Perfect for lunchboxes

I have used this recipe for lunchboxes a few times over the past couple of years. This year, Mark has also used it with success.

You can add almost anything to the basic recipe ingredients and even ice it to make it 'party worthy'.

It actually tastes like a yummy muesli bar and depending on what goodies you add to it - healthy to boot. (Ok, so it's got butter in it and I've seen the price of butter lately. But, if grabbed on special, these are kids that will also use the fat to their advantage during the day, so not much to worry about!!)

Honey Oat Slice

3/4 cup of white or wholemeal flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup of sugar

1 1/2 cups of rolled oats

2/3 cup of coconut

150g butter

1 tablespoon honey

pinch salt

Additional (add some or all)

1 tblspn pumpkin seeds

1 tblspn sunflower seeds

1 tblspn sesame seeds

1tblspn walnuts or almonds

Cranberries, Raisins, dried apricots, choc chips (1/2 cup of each, experiment with these yummy additions)

Oven temp = 180 degrees celcius

Toast seeds for extra flavour if desired.

Mix dry ingredients together.

Add melted butter and honey.

Press into a slice tray.

Bake 15 - 20 mins (until slightly golden and firm)

If icing this one, use lemon..............AMAZING!!!

AND..........very easily and safely adapted for Gluten sensitive people (change flour and baking powder). Although some Celiac suffers can't tolerate the oats, so check first.

Have a yummy week

Jaz xx

Thankful Thursday

Well.............

Not much to announce.........except for,

I HAVE FINISHED RADIOTHERAPY!!!!

I'm pleased to say that I have experienced no brain odema (swelling), no need for steroids, and continue to endorse Spirulina and Acai berry for recovery and coping with fatigue.

Despite some odd looks from the docs because I wasn't suffering from head splitting headaches, I am extremely proud of getting to this point.

I'm thankful to still have some hair, that my Lovely husband loves to cook for me (check out his new blog over here), that I don't need to travel back and forward to hospital each day, thankful that my eyesight has returned and I almost feel like a functioning human being. Phew.

So there you go. The next step of this journey complete. Time to snooze for a few days and then celebrate!! Yipeeeeee

Jaz xx

Frugal Winter Weekends

During winter, especially when it is raining (which it's been doing a lot lately) our children get cabin fever. I'm always trying to think or dream up of ideas for keeping them away from the television. Ok......................delaying the television viewing until the afternoon at least.

The girls spent hours with a palette of water based paint, brush and a roll of paper towels. Ingenious! They loved every minute of it. I didn't spend any money getting them set up because we had all the ingredients in the house!

Paper towels aren't quite as good as coffee filters (which are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G) but the paints did bleed together, creating fun effects that certainly brightened up the day!!

I've seen the coffee filters used over on this blog HERE.

Even two year old hands could cope with the task, mostly unsupervised, and very happy.

Two busy artists.............NOT WATCHING T.V. !!!!!!!

See what appears after the rain :-)

Other frugal, rainy day activities we have done before were PIZZAS and PAPER-BEADS

Yay for ultra cheap entertainment.

Jaz xx

Brains vs Brawn/Beauty debate.

So it's like this.

A girl walked into her local hospital the other day.

"Hi" greeted the nurse, "If you don't mind we'd like you to go to a different treatment machine today. Some technical issues" (smiles sweetly).

"Sure" (the girl smiles sweetly back)

Nurse announces on intercom. "Hi.............that brain I was talking to you about is on her way up!"

The girl was listening. (The nurse was suddenly horrified at this realisation).

The girl laughed. (The air in the room was suddenly lighter).

"Don't worry" she said to the embarrassed nurse, "I've been called far worse."

The girl moved on with a growing feeling of personal achievement. Finally known for her brains.

She could hear the distant cheers of suffragettes long passed.

Jaz xx

Do my boobs look big in this??? Thank You Thursday!!

Oh what a day, what a day it has been. I feel emotionally drained. Time for a giggle I feel.

Today I need to talk about boobs. Mine to be exact.

Now.......before I give out the wrong impression, I'm really not a very foul mouthed or a sexually explicit person, I promise. (Although I just remembered I have posted about them before, maybe I do have a problem).

I have just realised this personal revelation.

My boobs are bigger.

How the heck did that happen????

For me, Tuesdays are often check up day with the Doctor asking many questions about my current state of health and how I might be coping with the radiotherapy treatment. I have, thus far, shared only good news and have not had to have any 'drug' intervention. YAY FOR MY BRAIN!

Tuesdays are also an excellent opportunity to ask any burning questions I might have.

Well.......the Tuesday just recently passed, I REALLY wanted to ask if radiation treatment can enhance the state of your womanly rack, boobs, what ever you want to call them.

I didn't ask :-)

But the truth is, after very happily breast feeding three babies my 'breasticles' were starting to look more like socks with a tennis ball in each dangling off my chest. Add in a little weight loss from the anxiety of a medical diagnosis made last year and even the tennis balls were barely present. I assumed, at that point that this was my lot. This is the payment and reward of breeding healthy and secure children.

I still didn't ask :-)

I think, the real reason is one of two things.

1. My pituitary gland is getting a work out during treatment and I am regressing to my younger self.

2. The nutritious brain feeding diet that I regularly consume is ensuring I maintain a healthy weight.

I'm going with number two, because I really don't want to be a teenager again, no sir-reeee!!

And as Breast tissue is mainly fat then I must say I am happy with my current fat/muscle ratio.

I think this might just be a little silver lining.

Silly one , I know.

Thanks for the revelation Thursday.

To all the owners of fabulous (fabulous being large and small) breasts.

I salute thee!

Jaz xx

So much cheese.........and chocolate!!

It occurred to me that we really had much fun lately. I really miss having fun with the kids.

Recent events have left me exhausted and distracted, but I decided it also comes down to attitude. So I put on my happy face and played the glad game.

We went swimming.

Well.......I sat this one out, but got to take some pics and enjoyed watching the fun being had.

Love the way the older kids help the younger ones learn.

Awwww sisterly love!

Cheeeeese!!

We then decided to flag all good intentions of excellent nutrition for one night. A plate of fruit and lollies for dinner.

...oh, and chocolate :-)

Kinda like fishing really, trying not to let the big one get away.

We actually found some dairy free chocolate to melt for Phoebe so she didn't feel left out. She looked pretty mesmerized to me!!

Honestly, if you're going to do this you gotta go all the way. Almost anything is good when dipped in chocolate.

Oh and look, more cheese moments.

What a grin.

Jaz xx

Vlog Thankful Thursday!!

Sorry about all the back light people, but it does make the front lighting appear softer, hence the smile lines are less obvious. Pleased about that :-p

Oh I got a bit of stage fright and forgot to send out best wishes from Mark and the girls, they are waving and saying hi too :-)

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Jaz

xx