Our Hunter Valley mini-vacation

Ahhh! This is a stress-free me writing this blog post. The knots are gone from my neck and I feel rested and content. That's what a weekend away will do for you!

We've just arrived home after a few days up in the Hunter Valley. For those that don't know, the Hunter Valley is about 2 hours north of Sydney and is the very popular wine country. There are handfuls {and more handfuls} of wineries spotted all over the countryside.

We arrived Friday afternoon and settled into a little villa at the Crowne Plaza. It was huge. And the resort {is that what they're called when they're not near the beach?} is so big we needed a map to navigate. There were free-standing villas all over the property with their own streets and car parks, with a golf course nestled around the edge of the villas. Pretty impressive.

There are just two things I have on my must-have list when staying anywhere, and I search for them as soon as I put the key in the door: king beds and a bath-tub. Our villa had both these things. Winning! Friday night I finished off some work and poured a hot bath, and attempted to read my first magazine in the tub. Word to the wise: I won't be doing that again.

On Saturday morning we headed up for breakfast and on the way up the stairs, as I smelt toast and bacon, I broke my shoe. So I held my shoe in my hand and hobbled to our table. Too embarassed to tackle the buffet barefoot I suggested that Hubby get my breakfast for me. He returned to the table proudly with smoked salmon and eggs. The only problem was, I hate smoked salmon. With a passion. I laughed and began to wonder if my Hubby really knew me at all. He was convinced that I loved them. I put them to the side and sent him off for another try...

Grateful that I'd packed two pairs of shoes, we spent the rest of the day getting massages and checking out the wineries. I put a call out on Twitter for the best wineries to visit, because there are truly SO many... and the people that tweet delivered. I can personally recommend Peterson's Champagne House, Hunter Valley Chocolates, Tempus Two winery and Cockfighter's Ghost winery. We didn't take a tour {with a driver} so we couldn't try too much wine and drive, so we limited it to just a few and took our time between those.

This morning we got up early in order to beat the back to school traffic and headed home. It's just after lunch and we've already unpacked and done the grocery shopping. Who needs sleep-ins?

Thanks to Toyota for sending us on our little weekend away. They armed us with their new Toyota Camry and sent us on our way. For those interested, my personal opinion is {and I'm not obligated to give a review} that it's a really nice car. It's sporty looking and smooth to drive. It's gutsy, yet fuel efficient {we've only used half a tank so far}. It has key-less entry and key-less start-up {which confused the beejeezus out of me at first}. All you have to do is press a 'start' button to get the engine going. You can even lock the car by wiping your finger over the handle. Lacey loves the sky roof and the reverse parking camera. She thinks we're keeping it. I don't have the heart to tell her otherwise!


When is the last time you escaped for a weekend away? If you could go anywhere, where would you like to go for a few days?

Quick challenge: Your day in photos

Earlier this week I promised a little something for those that couldn't handle another photo-a-day challenge, and now I'm delivering! This is a quick challenge, although still incredibly challenging. It's a one day challenge. No photo-a-day. No timeline. Just choose a day (any day this year, next year or whenever you feel brave enough!) and take a photo every hour from wake to sleep. Let others see a glimpse into your life. Tag each photo with #mydayinphotos (if playing on Instagram or Twitter), or just share them on your blog or on your Facebook.

If you're ultra keen and want to do the photo-a-day challenges AND this challenge, give it a whirl!

I look forward to checking out everyone's photos. You can find me on Instagram. My username is @fatmumslim. x

$5 dinner: Crustless pizza with salami

Last Friday I spent a peaceful day working at home alone while Lacey played at Kindy and Hubby went off for a spot of deep sea fishing. I didn't plan dinner because I assumed that Hubby would be bringing home fish for our tucker. I was optimistic.

I got a message just after lunch that Hubby had caught a 100kg marlin. So I started to salivate over fish and chips and continued working away.

By 5pm I started to wonder how on earth one would transport a 100kg fish home. Would we have to fillet it ourselves? Do people even eat marlin? I told Lacey we were having fish that Dadda caught for dinner and she had just one thing to say, "Eww! Are we going to eat it's poo?" It's always about the poo when you're 3.

By 5:30pm I've tossed out any ideas of eating the huge fish and started to cook a recipe I'd been meaning to try. At 6pm Hubby walked in the door with two tiny fillets of fish. Not marlin (it was let go), but dolphin fish instead. "I'm not eating dolphin!" I exclaimed (later I learned it isn't dolphin at all) and was grateful for whipping up the pizza. As was a hungry Hubby.

Ingredients
1 egg ($0.27)
2/3 cup flour ($0.07)
1 cup milk ($0.25)
1 cup grated cheddar or tasty cheese ($0.60)
3 slices of salami (use whatever you have: ham, tomato or pepperoni) ($1.35)

Method
♥ Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit)
♥ Grease a round pie dish (or any ovenproof dish)
♥ In a small bowl combine the egg, flour and milk and whisk until smooth. Add 1/2 of the grated cheese and stir
♥ Pour into the prepared dish and place in the oven to cook for 25-30 minutes, or until golden
♥ Take out of the oven and sprinkle with remaining cheese and your topping of choice. Mine was salami. Place the dish back in the oven and cook for 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden
♥ Cut into slices and serve with a salad

Notes:
♥ Price does not include the salad. I served mine with some rocket and balsamic dressing. Serve with a salad of your choice (which would bring it closer to the $5 mark).
♥ This meal serves 4. One serve was plenty for me. Hubby ate two because he had worked up an appetite. Lacey gobbled hers up.
♥ This is a great one for the kids to get involved in. Lacey did most of the work! Sssh!
♥ All of my ingredients were sourced from Aldi.

Everybody loves good neighbours

Since becoming a mum, sleep is a very sacred thing. I count the hours I get {or don't get} each night. I miss the sleep I once took for granted.

I'm a wake and get up kinda person. As soon as I open my eyes, my feet hit the floor and I'm up for the day. I can't get back to sleep, and I am hopeless at day-napping.

The other morning, before the sun had even risen, I was woken by the sounds of someone laughing. Loud laughing. Not just a meer giggle. Cackles that echoed off the walls. I peered over at the clock and it was minutes after 4am. I can't remember exactly, but there was a definitely a 4 in front. I rolled over hoping the laughing would stop and I'd be able to get back to sleep.

It continued, along with some loud chatting, some music and other noises. So I got up and started working. It was a Thursday morning, after all.

I crankily tapped away on my computer as the after party continued next door.

A week later, last Sunday to be exact, it happened again. Hubby was away at work. It always seems to happen when he's not home. This time it was some time after 6am and they'd decided to bring the party home. They sat in their backyard laughing and yelling, and having a good time. I crawled out of bed, opened my back door and softly and kindly requested, "Can you please be quiet?"

"Sure," they promised from over the fence.

The noise continued, so I got up and started watching re-runs of Friends as I waited for Lacey to wake.

I don't know why I'm surprised that people can be so inconsiderate, but each summer I am. I dream of free-standing homes with lovely neighbours who pop over to borrow sugar and milk. I also dream neighbours that live far enough away that I don't hear everytime they use the bathroom*.

I grew up that way. We'd block off the street a few times a year and have parties in the cul-de-sac. We loved our neighbours, and they loved us back. We waved as we drove by. Where we live now, often people don't even mutter hello as they get mail from the boxes, inches away from each other.


Do you have good neighbours? Can I borrow them?


* True story
{image source}

February photo-a-day challenge

This past month has been full on for me. I've jumped back into work, feet first and loads more has been going on too. The highlight for me has been January photo-a-day. It's been brilliant. I've loved seeing into other people's lives. The internet is pretty magical sometimes.

I've been asked about a hundred times to create a February photo-a-day, and I pretty much always do as requested, so I've created another one for February. I'll be creating one each month, because I'm enjoying it so much. I know how easy it is to get photo-a-day fatigue though, so if you can't fathom another month of photos ... take a break and come back another month. I've also got something to share later this week for those that want to try something a little bit different. Stay tuned.

So ... drumroll please ... here's February's photo-a-day challenge:

How to take part in February photo-a-day:

1. Using the list as inspiration, take a photo each day.
2. Share it on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #FEBphotoaday. You can also share on your blog or on Facebook ... or even keep the photos privately for yourself.
3. Check out other people's photos and like them or comment on them.

Note: The list is purely for inspiration, however you interpret the daily prompt is up to you. There are no hard and fast rules. For instance for day 22, if you don't officially 'work' and are a mum or looking for work - then show something that you consider to be work (or a chore perhaps). It doesn't have to be office stuff ... it's as loose as you want or need it to be. Just have fun and enjoy!

Also, numbers 20 + 27 were the same in the original list I posted this morning. Please note I have switched the list out.

And remember, for those with photo-a-day fatigue ... stay tuned for a little something-something later this week.

Did you take part in January? Will you be taking part in February?

A Disney Moment

On Thursday I let Lacey wag Kindy so that she could go and meet with her favourite 'people', Mickey and Minnie. Unfortunately, I couldn't wag work so I sent her on her way with my Lil Sis {aka Lacey's Godmother}.

The two of them hit the City, spent $15 on popcorn and bopped along to Mickey and his mates in the Disney Live concert. She was so excited the week leading up to the big day, and hasn't stopped talking about it since. I saw some video my sister took {at my request} and all I could hear was Lacey and my Lil Sis squealing in delight as the show went on.

And that hat! It's Jesse from Toy Story's hat. It hasn't really left her head since that day. Hubby and I have even had our turn at wearing it, I must 'fess up!

Thanks to Disney for the complimentary tickets. Lacey had the best time, I'm told.

If you want to see Disney Live, check out the dates here.

Be inspired this weekend

If you're looking to be inspired this weekend, may these videos do just that.








Have an awesome weekend. x