Job charts

So faIn the past I have done job charts for the boys, but i failed to remember to get the coins necesary for them to be paid as I used to pay them per job. (see below for what job charts used to look like).

I have changed them now so that instead of being paid in money, they get points eg 15 points for feeding one of the animals, 5 points for making there beds etc. They then get to choose a reward for certain number of points.

So far it is working well, as you can see by the ticks and also by the points accumulated (the bottom of the page) that Josh is already at one of the higher level rewards (25 points is a daily reward if they choose to use them which so far they haven't used and I am considering taking away anyway as I am not sure if it is completely fair to them).

I will keep you updated on progress and I am thinking the bug rewards will either be used in the evenings when we have time or on the weekends.

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Quieche

So, I have been missing for awhile and it is partly to do with me being too lazy to get on and some was  due to nothing interesting happening (or so it seemed to me).

I am back because I have had to make certain changes (some I needed to make eg dietary changes and some I chose to make eg job charts for the boys).

One of the changes I have made is a dietary. I have eliminated diary, gluten and peanuts from my diet as I have been medically diagnosed IBS (Irritable Bowl Syndrome) which seems to be caused by foods with gluten, dairy and/or peanuts in them.

Most of the meals are either already gluten and dairy free or I have just changed the ingredients to make them that way. As I try new recipes I will tell you how it goes and what I could change.

Last night I made quiche. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients

4 eggs

2 cups soy milk (or other non dairy milk will do)

1/3 cup gluten free self-raising flour

about 3-4 cups frozen mixed veg (had no bacon)

1/2 cup grated Magic Vegan Cheese (http://magicjelly.com.au/blog/2011/11/magic-vegan-cheese/)

Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Preheat oven to 200C

Beat eggs in a bowl and add milk and salt and pepper.

Add the frozen mixed vegetables and grated cheese and then mix thoroughly. Then add flour and mix through.

Oil the quiche tin and then lay the dry Ingredients in the bottom and then pour the milk and egg mixture over the top and cover the dry Ingredients.

Put in oven for about 40 minutes or until golden brown.

This is based on my version I used to use prior to going dairy and gluten free.

It needed a little more salt but other then that it was nice, not as chessy as normal so I might add some Savoury Yeast Flakes next time as it will give it more of a cheesy taste.

iPad 2 Giveaway

Smart Apps for kids are giving away a wifi and 3G capable iPad, go http://www.smartappsforkids.com/2012/09/ipad-no-16.html?utm_source=Copy+of+ConstantContact%3A+Historypin+%26+Beginning+Phonics&utm_campaign=CC1&utm_medium=email

Shopping and more

So I have searched high and low in my house for my over locker foot control to no avail. I have called a place in Geelong that can hopefully help me, I just have to wait a few weeks and he will get back to me.

I went to the op shop today and got heaps of jocks (am planning on toilet training Michael starting Monday as it is school holidays), socks and a board to kneel on while gardening. I also went to a garage sale and scored a Black and Decker Multi-Mix Blender and heaps of wool and some cotton. I plan on making more dish/cleaning cloths with the cotton and socks with the wool.

What I got from the garage sale

 I tested the mixer out by making bread. It wasn't so good with the bread but the I do have a bread maker so will just keep using them. Not sure if it was the machine or me as I have tried to make bread in the past and it turned out flat then too. I also made some beef stock (in the slow cooker over night). I now need to make vegetable stock and then I will have a full draw full of stock (have chicken and beef and a little vegetable).

Beef stock made 7 cups

To top it off homemade pizza for tea

Organizing and other stuff

I am back. I forgot a few times to do my blog and I have fallen way behind the challenges, so I am saving them for another time as I need to be doing other stuff at the moment. Still organizing the house bit by bit but in my own way.

Birthday card folder

Extra cards leftover after organizing
my birthday card folder

Sewing desk

We also celebrated Michael's 3rd birthday. He is now 3 so no more babies in this household. We held it at Kaotic Kids (an indoor playground) and the staff were great.

Birthday boy having a ball

I also made a calcium supplement for the chickens.

I have also sorted out my snaps as the kids tipped them out ages ago and I haven't had a chance to sort them out until know.

Tea for tonight was a ginger and orange corned beef and it was very yummy along with a sauce.

20 days to organise & clean your home challenge Day 1

Well today was Day 1 of 20 days to organise & clean your home challenge. So what is the first challenge? To clean the kitchen.

Nothing like cleaning the fridge or stove or anything like that, just the normal everyday stuff like dishes, cleaning the microwave and dusting etc.

So first up is wash the dishes, which I do with my regular routines anyway (I leave them to dry in the rack and I put them away before I do the next lot), then to do the benches and the cupboard doors.

Next is the microwave, give it a good clean (mine hasn't been cleaned in a while), wipe over the walls and the windows and windowsills and then to dust the light bulb (I don't have a light fitting over my lightbulb in the kitchen as yet).

The next step The Organised Housewife recommends is to declutter. I did this when I did my Pantry cleanout and organised cupboards so I will skip this one as I know it is satisfactory.

Organising is the next step, I want to get some baskets as The Organised Housewife has here. I have to do groceries today so will try to get some then. They will come in handy for a few things.

My new habit is to do wash the dishes before I settle down to relax of the evening and today I will try to spend 5 minutes tidying one of the bookshelves in the lounge.

Before lounge bookshelf cupboard

I will post pics on tomorrows blog of the afters of everything I have done.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Day 2 of the challenge.

yeserday I took advantage of the nice weather we have been getting and have done some gardening.

Front garden Before

Front garden After

Dishwashing and more

I just tried to make my own dishwashing detergent of sorts by filling my tea infuser with some grated soap I had made and grated ahead of time.

It worked well. I opened it up as pictured below and scooped up the soap with the tea infuser until it was that full that it was still open a little. I then pushed it down (the soap is grated finely) so that the soap was packed firmly in and then I held it  under hot water. When there was enough water in the sink I also swished it around in the water, keeping it under the running tap until I had enough water in the sink. This resulted in a lot more bubbles that stayed longer (they were still there when I finished the dishes).

I am very happy with this, although I will still buy dishwashing liquid otherwise hubby will not help with the dishes and we can't have that.

I also finished my dishcloth, although due to the holes and the fact that I am only new to this, I am thinking of making this into a cleaning cloth.

All I need to do know is get either a tapestry/darning needle or a crochet hook and weave the ends in and then I am done.