Wordless Wednesday 4 January

Welcome to my first Wordless Wednesday post in 2012.  I have a photo today of the first activity of the New Year and it was raining.  This is Hayden and me just after I have been for a run pushing him in the buggy.  He is to big for the buggy but that is another story.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Breathe

This year I am giving myself permission to breathe and live life to it's fullest.   I want to dig deep and make my life more whole, not defined by any one thing or person.  You know in my life that one person could easily define who I am.  I want to move on from last year finding the essence of me and now dig deeper.  What will help me achieve this?  Not entirely sure but I am giving myself permission this year to reflect more and do even more.  Define the word family not only by the people but by the memories they create together.  I know one thing for sure that to be able to achieve this I will need to include everyone in my little family but most importantly find time for me to reflect and move forward, even journal about to help the journey.

To help in this endeavour I am joining an Art Caravan.  Who know what my art will look like (I know.... I hear you saying, Tamara an artist....well I think I am a novice artist and thats all that counts.)

I am not sure how this will all mature as the year goes by but I know that I am going to give it my best.

Monday Menu

Here it is the first menu of 2012.  It is also a short menu for this week as we are going camping and it will require a different plan.

Monday  Noodly Dinner

Tuesday  Chicken Carbonara

Wednesday  beef and broccoli stir fry

Thursday  chicken, peach and ginger stirfry on noodles (I will need to blog this recipe)

Friday  camping

Saturday  camping

Sunday  camping

I am linking to I'm an Organising Junkie

Noodly Dinner

This recipe has evolved in our family over the years and is affectionately known as the Noodly Dinner.  It is perfect for adding veges to your childrens diet and introducing some Asian style flavours.


Noodly Dinner


Serves six people

Ingredients

1kg of egg noodles
4 eggs
a handful of meat (chicken, beef, today I used leftover ham)
1 large carrot grated
1 green capsicum cut into bite size pieces
1 cup of of frozen peas
2.5 cm of freshly grated ginger (I store my ginger in the freezer)
2 Tbs of soya sauce
2 tsp of sesame oil

Method

• Pre cook the noodles as per package
• Wisk the eggs in a bowl until well beaten.  Heat a fry pan with a spray of oil.  Cook the eggs like an omlette.  Remove from pan when cook and when cooler to touch cut into bite size pieces.
• Cook meat through then remove from the heat.
• Put all the veges and grated ginger in the fry pan which has been sprayed with oil.  Cook until meets your taste, we like it just a little crunchy but you might like it really soft.
• Finally mixed all the veges, egg, meat, soya sauce and sesame oil together in a large bowl. 
• Serve and enjoy.

(Photo is by me.  It is slightly out of focus.  I am promising myself to work out how to take better food photos)

Happy New Year.

With 2012 well started and the end of the first day nearing I thought it would be timely to look back so I can move forward with the new year.

In one way or another lots happened in my life in 2011.  Moving house was probably the single most challenging thing.  I guess technically we moved house twice in 4 months.  While it was the best thing we have done it also bought about many challenges for my family.  Firstly we had to share accommodation and then once we had bought a house we had to get it ready for us to move in.  All this I have written about on my blog. 

I tried hard to embrace the essence of me which I hope has set me up for a more happier and joyful New Year.  I tried to get fitter and healthier, go out more and entertain more.  This is an emerging science for me and I hope this will see more entertaining happening.  No excuses.

I guess the three words that would describe me at the end of the year were very tired, busy but happier.  What more could I want?

So on to 2012.  I am a planning type of gal.  I like things committed to paper.  Love to be able to tick achievements off.  So watch this space. I am off to put the plans in place and committment then to my blog.  I am confirming my One Little word and will off running as they say. 

So onwards and upwards I say.  I can't wait for 2012 to get going.

Images of Christmas

Here is just a few images of Christmas in my part of the world.  I hope yours was a joyous time too

(The credits for this page can be found here)

Wordless Wednesday 28 December

Finally the last Wednesday of 2011.  It has been a magnificent challenge taking a photo a week to share with you all.  I hope next year to keep up sharing photos with you all. I might just be able to improve my  photography a little too.

These are my favourite photos from Christmas Day.  My children and some of their cousins spent all afternoon fishing for native eels.  It is a catch, look and release project.  They are plentiful in the creek at the bottom of my parents place success is almost guarenteed.

  I usually link to my Little Drummer Boys

My Little Word 2011

Essence was my word for this year.  You can read about my intentions here.

As I sit here and reflect on the year that was in the context of Essence I know honestly the moving of house did make me loose some focus in the middle of the year.  I have been trying hard to step outside my usual comfort zone, go places and do things that I would usually choose not to do but would really help me realise what I really am deep inside.  You know what I mean....I am trying to search for the me as Tamara, not Haydens mother, a hockey mother, my teacher etc etc.  Sometimes I really have not have any energy to push myself into discovery mode, do things I know would embrace life and me a little more.  Moments like this it is easy to use Hayden as an excuse for not paying attention to myself a little more.  But in the last three months or so I have made a concerted effort to be out there a little more and rediscover me.  No excuses acceptable.  I can see that from this effort life can be more joyful and happier.  Finding the true essence of me.  Long may it last.

(The credits for this)

Monday Menu 26 December

With it being just after Christmas I thought that I would try this week and do recipes that involved using my leftovers.

Monday   freezer meal  (need the container so it needs to be eaten)

Tuesday  Ham and feta quiche

Wednesday  zucchini, ham and feta pizza (scroll down the link to see the recipe)

Thursday  Grilled ham sandwich

Friday   cold ham, new potatoes and salad

Saturday  (time for a break from the ham) grilled chicken with a grilled vege salad and new potatoes

Sunday   Left overs.

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie

Merry Christmas

Where ever you are what ever you are doing I wish you all a very merry Christmas.  For me it is Christmas Eve in the evening so it will be my last post for a couple of days.

I hope you all enjoy the festive season and look forward to a very prosperous New Year.