SPRING HAS ALREADY SPRUNG IN NANNUP

Its been nearly 3 months since we've had a little adventure. Being an outdoor girl it was time to get rid of that cabin fever and set out to the great outdoors. So we packed the cooler bag, thermos, picnic basket and rug in hubby's car, because it runs on gas and is slightly cheaper to run and went on a scenic drive to the Nannup Flower & Garden Festival.

We hadn't even left our street and there was already some excitement for the day - the 2 year old across the road had been found by a lovely lady by the name of Laura Finlayson and the police were there. He had decided to go for a wonder towards the ocean, the feral tenants across the road obviously hadn't noticed him missing yet. Laura (a mother herself) was most distraught - we told them we were pretty sure he lives across the road. Hope fully he got home safely, its so lucky he wasn't run over.

Mr K enjoying the Alice In Wonderland Floral Display - $3 entry

No touch! Mr K ..... aw but it's so tempting

Visitors to Nannup today enjoyed watching the film Drift starring Sam Worthington being filmed while walking down the main street today - the seventies surf film is due to be released in 2012.

Some of the cool cars along the street - props for the film Drift

We had a beautiful picnic at Holberry House - Sculpture Walk &

Open Garden 14 Grange Road, Nannup. Pics below

The lovely setting we had our picnic lunch

Some of the sculpture work in the gardens

The one of the right is for you Kristy - it's called Sasha singing on a stump $275, $220 each for the others

Before heading home we stopped at Especially Tulips Dean Road (off Barrabup Road). A beautiful tulip farm situated on a plateau overlooking Nannup.

$3 entry fee

 

For more information see:

www.nannupgardens.org.au

With Spring just around the corner - go get some fresh clean air and enjoy God's marvellous creation - IT'S FREE

When was the last time you and your family did something together?

Have you any idea's or made any plans to do something together?

TIGHT ASS THURSDAY - THANK GOD FOR THE SALVO'S

Triple J used to have tight ass Tuesdays, well I'm having one on a Thursday. This morning Mr K & I ventured off to the Salvo's after swimming lessons, unbeknown to me they had moved to Albert Road. I'm a bit of an opportunity shop virgin so it was a bit of an eyeopener to me, especially the interesting characters that regularly shop at these places. The only time I have been there was to buy a costume for a fancy dress party. We spent a whole $17.97 - we scored Mr K a tricycle for $5.99 which he found himself which we was happily treadling around on until the shop assistant said no which he didn't like very much, so we had to leave rather quickly because of the tanty, some size 3 corduroy pants for $2.99 and some soft leather black fashion shoes for myself for work for $8.99 - BARGAIN!

I have been a good wife and mother today and made homemade Rocky Rock & Pasties, thought you might like the recipes:

SUPER EASY ROCKY ROAD

4 cups milk chocolate melts

80g copha or white vegetable shortening

3 cups Rice Bubbles cereal

100g packet mini marshmallows

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots

Hundred and thousands to decorate

1.Grease a 20cm square cake pan.

Line base and sides with baking paper.

2. Stir chocolate melts and copha in a

large bowl over a pan of simmering water,

until smooth. Remove from heat.  Stir in

remaining ingredients; mix until well

combined.

3. Spread mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle

over hundreds and thousands. Refrigerate until

firm. Cut into squares. Store in an airtight

container in the refrigerator.

PASTIES

500g minced beef

Potato & carrot diced into tiny cubes

onion diced finely

peas

beans

curry powder

Puff Pastry

egg or milk to brown

Brown beef and onion in large pot add desired

vegetables and curry powder. Remove from heat.

Spoon onto puff pastry cut into triangles folder over

and press around edges. Lightly brush with egg or

milk to brown. Cook moderate oven 20- 25 Min's

until golden.

Just to top our day my lovely sister dropped off 2 loaves of bread from her generous neighbour who receives bread from a local bakery (stock they can't sell) - we really have been blessed.

Off for a family picnic with my boys tomorrow - going to tip toe through the tulips - so our little snacks shall come in handy. Enjoy your weekend.

CURRY NIGHT WITH FRIENDS

A great way to organise a cheap winter night with family/friends is to have a curry night - get everyone to bring their version of their favourite curry to share. Curries can be made the day before for those busy guests and they could bring them in a slow cooker to keep warm. If your not into curries maybe you could have a casserole night or some other theme.

All you need to provide is some plastic/paper plates if you don't want to do the dishes, water, cups, glasses, naan bread, poppadoms and a cold fridge or esky with ice for everyone to keep their drinks in.

We had a fun curry night on Saturday night with friends and family. My sister Karley made a Chicken & Prawn Laksa - which was an absolute winner, I made Thai Chicken Green Curry and others bought Rogan Josh, Butter Chicken, Cashew Beef Curry, Herb & Garlic Naan Bread and more -

It was a real feast - with plenty of left overs for us

all to take home. 

It was a great night seeing our younger brothers and girlfriends being domesticated together - hee hee.

We may not have had duck in our curries, but we had a special guest in our pool with the rain - Quack, Splash, Quack

taste.com.au - have a curry night menu and heaps of other great recipes

What do you do to catch up with family and friends on a budget?

JOIN YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY - IT'S FREE!

Did you know that your local library has not only books you can loan, but also kids DVDs, puzzles, toys, educational games, computer games, magazines and more? No need to buy new toys or books for your little ones - if your little one is anything like mine they get bored with their toys over time and eventually don't even notice they are there.

Some of the items we loaned today

All you need is proof of your address and some identification to join, each family member can join so can can loan even more items! You can loan up to 12 items for 3 weeks. This way you can keep your little one entertained with new things every 3 weeks and you don't have to store them.


 
Withers Public Library just received a grant for $4,000 and have heaps of excellent new things and will be getting more in coming months. I find they have a lot more variety and more things available than the library in town. They also have a wooden ride on horse, bead games, puzzles, games and toys your little one can play whilst your browsing. On Tuesday's once a month they have Rhyme Time for little ones to sing nursery rhymes.

Your local library will gladly accept donations of DVDs, videos, puzzles, computer games and books that you no longer require. If they don't put them on the shelf they will sell them for a small fee which helps with their funding.

How to locate your local library:
http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/libraries

Bunbury Public Library:
http://library.bunbury.wa.gov.au/#focus

What does your local library have to offer?

HINTS AND TIPS

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

Chuck out all junk mail from the letter box and newspapers straight into the recycling bin. It's the old saying "Out of Sight, Out of Mind". If we don't look at it, then we won't be thinking about what's on sale or what we could be tempted to go buy. The only junk mail we should be looking at is the grocery specials.

What other things may make us tempted to spend unnecessary cash?


Dictionary Definition of the word Tempt
Tempt - To attempt to persuade (a person) to do something evil or unwise. To be attractive to, invite. Your offers do not tempt me. To provoke or risk provoking, to tempt fate.
Temptation: The act of tempting, or the state of being tempted. That which tempts.
Tempting: Alluring, attractive, seductive

SIMPLE SAVINGS TIPS

6 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY NOW - Koshie - Sunrise 03/08/2011

1. Set up a pay day automatic debit 10% of your wage in a separate account - you wont miss it

2. Home Loan - Add extra $50 a month can take years and interest off your loan.

3. Stop using your credit card

4. Set up a Loose Change Jar - Deposit in a separate untouchable account once fills up

5. Talking with your partner 15 minutes a month about your finances.

6. Winnings/Bonuses - don't blow them - stash the cash or put it into your superannuation

THE FRUGAL FAMILY

Are you up for the challenge? A Brisbane family just had a year of buying nothing new. They could only buy essential items like food, health products, medicine etc. No new clothes, no new toys, no new presents or gifts for family or friends. Become more resourceful and thoughtful (making gifts, flowers out of garden, make them a cake etc). You can still shop at garage sales and op shops. Challenge starts the 1st August 2011 and will end on 31st July 2012. How long will we last?THE FRUGAL FAMILY