LET THE HUNGER GAMES BEGIN

Raising kids can be tough, and can be a little bit like the Hunger Games. Five percent smooth sailing and ninety five percent fighting for the will to survive. And that is just the odds for the parents.

When the boys were little, every fibre of my being was in survival mode. It was a fight to sleep, a fight to stay awake, a fight to be on time and a fight to stay in control. Having a house full of little bodies all vying for your attention is both physically and mentally exhausting. It's survival of the fittest in any household, but when you have a large family it doesn't rain it pours. I thought that once the boys were grown, things would slow down, my time would become more my own again and the fight to survive would wind down.

 Boy how I was wrong....

If anything, now that my boys are grown our household is amidst a fight for survival unlike any we have been in before. Its not about time outs and bed time fights, and its more then fighting for the first shower, the TV remote or the last glass of juice. It has grown into something so much more and I am proud that we are fighting the fight together as a family all on one page and that we are all there for each other no matter what.

For the last two years we have been a household of four. Two parents, two teens, with our older boys out living on their own and doing very well for themselves. Making us proud with their choices and how they were learning to tackle life without the cushion of mum and dad constantly around. They did real good, until like it sometimes does, life kicked them in the butt and shattered their confidence, and like so many others out there, my boys lost their jobs.

It is hard for a parent to witness their child go through something that shakes their very core. You spend so many years of their lives fighting for them, only to feel useless when all you want to do is go into bat for them, to show their employers that they are making a huge mistake, but your hands are tied.
As a family we have turned this negative into a positive. We have come together as a family to support those of us in need. We have moved the independent sons back home not without frustration and have committed to once again live under one roof as a family of six.

So once again we are whole, back together and each of us fighting to be heard. The kids are sharpening their claws, the parents sharpening our whits. The fight for survival is once again upon us and although we have each others backs, it is also back to looking after ones self in the fight to survive.

AND MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOUR 

beck xx

Linking up with the lovely Kylie for another round of IBOT
ALSO
Linking up for the first time with the gorgeous Sam of The Annoyed Thyroid for THE ULTIMATE RABBIT HOLE

BACK TOGETHER ALL UNDER ONE ROOF

Just before Christmas we had to do a big reshuffle and hone in our organisation skills as our son Josh moved back home after he lost his job with the closure of Masters. It meant giving up the spare room, finding space to store his share of half a house and for him getting used to living with his parents again. But for him to continue paying rent and utilities was a waste of his savings. It made more sense for him to move home and get back onto his feet. Besides, having him home made this mum pretty chuffed just quietly. The transition has been easy, it's like he never left.

Now just a couple of months down the track, we are there again. Job cuts have seen my other son loose his job as well. So this weekend we are packing him up, moving him home where he will be able to concentrate on finding work without the pressures of finding money to pay all the bills that come with living away from home. Although he is devastated, which is to be expected. We will work through it as a family. Standing tall, watching over each other and tackling hardships together.

And so the organisation begins again. Yesterday I spent a few hours going through a few things that we had stored in the garage, trying to make room for the boxes that will inevitably be coming home with my boy. It is going to be a tight squeeze, but it is something that as parents we are willing to deal with to make sure both our boys have the same support, same opportunities and the relief that comes along with having parents that love and care for them and their future.

So as of the weekend, our home will be full yet again. For the first time in almost three years, all six of us will be under the same roof again. It is going to be crazy, it will be loud, my days will be full and we will have to adjust to all the little things that living together again will bring. But we are family. Stronger together then apart.

It will all work out because we have each others backs. Because that what being a family is all about.

beck xx

BABY STEPS TO A FITTER ME

I did something for myself on Friday morning. I thought it was about time to put aside being self conscious and start to take care of my physical self, so I joined up to a free fitness group.

Mall walking !

What do you think ?
That's huge stuff for me, for someone who had all but given up on herself.

This year I made a promise to myself that I would make a few small changes that would finally see me getting back on track with exercise, healthy eating and ultimately back to my desired weight and self. I knew it wouldn't be easy, that it would most likely take more than a year to really undo all the damage I've done, but little by little I'm sticking to my goal and this "mall walking" business is another step in the right direction.

Baby steps, right ?
I'm not ready to get back to the gym yet. My confidence is still low, yet climbing a little each day that I stay on track.

There were quite a few people there. Men and women of all ages and fitness levels. The trainers were warm and welcoming. The pace was fast but after a good warm up I was ready and completed the 5 km along side new friends. I will going back and making it a regular fitness meet of my week.

Do you mall walk ?
Ask at the information desk at your local mall to see if it is available in your area and join in. I guarantee you that you will have a blast.

beck xx

MEATBALL PASTA BAKE

Some nights you just need an easy meal to get through the last few hours of a busy day, and usually in our house that means pasta. Insert eye roll here. Not exactly the healthiest of choices, but I feel that if you keep it a sometime food and tomato based, then it cant really be all that bad. Can it ?

Last night we smashed a Meatball Pasta Bake, and it was so well received with my family of hungry men, I thought that I would share it with you guys.

Meatball Pasta Bake 

Meatballs - 300 g of lamb mince                        
                   500 g of lean beef mince
                   1 egg
                   1/2 cup bread crumbs
                   1 tsp of chili powder

Sauce -       1 large onion diced
                   4 cloves crushed garlic
                   a large jar of chunky tomato pasta sauce
                   1/2 cup of water

                   olive oil
                   grated cheese
                   packet of penne pasta cooked as per packet instructions


* To prepare meatballs mix the mince, egg, bread crumbs and chili powder in a large bowl then    
    then form mixture into small balls.
    In a heavy based pan, heat the olive oil and brown the meatballs on all sides. Remove and set  
    aside.

* To make the sauce in the same pan, add the onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft. Return
   the meatballs to the pan and add the pasta sauce and water. Bring to the boil then simmer for fifteen
   minutes. While the sauce is simmering cook and drain the pasta as per instructions on the packet.
 
   Stir the pasta through the meatballs and sauce gently. Top with grated cheese and bake for ten
   minutes.

Easy to make and delicious to eat, this dish is one you will make again and again on those busy nights when all you want to do is nothing. Believe me, I get it.

Enjoy

beck xx

TAKING STOCK - January 2017

Hey you guys, we made it through the first month of a brand new year unscathed, happy and ready to tackle February with wide open arms.
January can be a funny month. The aftermath of Christmas and ringing in the new year can sometimes be a let down, but this year I just rolled with it and tackled each day with fresh new eyes, I've gathered all the good moments and left those yucky ones in the past where they belong. This will be the year fingers crossed that I finally give in and let myself enjoy what is and leave the worrying of what is not to somebody else for a change.

January you were a good month...

Making : Decisions on what is the perfect neutral to paint my home. How many off whites can there possibly be ? It is kind of crazy when you stop and think about it.
Cooking : A few new dinner recipes for my family. Some were a hit, some were not. I will share those that were devoured with enthusiasm very soon.
Drinking : More water. A goal I am making a priority for 2017
Reading : I read so many good books over the summer break. The Paper House by Anna Spargo-Ryan. The Gift by Louise Jensen and Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult are a few that I couldn't put down. 
Wanting : To gain enough courage to attend yoga classes.
Looking : Forwrd to what this brand new year will bring to out family.
Deciding : If I have enough guts to donate some of my vases. I have quite the collection which some may think is boarding on obsession. Maybe it is time to let go of some of those plain glass ones so I can replace them with pretty new ones ? ;)
Wishing : That we in Mackay are getting a full Ikea store instead of a order and collect. But I guess it is better then nothing hey. Confession I have never been inside an Ikea store ever !
Enjoying : The lazy mornings that come hand in hand with school holidays.
Waiting : For this stinking summer humidity to leave and for the return of some cooler nights
Liking : The smell of freshly cut grass on a hot summer evening.
Considering : A trip to the dentist to get my tooth fixed that has been broken for four years. I am totally petrafied of dentists !
Buying : All the summer fruits that I possibly can.
Watching : Shameless on Netflix. Where has this show been all my life ?
Hoping : That I continue to keep making the lunches for work and school the night before instead of doing the mad rush in the morning.
Cringing : Every single time that our dog barks.
Needing : To keep focused on my health and fitness this year.
Questioning : Why I didn't make more of an effort to sort myself out sooner.
Smelling : All the gorgeous summer blooms.
Wearing : Shorts again and loving it.
Noticing : That I really need to organise my wardrobe again and donate some of the things that I no longer wear.
Knowing : That my two sons that are out of work will find a job eventually. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Work here is so hard to find at the moment.
Disliking : Cooking dinner in the heat.
Opening : Up the front door of a morning and greeting the world is something I have always loved.
Closing : The house up at night and heading to bed after a long busy day hot day is heaven.
Feeling : All sorts of emotions as my youngest son started his fianl year of schooling last week. Where exactly has all that time gone and how is it possible that we are here already ?
Hearing : The deafening sound of the Black Cockatoos that tell us rain is on the way.
Celebrating : We only have one payment left on our car. YES !
Pretending : That I am okay when I am not. Yeah I am done with that.
Embracing : My family. I am one lucky lady to be surrounded by people who care about me.

How was your start to the year ?
Did January treat you well ?
Are you relieved to have your babes back at school ?
Do you like the return to routine or are you a fan of lazy mornings and whatever goes ?

beck xx