{this and that}

This post will most likely be a mish mash of a bunch of bits and pieces ... but you know, that's just how it is sometimes !

Let's start with my contribution to Melody's Straight Out of Camera Saturday. You want to join us ? It's easy. Just post a photo that you have not edited ... nope, not one bit ... and then link up over at Slurping Life. Mine this week is from "the big mountain climb on Wednesday" !

So, quite a few of you asked me where I got these handy little containers. I actually got them in my grocery store. That probably won't help most of you though so I did a little research for you.

and I found this website ... there are contact details for in Australia but there's an email address so you could probably email and see if they can lead you to a supplier in your country. That is, if you are really seriously wanting one ... or ten. I recommend them !! HIGHLY. I love mine. Use them ALL THE TIME !!

I had to take the cat to the vet today. No, she's not sick. They were having a 1/2 price off micro-chipping sale so I bit the bullet and got it done. Set us back a whopping $30. But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I'm here to talk about transporting her. I used to take her in a cage. You know, the ones made to transport animals. Only problem is she hates her cage. I haven't had her cage out in years. In fact, where is that thing ? I think we might have gotten rid of it in the move. So ... I tried a box. Just a plain copy paper box. Wrapped her in a towel and stuck her in there. It was ok. Today, I was getting ready to go and found her sleeping on a environmentally friendly shopping bag. You know the ones ? I just picked her up, plonked her in the bag, threw it over my shoulder and we were off. She was so calm the whole way ! The vet way amazed. I know ... she's strange. I like her though. My cat ... not the vet. Are you confused ? Me too. My cat is strange and I like her. I like the vet too but that's not who I was talking about.

Moving on ...

The bag with the cat in it fits much better in the front seat than the cage of box ever did ... and I didn't even need to clear out the workout bag, the picnic blanket, the other enviro bags, the mattress pump, a towel and a little garbage can. Why do all of these things live in my passenger seat ?!

Good question.

No answer.

Can you tell it's getting late ? And by late I mean 9:22 pm.

One last thing before I drag myself to bed. Did I mention I've been getting up at 5:30 am for the past few weeks ? I like having all the time in the morning but my goodness, I'm wrecked by bedtime !!

I've revamped the Lighthouse Studios Online blog. I hope you'll pop over and check it out. The girls were so encouraged and excited by the lovely comments that were left last time ...

There is a new post that I added today and I'm hoping to do one each day this week ... we'll see.

EDITED THE NEXT MORNING TO ADD >>>

I wanted to post this recipe last night but was too tired. No-one has commented here yet this morning so I thought I'd add a link now ... These cookies are too delicious ! And there is a funny story related to them. Go see ...

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{routines n junk}

There are not many things in my life that can't be fixed with a hot bubble bath.
Add a candle, even better !

Last night, my brain was getting away from me. Thinking, planning, thinking, planning ...
and I couldn't keep track.
I had a headache too. I think because I didn't drink enough water.
And perhaps a bit too much sun ?

Anyway ... I needed to get the stuff out of my brain and onto a paper.
But I also needed to get rid of the headache !
SOLUTION :
hot bath, bubbles, candles, pad of paper, pens !

15 minutes later
my brain was still
my headache was lessened
and i was off to pack the lunches for tomorrow ...

I'm going to show you but I wanted to tell you all about my new night time routine.
I've always hated doing the dishes after dinner.
Ok, ok ... I always hate the dishes.
But especially after cooking dinner.
I cook dinners that take a bit of effort ... sometimes a lot of effort.
I do it because I love it.
But to have to do the dishes after has always been so discouraging.

A couple of months ago, Rory started doing the dishes after dinner !
Just out of the blue, he suggested that I have the dishwasher emptied before dinner
and he'd take care of the cleanup after dinner.

I'll tell you what ... it is wonderful !
I wake up every morning to a shiny clean kitchen and I didn't have to clean it !!

One thing that Rory has always hated doing is packing his lunch.
We've tried different things but really ... he just wanted me to do it ! :)
I don't mind doing it but the problem always was that I would be too tired after cooking
and then cleaning up to even think about packing lunches at night
and he leaves WAY TOO EARLY for me to do his
in the morning.

So ... this week, I started doing all of our lunches, at night.
And it works wonderfully !!

There's no scurrying around in the mornings anymore !!

And I pack much healthier lunches this way !

Here's the whole lot so you can see ...



I made a big fruit salad at the beginning of the week. It lasted three days.
This is the first time I've done that, I'll definitely be doing it again.
It was so easy to just grab the big container and scoop it into each of our boxes !

I also try to incorporate as many leftovers as possible.

Here's the kids lunches for tomorrow ...
The spaghetti is leftover from earlier in the week.
The foccacia from last night's dinner.
They have fruit salad,
"greek" salad ... it's just tomato, kalamata olives, feta cheese and yellow bell pepper chunks,
a hard boiled egg, and a yogurt.



My lunch is similar to the kids, except I'm having leftover spaghetti with the leftover sauce.
And I'm having crackers instead of foccacia. And no yoghurt.

Rory needs a much bigger lunch.
He works loooooooooooooong hours.
He has lasagna that I pulled out of the freezer.
A ham sandwich.
The tomato/lettuce are to put on the sandwich at work.
(I keep 'em separate ... who likes a soggy sandwich ?!)
Fruit salad, hard boiled egg, crackers, and a bar.



And here we are ... all stacked up in the fridge, ready to go in lunchboxes in the morning !

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