Baby Shower Gifts

Now you all know I have two Grand babies due this year and I have never been to a Baby Shower, and I have first one in February,  so I looked up online and found some cool ideas as gifts to take, so ill list them for you.

Babies First bath Pack

Fill a Baby's Bathtub or other unique container with:

hooded towel
wash cloth
rubber ducky
tearless baby shampoo
baby powder
baby lotion
terri cloth sleeper

Baby Poop Poem

Fill a Baby's Basket or other unique container with nappies:

When babies make a little gift,
A "treasure" you might say.
It wouldn't be the thing you'd want
To share on this day.
But these diapers are full of "babies",
Something you'll enjoy.
It doesn't matter if they're made
by a little girl or boy.

The "eternal flames" you leave for us,
Are always such a treat.
We thought this time we'd send them back...

Now isn't that just sweet


Father to Be Survival Kit

An address book with all the shower goer's phone numbers
A roll of coins for the pay phone
Dr. Spock's book
Extra diapers
A face mask
Baby sitting coupons so parents can get out for some time to themselves
Film
Special hints from those who had kids
A small cloth frustration ball : for the times we needed to throw it on the floor.
Tapes or CDs of lullabies
Hand Lotion : to remind you that babies need lots of soft touches
Safety Pin: to help remind you to be safe
Marbles : to replace the ones you will loose
Lifesavers : to remind you that parents are lifesavers
Pen and paper : to write down your thoughts/memories to share when they are older
Wipes : for cleaning up those little messes
Candle : to remind you, you will be the light of that childs eye
Peppermint : to remind you you are worth a mint
Brag Book : so you will always have your child near
Sweet & Sour Candy : to remind you that every child can be both
Clock : to remind you that time passes to quickly...enjoy every minute
Moro Bar : for the moro of wisdom you will pass onto your child
Hershey's Hugs & Kisses : because you deserve them~!
Happy Face (Sticker) : to remind you to keep smiling
Paperclip : to help hold it all together
Balloon : to remind you to teach the children to reach for the sky
Rubber band : to remind you that flexibility is the key
Tissue : to dry those tears, the babies and yours.
Fireball - for times when you are burnt out
Lollipop : to lick all your problems
Eraser : to remind you that every new Dad made mistakes
Playing card : Raising and educating children is a gamble
Cotton Ball : for times when you can't hear yourself think
Rope : in case you get to the end of yours
Puzzle Piece : to remind you that you are an important piece in the journey of your child
Rolo Bar: to remind you to roll with the punches
Candle: so you never feel in the dark
Do Not Disturb Sign: to remind you that you need time to yourself
Aspirin : for when all else fails...take two




Dinner Basket for baby



Fill a Baby's Basket or other unique container with:

baby food, juices and cereals
or
a small baby food grinder & Baby food Recipes

Make sure that they have really long expiration periods so that when it comes time to start introducing foods, the parents don't have to run out to the store. 

Newborns baby bath

1/4 cup nonfat dry milk
1/4 cup whole dry buttermilk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 drop orange oil ( optional )

Mix together all the ingredients and pour into a clean container or re-sealable plastic bag. Decorate with curly ribbon, add a nice tag with the following instructions

To Use: 

Pour 1/4 cup of the bath powder into a full tub or 1 tablespoon into a small baby bathtub. YIELD: 4, ounces enough for 2 baths

Gift Basket for Baby

Fill a Baby's Basket or other unique container with:


rattle
bib
story book
stuffed critter
baby sleeper
Newborn Baby Bath

Making Your Own Pet Feeder - Home Style

This is so simple to make and so practical.

First punch a hole with the scissors in one of the bottles,  just a little bit wider than the top of the other bottles.

Next cut out a scoop shape like the one in picture 2

Next cut the other bottle in half widthway's like picture 3

Fill the lower bit part with dog/cat food then push the pieces together within each otheras shown in picture 5

Unscrew the lid and place it in a scoop bowl this is great for travelling camping with pets.

Trina's Progress - Week Three On '' The Low Carb Diet

If you have been following my progress over the last few weeks you will know that I decided that I would do this food plan for 6-7 weeks to see if I could shed a few kg's.
You normally loose 6-7 kg in the first two weeks on ''Phase One'' as they call it.

I have previously done the ''Low Carb Diet'' about 10 years ago and it was very successful, but I was always constipated and towards the end lacked energy and suffered from headaches, and as I am a migraine sufferer I gave up.

But I put that down to not drinking water- I hate it, can't stand it, never have never will
And I was not getting enough fibre in my system
And I was not exercising regularly.

So this time around I am doing it differently, and I have survived three weeks with

Minor Headaches
No Constipation
No Withdraws
No Cheating ( Not cheating, but the best choice I could make)

Did I have lunch out -

Yes I chose the Bacon Sandwich without the bread, and had an oil dressing, and the second time I went out I had a Vegetable Frittata with salad, it did contain a few potatoes but it really was my best choice.

Did I have dinner out- 

No



Weight Loss- 

1 kg

Total Loss-

In 3 weeks is 4.7 kg, and can really start to feel it now in my boobs, bum and tummy.

Exercise-

3/7 been really busy

I have been really super dooper busy this week and am still eating the same ol things as I have posted the last few weeks the only new thing is I have found these Grain Wafer crackers, which taste ok and are actually less than 3 carbs per slice and this cashew nut spread for that amount that is on the cracker is just over 1 carb so if im caught short that is my go too at 4 carbs a piece.

And Yoplait Greek Style Yoghurt when you really have a need 7.8 carbs for 125 g

I hate drinking water, but I thought if I had it in front of me 24/7 I may drink more, and I do, this was my spend this week with my Xmas Vouchers I had, so I'm averaging 3/4 huge glasses a day since I've had it, so it is working SLOWLY

Check back next week for week 4's progress

Secrets for Healthier Grocery Shopping

Eating healthy doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag. It's possible to make good nutritional choices without breaking the bank, and easier if you know the cost-saving tricks.

Plan ahead

To nip overspending and buying unnecessary items in the bud, create a monthly budget, and write your weekly grocery list based on it. That way, if you overbuy during the first or second week of the month, you can balance out your budget by making smarter decisions during weeks three and four.
Plan your meals and snacks for the week according to your established budget.
Only buy the foods listed for the meals you plan to cook that week, this will save money by buying only what you need, limiting frivolous purchases in the process.


Shop smart

Buy groceries when you are not hungry and when you are not too rushed.
Stick to your grocery list, and stay out of the aisles that don't contain items on your list, so you won't be tempted.
When paying for your purchases, pick the checkout line that doesn't have a candy display to avoid the temptation of unhealthy impulse purchases .

Compare prices always

The lowest sticker price isn't always the best price.


Check coupons

Before heading to the store, check for sales and coupons in the local paper.

But couponing is no longer limited to snipping from papers, with plenty of websites now available that offer deals on items you're looking for. 

Take advantage of deals and discounts

Consider shopping at discount grocery stores. Some major chain discount retailers have grocery and meat sections in some of their stores.
Wherever you decide to shop, scan the weekly or daily specials to check if any of the items on your shopping list are on sale.
Loyalty cards can also be a great way to save, as some stores' cards automatically discount any on-sale items at checkout if you are a member. Many stores' membership cards also tally up your "spending points," which can add up to several dollars a month that can be redeemed towards a future purchase. Some stores have mailing lists you can join to receive weekly emails with deals and special promotions.

Avoid brand names

Avoid brand-name tunnel vision: you can often get the same or similar product for a cheaper price. "No frills" products, which are sold without the bells and whistles of non-essential features including flashy packaging or catchy slogans are generally cheaper than their full-priced, brand-name counterparts.
These products are able to keep their prices low because they don't advertise or try to entice customers, but that also ends up making them less popular.

Buy in bulk

Buying items in bulk or as family packs usually cost less.
But in some instances, such as with fresh vegetables and fruits, buying in bulk can end up costing you, because they don't keep well and may go bad before you have a chance to eat them all.
Buy easily perishable foods in small amounts to ensure that you eat them before they spoil.
For some perishable items such as meat, fish and even bread, freezing and then thawing as needed is always an option that allows for buying in bulk.

Only Buy in season

Fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season are often cheaper than during other parts of the year. For example, the peak time for oranges and tangerines is in January, so that would be the perfect time to buy your vitamin C sources at lower prices. Your local farmer's market is a great source of fresh, seasonal produce.

Buy frozen or canned

If the fruits and veggies on your shopping list are out of season, buying them frozen or canned is a great money-saving option. Canned or frozen items have a much longer shelf-life than their fresh counterparts, so you can buy them in bulk if they are on sale and not have to worry about them going bad.
Many frozen and canned vegetables are equally as nutritious as their fresh versions. However, canned food usually contains more preservatives, salt and sugar than fresh fruits and vegetables. For canned items choose fruit canned in 100 percent fruit juice, and vegetables labeled "low sodium" or "no salt added."
To play it safe, you can buy preserved fruits and vegetables in glass containers instead of cans.

Keep it simple

Although it may be tempting to buy one of those convenient, pre-cut, neatly arranged vegetable or fruit party platters, they are much more expensive than buying the produce separately and cutting them yourself.
Buy vegetables and fruits in their simplest form. Any pre-cut, pre-washed or ready-to-eat vegetables are sold at steeper prices than those in their basic forms. While it may take a few extra minutes, your wallet will thank you for washing and chopping your produce at home.

Use leftovers

Rather than tossing leftovers, incorporate them into your next meal. Leftover vegetables can be added to a casserole or blended to make soup.
Leftover or overripe fruit is perfect for making smoothies or baking.

To get more mileage out of your meals double or tripling up on recipe ingredients to make more portions. The extra food can then be divided into individual portions, then placed into meal sized containers and frozen. 

Try having one meatless day a week

To save money on meat and improve your health in the process try having several meatless meals a week. Substituting a few meat meals with protein-rich beans and peas. Other savoury meat replacements include hearty sweet potatoes or flavor-rich rice pilaf.
"No cook" meals, such as salads and tacos stuffed with veggies, beans and low-fat cheese, can make meatless meals more enjoyable and feel like a treat rather than a sacrifice.

Trina's Progress - Week Two On '' The Low Carb Diet

If you have been following my progress over the last week you will know that I decided that I would do this food plan for 6-7 weeks to see if I could shed a few kg's.
You normally loose 6-7 kg in the first two weeks on ''Phase One'' as they call it.

I have previously done the ''Low Carb Diet'' about 10 years ago and it was very successful, but I was always constipated and towards the end lacked energy and suffered from headaches, and as I am a migraine sufferer I gave up.

But I put that down to not drinking water- I hate it, can't stand it, never have never will
And I was not getting enough fibre in my system
And I was not exercising regularly.

So this time around I am doing it differently, and I have survived two weeks with

Minor Headaches
No Constipation
No Withdraws
No Cheating ( Not cheating, but the best choice I could make)

Did I have lunch out -

Yes I chose the Bacon Sandwich without the bread, and had an oil dressing
But the one I was doubtful about although it was the best choice was deep friend Camembert in Paco crumbs

Did I have dinner out- 

No



Weight Loss- 700 grams

Best tip for the week:

Be Prepared, have food ready at all times, so your not tempted to renege.

Food For The Second Week:

Breakfasts:


Eggs, Eggs, Eggs, 

Eggs until your sick of them,
You can have them poached, fried, scrambled, as an omelette with bacon how ever you like them, 


These are and were fab

Sausage Meat and Egg Muffins

                                                                    Uncooked

                                                                             

                                                                    Cooked

Recipe:

I blended some sausage meat with chopped spring onion and a dash of Watties barbecue sauce and mixed, then pressed about a good tablespoon into each greased muffin circle and made a hollow in middle pressing meat mixture up the sides.
Then I mixed 3 eggs with 1/2 cup cream and whisked and poured over top of meat, and cooked for 20-30 minutes.


Stuffed Mushrooms 

Stuffed Mushrooms for breakfast- yep you heard me right.
They are delicious:

To make, you need 6 flat mushrooms
Ingredients:

1/4 cup of Cottage Cheese
3 Tablespoons of Feta Cheese
1 Chopped tomato
1 Tablespoon of chopped spring onion
A few pepper strips, any colour
and 1 teaspoon of Basil Pesto

Combine and place on top of the mushrooms, and garnish with S&P and some green spring onion leaves.

I keep 2 in the fridge and freeze the other 4.
When you need them grill for 5-10 minutes under a low grill, these are delicious.

Feta Topped Tomotoes

                                                              The uncooked product

                                                                 The cooked product

These are quite unique but yummy as a breakfast food, when you cannot look at another egg.


To make these.

2 Tomatoes
4 Tablespoons of Feta Cheese
1 teaspoon of Basil Pesto
Drizzle of Balsamic Vinegar
Spring onion Greens To garnish

Bake for 20 minutes in a low oven
These keep for 2-3 days covered and then just microwave when you want them, or you could cook them fresh when required.

Lunch

I had to go out to friends places for a lunches this week, so I invented a Pizza recipe.

Sausage Meat Pizza

                                                                      Uncooked

                                                                        Cooked

                                                                           
Recipe:

I used the same sausage meat mixture as above and just layered as many pizza topping ingredients as i had, baked it on a tray and it was actually quite nice, I took it out twice and heated in the microwave.


Snacks:

Nuts Nuts

These kept me at bay a couple of times, but when I did feel peckish I grabbed a handful of nuts

There are Brazil, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, and are very filling.
25 grams was 2.4 carbs, so I tried not to over indulge.


Carrot Sticks

Having these cut up and handy in the fridge was awesome, I could nibble while I was cooking tea.


Celery With Peanut Butter

Diabetic Jelly

If I craved something sweet this got me through just a few tablespoons full of any flavour, I had it ready in the fridge and could have it night or day.



Drinks

Black Coffee & Tea
Herbal Tea's as long as they didn't have fruit sugar sweeteners, I love the Healtheries Licorish one

6 Glasses of yukky water a day ( most days I would do 4)
Sprite Zero


Dinners:

I had my normal dinners, as long as it wasn't anything coated in breadcrumbs, or had chips, potatoes or pasta or anything with sugar in it.
I then had more vegetables or omitted veges and had a huge salad, with the works on it.
And chose a dressing that had very little carbs, such as Eta's yogurt and garlic dressing.

Exercise:

I tried to do at least 20 minutes a day, but only achieved this 3 days out of the 7 this week and I think that is what lowered my weight loss.


Well that is it for week two, stay tuned for week three.

Trina's Progress - Week One On '' The Low Carb Diet ''

Well one week has past, and health wise I feel great, the first week is always the hardest as that is the week you wean yourself off everything, sugars, breads, potatoes and who doesn't love potatoes dripping with butter parsley and garlic.

I am a natural size 18 but I tend to either be a small fit, or a large fit and just lately that large fit has increased to a size 20, I have a couple of flights this year and those plane seats are not very comfortable if your having to squeeze into them.

So I decided that I would do this food plan for 6-7 weeks to see if I could shed a few kg's.
You normally loose 6-7 kg in the first two weeks on ''Phase One'' as they call it.

I have previously done the ''Low Carb Diet'' about 10 years ago and it was very successful, but I was always constipated and towards the end lacked energy and suffered from headaches, and as I am a migraine sufferer I gave up.

But I put that down to not drinking water- I hate it, can't stand it, never have never will
And I was not getting enough fibre in my system
And I was not exercising regularly.

So this time around I am doing it differently, and I have survived week one with

No Headaches
No Constipation
No Withdraws
No Cheating

Did I have lunch out -

Yes I chose the Bacon Sandwich without the bread, and had an oil dressing

Did I have dinner out- 

Yes I chose Scollapini Steak and Mushrooms cooked in a cream sauce, & I did not have the potato pom poms I asked for a side salad instead.

Weight Loss- 3 kgs

Best tip for the week:

Be Prepared, have food ready at all times, so your not tempted to renege.

Food For The Week:

Breakfasts:


Eggs, Eggs, Eggs, 

Eggs until your sick of them,
You can have them poached, fried, scrambled, as an omelette with bacon how ever you like them, I lasted 4 days.


Stuffed Mushrooms 

Stuffed Mushrooms for breakfast- yep you heard me right.
They are delicious:

To make, you need 6 flat mushrooms
Ingredients:

1/4 cup of Cottage Cheese
3 Tablespoons of Feta Cheese
1 Chopped tomato
1 Tablespoon of chopped spring onion
A few pepper strips, any colour
and 1 teaspoon of Basil Pesto

Combine and place on top of the mushrooms, and garnish with S&P and some green spring onion leaves.

I keep 2 in the fridge and freeze the other 4.
When you need them grill for 5-10 minutes under a low grill, these are delicious.

Feta Topped Tomotoes

The uncooked product

The cooked product

These are quite unique but yummy as a breakfast food, when you cannot look at another egg.


To make these.

2 Tomatoes
4 Tablespoons of Feta Cheese
1 teaspoon of Basil Pesto
Drizzle of Balsamic Vinegar
Spring onion Greens To garnish

Bake for 20 minutes in a low oven
These keep for 2-3 days covered and then just microwave when you want them, or you could cook them fresh when required.

Snacks:

Nuts Nuts

These kept me at bay a couple of times, but when I did feel peckish I grabbed a handful of nuts

There are Brazil, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, and are very filling.
25 grams was 2.4 carbs, so I tried not to over indulge.


Carrot Sticks

Having these cut up and handy in the fridge was awesome, I could nibble while I was cooking tea.

Diabetic Jelly

If I craved something sweet this got me through just a few tablespoons full of any flavour, I had it ready in the fridge and could have it night or day.



Drinks

Black Coffee & Tea
Herbal Tea's as long as they didn't have fruit sugar sweetners
6 Glasses of yukky water a day ( most days I would do 4)
Sprite Zero


Dinners:

I had my normal dinners, as long as it wasn't anything coated in breadcrumbs, or had chips, potatoes or pasta or anything with sugar in it.
I then had more vegetables or omitted veges and had a huge salad, with the works on it.
And chose a dressing that had very little carbs, such as Eta's yogurt and garlic dressing.

Exercise:

I tried to do at least 20 minutes a day, but only achieved this 5 days out of the 7.


Well that is it for week one, stay tuned for week two.

Tips On Lowering The Power Bill

We all hate receiving the power bill, mine has all of a sudden gone sky high.
And I also realise the Rome was not built in a day, so take these tips and remember them, for another time when you need to replace things like light bulbs or an appliance.

So some basic tips are to

Open a window a little when showering or cooking, or use an extractor fan if you have one installed. The less moisture in the air, the easier it is to heat.

Use a microwave for cooking as much as possible, because they use less power than conventional ovens.

Wash your clothes with cold water and only do a full wash. This could save you more than $100 a year (based on 20 washes a month).

Use cold water when you’re rinsing dishes and filling the jug. Boil only enough water as you need. If you do have boiled water left over in the jug, pour it into a thermos for use later.

Replace the light bulbs you use the most with energy-efficient ones.
Eco Bulbs, which cost around $6 each, but last up to 10 times longer. 
This can save around $65 a year.

Dry your washing outside or set up a covered area outside for clothes drying. Drying clothes inside releases moisture into the air and makes it harder to heat

Look to the stars when buying new appliances. The more stars an energy rating label has the less energy it will use.

Use thermostats and timers so your heaters only come on when you need them and automatically turn off once the right temperature is reached.

Use energy-saving settings on washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers and fridges when available.

Keep lids on pots when you’re cooking, and make sure the lids fit well, as this saves energy and reduces steam in the kitchen. Match the pot size to the element.

Turn off:
• Lights if you leave a room for more than 1 minute.
• All appliances at the wall instead of leaving them on standby.
• Mobile phone chargers when you've finished using them. Things like
lights and appliances left on unnecessarily wastes about $100 of power a year!

Draught proofing
Turn to your windows and doors next. Draughts can make a room uncomfortable as heat is lost and cold air comes billowing in. Apply inexpensive plastic or foam strips (available from DIY stores) to window and door frames to stop the winds. If you have the budget, consider replacing single glazing with modern double-glazed units. As well as keeping the heat in, they will also reduce the noise coming in from the outside.

Check the hot water temperature at the tap. 
If its more than 55 degrees it’s unsafe, and you could be using more energy than you need to.
40% of homes have dangerously hot water 

Wrap your hot water pipes. 
If you have an older electric cylinder wrap that too.
Pipe and cylinder wraps available from hardware stores.    

Ease your shower flow. 
If your shower fills a 10 litre bucket in less than a minute, it's wasting water. Replacing your shower head for one with a more efficient flow rate of 9 litres a minute or less could cut your hot water use significantly. Even reducing your shower flow rate by 1 litre per minute will save you around $80 per year.

Ease your tap flow. 
Flow control aerators for taps cost between $10 and $30 and can halve the volume of water used while still giving good pressure - great for taps over sinks or tubs that aren't regularly filled up, so the water flow volume is less important

Fix dripping hot taps. 
These can waste around to 7 litres of water every day, and potentially around $40 of energy each year. Replace the washer or fitting - a new washer only costs a few dollars