Archives for January 2016

6 Simple Ways to Clean a Reusable Water Bottle …

January 30, 2016

    When I think of cleaning jobs that are sometimes overlooked or neglected, the humble water bottle comes to mind. If you’re lucky, you and your family will carry one everywhere you go. It’s guaranteed to keep you well hydrated, help reduce landfill and you’ll also save a stack of cash by not buying a bottle of water every time you’re thirsty.   The only downfall is they are often refilled countless times and not washed in between uses. It’s easy to be complacent because it’s only water, right … so it should be ok! In reality, however, if … read more

Apple and Date Muffins …

January 28, 2016

I’ve never met a muffin I didn’t like and these Apple and Date Muffins are another firm favourite in our household … delicious, moist, easy to make and freezeable … could you ask for anything more? Apple and Date Muffins …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Serves: 14 – 15 Ingredients … 2 cups self-raising flour 1 teaspoon mixed spice ⅓ cup brown sugar, firmly packed 2 large green Granny Smith apples, grated (approximately 2 cups) 1 cup seeded and chopped fresh dates ½ cup milk ½ tablespoon vinegar 3 eggs, lightly beaten ⅓ cup vegetable … read more

“Be a Pineapple” Artwork … Bright, Fun and Inspirational …

January 26, 2016

    I love to be inspired and what better way to seek motivation than from a bright, fun, colourful poster. I’ve created and shared a few in the past and today I have another little artwork available for you … and the best news … it’s totally free!   Find a frame you love, download, print and hang somewhere in your home. It would also make a wonderful gift. This print has been designed to print on a standard A4 page but please remember to adjust your printer setting to print at 100%. It would also look great in a large frame with some matting to … read more

“Be My Valentine” Chocolate Gingerbread Biscuits …

January 24, 2016

I’m a romantic at heart, so I do love Valentines Day! It’s still a little way away but when I baked these Chocolate Gingerbread Biscuits yesterday, I thought my heart-shaped cookie cutter would turn them into the perfect edible gift for you guys to bake for your significant other to show how much you care! I bought a packet of Smarties (and picked out the pink ones) and a Decorating Icing Kit by Queen to decorate these for Valentines Day but any cookie cutter shape will do if you just want to make these for morning teas, lunchboxes or an after school snack. … read more

“Be the Flamingo in a Flock of Pigeons” … Artwork to Inspire you … a Fun, Positive Quote …

January 22, 2016

I love to be inspired and will seek out positive quotes that motivate me … this is one such quote. It encourages me to embrace the things that are unique about me and to worry less what others think, that I will be judged or won’t fit in.   It’s often fear of judgement that encourages us to “blend in” and be “one of the crowd” but letting go of that fear and owning who you are is far more liberating. Embrace who you are and everything that makes you unique and don’t ever give in to thoughts that you need to change just to be liked or accepted. Be brave and … read more

Back to School Checklist …

January 20, 2016

  Returning to school after the holidays can be a really busy time with so much to remember and even more to actually do. It can bring a whole range of emotions … it’s an exciting time for most but it can also be a very stressful time for Mums and Dads as you prepare your child and all their needs.   If you’re not careful, it’s easy to be overwhelmed and then forget something important. So I’ve created a FREE “Back to School” Checklist for you to download and help you stay on track. It lists most of the common things you will need to consider when … read more

Simple Hints and Tips for Buying, Using and Organising your Travel Adaptors …

January 18, 2016

  These days when I travel, I rarely leave home without my laptop, ipad and mobile. Add to that my camera and I end up with quite a few electronic devices, all of which need to be charged to be useful. Therefore, one of my absolute essentials is one (or more) travel adaptors for the country I’m visiting. It’s simply a plug that allows my devices to work or be charged in overseas powerpoints, which typically have different fittings to the power points here in Australia.   Yet despite their necessity, they are also one of the easiest things to overlook … read more

Mongolian Lamb …

January 16, 2016

I use my Slow Cooker a lot but this Slow Cooked Mongolian Lamb recipe is without a doubt one of my favourites. Apart from the fact that it’s ever so easy, it also tastes as good as any takeaway from your local Chinese Restaurant … true! My family loves this dish and I can always guarantee there’ll never be any leftovers. I usually use lamb backstop (available from the supermarket) but this recipe also works well with lamb fillets or lamb leg steaks. Enjoy! Mongolian Lamb …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Recipe type: Lamb Ingredients … 500g … read more

Kitchen Hints and Tips # 10 … A Simple Guide to Freezing Lemons …

January 14, 2016

  As you know, I love to bake and lemon juice and lemon zest are two common ingredients that a lot of recipes call for. Bottled lemon juice from the Supermarket is always an option, particularly if you have it in the fridge, but I often find it expires before I get to use the whole bottle and I usually end up tipping a lot of it down the sink. It’s not that hard to prepare and the result is a ready supply of beautiful fresh lemon juice and lemon zest minus any chemicals or preservatives.   Buying lemons when they are in season will generally be cheaper … read more

Cherry Ripe Biscuits …

January 12, 2016

If you’re a fan of Cherry Ripes, then these biscuits will be right up your alley. Chocolatey and fudgy with delicious chunks of Cherry Ripe scattered through, these are sinfully good … just be sure to hide them from the kids or they’ll vanish before your eyes. Enjoy! Cherry Ripe Biscuits …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … ½ cup butter, chopped 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 1 ¼ cups brown sugar, firmly packed 1 egg ¼ cup self-raising flour, sifted 1 cup plain flour, sifted 1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda ⅓ cup cocoa powder 5 large … read more

Simple Tips for Choosing Water Bottles for School …

January 10, 2016

  Of all the good habits I’ve tried to teach my kids, drinking plenty of water rates very highly. Water is so important for literally every function in our body, so it’s a great idea to send kids off to school every day with a lovely big bottle of cold water. It’s also really important that kids have a water bottle if they participate in after-school sport activities. Teaching kids to drink water is not only great for their health but, if they have a reusable water bottle, it also reduces rubbish generated by disposable bottles and helps to save … read more

How to Budget for the Cost of Christmas Next Year …

January 8, 2016

  Christmas can be one of the most expensive times of the year but with a well thought-out plan, a positive attitude and a solid budget, there’s no reason not to survive and to sail into the New Year without a financial hangover. But what few people realise is that the best time to start planning and budgeting for Christmas is just after the previous one has finished … so , in other words, RIGHT NOW! I learned this lesson a long time ago. After years of frustration, stress and maxing out the credit card, I decided there had to be a better way, so this is what I … read more

Banana Maple Bread …

January 6, 2016

I love a good Banana Bread and this is a bit of a twist on a well-loved favourite … easy to make, absolutely delicious, sweet, moist and it freezes beautifully. This recipe will make three small loves so I usually whip it up on the weekend when no-one’s around (otherwise it gets eaten straight from the oven and disappears), wait for it to cool, slice it and then freeze the pieces individually ready for lunches the next week. If I’m making this for school lunches, I leave out the walnuts. I’ve also recently found this 100% pure maple syrup at Woolworths. I … read more

Tips for Organising and Storing Christmas Decorations …

January 4, 2016

  Christmas decorations can be a real challenge to store because they come in so many different shapes and sizes and won’t necessarily fit together like a neat puzzle. This year I decided it was time for me to review and revamp my decoration storage. I normally take my tree down on New Years Day but this year I’ve decided to take my time and really put some thought and effort into organising and storing my decorations. Every task starts with a goal and my main goal is to store everything relevant to Christmas in the least amount of space, keep it all together … read more

Pork Fillet with Mango, Coconut and Chilli …

January 2, 2016

This is a beautiful dish which is simple to make and tastes fantastic. Pork Fillet can be an expensive cut of meat to buy so I usually wait to make this dish when it goes on special at the supermarket. Enjoy! Pork Fillet with Mango, Coconut and Chilli …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Recipe type: Pork Ingredients … 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 small Spanish onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 teaspoon ginger, grated 1 tablespoon shredded coconut 1 punnet mixed cherry tomatoes, chopped into quarters ½ long red chilli, seeded and finely … read more