Archives for July 2015

Let’s Get Stuff Done … Simple, Practical Time Management Tips for Busy Mums (or anyone with too much to do) …

  If you’re anything like me, life just seems to get busier and busier. There always seems to be so much to do and it can be really hard juggling a house, kids, work, and the million and one other things that place demands on our time. But rather than feel overwhelmed, here are some simple techniques you can use to turn busy into productive:   Use a Calendar/Diary. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an old-fashioned diary that you carry in your handbag or an electronic version like Outlook or an App on your phone … find one that works for you and use it. … read more

Pineapple Carrot Cake …

I do love cake, and nothing is more delicious than a beautifully moist cake that’s packed with flavour … Hello, Pineapple Carrot Cake! This is a fairly dense cake that won’t rise much in the cake tin and once iced it’s more like a very, thick slice. You can probably freeze this cake but I’ve never had the chance because it never lasts long enough. As soon as my kids smell this in the oven, the come running! Enjoy! Pineapple Carrot Cake …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 1 cup plain flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon bicarb soda … read more

You’ve Got Mail … Creating a Place to Store & Organise your Mail …

  Do you have a system for storing and organising your mail or does it go something like this? You arrive home either at the end of the working day or after school pick up and grab your mail from the letterbox. You head inside, flicking though your mail as you go to see if anything grabs your attention. You might open one or two envelopes (and groan when you see it’s a bill) and then you dump the mail. It could be on the hall table, maybe the dining room table or your mail might even make it as far as the kitchen bench.   I can definitely relate to that … read more

Minestrone Soup … Hearty, Healthy and Delicious …

Well, it’s still cold and around here that means another pot of mouth-watering soup simmering on the stove. It’s the ultimate “comfort” food, isn’t it? Perfect for chilly nights, it warms you from the inside out! I love Minestrone Soup because it’s packed full of yummy vegetables. Once you’ve got the base of the stock, tomatoes, garlic and bacon, it’s really just a case of tossing in whatever’s in the crisper in the fridge and it’s the ideal dish to use up those little bits and pieces that get left over. Once you’re done chopping, it simmers to perfection in no … read more

Decluttering (Part 8) … Decluttering Checklist … FREE to Download …

  Today I wanted to share with you a fantastic checklist that I’ve created which has helped me declutter my home and it might help you as well. And if you’re joining us for the first time, here are the links to the rest of the Decluttering Series Parts 1 – 7:   What is clutter? (Part 1)   Decluttering (Part 2) … The Benefits of Declutteirng   Decluttering (Part 3) … When Will I Find the Time to Declutter?   Decluttering (Part 4) … Questions You Need to Ask to Help You Declutter   Decluterring (Part 5) … A … read more

Easy Peasy Chocolate Cake …

This is one of Mum’s recipes and my favourite chocolate cake in the whole wide world. It’s soooo easy to make because everything just gets thrown into a single bowl and whisked … no fancy ingredients, no electric mixers and very little mess … love it! And the result is a delicious, light, fluffy cake with just the right amount of chocolate. This little delight takes about 10 minutes to throw together, so next time someone calls and says they’re coming for a surprise visit, here’s the answer to your prayers. And if you want to feel a little less guilty, … read more

Simple Tips to Help Organise Makeup, Skincare and Hair Products when you Travel …

  I usually find myself on a plane at least half a dozen times a year including visits to see family and friends interstate, business trips or a conference accompanying my hubby and the occasional holiday. I’ve learned a few tricks that ensure I travel with only the minimum makeup, skincare and hair products that I can get away with. I’m keenly aware of the size and weight of those items so I try to reduce what I have to pack and carry … after all, the less room they take up, the more space I have for my shopping.   So, here we go:   Find … read more

Honey, Ginger Beef and Vegetable Stir-Fry and the Secrets to Cooking a Perfect Beef Stir-Fry …

In my early days, as a newly married 20-something, I worked hard every night to serve a delicious meal to my hubby. I didn’t have a lot of experience in the kitchen, so every day was a new recipe and a new adventure as I built a collection of reliable, favourite recipes. Unfortunately, not every dinner was a success with the odd takeaway being ordered after a disastrous attempt at cooking ended up in the bin! Because hubby and I both loved Chinese food, I enrolled in a course at TAFE to hopefully learn the finer art of chinese cooking by Oscar Kwong. … read more

Simple Tips to Clean, Freshen and Maintain your Kitchen Bin …

  Keeping my kitchen rubbish bin clean is an essential part of my housework routine. I’m a bit fussy about it because if there’s one thing that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, it’s a stinky bin … yuk!   When I renovated my kitchen, I had a double plastic bin installed in a pullout cupboard. The front bin we use for general rubbish, the second bin we use for any recycling items like paper, cardboard, cans or bottles and most food scraps get fed into the garbage disposal (and you can read here for tips to keep that clean). This style of … read more

Easy Peasy Chicken Parmesan …

I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t go weak at the knees over a good Chicken “Parmie”! It’s a fairly simple dish … crumbed chicken covered with a tomato-based sauce served with a sprinkling of cheese. I think the secret is two fold: firstly, cooking the chicken just enough so that it’s not too dry with crispy, golden crumbs and secondly, a generous layer of beautiful, rich tomato sauce. This recipe, that I created many years ago, will produce just that. It’s definitely earned it’s title as “easy peasy” … just chop all the ingredients, add them to a large pot, … read more

11 Simple Tips to Help you Assemble Flat-pack Furniture without Losing your Sanity …

  It’s not always possible to buy furniture items fully assembled. Sometimes you fall in love with something that would look perfect in your home, you make your way excitedly to the counter, pay for your latest discovery only to find it’s flat-packed and you have to put it together yourself … aaaargh! Fear not … you don’t need an Engineering Degree to do the job (although sometimes it feels like you do) and a couple of simple tips will see your newly purchased item, assembled and put in place for you to enjoy and admire.   I recently bought a couple of … read more

Cranberry and White Chocolate Chip Biscuits …

These little Cranberry and White Chocolate Chip Biscuits are sure to be a hit … soft, chewy and simply delicious! The cranberries add a really sweet flavour and compliment the white chocolate beautifully. These biscuits freeze well and make the perfect addition to school lunchboxes. I buy the Ocean Spray Craisins for this recipe and you’ll find them in the baking aisle at the supermarket with other dried fruits. Enjoy! Cranberry and White Chocolate Chip Biscuits …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … ¾ cup … read more

Lamb Steaks with Orange, Honey and Ginger Glaze …

Lamb is without a doubt my favourite meat … I just love the flavour. It can be expensive though so, when I saw it on special a few weeks ago, I grabbed some Lamb Leg Steaks. If you haven’t tried them you might be pleasantly surprised as they make a wonderful alternative to a traditional steak. To cook the perfect lamb steak, lightly oil the steak (rather than the pan) and cook on a pre-heated medium to high heat in either a pan or on a grill. Turn the lamb only once, using tongs. Avoid using a fork as that will break the surface of the steak and let all the … read more

Simple Ideas to Reduce the Amount of Time you Spend “ON HOLD” on the Phone …

  It drives me crazy the amount of time I sometimes have to spend on the phone. It doesn’t seem to matter what organisation I call these days, I inevitably end up being put on hold … and sometimes for what seems like forever! I’ve spent so long in some phone queues that I’ve seriously wondered if I’ll age another year before the call gets answered. And, while I know that’s not true, I do enjoy the occasional moment of self-pity and melodrama.   I can’t decide whether it’s the time wasted that frustrates me the most or having to listen to some pretty awful … read more

Lemon and Poppy Seed Loaf …

I love lemon and I love cake … put the two things together … mmmm! This Lemon and Poppyseed Loaf is very easy to make and is probably one of the moistest cakes I’ve ever tasted … melt in the mouth goodness! I have used two of my favourite smaller loaf tins for this recipe because I find I get a more consistent texture through each of the loaves. I bought them from Daiso and use them a lot when I bake. They measure 18 cm long x 8.5 cm wide x 6 cm deep. You could bake this as a single loaf in a larger tin but you would need to adjust the cooking times and bake … read more