How I Get the Best and Cheapest Accommodation when I Travel …

February 1, 2017

  I’m excited! In 7 weeks and 4 days, I’m jumping on a plane and flying to London … but who’s counting! My youngest daughter went to the UK for a Gap Year in late December so I’m heading over for three weeks to see my gorgeous girl and take in some sights at the same time. You can read a little more about her adventure here: Bon Voyage … My Sweet Girl …   We will be staying in London for 6 days, travelling to Paris for 6 days, heading up to Edinburgh for 4 days, flying to Ireland for a week and then it will be time to say farewell! I booked my flights … read more

Mango and Coconut Muffins …

January 14, 2017

Muffins are perfect for lunchboxes, morning teas or an after school snack and these Mango and Coconut Muffins are sure to be a hit. Mango and coconut are a delightful combination and these muffins are suitable to freeze. Enjoy! Mango and Coconut Muffins …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Recipe type: Muffin Ingredients … 2 cups self-raising flour, sifted ¾ cups castor sugar ½ cup dessicated coconut 1 ¼ cups lite sour cream 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ cup vegetable oil 1 ¾ cups fresh mango, chopped Method … Preheat oven to 180C … read more

My Dental Experience in Thailand …

January 12, 2017

    Please note, this is my personal story and an account of our experience when hubby and myself recently travelled to Thailand for dental work. It is in no way a judgement of Australian dentists who, in my opinion, are qualified, well-trained, empathetic and ethical professionals. It is also in no way a recommendation that everyone should book the next flight to Thailand, or any other country, to have dental work carried out. The decision to have dental work, or any other medical procedure, performed in another country is a difficult, important and … read more

25 Delicious Fillings for Sandwiches, Wraps, Pitas and Bread Rolls …

January 10, 2017

  Very soon kids will be returning to school and parents everywhere will jump back into the routine of preparing lunchboxes. Some kids crave the familiarity of having the same sandwich every day whereas there’ll be others who get bored and want variety.   Remember to check your school’s lunchbox policy to see if there are any foods like peanut butter that are banned and then you could spice things up with some of the gorgeous sandwich fillings below. All of the suggestions use common items from the fridge and pantry and I’ve included some ideas for using … read more

Four Ingredient “Honey Joys” …

January 8, 2017

Honey Joys are a sweet little snack that can be whipped up in next to no time. It’s one of those “retro” recipes that’s been around forever but shows up every now and then. They only need four common ingredients that will be found in most pantries and fridges and are perfect for a morning tea treat for school or ideal for a small child’s birthday party. Enjoy! Four Ingredient “Honey Joys” …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 3 ¾ cups Corn Flakes ¼ cup butter ⅓ cup sugar 1 ½ tablespoons honey Method … Preheat oven to 150C … read more

The Ultimate Laundry Guide for Anyone who Hates Ironing or Wants to Cut their Ironing Time Dramatically …

January 6, 2017

Keeping up with the ironing is a major challenge in most households. No sooner do you finish one pile than another seems to magically appear … it’s a never-ending cycle … wash, dry, iron, repeat! It’s repetitive, tedious and certainly not my idea of a good time. I’ve spent years trying to simplify my life, creating new habits and implementing practical routines to save my time and finding ways to reduce the amount of time I spend ironing has always been a priority.   So, if you feel like you spend half of your life chained to the ironing board, here are … read more

Almond Tahini Bliss Balls …

January 4, 2017

These Almond Tahini Bliss Balls are a quick, easy, healthy snack for anyone on the go or perfect for Mum or Dad’s lunchboxes for work. They do contain almonds so are probably best not sent to school due to potential allergies but are a great after school snack. Tahini is a deliciously nutty and creamy spread made from sesame seeds and, if you’ve not used it before, you’ll find it in most supermarkets in the Health Food section. Enjoy! Almond Tahini Bliss Balls …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … ½ cup raisons ½ cup freshly squeezed … read more

Bon Voyage … My Sweet Girl …

January 2, 2017

  My house is feeling a lot emptier than usual … 5 days ago, I said farewell to Miss 18 as she embarked on a Gap Year to the UK. I’ve known it was coming for such a long time but it still managed to creep up on me until suddenly it was no longer something that was going to happen in the future … instead it was happening NOW and then, just as quickly, NOW became yesterday … and she was gone!   Her Gap Year was organised by her former school. There are 14 students in total going and they have each been placed to live and work in a school in the UK for a … read more

Chocolate Orange Bliss Balls …

December 1, 2016

Chocolate and orange are a classic flavour combination and these Chocolate Jaffa Balls are not only easy to make but also quite healthy. I usually make and freeze a few varieties of Bliss Balls at Christmas time and keep some frozen. They are a great addition to a cheese platter and the perfect treat if friends drop by unexpectedly. Enjoy! Chocolate Orange Bliss Balls …   Print Ingredients … ½ cup rolled oats 1 cup almond meal ½ cup desiccated coconut 3 tablespoons raw cacao (or substitute with cocoa) ⅓ cup orange juice 1 ½ tablespoons … read more

100+ Ideas for Elf on the Shelf Names …

November 29, 2016

  If you’ve decided to adopt an Elf and participate in the “Elf on the Shelf” tradition, one of your first tasks will be to name your little guy (or gal). Get the kids involved to come up with a name that you all like, but just in case you get stuck, I’ve created a list of over 100 names for you to choose from:   Angel Bella Bells Bing Blitz Blizzard Blossom Bo Bobby Bojangles Bon Bon Bubbles Buddy Buster Buzz Candy (or Candi) Charlie Cherry Chip Chippy Chrissy Cindy … read more

Steamed Christmas Pudding … Gluten-free & Alcohol-free …

November 27, 2016

Christmas is just around the corner and, if you’re anything like me, I love a beautiful piece of pudding on Christmas Day smothered in vanilla custard … yum … I can taste it already! And although not everyone loves pudding, there are also many who would avoid it either due to gluten intolerance or a preference not to eat anything containing alcohol. For that reason, I’ve created this gorgeous pudding that’s gluten-free and alcohol-free … and, let me tell you, it’s just as delicious, just as beautiful and just as moist as any pudding I’ve tried. It’s also super … read more

50 Gift Ideas for your Child’s Teachers …

November 25, 2016

  It’s often said that “it takes a village to raise a child”. In other words, parents aren’t the only ones who will influence their children and kids will encounter many people throughout their lives who will all have an impact on how they grow and develop. The role of some people will be small, whereas the effect of others will be huge and, when I consider that, I think of teachers. Kids spend countless hours in the care of their teachers, so there’s no doubt about the significance of a teacher’s influence.   My girls have been so lucky throughout … read more

Decluttering (Part 9) … What to do with the Items you no Longer Need or Want …

October 22, 2016

    If you’re just joining the “Mrs Organised” community … Welcome! It’s nice to meet you! Before you read today’s post, however, you might like to catch up on the first 8 parts of my series devoted to decluttering … simply click on the links below:   Part 1 … What is Clutter?   Part 2 … The benefits of decluttering   Part 3 … When will I find the time to declutter?   Part 4 … Questions you need to ask to help you declutter   Part 5 … A “how to” guide to a less cluttered home and life and where … read more

Halloween Poster … “Sorry but we have no more lollies” …

October 20, 2016

  Although it’s largely an American tradition, we’ve celebrated Halloween with our kids for years, especially when they were younger. They’d excitedly get dressed up, then “trick or treat” in neighbouring streets and it was always a lot of fun. Although the kids are now older, we still continue to hand out chocolates to any “ghost”, “witch” or “goblin” who knocks on our door. We usually start the evening with a fairly large bowl that’s full of yummy chocolate but sometimes we run out.   Around 10 years ago, we happened to be in America during Halloween … read more

Simple Tips to Help you Tackle your Never-ending “To Do” List …

October 18, 2016

  Recently I shared a fabulous “To Do” list that you can download ABSOLUTELY FREE. It’s the one I use every day to help keep me organised and on track. I’ve created 2 different versions so you can choose the one you prefer:             Having a list is a great step towards getting organised but here are some other simple tips and tricks that will have you ticking off the items you’ve listed quickly and easily:   Prioritise your list and do the worst/hardest stuff first. Work out … read more