Fennel - What am I thinking?

I have been wanting to blog about this vegetable for a while. My family hates it. Perhaps hate is a strong word. No, that probably says it all. All I need is to cook it and they can smell it a mile away. The comment is usually, Oh, mum you are not cooking Fennel, are you? And my answer is Yes, it's YUM.

I love this vegetable in salads raw, sliced in to thin slices or pan cooked with a little oil and some salt to taste. Delicious.So this is how you make the cooked fennel. Cut it into quarters, cut the tops off and give it a good wash. I always cut alittle off the bottom as well.

Then with about one tablespoon of oil in a pan, heat the oil and start roasting the fennel until all sides are golden brown. The fennel is not cooked at this point. Turn down the gas and add a little water so the fennel can have time to cook through. Add the water alittle at a time as it can steam up. Make sure the heat is low so the oil and water doesn't steam up to much. As the water (steam) cooks the fennel it makes alittle sauce as it evaporates. Add salt as mentioned before and the fennel is ready to eat, as a side dish with meat, chicken or fish. Yummy. Here is the photo. Will keep you posted.

New children apron ROBOTS

Hi everyone,
Been so busy trying to do everything, from mum duties to working and everything in between. You probably know what I mean. Here is my latest offering of children's aprons with this one being the print of Robots. I love robot print for kids. Here is the background story of it and pictures, as always.

Background Story.
I love this print and thought it would look lovely as a child's apron. Robot prints for me suits all children and I love the colour combination and warmth of this print.

Apron mini collection - NEW retro daisies in mauve

Hi everyone. So excited with this latest apron mini. Without repeating myself I'll give you the background story so you can see how I came about making this new apron. I love fabric and it's shape and colours. Is it just me or do others feel that way when they enter a fabric shop.LOVE IT, would spend all day there. The family think I'm a bit weird. Oh well.

Background Story.
This mauve daisy print just caught my attention. I love the soft colour and the beautiful print that ran through this fabric. It contrasted well with another fabric I purchased for a half apron but thought it would look lovely as an apron mini.

This hostess apron 'in a mini style, retro daisy in mauve' will brighten up your day. These are my new style aprons with a more sexy, sassy look.

I hope you enjoy this one. Will post soon.

Vintage inspired Beautiful floral Hibiscus print

Just completed a new Vintage inspired 50s half apron. I love the femininity of this style of apron. Here are the pictures and background story for you to see. I hope you enjoy this one. More are on the way.

Background Story
The old vintage style of aprons brings back memories of a time before high tech gadgets and where a simple variety show was fun for all the family. A simple life yet with a touch of class and style. This apron in particular reminds me of the type of clothes my mother used to wear, the flowing feel and this feminine fashion gave such a sassy, chic and classic look to the women of that time.

New half apron 'Hibiscus'

Just completed another half apron and as always I love sharing my creativity with you all. The beautiful Spring/Summer warm print makes for some comfort as we downunder enter into our Winter. I am a little jealous as I crave for some warmer weather as other parts of this wonderful world is heading into. I hope you enjoy this latest apron. I have just listed it on http://www.etsy.com/shop/runawaywombat?ref=seller_info Will keep you posted.

Apron mini collection - NEW 'Strawberries'

I have beening thinking about this apron for a few days and was very keen to create it. I love the straberry print against the white background. I hope you like it too.

Half Aprons

I thought seeing I was showing you my aprons minis today I would also show you my favourite half aprons. The designs with striking colours make for some fun creating moments. Here are the pictures and I hope you enjoy them as well.

Apron mini collection

I really love creating my aprons, tea towel and cosmetic brush rolls. I love colours and shapes and coming up with a new design. Here are some of my favorite apron minis for you to see. I hope you enjoy them.

Once a upon a time - weight loss -inches test

Well, last week I asked the trainer if measurements could be done as he did 10 weeks ago to measure if I had toned up. Well the results are in and I have made progress. Now the weight fluctuates from 68 to 70kgs depending on how good I am with the gym and most importantly the food.

I have found to lose the extra weight it is now becoming more of an effort. And I don't think it's because I'm in my correct range of weight. I'm just losing interest. So I'm not making as much of an effort to get there.

But todays results have been pleasing and at least I know that the effort of going to the gym is working. I am now thinking about yoga or meditation. Something to relax the mind, as you know when you are a mum, it is go, go, go. And not many stops. So I'll ask at the gym next time I'm there and see how I go. I think the body is up to it now.

I do enjoy the gym sessions now and it does feel like a home away from home. The results have given me the motivation today to keep going. How long it will last is everyones guess. But I did get a bit of a buzz achieving something today. Will keep you posted.

New tea towel I love the polka dot collection

Well, I'm back and have some time to blog. The life of a working mother, is one who can always change hats. I'm taxi driver one day, support team and mentor another, cleaner the next and chef most days, actually all days.. The list could go on and maybe one day I will create one, as if I don't have enough to do.

It's not that I am great a multi tasking it's just I have to adapt to many situations. As I sure all mothers do. As one of the many things I do, I love creating my handmade items which I'm sure by now you know I sell on Etsy.

I just completed a tea towel with pale lime polka dot bannner and thought you would enjoy just a sample of my tea towel range. Here are the pictures.

Will keep you posted.

Childrens aprons - for helping mum in the Kitchen

The last couple of days I have been creating some more children aprons. I love these as they are two aprons in one. This style is reversible and can be used on either side.

I have spent yesterday creating another two designs and combinations which I love and of course I need to share these with you.

So I hope you enjoy looking at them and if you like any please drop me a line and make a comment. Would love to hear from you. You can also e-mail through http://www.etsy.com/shop/runawaywombat?ref=seller_info. Here are the pictures. Will keep you posted.

Organic apples

Well here we are just after Easter and the harvesting of apples have began here downunder. Now, lets not get to excited we only have two trees but they do well and have a tree full of apples.

Last night I baked an apple pie which everyone loves. Simple recipe by just making a plain biscuit recipe. This becomes the base and top. Cook some cut apples, skin off. No need for sugar, as I just use all types of apples. They are sweet enough. When the apples are cold add it to the biscuit base which is rolled out and put in a pie dish, cover top with biscuit dough and bake in a moderate oven for about 35 minutes until the pastry is golden brown.

You may like to add sultanas for more flavour and texture. Sultanas seem to be a reason to argue about in this household as my husband loves them, yet other family members don't. Put them in, take them out, I really don't care. I eat pretty much anything.

Here are the pictures, this apple pie is delicious.Will keep you posted.

Once a upon a time - weight loss - Positive thinking

This week has been good. The exercise is becoming easier and I do miss the gym when I don't go. The other people working out don't bother me any more so off to the gym I go with excitement and drive.

The weather is now starting to turn cold and the days are shorter. But the fun is getting me there and getting the exercise done.

So this week I have done well. The food is a challenge and it does take alot, I mean alot of will power to say NO. But I'm slowing coming down in weight and this is now not a weight loss journey any more but a way of life for me. I have days of bad eating and there are a few, lets be honest but I do make some good choices at times.I'm planning to do better this week and my head is in a good place to loose more weight.Will keep you posted.

Once a upon a time - weight loss - the limits are being pushed

I'm back into the swing of things and all the big events are over. And that's a good thing. The goal now is to go to the gym a few more times in the week and hopefully the back will hold up.

The gym has become a place I enjoy going. I never thought I would say that. But it is true. The equipment is now not scary to me any more and I enjoy the sessions with the trainer who listens to my stories of health issues with my back and this whole journey.

The journey has now just become part of my life and it's no longer about the weight but and enjoyment of exercise and a place to do the exercise which has now become part and parcel of my daily routine. Will keep you posted.

Organic Herbs

I love many foods which are organic. I am lucky that we grow some fruits and vegetables thanks to my husband. My thumb is nowhere near green but his is extremely green. So thanks to him, the family get to enjoy lovely fruits, apples, apricots, lemons and blood plums and seasonal vegetables.

Over the years we have also grown herbs. Mainly parsley and rosemary. This year the parsley hadn't grown as well and we had to resort to planting some parsley seedlings. Having said that, it was very rewarding seeing lots of parsley coming up everywhere.

Here are some pictures for you to see. I hope you enjoy them. Will keep you posted.