Loving the inspiring images/scriptures that Pocket Fuel produce via Instagram.  Check them out here for your daily dose of fuel in your pocket (if you have a mobile that is - otherwise you could always call it your daily dose of fuel to your pc, or face, or... I need a nap).

I've had a bit of a lifestyle change this year when it comes to eating - I still love my cakes and chocolate, but I'm trying to keep them for occasional treats rather than everyday snacks.  I've been trying to eat healthier, and I'm slowly coming around and actually enjoying healthy food.

Today I faced one of my big fears - cooking with wholemeal flower and bran!  I found a Bran Muffin recipe and tweaked it a bit to make it extra healthy - so here is my version, and guess what?!?  They taste delish!!

Bran Muffins

1¼ cup wholemeal flour (you can use normal flour here instead)

1 tsp baking powder

1¼ cup baking bran

½ tsp salt

½ cup sugar

1 tablespoon butter

1 egg

1 large tablespoon golden syrup or honey (I used honey)

1 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1 cup milk

* plus sultanas or walnuts & apricots or blueberries or cranberries... (I used dried cranberries)

Mix flour, baking powder, salt, bran and sugar together

Beat egg well, add soda in milk

Heat butter and syrup

Add *whatever you choose

Mix everything quickly.  Do not overmix!!

Cook in cold greased patty pans, in a hot oven (I set mine to 180°C) for 12-15 mins (depending on the size of your muffin pans and oven).

Enjoy!!

p.s. Big thanks to my male model who I bribed to take this photo.

**outakes (you can tell he's totally into it)



For more delicious recipes visit here.
Linking up here.

Being a family of six, going out together for a meal doesn't happen that often (fish & chips or pizza is about the extent of a flash family meal for us), so we were all rather excited.

We had tonnes of fun creating our own meals for the chefs to cook, something the kids thoroughly enjoyed as well.

The staff were so friendly - so much so that Symon and I thought the ladies knew my mum personally as they referred to her fondly by her first name, and mentioned how much we look alike (mum assured us that no, she didn't know them personally, but they recognised her from when she was last there a couple of weeks before for an anniversary celebration).

Yay for Gengy's!!

p.s. Thanks so much Mum & Dad!!

I liked them - a little different but cute.

These cushions have tormented me ever since... they've been called "Camel Snakes" and have been found with eyes stuck on them, I've had many curious looks and questions like "what are those?" and "ooooo - those look interesting!".  I think some people have been slightly afraid to sit by them in case they bite.

Sometimes things just don't quite come together as planned... but that's okay.

Who knows, Camel Snakes might be the next really big thing?

For more crafty makings, go here. 

Today was party day (cause this year is paartaay year people!).

We don't usually do McDonald parties (in fact this was our very first ever), but with it being an extremely busy time in our lives at the moment, and our lovely girl being super keen for one, we said, "why not" - and it was fab.

Only a few special friends and precious grandparents were invited (let's face it, with 3 siblings you automatically have an instant crowd) and they all had tonnes of fun.

The cake - a combined effort by Symon and I... he is the idea guy/creative genius, and I'm the cake baking /icing girl.  It's amazing what a few LPS toys do - and one great big iceburg number 6!

This wee girl is our baby - and our baby is now six!!  Crazy huh?  Long gone are the baby years, nursing, sleepless nights (except on birthday morning when we had the 2am and 5:30am wakeups for present opening time), nappies, baby proofing the house, toilet training and the rest.  I don't miss it - it's been a long journey through, but I do think fondly back on those years.  They were hard years but precious, and all parents going through those years deserve a good pat on the back.  

Bring on the adventures to come, school, teenagers and the like - I'm looking forward to this new stage (eeek - help us Lord!).

This little lady is a precious bright spark in our family - what you'd call a free spirit, with a wild sense of humour.

Can't wait to see what things are in store in this life for her!

p.s. Aren't my 3 guys sweet!?!