things I'm loving (in the kitchen)

This week I took a look around my kitchen (probably the place I spend most of my time) and photographed some things I love and am grateful for...

Our wee alphabet cutters are so cute.

I'm in love with my red thermos jug ($6 Red Cross find) which keeps a litre of water hot all day for cups of tea.


The salt pig given to me by a friend who had two, and the wee wooden spoon from an op shop.

The lentil sprouts on the bench, so quick and delicious.

I really like using our new water filter jug and the sturdy Agee jars the boys drink from.  Visiting kids often think it's a bit weird to drink from a jar.  I picked up a whole heap of them at a market once and it reminds me of drinking hot chocolate at Java cafe when we were teenagers. I don't know if Java survived the quake.

Most of all I love my sous chefs, here one is making sushi vinegar, using a cute spoon from NanaRobyn.  If you make your own sushi please don't use that ready made sushi vinegar, it has high fructose corn syrup in it which is really bad for you.  The recipe we use is really easy.  For 2 cups of uncooked sushi rice (I cook that part in my rice cooker) you'll need...

1 1/2 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp castor sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Heat in a saucepan over a low heat till sugar dissolves.  Do not microwave, trust me it doesn't work.  Mix into warm rice and cool before making your sushi.

 If you want your own heart spoons you can get them here.

bush walk

Wasn't Saturday lovely?  DaddyB took a much needed day off and we headed West to the Waitakeres stopping on the way to pick up a picnic lunch.

Little brother really impressed me at the supermarket, insisting that he get to read the ingredients on the bread rolls and chips.  It made me realise than someday it will be his responsibility, not mine, to make sure only safe (dairy free) food goes in his mouth.  That was quite a revelation.

We took the walkie talkies (so much fun for playing hide and seek in the trees) and the boys wore their adventure bags containing magnifying glasses and big brother's pocket knife.  Little brother was understandably envious and is looking forward to turning six so he can have one of his very own.

I spied this week green gecko in the grass and we had a lovely time checking him out.  Despite his initial apprehension even big brother bravely had a hold.

Happy trails.


Added note about B's tattoos:

He has three tattoos.  One of each boy's hand print taken when they were a few days old.

And the third one is for me.  An ambigram that he designed (that means it can be read both ways).  It has red hearts and white stars in it too.

things I'm loving

I'm loving the amazing pancake breakfast in bed I was given last weekend and those awesome Ikea animal cookie cutters that Mum and Dad brought me back from Sweden.

Loving our little magician and Jedi (can you spot his lightsaber?).  

So pleased that they're still into dress ups and imaginary play.

The magnetic poetry beanstalk that has sprouted on the fridge makes me smile.

I love that leftovers can be transformed into something completely different with a bit of pastry.

The rainy day box, perfect for a wet weekend when Daddy B is working.

These spring flowers were a gift from lovely friends who came for the opening of the World Cup.  I adore spring flowers but have never sussed out how to grow them in my garden.

Loving having a lie in on the weekend and a great book to read, I need to get myself book three now.

I adore the painting of our wedding vows that B did me for my 30th birthday, even when I see all this mess that I'll need to tidy up later on.  Oops.

I love eggs.

scared

I don't know if I should blog this or not... something happened last week which has shaken me up in a big way.  We're all fine but B and I witnessed a violent crime in the middle of the night and now I don't feel safe in our home.  The man responsible is not in custody and lives nearby.  The kids slept through the whole thing thank goodness and have no idea, but now I'm really jittery and any noise in the street or someone shouting freaks me out.

I'm not sure why I'm sharing this except to just let you guys know why I haven't been doing much blogging except for the fiasco which was/is the Nintnedo Wii competition.  I was super angry about that but now am not sure I have the energy to pursue anything.  Legally we can't fight them and they'd just rather we went away I'm sure.  I'm just so annoyed that we, and everyone who supported us, were used by the company.  We still love our Wii and Mario, but not the Nintendo Australia marketing department.

If you feel like complaining to them Dean is the guy I've been talking to 0800 743 056.  Office hours 11am-

7pm NZ time.  Team Mario is our entry name.

two posts in a day!

Took the point and shoot to the beach this afternoon.  It was windy!

The boys and I had a really great time at the beach.  Sometimes after the grandparents leave we have a really rough couple of days, especially after school.  So a wee trip to the beach helped them as well as me.  I felt much calmer and at peace with the world afterwards.  I'm quite keen to get these Nintendo marketing people sorted out so that other families don't have to go through all of the effort, excitement and ultimate disappointment that we've been through in the past few days.  I'm sure it has already happened to others and will continue to do so if we don't step up and force the issue.

coming up for air

First up thanks for all the votes guys!  We got the most which should have seen us be the weekly winner.  Long annoying story... we're not.  It's all very complicated and apparently involves "fraudulent votes"... which may mean someone did something to their computer (like what??) or maybe that people voted more than once from an IP address or perhaps something else altogether?  Really who knows?  The whole thing stinks and doesn't make much sense at all.

We're feeling really gutted and annoyed that we asked so many friends to help us and it was just a big waste of their time and our time.  A lot of unfulfilled expectations going on.  I'm also sure that we're not alone in this, that there are other families in exactly the same boat, who got masses of votes and then for some reason  missed out.

So I'm going to get my boys from school and head to the beach.  Perhaps with some winter hats because it's blowing a gale and I still have sore ears from my head cold two weeks ago.

I'm hoping the sea air will blow all these grumpy feelings away.
Missing my Mum and Dad already (in these photos) and they only left this morning.

I had these images saved to do a post about the beach sometime but never quite got there. We're not much of a beach going family but when we get there we love it (as long as it's not too hot or crowded!).

why not...

This week why not try something new with your kids...

Tape them together with sticky tape and see how long it takes them to escape.

Let them unscrew old electronics and do some tinkering.

Teach them how to use tools, the real ones.

Go camping in your backyard.

Get the kids working in the garden, whatever your garden may be.

They can fertilise it (with stinky worm tea)...

or harvest the produce (the best bit).

this moment

{this moment} -  A single photo  - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Thanks SouleMama

things I'm loving

Right now I'm loving all of you for voting for us!  

We currently are sitting on 622 votes this week, so I think we're leading.

I'm also loving...

that it's still cold enough for boots.

Having my parents staying for the week.

My new hair clips and earrings.