Mamatography - Week 16

The last few days of our holiday...thank goodness we returned to better weather!

Day 104 - Sunday 14 April
View from my sun lounger in a moment of peace.

Day 105 - Monday 15 April
The island's volcanic rock.

Day 106 - Tuesday 16 April
Travelling Ted finds another cactus to pose with!

Day 107 - Wednesday 17 April
DD snoozing by the pool with Travelling Ted.

Day 108 - Thursday 18 April
Day spent travelling back from holidays...boo :(  But to cheer us up, we were greeted with this rainbow shortly after landing!

The colours were so vibrant...I have never seen a rainbow like it!

Day 109 - Friday 19 April
Taking a break from the unpacking to have some fun at the park.

Day 110 - Saturday 20 April
The sun was shining so we took advantage...this year's first lunch al fresco!  Although yes, DS *is* wearing a jumper...

This post is part of the Mamatography 2013 Project hosted by Momma Jorje and Diary Of A First Child.  We are taking (at least) a photo a day to keep a record of our year.  Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!


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Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography2013 participants!

• Diary of a First Child
• Earth Mamas World
• Baking Momma of Two
• Emma's Little World
• Quacks and Waddles
• Three Counties Mum
• Seaside Chelle
• gentlemum
• The Cutie and The Beauty
• Charming Gardener
• Pineapples & Artichokes
• Jessica's Casserole
• Dad of The Monkeys

• Momma Jorje
• A Nature Mom
• Mommy and Little I
• too tired to blog
• The Family Patch
• The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
• harley famdamily
• Mama Unfurling
• the mommy metamorphosis
• Mothers Know Best
• Quest For Life's Passion
• Frugal Brit Witch
• Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

Meal Planning Monday

It's back to reality and routine this week with the return of school.  I've mixed feelings about this really...one part of me does a little happy dance but the other part is sad to have our time together come to an end.  

I find that each holiday follows the same pattern - before the break-up I make a plan for activities each day so we are organised...I also try to pre-plan the meals but that doesn't always work :/   By day 3/4 I'm tearing my hair out and gagging for them to return but a few days later we've found our groove and I start enjoying our time together.  It's all about readjusting your expectations isn't it?  No, my house is not particularly tidy (or spotlessly clean) during school holidays but does that matter?  Once I let go of the stress of not being in my usual routine, we start to have fun.  And that is what's important, right?! 

Nevertheless, I'm easing myself in gently this week with some tried & tested easy recipes that will make the transition back to our school routine a little easier.

Monday - Mild chicken curry with apple

We always have this when I've made a roast chicken the day before :)

Tuesday - Pasta with homemade pesto & garlic bread

Need something quick & easy after school!

Wednesday - Turkey meatballs

Another favourite in our house - I make these with pepper sauce and serve with spaghetti.

Thursday - Homemade Pizzas

The kids love helping me make these and as they put their own toppings on, it helps cater to their different tastes.

Friday - Kashmiri Butter Chicken 

I made this a few weeks ago and it was *so* good!

This post is part of Mrs M's Meal Planning Monday - you will no doubt find some delicious edible inspiration from all the other link-ups if you're struggling with your menu this week!

Mamatography - Week 15

Bit late with this week's post due to our holiday but here it is...better late than never!

Day 97 - Sunday 7 April
DS is really struggling with losing at games right now so I was pleased to see him and a friend play noughts & crosses on the blackboard without him having a meltdown when he lost!

Day 98 - Monday 8 April
Day before our hols and I decided to get a spray tan for the first time ever, clearly not having any idea what it actually involved...this photo is of the "sticky feet" you have to wear and what can only be described as the piece of dental floss you are required to put on - I photographed them together so you can get an idea of the scale :/

Day 99 - Tuesday 9 April
Arrival at our destination and a relaxing lunch...the travel noughts & crosses I made was proving popular!

Day 100 - Wednesday 10 April
Can't resist sharing this snap of me and my lovelies...so happy :)

Day 101 - Thursday 11 April
DD is quite the little poser...

Day 102 - Friday 12 April
These were growing next to the pool...looked like Birds of Paradise to me but not sure if it was.

Day 103 - Saturday 13 April
We had a "travelling Ted" from DD's nursery on holiday with us - we take lots of snaps of him in various poses and then make a photo diary for her to take back after Easter - so this is one of his photos!

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This post is part of the Mamatography 2013 Project hosted by Momma Jorje and Diary Of A First Child.  We are taking (at least) a photo a day to keep a record of our year.  Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!


Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography2013 participants!

• Diary of a First Child
• Earth Mamas World
• Baking Momma of Two
• Emma's Little World
• Quacks and Waddles
• Three Counties Mum
• Seaside Chelle
• gentlemum
• The Cutie and The Beauty
• Charming Gardener
• Pineapples & Artichokes
• Jessica's Casserole
• Dad of The Monkeys

• Momma Jorje
• A Nature Mom
• Mommy and Little I
• too tired to blog
• The Family Patch
• The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
• harley famdamily
• Mama Unfurling
• the mommy metamorphosis
• Mothers Know Best
• Quest For Life's Passion
• Frugal Brit Witch
• Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

Mamatography - Week 14

Another busy but productive week!

Day 90 - Sunday 31 March
DD is really into learning her letters at the moment so I take any opportunity I can to build on this - whilst I was doing some sewing she made a beautiful E with tissue paper and sequins glued on to the cardboard letter I cut out.

Day 91 - Monday 1 April
Cherry blossom trees on canvas...I painted the trunks the night before so they could dry, and the kids painted the blossom with their fingertips - DS on the left and DD on the right...we decided she had a *lot* of falling blossom :)

Day 92 - Tuesday 2 April
We set up a vet's office to play with, and had all the animals come in for check-ups...including the cow!

Here's the waiting room in the hallway :)

Day 93 - Wednesday 3 April
Nap time...doesn't get much more relaxed than this!

Day 94 - Thursday 4 April
Got fresh herbs that you can't use up before they turn limp?  Chop them and freeze portions in ice-cube trays or little tubs!

Day 95 - Friday 5 April
I'm loving having my sewing machine up and running again - I made the kids beach bags for our impending holiday...material & buttons chosen by each of them :)

Day 96 - Saturday 6 April
The weather changed for the better so we spent most of the day in the garden!

This post is part of the Mamatography 2013 Project hosted by Momma Jorje and Diary Of A First Child.  We are taking (at least) a photo a day to keep a record of our year.  Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!

Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography2013 participants!

• Diary of a First Child
• Earth Mamas World
• Baking Momma of Two
• Emma's Little World
• Quacks and Waddles
• Three Counties Mum
• Seaside Chelle
• gentlemum
• The Cutie and The Beauty
• Charming Gardener
• Pineapples & Artichokes
• Jessica's Casserole
• Dad of The Monkeys

• Momma Jorje
• A Nature Mom
• Mommy and Little I
• too tired to blog
• The Family Patch
• The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
• harley famdamily
• Mama Unfurling
• the mommy metamorphosis
• Mothers Know Best
• Quest For Life's Passion
• Frugal Brit Witch
• Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

Slow Cooked Kashmiri Butter Chicken

I stumbled across this recipe in a book called Ultimate Slow Cooker by Sara Lewis.  I've not used many of the recipes but the ones I have always turn out fabulously, and this is a book I pick up when looking for a dinner party recipe.  Last night however it was just DH & I but I kind of wish there had been somebody else to share it with, as it was so delicious!  The amounts below could easily have served 4, alongside rice and naan bread.

Ingredients
2 onions, peeled & quartered
3 garlic cloves
4cm piece of fresh root ginger, peeled
1 large red chilli
4 chicken breasts
25g butter
1 tsp cumin seeds, crushed
1 tsp fennel seeds, crushed
4 cardamom pods, crushed
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp ground turmeric
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
300ml chicken stock
1 tsp light muscovado sugar
2 tbsp tomato puree
3-4 tbsp double cream
2 tbsp flaked almonds, toasted

Method
Turn the slow cooker onto Low.

Blend / chop the onions, garlic, ginger and chilli in a processor until they form a paste then set aside.

Heat some oil in a frying pan and brown the chicken breasts on each side.  Place in the slow cooker.

Melt the butter in the frying pan and add the onion paste.  Cook for a minute until it just starts to colour then stir in the seeds and spices.  Cook for another minute then add the stock, sugar and tomato puree.  Bring to the boil and pour over the chicken.  Push the breasts underneath the liquid mixture and replace the lid.  Cook for 5-7 hours.

Before serving, stir in the cream and top with toasted almonds.

Mamatography - Week 13

There has been Easter fun in our house this week!

Day 83 - Sunday 24 March
DH showed baby girl how to prepare & cook fresh fish and she loved it...not in the slightest bit squeamish!

Day 84 - Monday 25 March
DD has been doing really well sleeping in her own bed but she was waking up way too early for my liking so I invested in one of these...

Day 85 - Tuesday 26 March
I saw these cute signs in a garden centre and thought I might try replicating them for our Easter hunt next year.

Day 86 - Wednesday 27 March
We were getting in the mood for Easter by making some nests.

Day 87 - Thursday 28 March
Wouldn't you dance naked except for a tutu if you could?!

Day 88 - Friday 29 March
Friday night is movie night in our house!

Day 89 - Saturday 30 March
The egg hunts began but I didn't capture them :(


***
Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography2013 participants!

• Diary of a First Child
• Earth Mamas World
• Baking Momma of Two
• Emma's Little World
• Quacks and Waddles
• Three Counties Mum
• Seaside Chelle
• gentlemum
• The Cutie and The Beauty
• Charming Gardener
• Pineapples & Artichokes
• Jessica's Casserole
• Dad of The Monkeys

• Momma Jorje
• A Nature Mom
• Mommy and Little I
• too tired to blog
• The Family Patch
• The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
• harley famdamily
• Mama Unfurling
• the mommy metamorphosis
• Mothers Know Best
• Quest For Life's Passion
• Frugal Brit Witch
• Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

Mamatography - Week 12

This one is a week late...and I'm missing a couple of pics but better late than never!

Day 76 - Sunday 17 March
DS moves into a Big Boy's Bed and DD into her toddler bed...

Day 77 - Monday 18 March
Sorting out some cupboards and I came across the first thing we bought for DS after finding out I was pregnant (the NBC bib) and two teeny-tiny cardigans that Grandma knitted for his arrival.  Almost 5 years ago!

Day 78 - Tuesday 19 March
We regularly have extra guests for breakfast at our house...

Day 79 - Wednesday 20 March
The orchids in my kitchen are doing beautifully right now...

Day 80 - Thursday 21 March
OOOPS - NO PHOTO HERE!

Day 81 - Friday 22 March
OOOPS - NO PHOTO HERE!

Day 82 - Saturday 23 March
Ten minutes before DS was due to leave for a space party, I realised he didn't have a costume...bring on the green face paint, headband covered in tin foil with green pipe cleaners and a wizards cloak turned inside out, and he became an alien!

***
Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography2013 participants!

• Diary of a First Child
• Earth Mamas World
• Baking Momma of Two
• Emma's Little World
• Quacks and Waddles
• Three Counties Mum
• Seaside Chelle
• gentlemum
• The Cutie and The Beauty
• Charming Gardener
• Pineapples & Artichokes
• Jessica's Casserole
• Dad of The Monkeys

• Momma Jorje
• A Nature Mom
• Mommy and Little I
• too tired to blog
• The Family Patch
• The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
• harley famdamily
• Mama Unfurling
• the mommy metamorphosis
• Mothers Know Best
• Quest For Life's Passion
• Frugal Brit Witch
• Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

Travel Noughts & Crosses

Preparations for our holiday are revving up, and although we only have a short plane ride this time (as opposed to the mammoth car journey we did last year!) I still like to put together a little bag of goodies for my two which will *hopefully* keep them occupied for a while.

I saw this cute little felt Noughts & Crosses game a while ago on Hideous, Dreadful, Stinky and have been meaning to find time to make it.  Well, I should have done it sooner - it only took me 10 minutes yesterday!  If you click through to the original tutorial, on Spoonful.com there is a handy PDF for you to print which will make it even quicker.  Like 5 minutes instead of 10 :)

DH and DS were out taking a walk while DD and I were crafting yesterday...she was sticking tissue paper and sequins to cardboard letters while I managed a quick session on the sewing machine!  When they got back and DS saw this, he couldn't wait to have a go - 5 games later and he reluctantly put it away in time for dinner.

Fingers crossed he is still interested when we are at 30,000 feet...