{Spring Clean Time}

Well, It has been a while since my last post. I have been knocked about with a sickness for the last two weeks and have had to had to have some tests done and a few visits to hospital. I am okay, but am SO grateful for my freezer meals I had created earlier (they have saved me on more than one occasion).

Amidst the sickness, I have been starting some serious spring cleaning. As we moved into our new house last December (and did the usual skip bin before the move) the spring clean is obviously going to be different to that of a house a few years old.

Have done
* The boys clothes (clear out sizes that are too small)
* Organise Medicine cabinet (chuck expired ones out and re-organise into 4 tubs a.kids medicines b. adult medicines c. bandages, dressings and medicine cups and d. sun care and repellant)
* Clean the windows of the house
* Clean out dvd's and video game discs into a disc organiser bag (all in one place and easy to take into the car for our car dvd player)
* Organise the clutter in the laundry and clean appliances.


I cleaned my washine machine by putting 2 cups of white vinegar into the machine. Put it on a hot wash with a soak setting. I did this overnight so it was cheaper. Voila!


There are other things on my list and I want to do them in the next week or two. I just choose one or two a day and get stuck into it.

To Do
* Clean out plastics cupboard and re-organise
* Go through mine and hubby's wardrobe.
* Go through toys and clear out/ donate any old/ unused toys


I would love to hear if you are a spring cleaner or not and how you do it and any tips you want to share.

Lauren x

{Fathers Day Part 2} Celebrating My Dad

I am blessed to be surrounded by many wonderful men and boys in my world. On fathers day I get to celebrate my husband, father in law and father, what a lucky girl! ;)

After a lunch with my wonderful in-laws, sunday evening saw a celebration at our house for MY dad.

Due to the busy day, I had the table set and meal ready to go into the oven thanks to my brother who helped out whilst we were at lunch.
I was searching my mind for an idea that would make the table seem 'festive' and 'masculine'. In the end I came up with a NO cost option that fit the bill. I put some sand from the sand pit into a vase, stuck a few big twigs in it and dangled mini newspaper planes from it. Created a sort of placemat/ tablecloth from brown paper (I got for $1 from the treasure shop).

This is how it turned out:


















Upon reflection, I would have written name places on the paper and left pencils on the table, cause the paper just begged for 'doodles' and writing on.

After the gift giving, we got ready for a feast.
The main meal was a delicious lamb and pork roast with smashed potatoes, roasted beetroot, asparagus, corn and it was a colorful and delicious meal.

The hero really was the dessert though. My dad loves coffee and cheesecake. So a mocha cheesecake with fresh berries seemed just the dish!







This recipe from taste.com.au was a winner!

Ingredients:
Melted butter, to grease
1 tbs instant coffee granules
1 tbs hot water
200g Arnott's Choc Ripple biscuits
125g butter, melted
200g milk chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 x 250g pkts cream cheese, at room temperature
1 x 395g can sweetened condensed milk
250ml (1 cup) thickened cream
1 punnet of strawberries to serve on top (instead of the whipped cream suggested)

1. Release the base from a 22cm (base measurement) springform pan and invert. Brush the pan with melted butter to grease. Line the base with non-stick baking paper, allowing the edges to overhang. Secure the base back into the pan.
2. Combine the coffee and water in a heatproof bowl. Set aside to cool slightly. (I made an espresso instead ;)
3. Place the biscuits in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely crushed. Add the butter and process until well combined.
4. Transfer to the prepared pan. Use the back of a spoon to spread and press firmly over the base. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill.
5. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water). Stir with a metal spoon until the chocolate melts and is smooth. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool. Add coffee when cool and stir.
6. Meanwhile, place the cream cheese, condensed milk and cream in the bowl of a food processor and process until the mixture is smooth.
7. Add the chocolate and coffee mixture to the cream cheese mixture and process until well combined.
8. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and use the back of a spoon to smooth the surface. Place in the freezer for 8 hours or until firm.
9. Remove the cheesecake from the freezer and set aside for 20 minutes to stand.
10. Use an electric beater to beat the extra cream in a bowl until soft peaks form. Spread the cream over the cheesecake and top with shaved chocolate to serve. [this step seemed a little too rich, so I just put a punnet of strawberries on top and it was delicious.]

Yum! I hope you all had a great day celebrating the men in your world.

Lauren x



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{Fathers Day Celebrations Part 1} Helping my kids celebrate their daddy!

Well, what a Fathers Day it was. We had a lovely day and it was split into three parts. My hubby was celebrated in the morning, his dad at lunch and my Dad for dinner. A full but lovely day!

Church in the morning for us is quite the drive (long story). So to make hubby's day special we did presents in bed first.

The boys and I put together a photo frame of photos for him of them spelling out 'DAD' with my chalkboard placemats.
























Then on the back of it, as if he hadn't melted already, were the boys handprints with a handwritten note by our eldest (5yrs).












I also like to give my hubby a card as a thank you. I am incredibly blessed to live life and parent with soneone who sets such an example for our 'little men'. Taking a few minutes to write this down and honor him for this is a very important part of the day for me ;)



Then we started the drive to church and to make breakky not so rushed at home I prepared a breakfast for in the car. I made his tea in a travel cup, traffic light fruit salad, muffins, and my take on 'bacon and eggs to go'.











I wish I had a photo of the eggs, but they were demolished. Here's what you do:

1. Line a silicon muffin mould with two slices of sliced ham (could use turkey etc..) and crack an egg into it.
2. Sprinkle with a little cheese and salt & pepper. I did 6 of these.
3. Then I put in the fridge before bed.
4. The next morning, flick the oven on to 160' and bake for about 45 min (until the egg is set and firm). In our house this meant I cooked them while we were getting dressed and took them out as we were ready to go.
5. Use a butter knife to slide them out and put in a container on paper towels.
6. Serve normally, or in our case, eat in the car as a delicious and healthy on the go treat. Sure beat gross Maccas eggs - blah!!!!

He had a great day and managed to snap this pic quickly before kids went to their program at church - my three men. MELT!



I hope you enjoyed the ideas, and i will be back with part 2 - how I spoiled my Dad that night!


Lauren x