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Archives for June 2012

Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

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This is one recipe that you will make over and over again. It is easy, quick and tastes absolutely delicious. Great for morning/afternoon tea, brunch, after school snack, etc. I often use these when I make cookie and ice cream stacks.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

INGREDIENTS
125g butter
1 egg
½ cup caster sugar
½ cup brown sugar
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 ¾ cups self raising flour
200g chocolate chips
METHOD
1.    Preheat oven to 180°c.
2.    Line trays with baking paper.
3.    In a large bowl cream the butter, caster sugar, brown sugar and vanilla essence.
4.    Add egg, sifted flour and salt. Mix together well.
5.    Mix in chocolate chips
6.    Roll into desired sized balls (I go about a teaspoon size) and put on the trays. Make sure you leave space for them to expand.
7.    Bake for 9 minutes if you want nice soft doughy chocolate chip cookies or 12 minutes if you want crunchier cookies.
8.    Leave on tray for a few minutes before transferring them to wire rack.
Have you tried my Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe? What did you think?
For more recipes check out the food tab or go to the home page and select the specific main ingredient/occasion you are looking for in the FOOD tab.

Starting your career later on in life – Tips for getting back into the workforce after kids

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Today I am excited to say I have got my very first ever guest posting on the blog.
She is talented and full of information!
Starting your career later on in life – Tips for getting back into the workforce after kids

It’s never too late to live your dream!

Many mums out there take extended time off from working life to look after their kids, and indeed the time you spend watching your children grow and learn during the crucial early years is some of the most rewarding time you’ll spend in your whole life.

But if you’re feeling like it’s time for you to get out of your trackies and back into your suit (or smart casual workplace attire), then here are some practical tips on how to make the transition back into the workforce – whether you’re returning to the same industry you worked in before you left, or taking the plunge into a completely new type of work.

Efficiency is key!

Determine whether you are in a position to be able to transition back to work slowly. Look into working part-time or working a couple of days a week at first. If this is not an option, talk to your boss about working from home.   Many companies encourage flexible work arrangements, with most organisations often finding such arrangements to be the most effective in terms of employee productivity.  This could mean having the flexibility to do the afternoon school pick up and then working again into the night after the kids have hit the sack. Talk to your boss about finding an arrangement that makes the most effective use of your time.

Ask for help

Getting back to the workforce is hard enough as it is. But add kids to the mix, and family obligations and responsibilities can seem like a insurmountable mountain you never get on top of. Try divvying up chores and responsibilities with your partner. This could mean having your partner fix dinners in the evening while you get the children ready in the morning.  Frank and clear communication is key in letting them know you need help in managing work with household responsibilities (don’t expect any mind reading here!). Discuss with your partner a concrete plan about how the responsibilities should be divided.  If you are a divorced parent, re-entering the workforce can seem like even more of a daunting challenge. Don’t be afraid to ask for child support in order to arrange childcare and babysitting services to help take care of the load and get back on your feet. After all, you are entitled to it!

Know that it will be tough

Many women, upon returning to the workforce, find themselves ridden with guilt at having to leave their children at home. The first couple of weeks (even months) can be an emotional and physical roller coaster. Understand that feelings of sadness and anxiety are perfectly normal and try to find your own ways to make the transition smoother (perhaps video Skype the babysitter during lunch, place photos of your kids on your desk, talk to other mothers at work too see how they coped etc).  Ultimately, don’t forget to enjoy the joys and challenges of this new chapter in your working career and remember to reach out for help. Of the millions of working mothers out there, chances are, there is one that has  felt just the same way you do at one point or another!

Author Bio:  Aliyah Lee is a stay-at-home mum and a financial advisor in her previous life.  She enjoys finding creative ways of getting the most out of child support payments.

“This guest post was brought to you by Watts McCray”

Attack of the Itchy Critters

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Attack of the Itchy Critters

*I must start this post by saying it is in no way sponsored or did I receive anything to do a review! 

Today we had our first and unfortunately I know it will not be the last experience of the dreaded (and please don’t hate me) head lice! I bet your head is itching already isn’t it?

 

I was taken a little by surprise at the fact that my boys had been infested. Why would these nits/head lice like their hair? They are dirty grubby boys. I guess their hair is cleaner than I thought or there is a new breed that prefers a bit of dirt, fluff and whatever else they decide to wipe through it. 

 

I knew this day would come and I thought I’d been on the ball and oh so clever;  checking hair regularly and only washing it on a Friday night so it had time to get dirty again before school on Monday but I was wrong!
Both the boys have been attacked by the itchy critters! Lucky the infestation wasn’t severe, D had 3 or head lice and K only had 1 so that wasn’t too bad but they must have been shooting those eggs out! Geez were there some eggs/nits.

We took a trip to Woolworths to try and find a miracle treatment to the incurable itching that my mind had my head thinking about. Yours is itching now to isn’t it? Well as I said this is the first case of it in our home so I’m a bit new to this. I got a product called ‘Quit Nits’ rapid head lice lotion.

It’s all natural (costs $18) not sure if that’s about standard or bull shit expensive, looks and feels like your rubbing moisturiser into your hair. Works in 10 minutes (I left it a little bit longer to make sure it would work!), it kills lice and eggs, came with a nit comb (big selling point as the only other nit comb they had was $15 just for the freaking comb) but the best thing about it is I think it worked!!

Mind you my head hasn’t stopped itching but I have a strong feeling that is more psychological than any actually being there. The eggs came out so easily with the comb after the ‘moisturiser’ was in their hair; it was like they no longer had any grip on the hair.
I have now rewashed and dried in the dryer all the sheets, blankets, pillow cases, etc. and put all the brushes and combs in boiling water with vinegar. Is there anything else I need to do?

Do you have a secret formula to kill head lice? Or even better to prevent them entirely? (Short of not letting the children leave the house!)

Whether it be a store bought product or a home remedy;

I would love to hear it!

   

I Miss Getting My Freak On

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I Miss Getting My Freak On

Lately I haven’t exactly been posting a lot of heartfelt or touching reads for you to enjoy and that has not been due to lack of content or ideas but more the fact that I have barely had time to catch my breath.

I have been so busy finalising assignments and studying for end of semester exams that everything (and I mean everything) has been put on the back burner. Sex is being traded for sleep (and that loved midnight nudge is dreaded), wine/vodka is traded for coffee (even on a Friday night) and meals are being replaced by sugar hits to keep me going. I cannot remember the last time I played at the park with the kids (to be honest I hate going to the park anyway but that’s a whole other story, the kids love it), I cannot remember the last time my husband and I went out for dinner alone or with the kids, the last time I had a proper conversation and wasn’t trying to multi task (study and keep up with the conversation) or even played artists with the kids, etc.

I feel like I haven’t ‘REALLY’ spoken nor had any in depth conversation with my husband in months or given him my undivided attention. I feel terribly bad about this as there doesn’t seem to be a happy medium at this point. It’s studying my absolute arse off and completely kind of ignore everyone else around me or fail. Neither option is favourable to me!

I have completed 2 exams and to my surprise received 100% in both!

YAY me!!

But as you can see it has come at a price, one that will be paid back 10 fold and may or may not come across as smothering when I’m finished my last exam.

On Tuesday, my last assessment for this semester will be held. It is extremely difficult and I’m not sure how I will go. I’m aiming for 50% (just so I can pass). I have paper stuck all over the walls of key points of information so that as I walk from room to room some of it may sink in. I’m not very optimistic but all I can do is try.

I am willing this study bullshit learning and mind expanding experience to be over, whose stupid idea was it for me to go back and study anyway? Oh right, it was mine.

REPEAT AFTER ME:
This will be beneficial for you in the long run!
This will bring opportunities for you when you are ready for them!
You have challenged yourself and you have succeeded!
When you complete this you can return to loving that midnight fireworks inducing romp and matinees!
(If that’s not encouragement I don’t know what is!)

Until next time, please have a stiff drink and in depth conversation for me, for yourself and most importantly go and get your freak on!!  

{Review} Talk About A Slim Fit!

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Talk About A Slim Fit!
Now I’m sure there are many of you who just like me are sick of trying to hide, stuff, fold or even jam tissues into your pockets. Do you end up leaving them behind because they just don’t fit anywhere? Me too!
I’m not one of those people who can make every outfit look like it was made just for me, let alone making snotty or back up tissues look like the next ‘it’ fad. Thankfully now I don’t have to worry!

Kleenex has now released the Kleenex® Slim Wallet Packs. They fit in every pocket you can imagine – shirts, jeans, jackets, nappy bags, hand bags and even prams/strollers. Not only do they fit, but because they slim they don’t bulge and look hideously obvious.
They come in packs of 6 and every pack has a different design so you can mix and match with your attire (if you want to put them on show!)
The designs are fun which I personally love and they are reasonably priced (which I love even more!)
These are in stores now for $2.69 – BARGAIN!
If I don’t say so myself.
Disclaimer: I did not receive any cash payment for this review. All opinions are my own.

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