Day 52 - WHERE WE ENDED UP

After heading out to see the great new Pixar movie Brave, we then ducked into Big W to pick up these...

(Since Mia already has the other 10 Disney Princesses we figured she needed Merida to add to her collection. Oh and since we have Rapunzel's Maximus we figured Angus needed to be included too!!)

.,,and we got into the car and decided to head off in a different direction and see where we ended up. In just a few short minutes we ended up here...

Tolosa Park Reserve

As I looked out across the lake at the hills and listened to the noise of the ducks it felt like we were suddenly in the country instead of just a little way out of Glenorchy. Nice :)

Day 51 - ART AND CULTURE

(photo taken by Paul)

Last night we went to a family concert put on by the Tasmania Symphony Orchestra called Play Me A Picture. We had the best time listening to great music whilst an artist painted along on a canvas at the back of the stage.

This is what it ended up looking like.

(photo taken by Paul)

 It was so good to do something different like this and we really enjoyed the beautiful music.

For my Perth family and friends it will be heading your way in a couple of weeks. I highly recommend it!!

Day 50 - IN CONCERT

(photo taken by Paul)

Guy Sebastian Hobart 2012!!!!

Day 49 - FROSTY

1.7 degrees overnight left glistening, frosty looking grass and

actual patches of ice on the footpath outside Mia's school! Brrrrrr!!

DAY 48 - RETRO

Mia trying to play Pacman at our local Harvey Normal store :o)

Day 47 - VIEW

From the summit of Mt Wellington. The building in the middle of the picture is Wrest Point Casino....we live just to the left of that!

Day 46 - BREAKFAST

Honey on toast, enjoyed whilst snuggled up under a blanket, watching tv. If only breakfast could be this relaxing for all of us each day :o)

Day 45 - SOMETHING MADE FOR ME

My beanie made by my Mum (I've never owned a beanie in my life) all ready to keep me warm whilst we go visit a little bit of this...

Day 44 - MOUNTAIN

Another pic of the mountain that stands watch over Hobart :o)

Day 43 - AT THE END OF THE ROAD #2

So whilst I have already done this theme before, I figured that it could really be a series since there are so many interesting views at the end of so many roads here.

So here is today's taken whilst Mia and I were walking through our suburb of Sandy Bay to meet Paul for a quick lunch. Mt Wellington makes a beautiful backdrop!!

Day 42 - DUST

No I'm not going to show you a picture of the dust in my house (though that would be super easy to get a photo of!!)

Instead I thought I'd share this dusting of some strange, white, cold stuff on the mountain :o)

(The day before there was actually a really good covering of snow but I wasn't able to stop on the school run to get a pic. As soon as I can get one though I'll share!)

Day 41 - DARK

Not quite 5.30pm and it's already pitch black out....

....and the next morning....still dark at almost 7.15am!!

I miss the sun!!

Tomorrow (21st June) is the shortest day of the year and I'm told that it does quickly get light again here in Tassie.

Come back sunshine!!

day 40 - TEACH

Today is the last day of school holidays for my guys and I got to teach my 11 year old how to bake! I really loved it and so did he. I think he may just make a great chef! He certainly loves all food and has a keen interest in learning to make it!!

(once again this was another great recipe found over at Taylor Made....thanks x)

Day 39 - YELLOW

This was the first thing that I saw that was yellow! Made for me last year by my beautiful Luke. It's stuck to the edge of my dressing table mirror ;o)

Day 38 - ON THE ROCKS

Today we went for a drive and then a bit of a walk.

This is where we ended up :o)

(about half an hour from our house....coz everything in Tassie is nearby!!)

Day 37 - WHAT I'M DOING TODAY

Today I've been re-reading this book

I was introduced to it a couple of years ago at a Thermomix demonstration. Until that point I had been a bit clueless about many of the additives in our food. But it was a real eye opener!! Whilst some additives are fine there are many that are really harmful and yet for some reason are allowed in Australian manufacturing (even though other countries have banned them). I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone with children (you can purchase a copy of it here).

Having said that, I remember when I first read it I was so completely overwhelmed and almost wished I hadn't (ignorance is such bliss!) But I started out a bit at a time and soon realised that first of all, we actually were already avoiding many additive ridden foods and secondly, that there were often alternative brands that you could swap to.

Of course, upon purchasing my Thermomix I was able to start cooking more of our food quickly and easily from scratch using fresh ingredients. However, whilst I'm not a complete additive Nazi (I do allow some of the naughty ones in after having reduced so much) I do find it useful from time to time to get this book back out and have a re read. I'm always amazed by how many bad products have snuck back into my kitchen as a consequence of busyness or just laziness in reading labels. So today I'm looking back through my cupboards and fridge, getting rid of any not so good products and writing a list of which things I need to find alternatives for next time I go shopping.

Oh and in keeping with reminding myself to eat foods that sound like foods in their ingredients list rather than chemical formulas, I made this yummy choc chip slice, pinched from Bron over at Taylor Made (her's looks nicer than mine but mine is still better than anything out of a packet).

One final thing that I just wanted to add for anyone considering adjusting their family's eating to be more additive free, my kids, without fail, every single time, always prefer my home made version of absolutely anything that I can buy pre-made in the shops!! Now that makes a Mum feel good :o)

Day 36 - WHAT I'M WORKING ON

On a weekend if I have a decent stretch of free time I can be found doing digital scrapbooking and working on my albums. I am not at all a crafty person and I'm not really even a big fan of scrapbooking (although I do have quite a few traditionally scrapped albums). But I do love the photos of my family and the adventures we've had together. I'm also one of those people who have recorded all the funny little things my kids have said and done over the years. So whilst I don't love scrapbooking, I do love having the record of all these memories. I switched to digital scrapbooking because it is so much faster. I can usually get around 6 pages done in one sitting, which considering how far behind I am (see if you can spot what year this album is from that I'm currently working on) it is helping me catch up.

So that is what I have been doing a lot of these school holidays and often do on the weekend. I look forward to being more up to date and not having the same pressure to get pages done. It is lovely to be looking back over old photos though :o)

Day 35 - DELIGHTFUL

Owen and I devoted 3 hours of our time one day during these holidays to watching this

A movie with a main character, leading actress, storyline and songs that can all only be described as truly delightful!!

Oh and you've got to love a movie that has an intermission!!

I love The Sound of Music! Has to be one of my favourite family films.

Day 34 - 16

This is me at 16 years. It's funny but at the time I felt like the ugliest girl in the world....and now?? If only I could look like that now!! If only I could be that skinny!! Oh well!

Day 33 - MY FAMILY

Day 32 - DANCE

Ok, so I'm going to cheat a little bit today. Technically I'm supposed to be posting a photo and not a video but this time I just couldn't resist. Whilst out tonight at a our favourite local bar/cafe/restaurant The Metz, Mia noticed the music in the background and just couldn't help herself. I hope you enjoy the video of our funky dancing girl!!!

Day 31 - MOTTO

I had never heard of this before I visited the lovely Stacey's blog. But I absolutely love it!! I have been thinking about it all week and think it will be my motto for life. I also think it makes excellent parenting advice :o)

I've included the video below of where this poster came from. 

(Is that the coolest bookshop in the world or what??)

DAY 30 - 11

Today, our big boy, Owen Paul Baggaley is 11 years old!!

Born 3 days early at 2.20pm weighing 7lbs. He was a beautiful baby. A rat bag toddler. A lovely boy.

He is intelligent, a leader, a really great big brother, sensitive, loving, adventurous, brave, a good friend and an awesome son!

Happy 11th Birthday Owen xxxxx

Day 29 - MUSIC

I'm not a big music listener really and prefer peace and quiet most of the time. Can you guess why?? With a musical husband and children it can be a little noisy around this home. Paul plays guitar and mandolin, Owen has been learning guitar at home and cello at school, and Luke has been learning piano for a few years now as well as doing violin and the good old recorder at school. As for Mia, she has a box of music instruments that she regularly dives into or she likes messing with various beats and sounds on Luke's digital keyboard. So peace and quiet are enough music for my ears (but if I really need something more than U2 is just fine thank you very much!!)

Day 28 - OUTDOOR PLAY

We were in need of some fresh air today so despite it being only 12 degrees, we stopped in here, at Princes Park, Battery Point, on the way home from doing some shopping.

The kids enjoyed playing here (a pirate ship)

here

and here

whilst I enjoyed a rest on a park bench in the sun. It's good to get outdoors sometimes :o)

Day 27 - WHERE I BLOG

Currently our computer is in our bedroom and so this is where I blog. You can also see a little bit of the lovely french door that looks out over the garden and our comfy armchair for reading. It's not a bad size room really. 

Day 26 - PINK

When I think of the colour pink I think of this girl :o)

After having two boys a lot of pink entered the house when she joined our family!

She is so incredibly girly and sweet. Who else would draw pictures in a tutu?? :)

Day 25 - ON THE TABLE

This used to be my craft table. You can tell I have three big boys in my house :o) They love lego!!!

Day 24 - SIBLINGS

Owen Paul (11 years), Mia Grace (4 years) and Luke Thomas (8 1/2 years)

Enjoying some school holiday fun :o)