52 Week Project: Six.

It was suggested last week by April {my new personal shopping advisor} that I try using a remote with my camera to capture my self portrait. I popped over to eBay upon reading April's tip and purchased a wireless remote for the grand price of $13 {including postage}. It's cheap, it doesn't work brilliantly, but it does work.

I think I'll invest in a more expensive one. One that I don't have to point directly at the camera. One that doesn't require the remote being in shot.

Lacey and I had so so so much fun. We're easily amused. Obviously. xx

*And how hopeless am I at Febusave? Seriously. I am b-a-d.

Memory Lane.

I spent the evening last night looking through our old photos taking a trip down memory lane. I was searching for a particular photo so had Hubby on the hunt too. It's so easy to get distracted though and stop and look at all the photos from the past five years.

We laughed at how we've changed, adventures we've taken and things we've done. We sighed out how much Lacey has grown over these past twenty three months and asked: Was she ever really that small?

Hubby looked back and realised how much difference the 20 kilograms he's lost had made a difference {whilst I silently grumbled about how much the 20 kilograms I've found over time has made a difference too}.

We finally found the photo I was looking for and got ready to head to bed. I'm going to shave my head, Hubby piped up.

Oh right, I replied, yeah I like when your head is shaved. You can do that tomorrow.

Oh no, right now, he insisted.

And so at 9:34pm we were in the bathroom shaving Hubby's head. Lacey was still awake {darn that late afternoon nap she had} and she was amazed at what was going on. Hair Cut, she said with a look of concern on her little face.

And then we headed to bed, our hearts filled with love and memories.

I hope you have a lovely weekend planned. My lovely Mama {above in blue} is celebrating her 50th birthday. I've organised a breakfast by the beach for her. I'll be busy baking cupcakes, celebrating and singing Happy Birthday. Lacey will be busy blowing out birthday candles over and over and over again {we've been practising at home}.

What do you have planned for the weekend, my friend?

{photos taken by Rowe Timson in 2005}

*I may be a little bit tired and whole lot tipsy in that last photo - but look at how shiny my ring is! Pretty. {And a reminder that I need to get it cleaned for the first time ever}.

What's In A Name?

Good morning Estelle, he yells from across the promenade.

Morning Harry, I chirp back trying my best to hide the huge smirk across my face.

We've been greeting each other on our early morning works for over five years now. I spotted him one morning, before the sun had risen, sitting on a park bench along the beach. His breathing was laboured and my heart sank. I stopped for a moment and asked if he was okay. He was. His heart was aching and he had trouble breathing, but he would be just fine in a moment, he promised me. I waited for a while longer. He insisted I keep on walking.

I walked to the end of the beach and by the time I returned he was up and walking. He was right. He was fine. We exchanged names and a handshake, and became friends from that moment on. Him, a 90 year old man who acts in his spare time, loves golf, swims everyday without fail and is filled with life. Me, a twenty-something girl who never swims, hates golf and couldn't act to save my life.

He called me by the right name for the first month or so, and then out of nowhere I became Estelle. He'll walk along with his mates and so confidently call my name, and I can't bring myself to correct him after so many years. I actually kinda like it. It makes me smile. Or smirk.

Many people get my name wrong. After years and years I stop correcting people. I just don't care enough to bring it up. We had a cleaner at work last year that called me Charlotte for the whole time she was with us. A lady I met at the kid's school called me Siobhan for years, even after I had corrected her a few times. The man at our local corner store calls me Shane. And I let him.

I know some people would be extremely bothered by this. Part of me knows I should be too. It's never caused any problems. Except for this one time.

Last year one of the parents from school started to call me Charlotte {after I had introduced myself as Chantelle}. She'd text me and call me, addressing me as Charlotte... and after a while too much time had passed for me to do anything about it. To her I was Charlotte.

One day I needed to call her and arrange something important, and there came the dilemma. What would I say when I called? Hello it's Chantelle? I couldn't. To her I was Charlotte. Hello it's Charlotte. I couldn't. I'd be a fraud.

Instead I wimped out and said Hello, it's X's Nanny.

Her response: Oh, Charlotte?

And all I could muster up was a big, fat lie: Yes. Yes it is.

{image}

Everyday Everybody: Celia.

Hello. I bet you didn't expect to see this here. I'm mixing things up. Living on the edge. Adding a little spice. You know how it is.


Moving on. Meet Celia...


Were you a happy teenager?
Yes I was! My parents were very strict so I didn't get to go out and have normal fun, but they spoiled me rotten so I didn't know what I was missing out on!

Can you use chopsticks?
The way you are supposed to? ...no. But if you let me use both hands I can try and get the food in my mouth!

When was the last time you were pressured into doing something?
Honestly, I can't say that I have ever been pressured into doing anything. Oh wait, yes when I was in kindergarten - 1st grade the other mean girls would pressure me into giving them my hair clips and jewellery :( ...

Is there someone you think about everyday?
There are 3 someones actually. My Mom and Dad, and my love Mychael. I am unbelievably close with them, and if I could pack them up in my pocket I would.

When did you last drink champagne?
Probably my cousin's wedding a few years ago.

Name someone who's always good company?
My love, Mychael. I know I hear lots of couples married, or not say that their significant other gets on their nerves. I can't say that about him. It doesn't matter what type of situation we are in, we always have fun. I'm a very lucky girl!

What's the best advice you've ever been given?
When I was very little I always remember my Mom telling me to be me and not to worry about what other people think or trying to please them. This has helped A LOT through out my life. We come into contact with so many people and everyone has their own judgments about how you should be. I respect what other people think, but I am going to live up to my own standards, as long as I am happy and I am doing right by me... I am A-Okay.

What did you enjoy on TV yesterday?
I don't really watch much TV, but every night before bed the love and I usually put on some HGTV. We love to watch House Hunters and First Time Home Buyers, they give us ideas for our very near future.

Where did you last take photos?
Here at the house, I am always taking photos of my furkids.

What's your favourite colour?
Can I pick two? Yes? Thank you thank you so much! I LOVE pink, and I LOVE red! I loved pink so much that all my walls in my bedroom were pink from the time I was seven 'til I was about 22!


Thanks for playing along Celia. Visit Celia's blog here.

If you'd like to be interviewed for the Everyday Everybody series, please send me an email at fatmumslim@hotmail.com

Let It Snow.

When I tell people that I'm a Nanny I usually get two remarks...


1. Is that just like the show, The Nanny? Is there a Mr. Sheffield?
2. Oooooh. Do they take you on holidays with them?

I laugh. Some people watch too much TV.

The answer to number one is, No.

And the answer to number 2 is, in past jobs I have, and it's not as luxurious as it would seem.

I know a Nanny whose family owns a private jet. She flies around with the family. I'm sure that's a little bit luxurious. The only travelling I've done was 8 hours in a car all the way to the snow. Not so luxurious, despite travelling in a Mercedes Benz.

We stayed in a beautiful house on the side of a hill and spent the days out on the snow. Correction. The parents spent their days out on the snow, I spent my days chasing a toddler around the restaurants at the bottom of the ski fields.

I'm no skier. I've had two lessons, and they didn't go very swimmingly {or skiingly}. The first was a private lesson where I fell down underneath the ski lift near where the people were hopping on. Not the safest place to crash. I asked my German instructor if he could help me up, and his prompt response was, No.

My second lesson was a group lesson. We all tried a few techniques and then headed up on the ski lift to the top of the mountain. As soon as I looked down I realised that there was no way I was going to make it. I sat on my bottom and took a very icy bum-slide all the way down the mountain, as onlookers laughed on.

One day I'd love to go to the snow again and experience it for real. I want to have snow fights, and build snowmen. I want to make snow angels with my little girl, as my husband looks on and cringes with embarrassment. I want to climb aboard a little sled and scream wheeeee all the way down the hill.


The Winter Olympics have made me excited about our Winter coming up. I'm so ready for scarves and boots, and sleeping with cosy blankets on. I know it's a long way off, but I'm almost ready to wave goodbye to Summer....

Almost. xx

What perks come with your job {or jobs you've had in the past}?

{images}

Perve Fest.

Ok. I may have reached an all time low. It's the equivalent of having dog-eared posters on my wall as a teen of cute boys, which I never did mind you. I was too busy getting to know my Dolly and Girlfriend male models {and collecting the Dolly postcards}. Moving on.


I am looking forward to watching Nicholas Spark's book turned into movie, Dear John. Perhaps because I loved the Notebook and I'm a big fan of a soppy love story... but perhaps because Channing Tatum is particularly nice eye candy.

Which celebrity do you have a ever-so-slight crush on at the moment?

52 Week Project: Five.

I knew when I started the 52 Week Project {a self portrait every week for a year} that it was going to be hard. This week I realised that there is only so many photos one can take in front of the mirror. And a home only has so many mirrors.

I'm hopeless at the self-timer. My lens doesn't allow me to turn the camera around and shoot a photo of myself. So until I can figure out another way, the mirror is the way to go.

After taking about 30 photos in front of the mirror in our hallway, and hating them all, I flopped down on the bed in frustration. And then decided to try one last time. And this is it.

Only 47 weeks to go. I better put my creative thinking cap on.

I Want...

♥ laugh so hard that my sides split + my head falls off. kerplonk.

♥ pack our bags for a weekend away to anywhere that has salt in the air + carefree as compulsary

♥ to gobble up this strawberry white chocolate magnum + feel no guilt what-so-ever afterwards.

♥ to spend hours floating in a lukewarm pool as the sun kisses my face

♥ bring home an adorable little puppy dog for lacey to call her own

♥ to fill my home with soft pink flowers that never wilt

♥ to wear this necklace everywhere, including doing the grocery shopping. because i can

♥ to look this glamorous + beautiful whilst sitting in gutters

What do you want?

{all images from here + necklace from sportsgirl}

Garlands Of Love.

I was wet-my-pants excited when Wynona from Ivy Designs asked if I'd like to help photograph her new products, Love Garlands.


That was a HUGE compliment, and I jumped at the chance. I started hanging the garlands anywhere and everywhere to capture them. They looked pretty in Lacey's room, and just as beautiful hanging from a tree in the garden.

It was sad when I had to say my farewells and send the garlands back.

I might just have to find a spare nook in Lacey's room to put one up {although I am quickly running out of room}. At just $29 it's almost too easy to click purchase {even with Febusave hanging over my head}.

You can grab one at the Ivy Design's store. There are a few beautiful designs, made with Japanese fabric and a whole lot of love. xx

Grin & Share It.

What is one thing that made you smile today?

Me? Just life. The sun is shining. Everyone is happy. I can't ask for anything more.

Monday It Is.

Another weekend has passed us by, and now it's Monday... again. Why do the weekends fly by faster than the working weeks? Why?


My weekend was made up of:

♥ nights without Hubby as he went off to a surf carnival up the coast
♥ lots of Lacey & Mama time {we played on the swings, had lots of cuddles, baked banana muffins & had lazy mornings in bed}
♥ walks down at the beach
♥ cooking up a storm so that I have healthy meals at the ready for the week ahead

Did you get your Point + Shoot on? Here's mine. I snapped it while taking a lovely walk down on Bondi Beach at night. It was really busy still, as families started to pack up and the party-goers started to get into the night ahead of them.

Happy Monday all. I hope this week is a good one for you, and me. xx

My eBook: The Things People Said...

I've had some pretty darn sweet love letters arrive in my inbox lately. Well, love letters about my eBook anyway...

I thought I'd share what some people have said about my eBook, Let's Give Them Something To Blog About {if you want to know more about it, you can read it here}.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to send me lovely feedback. It's been a really fun experience. xx

You can purchase your own copy using the Paypal button below.

The Love.

Happy Friday my friends.


Last night I picked up Hubby and Lacey from the airport. Awww. They're back. I love them so. It's been a loooong week, but a lovely one too.


I know I mention it here and there, but I just wanted to stop for a moment and say Thank You.

Thank you for your comments. Thank you for popping by. Thank you for reading. Thank you for being part of our little community here. Thank you for listening. Thank you for supporting. Thank you for making me laugh. Thank you for sharing.

This week has been one filled with many little light bulb moments. I've learnt so so much from all of you, things that I wouldn't have found in magazines and books. Things that I am going to try and incorporate into my life. Thank you.

Have a lovely weekend all. Do you have something special planned?

You could always play Point And Shoot with me. Please.

Oh, and I've assigned all the partners for the Happy Mail Exchange. If for some reason you don't have your partner {some have gone missing - check your junk folder perhaps - which makes me head near explode} please email me and I'll resend your partner's details. I have already purchased some goodies for my girl, and I am so excited to look for more, as well as create some goodies too. xx

{my heart by everything lovely}

How About A Little Point And Shoot?

Shall we?


Oh yes. Let's.


This is how it works for those playing at home for the first time.

♥ At some point this week you grab your camera {be it DSLR, polaroid, phone etc}.

♥ You switch it on.

♥ You pick some part of your weekend that you want to share {it could be the sun shining, the beach, your breakfast, your bed, your friend, your coffee, you, anything}.

♥ You take your camera and you snap a picture of that something.

♥ You come back on Monday and share your photo.

♥ Easy and fun.

♥ You don't have to be a photographer {I'm not}, you just have to have a sense of fun and a camera of some sort.


Get snap happy friends. xx

{print by one eye open}

Take Your Hat Off.

I've found myself again. I didn't even know I was lost.


I've been so caught up in everything else that I forgot about me. I think these few days have been so good for my soul. I feel nourished, and light. I know that's deep and it sounds odd... but it is what it is really.

Being a Mum is the most wonderful aspect of my life. It's the hardest thing I've ever done, the best thing I've ever done, and it's completely consuming. More than I realised.

I was driving along yesterday and it was peak hour as everyone was trying to get to work in the morning. I started to get anxious and started to try and figure out a new, faster route so that Lacey wouldn't get upset and cranky {she's not the biggest fan of the car}. And then I realised, it's okay. I'm alone. It doesn't matter if I'm stuck in traffic. And so I stayed on the main road, turned up the radio and had a little car-karaoke-session.

I went to the markets to pick up some supplies for work and one of the ladies that I see every week told me that I looked really good and fresh. I felt that way too.


It's been nice to know the me again, without my Mummy or Wife hat on.


I know being a Mummy/Wife/Employee/Employer/Friend etc is a big part of who we are. But when you take off those hats... who are you?

I'd love for you to share in the comments about you. Tell me about you... without mentioning what you do, or who you're married to, or anything like that. What do you love? What are you passionate about? Who are you?

{image}

One Thing.

What is one thing that made you smile today?

I feel so good today. I've had a good quality sleep {yay, for having the whole bed!}, I got to exercise in the early hours of the morning, I have fresh flowers and Frankie magazine waiting at home for me to read tonight. And I'll get to read it without interruptions while I eat baked beans on toast for dinner. Utter bliss!

{Oops. That was more than one}.

{image by natalierose}

Everyday Everybody: Jane.

Good morning to you. Happy hump day.


I hope getting to know Jane in the Everyday Everybody series helps you get through the midweek blues and puts a little smile on your face.




What's under your bed?
A bunch of stuff that I can never find. Think old receipts/socks/pillows/important documents. I really should clear it all out, but can I really be bothered??

Did you swear at anybody today?
I swear like a sailor. It's horrible and so very un-ladylike. It becomes particularly bad when I'm driving. So yes, I'm sure I've sworn at someone today.

Has anything changed about your life this year {so far}?
I got a new job! As of this week, I am the brand spanking new receptionist at my gym. I always get so nervous about starting a new job, but I'm very excited about this one. As they say, a change is as good as a holiday!

What's your cure for a hangover?
Vegemite on toast, hands down. When your head is spinning and you feel like you might just spew, there's nothing better than lying in bed with a stack of Vegemite toast! My other nifty trick is to drink truckloads of water throughout the night and just before bed. It helps knock the hangover on it's head before it does any real damage.

Can you sing?
Only in the privacy of my own car. I refuse to sing in front of other people at the risk of public humiliation.

What's your ideal occupation?
In an ideal world, I would be a television presenter on Getaway. I'd travel the globe, stay in 5-star hotels, eat lots and lots of exotic, foreign food, AND get paid for it. I'm sure there would be some hard work involved, but I can't help but feel a little bit jealous of Natalie Gruzlewski when I watch that show...

What are you proud of?
I'm proud of how independent I've become in the past year or so. Back then, I'd have had no hesitation in asking mum for some spare cash if I was broke, or asking someone to do something for me simply because I was too lazy. I've grown up a lot and it's made me realise that hard work really does reap rewards.

What's your earliest memory?
I vaguely remember visits to my Nanna's house when I was about 4. We'd bake pumpkin scones together and pick flowers from her garden. Whenever I visit that house (which I rarely do these days), it smells like my childhood and I'm instantly transported back to when I was little.

Where was the first place you flew to?
I flew from Adelaide back to Sydney just after Christmas 2008. I have all my extended family in Adelaide and we spend Christmas with them every second year.

Who did you last buy a present for?
Myself? Does that count? I bought the most beautiful handbag the other day, just because I felt like spoiling myself (and it just looked so pretty!). I've been wearing it everywhere. It even sits on my lap while I'm driving.



Thanks Jane. I hope your new job is going well.



Visit Jane at her blog, Whatever Tickles Your Pickle.

52 Week Project: Four.

After having a bit of a sook all morning about my little girl and my beautiful man jetting off, I decided to build a bridge and get over it - at least just long enough to snap a self portrait.

I was so wound up this morning when I woke that I found it hard to breathe. I was on the brink of an anxiety attack. I've never had one before, but I image that would be what it was like. I'm so silly. I don't know why. I love my own company, and pre-baby could happily spend time alone. I craved it. I still crave it now.

I feel fine now. Drained, but fine. How was your day today?

Be Inspired: Katy.

Be prepared to be completely and utterly inspired, my friends. I've watched Katy transform in her journey from Fat Mum to Slim Mum and not only has there been a beautiful physical shift, her confidence and personality really shine through more now too.

While reading through Katy's interview I had about a trillion light bulb moments {boy, is it bright in here or what?} and I hope she inspires you all as well. Thank you Katy for allowing me to interview you, but also for being so inspiring and motivating. Congratulations on reaching your goal.

Name: Katy
Age: 30
Height: 167cm
Occupation: Mum, wife, financial controller, chef, creative director, you get the drift!
Weight Before: 106.7kg
Weight After: 68.1kg
Total Weight Lost: 38.6kg

How did you get to your starting weight?
A combination of factors led me to putting on over 35kg over a period of 7 years. I began working full-time, I was newly married, and then add to the mix moving house a couple of times and 3 children in quick succession, it was on before I knew it. My eating habits grew worse with my time being taken up by working, commuting to work, and fitting in children. I knew I was getting bigger – I just never admitted HOW big – and it was easier to be in denial and keep eating. I would say I’m also an emotional eater – I eat when I’m happy, sad, stressed… and I tended to eat too much of the wrong food, often in binge sessions that I would hide from my family.


What made you decide to start Weight Watchers?
I went to donate blood, and was horrified when I had to stand on the scales in front of a much older gentleman and had to admit my weight to a stranger! I was tired of being unhappy about myself, and was making myself feel ‘better’ (worse!!) by forgetting about it by eating more food. I also didn’t want my eldest boy to start Kindergarten with a ‘fat mum’ and give cruel kids another reason to potentially tease him. I decided it was time to put ME first. Happy Mum = happy home, and I decided it was best for all of us if I dedicated some more time to myself and my health that would then benefit them.


When did you start to feel different?
I would say after I had lost my first 10% of my total weight, and when my weight had dropped down to double digits. I had dropped 2 sizes (to an 18), and was starting to feel much more energetic from eating better and moving more.

Did you set mini goals along the way?
Most definitely, and they helped keep me motivated. I tried to follow the SMART priciples (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely), but also didn’t make my mini-goals unachievable as I didn’t want to set myself up for failure! I probably had a good 20 or so mini goals along the way, such as reach 5kg lost, get under 100kg, lose 10%, lose 10kg, lose 15kg, walk for an hour, fit into a size 16 pair of jeans, join a gym, get back into bike riding etc. I had a large list, that I tracked in a spreadsheet, along with my weigh-in results each week, my monthly measurements (a fabulous motivator!), and graph showing me visually how much I was achieving.

Did you have any hurdles/weaknesses?
Oh yes, emotional eating and binge eating were two HUGE things that had to deal with if I had to be successful. In fact, tackling these hurdles will be life-long, but it is much easier now that I have the support of WW and its tools, my fellow members, my husband and my online network. It’s never easy, but it gets easier. I was more scared of how I was going to manage without my regular binge sessions that I was about exercise (almost!). Another hurdle was facing the excuses I kept coming up with to NOT exercise – such as ‘having no time’, ‘being tired all the time’, ‘the kids need…’, ‘I need to go…’. I stopped making excuses and put myself first so I couldn’t MAKE excuses.

What exercise did you do to begin with?
I started really small, on the advice of my leader at the time. Once I committed to losing almost 40kg – which was daunting in itself, I would wake up with my husband in the morning as he got ready for work, get dressed (I get my clothes and shoes out the night before, no excuses!), and I would walk around the block for 15 minutes – on my own. I gradually built it up, 5 minutes at a time. Once I felt more confident with myself – probably after the first 10kg was gone, I joined Curves to do some more strength training. I didn’t want to join until I had a habit going of walking daily, so I knew I would keep going to Curves, and knew that I could commit to just 30 minutes 3 times a week.

What exercise do you do now?
I go to Curves four times a week, I walk for an hour 2 or 3 times a week, I walk the dog of an evening 3 times a week for 20 minutes, and as a family we try and do a bike ride around the fabulous waterways on the Central Coast where we live.

How did it feel when you reached your goal?
I was elated, I was on such a natural high that after 15 months of solid work, I had made it to goal!! Not the fast 1kg-a-week way, but in my own time, and without feeling like I had missed out on anything. I was so happy and proud of myself.

What advice would you give to others wanting to lose weight?
1. Just do it.
2. Don’t be afraid.
3. Find a fantastic support network.
4. Put yourself first.
5. You deserve to feel as good as I do about getting to goal!

How is your life different now?
Words are hard to convey how much my life is different. I have a deeper and much more loving relationship with my husband than I did before, because I’ve found confidence in myself that I didn’t know I had. I exercise, I enjoy it and find it really does give me much more energy. I eat well, and I’ve learnt how to vary my cooking techniques to still eat tasty food. I feel on top of the world!

What can you do now that you couldn't before?
I can walk for an hour at a steady 6km/hour, which is amazing when I could barely walk around the block when I began exercising. I actually look for more activities than I did before, and do more with my family than I did 2 years ago. I’m enjoying life now.

How have people reacted to the new you?
Oh, people have been so supportive along the whole length of my weight-loss! Their encouragement has been invaluable. But the comments saying how fabulous I look, and how small my bottom is, never fails to give me a smile! But more, I have much more confidence radiating from me, that I think even strangers pick up on that, without knowing the path I’ve travelled, and I actually feel that they feel my opinion is important.

What's your favourite Weight Watcher's recipe?
Without a doubt, Cheesy Mustard Lamb Steaks, with steamed point-free veggies or salad! So easy and low in points – just multiply by the number of people you are serving.

Cheesy Mustard Lamb Steaks
Serves 1 @ 5.5 points

Ingredients
125g lamb leg steak
3 tablespoons low-fat grated tasty cheese
1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
1 shallot, chopped (or 1/8 onion, finely chopped)
1 medium potato, steamed
Point free steamed vegetables/salad

Method
Coat a fry pan with spray oil. Cook lamb steak until tender.
Combine cheese, mustard and shallot and sprinkle over steaks. Grill until melted and browning.

Serve with vegetables or salad.

I can only add as advice to anyone is to believe in yourself. If you believe in yourself, others will begin to as well.

A Tetris Life.

How do you do it all?, people ask me.


And my answer is, I don't do it very well.

Days are jam packed, quality sleep is a distant memory, to-do lists are constantly running though my head and multi-tasking is the new black. Life is a huge game of tetris.

What's that? A spare 3.5 minutes? I could probably slot in baking a batch of muffins in there. Four minutes? I can have a quick game of playdough with my daughter. There's a block of 14.3 minutes there? I could probably get the vacuum out and give the house a quick once over.

Tasks are done in a hurry, without much love or thought. But they're done. Most of the time. Some of the time. Mediocre is my new standards. I no longer strive for perfection. Mediocre suits me just fine. Most of the time. Some of the time.

And this is life. It's one big juggling act. Managing life, and trying to slot in work, being a good parent/wife/friend/person, and trying to find a perfect balance of everything seems to an elusive goal for many. I know I'm not alone. I hear the cries from mothers near and far.

Just when you think you have it mastered, something comes undone, or something else pops up and you realise you have to figure it all again {or restart the whole game of tetris} until you've got everything worked out again.


How do you manage your life? Do you let some things slide? Do you make other things a priority? Where are you on your priority list? I'd love to hear your tips, tricks or tales of woe. xx


{image}

A Chocolate Love Story.

It's no secret that I love anything from Max Brenner, particularly his chocolate souffles {which are actually little cakes}. So, when he released a cookbook, I needed it. Luckily for me, I got one for Christmas.


I figured Valentine's Day was a great day for making the souffle. Here is the recipe. It makes 15 cakes.

Ganache Filling
1/2 cup heavy cream
7 ounces whole large marshmallows, plus 10 marshmallows finely diced {around 200g}
7.5 ounces white chocolate, roughly chopped

Souffles
12 ounces dark chocolate roughly chopped
3 sticks unsalted butter {1.5 cups}
1.5 cups sugar
8 large eggs, room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
15 ramekins

1. Make the ganache filling. In a small saucepan, cook the cream and the marshmallows until they melt. Pour over the white chocolate in a bowl. Stir until it has all melted together.

2. Pour into silicon moulds {I used an Ikea heart ice tray being the romantic that I am} and freeze for a minimum of four hours.

3. Prepare the souffles. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celcius. Melt the dark chocolate, add the butter and sugar. Stir until well combined. Add eggs one at a time and whisk in. Set aside.

4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa and baking powder. Whisk with the chocolate mix until smooth. Divide among 15 baking cups, filling to 3/4 full.

5. Put one frozen marshmallow ganache piece in the middle of each baking cup. Bake until the souffles rise and the insides are still molten - about 9 minutes. Serve immediately.


I halved this recipe because we didn't really need 15 of them. Although my family came around and gobbled them up. I think they have a nose for baked goods. As soon as they were out of the oven, they came running. A big thumbs up from all. xx

Ouchie.

Ouchie, she whimpered and then the waterworks began to flow.


She wept and wept as if it were her own finger that was bleeding. Ouchie, she whispered through her tears and sobbing.

We managed to distract her for a while until she remembered and wandered over to her Dadda for another look. He showed her his sore finger. It was nothing major, just a little scratch not even requiring a band-aid.

Ouchie, she whimpered and once again began to cry. No distraction eased her worry. She continued to cry until I gathered up the first aid kit and covered up the scratch.

All better, I explained, closing the lid on the first aid kit, and her tears.

Compassion never had such beauty. My little girl filled with sadness for her Dadda. Her Dadda, the man that hopes to ease any pain that she ever experiences was unwillingly the cause of her tears. Both our hearts ached.

I have been a bit blue this weekend. I'd be doing my own little things and then wonder why I felt so sad, and then I'd remember. Tomorrow my two loves are going away.

About six months ago I saw some flights were going cheap {$6 for Hubby and Lacey return - crazy} for a trip up the coast so I asked Hubby if he wanted to take Lacey away for a little break. Six months ago I felt like by the time February rolled around Lacey would be a big girl, and she wouldn't need her Mama. I hoped by February I would be okay with them going away. It is now February, and I am not.

I am quiet in my sadness. This is the first time I'm giving it a voice, right here. I think Hubby expects the sadness. I don't want him to worry. I will miss them too much. I love my little family more than anything else... and I love having them near me. Within arms reach. Within a hugs reach.

So I'm off to soak up my little family as much I can. Please tell me your weekend was filled with much more happiness, over priced inflatable balloons in the shape of hearts, and chocolate too. How was your weekend, my friend?

Love, Sweet Love.

We don't celebrate Valentine's here. We're not anti-valentines, but going out to a restaurant on a popular night, like tonight... filled with couples filled to the brim with love {and probably wine} isn't our cup of tea.


We'd rather be in love in the comfort of our own home, with just our own little family. And there will probably be chocolate cake {or souffle} to make things that little bit sweeter.

I hope you share your love today. It doesn't have to be with a cheesy hallmark card {although ironically I did, mine had something to do with covering Hubby in chocolate, or something} but it can be with a smile. A hug. A knowing glance. A wink.

Spread love where ever you shall go today. xx

{beautiful print from Erin Jane Shop}

My eBook Is Here!

It's finally time to launch {oh, that word is so odd!} my little eBook: Let's Give Them Something To Blog About.

Let me tell you a little bit about it:

♥ Something To Blog About is a cute little eBook to give you ideas on what to blog about. If you often get stumped for ideas, and get a little blogger's block, then Something To Blog About will help you to get your mojo back.

♥ It's fun. It's pretty. It's easy to read. Something To Blog About has 40 ideas for you to blog about. Each idea has a small paragraph or two to go with it. I'm pushing you in a certain direction, inspiring you to blog, without holding your hand the whole way.

♥ I get lovely emails every other day asking about blogging ideas and tips for blogging. Something To Blog About is what other bloggers have been asking me for, for a while now, in one neat little package.

♥ It's printable. So print it out and keep it near your desk {or blogging spot} and refer to it whenever you feel the need.

♥ There are 40 ideas in Something To Blog About but you can make this into many, many blog posts. You can interpret each concept into many different Blog Posts, and your perspective on each will change as time goes on, and you grow. I look forward to seeing how each blogger that purchases it turns into their own little piece of themselves.

♥ Ten percent of all profits will go to The National Breast Cancer Foundation. I thought it would be nice that we donate a little to something very special.

So if this sounds like something you'd like to be part of then just use the paypal button below. I will {and Hubby will help too} be sending them personally through email but I hope to have it sent to your inbox within moments of you purchasing it. Please let me know if the address that you buy with paypal isn't the email that you want the eBook sent to.

The size of the eBook is 2MB. If that's too big for you, then please let me know and I'll try and reduce it for you {it may compromise the quality of the images, but I'm sure not by much}.

And lastly... I would appreciate if you didn't share this eBook. I currently earn no money from my blog. I have no advertising, and I consistently provide content daily {sometimes twice} for no profit at all. I do it for love. LOVE! So please share the love by not sharing my eBook. When you purchase it you purchase it for YOURSELF only. I hate to get all teacher/nanny/cop/angry Mama on your butt, so please just do the right thing.

If you have any problems or have any feedback please email me at: fatmumslim@hotmail.com

So thank you so much for all your enthusiasm, and encouragement. Enjoy. xx

Phew and Point & Shoot.

Oh, I need a little lie down. I'm tired. Can I lean on your shoulder and have a little shut-eye?


With finishing up the eBook and sorting out the Happy Mail Exchange partners this week {as well as normal day-to-day life - teamed with this icky heat}, I'm a little bit exhausted. I'm looking forward to a nice, quiet weekend. What are your plans for this weekend?

I thought we could finish up the week with something fun. Let's do an impromptu Point + Shoot... TODAY!

So grab your camera, your phone, or anything else you need to take a quick picture and shoot something that is bringing you joy today. You could just point your camera/phone upwards and shoot the sky, if that's bringing you joy. Anything.

Upload it somewhere {your blog, Facebook, Twitter, photobucket, anywhere} and share it. Leave your link here.

If you don't have a blog, but want to share Facebook is a really easy way to do it. Just upload the photo, into a new album. Make just that particular album viewable to everyone in the dropdown menu. That way we can all see that photo without everyone seeing your profile. Click on the photo or album and then copy and paste the web address for it. {I think that would work}.

Have the best weekend ever. This week has been exhausting, but at the same time very rewarding. Thank you all so much for your support. xx

My Ten Blogging Tips.

Once upon a time there was a girl. A girl who liked to blog. She liked it so much that sometimes it kept her awake at night as her mind juggled thoughts and ideas, when she desperately needed sleep. And then it got her up early in the morning, even before the sun had started to shine, with a head full of fresh ideas and new inspiration. Blogging allowed the girl to meet people near and far, and form friendships that may never have been. It allowed her to learn, and listen, and love in a whole new way. Blogging put a spring in her step. It opened up a whole new world. It made the girl see life in a whole different light...

That girl is me.

I haven't been blogging forever. I'm no expert. I'll put my hand up right now and tell you that. I've learnt things in my travels though. Things that I've found interesting. Perhaps you'll find them interesting too...


1. Light Is Right.
Most of you won't know this, but this blog started out with a black background. After weeks of wondering why my eyes were going fuzzy, and heading to bed with headaches most nights, I realised that my blog was making me ill. Black is not the new black. Black backgrounds are a little harder to read, in my opinion. If I come across a black blog, I usually don't linger too long {unless they've already been put in my favourites}. There only a few blogs that I'll hang around for that have a dark background. Light backgrounded blogs are most preferred according to a survey by Problogger too.

2. About Me.
I get so sad when I stumble across a blog I love, and they don't have an About Me page. I'm reading your blog because you're interesting... and I want to know more about you. You don't have to give out too many details, if you're not comfortable. Just tease us with a little bit. Taunt us with a photo, perhaps. You can put it in a post, back date it a few months and then link to it in your sidebar. While you're there make sure you have a Contact page too. I might want to email you and tell you how much I like your blog.

3. Assume We Know Nothing.
If you do a post telling me that you went to Sue's for lunch, over at that place that you love, and ate that meal that you always eat, and wore that dress that you wore three weeks ago, and then you went and did what you always do after lunch with Sue... well I'll leave your blog not knowing much at all. And that's a waste of both our time. So assume that every reader is visiting your blog for the first time. Give details, explain things a little more than you deem necessary. Make it easy for your new friends, to be long term friends {readers}.

4. Make It Pretty.
I'm not talking about flowers, and love hearts and dragonflies. I mean, make it readable. Don't write in one whole block piece. Use paragraphs. Double space if you need to. Read over what you've written. Make it easy on the reader. And if it's a really long post, why not break it up into two parts {that also saves you thinking of something else to write later on in the week - bonus!}.

5. No Text Talk.
OMG pls dont tlk in txt ppl.
Because quite frankly I'll have no idea what on earth you're talking about, and neither will Aunty Nancy. And we can't have that.

6. Copycatting Ain't Cool.
But what is cool is being inspired and creating your own little piece of goodness. Not only is that honourable, but it makes you feel good and gives you that glow. A glow that says, I did it my way, and on my own. If you come across something that makes your heart skip ten beats and you just want to do something similar then email the original blogger and say so. Ask what they think. There's nothing more disheartening then seeing something that made you so happy {that you created by using your own brain cells and own special creativity} over on someone else's part of the web. Not cool.

7. Have A Point Of Difference.
This is something you're going to have to discover on your own. What makes you different to other people? What makes your blog different from the billions of other blogs out there? Be irreplaceable. Different. Unusual. Find a point of difference and go with it.

8. Be Consistent.
I feel like I should get my pom poms out for this one. Be consistent. Be, be, consistent! If you blog once a week, then blog once a week. Do you promise to blog daily, then blog daily. Whatever you do, make sure you are consistently doing it. People like to know what to expect and when to expect it.

9. Get Involved.
Get involved in the blogging community. Comment, comment, comment. Comment on blogs you love, and most of all your own blog. Create a community. Be part of a community.

10. Enjoy It.
I think it can be pretty obvious when the spark has gone from a blogger. You can tell that they're scraping the bottom of the barrel for content, and really struggling to enjoy their blog. If you feel that way, take a break. It will do you wonders. Take a week off. Live a little. Let your hair down. Come back feeling fresh and revived. And if that doesn't work, perhaps purchasing my eBook will {yes, shameless plug!}.


Let's Give Them Something To Blog About {the eBook} will be available this afternoon if you're interested {which you are, by the way}. I'll see you back here then. xx

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Fat Mum Slim now has a Facebook Fan Page. Come and join.

{one thing}

Let me tell you about my siblings. We're all very different from each other, physically and in personality.



I'd probably be the quietest one. I have a dry sense of humour. I pipe up with one liners every now and then. I'm like the mother hen. I organise everyone. Cook for everyone. And pretty much just make sure that everything is going as I we want it to. I'm the boss lady.

My younger brother is quiet too. But only really when you compare him to my two sisters, but more about them in a second. My brother is extremely funny, with his own quirky sense of humour. He's a very talented motorbike rider, winning medals for cross country riding {I've probably called it the wrong thing - but whatever it is, he's a dare devil}. He can also fix anything, and is the sort of person you call when you need someone to tell you that it will all be okay.

My Lil Sis and Big Sis, they're like foghorns. Different in personality, but both veeeeery loud. Lil Sis is into everything being clean and sanitary. I'm sure she keeps a pack of dettol and glen20 in her back pocket. She's smart, great with money, organised and always {always!} enthusiastic.

Big Sis is a go getter. She's a singer but also Vice President of an International company {you may have one of their credit cards in your purse}. She's teeny , and she's sassy. Men fall at her feet. They always have. She's the life of any party and has more friends than I could possibly count.

Last Friday night Ma, and my two sisters came around for a pasta dinner {it was pretty mediocre by the way}. It came bedtime for little Lacey so I headed down to bed to put her down. I could hear my two foghorn sisters laughing their heads off. Lacey isn't the easiest baby to put to sleep so I was anxious that their laughter would keep her awake. I also wondered what on earth they were laughing at. When I left they were watching The Biggest Loser and that's not usually funny.

Lacey nodded off without much trouble at all. I had nothing to worry about. I headed upstairs to find my two sisters in hysterics reading my blog. It warmed my heart and made my smile. And I'm still smiling now.

What is one thing that made you smile today?

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Ebook Winner.

The winner of my little guide is comment number 10, which would be Jaime. I've emailed you and hope you are enjoying the book as I type.



Thank you everyone for entering, and for your support and enthusiasm.

Tomorrow I will be sharing ten things I've learnt in my blogging life so far, and the book will go on sale. Yay! So pop back tomorrow to snap up a copy.

Blog This are also giving away a copy if you'd like to try your luck.

For my non-blogging readers, I promise to be back to normal non-bloggy-related posting after that. xx

Everyday Everybody: Tracey.

Welcome to another Everyday Everybody interview. Today we're meeting Tracey of Sh1ft.org. Tracey is one of those people that's talented at everything: designing, photography, cooking, writing, mothering amongst others. I find her constantly inspiring, she's filled to the brim with brilliant ideas.



Have you ever eaten oysters?
No, they kind of freak me out. lol.

What do you wear to bed?
Super cute Bonds singlet & underwear sets in the summer - and in the winter, 5 layers of whatever is closest!

What day of your life would you happily relive?
Can I have 2? The births of my babies - best. days. ever. I'll never forget it and I'd do it over and over again even though some people think I'm crazy.

Are you punctual?
I'm so paranoid of being late or lost, that I make it a point of arriving early. Sometimes, annoyingly early. In fact, I'm probably already there.

What question would you like to ask a fortune teller?
I'd ask them to sum up the rest of my life in a few words, so I'm given a snippet but not the whole story :)

When was the last time you pretended to be out?
Does every Friday and Saturday night count? Nah, I'm happy to be home -but I won't answer the door if that Telstra salesperson knocks again(for the 6th time in 3 months..).

What are you like when you're drunk?
Terrible - which is why I don't drink. I'm more fun, sober.

How do you relieve stress?
Giggle with my kids - all my worries don't seem so bad after that. My favourite game at the moment is the 'silly sneeze' and 'funny cough' competition I have with my 2 year old - he's pretty good at it! My almost-8 month old cracks me up no matter what she does. Fantastic after a tough day at work.

What was the first place you ever flew to?
Malaysia to see my grandparents when I was about 10 - it was a real treat, until I had to fly back to Sydney, sick as a dog.

When was the last time someone gave you flowers?
January 4, just past. My husband bought me a huge (almost comical) bunch of gorgeous flowers for our 6th anniversary. It was really lovely.


Thanks for playing along Tracey. It's nice to know someone else who is super early to everything. I am always hanging out in the car trying to kill 10 minutes so I don't seem too keen. xx

Bend & Stretch.

What exercise have you done today?

Me? I got up at 5am this morning and went for a 50 minute brisk walk. It was already hot {24 degrees celcius to be precise} before the sun was even up.

Glamping.

We've booked a weekend away for our anniversary, my friend Hayley emailed me, we're going glamping.



Glamping? I questioned for a moment, before reading on.

It's glamorous camping, she continued, I can't wait.


I once considered glamping too {not that I knew it had such a snazzy name}. I was researching holidays for our honeymoon and somehow I stumbled across an island in far north Queensland that had cute little tents that we would potentially stay in. I was completely sold, until I realised that there was absolutely no electricity. And no electricity means no GHD {hair straightener}. And no GHD means horrific hair days filled with utter frizziness, which is the complete opposite of glamorous.

We ended up honeymooning on an island in Fiji, complete with electricity.

We've done our fair share of camping though. By fair share I mean that we've dabbled in it.

One Summer we decided to plan a little camping trip. We researched sites and picked one near the water of a popular little town. We went shopping and bought a 4-man tent. We wanted enough room for us and our gear. Nothing but the best for us.

So we drive the 6 or so hours to South West Rocks and check-in. Checking-in is completely unglamourous. We're told that our site is the furthest piece of land there is. There are no set areas and it's first in best dressed. She points in the direction we should head, and we get in the car and drive there.

The area is full. People have found their little spots and are all settled in, sitting in front of their tents enjoying the view. It seems like they've been settled in for weeks.

And in we drive, the City folk.

We set up our tent with great difficulty, entertaining the campers nearby. We set it up inside out. Pull it back apart. And then set up how it should be done. We realise that instead of buying a normal 4-man tent, we've picked ourselves up a 2 bedroom tent. So instead of all the room we envisioned. We're cramped up in one tiny bedroom, and our luggage is in another. I suggest to Hubby that we sleep in separate rooms, but Mr. Romantic refuses.

After the erecting the tent, there's nothing more to do but play an obligatory game of UNO or eleventy billion. We soon realise that there's not much to do when you're camping.

Night falls and we cook up a BBQ dinner. We head to bed early, back in the sticks where we are there isn't much atmosphere. We can hear groups of people in the distance laughing and having fun. We assume they're in the 'rich' area where people have caravans and their own actual sites.

By the time morning comes the tent is damp with morning dew, and I couldn't need the bathroom more. The amenity block is almost driving distance away, and I won't make it walking. I grab my bike and ride as fast as my legs will take me. I get there, eventually.

I get back to the tent and Hubby is awake. Aren't you busting to use the bathroom? I ask. He smirks, and I assume that he must have popped outside, behind the tree during the night. He holds up two glad bags with a familiar looking yellow liquid inside. Enough said.

After riding our bikes all day, and exploring the beautiful, yet sleepy little town we decide that our camping adventure is over. We've done all that we can do, and played enough UNO to last us a life time. We stay one more night in our teeny little tent.

When morning rolls around, after the brisk morning bike ride to the loo, we pack up and head home. And there is nothing like having all that space to ourselves, and comfy bed too. Having a toilet so close seems like quite a luxury now.


Are you a camping kinda person? Or do you prefer 5 star accomodation?

52 Week Project: One, Two, Three.

I hate having my photo taken. Hate it. If I'm in your company I see you reach for a camera from your handbag, that would be the time that I quietly disappear to the bathroom. I hate it so much that for our wedding I requested two things: No full length shots {which were ignored, thankfully} and no photo session.

I just wanted happy snaps, no posing.

And then there's Facebook. Not only are there bad photos, but now there out there for public view. Fan-bloody-tastic.

I started the 52 Week Project last Monday. Amanda from the blog Mocking Bird left a comment saying that she did a similar project last year, but she took self portraits instead. At first that seemed like hell to me. But then I got thinking. This is the year of ME. This actually makes sense. So I switched it around and now I'm going to take a photo of myself every week {eek. What am I getting myself into!}. I'm playing catch-up so here are my first three...

Lacey and I were playing dress-ups in this last one. Funny.

Let me know if you decide to play along. xx

Rain, Rain, Go Away.

I used to love the rain. In fact most times I still do. I love that I can snuggle inside and be with my little family, watching trashy TV and not feel an ounce of guilt.

Over the weekend it felt like it had been raining for years. I almost forgot what the sun looked like. There are three reasons why I didn't enjoy the rain:

1. It was muggy. Like the windows were foggy because it was so impossibly humid. Ick.
2. I have a toddler. Who gets cabin fever, very easily.
3. I wore a maxi dress. Not such a great idea with oodles of puddles and pouring water.

Honestly though, it wasn't too bad. I just hope it doesn't rain all week. I have washing to do, and I need a dose of vitamin D.

Things that I loved from the weekend include:

♥ weighing in early at Weight Watchers and losing 1.2 kg
♥ breakfast at Bill's {I only ate 1/3 of my breakfast as not to ruin the weight loss}
♥ putting bright pink gumboots on my favourite little person + jumping in puddles
♥ a Japanese dinner at my new favourite restaurant
♥ spending time at Ma's on Sunday + sitting down to a lovely roast with the family


I printed out my eBook on Sunday and I'm pretty happy with how it comes out. If you want to enter to win the first copy sent out, just visit here.


So I hope you had a lovely weekend, and have a lovely week planned out. This afternoon I've changed around the 52 week project so come back and have a little look.


What was the best thing that happened to you on the weekend? xx



Today at Kidspot I'm talking about how in The Year of Me I am embarking on the journey from Fat Mum to Slim Mum. Join Me. {And if you're keen to join Weight Watchers, I will have a code in the next few days to give you a few bonuses when you sign up - Magazines etc - so just hold up for a bit}.

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