Gifted.

I'm not going to make any apologies. I'm about to rave and gush and go on and on. I've found the most delightful e-magazine ever. Gifted combines all my loves at this time of year: frocks, gift wrapping, gift guides, cookies and Christmas. Seriously... delight-full!

I couldn't help but click on several {hundred} links, so much so that my computer was almost having a meltdown due to having so many windows open. There's also free printables and so many brilliant ideas I feared my brain might explode!

The talented Ez from the blog Creature Comforts {oh, I love how the blogosphere has pockets of such supreme talent! Love!} has put together this great little magazine with the help of a few friends.


The magazine is free and a must for your to-read list. Pour a cup of tea and enjoy. x

Daily joy: the silly season is near.

From my walk this morning. How are you today?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Blue skies & interrogations.

Seriously the weekend whiz by so quickly around here I can hardly keep up. We spent Saturday on the Central Coast where the weather was perfection. Lacey's just got to the stage where she asks constantly: What are you doing? Where are we going? Why? and then she starts again... it's an endless round-a-bout of questions. So the whole car ride felt like an eternity and an interrogation. Painful but hilarious at the same time.

The picture above is at about 1:34pm, somewhere around The Entrance. We decided to find a little fish and chip shop by the beach to grab lunch. We were in fits of laughter because we drove so far, and so not near a beach to some dodgy place in the middle of nowhere. I love my little family adventures.

I can't wait to see your weekend. I am hoping to get around to visit everyone and comment this week. There's a new Point & Shoot badge too on the left hand side. Feel free to grab it and use it on your blog.

Happy Monday all. xx

Spring Clean!

The queen of kids storage, Fiona Kate, has graced us with her presence and shared her tips for spring cleaning the kids cupboards. You can find her blog here which is filled to the brim {in a neat & tidy order, of course} with great storage ideas.

♥ Pop on some music that energizes you. {Grown up music... not The Wiggles!} Now turn it up louder...
♥ Grab a large glass of water fill it to the top this will be thirsty work! Have a large bag ready.
♥ Open all the kid's cupboards {& the ironing basket} throw all of the winter clothes into 3 piles: those that are too small, those that need mending {but only if you can & will mend them!} & the remainder pile according to age.
♥ Don't forget to spring clean the shoe collection too!
♥ Stop for a huge gulp of water!
♥ Label a simple gorgeous box {hmm where would I find one of those?} that fits in the space you have in the cupboard or where ever else you wish to store them.
♥ Label the box with the age & sex {ie boys 4 years old} so that you know what's inside! Pop them all in.
♥ Pop anything in a bag that your child has never worn & probably never wear, as well as any winter wraps and blankets too. These can go to Charity.
♥ Throw out any odd socks. You're never going to make 36 sock monkeys. Are you?
♥ Pop the now filled boxes in their spots {if you use attractive boxes, there's no need to hide them}
♥ Use the same boxes each year, just re-label them.
♥ Take another gulp of water!
♥ Grab the dog, the baby & your bag of clothes {put them in the pram to make it easier & put bub in the sling}.
♥ Drop everything off at your nearest Charity bin.
♥ Return home. Relax. Have a cuppa. & work out a strategy for attacking the rest of the house!

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Daily joy: her.

Even though she's almost sent me mental today, when she's meant to be at Kindy but instead is at home sick. Even though she drew all over her face and put stickers all over the lounge. Even though she's made me dance and demanded that I "Look MumMum" more times than I count. Even though she turned the house inside out and upside down. Even though I now have to clean a huge mess that I could have done without. I love her. And I'm kinda glad she's home.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Making Whoopie {pies}!

Move over cupcakes, and get out of the way macarons. Meet the new kid in town... whoopie pies! I learnt about whoopie pies from the cake pop queen, Bakerella. She was talking about her book tour on her blog and mentioned this lovely book, and I had to have it.

Whoopie pies are like little biscuit cakes filled with marshmallowy type goodness. As I made these I had my little kitchen hand {aka Lacey} helping me out. The girl likes her cake batter... so it was a furious race for me to make these babies before she ate enough batter to make herself sick. In my cake making haste I forgot to add the baking powder. Alas they still turned out quite okay.

The recipe called for vegetable shortening and marshmallow fluff... the thought of any type of shortening {what is it?} made my tummy churn, so I used butter instead. And marshmallow fluff? I had no idea so used vanilla cream instead {cream with some vanilla mixed in}. I cut mine into cute little hearts, because I couldn't resist. Here's an Australian recipe for Whoopie Pies you might like to try.

What do you think the next craze will be? Can you predict it? Will it be the humble choc-chip cookie perhaps?

BLOGversation: Three Words.

Blogs can evolve from one type of blog to another over months and years. I'm wondering, my fellow blogger, how would you describe your blog right now in just 3 words? It's not that easy... is it?

I'll leave my description in the comments below.



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Jodie: five things I love.

Handbags. If I was Oprah, I'd own a handbag to match every outfit. I love them. The bag pictured was my 40th birthday gift this year from my husband. To me, it's the most thoughtful gift Hubby could have come up with, because he thinks it's just silly having so many bags, but he knows how much I LOVE them.

Motherhood. Growing up, the thing I longed for most was to be a mother some day. Even though I complain sometimes - ok...often! - about just how much hard work it is, I feel like I'm doing my dream 'job' as a stay-at-home-mum to three gorgeous, very individual and clever (in my opinion, of course) boys. Sometimes I look at them and just can't believe Hubby and I made something so special together! Blessed.

Blogging. It was weird. I joined the school's P&F Committee, and I started thinking about how the P&F pages in the school newsletter should be written. Words were just jumping in to my head, and I was writing newsletter entries in my mind. Someone else was writing the newsletter at the time, but within a week or so of thinking I'd love to write it, the opportunity came up to actually do so. Fate. I wrote my 'column' in a fun and personal way (and still write it), and received a lot of great feedback. A friend's husband suggested I start a blog.

I get to write, but not only that, I get to communicate and I've found so many amazing people through blogging. I've met a few bloggers in real life too, and I count many of my fellow bloggers as my friends. The opportunities I've been given over the past year through my blogging have been incredible. Who'd have thunk it?

Stationery/Paper. I love all sorts. Books, writing paper, pens, pencils, post-it notes, diaries - you name it. I can spend hours in a stationery store or in a book shop. Love the smell, the feel and just everything about it. My favourite time of year as a school student was always the beginning of the school year when Mum would send me down to the local shops with some money to buy myself some new stuff for school. In seventh heaven.

Entertaining. I love having people over. I love their company and cooking for them. Both Hubby and I cook. We almost always start the meal with a cocktail (or two). I love getting out the silverware and candles. The setting shown is for a small family dinner we had recently, but I've also been known to whip out the best linen tablecloth and go to town. Hubby often makes his speciality: homemade dark chocolate gelato. We serve it with fresh whipped cream. Everyone LOVES it and it gives me so much pleasure to send away happy, full guests.

If you'd like to guest post on FatMumSlim, you can click here for details.

Win a Lundby Doll's House.

Over a year ago I wrote about our investment property. It's stylish and sexy and... a doll's house {so not a real house at all}. Now Lacey is old enough to appreciate it as much as I do {did I just admit that?}.

We love the teeny furniture and the teeny plates, and knives and forks. When we were deciding on our 'investment property' we tossed up between the house above {Stockholm} and the house we purchased. The Stockholm is fancy with it's roof top and fancy pool. It has a bath {ours only has a shower} and dangly lights in the kitchen. I do believe I'm having a tinge of the green eyed monster. Those people look like their having more fun than our little people...

One lucky FatMumSlim reader is going to be the new owner of this Lundby Stockholm house as well as some dolls, a transformer {that helps makes the lights & things work} and some jazzy patio furniture. I do request that the winner invite our dolls over for a swim in the pool. It's only fair. Kidding!

To win all you have to do is tell me in the comment section below: What was your favourite toy as a child?



{boring bits}
Competition open to Australian residents only.
One entry per person.
Competition closes on 7th December 11:59pm.
Winner will be announced within a week of competition closing.

For more great Christmas ideas, visit here.

Happy. Hippy. Hoppy.

Today my Lil Sis turns the ripe old age of 25. She's head-over-heels in love and happier than ever, so this birthday will definitely be one to remember. Happy Birthday Sis!

So that's making me smile today. What's making you smile today, my friend?


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Daily joy: early morning sunshine

We took a nice walk early this morning and I'm still full of joy. What's joyful about your day today?








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Moon stuff.

On Saturday 13th at 2:50pm there was a new moon or something. I read in my trusty Woman's Day that is was the start of something new for everyone. I love hearing that stuff. My mum called me to tell me that it was happening, and my Big Sis was all over it too. Seems we all like that kinda stuff. It was the ideal time to make a wish of sorts and start anew. I love that.

I decided it was the ideal time to make an inspiration board. I'd written about them recently but hadn't managed to find the time to put one together. The moon {or whatever it was} was telling me that it was time. So I did.

As the clock hit 2:50pm I made a wish. And now I just hope it comes true.

Do you believe in star signs and moon stuff too? Or do you think it's all a bit un-real?

Chicken with 40 cloves of garlic.

Don't turn away. This recipe isn't the garlic laden dish you think it is. It's actually one of the most delicious meals I've ever, ever made {and had}. Hubby gives it a big thumbs up too. Nigella tells me that even though it has 40 garlic cloves in it, it's very subtle because they're cooked in their skins. Anyways... just try it. I promise you won't regret it.

It cost about $9 for the chicken {corn-fed, free-range} and $4 for the garlic. Everything else we pretty much had. I think it would be delicious served with mash. We had boiled potatoes and beans. And we also had no hint of garlic breath the next morning. Sweet!

Chicken with 40 cloves of garlic
2 tbs olive oil
8 chicken thighs {with skin on & bone in}
1 bunch of shallots
8-10 sprigs of thyme
40 cloves of garlic {about 4 heads} unpeeled
2 tbs dry white wine
1 1/2 tsp salt

♥ Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius. Heat the oil in a ovenproof & stove proof dish {that preferably has a lid}. Sear the chicken over high heat skin-side down. {I did this in two batches}.
♥ Once the chicken is seared, transfer them all to a bowl. Finely slice the shallots. Put them in the dish and quickly stir-fry them with a few leaves torn from sprigs of thyme.
♥ Put 20 unpeeled garlic cloves of garlic into the dish. Top with all the chicken. Cover with remaining chicken. Add wine.
♥ Sprinkle with salt, grind over some pepper, add a few more sprigs of thyme. Put on the lid and cook for 1.5 hours.

♥ Enjoy.

Daily joy: piggy tails

Teeny tiny piggy tails melt my heart. What's bringing you joy today?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Not A Baby Any More.

I'm a helicopter parent. I'll admit it. I am. I hover over Lacey for most of the day. I get anxious if she wants to play in her bedroom on her own. If I lose sight of her for a moment whilst we're out, I freak out. Just the other day we were out and I couldn't see her for a mere moment, and I panicked. I couldn't breathe, I felt sick and I started calling out her name. She was two metres away from me. Behind something bigger than her. All that in just 20 seconds.

I knew sending her to Kindy was going to be hard. I also knew that she needed more than me and my helicopter parenting.

I woke early and as soon as I opened my eyes, I knew that it was K-day {Kindy Day}. I showered, dressed and then packed her little bag all as Lacey slept {including a little photo of Hubby, Lacey & I in the front pocket as Christie kindly suggested}.

I also took two Rescue Remedy lozenges and headed down to wake her up. She was so happy and unaware. I told her about Kindy and the friends she'd play with and all the things she could do like painting, pasting, reading, running, sliding and more.

She was excited and happy. I was anxious and nervous. We headed out to the car after getting ready and went on our way.

My heart raced as we drove along, but eventually we made it. We opened the big gate and walked inside. It all became quite a blur. I tried to make Lacey fall in love with the Kindy, all the while wanting to scoop her up and take her home. My heart told me that I should just have her at home with me. My mind told me that Kindy was good for her. I gave the teacher the look. The look that says 'I'm leaving'.

And I did. I said goodbye. I told her I was coming back. She looked shocked. And she screamed.

It's unnatural for me to leave her with people she doesn't know. I felt like I was abandoning her. My heart was beating overtime and a lump formed in my throat. I glanced back at her whilst closing the gate. Big mistake. That look in her eyes brought tears to mine.

I got in the car and I sobbed.

I waited an hour before calling to check up on her. I listened carefully for any crying in the background. There wasn't. They assured me that she was happy and settled.

I returned later that afternoon to collect her, and I peeked on her to see how she was interacting. She looked like she'd grown up a lot in just a matter of hours. She was a big girl.

She was sitting happily, playing and talking with her friends.

I was relieved. We survived. And we both had smiles on our faces.



PS. She also managed to bring home a nice little case of slap cheek too. Joy.

Daily joy: 'the' book.

I first saw Geneen Roth on Oprah. I only caught the last 5 minutes of the show but I liked what I saw. One of my lovely readers emailed me and told me that I needed to buy the book. So I did.

I read it one weekend. I was nodding and having constant 'aha' moments. It was like she'd written the book for me.

One thing Geneen says is to seek joy each day. We can't wait for it to turn up... sometimes we have to look for it. We should do something joyful each day. I love that. Nothing bad about a bit of joy.

So each day I'm going to seek out joy and share it here. I thought it was quite fitting to share Geneen's book as my daily joy today.



What is joyful about your day today?

The NEW Fat Mum Slim! Hoorah!

After much anticipation I am excited to reveal the new look of FMS. Some time last year I met the lovely Kyla Roma during a blogging lovely mail exchange {a feel good project where you send off lovely snail mail from one part of the world to another}. We've kept in touch over the months, and now as well as blogging, working and selling beautiful pieces in her store... she's also designing blogs for Freckled Nest.

Everything should be easier to navigate and easy to use. I hope you like the new look. I do worry that the main font is difficult to read so would love your feedback on that.

Thanks for your patience whilst Kyla was tinkering away in the back making it all pretty and stuff. Here's to more regular posting and good times.

Warning: This may make you insanely jealous...

On Saturday morning I ordered my little family out of bed early and to the shops to pick up supplies. We grabbed 6 loaves of bread, drinks and more and headed home to make truckloads of teeny sandwiches. Thankfully I had a little helper on my hands {by the name of Lacey} who was in charge of quality control and tasted pretty much everything I made {including a mighty spoonful of mayonnaise when I wasn't looking, eek!}.

Now it's not the sandwiches that I'm trying to make you jealous with but what happened whilst we ate sandwiches. We boarded the most beautiful boat I've ever laid eyes on for an afternoon in the sun on Sydney Harbour. It was one of those boats that you might see on TV or in a magazine... but never in real life.

It was the most amazing boat with leather lounges, kitchen, 3 bedrooms {with TV and Foxtel/PayTV in each bedroom as well as ensuites too!}. There was a top deck with tables and lounges. It even had it's own little boat {jet tender?} on the back too. Words don't do it justice, but I guess the price tag does. $3 million dollars! Eeek. It was brand new and beyond beautiful. When I win the lotto I'm going straight to the Marina and picking it up.

Here's a sneak into the bedrooms. Lacey may have had a little jump on the beds. Sssshhhh!

It was the perfect afternoon with a small group of friends and family and even a celebrity. I wish we could do it again next weekend. I'll just need to buy a lotto ticket to make it happen.

How was your weekend? Did I manage to make you even a little bit jealous?



PS. I'll tell you a little bit about my new blog look later this afternoon. xx

PPS. Share your Point & Shoot below.

As Seen In...

In February I was asked to be an ambassador of ANZ's Febusave program {alongside Sarah Wilson, Rebecca Gibney, Catriona Rowntree & Polkadot Bride, oh my!}.

MAEVE launched it's online magazine for the inspired woman, with me as a regular columnist. My column is called Bubble & Squeak and in the Winter issue I wrote about Being Two. You can read it here.

I appeared {nervously} on the Kerri-Anne Show to talk about sleep deprivation. You can see it above and I also wrote about the experience here.


I appeared in Practical Parenting magazine for a piece they did on child care options. You can read it here.

In May I was interviewed by bellaMUMMA {aka Nikki} for her Glow & Tell series. You can read it here.

Mid-2010 I was interviewed by Leesa Hamilton of Health Smart magazine about blogging and motherhood. I wrote about it here.

In July 2010 I was interviewed by Marnie T of Mix 106.5fm for Body + Soul about motherhood and blogging.


MAEVE Issue 2. I wrote about Self Dating. You can read it here.


Here's an article titled Virtual World In Its Infancy where I was interviewed by Caroline Marcus of the Sunday Telegraph. It appeared in print, but you can also read it here.

ABC radio interviewed me about blogging and stuff. Listen to it here.

Girl With A Satchel Editor Erica Bartle made a lovely mention of me as a contributor of MAEVE magazine. Was so lovely to read such a compliment.

Notebook shared Fat Mum Slim with their readers in their October 2010 issue as a Mummy Blog to watch.

Shop 4 Kids magazine named Fat Mum Slim as one of their top ten blogs in the world! Eek!


In October I wrote an eBook for Kleenex titled 'Mums the word: A survival guide for the modern mama'. You can read it here.


MAEVE Issue 3. In this issue I wrote about the Magic Of Childhood. You can read it here.

I did beauty! I wrote about eyebrows and nails over on Primped.com.au.

I was interviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald for an article on women taking over the Blogosphere along with Mia Freedman. You can read it here.

Or here at Stuff.co.nz

Or here at The Age.

Is It Possible To Make Money Online?

My very first article was published over on Flossie.com. I wrote monthly for them before they closed and changed direction and became a media group.