Time to tackle the 5kg Beast of Beef

Trying to turn a very early 5am start into something positive so have decided to embrace a culinary challenge for the coming weekend. We have been putting off doing this but as we are likely to have a fairly quiet two days with sick kidlets there'll be more than enough time to spend in the vacinty of the stove.

The 5kg beast of beef is now out of the freezer defrosting (this could take a week in all reality) - but the end result is going to be tones of delicious casseroles, curry and other slow cooked fare. I am on the hunt for good hearty recipes anyone might care to offer, specifically keen on dishes that freeze well so my time and grocery budget will benefit over the coming weeks.

First stop for ideas will be Stephanie Alexander's 'The Cooks Companion' which has been a brilliant bible like resource book for my kitchen efforts ever since recieving it as a gift for our wedding (thank you Kate & Emily). Have another interesting book which I don't recall buying but may have been picked up at one of those discount tables they set up in the middle of shopping malls. The Oz Women's Weekly Complete Book of Modern Asian appears to have some cracker looking pictures of curries in it and not being big curry cookers this will be the real challenge for Matt and I.

So here goes....will keep you posted with progress and a picture of the 5kg Beast of Beef and a breakdown of just how far we can make it stretch!

"you look like you've been hit by a Truck"....

When you're stranded at home with two sick kids and a baby who'se bottom is so red with nappy rash it looks like its been wiped with sandpaper then you have to find humour wherever you can.....

The beauty of these hottie thingos is being all wool they stay warm way longer than normal, almost all night, dare I say it......and its so much nicer to cuddle wool rather than rubber.

Looking forward to seeing out the day with a tasty glass of wine, which will be a vast improvement from my first coffee of the day experience which was accompanied by a vomit down the back of my dressing gown.

Have a great healthy weekend - stay warm.

Product development is going great guns and promo plan underway too

I am underway working on a selection of hottie covers and blankets are going great guns. However my latest concern is more of the promotional kind in that I suspect I will be the kind of Mum who subscribes to the Sally Ridge School of Promotion - ie. using your offspring to further your own aspirations in slightly inapproriate ways.

I couldn't resist this pic of my lovely Ella who test drove one of my Marmalady blankets and her brand new hottie cover I whipped up over breakfast yesterday. 

She was feeling worse than crap and was asleep by 5. There had been lots of coughing (a little vomit), a temperature and shivers galore earlier in the afternoon - but as soon as she was snuggled up with her hottie and blanket she settled instantly! I put it all down to the lightweight comfort of 100% NZ wool - and the exceptional and quirky stitching efforts of moi.

I can't say I won't turn to my kids for a bit of extra glam factor when I start photographing the official product range, I just hope they don't overshadow the incredibly stylee blankets etc! 

(and incase you are interested/ concerned I do have 2 of these beautiful marmalady orange blankets, we'll hold onto this one in the interest of not sharing Ella's germs around too but the other is in development!) 

We Have No Limits

LiveUnbound - We Have No Limits

I really hope this link works - the footage will take your breath away.

I have a pretty normal day scheduled today but I think I am going to put a little more thought into what I do and how I do it after watching this.

Love the quote "Action expresses Priorities" c/- Gandhi

I don't have to jump off mountains to feel like I am taking on the world, I just need to show a bit of purpose in my day to day actions and the choices I make. 

No more squandering our precious time.

Introducing Fanta Pants, FeijoAloha, Marmalady and Coconut Ice

A big black kleensack turned up on my doorstep this morning courtesy of my lovely Fastway courier man. It was filled with some long awaited trademe purchases, the most fabulous old school wool blankets. They are more colourful and fabulous in person and I can't wait to get onto transforming them into even more fantastically useful and beautiful things too. My new sewing machine is primed ready for action, the patterns have been drawn up and cut out ready to go, it's all on.

My first completed blanket "sunshine sound system - sure to rock" (as per Friday 8th June's post) went down a treat with my birthday brother and I may have even scored my first pre-order from one of the birthday guests!!

So standby for new website/ shop (FOC courtesy of Westpac and MYOB!!) and logo designed by the lovely Helen of Erupt Design (and Erupt Prints too).

Also - if you have any of those old school wool blankets hanging around the back of a cupboard and would like to yours transformed or simply just want to sell them to me outright then I would love to hear from you.