Sweet Treats ....

With the warmer weather approaching I have been wanting to start making a good supply of healthy snacks for the kids.

So I had a go at making some yoghurt drops just from the large tubs of yoghurt we already had in the fridge. 

To make yoghurt drops you will need:

• Your favourite flavoured yoghurt {I used a no fat/low sugar passionfruit flavour}
• A stainless steel tray of some sort {a baking tray is fine}
• A dessert spoon
• Baking Paper
• A butter knife

 

Just line the tray with baking paper and place spoonfuls of the yoghurt onto the tray in dollops.

 

 

 

Once you have filled the tray, just place it into the freezer to set.  Once frozen, remove the dallops from the tray with a butter knife and place into ziplock bags. That way you always have a few yummy flavours on hand.

 

 

 The mixed berry ones have been a hit!

If you prefer you could use smaller dollops of youghurt.  But at this size they are perfect for little hands to hold onto and enjoy.

It really is very fast and easy!

I have also been busy making a heap of different flavoured ice-blocks. It is a perfect way to include more fruit into the kids diet by having a healthy alternative to store bought ice-blocks. 



Flavours pictured above include:

 

Mixed berry {raspberries, blueberries and blackberries} with mixed berry youghurt.

 

Apple & Mango juice with diced kiwi fruit (these ones are delicious).

 

I will be experimenting with a heap more flavours in the coming weeks and am looking forward to having our banana ice-blocks back in the freezer again too.

 



Let me know if you end up making some of these sweet spring/summer treats and don't forget to get the kids involved too.

I will also be sharing one of our favourite afternoon tea snacks {fruit smoothies} here soon!





A Little Lost ....

Apologies for my lack of blogging lately.  Things have just been so crazy busy and something just had to give.  Unfortunately it was my sweet little blog.  I have missed spending time writting and going through photos but it has been hectic and I had to find a few things to cross of my list that would give me just a little more time each day.

However, since I last popped by here we have had family travel down to see us, my business .... Dreamy Creations has been really busy, Mia has finished step to prep and started swimming lessons again, Nikolas is now limping after almost breaking his toe and visiting the hospital, David has been working very hard on getting things done around the outside of the house and there is partridge in a pear tree. {Just kidding on the last one!}.

I have been thinking alot about how I can make changes to our life to make things run alot smoother around here.  Because at the moment things just aren't working too well.  I am making plans on a little re-structuring.  I have asked my friends and other work from home mummas for their advice and tried to take all of their ideas on board.  And because every family works differently, it's taking a little time to work out what works best for us.

Already I can see a change and I like the way it's headed. 



Wish us luck!!!!



Eleven Little Questions x 2

I was just recently tagged by two lovely ladies {Claire @ Scissors Paper Rock} and {Leanne @ Organising The Three of Us} with a little bit of bloggy love and a Liebster Award.  Thanks ladies for sending this my way.

I was passed on a list of questions from each of them to answer.


First - Claire's Questions:

1. One word that best describes you? - Funny
2. Sweet or Savoury? - Hmmm, this is a hard one.  I guess sweet.  There was a definite need to cut down on sugar in my life and I have just done that exact thing!
3. Why do you blog? To record moments of our family and to share with family and friends.
4. What are you reading at the moment? I actually haven't had any time to read a book lately.  But I am still following and enjoying my favourite blogs.
5. Favourite movie of all time? I don't have just one favourite, but my favourite type of movies are usually romantic comedy and I don't mind a bit of drama thrown in too!
6. If you were a colour - which one would you be? And why? I guess pink {which is my favourite}.  I am soft soul.
7. Reality TV - love or loathe? Sadly I love reality TV.  You don't have to think while watching it and I find it entertaining.
8. Describe a perfect day.  This would be a day out with my little family that includes the beach, a picnic lunch, sunshine, ice-cream, sun kissed skin and an afternoon nap.
9. Somewhere in the world you're dying to go to? America
10. Biggest fear? I have a fear of dying.  When some things happen in life you realise that it can be taken from you at any moment and that you have no control.  I have young children and need to be here for them.
11. Your middle name? Emma.

          Secondly, Leanne's Questions:

1. What is your all-time favourite movie? I answered that one above.

2. Did you finish high school? Yes

3. What was your first job? I worked at a food place in a food court of a shopping centre.

4. Are you a bit of a hoarder, or do you get rid of everything? I am very sentimental so I find I keep alot of things related to our memories (especially for the kids).  But in saying that I am working on getting together a heap of stuff around the house to pass on to others, donate or sell.

5. How many children do you have? We have two children - Nikolas and Mia.

6. Do you have a hobby that you pursue? My favourite hobbies are photography, scrapbooking and craft.

7. How old were you when you got your first mobile phone? 18

8. How often do you see your friends? It really depends on which ones.  It varies a fair bit depending on how busy I am.  But I enjoy catching up with them whenever I can.

9. What 3 words would you use to describe you? I am creative, funny and organised.

10. Coke or Pepsi? I don't drink soft drink unless we go out for lunch or dinner but I would drink both of those.

11. What is your favourite piece of clothing you own? At the moment, jeans and my scarfs.  It is chilly.

Now I am going to pass it on to some other lovely bloggers:

Kate @ Love Kate

Leesa @ Love Tea and Me

Sonia @ Life Love and Hiccups

I have enjoyed reading other bloggers 11 questions, it's great to get to know a little more about them.  I hope you enjoy reading mine x



Craft Table Organisation ....

Both of my kids craft and write alot! So it made sense to make them their own little craft table with all of their own supplies.  They are constantly at their little table creating something, it keeps them occupied for hours.

To be honest, we haven't re-organised the craft/writting supplies in quiet a while. I had to come up with a better system of organising things but also by making sure that everything they needed was in one place.  Nothing worse than when Nikolas sits down to do his homework and he can't find something he needs.

So after our little sushi date yesterday and a couple of errands, Mia and I headed out to get some new supplies.

I thought the best system would be to keep everything they need in a little set of drawers.

That way they could have a drawer for paper, one for shared supplies and a drawer each of the different things only they need.

 

Mia was happy to put all of the new stuff in it's spot. Of course, she placed one item in at a time.

 

I am also going to make a label for each drawer so they put things away in their right spot easily.

See I told you that mountain air was inspiring!  I wish I could do all the little organisation projects I have planned as quickly and as easily as this one.

The Up Of Tea ....

Children have the knack of watching and learning from all that you do when you don't even know they are watching.

They really are very clever.

At night when everything is done and we are finally taking time out to relax, we will enjoy a hot drink.  Coffee almost every night but sometimes tea.  Each night I place our mugs onto saucers so that I can put them down without any chance of them leaving a mark on the furniture.

Well ........ haven't I created two little people that also like to now have their hot drinks served on saucers. 

If we have a busy morning and I am in a rush making their mugs of hot drinks ......... I am kindly reminded that I forgotten their saucers!

They have watched us have our hot drinks this way, so now they always want to do the same.

This is what our Sunday morning looked like.

When Nikolas was little and he would ask for a 'Up of Tea' when ever I was making a hot drink. It was the cutest thing! 

And Mia is a little biscuit dipper. If she has a cup of tea she must have a cookie to dip into it {just like her daddy}. 

Those crazy kids of ours ....

Happy Sunday.

Weekend Traditions ....

Our weekends always consist of so many different things but there are a couple of things that always remain the same.  No alarm clock and a cooked breakfast on Sunday mornings.

We never plan who will cook or what time we will have breakfast.  It's just always worked out that who ever gets up first in the morning after a sleep in, will usually be the one who cooks.  I guess it's just an unwritten rule.

I love Sunday mornings, just our little family, enjoying all the morning has to offer with full bellies and usually a read of the paper too.

However, this morning I was first to rise and I know it's only Saturday, but I wanted to make a lovely breakfast for my family.

I didn't put too much thought into it, I just starting cooking.

It smelt delicious cooking away! 

Winter mornings are made that much nicer when you enjoy a cooked breakfast.

And we sat outside overlooking the mountain and watched the world pass us by.  It was yummy! 

First Offical Homework ..... Ever!

Yesterday Mia started the Step to Prep programme at the school she will be attending next year. 

To say that she enjoyed it would be an understatement.  She loved the teacher, all of activities but most of all she was excited to be given her first offical homework ..... EVER!!

As soon as we got in the door from the afternoon school run, Mia was busting to show Nikolas her homework.  And of course, big brother sat with her and talked her through every little step.

When moments like that happen without any prompting, it makes me happy!

They sat so quietly and I could hear Nikolas patiently explaining each step for Mia.

I am proud of them both!

The Battle of the Wits ....

If you are a Mum you'll know what I mean when I say MESS!  With kids I find that I am constantly chasing my tail to try and keep the house clean and tidy. 

Some days this just.does.not.happen.  The day doesn't go as planned and it's a constant battle to try and get the house into some sort of order by the evening.   

I feel so much better if I am organised and on top of things. But today is not one of those days.  

At our place we call it the 'Battle of the Wits'.  It's three against one and sometimes {most times} those three win. 

It's hard to believe the two littest ones could could cause so much chaos with faces like these....

Belive me, they do ...... I am not joking. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

How is the mess at your place?  How do you keep organised?

Moments Captured ..... Miles Apart {Photography Project}

Capturing parallel moments in our lives, 1200kms apart.

Wife + Mum to two + Photography + Lover of beautiful homely things = Cassie and Kate

Welcome to our little project, our wish to share moments in our lives.

Who Are We:
Creative souls who dream alot and share a massive passion for photography and our families.
We are both 30-something, organisational freaks (we love lists), lovers of all things photography and craft. We love pretty, creative, home-warming things.
As busy mums, we realise capturing the ordinary to the extraordinary is important. This project will help encourage and inspire each other to capture those moments, from the mundane to the marvellous.

Cassie  Kate

                                                                  

What Are We Doing:

Each week we will set a ‘theme’ and both photograph an image to capture the ‘same’ moment in our different worlds. Our views, our dreams, our children, our worlds.

Each week we will write a short story describing the image or theme, sharing a snippet of our lives.

Why We Are Doing This:
We have gotten to know each other pretty well, first meeting through our photography interests and them forming a friendship beyond that.
We are very ‘similar’ and lead seemingly parallel lives. And the more we get to know each other, the more we want to live closer and pop in for a wine and a giggle and some dreaming.
We are both curious creatures, and eager to ‘peer’ into each others lives and thought it would be nice to share with you too!

How We'll Do It:
Themes will be set each week, and may centre around current life events.
Each week we will post our images and a short blurb to accompany it on our respective blogs, here and on kate's blog!

I hope you enjoy following our journey and you may even find yourself inspired to take photos too.

B is for ................... Be .... Just Be!

This post is part of A-Z all about me {weekly blog challange} over at 'Love Kate'!

Lately life is just so busy!  Well, actually when I think about it, it's not just lately ...... it's been that way for a while now.  I always expect to get a weeks worth of {stuff} done in each and every day.  And at the end of each and every day, I am my own worst critic on why I didn't cross every. single. thing. of my to-do-list.

When I think back to only a few years ago, life seemed alot more simple and ALOT less hectic. I miss that!   

With the job description of Mum, partner, cleaner, referee, cook, chief office administrator, chauffeur, nurse, guidance counsellor, homework consultant, fundraising coordinator, receptionist, nanny, business owner, interior designer, teachers aide, business analyst and many more ..... there really aren't enough hours in the day.

I seriously think there is something in my personality that thinks it is possible to do it all!!  And to do it all well.

Then when I am busy doing all of these things I am already thinking of the next 3 million things I need to be doing.  My mind never stops racing. 

I have thought alot lately about little ways I could change the way I do things and try to be in the moment. 

When I sit and watch the kids, they have perfected it.  They aren't thinking about anything else but enjoying that. exact. moment. and soaking up every bit of it.

I could learn alot from them.

I want to take the time to just ..... BE!!  Even if it's just for one day!

Missing

It's oh so quiet!  The kids have been gone for the weekend and I am missing them like crazy.

Our weekend has still been busy and has consisted of an early morning drop off for the kids, breakfast with a girlfriend, a spa pedicure, picking up a few groceries, dying my hair, an afternoon/early evening party with friends, date night at the movies, a big sunday morning sleep in, a dvd, some blog design tweaking with the talented Miss Kate and a quiet Sunday at home resting with a cold.

I can't wait to see the kids again this afternoon and hear all about their adventures at the farm.

It Begins Today ....

Yet another blog!  A new title.  A new feel.  A whole new direction.  I truly hope this time, everything falls into place and I can keep parts of our journey here.

Home Is Where The Heart Is will be where I document and save snipets of our lives, our story, my photographs and everything else in between.