EA Confidential – Offering Virtual Assistant Services

05 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in Thoughts

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Do you need help organising your life?  Contact EA Confidential for assistance with any admin services – organisation, mentoring, data entry, dictation/typing & much more!  

For more information or to contact me directly with a query, please head over to my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/eaconfidential

Please don’t hesitate to ask if I can help, even if you’re not sure if it’s within the scope of the profile, and please don’t hesitate to spread the word!

DIY – Housewarming Gift

05 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in DIY, Full Time Mum, Hints & Tips, Organised Home

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It’s doesn’t feel right visiting someone empty handed, and this is never more true when you are invited over to someone’s home for the first time.  My Brother and Sister-In-Law recently moved into their new abode and I wanted to get them a nice housewarming gift to celebrate when we visited them this weekend.

So how do you decide what to buy?  My hubby and I mulled over what we really appreciated getting when we initially started out, what gifts helped us, and what products we love to use now.  And they are all kinda boring… washing liquids and our fav detergents never really make for exciting gifts although extremely practical!  Other than that, they were all alcoholic.  More exciting but common.  I expect they will get a good dozen bottles when friends and family visit.  So instead, I went with a more meaningful gift, one that I put a lot of thought into, but was really easy to put together.  Let me know what you think!  It was a lot of fun to do…

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The contents of the tin all came with a label, which I have put below if you would like to reference for future use…

Bread – so your home will never go hungry

Salt – so you will never find yourself in a pinch

Candle – to bring love & light to your new home

Honey – to make it officially home, sweet home

White Wine – for mild summer night BBQ’s

Red Wine – for winter night snuggles

Soap – to wash away any troubles

Chocolate Chip Cookies – for old traditions, & the excitement of making your own

Jam – to spread the love!

Herbs – for a household full of abundance & prosperity

I will post my recipe for the bread should anyone want it, in my next foodie post :)

Let me know if you would add any items, and what phrases you would give them, if you were to give this gift.

What were the things you really appreciated getting when you moved in?

Quote of the Week – Monday, April 22

22 Monday Apr 2013

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This quote has stuck with me over the past few days, especially when looking at how the tweens use instagram.

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I had an issue with my cloud system and lost one of my notes with all of my ‘week that was’ links… so I will try to recover them over the week, add some more, and arrange a larger than usual post for Friday.  Hope you all have a good week!

Recipe – Lactation Cookies

17 Wednesday Apr 2013

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I always feel by the end of the day that I don’t have enough milk left for my baby!  I was told about lactation cookies, and have adapted a recipe in the thermomix which has seemed to make my milk supply increase dramatically.  Very funny to watch my little man giggle because he doesn’t have to do much to get it to pour into his mouth!

Ingredients

110 grams butter
50 grams golden syrup
10 grams water
100 grams oats
20 grams fenugreek
150 grams brown sugar
20 grams flaxseed / linseed meal
30 grams brewers yeast
55 grams shredded coconut
100 grams self raising flour
90 grams choc chips

Method
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius (160 degrees fan forced)
- Add butter, golden syrup and water into the thermomix, heat at 60 on speed 2 for 3 minutes
- Add all the remaining ingredients, bar the choc chips and mix on speed 3 for 1 minute
- Add the choc chips and mix on reverse at speed two for 1 minute
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- Place the cookies onto a baking tray and cook for about 12 minutes (I like my cookies quite soft, so if you would prefer them to be harder, cook for up to 18 minutes.)

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Voila!  Great to have for your 3pm afternoon tea break to increase your supply for that fussy evening period…

I hope you enjoy, and more importantly, I hope they help should you need more milk for your baby!

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Month Three in the life of Judd

15 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Full Time Mum

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DSC_0831This Month has seen…

- Rolling from his back to tummy
- Discovering hands
- Fitting into 000 and 00 clothing!
- Measuring about 65cms long and weighing closer to 7kgs
- This morning Judd was so loud chatting to Mum he hurt my ears!
- Sleeping becoming more of a pattern
- Loving music and rhymes, especially ‘The Wheels on the Bus’
- Grasping at his toys
- Likes to over your shoulder, checking out what’s going on
- Loves watching Daddy brush his hair after his bath, and watching his mobile while he is getting changed
- Just starting to giggle at Mum… best sound in the world

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The week that was…

13 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in Articles, Organised Home, Recipes, Thoughts

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I was in Melbourne this week, spending time with my family and it was so amazing and wonderful to be with them.  I haven’t been to Melbourne in so long, but when I do I spend up big:- even if it’s only one day that I get to shop – so I will post some links to my fav stores in my Fashion Fix.

Articles / Conversation Starters

So it’s Spring in America and the Spring Cleaning suggestions have started.  It’s never a bad time to clean out your house and start fresh, so here is a nice reminder, from the amazing Martha Stewart!

Are women less decisive than men?  An interesting article here on why women could be better leaders.

So I talk about productivity all the time, but what do the most productive people do before sleep?

Finally Facebook has listened and delivered a version of the ‘dislike’ button.

Blog Love

A few of the recipes in this blog have hit my ‘New Meals to Make’ section - http://www.thekitchn.com

Products I Love

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and I will be shopping at T2.  Where else?

This list from BuzzFeed shows amazing products that all new parents will want.  So many of these I will be buying online or will be on the lookout for in the shops.

I have been buying a bunch of tulips every week, so this week, I’m going to out this windowsill arrangement instead, via World Gardening Blogspot.

New Meals to Make

We are all busy and it’s much easier to eat breakfast on the go.  It’s the most important meal of the day – so check out these cool recipes from Oprah.

These dinner rolls look perfect for my next dinner party.  Now that bubs is three months old, I really have no excuse not to entertain anymore!

I’ll also be posting a recipe for lactation cookies I made when I got home this week!

Fashion Fix

I thought this dress from Collette Dinnigan was the perfect mix of Corporate and Feminine.

My favourite store that really needs to be available to all states and cities!  Glassons will give you 20% off when you sign up online, and free shipping Australia wide!

Sometimes I feel as though the outrageous fashion pieces for particular seasons really need to be bought cheaply, as they only stay in fashion for such a short period of time.  Cocolatte has to be the cheapest out there, and once again, free shipping Australia wide (on orders over $50)

Topshop is now in Melbourne!  So jealous…

I did a lot of shopping at Zara when I was in New York which I found super cheap.  I did find the one in Melbourne a lot more expensive, but the kids section was super cute and almost worth it…

Well that’s it for another week!  Hope you all enjoy your weekend…

Recipe – Satay Chicken Pizza

11 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by in Recipes

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Some nights after a long day at work call for an easy meal.  This one isn’t too nutritious but everyone I’ve made it for has LOVED it!

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Ingredients

Pizza base
Tomato paste
Handful of spinach leaves
Mozzarella cheese (shredded)
1 chicken breast
Satay Sauce (I use a brand called Taylors)
Handful of cashew nuts

Method

- Cover your Pizza base with a layer of tomato paste
- Add a very fine layer of cheese
- Add a layer of spinach
- Cut the chicken into 1cm cubes and cook in a saucepan with half a bottle of the store-bought satay sauce.
- Add the layer of chicken to the pizza
- Coat the top of the pizza with more cheese
- sprinkle the cashews on top
- Cook in a pre warmed oven for 10 minutes at 200 degrees celsius.

Should have dinner on the table in 20 minutes! :)

Quick Hint: Knowing your city

10 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Hints & Tips

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As an Executive Assistant, it’s extremely important to be aware of everything that is going on around you.  Making sure you sign up to the internet sites for the community you work in and the area around you can make a huge difference to your success.

Make sure you are getting emails and newsletters from the community and city that you work in that will keep you informed of developments.

These can mean new restaurants to book your Manager into, road closures so you have sufficient time to plan for your staff, and public transport announcements so your staff aren’t stranded where possible.

Signing up to receive newsletters from each hotel in your area will also keep you informed.  Emails only take a few minutes out of your day, and the benefit of being aware far outweighs the time taken out of your day.

Suggestions for those in Perth are:

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au

http://weloveperth.net.au

http://www.showmeperth.com.au

http://www.cityofperth.wa.gov.au

What websites do you recommend?

Green Thumb – Veggie Patch

09 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Green Thumb

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So I’ve meant to get down to the shops for a while now to pick up some herbs for my garden and some different vegetables for my veggie patch.

I have a bay tree in my veggie patch that has completely taken over.  So for anyone out there who wants to know a bit about a bay leaf tree?

Keep them in a pot…

Before (Bay Leaf Tree is the tall leafy stick to the back right of the patch)

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After

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So you can see I’ve got myself an issue.  I hope you’ve had a giggle at my expense… It’s pretty ridiculously huge.  My husband is going to move the tree out of the patch into a pot, obviously after it’s been way way wayyyy cut back, and I’m going to start my Veggie Patch all over again.

There isn’t much on the internet for Australia when you ask ‘what to plant now’, so here is a list that is hopefully helpful to you…

What to Plant Now – April (Autumn)

Beetroot (seedlings only)
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Leeks
Lettuce
Spinach
Snow Peas
Spring Onions (or shallots)
Parsnips

Gebra’s are also beautiful to plant at this time of year to brighten up your garden as it starts to get cooler.

So this is what I’ll be doing when baby is sleeping over the next few weeks.  Hopefully we have some luck!  I’ll keep you posted :)  And if anyone has any idea of what to do with a lot of dried bay leaves, please send them my way!

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