Menu Plan Monday (19th March - 25th March)

Please don't think I have neglected my blog (all my blogs) it's just that we have been so busy and my time management skilss have been running on random happenings lately.... should be called timeless management but I do believe I see a light at the end of the tunnel or it's a freight train and I am in the wrong tunnel!! LOL!!

I know it has been such a long time since I posted properly. Hopefully this week brings back regularity of some sort and things will go on smoothly once more.

So on the House of Murray Menu Planner this week is:

Saturday ~ Alex's 10th Birthday - Disco Party

Sunday ~ Portuguese Grilled Chicken, Spiced Couscous, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Monday ~ Fish and Chips served with Salad
Tue ~ Chargrilled Steak with Creamy Mushroom and Mustard Sauce

Wed ~ Chorizo and Spinach Tagletelle

Thu ~ Lamb and Rosemary Pot Pies with Vegetables

Fri ~ Oliver's 13th Birthday - Hogs Breath Cafe

As you have probably gathered by now, I LIVE for menu planning! By menu planning it ensures that we have a weeks worth of meals organised which is especially useful Monday through Friday when there is not much of the day left after finishing work, picking up the kids from school and having to deal with the tasks of homework, clothes washing, showers, etc., and to do without the hassle of worrying WHAT we are cooking for dinner each night. Honestly if I left deciding what’s for dinner until I go home we wouldn’t eat until midnight!!

I know that our week starts on a Saturday but that’s just for the ease of fitting in with my grocery shopping which is normally done on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. As usual more great menu ideas can be found at Menu Plan Monday over at I’m An Organising Junkie, don’t be shy pop over and have a look at other’s menu plans. You never know you may just find something different to have for dinner.

Some recipes for things we cook can be found over at our cooking blog, A Dash Of Flavour, normally posted after they have been cooked or just click on the links for each meal when they appear.

Happy cooking,

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Everything is OK - nearly!!!

I know of late my posting has been very minimal - quite spasmatic due to what has been happening in the Murray household. The last month or so has been quite hard and has taken it's toll on various levels but everything is ok and we are getting through by taking every day as it comes.

One of the main things that has come out of our hardship (which was actually so minimal compared to what is happening around the world especially here in Australia) is that Noel and I truly love each other and I think our relationship got stronger than it was.

So with things looking up, Noel working again, my job secure, we have our health and of course our two beautiful children.... the Murrays are getting back on track!!!

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Menu Plan Monday (12th January - 18th January 2011)

We are surviving with the inconvenience of unemployment although I think at the moment the main thing it's testing is our patience waiting for Noel to offered a job.

So on the House of Murray Menu Planner this week is:

Saturday ~ Rosemary and Mustard Kangaroo and Steamed Vegetables

Sunday ~ Asian Braised Beef Ribs with Steamed Rice
Monday ~ Fillet Mignon with Blue Cheese, Onion and Mushroom Sauce
Tue ~ Battered Fish Fillets with Morroccan Spiced Potato Slices, Steamed Vegetables and Parsley Sauce
Wed ~ Toad in the Hole
Thu ~ Homemade Hamburgers with oven fries

Fri ~ Pizza (various)

As you have probably gathered by now, I LIVE for menu planning! By menu planning it ensures that we have a weeks worth of meals organised which is especially useful Monday through Friday when there is not much of the day left after finishing work, picking up the kids from school and having to deal with the tasks of homework, clothes washing, showers, etc., and to do without the hassle of worrying WHAT we are cooking for dinner each night. Honestly if I left deciding what’s for dinner until I go home we wouldn’t eat until midnight!!

I know that our week starts on a Saturday but that’s just for the ease of fitting in with my grocery shopping which is normally done on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. As usual more great menu ideas can be found at Menu Plan Monday over at I’m An Organising Junkie, don’t be shy pop over and have a look at other’s menu plans. You never know you may just find something different to have for dinner.

Some recipes for things we cook can be found over at our cooking blog, A Dash Of Flavour, normally posted after they have been cooked or just click on the links for each meal when they appear.

Happy cooking,

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Valentine's Day 2011

Happy Valentines Day....

This is the card that I made Noel to celebrate Valentines Day - even though we don't really celebrate Valentines Day as such.



When we ate dinner, Fillet Mignon with a Blue Cheese, Mushroom and Onion Sauce the kids made sure love was on the table.

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Frankston Beach and a Wild Hog Moment!

We are still trying to conserve our financial resources, which I must say are dwindling but we are so sick of staying in the house.

So Sunday morning we went to Frankston Market and had a walk around. We knew Tanya was having a stall there for the Calenstenics group that Tegan belongs to. So after popping in and seeing her, having a look at the other stalls and bumping into Sharon for the second time this week we headed down the pier for a walk in the fresh air.

I have to say that I am still learning about my camera so I am trying to take every opportunity I can find. It was a nice morning but I have to say it was a tad overcast. I couldn't get any brilliant photographs of the city due to the weather - next time.











We did however have the privilidge of the Harley Davidson Owner's club arriving one by one just as we were leaving and as you can see the kids were treated thanks to one of the ladie bikers.

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

52 weeks of Organizing - Task # 3 Desk Drawers

Still running behind in this challenge and even starting to run behind in posting on my blog. But task # 3 of Org Junkies Organizing Challenge for 2011 is done and it was the computer desk drawers. The top drawer was an absolute mess - years of cramming, ramming and pushing bits and pieces in and quickly closing the drawer.



The bottom filing drawer wasn't much better:


The outcome - much better and now we can definitely find things:

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Wordless Wednesday

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

52 weeks of Organizing - Task # 2 Ollie's bedroom

Still running behind in this challenge and even starting to run behind in posting on my blog. But task # 2 of Org Junkies Organizing Challenge for 2011 has been completed and it all took place in the boy's bedroom.

Oliver's bedroom is another task on my list as since getting his queen size bed for his birthday it has really annoyed me how messy his bedroom has become and how he did have a lack of room for a growing boy.

This is how it started:




An hour later and we had this:




Both Mother, Father and Son HAPPY!!

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Australia Day - Balnarring Cup

Yesterday was Australia Day - a day the Nation celebrates annually which commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788. We have a public holiday to celebrate the day and the same day is shared by the Balnarring Cup - the big horse race for the picnic racing season at Balnarring Picnic Racing Club.

So we packed up the trailer with shelters, tables, chairs, food and grog and headed down to the races for another relaxing day watching the horses run and catching up with family and good friends.

The day started out quite cold and overcast....

Bacon and eggs for breakfast once we were all set up.



Everyone started to arrive, cricket was played, chatting and catching up, face painting, lollipops, some drinks (of course) and now and then there was a horse race !


























As far a winning riches on the nags - that didn't happened but it was a good day!!

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com