Archives for April 2015

8 Simple Tips to Help your Teens Organise their Makeup and Skincare …

April 29, 2015

  Ask any mother of a teenage girl if their daughter manages to keep their makeup and skincare tidy and well organised and, in most cases, you’ll be greeted with a sigh of resignation or, in severe cases, a wide-eyed look of near hysteria.   I know because I’m the mum of three girls and this has always been one area that we’ve struggled with. My girls (like most) love makeup and they all have huge collections that never seem to stay organised. The girls always seem to be in a hurry, with their makeup applied at the last minute and then tossed aside in a … read more

Beef Lasagne … A Simple Homemade Recipe …

April 27, 2015

My kids will often request Lasagne, making this one of my family’s favourite dishes. I love making it too because it’s the perfect dish to whip up early in the day (or even the day before) allowing me to be more organised at dinnertime. I like to bake my Lasagne and then refrigerate for at least a couple of hours, giving it time to firm up and set. This ultimately makes it easier to cut and serve and it will hold its shape better. I can usually stretch this over two meals by serving with garlic bread and a lovely fresh green salad and the good news is that it will also … read more

Apple and Cinnamon Muffins …

April 25, 2015

This is a simple recipe that tastes delicious, is quick to make and freezes beautifully … enjoy for afternoon tea or pop one in the kid’s lunchbox for school! Apple and Cinnamon Muffins …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Serves: 12 muffins Ingredients … 1 ¾ cups plain flour, sifted ½ cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt 2 medium green apples, peeled and grated 1 egg, lightly beaten ¾ cup milk ¼ cup vegetable oil Method … Preheat oven to 180C and grease a 12-hole muffin tray. Combine flour, … read more

Why I Don’t have an Outdoor Clothes Line!

April 23, 2015

  A couple of years ago, I got rid of my outdoor clothesline and before you call me crazy, I’ll tell you why!   Most years, we experience periods of wet weather around cyclone season at the start of the year, and then again in winter, and for anyone trying desperately to stay on top of their washing when it’s wet, raining and miserable, it can prove to be almost impossible. It can also be extremely frustrating because there’s only so long you can ignore the growing piles of washing.   That’s why, a couple of years ago, I arranged for the … read more

Laundry Posters … Free to Download …

April 21, 2015

  A lovely piece of artwork displayed in any room can really add some character or a splash of colour to the walls. Posters, photos and pictures are the perfect way to decorate a room and add a finishing touch to the décor. So, today I’ve got a wonderful surprise for you! I’ve designed some gorgeous posters for you to download, print, frame and use to decorate your Laundry.   Simply click on the “free to download” box on the right-hand side of the blog, click on “Posters and Wall Art” and then choose from one of seven fantastic colours to match the décor … read more

Gingernut Biscuits …

April 19, 2015

Gingernuts are a classic biscuit and this recipe has survived from my Home Economics Days at school … more years ago than I care to remember! This recipe will make about 40 biscuits which will freeze really well. Perfect for morning tea with a cuppa or great for school lunchboxes. Just pop a couple into a small container or ziplock bag (still frozen) and they’ll be defrosted by the time the kids need to eat them. Enjoy! Gingernut Biscuits …   Print Prep time 20 mins Cook time 10 mins Total time 30 mins   Author: Mrs Organised … read more

Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork …

April 17, 2015

If you want to make a beautiful meal with minimum effort, it’s hard to go past a slow cooker … it’s just so easy … add some meat and other ingredients early in the morning and by evening, dinner is ready! I use mine all year round and this is one of my favourite slow cooker recipes. This recipe goes a long way. It will make enough meat for dinner, enough to freeze for another meal as well as cold meat for sandwiches for at least 2-3 days, making this recipe very kind to the family budget. I usually serve this Pulled Pork with some fresh, crunchy coleslaw … read more

Decluttering (Part 7) … Is it time to “Say Goodbye” to your Sentimental Clutter?

April 15, 2015

  I love to declutter and get organised and I can be quite ruthless. So much so, that hubby tells the kids not to stand still in one spot for too long or they could end up either in a box (with a label, of course) or in the rubbish. Surely I’m not that bad am I? But when it comes to getting rid of sentimental items … well, that can be more difficult!   Sentimental items are the things we get attached to because they can pull on our heart strings and trigger emotions and memories that relate to:   a person who was close to us a special time in … read more

Chicken Cottage Pie …

April 13, 2015

I’ve always loved Cottage Pie and this recipe is a twist on a traditional favourite. I’m often cooking for a “hungry hoard” so this particular recipe will provide eight generous portions. You could either halve the recipe or cook the quantities below and use the extra portions for lunch or dinner the next day. Alternatively, freeze the four remaining portions (without the topping) for dinner another day. Loaded with veggies, this is quite a healthy meal especially using cauliflower as an alternative to the traditional potato topping. This is also one of those meals … read more

A Quick Guide to Freezing and Reheating Soup …

April 11, 2015

  I love soup … I love making it and I love eating it! It’s a real comfort food and I enjoy making it from scratch for a simple, quick and nutritious meal. I also love that I can make a huge pot of soup and create enough for several meals at once because that really saves me time. I’ve previously shared some lovely soup recipes on the blog, so today I thought I would also share a few tips for freezing and reheating soup safely, quickly and easily.   One of the simplest rules to remember when freezing soup is to leave out any ingredients that don’t … read more

Tips and Options for Washing Clothes on Holidays …

April 9, 2015

  Even when your miles from home, how you’re going to wash your clothes is one of those practical tasks that you can’t escape when you go on holidays. Holidays are for sightseeing, adventure and fun and I’m sure some people will consider washing clothes a complete waste of time and that’s okay … I totally get it. However, even if you’re not a messy person, sooner or later you’re going to at least need some fresh underwear and socks and, if you’re travelling with kids who can get very dirty with spills and stains as well as sweaty from running around, washing … read more

Cleaning Teeth Chart … Free to Download …

April 7, 2015

  Teaching kids good dental habits is essential when they are young because hopefully those habits will stick with them all through their life. Good dental habits will help kids develop strong, healthy teeth and help minimize decay but it can be hard for little ones to remember to brush their teeth.   Kids get easily distracted and are usually too busy with the important job of playing, so when my kids were little, a chart that reminded them to brush their teeth morning and night worked miracles.   I’ve created a fantastic Cleaning Teeth Chart for … read more

Chicken & Mushroom Pies …

April 5, 2015

One of my favourite appliances in my kitchen is a little pie maker. I bought it from Crazy Clarks for the princely sum of $12.00. I remember exactly what I paid for it because I thought I might have been the crazy one buying a no-brand appliance for next to nothing and I was convinced it wouldn’t last and would break down fairly quickly. Well, 10 years later and my little pie maker is still going strong and it gets used all the time. I make so many different types of pies in it, both savoury and sweet, and this Chicken and Mushroom Pie is definitely one of our … read more

Simple Tips to Clean and Freshen the Garbage Disposal …

April 3, 2015

  I love my garbage disposal! It’s such a convenient appliance that helps me keep on top of food scraps in the kitchen but it does need to be operated and maintained with some tender loving care to keep it clean, hygienic and smelling fresh as a daisy.   A garbage disposal is self-cleaning to a degree, as it’s constantly flushed with water when operating, however, sludge can build up around the sides and the grinding blades and stinky odours can develop. Here are a couple of different methods I’ve used to clean and freshen my garage disposal that all work … read more

Banana and Carrot Muffins with Chocolate Chips …

April 1, 2015

Here’s a great muffin recipe that’s perfect for lunchboxes and it’s also a sneaky way to get the kids to eat some more veggies and fruit. This is a yummy, moist muffin and the addition of the chocolate chips will definitely tempt the kids. I used white chocolate chips in these because that’s all I had in the cupboard but it’s easy to switch these out for regular chocolate chips or dark choc chips if you prefer. Enjoy! Banana and Carrot Muffins with Chocolate Chips …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Serves: 12 Ingredients … 2 eggs ¼ cup olive oil, … read more