Another week eating down the pantry!

Had a pretty successful week! Made up everything that I planned last week, even got the milk on special for the mac cheese, 20c a litre!!
In the last 10 days I've used up -
several frozen meals for Michael and I, frozen roasted meat, dressing, 3 coconut water, 2 (partial) packets dried fruit, (partial) packet SR flour, 2 jars sauce, 2 steak, 1 bacon bag, 500g chicken packet, bag of wraps (only had a few in it, 2 packets of cheese sauce, (partial) box cereal, pasta pack, 2 frozen cheese containers, tomato paste, 5 small tubs of yoghurt(frozen) and 1 bag of frozen veggies

I made:
Country Womens Association Biscuits and Slices: Quick and Easy Biscuits

I also made some muffins, using up bits and pieces from the cupboard. 

 

I made up a double batch of chocolate custard using the cheap milk and pre mix I'd made up years ago!!Into the freezer I added, honey mustard chicken, curry lamb and Mexican beef for Michael and for myself mac cheese!!

No plans for the next week, I'm riding my 200km charity ride on Sat and Sunday, so an easy week eating down what ever we manage.

Home Sweet Home!

I have returned home from my month away (house sitting for my best mate, for the most part- while away I actually cleaned out a great chunk of their pantry :D haha, crazy!). I took 3 bags of snack items from my pantry away with me and ate most of it. What I didn't eat I've made the effort and eaten up since I came home! Michael has eaten a good deal of his meals up (yay!) and also eaten a bunch of canned soup/insta meals, so very happy there. I've caught up my inventory sheets, as he'd not kept up with that (lol what else would you expect??).

For the last week I've not really eaten much of my pantry. I have used up a couple of small things, but mostly it's been finding my feet, so have been using up my supply of freezer meals. So far this week I used up, chilli sauce, dressing, box of vegie delights, 1 bag bacon (was 3 pieces in a bag lol), a heap of roast meat that was frozen (we used it to make a quick and easy dinner on Sunday night), used about 6-8 frozen meals.

On the weekend we went up to my mothers for the footy grand final (let down, the West Coast Eagles lost :( ), while I was there I picked up a few pantry supplies that mum no longer wanted (this happened last time I was there too haha), so I will work them into my use up pile!
Plans for the coming week -
Make a healthy mac cheese for me
Use up some frozen chicken and make a curry type meal for Michael
Make a batch of biscuits for Michael using up fruit and or nuts from the cupboard
Continue to use down and not buy pantry type supplies from the shops!

Pre holiday wrap-up

Not really achieved too much in this 'week' it really was a short week, Tues-Friday. Have eaten down a few things, frozen meals, a packet of dried cranberries that had 30g left, packet of hokkien noodles. Eaten out of a few other packets, but they're not finished with yet lol. Pantry is looking better, even though not that much stuff has gone from it, pulling everything out for the stock-take made me tidy it up :)
There is a bunch of stuff on my kitchen table which I'm not happy about, some is new stuff mum gave me as well. I would have liked to 'get rid' of it all before going away, but it will have to wait til I return.
I do plan to take some pantry stocks with me to use up while I'm house sitting, so that's good ahahah, but pretty much for the next month my pantry will stay as is. Michael will eat some canned/packet items, but mostly he'll live from the freezer.

Trying new things

So... I have never liked the look or sound of 'green smoothies' they sound terrible and look rather displeasing too. I have a gym instructor that often talks about them and another friend that is a huge fan. I promised said friend I'd give them a go (you know rather than judge them with out trying - as I'd been doing!) Anyhow I signed up to a free 30 day challenge from Incredible Smoothies. I'd signed up and had the emails come in for a couple of weeks before I finally took the plunge. I've been failing at meal planning so I took the leap and put down one week of smoothies for breakfast as well as lots of other healthy meals for lunch and dinner! I've got a goal of 4kgs to lose before my cruise!
Yesterday was the day for smoothie number 1 (which is actually week 2 of the challenge - I'd lost the first email- but the lady that runs the challenge was lovely and resent it). This smoothie was pretty good! I didn't gag which is what I was expecting haha. I could taste the kiwi and the pineapple and the spinach didn't make an impact other than to colour the drink. The only things that could have made it better was if the pineapple was sweeter and if I'd thrown some ice into the smoothie, it was tepid because the almond milk was only made that morning and didn't have a chance to get cold. Neither of these 'bad' things are the fault of the smoothie though :)

Here is my dinner. It's 12wbt Chicken Parmigiana. Michael cooked this!! I was at the gym doing a double class, so he cooked, I'd prepared the salad earlier. I am pretty impressed! I think I might have to make him cook more often. Haha!

Long time no speak

So it seems a really really long time has gone by without a blog post. Where to start?
I was going to come and blog in mid 2012 when I was lucky enough to meet Tim Holtz and do one of his classes here in Australia. I had so much fun and it's something I often look back and smile about. Somehow I never found the time to blog (actually my stupid blogger program stopped working and I HATE using the site to blog).

I posted many a meal here that I ate while doing the CSIRO diet, I ended up going off that, and putting back on most of my weight. Over the last 2 years I've done a mixture of diets/eating styles and am currently doing my own thing, but enjoying recipes from Symply Too Good To Be True (Annette Sym) and also 12WBT, I also get inspiration from Skinny Taste and Slender Kitchen. I am down 56kgs.

Along with the losing weight I've also been getting healthier. I go to the gym most days and even participate in the local Parkrun. I really love the event and I recommend it to everyone! It's a free 5km timed event, and best of all you don't have to run! You can walk, crawl or run :) The kids can be involved and even your dogs!

I haven't been that active in the garden in the last 6-12 months, I had a poor result with my spring plantings last year (due to going away for several weeks at a time in Aug, Sept and Nov), so I ended up with bought seedlings, but then I had friends come and stay for a 'couple of weeks' which turned into 5 months, and somehow routine and things got turned around and I didn't head out to the garden much.

Craft also suffered having people stay, as we only have a small house, I had to pack away my craft table so for about 5 months I didn't get anything done, unless I went away. I'm back on crafting though, and I've been having a lot of fun with that lately. I recently did a "Supplies on Hand" course with May, which I learnt some new things and can't wait to try out.

In January next year I'm heading off with my mother and one of my bestest friends for a craft cruise! We're going on the Voyager of the Seas with Rachel Greig from Darkroom Door! I am so excited I can't wait!!

OK that's enough blathering for me! I will be back soon and post some of what I've been up to. I promise not to be a stranger :D

Time Flies?

WOW.. March is the last time I blogged.. that’s ages ago lol. Hmm a lot has happened and at the same time, not much haha. Haven’t dieted in a while. Really enjoyed the CSIRO diet, didn’t lose heaps of weight, though I wasn’t exercising etc, so I guess it’s to be expected. It was pretty easy to stick to and I will go back ‘on’ it. Really it is more of a lifestyle change than a real diet.
Went up to Qld for a couple of weeks. Had an alright time. I went up to Bundy for one of my best and oldest friends 30th, unfortunately her father in law passed away and she ended up having to go to Brissy so we only saw each other once.

Haven’t scrapped lots this year. Have been rather slack on the swaps too.. Hopefully 2012 will be a better scrappy year :)

The garden has been going along really well. Have got all of our spring/summer stuff on the go atm. My favourite time of the year- food wise :)

Have crop for a cause this weekend. Lots of stuff to make and chatting to do. Tim Holtz has his 12 tags of Christmas again this year so am planning to join in.  - which is why I ventured over to my blog LOL!

Amost home time

Well our flights from KL were pretty good.. Food was not however lol!
Flying home today from Brissy to Melb. Looking forward to getting back and getting my clothes washed properly LOL.. Bath tub washing just isn't cutting it :) Was going to do some here at Shannon's but forgot yesterday. Will be so good to see Michael again!! Mum too, we haven't seen each other since she started HER trip on 17th August.. Been a while :)

KL

We arrived in KL yesterday, have had an awesome time here today and yesterday. Got to go to bed now, waking in 5 hours for our flights :(
Has been a great holiday! Hope to have photos up soon. No where at the hotel here to plug the camera in to.

Well today we had huge plans.. And they kind of fell apart. We were going to go to the elephants, then museum, aquarium and then off to the 3 big stores in Phuket then the night markets.. BUT on the way to the elephants a motorcycle ran into us. He was ok thank god, but his bike didn't fare so well.
We got our lift to drop us just up from our hotel and we did a little shopping. We caught up with them later in the night and they ended up being at the police station for hours. It was the motorcycles fault, his brakes wouldn't work.
Ended up going back to the hotel, getting the elephant people to pick us up and we went and had the MOST AWESOME TIME riding the elephants. We also got to feed them and play with the gibbons :) Made it to the night markets, very busy, very hot but lots of fun :D Shopped lots!

Lazy day?

This was my breakfast view.

Today was supposed to be my lazy day. We got pedicures and I went to the net. We walked back to the hotel and I separated from the girls it was 1ish. Was just going to go for a swim, but ended up going for a walk for 'postcards' was further than I recalled so after I got them I walked on to Juncelon shopping center (omg it was SO far in the heat!) got there around 3ish. Walked around and shopped for a 'little while'. Wasn't planning on being long as we were going to the night markets.... BUT I obviously got caught up because the next thing it was 7ish :O walked around for 10 mins til I got a cheap cab and scooted back to the hotel and 2 worried friends! We skipped the markets, doing them Sunday.

Phi Phi Tour

Had an awesome time out on the speed boat we toured 7 islands but only stopped on 3 islands and snorkled of the boat at another location. It was great fun. I was sad to see all the damaged coral from the tsunami in 2005. There are so many broken and dead pieces. There were lots of fish however. Though I am sure before it would have been prettier. I would have liked to stop longer than we got to, but for A$103 I think we had a pretty full and fun day.

When we got home we went for a walk to the 'market' like shops and I bought lots of stuff. Can't say too much as some is presents, but I managed to spend 1500 baht (A$50) with ease LOL but feel I got good bargains :)
Haven't been able to shop for Michael yet as he measured his clothes before I left, but they just don't seem right.

Big day

Been a big one here, been to the zoo, to the cobra show, been to the big budha, bought snacks. Managed to spend like $75. Only have 140 baht of the $200 I got changed in Aus left LOL
Off to Phi Phi tomoz.
Here are some pics of todays fun :)

Shopping!!

Oh had such a good day so far (it's just after 4pm) have been swimming and shopping, had the first of our buffet breakies at our hotel. Ooh so yummy so much to choose from. It's awesome. I had fried rice and noodles, bacon and sausages, toast and err.. something else lol also 3 glasses of pineapple juice :D
Feeling so much better today, was over hot yesterday and didn't achieve alot, but had a good day none the less. Had a late swim too :)
Off for a massage soon, can't wait.
Bought myself a Louis Vuitton mini luggage bag, got it for 1000 Baht (about $32) SO STOCKED!

OK again apologies for the photos being everywhere. I hope you like my bag like I do :D

Arrival!

Have arrived safe and sound in Phuket, has been a really long 24 + hours. Will try to get photos on tomorrow. Really warm here. Haven't shopped yet, but have already had a couple of feeds LOL!
Had pretty great flights though our one from Brissy to K.L was very bumpy!
Post some pics tomoz!

Play time

Well I got to meet Linda and Robyn today. Had a great day! Did lots of playing with new products and experimenting. I definately need (NEED!! Not just want!) lots of new powders and pastes :) Hopefully when I come back from O/s I can still afford some.
Here are photos of us all scrapping/creating and the things we made. Unfortuately I am using this online blog editior and it is rather crap, so I apologise that all the pics are in crazy mode, it won't go any better!!!
Talk to you all from Thailand :)

Holidays begin..

Left home on Saturday, had a pretty awesome flight. Was quiet bumpy getting in to Brisbane there was a storm brewing so lots of minor turbulence. Otherwise it was all good. The girls were ready waiting for me as we got held up on the run way for about 15 mins.

I so knew I was in Qld the minute I stepped off the plane, you can just feel the humidity.. heaven help me O/s haha! Didn't do much but lots and lots of chatting for the rest of Saturday.

On Sunday I caught up with Katie we went and had tea at the Malaya Hut. Was awesome! We both stuffed ourselves full!! Hoping to catch up with Katie again on Friday. Will be good!

Monday we went down to the bank in the city and got some Ringgits and Baht. Was very exciting!! So have a little here now to play with and learn which is which before we get on the streets lol.

On Tuesday we went to a few mates for a BBQ and lots of laughs! Was a great evening. Food, friends and laughs, who could ask for more??

This weekend I am catching up with Robyn and Linda from allcraftz, it's going to be a top meet up I just know it!! I can't wait to check out Robyn's works up close and personal.

Ok I think that's it! Getting exciting, we leave here Monday night.

Travel Time

So today’s the day I fly up to Brisbane. I have all my clothes organised, got all my bits and bobs ready. I have some new clothes to take with me. I’ve put the photos here. (Mostly so my mum can check them out LOL).

I hope I haven’t forgotten anything.. Really all I need is my bank card and my passport, but still, you just know you’re going to forget something hahah.

I’ll be up in Brissy until the 31st Oct or 1st of Nov, then we fly out to Malaysia, arriving at some early hour. We then catch another flight to Thailand a couple of hours later. We are there until the 12th then we fly back to Malaysia stay two nights and leave and get back to Brisbane on the 14th of Nov. I stay in Brissy until the morning of the 16th and then I fly home :)

While I am away hope that I can update my blog often for all you that follow along. Hope you all get lots of scrapping done so I have heaps of inspiration for when I bring home TONS of photos that must get scrapped LOL

    

Addiction?

   
I think maybe I am really an addict LOL I have finally finished sorting all my ATC’s I have something like 600 of the little suckers. Not bad considering I only started making them last April, that’s about 18 months ago.. Which means I make something like 30 ATC’s a month ahahah!
If you click on the picture you can see a much larger version, so you can see some close up.
Ok here is a recent ATC I made for a flickr swap..


A layout I did for YSB last month as part of the monthly challenges. This month there are some great challenges up, but with going away I am not going to be able to play :( I am also going to miss the second cyber crop.. So head along and have some fun for me :)

Last but not least is Michael’s Mothers birthday card. I made it a week or two back. Her birthday isn’t until mid Nov, but I will be away so I did it early.. I hope he remembers to post it haha!!

Back to Bundy

I went back to Bundaberg for Chon and Chrissy's Commitment Ceremony. I went for two weeks, stayed at Shannon's in Brissy for a few days on each side of the trip and also stayed at Katie's. Zoe was kind enough to board me for the week and a bit that I was in Bundy

Shannon's crazy hand fed Bush Turkey

Shannon, Lindsay and Me at the Sushi Train

Chon & Chrissy Chrissy's sister, Lynn, Chrissy, Chon, Me, Jason

Chrissy's sister, Lynn, Chrissy, Chon, Me, Jason

Me and my hot date :D Declan