All Mum Said

Telling it like it is...

Archives for April 2012

I’m A Mess No More!

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I’m a Mess No More!
A few months ago I broke down. I was a spluttering mess, tears that wouldn’t stop and snot bubbles that would give the Blair Witch Project a run for its money. If it wasn’t so pathetic it would have been hilarious.
I had not long gone from being a full time stay at home mum to my boys and wanting another baby to going back to school, going back to work as a chef, building a house and having so much study to do that I barely left my desk. I hardly recognised my life anymore with so much going on. It seems I missed out on so much time with my kids. In retrospect; I wasn’t missing out that much. My eldest started school this year so he wouldn’t have been home anyway, my husband was still going to work as does and my youngest … well he is really the only one who it has had a reasonable effect. He now gets to go to childcare/preschool 2 days a week which has been a great benefit to him because he is gaining incredible social skills that he wouldn’t have gotten at home.
I however seemed overwhelmed. My life had changed so much, so quickly.
 When did that happen? How did that happen? What was I thinking?
Even as I write this I’m shaking my head in disbelief. There was no logic in why I was so upset. What mum doesn’t want some time to herself? Some independence?
Normally however my idea of time to myself is getting my hair done or going out for lunch. Mind you I would settle for an empty bathroom that I can go to the toilet in peace in but as all us mums know that happens about as often as the cleaning fairy visiting for free or just plain visiting!
I don’t typically get overwhelmed or tearful. I’m tough! Or so I thought. My husband hugged me and gave me the support I needed, we talked and I cried and then I cried some more. I later came to the conclusion that I had yet again under estimated my ability. I had myself believing I couldn’t do it all.
I CAN!
I took a step back, wiped my eyes, popped those snot bubbles and got on with it. I am exceeding any possible expectation I could have dreamed of. Don’t get me wrong it isn’t easy; it is extremely hard work but since that night I have let my stress go (or as much as one can) and have taken on even more.
What else? Well…..
I also started this little blog. When I get the feeling of “please everyone just get the hell away from me and leave me alone” I start to write. I write for my blog, I write for you wonderful fans, I write for my sanity. I write for me! It is my release.
For this I am grateful.
What is your release? How do you cope with or overcome stress?

What It Is All About!

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As I sit here listening to the sound of laughter and giggles that are erupting out of my gorgeous boys I feel a sense of pride, happiness and peacefulness. This is a very nice change to the usual yelling, fighting and high pitch squeals whines (you know the one it’s painful to the ears and migraine inducing).
When they were younger they got along so well; hugs and kisses along with big piles of toys being shared around. I had almost forgotten what it was like to not feel drained from the constant bickering between them. I’m the referee that they run to bellowing foul against the other. They scream blue murder over nothing and by the end of yet another tiresome repetitive day I feel deflated, frustrated and disappointed.
I think the disappointment may be slightly due to the fact I get a little too excited that it’s time for the kids to go to bed. I love bed time. It’s quiet; there is no yelling or having to listen to “Mum, mum, mum, mum, mum.” I think you’ll agree it’s as annoying as nails on a blackboard!
Now please don’t mistake me for a parent who doesn’t discipline, I do. In a variety of ways that differ depending on how severely they are misbehaving. On the bright side I am lucky because when we venture outside the house, anywhere but home – they are absolute angels. I am very grateful that they aren’t known as ‘those kids’. I just want them to be the perfect cherubs at home that I know they can be (when they want to be). Obviously every mother/father/caregiver wants well behaved kids 100% of the time but I’ve never seen it yet. In a way it’s like character building, for them and us. They want to see how much they can get away with push (as they will for many years to come) and we unfortunately get to see how much we can take.
The battle is constant to find a happy medium. Not too lenient but not too strict. They are still learning boundaries but know the rough borders – I’m constantly learning new limits along side them. However in this very moment my frustrations and frowns have faded away as I watch their big cheesy grins infect the atmosphere that is our home. The love they have for one another that was once so prominent is shining bright again.
Only one thing has made this moment more special, over the sound of music playing softly in the distance is hearing them whisper to each other “You’re my best friend, I love you”. My heart just melts. This is why I love being a mum, some days can suck beyond belief (we all know it is true – just no one wants to say it). But the days and moments like these is what makes all the hard work, the sweat, the tears and the dreaded nagging worth it.
Regardless what tomorrow may bring; this is what it is all about, they are the dimple to my smile!

NO BAKE Lemon Slice {recipe}

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This week I’m going to share with you a delicious snack recipe that is not only easy but it’s like an orgasm in your mouth!

  NO BAKE Lemon Slice Recipe

Ingredients
1x 400g tin of condensed milk
400g shortbread biscuits (I use chocolate chip shortbread)
2x cups coconut
60g butter
Lemon rind of 1 lemon (finely grated)
2x cups icing sugar
2-3 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on how lemony you want it)
BASE
1.Crush biscuits (you can do this in a food processor).
2. Put crushed biscuits, lemon rind, coconut and condensed milk together in a large bowl.
3. Melt the butter.
4. Add half the butter to other ingredients and mix well.
5. Butter or place baking paper in slice tray.
6. Press the mix into the tray.
ICING
1.Sift icing sugar into a new bowl and stir in butter.
2. Slowly add lemon juice until it is a smooth spreadable consistency.
3. Spread icing onto base and refrigerate until firm.
4. Slice into desired shapes and sizes.
5. Store in the fridge.
Click for more slice and snack recipes.
 Give this treat a go and let me know what you think!

The BEST bacon, chicken and mushroom pie EVER!

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Today I thought I’d share with you all an absolute favourite recipe (even the fuss pot kids LOVE it)
This is not only delicious but it is also extremely quick and thrifty to make as you can change up the ingredients to suit what you have in the fridge.

This is also good if the kids want to help with the pastry – let them cut out shapes and put them on top (as seen in pic below). My boys love helping with dinner (sometimes I don’t love it as much as them – they make it a lot messier and time consuming) however it makes it worth it when they see the finished product and know they helped, the big smiles and the fact they will actually eat it makes a huge difference!

Bacon, Chicken and Mushroom Pie Recipe

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups of small cooked (diced) chicken
4 bacon rashors
1 1/2 (sliced) mushrooms
1 onion (diced)
2 tbs butter
1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 tbs plain flour
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup cream
1/2 tsp mixed herbs
Pinch nutmeg (tastes fine without it)
2 tbs oil
Puff pastry
1 egg
METHOD
1. Cook chicken and then set aside in mixing bowl.
2. Melt half of the butter in fry pan and add onion, bacon and mushroom. Cook until soft then add to bowl with chicken. Add herbs and mix through.
3. Add remaining butter to empty frypan and melt. Add flour (stirring until it combines) then slowly stir in milk and cream over low heat until it thickens.
4. Add sauce to the chicken mix and combine. Let cool.
5. Preheat oven to 180°C.
6. Cut pastry to make large pie or individual pies (stab pastry with fork a few times, so it doesn’t go soggy)
7. Fill with chicken mix and cover with pastry.
8. Brush with lightly beaten egg and bake until pastry turns golden brown.
Let me know what you think of this simple and hunger busting chicken and mushroom pie recipe.
DEFINITELY WORTH GIVING A GO!
If there are any other recipes you would like to know, let me know and I’ll have a hunt through my tried and tested favourites. I have everything from restaurant quality to family meals in entrees, mains, desserts, snacks, etc.

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