Winter sunshine on Sydney's Northern Beaches - with Wordless Wednesday

After 7 full days of heavy rain we were all desperate to get outside when the sun finally came back - and right in time for the school holidays too.

Linking up as always with the lovely Trish from My little drummer boys and Bree from Twinkle in the Eye

Liebster number THREE - I am a lucky Mrs D!

To have received three of these 'recognition' awards in such a short space of 'blogging' time is really quite an honour!  This one is especially cool for me as it comes from the truly fabulous Seana Smith.

(You can see my other two awards here and here).

Seana's book "Sydney for under 5's" was my absolute bible when we first moved here two and half years ago.  I seriously didn't leave the house without it.  At the time I had no idea who Seana was and I didn't know the first thing about blogging either.  So when I started delving into the world of blogging about 8 or 9 months ago I was so excited to find that Seana had an awesome blog called Sydney kids, food and travel.  I was even more excited when I first met Seana.....on the beach, in my swimmers, about to swim from Palm Beach to Whale Beach, in the rain!!!! I think I was actually a little bit star struck!! You can read all about that swim here.

Each Liebster Award I have received has had slightly different 'rules' - all variations of the same sort of thing, but for this one I will stick to Seana's rules.

RULES

• Write 11 random facts about yourself
• Answer 11 interview questions given by the person who nominated you. 
• Create 11 new interview questions
• Nominate 11 lovely bloggers and pass on the Liebster Award to them.
• Don't forget to let everybody know!!

 11 random facts about me 

1. I hate roller coaster rides!  I know I know they're supposed to be so much fun, but I hate heights, and going upside down and twisty-turny and any kind of free falling at speed!!  My poor kids, the only thing I'll be any good at taking them on is the tea cup rides.
2. Apparently I grind my teeth in my sleep??  How am I supposed to stop if I don't even know I'm doing it??
3. I almost swallowed my engagement ring!  Mr D dropped it into a glass of champers before proposing and I didn't notice until I almost chocked on it!
4. I met Brad Pitt whilst wearing my pyjamas!!
5. I've moved countries twice in my life.  The first time from South Africa to England and the second, from England to Australia.
6. I put moisturiser on my feet every after every shower - a weird habit that my mum passed on to me (I wonder if my sister does it too??)
7. I wish I spoke more than one language.
8. I'm a very nervous driver and I'm not very good at it either.  I would far rather be in the passenger seat any day.
9. The very first live concert I ever went to was Bon Jovi in London - and it was awesome!
10. I once had my 'fortune' told by an elderly German lady in a night time market in the middle of India, and everything she said has so far come true.

11 Questions from Seana

• When was the last time you felt proud of yourself?  Actually, quite recently.  Last week we were granted our Permanent Right to reside in Australia.  It's such a great feeling and I'm really proud of both me and my whole family for how well we've coped and settled in to a completely new county.  There has been lots of ups and downs and some really tough times, but on the whole we've made it work and are happy.

• What's your answer to the obesity crisis?  Don't eat so much!!  Just kidding, I promise!  I think the real answer is education, education , education.  The more we can teach our kids about healthy eating and the right choices, the less likely they are to fall into the 'obesity' statistic.

• Have you read any great fiction recently?  I very rarely get a chance to read anymore and when I do, it's usually other blogs!!  I have just recently read 'Not Quite Nigella', which is kind of fiction I guess.  It's the memoirs of Lorraine Elliot, who writes the incredibly successful blog Not Quite Nigella .  I really enjoyed it and read it from start to finish in less than a week, which is a miracle for me.

• If the queen came to tea what would you serve her?  Oooh good question.  I have no idea - I think I would be such a nervous wreck that I would probably set fire to the kitchen beforehand!!  I think it would have to be a real traditional buttermilk scone with homemade strawberry jam and fresh clotted cream.

• Where would you like to travel with your kids?  Everywhere!!  I would love to take them to as many different places as possible.  I think our first big trip would have to be back to England though as Master J still remembers everything so clearly (even though he was only 4 when we left), that I really think he needs to go back to get some closure.

• Are you scared of spiders?  Sharks?  Yes and yes!  Although I am so much better on the spider front than I used to be.  Judge for yourself here.

• Did you study hard at school?  I did (I think).

• Have you cyberstalked your first love?  Of course!! - doesn't everyone??

• Cats - for or against them?  I love cats.  I'm definitely more of a cat than a dog person.  I found our first cat in a pet shop and I REALLY REALLY wanted to take it home but Mr D wouldn't let me.  Then he went on a week long business trip to the states and she 'accidentally' came to live with us.  Funny thing was - she became his cat!!

• Has blogging improved your life?  Without sounding cheesy - YES!

• Where will it all end up?  Hahaha, well we could be here a while with this one!  In an idea world I can only hope that I manage to raise three fabulous children without damaging my sanity or theirs!

11 Questions from me 

1. When was the last time you had a day off?  What did you do?
2. Are a glass half full or a glass half empty kind of person?
3. Where would you like to go on your next date night?
4. What TV series are you currently into?  I need some ideas of what to download next as we've just come to the end of one.
5. If you had the choice would you go for a perfect house in a not so perfect location - or would you sacrifice on the house for the location?
6. Are you a tea or a coffee drinker?
7. What phone app could you absolutely not live without?
8. Where is the best place you've taken the kids on holiday and why?
9. What is your view on gay marriage?  Should Australia just 'get with the program' and make it legal or do you think otherwise?
10. What is your favourite Australian wine? (I'm fishing for recommendations again folks).
11. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Lastly it's my turn to name 11 other amazing blogs that I think are more than worthy of some Liebster Love.

Amanda from Cooker and A Looker
Francesca from Francesca Writes Here
Karen from Yellow Dandy Dreams
Aleney from BOY EATS WORLD
Naomi from (Not) Just a Mummy
Matt from Dad Down Under
Emily from HAVE A LAUGH ON ME
Zanni Louise from My Little Sunshine House
Jess from My Heart..Your Home
Josefa from Always Josefa
Amanda from My Little Table Designs

All of these blogs are fantastic and written by such lovely people.  Make sure you check them out and say Hi.

"I am the Captain of my soul" - Nelson Mandela

image credit

I remember the day when Nelson Mandela was released from prison like it was yesterday.  I have no idea why I have such a vivid memory of it, but I just do.   It was 1990 and I was 10 years old. We had just arrived at our campsite ready for a waterskiing weekend and it was absolutely pouring with rain.  Usually when we arrived at our campsites Dad would immediately begin unpacking the caravan and start to put the tent up regardless of the weather.  It was always a bit of a commotion as he would yell instructions at us to "stand by that peg" or "hold this line" - which of course none of us ever did!!  (I can only now appreciate his frustration).

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.  The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

- Nelson Mandela

Anyway,  this time was different.  We all sat in the car listening to the radio (no ipads or DVD players in those days).  Mum and Dad had both SHHHHHHHHHED us several times, so we knew it was important.  I remember not quite understanding what was going on but asking my dad to explain and he told me "Things are about to change my girl! For the better!"

"We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?  Actually, who are we not to be?"

- Nelson Mandela

A couple of years later we immigrated to England and it was only really there that I started to learn the true meaning of who this 'Nelson Mandela' was, and about the Apartheid part of South African history.  My parents had kept us very sheltered from the politics surrounding us as children and had brought us up not to see any different between black and white.  I was very naive and had quite a tough time as a young, white South African teen in England trying to defend my stance on how I was involved in the Apartheid.   Especially as I wasn't involved at all and actually knew very little about it.  I started to mimic the English accent in an attempt to 'fit in' and not be asked any more questions about why I hated black people (which of course I didn't).  I even went as far as trying to deny my own heritage as I started to believe that being South African was something to be ashamed of.

"No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion.  People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

-Nelson Mandela

It took me quite a few years to finally make peace with my real roots and to be proud of where I came from.  Reading Nelson Mandela's autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom" really helped to put everything into perspective for me.  It opened my eyes to the power positive thoughts and self belief.  If you ever get a chance to read it, it's an amazing and truly moving story.

Image credit

Another moment in history, which is without a doubt etched in the memories of every single South African, was that moment on the 24th June 1995 when the Springboks won the rugby world cup.  I was 15 years old and on a school Geography trip.  Earlier that day my foot had slipped down a rabbit hole (don't laugh) and I broke my ankle, which meant that I couldn't go down to the beach to do "geography stuff" with the rest of my class mates.  Instead I got to sit in front of the telly with my geography teacher, who was also South African, and who had also broken her ankle in that rabbit hole (true story, I promise) and watched the game!!!  Oh my god, was it exciting!!!  We were screaming and bouncing up and down on the bed in a tiny room somewhere in Dorset - so I can only just begin to imagine the atmosphere that must have been in South Africa that day.  Mr D remembers it well too as the game was on his 21st Birthday.

"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

- Nelson Mandela

I didn't realise at the time what a huge influence Mr Mandela had on that win and on the country itself, but I will leave you with this video. 

"I am fundamentally an optimist.  Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say.  Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed towards the sun and one's feet moving forward."

- Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

He is, and always will be a true inspiration to mankind and I'm pretty sure he will be somewhat entangled in the hearts of all South Africans.  I wish him well as he fights his final battle with life itself, which will surely lead him to his ultimate freedom.

Hamba kakuhle Madiba.  Sala kakuhle.

A quick catch up over lettuce soup

I'm sitting at my desk with a steaming bowl of lettuce soup (yes, you did read that right) and I'm about to write something......here.......now!!  I feel like my poor blog has been a bit neglected recently - but in fact it has just been 'life' that has keep my hands off the keyboard!!  I'm actually revelling in the silence right now.........can you hear it???  It's amazing and NEVER to be taken for granted.  Both Master J and Miss H are at school and Kindy today and Miss L is fast asleep, rugged up in her cot upstairs.

Sorry about the grainy photo but I had to sneak in and take this pic in the dark - did NOT want to wake her!!

To say the last few weeks have been busy could even be a slight UNDER exaggeration and thats saying something for me.  Mr D has been away travelling over seas and I have been running a tight ship at home.  I have to run everything like a military operation otherwise we would never get out of the front door every morning, and I would probably never make it to bed either!!

I have to say, I think I have deserve a gold star, as the whole time he was away NOTHING went wrong!!!  Seriously not one thing!!!  I have a really bad track record for things going wrong when Mr D is out of the country, so this is nothing short of a miracle!  The last trip away he did Miss L was only just born and I managed to not only get a $497 dollar parking fine but I also crashed the car (fortunately no one expect the car and perhaps my pride was hurt)!!

I can also remember a time (back in England) when Master J was a baby and Mr D was on another trip and I somehow managed to lock the bathroom door fron the inside (but without anyone in it???????).  There was no way in other than bashing it down, which I decided was not a good idea, so Master J and I had to move in with my mum until Mr D got home.  My dad was away too, so he couldn't fix the problem either!!

The time we were snowed in and couldn't leave the house for two days, also just happened to be when Mr D was out of the country!!

The neighbour and my dad trying to dig my car out of the ice, so that I could get off the driveway

Anyway we survived the last trip with flying colours!

As the weather has also definitely descended into winter (Sydney style) we have also been inundated with bugs, colds and flu's, keeping mummy very busy.  But I'm hoping to be back on top of things soon so please don't go anywhere!!

Oh and I just thought I'd throw in my lettuce soup recipe too.  I PROMISE it's worth a try!!

LETTUCE SOUP

You will need:
1/4 to 1/2 of an iceberg lettuce
2 spring onions
1 large or 2 medium sized potatoes (peeled and roughly chopped)
2 tbs vegetable stock concentrate (homemade is even better)
500g water
30 g butter
1 tsp sugar
100g cream or plain yoghurt or 50g milk
Tabasco Sauce and sprinkle of parmesan cheese to garnish

Add the water, stock, lettuce, onions and butter to the thermomix bowl and mix for 10 seconds on speed 9.  Add the potatoes and cook on 100 degrees for 18 minutes of speed 2.  Add the sugar and cream, yoghurt or milk and whizz for 30 seconds on speed 9 until smooth.

Serve with a dash of Tabasco, a few shavings of parmesan and some warm crusty bread.  Delicious!!  

Believe it or not, this is actually a family favourite in our house and even Mr D and the kids love it.  I won't tell you Mr D's reaction the first time I told him we were having lettuce soup for dinner though ............I'll let you guess!

Raw Chocolate Fudge Brownie Recipe (the healthy version)

I made these using my thermomix but you can make them just as easily with a good blender.  I originally saw the recipe on a Facebook page called Just East Real Food and I modified it to work with the ingredients I had in my cupboard.  I can honestly say that they are DIVINE!!!!!  Even the kids absolutely loved them!

The recipe takes about 10-15 minutes to make and about 45 mins in the fridge to set.  It makes a pretty sizeable portion of about 20 squares of fudge brownies too.

Ingredients

For the brownie base you will need:
225g raw cashew nuts
240g coconut
240g soft pitted dates
80g good raw cocoa powder
120g organic maple syrup

For the fudge/ganache topping you will need:

120g organic maple syrup

50g good raw cocoa powder

60g unrefined coconut oil (or 80g coconut if you want to make your own oil)

30g cocoa nips or coconut or crushed nuts or grated dark chocolate for your topping

Method:

1. Put the cashews into the the thermomix and blend on speed 9 for 5 seconds until they have become a fine powder.  Be careful not to over-blend them or you will end up with cashew butter!!!
2. Add the dates and coconut and blend again for 10-15 seconds on speed 9 until you have a slightly sticky 'combined' powder.
3. Add the cocoa and mix on speed 8 for 10 seconds.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then repeat for a further 10 seconds.
4. Add the maple syrup and mix on speed 6 for 1 minutes until your have a very sticky mixture.
5. Using your hands, press the mixture into a lined baking tray.  Make sure it is as even as possible and pressed right into the corners.  You will find it becomes quite oily (from the coconut and syrup), so once you are happy with it press a piece of paper towel over the top just to absorb any excess oil.
6. Put it into the fridge for about 20 minutes to set whilst you get on with making the ganache.

There are two ways to make the ganache.  The first is to add the coconut oil, cocoa powder and maple syrup into the thermomix and blend on speed 8 for 1 minute until you have a thick, chocolaty 'icing' that you can spread evening on to the top of the brownie base.  Once you're happy with it, sprinkle it with your choice of topping and pop it back into the fridge for a further 20 minutes to set.

The second way is to make your own coconut oil or butter but adding the raw coconut into the thermomix and whizzing it for 3-4 minutes on speed 8 at a temperature of 60 degrees.  You will need to open the Thermomix to scrape down the sides every 30 seconds.  Once the coconut has started to melt and thicken a little, add the maple syrup and cocoa and continue to mix at 60 degrees for a further minute on speed 6.  Then spread it on top of your brownie base and refrigerate for 20 minites.

It sets really hard and you will need a sharp knife to cut it up into squares   It's also best to store it in the fridge too (if it last long enough).  My kids loved it to much I had to make a second batch and they wanted to help!  I was a tiny bit worried that they wouldn't eat it once they saw what actually went in it, but they didn't seem to mind at all and loved the second batch just as much!  

One point for mummy. WOOP!!

Wordless Wednesday: A sunset, the beach and the most beautiful light

This was one of those spontaneous evening walks to the beach.  I just WISH I had had my proper camera with me and not just my iphone to get these shot in focus!!!

Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys and Twinkle in the eye for Wordless Wednesday

A review and GIVEAWAY on the gorgeous winter 2.5 tog inVENTA sleep bag from Love to Dream

Have you ever had that really annoying moment when you've just fallen into a deep sleep and you hear your baby start to cry (in the middle of the night - it's always the middle of the night)?  You drag yourself out of bed, trip over a couple of toys, stand on a piece of Lego and try not to swear as you make your way down the passage, in the dark, to the kids bedroom.  You get there and quickly realise that bubs is not hungry or thirstily, her nappy is good, and she's not in any pain!  The problem is.................. she's kicked off the blankets AGAIN and the cold has woken her up (and consequently you too).  Then just to add insult to injury, now that she's up, she thinks it's time to play, so don't think about going back to your snug warm bed just yet mummy!!!

I have always used sleep bags for all three of my children and I can honestly say that I swear by them.  You might still need to use a blanket in the cooler winter months, but at least if they wearing a long sleeved babygro or onesie  (to cover their arms) and they do happen to kick the blanket off (which they will, believe me), the chances of them waking up cold when they're still nice and snug in a sleep bag are almost 100% less!!  I can honestly vouch for that from my own experience!!!

Three most important bed time essentials:  inVENTA Sleep bag, bunny and taggie blanket

I was recently sent a beautiful winter sleep bag from Love to Dream to try out and review.  You might recognise their 'Love to swaddle' range which is fabulous and so popular with mums of tiny babies.  The sleep bag that we got for Miss L was the new winter 2.5 tog from the 'Love to inVENTA' range which comes in sizes 4-12 months or 12 to 36 months.

Image credit:  Check out the full range of beautiful sleep bags at Love to Dream

From the minute I took it out of the box I was impressed.  It had a really super soft feel to it, and I've already washed it twice and the quality of the fabric is fantastic.  Unlike the usual polyester filling the inVenta winter sleep bag is filled with 100% bamboo which is both breathable and antibacterial.

The bit that I absolutely loved the most (and even Mr D was impressed) was it's genius cooling system, which allows you to regulate your child's temperature without disturbing them or waking them up.  Each sleeping bag has two zips running across it (front and back) which when opened reveal a mesh fabric letting air into the bag.  Too clever!  They also have a back to front travel slot so you can put your child into a car seat (with a five pint seatbelt) without taking them out of their sleep bag.  A very handy little feature indeed.  That way if your bubs falls asleep in the car it's so much easier to transfer them to bed without waking them.

Awesome prize - worth $99.95

Miss L has the gender neutral beige bag with a cute little elephant on it, but you can choose pink or blue in a variety of different designs.

Love to Dream have been really generous and given me a gorgeous Winter 2.5 tog inVenta sleep bag (pictured above) to give away to one of my lovely readers.  You are guaranteed to love it.  We do!!!  To enter you have to be an Australian resident and comment below telling me why you would love to put your baby or child in an inVenta sleep bag.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was not paid to write this post however I was gifted the gorgeous sleeping bag that Miss L is wearing from Love to Dream.  We love it.  All opinions and pictures, unless otherwise stated, are my own.