into our new nest.

The build was complete.... and our marriage intact! LOL.

Dad'n did such an amazing job and I could not be any prouder of what he achieved.

Every night since we have moved in there is a point where either of us mentions how much we love our new home... And that's the way it should be!

We are utterly and completely content in so many aspects in our life now.

I have mentioned before that having a home is very important to my morale. Not a "for now" house. Not a rental. But to have a place that is our own. To know we are settled now is such a relief and has ticked those few unchecked boxes on my life list.

It was a longish journey to get to this point.

We moved 20 months ago now, in the hope of our new home appearing before us. It didn't... So we made it appear by building it!

This one was SO worth the wait!

Very greatful right now.

Leaving you with a few happy snaps of the finished product!!

We are still  busy trying to put our touch on everything, so I will do a full house photo shoot when everything is done :)

The new love of my life - My kitchen!

 

Play Room

 

Ensuite

 

Just a little house update...

Weather has decided to play our game and building has been running lovely and smooth.

Where's that wood to touch?

So here is what has been happening on the house....

Frame was completed & the roof was on! Looks fab. A last minute change on colour was definitely the right decision.

 

Bricklayer's were then back, and in just under a week we had a house looking like a house!

 

 

 

The plan was to render the whole front of the house...

 

But just quietly, I really like the colour of the bricks! The picture above is no where near the true colour, they are a blue brick, they are really nice! Will rethink what we will do a little further down the track I think.

 

We then had the cabinet maker out and we talked kitchens! 

 

Pretty easy topic as Dad'n handed the microphone over to me for that one. I had it all written down point by point what I wanted. This kitchen has a lot of my hopes and dreams riding on it LOL. What? Its an important part of my life okay ;)

 

Not long after we went through the house with the electrician. That was just pointing out where and what we wanted... Lights, power points, more lights and then some more power points... EVERYWHERE! Thinking of building? Add lots of lights and power points!

 

After our electrical plan was underway and getting the 'rough in' done, it was time for me to hit the shops to find some pretty lights.

 

Very happy with what I found, now to wait and see what they look like when they are up!

 

For our entrance hall way:

 

 

Kitchen:

 

 

 

Boo's  bedroom:

 

 

Ace's room:

 

TBA! Boy's are so much harder. On the hunt for something red!



 

Back to the build!

 

After some insulation being installed, the plastering began.

 

This is where I decided things are getting close!

 

 I can see it. I can see our vision and I absolutely LOVE it!

 

 

What's coming up?

 

 Kitchen and cabinets are getting installed next week and then it will be on to paint!

 

Job's for me?

 

Decide for the 50th time which floor boards are going in. This is one thing we keep changing but I think we are getting closer to the final decision. Well, we don't really have a choice! Decision needs to be made pronto.

 

Also, paint colours for the bedrooms.

 

Easy done. It's all on my to do list.

 

xx

 

 

 

 

 

 



Our new nest is on it's way!

For those that follow me on Instagram, it will be no new news that our house is FINALLY underway!

Ridiculous excitement levels here, mainly from Boo and myself. Dad'n is more focused on building it rather than getting involved in our hysteria and Ace... well, he is more about the mud.

As I have mentioned in the past, we have built before, but I don't ever remember it being this exciting!

What is it about this one?

I'm not sure if it's because I am at home raising the kids, so have more time to drive past / plan / ponder?

Maybe it's because we are seeing where our future will be played out with our children? All our other homes have always been short term in the scheme of things, always having plans to move.

Is it because we designed this home?

Who knows... who cares... I just know that it is all pretty damn awesome.

We were off to a rocky start with the site cut of the block taking longer / being more involved than first thought.  The weather also turned on us and we were left with the reality of trying to build a home in the middle of winter. All fun and games right? Easy for me to say from the comfort of my ballet flats on the footpath.

 

 

Before construction could start, we had to get some of the foundations fixed up to make sure we didn't end up with any issues down the track. This included one serious retaining wall with drains down the side of the block where it was cut by the excavations.

Time started dragging about here and I was ready to see some "house". Not some wall. Some house!

This was also the point where I turned slightly bratty and toddler like. I decided it was time to leave my poor husband to the task and just wait patiently for the next phase. It was hard, but figured for the sake of our marriage, I could do it ;)

It is a damn fine retaining wall though!

Within a few more days, I got to see some actual house.

The plumbers had laid their pipes, concreter's boxed up for the slab, slab was poured and framers began. I felt I could settle. It was happening. Not it 4 weeks, not in a few days, now!

Frame is just about finished today and bricklayers have just started. Actually, so has the rain. This is seeming to be a regular occurrence, imagine that in winter?

Boo has picked her room. Ace could not of cared less. Who cares where you will sleep when there is that much mud around?

I'm starting to have the usual wife worries. What if the furniture I have bought doesn't fit / suit where. Maybe I should have made this room bigger / smaller. All first world problems that I love having. Dad'n has also formulated a standard response to everything that comes out of my mouth... "just wait until it's finished'. So I guess I will just have to wait until it is finished!

Now to get it to lock up & fix :) I'm ready to see and open our front door!

Playing the game of "Building a house"

We have played this game a few times, this will be our fourth. We quite enjoy it. It's the game of "building a house".

Building is one of those things like birth stories. You mention your plans of what you are doing and people decided to divulge everything horror like on you of all the things that can or did go wrong to their best friend's sisters aunty's step daughter. Then your left wondering about the nightmare you are entering, thinking what have you have got yourself into.

Well, we are a family that love everything about building so no nightmare stories coming from us. We embrace the fun, the stress, and the lovely finished product it leaves you with.

Don't get me wrong, we have had things go wrong, but most things wrong can be made right. Its just a part of the process and the sooner you learn to ride with it, the better experience you shall have.

We are very lucky that Dad'n is a Carpenter by trade, a wonderful one at that. He is also a Building Supervisor so it mean that he takes care of the nitty gritty for us while I focus on all things functional and pretty. We make a good team playing this game.

We are still a few weeks away from the first bounce... The commencement of construction of our new home. We have been this close for about the last 4 weeks ;) Just one of those things. It's the part of the game I dislike the most. The anticipation builds, you know how close it is to all happening, but then you have boring things such as council permits and banks dragging it out. All the fun things that are out of our control.

It will eventually come around and there will be all sorts of construction photo's flying around the blog.

Until then here is some inspiration of our new home to start building a picture in your mind....

Think clean, crisp, lots of natural light, whites, greys, splashes of yellow and lots of gorgeous.

Now I have added this image, I feel the next post coming very shortly...

What do you think the favourite part of my new house is going to be??? Did someone say kitchen???

Ohhhh yea.