All Mum Said

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Archives for May 2012

Double Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe

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This double chocolate chip muffins recipe is so moist, so chocolatey and so damn delicious! You will have to hide them from the kids if you want to have any. They are great for school lunches, used as dessert with ice-cream and can be frozen. Basically a great all rounder!

 Double Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe

Makes 18
Ingredients
1 ¾ cup Self Raising Flour
2 Eggs
½ cup oil
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup castor sugar
¼ cup cocoa
½ tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
A few extra chocolate chips to go on top
Method
1.     Preheat oven to 200°c (180°c fan forced)
2.     Line muffin trays or grease
3.     In a bowl add the eggs, oil, vanilla, milk and mix well
4.     In another bowl mix the flour, cocoa, sugar, salt and chocolate chips.
5.     Combine the wet and dry ingredients together and fold together until just mixed. (Fold gently)
6.     Spoon mixture into muffin tray (liners) and add the extra chocolate chips on top
7.     Bake for 15-20mins
8.     Let sit for 5 mins in tray
9.     Cool on rack

 

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Have you tried my double chocolate chip muffins recipe? What did you think?

Part 2 – The Result of the Lesson

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The Result of the Lesson
It has been a bit over a week since I went all hard core and stripped Ds’ room down to nothing more than a mattress. How has he gone you ask? Has he learnt anything or was it a complete and utter waste of my time? Well this is how the week went.
The day of destruction and the couple of days following were not received very pleasantly by Mr 5. Not only did he hate his stuff, he now had it in for C and me. Which is fine, I completely understood where he was coming from. In his eyes I was the bitch that took all his stuff (that he hated so much!) and gave it to nicer and more appreciative owners. His little brother K was one of these happy new owners.
After a few days he cooled off and asked if he could have his toys back. The answer was ‘No’. This lesson will not be learnt if I just give his stuff back; it would completely defeat the purpose of what I did. I stuck to my guns. This time however instead of getting angry and kicking the wall or throwing something (makes it easy as he had no toys to throw) he simply asked K if he could play with some of his toys. K obligingly said ‘yes’.
We explained to him how there are people who have nothing and still don’t complain, they make the most of life and appreciate what they have and what people give them. This stuff might not be new, it might not be food they like but it keeps them alive. We showed D clips from the Red Cross and Salvation Army to show him that some people have nothing and how he should be grateful we can afford the things we do.
After seeing that kids not much older than him have to sleep on the streets and eat out of rubbish bins so they don’t starve it was like something inside his head clicked. He saw an advert on one the clips asking for everyone to donate when the door knockers came around and he asked if he could. He got his money box, so did K and they got half of their money out ready to donate. All we needed now was door knockers.
Well, as you have probably read in my post last weekend the door knocker plan didn’t go so well. If you missed it you can read it here. D couldn’t understand why they refused to take his money when there were people who really needed it.
Ds’ attitude has changed dramatically (for now at least!) but it’s a step. He has been helping more with everyday things, helping his brother, tidying up after himself, etc. By day 4 he asked if I could put his bed back in his room. After his help the past couple of days I thought there is no harm in giving his bed back. C put it back together and he made his bed.
Day 5 he asked if he could have his toys back again, I told him that he will need to ask K if he can have any of them back. If K says no then you can’t. Luckily for D, his little brother can be very kind and gave him a few back. It wasn’t all the toys K choose to have but more so a handful of matchbox cars. D was overwhelmed, he hugged K and said ‘Thank you so much K, I love you’.
By this point I’m thinking something has sunk in. Before he would have kicked and screamed and carried on that he wanted such-and-such a toy but not now. He was just happy to have a few cars. This is the lesson I was trying to teach. It does however go even further than this. C sewed a button back onto Ds’ pyjama shirt (yes C is the sewer of the family!) and D couldn’t have been happier or cuter I must add. He went up to his father and said ‘Dad thank you for fixing my button, I really appreciate it!’
D has continued to be helpful around the house and his attitude has maintained its adjusted new found appreciation so we thought it would be fitting for him and K to take the money that they were going to so kindly donate and buy a toy with it. I added the coins I was going to donate so between the two of them they had $39 each to spend.
He almost cried when I told him he could have this money to buy a new toy. That is a step in the right direction if I don’t say so myself.
I had no idea in the beginning how this lesson would turn out. Would it backfire? I wasn’t sure but in my eyes it was worth a go. Now in part 1 of this story I mentioned I may lose a few followers and guess what? I did. I however bid them farewell, my parenting style works for my kids. They know when I say something I follow through. I don’t joke when it comes to them learning life lessons (yes I know they are young but in my opinion a child is never too young to start respecting).
So for now, I would have to say that this lesson has been taken on board and accepted. Lesson learnt! I know that this issue will arise again at some stage in the future and yes I will do the same thing again. For my kids and I, this works. It teaches them.
How do you teach your kids lesson in life? Does it work?

Teaching a Lesson in Appreciation

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Teaching a Lesson in Appreciation
This is more of a rant for me to blow off steam then it is a heart felt warm and fuzzy feeling post.
I would however love and appreciate any help, ideas, suggestions or heck even some vodka if your buying! (This post was actually written last weekend before the doorknockers came)
I have officially had enough! I thought I was raising my kids to be grateful and respect what they have but the message seems to have been squished and washed away like a bug on the windshield. My 5 year old who I must say is generally well behaved, has decided this last week that being a horrible devil child is more suited.
It only appears to be when he’s at home that his behaviour changes, when he’s at school he is very well behaved and excels. At home he presses my buttons within 30 minutes (easily) of me being awake. All of a sudden he HATES everything! If I ask him to do something, anything regardless what it is he responds with “I Hate ‘that’”.
How has this happened?
How has this happened so fucking quickly?
He has always been disciplined so he has never gotten away with this kind of shit. I am absolutely stumped as to why he has become this little ungrateful so and so all of a sudden. I did however take matters into my own hands today; I have plain and simply had enough! I’m over this attitude and he will learn the hard way. He has left me no choice.
I asked him to clean him room – “I hate my toys” so in the bin they went! (I let K (3) choose some that he wanted and then I took the rest to the Salvo’s so a child who will appreciate them can enjoy them). He has no toys left.
I asked him to make his bed – “I hate my bed” so I unbolted his bed and removed it from his room. He now has a mattress on the floor in his room.
Right now you may be thinking that I am a horrible mother and have taken things too far, I however would have to disagree. He is the kind of child who needs to be shown what it is like to have nothing before he can understand. He will learn to respect and appreciate what we have and how hard everyone has work to own and enjoy the things they do have.
K our 3 year old is respectful (for now at least) so I’m hoping this lesson will be learnt and learnt fast. I cannot go on feeling deflated and at a loss, his attitude towards um…. Well pretty much everything sucks. It just has to stop. I’m putting a stop to it – NOW!
Some of you (if you have made it this far) may stop following my blog because of my blunt honesty and parenting techniques and that is fine. I will not pretend to be the perfect parent with the most perfect kids. I am learning! It is trial and error for me as it is for so many other mums and dads.
Judge me or support me – it’s up to you but thank you in advance for the honest and non-judgemental people who decide to stick around with me.
RANT DONE!
In the next few days part 2 – The Result of the Lesson will be up. So if you stick around you will see if it worked or if I need to try something else.

It Should Be Enough – But It’s Not!

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It Should Be Enough – But It’s Not!
When did charity become so pushy? When did door knockers adopt the used car salesman pitch?
I donate to a lot of different organisations on a regular basis but it’s always when I can spare the money. Majority of the time it may only $5 and I think that’s OK because I can comfortably give that much without the concern of my family requiring to live on rations.
 
If we are at the supermarket I will buy a pen to raise funds for the children hospitals, bandannas for canteen, cancer council, guide dogs, rescue choppers and I donate to op shops, charity bins and the list goes on. I love being able to contribute in ways such as the above and up until today I could always spare a few gold coins for door knock appeals.
Today however…… My opinion has changed!
I think it’s fair to say I am absolutely appalled!!
I’m not going to name this particular charity as they do some amazing work for the less fortunate, homeless, troubled youth and are now even providing breakfast at some schools for children who don’t get it at home. I have given to this foundation for years but after today I’m not sure I will again!
Gone are the days of emptying out the coins from your wallet, your money boxes or under your couch cushions. They no longer want cash, they want credit pledges. My kids and I were so kindly told today (that was a nice way of me saying extremely rudely!) to keep our collection of coins! My kids wanted to give half their savings to help people and we have been waiting to donate.
K’s (3) would have been donation
But NO! A one off donation is no longer acceptable; they wanted me to pledge $50 every month.


D’s (5) would have been donation
When I told them I couldn’t give that much they told me they could probably go as little as a $15 monthly contribution and that surely I could afford it! Now it’s not that I can’t afford $15 a month, I can.
It’s that I refuse to be treated or spoken to like that from anyone! 
I told them to leave – without a donation!
They should be ashamed of themselves, telling young children who are kind enough, generous enough to want to help other people by giving them their money that they have saved to buy toys that it isn’t enough!
Since when was there a minimum you could give to help people in need?
When did volunteer door knockers become so rude, insistent and ruthless? Well actually, they aren’t even volunteers anymore. They are paid door knockers according to their name tags.
When I donate it is because I can and because I want to help the cause not so I can boast and say I’m a platinum pledger!
I don’t appreciate being told how much I can give! No, make that how I have to give. Maybe if you accepted all kinds of donations you would collect more for the foundation!         


{Review} Plum Stylish Winter Collection

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Keeping the Kids Warm & Stylish with Plum this Winter!
I was recently reconnected with one of my favourite baby brands when I discovered they are now providing stylish clothes for older kids. OK well maybe not old older like teenagers but older then babies and toddlers. Exciting right? I know!
 
When my boys were babies I fell in love with Plum Baby. Plum is a family owned business run by parents who actually have little ones of their own so they understand the importance of providing great quality garments. My boys grew out of their baby clothes well before they needed to be upgraded or replaced. If I remember correctly we used the same outfits for both our kids and then passed them onto friends – talk about value for money! But like I said – GREAT QUALITY! Garments of such comfort, quality and dare I say cuteness; the prices were and still are extremely reasonable.
Plum Baby are now also proud supporters of the SIDS and Kids National Safe Sleeping Program and have released comfortable, durable, easy to use (they have a very convenient zip, perfect to avoid having to wake the baby when changing or checking nappies!) and most importantly safe sleeping bags. These can be found in sizes 0-36 months.
 
Plum has recently released their winter range for this year and it will not disappoint! With so many delightful new ideas and prints that will blow you away with their appeal, you have so many more options. I must say that with winter on its way and the cold weather creeping up, Plum J’s are the perfect addition to every youngsters wardrobe. These adorable pyjamas are new to the Plum Winter Collection and can be purchased for boys and girls in a variety of styles and sizes.



Picture from Plum website




These pyjamas have not disappointed me, my family or thankfully my bank balance. My son has described them (repeatedly I might add) as super soft. He LOVES them! I am also happy they are soft and comfortable but I’m more pleased that they haven’t faded through washing and have held their shape well. (No shrinkage, YAY!) I must say though that being Plum I have come to expect nothing but the best and they haven’t failed me yet.
 

 
The Plum J’s are my favourite addition and I am so excited they have extended their range to accommodate growing kids. These gorgeous pyjamas are now available in sizes 0-7 and retail for only $24.95.
Are you a fan of Plum or Plum Baby? If you have a baby or kids you should spare 5 minutes to have a look through their range on the website Plum Baby. There are a growing number of stockists around the country, New Zealand and even the UK. Click here to find your nearest one.
 If you’re not following Plum on Facebook you are missing out on very exciting updates. Pop on over to their Facebook page and say Hi. They are very warm and welcoming over there.

I was not paid for this post however I did receive some of these awesome pyjamas to review. The opinions expressed in this review are mine and not coerced. I will always be honest when reviewing products.

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