Getting Fire educated - STIHL Tips and Gloves Giveaway

It's going to be hot, hot, hot in Victoria over the next few days. I was watching the Regional news last night and as story of fire after fire rolled out, I realised I probably wouldn't look at these news stories with such a dismissive eye again. 

 Last December my brother's farm burnt down and the results were devastating  I remember driving through the next day, seeing the blackness that swept over the land. It was so depressing. We were lucky, nobody was hurt and the CFA did an amazing job to save the house and some structures. After the fire I started to look around closer to home.

We are landscaping (STILL!) and so our backyard is all dry grass and not much else. Reading these tips from STIHL has definitely got me thinking about our landscaping!

Consider the placement of garden beds, trees and other flammable objects. You should aim to keep the area around your house and other structures free of plants that can easily catch fire and then ignite the buildings. 

Dense shrubs should be kept away from a house, especially windows. If these burn closely, they can cause windows to crack and embers can then enter the house. Try STIHL’s Hedge Trimmers which are convenient, quiet and offer precise cutting. 

Keep grass mowed to less than 10cm as fire can travel quickly through long grass. Regular mowing, weeding and raking are important to remove potential fuel. STIHL has just released its very own Cordless Lawn Mower, which makes it possible to mow the lawn easily, comfortably and with innovative battery technology. 

Use pebbles or rocks in your garden, not mulch, which is highly flammable. Keep wood piles away from the house, as embers can easily ignite these. Store flammable liquids away from the house. If possible, store in flame proof containers. 

To check out more of STIHL's range check out their website.

GIVEAWAY 

To help you get your property ready and safe for the bushfire season, STIHL is giving away these leather gloves to one of my readers. Simply be the first person to leave a comment and your email below and they are yours. Easy. Good luck!

Not another 2012 end of year post...Ok, I lied, it is.

Once upon a time it was the year 2012 and there was a young mummy throwing her hands up in the air with absolutely no idea what to do with her screaming, non-sleeping baby. She was out of work completely for the first time in 10 years and circled the house everyday looking for something to pounce on that would give her some kind of mental stimulation and that did not revolve around (lack of) sleep, and the painful wind her bubs had which was causing it.

She cried a lot, didn't have anyone to turn to in her small, dingy little country town and was an all-round pain the ass. Her poor husband was ridiculously supportive and often resembled a deer stuck in headlights who might be walking on eggshells no matter which way they turned. He tried incredibly hard to always do the 'right' thing but most of the time there was no 'right thing' as this mummy was friggin' exhausted and would take it out on whatever, whether it was the wrong or right thing to do.

Time passed though and things got better, then worse, then better again. This naive mummy was learning that expectations in society are a big load of B.S when it comes to babies and that her baby just wasn't going to be a sleeper. But he WAS going to be an awesome eater, laugher and hugger. And that started to suit her just fine. She stopped the ridiclous amount of googling and trawling through forums that had her obsessed with all the things he couldn't do like sleep for hours, fall asleep on his own, or play without her in the room and finally began to just ENJOY her baby.

She started to stumble on blogging and started up her own Blog. She planned it to be just full of educational tidbits for parents but it turned into something more and her blogging soon saw her writing for a major parenting website, attending blogger events and reviewing and keeping items she loves.

Towards the end of 2012 she found herself in the position of no part-time teaching jobs available and has decided to keep persuing the Blog as well as developing a small business. Her husband has been incredibly supportive and she is really looking forward to giving it a red hot go.

She's ending 2012 the way she wants 2013 to be...

"But for now, I'm just going to end 2012 the way I want 2013 to be - Good food, good wine, good company."



Thanks so much for reading over the last few months and I hope you join me in 2013 as I move from full-time mum to full-time mumpreneur!

Are you making a major change in 2013?

The Year I became a Blogger

Image Source

Everyone seems to be reflecting on the year that was in terms of their Blog at the moment. I don't really feel like I can do that considering I just checked, and I only started blogging in August. August? It feels like I've been doing it for ages. It still blows me away sometimes that people actually read this stuff, and whether a post has had 50 views or 500 views, the fact is, someone is reading this stuff that flows from my brain to my fingers as I type. Strange feeling.







So before I became I blogger I...

- Was going insane in a very small town with little to do and a baby that just would not sleep.

- Was trying little business ventures here and there and doing a lot of Google searches.

After I started blogging I never thought...

- That within only a few months of blogging I could be getting all sorts of great perks and even getting some cash here and there.

- I would meet any bloggers in person

- I would constantly hear "So how's your Blog going?"

- I would talk about the blog endlessly and what awesome products or opportunities were coming my way to my husband

- I would make some new friends. People I could see myself having a laugh or a coffee with.

- It would lead me to some inspiration and (hopefully) future business ventures!

It seems like everyone around me is fascinated by this whole blogging thing. I find it awkward to explain, and I get a bit funny about it because I forget so many people I know, and don't know, are reading this thing. Christmas brought forth comments like "Careful! Ange will put it on her blog" or "Are you going to blog about this?" and "Have you been blogging?" all in good humour or curiosity though. Still, it kind of dawned on me that I am a blogger. It still feels odd. But oh well! I'm sure I will get there.

So I guess 4 months in it's official. 2012 is the year I became a blogger.

What's one big thing you did in 2012?

Recipe: Ditch the turkey - Go the Salmon!

Brought to you by School of Mum, Keep Left PR and Tassal Salmon

I am a huge lover of salmon. There is so much GOODNESS in salmon. My husband is not a big fan though so I don't cook it much. That's why when I got the offer to cook up a Christmas recipe using Tassal Salmon's beautiful range I snapped it up!

Back to the goodness though. *CSIRO research shows that seafood, in particular Atlantic salmon has between 10 and 100 times higher levels of Omega 3 than beef, chicken or lamb, and lower levels of cholesterol. Omega 3 is essential for our brains, hearts and immune system. Check out more of the amazing benefits here.

* Nutrition data sourced from http://nutritiondata.self.com, http://www.calorieking.com.au, http://www.tassal.com.au, http://www.omega-3centre.com

I think if you want something that's 'meaty' then salmon is the ultimate 'meaty' fish. That's why I decided to serve it the way I have. It's full of protein and just as filling as red or white meat. Also I tried to add some green and red elements to give it a Christmas 'vibe'.



I've fleshed out the ingredients and the steps for the stuffed tomato as it needed the most explanation but the other elements for the dish are really simple! The asparagus went beautifully with the saltiness of the fetta and the salmon and the hollandaise were just divine.

Enjoy!.

Tassal Salmon - canned, smoked or fresh can be found at all Coles and Woolworths supermarkets. There's also a couple of nifty Salmon shops I would love to visit. They sound amazing!

Stuffed Tomato and Asparagus - Makes 4 servings

Ingredients.
1. four vine-ripened tomatoes
2. 1kg Danish Fetta cheese (I love it for its creaminess, but if you find it too rich, lessen the amount and mix in some cottage cheese)
3. 1 bunch of parsley
4. 2 bunches of asparagus
5. Olive oil and spray olive oil.

Steps.
1. Slice the top of the tomato, ensuring the stem stays on. Set to one side.
2. Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh of the tomato until you are left with a tomato shell.
3. Finely chop parsley into a bowl and add fetta. Add some olive oil and mash with a fork until it's smooth.
4. Spoon the fetta mixture into the tomato shells, ensuring there is some extra above the shell.
5. Carefully place the tomato 'lid' onto the top of the fetta.
6. Spray with olive oil and put in oven at 220 degrees for 15 minutes or until tomato looks cooked.
7. While tomatoes are baking, blanch asparagus in boiling water for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Roast Potatoes

Steps.
Ensure you have about 4-5 chat potatoes per person. Put them in a bowl and coat with olive oil, sea salt and rosemary. Place on baking tray and bake in oven with the tomatoes. Too easy! It should take about 30 minutes. Poke one with a fork to ensure they are soft and cooked on the inside.

Salmon

Steps.
I would suggest about 200g of salmon per person. I chose salmon fillets, but if you prefer to have no skin you can buy salmon portions. I didn't mess with the salmon. It was as simple as some sea salt and popping in a hot pan with some olive oil. Keep turning salmon until golden on the outside and pale pink on the inside. It should take about 5-10 minutes on medium to high heat.

Sauce

A basic hollandaise sauce was added using this recipe. Or you could just add some squeezed lemon! Delish!

PS. It got the little man's approval too!

Are you breaking out of the turkey tradition this Christmas? What are you making?

Tragedy in the News - Suggestions for little ones

I, like many, turned on the TV this morning to find tragedy and sadness flooding my heart and mind. I cuddled my little guy all morning. I watched him play, and I thought about what I would of been thinking before I had children. I would of been thinking, "How am I going to deal with this in the classroom on Monday?"

There's many ways you can deal with tragedy and grief with children, and it all depends on the particular child, events that have taken place in their life and their age. Like adults, children will draw on what they know and their personal experiences to make sense of what is going on around them.

If you decide to discuss the events that have taken place in the U.S, my suggestion would be turn off the TV. I've read many forums, tweets and Facebook pages today and I know some people have their child's best interest at heart when they say they believe their child should be exposed to the 'real world' but the news is not in child-speak. It is not interactive or allows for children to have a conversation or ask questions, and the images and footage shown are aimed at adults. One is better off having a conversation with your child/children so that you have the power to expose as much or as little as you see fit for their age/development/personality.

I've always been able to discuss events like this in the classroom from a religious perspective - Having taught in Catholic schools. And if this is something that can suit your family to draw upon then it can be a good time to explain, light a candle and say some special prayers.

Otherwise, perhaps light a candle, have a minute's silence, or discuss why we are thankful, lucky to have our families around us, as well as our teachers. Remembering not only children, but a mother and a teacher were lost also.

If you shed/they shed a tear, that's OK. It's a tragic, sad event and it's alright to exhibit emotions.

If your child likes to express themselves through Art, then it's perfectly appropriate to have them draw one thing they appreciate about their family, or cut out and decorate a heart to place by a candle today.

My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to all the families affected by this loss, and any loss of a child's life. May they rest in peace.

Children and life are so precious. I'll be holding my little man extra close today.

I must stress these are suggestions based on my experience as a teacher. If you do not agree or think it should be handled differently, then that's OK. There are so many factors to take into consideration and only you will know what is best for your individual child.

The Gift of Giving and Appreciation

This post is brought to you by School of Mum, Keep Left PR and Bakers Delight
Some of you may know that my family celebrates Christmas twice. We celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, and again on the 7th of January. I never used to celebrate Christmas on the 25th before marrying my husband. But now, being a part of a Catholic and Coptic Orthodox faith allows us to delve into two cultures, two languages, two Christmases, but one meaning - The Birth of Christ and the Spirit of Giving.

Unfortunately, sometimes the 7th of January lands on a weekday and can often be the day people are due to go back to work so sometimes that can cause a dilemma, as it has for us this year. My brother goes back to work on the 7th, and my sister-in law is pregnant and will be too close to her due date to travel.

Now, while I have adopted the Anglo-Saxon Christmas, my sister-in-law has adopted Orthodox Christmas and has gone so far as to invite us all to celebrate it at her house on the 5th of January to fit in with such a busy schedule. I'm amazed that this heavily pregnant mama of two is going to such a huge effort to invite my side of the family over to her house for lunch. For me, it's a great show of respect and love towards our family by ensuring that our Christmas is just as treasured and valued. More often than not, it can be tossed aside due to work commitments, post-new year busy times, or anything else really...

Not long after I received the invitation, another thing happened. A couple of weeks ago my brother's farm caught fire. The result was absolutely devastating...

What can you do in a situation like this? It's heart-breaking for everyone, but mostly for my father, brother and sister-in-law who have been tending to those trees and picking cherries for the last few years. 

Spirit of Giving

Dressed up Bakers Delight Cake. So easy and pretty!

Now Bakers Delight gave me some scrumptious bread, fruit mince tarts and Christmas cakes. In the spirit of giving they also offered me some to gift to a friend or neighbour. I have been racking my brain trying to come up with someone who I can attach a good story to, so that I could give them the gifts and write this post.

But by Sunday, following the above events taking place, it was a no-brainer. I'm hoping it will be one less thing my sister-in-law will have to provide at Christmas and hopefully if we all chip in and help she will get to put her feet up as host. Having two Christmases is busy enough, without the addition of being pregnant and natural disasters! 

WHY BAKE WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING HARD BAKING A BUN IN YOUR PERSONAL OVEN? LET BAKERS DELIGHT DO IT FOR YOU! 

My Sister-in-law checking out her new treats!

Bakers Delight Christmas Cakes and Mince tarts are delicious! I honestly never liked either mince tarts or fruit cake until I tried theirs! Head to their website to find the store near you.

Do you know someone in your life that would enjoy a bit of extra sharing at Christmas time? What are you planning on giving them?

Tag - You're it! All I Want For Christmas...

So I'm catching up, catching on. Bit of both really. The lovely Jess from Essentially Jess started a tag game last Tuesday amongst us bloggers and I was then tagged by the equally lovely Lara from This Charming Mum. What do you have to do? Write a Christmas wishlist! Hmmm, so many ways to go about this. Keep it witty, sentimental, sarcastic, materialistic or a little from Column A, B, C and D. Well, here is the road I chose to take...

All I want for Christmas is...

1. TECHNOLOGY!
You see, some bloggers may be shocked to know that I have been living a blogger lie! I don't have a laptop, or a smartphone. Yes, you heard read me. I've been all, up there with the tweets and the Instagram and the instant 'stuff'...but only because I've been borrowing my husband's phone and using his laptop when he brings it home from work! I went so far as to swap phones with him so I could look all trendy this year at Keep Left Blogger's Breakfast Challenge - my first bloggy event ever. So ahem. Bring on a new phone and a laptop...please? I have hooked up with Virgin Mobile as their new product tester, so hopefully that package will arrive before Christmas! And as for the laptop, well, I'm crossing my fingers.

Yes, this is seriously my phone right now...

2. MY FAMILY CURSE TO BE LIFTED
Every year around Christmas time disaster strikes in my family. I kid you not. From car accidents, to illnesses and this year was a first - fire! We have decided our family is cursed with disaster around the busiest time of the year, so curse, be gone!

What were once beautiful cherries! Photo by Tanya Mikhail

3. A DRINK
Last Christmas I couldn't drink due to having a newborn. I missed out on the festivities that occur when my father-in-law brings out his best reds and port. I know he missed drinking with me too. I mean who wouldn't? The amusement that people seem to get from me after I've had a few seems to provide entertainment for weeks, sometimes years, as the jokes of what I said or did go on and on. I miss being a red wine buddy! Now that I'm only breastfeeding the little guy once, twice tops a day, I think I could squeeze in just the one drinkie in that time where there's hours and hours before the next feed.

Down the hatch! Da vino! Photo by Clare Metcalf

4. CUDDLES
Last Christmas my little guy was such a baby. Who am I kidding? He is still a baby! Well, he always will be to me. But I can't wait to get cuddles from him at Christmas time and he is going to be surrounded by SO many cousins this year. Hugs and kisses all round!

Sniff sniff! He was so LITTLE! :D

5. AN END TO ALL BAD MUSIC
There is just too much of it in the world. And it's growing EVERYDAY! I'm not sure how much more autotune I can take and I'm not sure I want my son growing up amongst it? It's OK though. We're training him up. Check out the vid. Kid's 12 months old and rocking out to Pearl Jam already. Bless his soul!

And with that I say "Tag! You're it!" Sorry if you've already had a turn and I didn't notice...

1. The Truth About Mummy
2. It's A Circus In Here!
3. New Life on The Road
4.  Three Lil Princesses
5. Mad Mummas Sweet Randoms

€ Oh and seeing as it's Tuesday again, I am of course linking up with Jess on IBOT! :-)