The last three weeks have been incredibly busy for me. Let’s be honest, life is always busy! But whenever school holidays roll around, I always make a to-do list of things I’d like to get done because the days are freed up from drop-offs and pick-ups.
The first week of school holidays was my week to get a few things organised before Jacob would have two weeks off.
I had been counting down till Jacob had time off work so we could tackle some jobs around the house. It would also give me time to get ahead with my blog, because I’ve taken on extra work and have been offered training in an area I had never contemplated doing. But I enjoy it and I’m good at it (I think!) and so I’m going to do the training and see where it takes me.
As a result, I’ve expanded my thinking to dream a little bigger and off-center. And it’s kind of cool and exciting, yet it still works in the framework of utilizing my skills as a plumber and blogger.
While I managed my work, Jacob and I got some key projects done like painting Esther’s room and giving it a mini makeover as part of her Birthday present.
Watch this space – prep before the makeover.
The preparation took nearly half a day because there were stickers and residue left on the walls that needed to be scrubbed hard to remove. We decided on a grey feature wall for Esther’s room with gold polka dot wall stickers. I will share the reveal at a later stage. Unfortunately we can’t add the wall stickers for at least 4 weeks on the newly painted walls. Despite it not being quite finished, Esther is loving her new room and her desk. I love watching her sing as she draws and writes. I love seeing her content and happy.
Another project we finished was Maggie’s makeup vanity and stool. Originally this was in Esther’s room, and she had been using it as a desk. I wanted to restore it and remove the daggy stickers which took a bit of elbow grease. I will share more about that project this week.
New strawberry patch
The third project was adding a strawberry patch on one side of our house and adding new veggie seedlings to our vegetable garden. We have so much rocket and lettuce that has sprung up, and I’m loving adding this to salads each day. It’s saved me buying it from the grocery store.
We also have oranges on our orange tree. We’ve got one orange to try before we start to pick the fruit off. I think I will be baking a few orange cakes by Create Bake Make. I may also change up my Mandarin Meringue Pie and use oranges instead.
Another thing to do on my list was to tidy my office. It’s the place where I dump paperwork, products for review and anything else I don’t want in the living room. A good tidy up was needed. And I feel like I can now breathe with a clear desk.
Interspersed amongst all the projects was fun stuff like
Watching Frozen’s Disney on Ice show – so good!
Phoebe is hiding next to me, eating the popcorn.
Shopping with great grandma and pa for Birthday presents.
And the other was this gorgeous portrait painting of Bentley by Deb Mostert. Mum and dad gave me this and we’ve hung it up in our living room as a way to remember him.
After all that’s been going on these last few weeks, I was happy to have a quiet weekend to just be at home and relax. Although I couldn’t help myself in sorting through the kids toys!
Tomorrow, it’s back to reality with Jacob at work and me juggling the kids drop offs and pick ups and work and general family life.
Life is busy, but it’s full and good.
Despite the craziness in the world, sometimes zoning into our own little place can do wonders for the mind and soul.
How were your school holidays and if you’re in QLD, how was your first week back at school? How have the last three weeks been for you? Got any projects on the go?
For the last year and a bit I have been trying to purchase a Vanessa Bean vase.
I became aware of the vases when Chris from The Life Creative shared about the designs created by Vanessa Holle and subsequently ran a giveaway on one of the vases, which I did not win.
From that day, each month I tried to buy one of the vases to no avail.
When it came to my birthday last year, I was sitting in the nursing home carpark to visit Jacob’s Nanna and Poppa and I waited for the right time when the next release of vases were uploaded onto the Vanessa Bean Etsy shop. I chose the vase I wanted, went to check out and put my credit card details in and someone snatched it out of my checkout basket. I was disappointed.
The vases are known to sell out within minutes – sometimes seconds when they are uploaded onto Etsy.
The vases can’t be custom ordered. They must be purchased through Etsy and the release date and time varies each month to make sure everyone around the world has a turn at purchasing one of these vases.
The fact that I have been trying for the last year and a bit shows you how difficult it can be to purchase a vase.
Until I got a little tech savvy and read advice from other happy owners who had been able to nab a vase in the ‘sales rush’.
Tips on How to Get a Vanessa Bean Vase
First thing I did was download the Etsy app onto my phone.
Next, I opened the app using Jacob’s account. Jacob has purchased items for me before on his account and his visa card details are stored from the previous sale. This is vital to ensure a quick sale.
I added Vanessa Bean’s Shop as a favourite in the app. I liked some of the products too so I could easily get to the store when the time came for purchase.
The third thing I did was wait for the announcement of vases available. Vanessa shares this information on Instagram and then links a preview of the vases available for sale on her webpage. In June, the day of release was on a Friday at 10am. I set the alarm on my iPhone to 9:57am.
The moment my alarm went off, I watched that clock like a hawk on my phone. The second the time changed from 9:59am to 10am, I went straight onto the app, refreshed the feed and chose the vase I wanted. With a few clicks, the vase was mine. I was stunned how quickly I was able to make my purchase. I FINALLY HAD MY VANESSA BEAN VASE! YAY!
After my success, I decided to try and buy another vase, thinking it would disappear from my cart like the previous vases had. And… I ended up buying ANOTHER!
I couldn’t believe it! I had nearly given up on getting a vase and the day I made a plan of attack, I got two!
I’m loving my vase and bought it in time for my Birthday. The orange goes perfectly with our artwork and I’m a fan of vibrant interior décor. It makes me happy.
When I received my vases, I wondered whether I really needed two. And honestly, I’m happy with my one vase at the moment. So I have decided to giveaway the second vase I accidentally purchased.
An alternate way to use the vase if you didn’t want to add flowers…
This vase is pretty much one of a kind. The demand for these vases is incredible.
But you have the chance to win this vase and give it a home.
Giveaway
In order to be in the running for this vase, please enter via the Rafflecopter below and then tell me what you love about this Vanessa Bean vase and why you need it in your life in the comments.
This is a game of skill. Each valid entry to be judged on creativity and originality, not by chance.
There is 1 prize as detailed above with a RRP $85.
Entries open from 12am Brisbane time Friday 14 July 2017 to Friday 4th August 2017 12am Brisbane Time.
Prizes are not transferable or changeable.
Prize sent out will not be replaced in the event they are stolen, lost or damaged in transit or virtually.
Entry is leaving an answer to the question and entering the Rafflecopter widget.
A valid email address must be included in your entry. This email will be added to my newsletter, but will never be spammed or sent to third parties.
Entry into any giveaway or competition is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions
Entrants must be Australian residents and aged 18 or over.
The winner will be notified by email and has 3 days to reply and claim the prize. The winner may be announced on Facebook. This giveaway is not endorsed by Facebook.
Why not enter my Black Tapware Pack as part of the Birthday Giveaway series on the blog. Head here to enter.
Disclosure: There are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Over a month ago, as I was flicking through my junk mail, I raised my eyebrows to the ALDI plumbing products special buys of the week.
The discount grocer offered consumers the supply and installation of a new toilet suite for under $300.
The deal sounded too good to be true. But ALDI has been known to offer quality products for special prices – especially during their weekly special buys. I gave the deal the benefit of the doubt, conceding the deal could help a struggling family and at least ALDI had engaged with a plumber to do the installs, unlike other stores which gave step-by-step instructions.
Of course the toilet suite deal ran off the shelves. But the installation process hasn’t been smooth sailing with some consumers complaining about delays in getting their toilet suite installed. They’d receive a confirmation booking for the install and the plumber wouldn’t show up. (Maybe it was because the plumber was being paid peanuts for the install?)
My dad was recently purchasing some plumbing gear at his local Reece store and one of the plumbers who had been approached by ALDI for the installations said the toilet installation process was a bit of a mess. Consumers were buying toilets from ALDI only to have to return them as the toilet suite wasn’t compatible with the existing plumbing services at their house. Some would have a p trap or skew waste and the ALDI toilet suite is only compatible with an s trap waste.
This forum thread from Whirlpool gives a great insight into the issues around the installation.
But there were some happy customers who had no issues with purchasing their toilet suite and getting it installed.
What concerns me about this deal as a plumber though, is the quality of the installation. A cheap toilet suite can be anywhere around the $150 mark (based on a Posh Solus model dad and I would install in homes back in the day) which leaves less than $150 to pay the plumber for the install. A commenter on the Whirlpool forum found out a plumbing company was offered $130 per installation. Sounds like a bargain, but that installation price is asking for trouble.
What corners will the plumber cut in order to make a dollar out of that installation price? Considering an average call out fee is around the $115 mark (and I explain why ALL plumbers should charge a call out fee here), that leaves only $15 for labour to remove the old dunny and replace it with the new one.
Other questions that need to be asked about the installation are:
Does the plumber get paid for their time if the toilet suite can’t be installed to the existing services? Or is this done for love?
And where can the spare parts be sourced? What happens in a few years time when the toilet won’t stop refilling and needs its inlet valve changed?
It’s great to be savvy with our dollars, but when it comes to plumbing products, you should be buying them from a reputable plumbing supplier. Better yet, get your plumber to buy the toilet suite for you so you don’t have to muck around, working out if the toilet suite will suit the existing services layout in your bathroom. Value your time.
The problem with these types of deals is it brings a plumber’s rate down and it offers a false expectation that changing an older toilet suite to a new model is an easy job. That’s not always the case.
Replacing a toilet suite might take an hour, or it could take a few. And depending on the quality of the stop tap and pan collar, it’s recommended these parts be replaced when a new toilet suite is installed. This can take time and extra cost for parts. I’m sure these haven’t been allowed for in the installation cost for the ALDI toilet suite deal.
It’s a good feeling to know that you’re saving yourself money on a fixture you whizz and poop in but will it all come back to bite you when it comes time for installation and future maintenance?
And the plumbers who are signing up to install this deal – is it worth your time? Understand that the reason many plumbers are going under each week is because you’re signing up to do these installations for ridiculous prices, making it harder for plumbers to make a dollar from a licensed industry that should be valued. And have you considered your liability and whether your insurance will cover you installing products that are found to not meet Australian Standards later on?
To add more fuel to the fire, the internet went into a bit of a frenzy on Monday with news the too good to be true $79.99 ALDI mixer tap added 15 times the maximum amount of lead to the water.
Lead poisoning is serious and approximately 12,000 homes have installed the tap, oblivious to the potential health hazard running from their sink.
CONSUMER CONCERNS: Australians are being warned not to use a kitchen tap sold at ALDI after it was found to be contaminating water with high levels of lead. #TenNews
Investigations are being made by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the QBCC and ALDI themselves on the tap, which had been tested and certified before it was placed on ALDI’s shelves.
When the tap was tested by Melbourne’s IAPMO R & T Oceana, they found the tap permitted lead levels well below the Australian Standard. So it’s a bit concerning to find the tap now runs 12 times the maximum amount. Something doesn’t add up.
We can’t get lost in the hype, but if further testing confirms similar results to the QBCC, ALDI will have a PR health crisis to deal with. And the next question to be asked is will the store backpay consumers for the cost of installation and disconnection of the mixer tap?
This just proves my case why it’s important to purchase from a reputable plumbing company like Reece Plumbing or Tradelink. Most reputable tapware brands will offer a 12 month installation warranty and a 5 to 10 year warranty on the tap itself. Which means, if the tap is found to be faulty in the first 12 months of installation, the manufacturer will pay for a plumber to disconnect and supply and install a new tap. This type of warranty is not offered on cheaper, budget brand tapware suppliers. You get what you pay for.
Plumbers should also be supporting stores like Plumbers Choice, who only sell plumbing products to licensed tradies. If there were restrictions made on what plumbing products could be sold to the public, we wouldn’t be having these plumbing issues.
At this stage, the mixer tap has not been recalled, but consumers have been advised to avoid using the tap until further investigations are made.
I’d love to hear from you. Are there any plumbers who have been approached to do the ALDI plumbing products installs? Or did you purchase the ALDI toilet suite deal?
How did it go? Leave a comment, but please remain respectful. I’m happy to hear from all sides. And thank you for taking the time to read my rant. :)
This post has been written in collaboration with Fienza
When you spend time and money on a bathroom renovation, you want to make sure you get value for money on the taps and fixtures installed. The last thing you want is to have a matte black tap mixer that fades or stone basins that form cracks six months after installation.
A bathroom is a high traffic area and the environment changes daily from dry or humid due to moisture. Our hands can also leave marks from the use of soap and make-up which can affect the look of your taps.
If you’re going to invest in something new, you want the finish to last a long time.
I’ve shared my concern on black tapware, but I’ve learned a little more about the importance of the coating which can have a huge effect on the way the colour lasts on a black mixer.
Matte black tapware is everywhere at the moment. But the difference in finishes are what can set apart a cheap matte black tap mixer from a quality and more expensive mixer.
Fienza tapware are experts on the quality finish of matte black tapware.
There are two types of coatings when it comes to this shade of tapware.
There are the electroplated coatings and the cheaper powder coated versions.
Powder coated tapware does not last and will fade over time from use.
Electroplated tapware will outlast a powder coated variety and will often hold a longer warranty period.
It’s really important to ask the type of coatings on your matte black tapware when you make your selection. While there may be more outlay for an electroplated coating, you will be thanking yourself for buying a quality product that won’t fade or lose it’s finish.
Fienza Matte Black Tapware are of the electroplated coating variety, which means you are getting a quality black mixer that won’t fade over time.
I came across Fienza after looking through a Reece Display Room. They produce a quality tap mixer, and their matte black finish carries a 5 year warranty guarantee.
Some of my favourite black matte mixers from Fienza are the Koko Matte Black Basin Mixer which can come with the option of two trims as it comes with a kit so you can have all matte black or a mixer with chrome trims instead.
Koko Black Matte Tap Mixer with chrome trim and black trim
You can see the transformation a matte black mixer can have on a white vanity here.
Before
After
The next time you are looking to replace your mixer taps or when you’re on the hunt for new mixers, make sure the matte black mixers have an electroplated coating, not a powder coated one.
To purchase Fienza taps and bathroom fixtures (check out the amazing matte grey products!), enter your postcode on their website to find your closest retailer.
Giveaway
Because July is my Birthday month and I’ve been meaning to celebrate my five year blogging anniversary, we’re going to kick off with some fab giveaways. Fienza are generously offering a Vanity Transformation Pack plus a kitchen mixer to the value of $735 to one lucky reader.
Included in this pack is
1 Koko Matte Black Basin Mixer
1 Koko Matte Black Sink Mixer
1 Set of 6 Matte Black Vanity Handles
1 Black Pop-Up Waste
To be in the running for the giveaway, it would be great if you could follow Fienza Bathware and The Plumbette on Facebook (not compulsory).
And then answer the following question,
Describe your dream bathroom in under 50 words.
The most creative design will win the prize pack.
Terms and Conditions
This is a game of skill. Each valid entry to be judged on creativity and originality, not by chance.
There is 1 prize as detailed above with a RRP $735.
Entries open from 5am Brisbane time Tuesday 11 July 2017 to Friday 28tht July 2017 6pm Brisbane Time.
Prizes are not transferable or changeable.
Prize sent out by third parties will not be replaced in the event they are stolen, lost or damaged in transit or virtually.
Entry is leaving an answer to the question.
A valid email address must be included in your entry. This email will be added to my newsletter, but will never be spammed or sent to third parties.
Entry into any giveaway or competition is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions
Entrants must be Australian residents and aged 18 or over.
The winner will be notified by email and has 3 days to reply and claim the prize. The winner may be announced on Facebook. This giveaway is not endorsed by Facebook.
Disclosure: The post has been written in accordance with my disclosure policy.
We are a little obsessed with Trolls in our house. We listen to the Trolls soundtrack everyday – so much so, Phoebe knows the words to every song. Whenever she sees Poppy or a Troll, she points and says ‘Everybody’, which is one of the catchy tunes from the movie. It was a no brainer that we had to put on a Trolls Party for Phoebe’s 3rd Birthday.
Having put on a few kids parties over the years, there are some things that I know work well to ensure a fun and stress-free party with kids.
Be organised – cook the cakes the night before and ice them on the day. Put together party bags and bake as much of the party food you can (biscuits and slices) the day before.
Make your own party bags by purchasing plastic bags from Kmart ($1 for a pack of 24 from the party section) and make your own paper label on Picmonkey and staple to the bag when filled with lollies.
Set up tables for kids to sit to eat. This helps contain the mess to one area. When you have a communal food table, everyone helps themselves and will leave their rubbish or uneaten food all around your home and backyard. With the kids seated, the mess is secured to one area.
Organise a platter of food for the parents to nibble on.
Keep the timeframe limited. A kids party should go for 2 to 3 hours.
Party games are always a winner. Musical statues and pass the parcel are firm favourites in our household. With pass the parcel, I make enough layers for each child to have a turn unwrapping and a few extra layers to the main prize so no one knows who will win the ultimate present.
Getting ready for pass the parcel
Phoebe’s party was a lot of fun to organise, and I didn’t go overboard with styling. Kids don’t remember the styling. They remember the food, games, cake and friends they get to share it with. And the lollies. Can’t forget the lollies!
To keep some sort of theme for the food, I made flower biscuits, rainbow biscuits and clinkers slice. Fairy bread, cheerios, sausage rolls and chicken nuggets added a savoury touch.
The Poppy Cake was designed by Jacob (I baked the cakes). To Phoebe, it looked like Poppy, and that’s all that mattered. It tasted pretty good too.
Phoebe loved her party. She enjoyed unwrapping her presents and received some beautiful gifts.
After everyone left, she walked into the living room and said to me, ‘mummy, thank you for my party.’
Her words and sentences are becoming so much clearer. I was proud she understood the effort it took to put the party on for her and the fact she appreciated it by saying thank you. It makes it all worthwhile in the end.
While her Birthday isn’t officially till Tuesday, it’s been lovely celebrating with Phoebe as she turns 3. My how fast has she grown!
The baby years are certainly behind us now and we’re hurtling through toddlerdom.
Happy Birthday my dear Phoebe. Like Poppy, you add joy and love wherever you go.
Do your kids love Trolls? Would they love a Trolls Party? Got any tips to share for a successful kids party?
I often get reflective when my Birthday rolls around. I usually share things I’ve learned, but for today’s post I wanted to share 33 things I’m thankful for.
It’s easy to live life without stopping to think how truly blessed we are. Even when things aren’t going our way or we get caught up in some sort of drama, there is always something to be thankful for.
Since today is my Birthday, I thought it would be fitting to share 33 things I’m thankful for. I’m sure I can think of many more things, but these are the things I can think of right now, in no particular order.
33 Things I’m Thankful For
1. My health. I’m thankful for my good health. I may have a few extra kgs that I should lose, but overall, my health is in good order. I could always eat more veggies and fruit and do more exercise, but overall, I’m well enough to be able to work and live life to its fullest.
2. My husband. We’ve been married over 12 years and I’m thankful I pursued him all those years ago when I was 17. Our relationship has flourished, but not without work. We’re each other’s best friend and supporter. We have an equal partnership and I’m truly blessed to have Jacob by my side.
3. My children. I love the three girls God has blessed me with. Each one of my daughters is beautiful and my life would be dull without them. They teach me how to be a better person every day.
4. My house. When Jacob and I first bought our house around 9 years ago, it was fairly empty. Now it’s filled to the brim with kids and toys. I’m so thankful we took a risk and pushed ourselves to purchase a bigger home. A place we can make memories and feel secure in.
5. Family. It’s a blessing my girls have been able to meet or have relationships with their grandparents and great grandparents. Even though some live interstate, they are only a call away for support.
6. Church. I’m thankful we attend a church that helps us grow in our faith. I love that my girls are the eager ones, not wanting to miss going to church on Sunday. I love their childlike faith in God. I love how they question and come to their own conclusion about what they hear. It’s my prayer they get to know Jesus in a personal way, but this is something I will never force on them, but I will guide them as I feel led to do.
7. Friends. I’m so grateful for friends who love me warts and all and have my best interests at heart. I love the friendships I’ve made in the season I’m in.
8. My blogs. I write this blog and Styled by Bec. I love sharing what I learn and what I know. I love that my plumbing experience can be called upon to help others who are wanting to get into a trade or are seeking a solution to their plumbing problem. With Styled by Bec, I enjoy sharing my outfits and helping others find their own style.
9. My writing work. When I’m not writing my blogs, I write for Be a Fun Mum, Mums Lounge, Go Ask Mum, Mumtastic and I guest post for various brands, sharing my plumbing expertise. I am so thankful for the work I get to do each week. It tests my knowledge and writing skills. It can be a tough juggle, but it gives me the flexibility to be the mum I’d always dreamed to be.
10. Esther’s school. I love the vibe at Esther’s school, the friends we’ve both made and the teachers. I’m grateful the school is within walking distance from our home.
11. Maggie’s Kindy. I love Maggie’s Kindy and I’m thankful for the teachers and all the things she gets to learn there. I love being involved on the committee and making decisions about certain parts of the Kindy. It’s an investment for when Phoebe eventually attends there.
12. Phoebe’s Daycare. I wasn’t sure how Phoebe would transition to one day a week at daycare, but she loves it and the teachers there have been fantastic. I love Phoebe’s confidence when walking into daycare. She knows she is loved and has the best time, while I get to do my work.
13. doTERRA Oils. I’m thankful for my good friend Reeda for reaching out to me when I was going through a difficult time. She sent me some oils on a hunch that they would help me. They have. I use them daily. I love diffusing the oils and using them to help me when I feel overwhelmed and stressed. (if you want to know more about this, let me know)
14. Living in Brisbane. Every time I go away, I’m always thankful for returning home to Brisbane. I’ve lived here all my life and love this city.
15. Having the internet. So thankful for the internet. Without it, I wouldn’t have a job or blog!
16. Hot showers and baths. I’m grateful my trade allows me to install either one, but I’m even more thankful to enjoy using them.
17. Toilets that flush. Not much more needs to be said.
18. Filtered cold water through my Zip Tap. This would have to be my most favourite kitchen appliance. I can’t live without my Zip chilled and boiling water tap.
21. Clothes. I have many clothes and I sometimes get sent some for free because of my fashion blog. I never take for granted the new clothes I receive.
22. A car. We only have one car and it gets a good work out. I’m grateful we got a 7 seater because it’s allowed me to pick up extra kids from school or pick-up friends when heading on an excursion.
23. The opportunities I get from blogging. I’m super grateful for the opportunities of attending events because of my blog. I sometimes pinch myself when I attend these events.
24. Blogging friends. I’ve made very close friends because of my blog. I love the constant support from these friends too. A little shout out to Renee Mummy Wife Me, Lauren Create Bake Make, Janet Middle Aged Mama and Kelly Be a Fun Mum. There are countless others who have been so supportive over the years too (it would take a long blog post to thank everyone), but these lovely ladies have been pivotal to my blogging journey right from the start.
This was at the end of a night of chatting. Can you tell I’m a little tired?
25. Mobile phone. I can’t live without it! Great for social media and keeping in touch with everyone.
26. Social Media. I have mixed feelings about this, but I’m grateful for a platform that allows me to share my blog for free, even if only a tenth of you see my posts.
29. Netflix. Awesome for kids, and a great way for me to unwind with Jacob. LOVING Outlander at the moment.
30. Flannelette sheets in winter. Oh so cosy!
31. Gut feelings. This might sound weird, but I’m thankful for my gut feelings. They’ve served me well over the years, and sometimes I’ve kicked myself when I haven’t listened to my gut more.
32. Pedicures and facials. My ultimate way to relax and fall asleep!!
33. You, my blog readers. Without you, I wouldn’t have a blog. Thank you so much for coming here to read what I share. You never know what you get on this blog these days – a post about faith, personal circumstances, plumbing, interiors, family, styling and recipes…. The Plumbette has turned into a lifestyle blog, but you continue to come and read what I share and I thank you for it.
Back in February, I clocked over 5 years of writing The Plumbette. The last five years of blogging have been incredible. And I’m looking forward to many more years of blogging. I’m super excited by new avenues the blog has allowed me to explore.
Since I missed celebrating my blogging anniversary, and because it’s my Birthday, I will have a few giveaways as a way to thank you for being part of my journey.
The giveaway planned for this week is an exciting one. If you’re building or renovating, you will want to look out for this week’s giveaway.
If you enjoyed this post, why not write down all the things you’re grateful for? Once you get writing, you can’t stop. Well I couldn’t. I’ve just thought of 10 more things!!
On that note, I’m thankful today is my Birthday and I get to spend it with my family.
If you love lemon meringue pie, then you will really enjoy this easy mandarin meringue pie.
I used a ‘cheat’ recipe to create it based on a Kidspot recipe. The whole family enjoyed this for dessert one night and we had plenty left over to indulge on with a cup of tea when the craving hit.
The reason I decided to try and make a mandarin meringue pie was because I had bought mandarin juice instead of orange juice at our weekly shop. I thought the family would enjoy something different to ordinary orange juice.
Unfortunately it had a really tart flavour and the kids wouldn’t touch it.
So I thought to use up the juice, I’d have to bake with it and hence why I made a Mandarin Meringue Pie.
I’m not a very technical cook. I like easy recipes, so when I searched for Easy Lemon Meringue Pie and found the Kidspot one, using a tin of condensed milk, I knew I couldn’t go wrong with this recipe.
I’ve made it twice now and both times, the pie has worked out just fine. I reckon this recipe is failproof, but you do need to keep an eye on it in the oven. When you take the pie out of the oven the first time, you will want to see a film on the top to know that it’s been baked through. Mine was a little too long in the oven, but that’s what happens when you bake other things at the same time!
This Mandarin Meringue Pie makes a great dessert to share, it can also be portioned for smoko morning tea with a cup of coffee or tea. Jacob and I would often have a piece of the pie with a cup of tea after dinner. It’s not something we do every night but if there are leftovers to be eaten, we make sure they don’t go to waste!
I’m sure you could use the same recipe with other citrus fruits like lime or orange.
I used a 27cm diameter pie dish so there are enough crumbs for the base to suit this size. You may need to decrease the biscuit base if you use a smaller dish.
I also added 1 drop of Doterra Wild Orange Essential Oil to boost the flavour.
I now have mandarin meringue pie to serve to the parents this afternoon at Phoebe’s Trolls Party. I’m looking forward to another slice with a cup of tea tonight after all the party shenanigans are over.
[mpprecipe-recipe:16]
Do you love Lemon Meringue Pie? Ever had a Mandarin Meringue Pie? What’s your favourite citrus fruit?
When you have a toilet leaking brown water, it’s normal to think the worst.
Someone has either missed the bowl or the toilet is leaking contents that should be flushed away, and never seen again. No one wants to see what the toilet had for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I was recently asked by a friend to check out her leaking toilet to see if it was something I could easily fix, without having to ring another plumber. The irony. Except it wasn’t because she didn’t trust my skills, it was simply because the house she lived in was a rental and it would be up to the real estate to contact the owner so they could organise their own plumber to fix.
Plumbing issues in rentals can be a pain in the butt to deal with as it can be a waiting game for the owner to organise a plumber to fix.
Nevertheless, I headed out to see what was causing this brown water to leak from the toilet.
Thankfully, on inspection I could see immediately that it wasn’t waste water, despite its brown appearance. The leak was coming from the toilet cistern, which was being fed by a rainwater tank.
Looks a bit suspicious…
Rainwater is notorious for turning brown over time which is caused by a sludge that builds up at the bottom of the tank. The sludge is caused from dust, bird droppings, dirt and whatever sediment settles on the roof which gets washed away by the rain and travels along the gutters and downpipe, where it gets caught into your rainwater tank. When it sits in the tank, it congeals to create a brown/black sludge and this is what can give tank water that brown colour.
It is recommended rainwater tanks should be cleaned every year, but it’s one of those household maintenance chores that is lost by the wayside as another thing to do. If your rainwater tank is used for drinking, it is IMPERATIVE to follow a maintenance routine or you will get sick.
For most domestic households in Australia, a rainwater tank is used for outdoor use or used to fill toilet cisterns, as was the installation at this rental house.
Because the toilet is a close coupled toilet, I couldn’t see where the leak was coming from inside the toilet, but my guess is it’s between the connection of the toilet cistern and pan – possibly the donut rubber seal may need to be replaced to stop the water running through the back of the pan. The waste pan collar was dry so I could confirm it definitely wasn’t waste water.
Whenever a leak like this occurs, it’s a good idea to get a plumber to fix it as soon as possible.
To remove the brown colour in tank water, your local irrigation store will advise on the right chemical that can be added to the water to control the bacteria and fungus in the water. The World Health Organisation recommends Chlorine Dioxide for drinking water, but for tank water that is used for cleaning outside or used to fill toilet cisterns, a different product may be recommended. I recommend Total Eden for water tank needs so check with them on the right approach.
Have you ever experienced a toilet leaking brown water? Or have you had a leak that has left you baffled?
I think quotes and inspirational memes can confuse the crap out of us. Well they do for me.
One moment I’m charging through life, making goals and then the next, I’m wondering if I’m where I’m meant to be and does this feeling mean I’m actually out of my comfort zone or should I be taking more risks?
Sometimes we have to sit tight with our thoughts and work our way through what we want and why we’ve chosen the path we have.
For those of us that have faith, it’s not always about what we want, it’s about where the Lord leads us. And we can still question the path and decisions we’ve made and whether we’ve heard from the Lord correctly.
If there is anything I can share about my learnings with this is that God’s ways are not the world’s ways. And those things that mean a lot to us have been planted in our heart for a reason. It’s up to us to determine when and how to act on those desires planted in our heart.
Last week I came face to face with decisions I had made in the past. A mistake I made a few years ago came back to haunt me and make me doubt whether I had made the right choices in the last few years.
And so I had to sit with my thoughts (and feelings) and remind myself of my why. Why did I make those decisions and why did I choose the path that I did?
I contemplated the alternate path. What would life have looked like if I had taken the different road?
I questioned whether fear had been a factor in my decision making. And I realised, those decisions weren’t ever made in fear, they were made with wisdom. Despite not knowing the outcome of the decision I made, I’m still thankful, 3 years later of where that path has taken me.
The Bible says wisdom is more precious than gold (Proverbs 3). Wisdom is life’s currency. It helps you make decisions each and every day. Wisdom can prevent you living a life fearful of the future.
And so I know without a doubt the decisions I have made in the last few years have been due to wisdom. I knew the consequences of taking the alternate path because I had already lived it. And even though I didn’t know the consequences of the path I did take, the core benefits aligned with my why more than the gains on the other road.
It’s often not fear that holds us back, but wisdom.
Once I realised this truth, I felt more confident with the decisions I made and I got back on my way, focusing on my own path.
Life has a funny way of distracting us with the journey of others. Use the distraction as a temporary reflection, and get back working towards your why.
No one has your why. Your why matters and we need to be good stewards with the why that’s been planted in our soul.
How do you deal with life’s distractions? Ever felt like you took the wrong road, despite knowing it was the right one at that time?
If you’re looking for a way to use up bulk Bolognese sauce, these Bolognese Sausage Rolls are a great way to do it.
Whenever I make Spaghetti Bolognese, I try to make a double batch of the sauce, to freeze for another night’s meal.
Bolognese sauce can be used to make lasagna, shepherd’s pie or another pasta dish like pasta bake.
Jacob has a special recipe for Bolognese sauce, but over the years, we’ve tailored it more to suit our girls’ tastes. I always add finely diced carrot and zucchini so the kids don’t realise they’re eating veggies.
Earlier this week we had Spaghetti Bolognese, and with the kids home on school holidays, I decided to use up the other batch of Bolognese to make sausage rolls.
The kids couldn’t get enough of them!
A couple of months ago I tried my hand at making sausage rolls from scratch. I referred to a recipe from Create Bake Make (my go to site for all baking these days) and advice from a friend at church on using sausage meat. I then added whatever veggies I had in the fridge. They turned out so good, I don’t think I could ever go back to store bought sausage rolls!
Of course, sausage rolls are best eaten after they’ve cooled from the oven. I love the crisp pastry taste.
If you do take them to work for lunch, and this is a lunch room with appliances, why not warm them in the oven or on a sandwich press. Alternatively, these sausage rolls can be served to host large crowds.
I will be serving these sausage rolls at a party for sure. The girls devoured them at lunch and despite the tomato filling, they still had to have tomato sauce to dip on the side.
With the Bolognese sauce, you need to make sure the sauce is more ‘meaty’ than sauce. Bulk up the consistency by adding finely grated carrot and zucchini.
Hope you enjoy these as much as we did. We have plenty left for lunch tomorrow. YUM!
I got my first hair straightener 16 years ago when I was 17 years old. I used to have blonde hair in my late teen years and Stefan was my hair salon of choice. Whenever a new product came out, my mum and I would try it.
So you can imagine how I felt when hair straighteners came out as the must have hair appliance. I got my first hair straightener ( I think it was Nova brand) when I was in year 12. It changed my life.
Back then, the hair straighteners were the size of a sandwich press. (well it feels like it now!) They were so clunky and chunky.
A bit dusty from not being used…
There were no ceramic plates to protect your hair.
But it gave a smooth finish that I had YEARNED for my wavy, curly hair. I now understood how actresses could have dead straight hair. Their secret was hair straighteners!!
Once I got my hair straightener, I couldn’t travel without it.
Unfortunately my first hair straightener suffered a nasty death.
In 2003, when Jacob and I were dating, we went away with our church musical group to tour in Tasmania. I packed my sandwich press in my luggage, because I couldn’t not have straight hair when performing.
One of our first nights was staying in a caravan park. I remember being the first girl up to have a shower the next morning. I placed my hair straightener on a flat surface just outside the bathroom, so the straightener could heat up.
Little did I know while I was in the shower, my room mates decided they wanted to cook some toast for breakfast. So instead of looking for a toaster, they found a hot plate and decided to turn it on. The thing was, my hair straightener was sitting on top of the hot plate!
When I got out of the shower, I could smell burning, and then suddenly there was a massive spark and we lost power. The whole caravan park lost power!
Turned out the hot plate melted my hair straightener and the spark was from the live wire. No one could understand why the caravan park lost power. It was because of my hair straightener!
Only one or two of my friends packed a hair straightener and were sympathetic to my situation. They were kind enough to allow me to borrow there straightener the whole trip. I really missed having my own straightener to use whenever I could.
When I got home, I bought another one. This time it was an ARIA one and I’ve kept it all these years later.
Since then, hair straighteners have become a lot more sleeker and have ceramic plates to protect your hair. They also heat up within 10 seconds!
I now use a GHD which I love and use nearly every day. It makes my thick hair so much easier to manage.
I don’t know why hair straighteners aren’t installed in hotel rooms. I’d say they are used nearly as much as a hair dryer.
It would save on my packing that’s for sure.
Anyway, since that frightful day I lost my hair straightener, I kept its replacement all these years later. It now sits in the vanity cupboard of our main bathroom. It’s the one piece of my history I want to show my girls.
‘Back when I was a teenager, this is what we used to straighten our hair…’
I’m not sure why I’ve kept it. Maybe as a backup if my GHD or cheap Wahl one decides to stop working. I probably wouldn’t use it as a back up now. It’d probably burn my hair off!
Can you remember when you got your first hair straightener? What appliance can’t you live without?
You may not realise it but a ceiling can make a huge difference to how your room appears. It is the first thing that you notice when you lie down for a nap. So, why not make it worth your while?
Here are 5 great ideas to spruce up your ceiling and add to the overall value of your home.
Installing Pressed Tin Ceiling Panel
Pressed Tin Ceiling Panels are a great addition to any vintage home, but if you want to experiment with them on your contemporary home, make sure to consult with a reliable ceiling renovation expert. Companies that manufacture Pressed Tin-Panel recommend oil-based paint to enhance its life. For best results and to avoid chipping around the edges, the panels should be painted once they are installed. To protect the panels from moisture, you may apply a thin coat of clear polyurethane. Talk to your installer for other sealants that might work for your ceiling.
This ceiling feature goes down well with all types of ceilings, from vintage to contemporary and everything in between. The process doesn’t take much time and yet adds great value to your home décor. You may either use heavy cast-plaster or polyurethane foam to create a stunning ceiling medallion. For large rooms, an array of ceiling medallions can achieve a complete, dramatic look. While urethane adhesive is perfect for tacking ceiling medallion to the surface, it can be further secured by using countersinking nails across the perimeter.
Using wallpapers to decorate your ceiling saves time, cost and still gives off a dramatic look and feel. It is easy to install though, but if you’re seeking perfection, it is advised to hire a wallpapering specialist. Always use the best quality wallpapers and adhesives, because cheap ones will start to come out in a month or so and you will have to shell out some extra bucks to get it fixed.
Layered Drywall is a unique ceiling feature that’s gaining popularity among homeowners and ceiling renovation contractors alike. Not only it enhances the aesthetics, but it also acts as a sound barrier and provides better insulation than ordinary ceilings. Drywalls are lightweight yet robust enough to withstand heavy impact, fire and moisture as well. If installed correctly, layered drywall can spruce up your living room, hall and even bedroom.
Suspended ceilings find favour with almost every commercial setting, but if you want to give your home a unique appearance, experimenting with suspended ceiling will not cost you a fortune. Suspended ceilings are ideal for porch, halls and designer kitchens to name a few. You may have a word with your ceiling expert to know the various possibilities of suspended ceiling for your living space.
Wood is the classic choice for giving any home the cottage-like feel and that too at an affordable price. Ideal for both flat and sloped ceilings, the panels can be cut with a handsaw or power saw and nailed to the ceiling joists. The panels can be further secured by using plywood adhesives to provide extra robustness to your ceiling.
On the flip side, plywood ceilings require immense care and protection against moisture and termites. For that matter, you can apply top-grade sealant to prolong your ceiling’s life.
Conclusion
A ceiling is the most important part of any property, and so its maintenance should never be ignored. The aforementioned ceiling features will stand the test of time only when they are regularly maintained and repaired immediately should any damage take place.
This post has been posted in accordance with my disclosure policy.
We’ve made it. We’ve finished the first semester of school and we’re officially on holidays. No more rushing to do two (sometimes three!) drop-offs for the next two weeks. No more packed lunches or rushing to get everyone’s hair done.
I really enjoy the slower pace of mornings when there is no school or kindy.
The last few weeks have been busy with work and events. I’ve been trying to be intentional about slowing down. It hasn’t quite worked. But at least I’m working on it and intentionally thinking about it.
Jacob and I got to have random date night out by going to the theatre. I have to admit by the second half it was hard keeping my eyes open. Not because the play was bad – it was really funny, but I find the theatre can go so late at night, and sitting in the dark just makes me want to fall asleep. I now understand how people fall asleep in the cinema! Or in church. Haha. Does that make me old?
Lately, it’s the same old stresses I’ve been dealing with. Like choosing to stop and do something I like, like watching Outlander. But the moment I stop, I lose momentum and get stressed about not spending the time I did have wisely. Those kid-free hours are so far and few between.
I’ve been resorting to a bit of TV or iPad Babysitting just so I can keep up. As my dad says, it’s the season I’m in. Just take one day at a time.
And lately that’s what I’ve been doing. Taking one day at a time. And sometimes one moment at a time.
I’m wanting more hugs from Phoebe lately. I look at her and think how can she be three in a couple of weeks?! Wasn’t she a baby? Where has my baby gone?
I then look at Maggie and see how much she’s grown too. She has so much sass and attitude. She’s not afraid to tell me what she thinks about everything and anything. I often look at her and think how life would be less joyful without her in it. It would be a little bit quieter too. In 6 months she starts school. SIX MONTHS.
And then my Esther. My firstborn blows me away with how she just gets in and does her work. Her report card was awesome. She’s worked so hard this year and it’s paid off. I was so proud to see her get her Principal’s Award a couple of weeks ago.
Sometimes Jacob and I look at each other and think how did we get these awesome girls? Do you ever do that with your partner? Just look at your family and think how amazing they are? I might be chanting a different tale towards the end of the school holidays.
We’ve got some exciting things planned these school holidays. One project we’ll be tackling is Esther’s bedroom. For her Birthday, we’ve decided to give her room a makeover. A new quilt, a new desk and a complete cull of toys and stuff she no longer plays with or needs. Her room has been the only room we haven’t painted, so it will be good to give it a refresh. I’ll share what we do in a blog post.
I’ve got an event to attend to on the Gold Coast in the second week of the holidays. We’ve decided to turn it into a night away. I’m looking forward to spending some time away from the computer for one night at least. Of course, all the events will be blogged about. It’s part of the reason why I’m going away.
This week’s plan of attack is to declutter. Wish me luck on that one with three kiddos at home.
Just some of the toys we need to go through in Esther’s room
Maybe they can help me?
In happy/sad news, we sold our cot. Phoebe has been in a bed for a couple of months or so now. The cot has been sitting in my office, unassembled. Last week I finally listed the cot on Ebay. The couple that bought it had only sold all their baby stuff 6 months ago on Gumtree. They thought they had finished having children but found out they were unexpectedly pregnant again. I’m happy the cot is going to someone who really needs it, but sad it was the end of an era in our family life.
Phoebe and Maggie in Phoebe’s bed
Of course it reminded me of when our little Phoebe came along and disrupted our plans for the better. Sometimes a disruption can lead you to another place you couldn’t have expected. God’s the author of redirections and his plans are always so much better than the ones we lay out for ourselves. Well that’s what I’ve found with my life.
In amongst all that has been going on with family and work life, I’ve had a few interesting plumbing problems that I’ve been able to help with. I will blog about these in the next few weeks as well. It’s always good using my plumbing knowledge to help someone out. It’s also reminded me I know more than I think.
How have you been going? Have you got plans for school holidays? Are you hooked on a TV series like Outlander?
Disclosure: I was gifted tickets to see Noises Off in exchange for a review on their site.
One of my favourite 4 ingredient recipes is a pumpkin, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce tart. It’s an easy recipe and always tastes delicious when I make it. So I thought I’d get a bit tricky in the kitchen and use the same ingredients to create pinwheels. Only this time, I added three cheeses to ensure the pinwheels would stick together. These Pumpkin and Feta Pinwheels with Sweet Chilli Sauce and Sour Cream are just as delicious as I imagined. I’m not sure why I didn’t think about creating them before. The pinwheels are so much easier to eat than the tart. Plus they include cheese!
These pinwheels are delicious straight from the oven or cooled and placed in a lunchbox with a side salad. I made a double batch in one go because my girls enjoyed these so much. They lasted a few days for lunches as well.
I included tasty cheese and parmesan to ensure the wheels would cook together when placed in the oven.
The combination of sweet chilli sauce and sour cream is a delicious base spread for the pumpkin and feta. As you know, I love a sweet and savoury combo when it comes to my food.
I’m not the best food photographer, but I can guarantee they taste better than they look.
These pinwheels can make a great party food and are a cheap food idea if you are hosting a crowd – like a footy night or celebrating someone’s birthday. All you need is some puff pastry and the ingredients needed for the filling.
You can add more or less sweet chilli sauce to your liking. For kids, you may choose to have less. I like to have more sauce for flavour.
Pinwheels are definitely a great option for lunches as they can be grabbed from the fridge for the lunchbox. If you wish to re-heat, I microwaved mine for 20 seconds or you can place back in an oven for 10 minutes at 160 degrees with a sheet of alfoil to stop the tops from burning.
My hairdresser, Hayley and her husband Mark, recently renovated their main bathroom. I shared their kitchen renovation last year, and after that was completed, they decided the bathroom was due a renovation as well. You don’t realise how desperately a bathroom renovation is required until you compare the before and after photos.
Hayley and Mark chose black and white for the main colours in their bathroom. It’s a wise choice because it doesn’t date and it’s an easy palette to work with. Other colours can be added through linen and furnishings if they wish in the future.
Bathroom before
Bathroom After
What I love about this bathroom is the maximum use of space and the extra storage, which is a must when a family of four use the bathroom.
Vanity and Storage Before
The only concern I had for the bathroom was the use of the pop up plug and waste in the bath/shower. These plug and wastes are notorious for clogging up after a few months of use in basins. And they will clog up in the shower with hair and soap residue. Thankfully the bath waste can be accessed underneath so the plug and waste can be changed in the future should the plug decide to get stuck. But this is something to keep in mind if you do renovate your bathroom. A grated plug and waste is a better fitting for a bath and shower combo.
Toilet before
Toilet After
Mark and Hayley chose to install black taps, which get a bit lost in the black splashback at the vanity. Hayley wasn’t sure on whether she’d like the black taps, so they chose tapware that was budget friendly. These can be changed later if they choose. A rose gold or even chrome taps would work well against the tiling. All these little things don’t come to mind until the bathroom is finished.
The bathroom is a contemporary space which is practical and modern and can be styled any way to suit the seasonal trends.
Thank you Hayley and Mark for allowing me to feature your bathroom. Well done on a great renovation.
What’s the ultimate colour palette for your bathroom? Are you a fan of black and white too?
This week, I saw my friend Rebecca Bowyer, share this article about how open plan living is pretty much overrated and is like living in an ‘echo chamber’. The writer of this article was quite negative about their experience with open plan living. Rebecca was planning for an open plan living design for her house, but after reading the article, she wasn’t so sure about whether the design would suit her family. I thought I’d share 5 reasons why I LOVE open plan living and how I could never go back to the houses of old where there was a separate room for each space.
5 Reasons for Open Plan Living
1. It makes our house feel bigger.
For some people, this may be a negative, but for a family of 5 like mine, extra space means we don’t feel cramped. We enjoy having other families over and we’re not limited by space. In fact the space is a godsend. A bigger space allows for enough seating for family and guests. It also allows for ease of movement and flow throughout the house. Your open plan living area could be a smaller space, yet because it’s open, it makes your home feel larger.
I can be in the kitchen and the kids can be playing at the coffee table or sitting at the kitchen bench helping me or drawing. I love the flow on effect where we can all be busy in the one space, but still be near each other. When my girls see me in the kitchen, they are often eager to help and learn some basic cooking skills.
When it comes to hosting gatherings, everyone can be part of the festivities. No one has to be hidden away in a back kitchen and it allows for an inclusive environment for everyone.
4. Kids love open plan living so they can see where you are.
I don’t know about you, but my kids like to play where they can see me. Open plan living makes this easier because I can still get dinner ready, yet the kids can play or watch TV in the living room, where they can still have me in eye-shot. I can keep an eye on their activities as well.
5. The house looks lighter and brighter.
We have a fair few windows in our open plan area and the light streams in creating a wonderful atmosphere in our home. Light draws people in. This has the same effect on our family. They like to congregate where there is light and space. Separate rooms that lead off each other can tend to be darker and rely on lighting to brighten them up.
How to Overcome the Negative Parts of Open Plan Living
Not all house designs will have positive attributes. There are negatives to having an open space and that can be noise and an inability for privacy. But I truly believe these negatives can be solved a few ways.
For our house, we have a separate play room which has a door that can be closed off from our open living area. We’ve just put a tv in here for the girls, so the play room is a space for them to enjoy, while mum and dad can relax in the living room. The toys do come out into the living room from time to time, but they have a place to go back to in the playroom.
We did have a separate lounge, which I converted into my office. To be honest, we rarely used the separate lounge. But it’s a space we can convert back should I no longer require an office.
Another part of our house design is the kids rooms are at the back of the house and our room is at the front. Jacob and I can get privacy from our master bedroom, away from the noise of our girls as they get older.
I truly believe open plan living is a great house design for families – especially for the kitchen, living and dining areas. If you’re still unsure, choose a house design where rooms can be segregated and converted into a large communal area when needed.
Last year I had a question from a wife of a plumber, asking me how she can better assist her husband with his plumbing business. I sent my advice and went to work on a post, but never got to publishing it. What I really wanted to achieve from the post is to encourage this wife for her heart for the business, while acknowledging her efforts, even if they were shrugged off by her husband.
Today’s post is a little different. It’s in no way sponsored, but I invited Eve John from Fully Booked Tradies to share a post about what she does and how she can help your plumbing or trade related business – by focusing on one of the best assets a family run trade business has – the trade’s wife or partner.
I’m fond of Eve because she was one of the first readers (other than my family!) of my blog and her husband created REEECH Silicone Nozzles, which was the first product I ever reviewed on my blog. (Back then it was called Bent Over Silicone Nozzles)
Every Facebook post that she shares on her page, has me nodding my head in agreement to her encouragement and advice. Having been both the tradie and the daughter working behind the scenes of our family plumbing business, I understand the crucial role the office worker has on a tradie’s business.
In most family trade businesses, like plumbing, this role is undertaken by the wife of a husband and wife team. Some businesses may have a different partner scheme. Eve understands this role perfectly well and she wants the wives (or partners) who assist with their husband’s trade related business to realise their potential and how very important they are. A message I believe every wife/partner needs to hear when running a business with their tradie other half.
So I’m going to let Eve kick it off here, but before I do, I recommend you like her Facebook page and it’s my hope that you will be acknowledged for the incredible work you do. It doesn’t go unnoticed, even if it sometimes feels like it is.
The Biggest Asset In A Tradies Business That Won’t Fit In The Toolbox
Owning your own family business is meant to give you the opportunity to have freedom, personally and financially.
But with 98.6% of construction businesses with fewer than 20 (source: ABS), often isn’t money in the business for all the staffing needed to grow the business.
Too often trade business owners devalue the one asset that used effectively could add another 6 figures to their business, with less stress, more authority and no ‘extra’ workload.
That asset?
Their wives/partners.
But it isn’t just the tradie that’s guilty of undervaluing their partner.
It is the partner undervaluing themselves too.
How do you know that’s you?
By answering these three questions;
1. When asked what do you do, do you or have you ever answered ‘I work for my husband/partner’
2. Do you do tasks that you really hate, that take hours and that you know should be done by someone else? ie: bookkeeping or order stock,
And finally,
3. Do you currently take any income from the business?
A study conducted online, found that only 11% of women respondents answered question 3 with: ‘I receive a set wage every week regardless of how much work I do’
A staggering 89% responded that either ‘I don’t get any income from the business’, or ‘We have an amount that is taken out for both of us’,
And this both, breaks my heart and boils my blood.
Not only because you aren’t paid for what you do.
But it is likely that you don’t feel that you are worthy of it either.
Is it because pretty much everything you do is behind the scenes, so you think no one takes value in it?
Or because it’s not income producing, like doing the physical work, the marketing or selling?
My research has found most wives/partners do the equivalent of a combined value of $120,000 worth of employee work, meaning that if you had to get employees in and pay them to do the work, it would cost over $120,000!
And that is not even including things like superannuation and Workcover.
So how do you turn yourself into an asset, instead of feeling like a liability?
By working on the skills that you already have as a woman, that are transferable over to the business.
The ones they don’t teach at trade school and that are income producing.
The skill?
Communication (which is really all that Marketing and Sales are in your business)
So here is what I want to do.
I want to help you to value yourself.
But I am not doing it for free because I value my time.
I will do it for something that I know unites every Australian woman, the surge of Domestic Violence.
You can buy 1 hour of my time for a donation to my favourite charity; Impact for Women.
I’m fast, efficient and will give you a plan of what to do next for your business.
No strings attached, no hidden agenda.
Simply follow the link, pay a minimum $50 and send me the receipt mailto:you@evejohn.com.au.
You can then book and talk to me about whatever marketing or sales issue the business has.
Need more leads, no problems.
Want to convert more quotes, simple.
Or if you want to talk to your partner about getting a wage, we can work on that.
And if you don’t think it was worth $50, I will give you double your money back out of my own pocket.
Why?
Because, I value you.
Eve John
Fully Booked Tradies
Thank you Eve for your post. If you are a partner working in your family tradie business, why not get in touch with Eve?
If you’re right for leads, but just want general encouragement for the day to day dealings of your business, follow Eve’s page.
Do you sometimes feel undervalued in your business? How do you overcome those feelings or what have you done to make yourself valued in your family tradie business?
Around a month ago, I headed to Target to buy The Barefoot Investor after reading a review on She Shopped. I’ve seen so many recommendations on this book. But of course, it wasn’t at my local Target, however, my eyes caught Emma Blomfield’s book, HOME: The Elements of Decorating. I added it to my basket and when I got home, omigosh. I LOVED it. It’s the book I didn’t realise I needed until I started flipping through the pages. I’m calling this THE must have book for home decorating.
As you know (or maybe you don’t) I have trouble with interior decorating. Fashion styling is easy for me, but when it comes to interiors, I struggle a bit. I especially struggle knowing how to put furniture where it should go. I tend to be one of those people that loves all the things and will chuck it in a room hoping the mish mash will resemble something stylish.
Take for example Esther’s room. I’m trying to work out how to configure her room so it doesn’t feel cluttered. We have a desk, chest of drawers and bed. One wall has a built in wardrobe and the other is a window. While in the scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter how it looks, I still want it to be practical for Esther so she can easily move around the room. Having heaps of furniture can make it look cluttered and cramped. Which is not ideal for a children’s bedroom.
Emma’s book, Home: The Elements of Decoratingoffers practical advice on how to get the right configuration of furniture in your home. The advice is for every room in your home. It also details the five elements of decorating and showing how to apply them in each room of your home. If you love interiors and enjoy changing things up in your home, this book is a must have because it will guide you on getting the right balance for practicality and style.
I haven’t finished reading the book, but I have it close by to refer to when I have a pressing interior styling problem.
It’s also gorgeous enough to be displayed as part of your homewares. I’ve yet to decide where I will place this beauty.
Home: The Elements of Decorating can be purchased from all major retailers. You can buy it online here from Dymocks (I will receive a small commission if you do)
If you have to get a present for someone who loves interiors, this is the book to get them.
Do you like home decorating books? Do you find it hard to know how to place furniture in your home?
This time last week we came home from our weekend away to Stanthorpe. It frightens me how fast time flies.
One morning this week, I thought I had Maggie nudging me from the side of the bed to put the TV on. But it was Phoebe. I looked at my nearly three-year-old and thought when did you get so big? Weren’t you a baby 5 minutes ago?
The kids are growing fast and as much as I’m eager for them to become a little more independent, I’m also trying to enjoy these younger years while I can cause it seems if I blink, they will all be in school.
Taking time away with Jacob and the girls to Stanthorpe helped me remember life could be slow. The weekend away was good to give my mind a break. I have had a severe case of rushing women’s syndrome all year and no matter how much I halve my to do list, it always gets extended.
And thus the need for a change of scenery was needed.
I didn’t realise how a weekend away would help me. There were some penny dropping moments – things I was able to take away from our little trip and I thought I’d share them with you.
5 Things I learned while out in the country
1. No ‘news’ is the best news.
Due to the WIFI being unpredictable out in Stanthorpe (the main towns had good coverage) I hardly flicked through my Facebook newsfeed. I felt so much lighter from not knowing what was happening in the world. And I didn’t miss not being in on the know. Being out in the country can help you switch off. This can be a good thing when you’re always engrossed in media for work.
2. Raising young children close in age is emotionally, mentally and physically exhausting.
I’ve known this for a while. Yet it was during my taste testing wine session, I had a wonderful conversation with the winery owner and another couple. We chatted about raising children and how so much has changed from previous generations to now. I joked I needed wine to help me get through the hard years of raising my girls and the owner grinned saying it would help, but only in moderation.
He and the other couple sitting beside me acknowledged how hard it is raising young children that are close in age. He shared how he’d sometimes come home after work and find his wife crying in the kitchen because she hadn’t had a good day with her boys. They had four boys under four at the time. This comforted me a little because there are nights when I am close to tears or I’m frustrated because of the day I’ve had with my girls. It seems not much has changed in the last 40 or so years of parenting when it comes to overwhelm and dealing with behaviour. The lesson I took from this was it’s ok to cry and admit it’s been a hard day – because it is/was. But tomorrow is a new day. And the seasons change.
3. We accumulate so much stuff – maybe too much stuff.
On our last morning in Stanthorpe we had breakfast at a vintage café, Le Bel. It was an antique/pre-loved store with a café. As I wandered through the rooms and looked at all the stuff for sale, I contemplated who originally owned the items on sale. People pass away everyday, and what becomes of their belongings? Do they get thrown away? Donated? Inherited? When I think about all I own, and consider millions of people owning a similar amount of stuff, that’s a lot of stuff. It made me think more about decluttering and owning less. And buying less.
4. Bushwalking makes the best exercise.
There’s so much to see and look at when exploring a national park. The quietness is bliss. Well it was when Maggie wasn’t talking. That girl can talk under water. At one stage Jacob asked if she could stop talking and Maggie said no she couldn’t because she had to talk. Four year old logic right there.
5. I could have made a living selling second-hand toilet seats.
I wish I had taken a photo, but I didn’t want to offend the older gentleman who was selling second hand goods at the Wallangarra Markets. While the girls and I were browsing the market offerings, I raised my eyebrows and had to stifle a giggle when I noticed a second-hand black toilet seat was on sale for $4. The bolts that kept the toilet seat in place were recognisably a discoloured yellow. I thought, good on him for recycling and making a living from it. New toilet seats can be expensive these days and a black toilet seat can be hard to come by. I just replaced a white toilet seat in our ensuite which cost over $80! $4 was a bargain buy for a rare black seat for the throne. Although I couldn’t guarantee the cleanliness of the seat underneath.
While we were away, I entertained the idea of moving to the country. I even asked Jacob whether it was something we would consider. Of course, he reasoned with me that we loved our established life in Brisbane and the kids were well adjusted to their kindy/school and church. I know he’s right. But it still had me thinking about a sea change to the country. Whether life would be much slower? Would we save money and have more time for each other? Right now, I feel the latter is the biggest priority for me.
Even though I work from home, I wonder if I do a good job at mothering and working from home? I think it’s a question a lot of mums grapple with.
It’s not long till I will be at home alone, with no children to keep me company. And I often feel an urgency to spend as much time enjoying this season before we head into a new one. Would a country change ease the stress?
Maybe I just need to create the sea change in our household. A change in mindset, and a slower pace.
What have you learned when you’ve gone away? Have you ever considered a sea change to the country?
This week for Tradie’s Lunchbox, I’m sharing an antipasto bento lunch box idea, using deli produce bought from our trip to Stanthorpe.
Of course, you don’t have to use the same products I have. But this gives you an idea of what can be packed into one of these styles of lunch boxes.
I bought this Bento style lunch box in a pack of 4 from Little Bento World over a year ago. I like them because the sections are big enough to fit a sandwich and larger baked goods that don’t always fit in the smaller compartments of other Bento style lunchboxes. I found they were affordable too, because you can get 4 lunchboxes for $30.
When we headed to Stanthorpe, we visited various cheese factories and delis. I also bought some pickles and pastes from the Bramble Patch.
These egglplant pickles are delicious. Topped with cheese and some cold meat, it made the best sweet and savoury treat.
An antipasto lunch box works best when packed during the cooler months. This prevents the cheese from sweating. It definitely needs to be transported in a cooler bag with an ice-pack to keep the deli contents cool.
To make this bento box a bit more heartier, I bought a tiger loaf bread roll.
I ate the contents of this lunch box over two days. The key to a good antipasto platter is including something with cheese, meat, fruit and a carbohydrate like crackers or bread.
Are you a fan of antipasto platters? Would you make one in your Bento lunch box?
3. The kitchen was designed by Kitchen Gallery, whom I’ve featured on the blog before. You can check out that kitchen here.
When I saw Rochelle and Rob share their kitchen renovation on Facebook, I really really REALLY wanted to show it to you because I think they’ve done a great job in getting the right layout and colour balance in the kitchen.
Here is what the kitchen looked like before.
Kitchen before
Kitchen Before
Kitchen before
And what the kitchen looks like now. I think I have kitchen envy. How good does it look?!
Kitchen after
Kitchen after
Kitchen after
This monochromatic kitchen is ultra modern and on trend. It’s the type of kitchen I’d happily see myself cooking in. There is nothing I don’t like in this kitchen.
I love the white hexagonal tile splashback. I recently shared a similar splashback on Instagram. The cabinetry teamed with the timber floors looks stunningly impressive also. I’m also a fan of the island bench and pendant lights.
This kitchen definitely adopts some of the key kitchen trends that were predicted for 2017, specifically the tuxedo look.
Alps Constructions and Kitchen Gallery have produced a stunning kitchen. If you live on the south side of Brisbane, definitely give these guys a call if you’re looking for your kitchen to be renovated.
Thank you to Rochelle and Rob for allowing me to share your kitchen renovation. I hope you make some fantastic family memories in your new kitchen.
Are you a fan of hexagonal tiles? Do you love a modern black and white kitchen?
If you’re looking for inspiration for a kid friendly family getaway to Stanthorpe, this post is for you.
Last weekend we headed away to Stanthorpe for a much needed break.
When life gets overwhelmingly busy and noisy, a quieter scene is always sought and for us, Stanthorpe was the place to head to. We filled our days with visiting the main attractions, and the change of scenery was just what we needed. Possibly more so me, because I’ve been feeling under pressure lately with all thing things I’ve said yes to this year.
A couple of years ago when Jacob went to Stanthorpe to do a work visit, he described how quaint the town was and his description made me want to put it on our bucket list for a family trip away.
Stanthorpe is just under a 3 hour drive from Brisbane. The scenery along the way is far from boring and I felt calmer the further we drove away from home.
When researching an itinerary for a day or weekend away in Stanthorpe that was kid friendly, there wasn’t a lot of articles that came up. So I’m hoping this post will offer some advice on where to stay and where to visit.
We left for Stanthorpe early Saturday morning and didn’t come home till late Monday afternoon. Our days were spent exploring the region and experiencing the must do foodie attractions. Some places we didn’t end up visiting, but they can always wait for another trip back.
Tips on Travelling to Stanthorpe with Kids
• Pack beanies, scarves, gloves and a good down coat. Stanthorpe can be freezing in the morning and at night.
• Bring a cooler bag or esky to cart all the gourmet food you buy like cheeses, cold meats etc.
• When travelling with kids, stay at a guest house or cottage or farm stay. Stayz offer the best range of accommodation to suit large families. Do ring the accommodation before trying to book online. Sometimes the booking calendar doesn’t calibrate to the accommodation’s website calendar.
• If Stanthorpe doesn’t have accommodation for your needs, look at outer areas including Ballandean (where we stayed), Applethorpe, Thurlimbah, or Glen Aplin. Even Tenterfield. Also travel on a weekend rather than mid week as many of the attractions and wineries are open on the weekend from Friday to Monday.
• Consider buying fresh produce for your meals or alternatively buying all meals from the range of restaurants and cafes in the area. We chose to do a big breakfast, dessert for lunch and a big dinner with a lot of taste testing in between.
• Mix the stops with shops and activities so the kids don’t get bored or ask when can they play? Most stops had some sort of interactive part, which meant the girls were happy to get in and out of the car. Interact with the people at each location. They will be happy to show the kids the animals that help make the produce.
Day 1 – Getting to Stanthorpe, Tasting All The Food and Checking In
We drove to Stanthorpe without any stops in between. The kids did ask how much longer we’d be in the car. Next time, I’d make a stop at the Aratula Bakery for something to eat. The reason we chose not to do this on our trip into Stanthorpe is because our first stop was going to be at Suttons Farm – an apple juicery, cidery and distillery. The cafe is known to serve the best apple pie and we wanted to try it for morning tea.
When we finally arrived at Suttons, the kids were eager to get outside and kick the leaves piled near the fence. The weather was crisp, so the apple pie and latte went down very well.
The apple pie servings are massive and come with cream and apple cider ice-cream. We only bought one for the three girls to share. They were more interested in the cream and ice-cream. The girls taste tested the apple juice while mummy and daddy tasted the cider. We walked away with two bottles of apple juice and full bellies.
Famous Apple Pie from Suttons Farm Cafe
Our next stop was at Castle Glen. This may not be the most kid friendly destination to go to. But we took our chances because the girls loved the look of the castle. We headed inside and it looked like a scene from Shrek with all the potions (liqueurs) in different shaped bottles. We were only in here for 5 minutes as I was too apprehensive about the girls going down the aisles and breaking a bottle. There was taste testing available, but we mainly went in for a quick look and so the girls could say they have been in a castle.
From Castle Glen, Stanthorpe Cheese was our next stop where we got to taste test some cheese. You can watch the cow milking early in the morning, which is then used to make the cheese. The cheese isn’t made onsite, but the bigger blocks that are cut by hand for the deli can be seen in the back storage room. Esther and I got to hold one of the blocks of cheese. Each round block holds 60Litres of milk. We bought some feta and peppercorn cheese to take home (hence the need for the cooler bag). The girls grabbed a box of Jatz to snack on while in the car. Before we got in the car, we let the girls explore the hill in the carpark.
After Stanthorpe Cheese, the girls were keen to go to a lavender farm. We headed to Aloomba Lavender Farm, where the harvest had been completed but there were some lavender bushes for the girls to look at. There was a gorgeous puppy the girls enjoyed playing with. You can stop to have scones and lavender tea, but we were still full from Suttons. The gift shop housed all the products made from the lavender. We diffuse lavender each night in the girls rooms, so it was good for them to understand where the lavender oil comes from.
After the drive back to Stanthorpe, we were finally hungry for lunch. We stopped at Café 77 and the food didn’t disappoint. The burgers were fresh and delicious. We did have to wait a while for our food, but the food presentation for a café was impressive.
We checked into our accommodation at Vineyard Cottages where we booked a 2 bedroom cottage. The older two girls shared a queen bed and there was one spare bed in the loft. The girls slept upstairs and Jacob and I slept downstairs. There were two bathrooms, one upstairs and another downstairs so the kids didn’t have to venture down the stairs during the night for the toilet.
Our 2 Bedroom Vineyard Cottage
For the rest of the afternoon we kicked a ball in the back courtyard and looked around the gardens surrounding the cottages.
We had dinner at the Vineyard Café which is a licensed restaurant onsite. The food was lovely but a little pricey.
Our cottage was kept warm with heaters and a split system air heater. It would have been nice to have a fire, but after our experience in Byron Bay we weren’t too worried about not having a fireplace in our accommodation.
Day 2 – Food, Markets, Hiking and Wine Tasting in Stanthorpe
On Sunday morning, we decided to have breakfast at Wallangarra Station. The markets were also on at the same time of our visit (they are on the first weekend of the month). The station has been turned into a café and their meals were affordable and delicious.
Wallangarra Station
Wallangarra is the last town before the New South Wales border. The history of the station dates back to the 1800’s when the NSW and QLD governments couldn’t agree on a rail gauge so this town became a major junction for interstate passengers to change trains.
We got to stand at the border sign and visited a craft gift shop (which is directly behind the sign) where the girls got to spend their pocket money and buy some knitted toys. Maggie bought another bag to add to her collection.
After our visit to Wallangarra, we drove to Girraween National Park. The girls loved this part of our trip the most. We did a 2 hour hike where we explored the Granite Arch.
We decided to trek onwards towards the Pyramid and made two thirds of the way up. There were a lot of stairs and my calves are still sore from the climb while carrying Phoebe. If you do want to reach the top, do wear hiking shoes or shoes that have a good grip.
My fear was not so much reaching the top, but getting down without the proper footwear. I carried Phoebe most of the way up because she wore her ugg boots. We didn’t expect to get as high as we did. But where we stopped was enough for us to get a good view down below.
After our trek, we visited Heavenly Chocolate. We bought the girls whatever they liked, but kept the chocolates for them to devour during our winery visit.
From Heavenly Chocolate we drove to The Bramble Patch which is a dessertery and serves artisan preserves which they make on the farm. This place is a MUST VISIT. The desserts were amazing. I spent a good while taste testing the chutneys, jams and various condiments. Some of them will be featured in this weeks Tradie’s Lunchbox post.
The Bramble Patch
We stopped into Anna’s Candles on the way back down from Bramble Patch. I got a laugh at some of the candle names (sex on the beach or monkey farts anyone?). I walked away with the last rose candle.
The last stop of the day was spent at Tobin Wines. I wanted to visit here after reading some recommendations online and having the reputation of being the best wine from the Stanthorpe region, worldwide. The visit did not disappoint as Adrian (the owner and wine maker) was very passionate talking about his wines, which are named after his grandchildren. Jacob set the girls up outside near the swings with their Heavenly Chocolate treats and I got to taste test some delicious white wines and one red. Jacob is not a huge wine drinker, but got to sip some of the wine from my glass. If you do decide to visit Tobin Wines, visit late on a Sunday afternoon or on a Monday, as Friday afternoon and Saturday can be busy with visitors. It’s definitely a child-friendly winery to visit with the swings just outside the door at the entrance.
On Sunday night, we headed to the Ballandean Tavern for dinner. It was typical pub food – with decent servings. It was the perfect way to end a big day.
Day 3 – More Hiking, Hot Chocolates, Animal Feeding and Trekking Home
On Monday morning, we headed to Le Bel which is a café and antique shop, for breakfast. We all enjoyed looking through the range of antiques and homewares in the shop.
The girls were keen to do another bushwalk so we headed back to Girraween National park and did the Bald Creek Circuit which took just over an hour to complete. We got to see a kangaroo and a gorgeous red bird which we forgot to find the name of.
Bald Rock Creek Circuit
On the way back to Stanthorpe, we dropped back into Heavenly Chocolates, this time to have a hot chocolate. The girls enjoyed watching the chickens and when we left, we were allowed to feed the cows mulberry leaves. The girls enjoyed this immensely.
Our last stop in Stanthorpe was at Washpool Farm Soaperie. This place is DIVINE. Known for it’s goat milk soap, you can buy all natural beauty products with no nasties. We didn’t leave without buying a few bars of soap. The girls got to say hello to the goats before we jumped back in the car to drive home.
On the way home, we stopped at Vincenzos for some deli meats. And at Aratula, we bought fresh fruit and veg, steak and bread from the main shopping precinct. If you wanted to get more produce from some of the attractions in Stanthorpe, more could be bought at the Aratula fruit shop.
We filled in our days with fun for everyone, making sure everyone got to see and experience what they wanted.
I definitely recommend staying at the Vineyard Cottages if you want a good base to explore from.
Overall we had an amazing weekend and look forward to going back to explore more of the region and maybe try our hand at some more walking tracks.
If you are looking for a place where you can’t be reached by phone and the Wifi is limited, this is your place. I definitely recommend it for anyone who needs a bit of a technology detox.
Have you ever been to Stanthorpe? What was your favourite place to visit in Stanthorpe with kids?
