My go to recipes (for this month anyway)

I am not much of a cook, and I really hate going to the effort of cooking something new and either not liking it or it just not turning out right.  So i have started a list of my 'go to' recipes for when I am asked to bring something along to an event.  These recipes have to be easy, work everytime and I have to like eating them.

For something sweet, I have been loving Chocolate and Coconut Slice.  I follow this recipe exaclty and am always pleasently suprised.  And the bonus is, I always have the ingredients in by cupboard (no fancy stuff).

My go to salad at the moment is Roast Pumpkin and Spinich
I see this salad around quite a bit but I have adapted it to my liking:
-Cut 1/2 a butternut pumpkin into 1 cm cubes, coat in olive oil and salt and roast on an oven tray for approx 25 minutes.
-Once the pumpkin is cooled you can make up the salad.
-Mix lightly in a flat salad bowl, one medium sized bag of fresh spinish leaves, 100 grams of broken up feta, roasted pumpkin and 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds.
-Dress with olive oil and salt and pepper.

Enjoying where I am

I am really trying to enjoy what I have at the moment.  It always suprises me some of the hard stuff that people have to go through, but the more I get some life experience I realise that everyone goes through hard stuff...no one is immune, and you have to find your own way to pass through it.  At the moment I am loving having a toddler, a loving husband, employment and a home to live in.  Much more than many others have.  

I am embracing having one child, and making sure I enjoy every moment of it, just incase i don't get a chance to do it again.  And its a lot of fun!

Getting involved...with my toddler in tow

This month I started studying to be a Breastfeeding Counsellor.  It is something I have wanted to do for a long time..and I am so excited to finally get started.  It is a lot more study and work than I expected, but that isn't such a bad thing.  Today baby boy and I went together to visit a local hospital and some obstetricians to hand out Breastfeeding Education Class information; it was fun to go together.  And that is something that I really love about the ABA, you can always bring you kids along...to anything.  So I am looking forward to more excursions with baby boy on my counselling journey.  Plus we loved our sneaky peak through the windows of the special care nursery together (where we both had visited 3 1/2 years earlier).

The small things

We have been pretty busy over here, with all the life important things that can fill your days and nights if you let them.  Fortunately, I have also been able to find time for some 'slow' activities with baby boy.  And have remembered how much we loved doing things together (just the two of us).  Play dough is now his activity of choice, and he will happily sit for hours if only I will sit next to him.  I forgot how simple structured activities can fill his mind with wonder, if I do them with him, and focus my attention on only him.  

If you haven't read this post yet, i highly recommend it.

Earth hour

We were traveling for earth hour this year, so I was presently suprised when we sat down at our hotel restuarant to find these lovely candles burning and lighting our delicious meal.  I would name the hotel and write about how great the food was...but they charged us $35 just to park our car so I don't feel they warrant my recommendation.  We did have a great time though :-)

2012 goals

So I thought it was about time I put in writing my 2012 goals
This is what I have come up with so far:

• Make more whole foods from scratch (particualry snacks and lunches).
• Have a fun routine for baby boy (inspired by this one).
• Gardening and everything that includes in my out of control backyard.
• Walk more, and get out in nature as a family at least once a month.
• Take a learn to sew class (I do sew, but would like to be better at it and use the correct techniques).
• Send more letters and postcards to family and friends accross the world.
• Family History...
• Practice random acts of kindness.
• Be Happy!

Down-to-earth

I recentley read an article on the benefits of 'earthing' or fancy word for walking barefoot in the grass, that talked about all the benefits both mental and physical that 30 mins walking on grass in barefeet can make.  I have been testing it out this week...and am nearly converted.  I have been working in the office a lot lately and on Friday afternoon after work I felt like I was craving a walk on the grass.  'Scientifically' it is supposed to have something to do with grounding the excess electricity in your body, but it just really feels good.  Apparently its also a great cure for jetlag?  So, I am going to keep doing it...whilst carefully avoiding the prickles and ants nests :)