Medicine Box

photo source

When I got up in the middle of the night to find some Paw paw cream for a sore on my face I got really frustrated that my first aid kit was such a shambles.
So I decided to empty it all out and check what we actually used and what was expired and narrow it down to what we really need inside. I also have one in the car that has things like bandages, a sling and a blanket in it. I don't keep all those things inside as they are not needed regularly, and the girls would always be playing doctors and nurses with them and I would never know where they were.

These are the must haves at our place:

invaluable - so many uses, very gentle for babies and sensitive skin

a must have for all scratches and cuts

great for chests and stuffy noses

the only pain relief I use now, fantastic for migraines

the night strength one

bandaids - of course

pain relief for the kids. I found Panadol never worked when Ella was small and having multiple seizures and I needed to get her temp down

the best relief for a sore throat

for muscular and joint pain

a thermometer is a must have - especially if you have kids

we grew up with this and now we have some, so many uses

great for indegestion

emergency night time relief, for something like earache

must have for cold sores

cream for coldsores

this stuff is wonderful for coughs - great for kids and adults

Please share what your must haves are in your medicine cupboard, you never know what other useful lotions and potions are out there!

Last week of Term

The girls' are really tired now as the end of Term Three looms. We are all looking forward to the 2 week break, no dancing classes (Kate has a competition on the first day of the hols) no school uniforms, no packed lunches to make, no rushing out the door at 8:20am, earlier dinners (sometimes it's 8pm before we eat) no homework, and just relaxed and happy kids.

Hopefully the weather will be kind to us and the girls can enjoy lots of these

We will have more time to catch up with our favourite little man 

and of course his beautiful sister

and there is always alot of this going on during some downtime as well as board games to play!

and as already mentioned, Kate has a Troupe Comp on the first day!

What do you have planned for the holidays?

Oven Baked Pumpkin Risotto

This is a recipe I've been making for my family for years. It's quick and easy to make, not to mention delicious. I find I always have more pumpkin in the fridge than I need (I love roast pumpkin) so this recipe is a good way to use some of it up.

Oven baked pumpkin risotto

2 cups diced pumpkin
1 cup Arborio rice
1 onion, finely chopped
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
30g butter chopped
3Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
2Tbsp chopped parsley
Season to taste

Place pumpkin, rice, and onion into a large ovenproof dish. Stir in stock. Top with butter. Cover dish tightly with a lid or foil.

Bake in moderate (180 degree) over for 30-40 minutes, or until rice and pumpkin are tender.

Stir in cheese, parsley and seasonings just before serving.
ENJOY!

The Best Buys

There's been a bit of shopping and a bit of smurfing around!
We love The Reject Shop, and since we have one in our local shopping centre, we visit there frequently seeing what bargains they have. Yesterday I got these things:

Isn't this tray gorgeous?

The girls had been wanting cookie cutters for ages, I was after a new tray and found this pretty one, and they had some of my favourite chocolate.
After school, while Ella was at a friends house, Kate played with the (few!) Smurfs!

But once Ella was home and it was bedtime, the smurfs disappeared with her - along with MY tray!

Strawberries!

If you are like me and you always buy alot at a time (or you grow them) because everyone loves them so much, sometimes you might need ideas on how to eat them different ways.

Here are some wonderful and yummy ways I found over at Domesblissity - Please go over and check out her wonderful blog - she's very inspiring with lots of delicious recipes and loads more!

1. Strawberry Jelly

Mix up a jelly as per instructions. Add fruit and leave to set.

2. Strawberry ice cubes

You can leave the strawberries whole. Place in an ice cube try and fill with water. Add to a glass or jug of cold water to serve. You can also mash/blend/puree the strawberries, fill the ice cube tray and add the strawberry ice cubes to dacquiris, lemonade, champagne or suck on as is.

3. Strawberry icy poles

Add pureed strawberries to icy pole moulds, as is or mixed with fruit juice, other pureed fruits, yoghurt, lemonade, whole pieces of other fruit.Whatever your imagination comes up with!

4. Strawberry pancakes

Chop strawberries and add to your favourite pancake or pikelet batter. The above photo is from Rachel Ray's Magazine so it's only fitting that I list her recipe below.

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, plus more for serving
• 2 cups sliced strawberries
• Pure maple syrup, for serving

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk and vanilla. Preheat a nonstick griddle over medium heat.
2. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry. Stir in the melted butter. The batter should be thick and smooth. Fold in the strawberries.
3. Spoon the batter onto the griddle 1/4 cup at a time. Cook the pancakes until set and thoroughly bubbly, about 3 minutes. Flip them with a spatula and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes more. Serve with butter and maple syrup.

5. Strawberry butter

Mix finely chopped strawberries with softened butter. Spread on anything that you would usually spread butter on.

6. Strawberry and apple crumble

You can find the recipe here

7. Strawberry, yoghurt and muesli parfait

In individual glasses or cups, layer any flavour yoghurt you have with muesli (or granola) and blended/pureed strawberries. Top with more chopped strawberries.

8. Strawberry Eton Mess

Either make or purchase meringues, crush and mix with whipped cream and chopped strawberries.  Serve in individual serving glasses.

9.  Strawberry cake

Use a  plain un-iced sponge cake from the supermarket topped with plain whipped cream and topped with strawberries or add the chopped strawberries to the cream.

What the kids are reading!

It was a really wet day yesterday and cold. We had a small taste of spring last week, and then it was taken away. Yesterday seemed so short and dark. Very dark. After school and before dancing we visited the library as the girls were complaining they had run out of books to read, plus we had some to return to the library. I'm happy my girls love the library so much. They always find plenty of great books to keep them going. Perfect for snuggling up in bed on a cold night with.

Kates teacher is reading a series by Justin D'Ath which has Kate hooked. So she was thrilled to locate some yesterday.

Ella loves the Judy Moody series and was thrilled that one she had reserved was waiting for her.

The movie based on this book is out next month, she can hardly wait to see it. She also reserved this one.

Ella still loves comprehensive picture books and found these cool ones

and there were some favourite authors in there too

This should keep them going for a bit and hopefully the weather will warm up again soon!

Spring Cleaning

I've spent the last 2 days spring cleaning the girls' rooms. I did Kate's yesterday which took me twice as long as Ella's did today. Her room is bigger and she does have more stuff, so I guess that's why. I got rid of quite a bit of rubbish and clothes to pass on. It's nice now that they are done. Not sure which room I will get done next but hoping to get through the whole house in about six weeks.

Ella's room

Kate's room