The final stretch before the holidays is always a blur. With the clock ticking down, it’s hard not to daydream about the freedom that’s just around the corner. Read my full poem below, a different take on “Twas the Night Before Christmas”:
Twas The Night Before Holidays
Twas the night before the last day of work, and all through the place, Not a task was unfinished, not a deadline to chase. The emails were queued in the inbox with care, In hopes that tomorrow, none would be there.
The workers were nestled all snug at their desks, While visions of holidays freed them from stress. And I in my summer dress, and you in your tee, Knew the end was so near, it was hard not to flee.
When out on the street, there arose such a clatter, It was just the sound of a phone call that didn’t matter! I sprang from my seat to shut down my screen, And knew in a moment: it’s time for the dream!
The office was silent, the work almost done, Tomorrow’s the day that the holidays come. So here’s to the eve of our last work-filled night, Happy last day tomorrow—and to all, a good night! ✨🎉
I had such lovely Valencia oranges from Todarello’s Katoomba Village Fruit Marketand thought why not try making orange syrup? How about making it even more orangey, so that each bite just screams summer oranges, even the smell instantly makes you know that it is orange.
Looking online for recipes for orange syrup, all the recipes tell you to use the juice and not pulp. Why not use the pulp? Why not use the super fresh orange puree to ensure your orange syrup is like eating a fresh orange?
Wouldn’t this be AMAZING to have a syrup that just screams tangy fresh tasty juicy oranges?
So how did I make this extremely yummy orange syrup?
This orange syrup can be used for cocktails, refreshing drinks (plain water and sparkling), syrup over ice cream, and also sauce to bind cakes together for a creative cake creation.
INGREDIENTS
2 Valencia Oranges = 1 cup of orange puree
1 cup of water
1 and a half cups of sugar
Orange skin (Use the skin of the 2 Valencia oranges so that it infuses the orange flavour).
All the oranges before they went into the blender
METHOD
This recipe takes around 20 minutes to make. Not long to then enjoy your orange syrup.
Step 1: Cut up the 2 Valencia oranges, remove the skin and just leave the flesh of the orange. Put all the orange flesh into a blender and make sure it is thoroughly pureed. Pour out into a measuring cup, you should have 1 cup.
Step 2: Put the orange puree, water, and sugar into a saucepan. Melt the sugar and wait till the mixture thickens up a little. Depending on the amount of sugar added depends on how thick the syrup gets, if you wish to have a thicker syrup you can add more sugar. (I put my syrup in the fridge and it thickened up a bit more after a few days.)
Step 3: Add the orange rind to the mixture so that the orange flavour gets stronger. I cut up all the orange skin and added it all.
Step 4: Once cooked to your desired consistency strain the mixture and once cool put it in a jar/jug and then in the fridge. The syrup will keep in the fridge for around a month.
I added orange juice and orange to ice cubes – It made my orange syrup gin drink taste amazing!
POST FEAST REVIEW
I had no idea that fruit syrup was really easy to make. The syrup had a nice caramel taste when it was added to vanilla ice cream. I added orange zest for taste and decoration, the zest added bursts of flavour.
Having the syrup in the fridge for a few days allowed it to thicken up a little more. It was a better consistency after about 3 days in the fridge.
There is an amazing amount of uses for orange syrup, drinks, cakes, ice cream, and desserts.
Now that I know how easy it is to make, I will make different types of syrup for desserts. How about raspberry, blueberry or mandarin syrup? I am now thinking about another ingredient could be syrup.
So refreshing with fresh orange syrupYou can add a little or a lot depending on your taste
WOULD I MAKE THIS AGAIN?
Yes, I would make this again, however, I would make some changes when making it next. I would add more orange and up the sugar a bit. Creating a thicker syrup that is more like an orange concentrate from fresh oranges. Adding the zest to the syrup would be a great addition as well, this way there is a different texture for taste and it will look amazing too.
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The weather is warming up, and if you concentrate there are different smells in the air, and for me, it smells like summer is on its way.
I’ve had doors and windows open, plus plants have all bloomed making my garden look like it has life in it once again. The past weekend was a long weekend was very hot at my house, but the rest of the week has been met with cooler temperatures. This sudden drop in temperature made me sad. I was hoping that the warmer temperatures were here to stay, maybe I have to wait a little longer for this to happen.
The kids have been lucky to see cicadas come out of their shells this year. Photo by Lillian.
We’ve been inundated with cicadas this year and listening to them chirp away in the warmth of the evening is very relaxing. Not only are the cicadas singing to find a mate, but many birds are also chirping and singing too.
Cicada out of its shell. Photo by Lillian
I have even been wearing shorts on the odd occasion as well as a t-shirt without a jumper. This occurrence is short-lived due to the changing weather in the mountains, but it is a taste of summer approaching.
With the warm weather last weekend it made me think about summer holidays, Christmas and the balmy weather that is in store for us soon.
The end of this year there is going to be massive changes for all the kids, the twins have their last ever term of primary school and my youngest gets to experience Kindy Transition before he starts Kindergarten next year.
I think I have already taken myself mentally on my summer holiday. It really has been a stressful year and still is. A holiday now would be bliss…what do you think?
And now to think about Christmas for the kids and getting the twins ready for their last term at primary school. It will be over in a blink of an eye and then I will be busy again getting ready for high school and kindy for all kids.
However while the busyness awaits for me, I long for the time that I can lie down and feel the warm breeze wash over me and also listen to the cicadas and birds.
Are you happy that the weather is getting warmer? That summer is giving us small hints it’s on its way. For a summer lover like me, I get very happy this time of year and excited that the summer holidays within my reach.
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Spiders are not my favourite, actually I hate them.
Eight furry legs.
A face looking at you.
and I’m sure they are plotting their next move against me!
I know that some spiders are good. These good spiders eat the flies and bugs and don’t hurt you at all.
Huntsman spiders your days are numbered if you enter my house.
These good spiders are doing their best to help my house be bug free and it must be a HUGE job and under a hostile environment (by hostile, I don’t want them in my house at all!). I try and remove any spiders whether they are nice or not out of my house.
So as you might have guessed bug spray is my favourite accessory to ensure I am not face to face with a creepy spider or worse.
Lately I have been inundated with spiders and I think it is due to the hot weather. Yep I’m blaming the heatwave yet again. Or it could be the time of year? Who knows but spiders think that they can make my home theirs and that is NOT ON!
The other night I was in the bathroom, I was brushing my teeth. While I was in the bathroom there was a spider that saw me, I saw him/her and it got closer and closer when it did not think I was looking (It must have fancied itself as a ninja spider).
After brushing my teeth and cleaning up I needed to go to the toilet. To get to the toilet I had to walk past this spider that was slowly trying to get closer to me.
Geez is this pay back for killing its family?
I know this sounds crazy but the next time I walk into the bathroom I’m sure I will get attacked by the spiders that are still there.
They are lying in wait to finally give me some of the medicine that I have dished out to them. Would it be poison like the bug spray?
Or will it be an attack of force with as many spiders as possible and they bite me at the same time?
Will hubby find me on the floor of the bathroom and covered in spiders?
Pay back sorted. Human ended, spiders will win. I just hope that this reality never happens. Currently the humans are winning with the war against the spiders trying to camp out in my house without permission. Even if they could speak and asked me if they could stay, the answer would be a very firm and big NO!
Do you have the same thoughts about spiders in your house? If you kill one, will others retaliate?
These are some of the thoughts that go through my brain after an encounter with a spider. What about you? Are you having similar thoughts? Let us know.
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Make your own ice blocks and ice creams. See what I did to create some yummy healthy treats.
Summer has been extremely hot and finding ways to stay cool is tough. It has been very difficult in nearly 50 degree heats that some areas have faced in the current heatwave. Yes you read that right, some areas got to 47 degrees.
Ice cream and ice blocks have been a good way to try and reduce the temperature although a temporary fix, it is a yummy and fun solution that adults and kids enjoy.
Make your own ice blocks and ice creams. See what I did to create some yummy healthy treats.
As you might imagine we have consumed more ice creams and ice blocks than we usually do and that was due to the fact that this summer has been a scorcher.
How do you make having a cool treat not bad for you?
One thing you could do is to make your ow, and this way you know that the ingredients are all good and natural.
I decided to create a Banana Yogurt and Watermelon Ice Cream. I don’t know if it is 100% an ice cream but I’m using this term due to the creamy nature of the banana yogurt mixture.
You can put whatever you want into your ice creams/blocks it is up to your tastes and what you have available.
Some ideas are:
Fruit juice ice blocks (you can even cheat and put store bought juice into the moulds). If you make your own juice just put the juice in the ice blocks molds and then you have a frozen orange one or apple one.
Mango purée and yoghurt.
Blueberries and strawberry purée if you wish you can add yoghurt or just leave it as the fruit mix and freeze these.
Pineapple and Yoghurt or just the pineapple juice and pulp. This would be so refreshing.
You will need an ice block mould so that you can put your mixture in. They are easy to get hold of and very cheap. Check out the supermarkets or a shop that supplies kitchen products.
The fruit I added to the ice creams I created.
Ingredients
2 very ripe bananas
1 cup of watermelon de-seeded.
Yoghurt 2-3 tablespoons, depending on how you like it. I did not want to over power the banana with the yoghurt but wanted it to help the creamy texture of the ice cream. I used Jalna Yoghurt but you can use whatever you like or have available.
This is the yoghurt that I added to the banana mixture. I just love this Jalna yoghurt. It is so yummy and creamy.
Method
Mash up bananas with a fork. I made sure they were mashed up pretty good but wanted to keep the texture of them. After they were well and truly mashed up I added some yoghurt.
Add the yoghurt to the banana mixture. I added 2-3 heaped tablespoons and then mixed it all in.
The bananas and the yoghurt together.
I cut about a cup of watermelon and made sure that the seeds were removed.
Mash up the watermelon. I used a potato masher as I did not just want juice but also the flesh as well.
The watermelon all mashed up and ready to go into the ice block mold.
I used a potato masher to mash up the watermelon. This gave me some nice fleshy bits of the watermelon with juice as well.
I added the banana yoghurt mixture to the bottom, then added the watermelon mixture to middle and finally on top finished off with more banana mixture. You might find that you have more mixture over and therefore can do another batch. If so put some glad wrap over the container and put it in the fridge for the next batch.
Adding the banana and yoghurt mixture to the ice blocks moulds.
Adding the watermelon mixture to the ice block moulds.
All the mixture is in the ice cream mould. Now the rest of the lids need to go on and into the freezer to set.
Once all molds have the mixture in them put on the lids and pop into the freezer. Freeze overnight and then the next day you be able to enjoy your home made ice cream or ice block.
All ready to go into the freezer. Soon we will have 6 mini ice creams.
After the ice creams set in the fridge for 24 hours, now I can finally sample one of my creations. They were very yummy and really hit the spot.
I hope this has inspired you to create your own ice blocks or ice creams at home. It was so easy to make and they tasted so yummy. I am now keen to try more flavours for my next creation.
This is when my little girl broke her wrist the first time. Let's hope that it is just bruised muscles this time around.
Summer has been unusually hot. As I write this we are in day three of three days of extreme heat. Catastrophic conditions have been predicted today and there is a total fire ban.
We have had 40 degree days and constant heat that never cools down at night. So, you can imagine after school the kids are desperate to cool down.
My choice this past Monday the 6th of February, (the start of the second week of school) was either the local pool or the sprinkler in our backyard. I chose the sprinkler option.
Lillian with her first plaster on after getting all bones aligned. They put it up the arm to restrict movement from the elbow down.
While I was taking clothes off the line and adding more to the line the kids organised and started playing under the sprinkler.
I watched them and every so often I popped my head up from the clothes line to make sure all my three little people were okay.
The girls were happy getting wet and the baby was having fun pouring a bucket of water on himself as well. They were dirty but cooler so dirt was not an issue. It’s easy to clean dirt and better to be cooler in this horrible heatwave we have been having.
At one point one of my girls decided to stand on a bench seat that we have in the yard. She was jumping up and down and did a jig like dance. Mind you this was wet and under the sprinkler. What could possibly go wrong right?
I of course told her that this is not going to end well and I would like her to get down. I was worried she might fall and hurt herself.
Cue the Benny Hill Theme…….Just picture the kid doing the jig on the bench seat. Water from the sprinkler and then…..
She fell and the bench seat fell on top of her. I saw part of the incident but not all of it due to hanging clothes on the line. This kid screamed the place down and kept on yelling, “My wrist, ouch my wrist”!!!
I knew the way she was screaming that she had broken something and my thought was that her wrist was well and truly broken.
I raced to see if she was okay, I got the bench seat off her and assessed her injury. Her wrist was swelling up and my little girl was screaming and yelling due to the pain.
The kind nurses bandaged “Bummy” Lillian’s teddy as well. He is still wearing his bandages like Lillian as to. I think he will get them off at the same time as my little girl. A long wait for both of them.
Her sister whizzed into the house to get her a towel as I needed to clean everyone up for the trip to the hospital (the doctors at this stage were all closed and if it was a broken bone as I thought the hospital would be the place to be anyway) and arrange a bag for the baby and some snacks for the girls. Our last few times at emergency we waited hours and hours. Mind you this was due to emergencies that took priority over us. You never know if this would happen again and being in a hospital waiting room with three kids it is best to be prepared.
The towel for the injured girl arrived and it was put over her like it was a blanket (Looking at my girl lying on the grass underneath the towel it sort of looked a bit morbid. Like a chalk outline of a body but done with a towel) I told her to lay on the grass and just wait a bit. I needed to get things inside the house, look at her hand and decide that it was really broken and then get all three kids ready to leave the house.
I lightly touched Lillian’s arm and she screamed like I was killing her. Yep it was broken in my head, but I am not a doctor. I was making sure that she could move her fingers (in hindsight maybe not a good idea but thought was important due to understanding what was wrong with her arm and wrist).
Finally, I got Lillian inside the house, gave her some painkillers and got her dressed. Julia was trying to get the baby dressed and tidied up as well (You must picture each child wet and covered in dirt and mud due to playing under the sprinkler.) I went and helped Julia out while Lillian sat crying in the living room. Looking at my girl lying on the grass underneath the towel it sort of looked a bit morbid. Like a chalk outline of a body but done with a towel.
Julia then got ready while I made more bottles of formula, packed the nappy bag and organised shacks for all three kids.
We all piled into the car and tried to reach hubby to let him know what was happening. We got seen to quite quickly at the hospital. The triage nurse gave Lillian a once over and asked what had happened. I explained and so did she. A doctor came to have a quick once over of Lillian’s arm before we told to go to x-ray and wait to be seen there.
X-ray was quick and confirmed my suspicion that my little girl has indeed broken her wrist. We then went back to the emergency waiting room to see the doctor. The wait was not long and the doctor said that her wrist was on a 15-degree angle and this would most likely need to be put in the proper straight position so that the bones can align and mend correctly.
Yes, the doctor said that he has sought an opinion from an orthopaedic surgeon on whether Lillian would have to come to Nepean to have the wrist re-broken to have it in the correct placement before they could put a cast on her.
The specialist was going to call the doctor back where we were so that was a long wait. I think we waited an extra 3 hours for this answer. Nothing we could do and most likely this doctor was super busy with emergencies where he was. (I know girls can be doctors but I was told it was a man)
It was decided that the orthopaedic surgeon needed to see Lillian so that he could re align the bones for the wrist to mend correctly. YUCK I say… oh no! My poor little girl.
I was told that Lillian would be put under to have this happen. I thought although terrible if she is knocked out that might be okay. She will not have a memory of it and it would be easier for everyone involved.
Getting the final x-ray to determine if all bones are in the right place. All was good and Lillian could get more plaster and then come home.
Lillian had to be at Nepean at 8am on Tuesday morning! Oh, gosh how do we do that? I must take one kid to school and the baby to care and get another to the hospital. This would never happen. Hubby took the day so that he could be with Lillian at the hospital and I took Julia to school and the baby to care.
Then due to the stress of the day I was a mess. I could not stop thinking about my little girl and the horrible thing that they need to do to her arm or more like wrist.
We were told that Lillian had to be nil by mouth from 4am, and of course had to be at the hospital for 8am.
Lillian and hubby did not see the doctor until after 11am.
I bet she was hungry and scared.
Remember I told you that the doctor said that she would be put under to have this happen. Well that didn’t occur. She just had gas. Yes, she was awake for it all!
The nurse and practitioners made sure that she had plenty of gas and they tried to do things that would help take her mind of what was occurring. Picture nurses and others laughing and trying to create a different situation than the one that was happening.
Hubby said that she looked distressed at times and upset but afterwards she has no memory of it all. Her memory is that she laughed all the way through it. (Thank goodness for that)
I know that it is a horrible thing to have done and the doctor was quick and according to hubby it was horrible and medieval. I told hubby, “How else would they do it?” I think hubby needed the gas as well. He is still quite upset about the whole thing and watching it all happen for him was very distressing. I know I would have been a huge mess if I was there but I would have liked to have been to comfort her during and after.
I was told that the doctor was very quick but forceful. He pulled and pushed and just snapped things back into place. Hubby heard bones re-break and move. He is very traumatised about the whole experience. During all this I was getting constant updates and was feeling sick about the whole thing as well.
After Lillian had the doctor do his thing with her arm they had to check it with another x-ray. This x-ray will make sure that the bones were all in the correct position. If not, they would have to do it all again.
The x-ray showed all was in the right spot and off hubby and Lillian went to get plaster put on. Yes, more waiting but at least she did not have to go through the trauma of bone re-positioning again.
2pm hit and hubby and Lillian finally could leave the hospital. Hubby took her to McDonald’s for much deserved treat and it was no surprise she ate all her food. Poor little thing must have been so hungry.
Wednesday Lillian stayed home due to recommendation that the cast needs an extra 48 hours to set. The harder the cast is the better things will be.
Next Tuesday the 14th is when I have to take Lillian for her check up. They have to do another x-ray to make sure that the bone has not moved and all is well. If all good she gets more plaster and hopefully we can come back in another six weeks to finally get the cast removed.
While we are at the hospital next week Lillian has been told she can either get a colour or a pattern on her cast. She is keen to find out what she can have.
Thursday, she went back to school and was rather popular with all the kids. She was even getting presents of cheesy scrolls due to her sore arm and more. One mate has nick named her the ‘wounded warrior.’ Geez I wonder what is next?
Lillian however is rather annoyed with her cast and it has only been a few days. Since she is a little kid they like to put the cast nearly up to the arm pit. This is to limit movement (the doctors like to make sure movement from the elbow to down the hand is limited) and to keep the bones in the correct spot. If she was older the cast would be smaller.
So now I have to keep her spirits up in the heat. She is not able to do sports, or swimming and more. She is not happy and is sick of me checking how her arm is feeling. I have stopped asking now and I hope she will tell me if it does start hurting. I have to told her to do so if she notices any changes.
Maybe now the kids will listen when we say you will hurt yourself if you climb that or this. I told her that she needed to be more careful and get off the seat. Hubby told both girls the day before that someone would break an arm or wrist and now it has finally happened.
I don’t like being right about this, I wish it never happened. I hate the fact that my little girl is missing out on fun things in the hottest summer we have had for ages.
Relaxing with Bummy after a huge and stressful day.
Also the other issue is that Julia seems to feel that she is missing out on things. Hubby bought Lillian a toy rabbit from the hospital due to her bravery in getting her bones put back in place. He did not get a present for Julia. The fallout has been horrible. She is just being upset that she is not getting things like Lilly.
I have explained that Lillian is not getting things just because, she is getting things due to the fact that she has hurt herself and in a lot of pain. Terrible pain. Horrible actually!
I told Julia that if she helps out and does things I will give her things as a thank you gift. She just wants to have the same things like Lillian. I again told her that if it happened to daddy we would be helping him, if it was her we would be helping her, and if it was me the family would help me also. She was just very annoyed and thinking she was still missing out.
I am not sure why they chose to give Lilly gas rather than putting her under anesthetic. There must be a reason the doctor did it this way. My thoughts on why are the following: The doctor wants to see a response in his patient and understand if he/she has the positioning right, or it could be that the patient heals better knowing what has occurred although slightly out of it due to the gas or other drugs but understanding that the doctor has fixed their broken limb. If you know why they use gas rather than knocking them out please let me know.
While looking up info on broken bones I came across these great links. They help you understand what will happen and break things down so that kids and adults can understand the jargon and process:
I am amazed that we got to eight years and nearly nine years old without more broken bones. This is the first broken anything that the kids have done. I hope it is the last but I don’t think that will happen. I think we have done well to not have any until now.
Did you break your leg, arm or wrist when you were a kid? Or has it happened later in life?
I fractured my left arm as a kid. It was a greenstick fracture and it was very painful. I must say that I am lucky to be here from my accident. I was riding my bicycle and smashed into an on coming car. My bike went under the car, my hip hit the number plate and I had metal fragments that needed a second visit to the hospital as they were not discovered until I came home. I had a broken arm, a fat lip, skin missing from my face and legs. Not great at all. If I was on a different angle or got bumped me and the bike might have ended up under the car rather than just the bike.
I think I hurt myself at a similar age to what Lillian is now. I will have to confirm this with my mum.
If are going to hurt yourself it is best to not be in a car accident and just be in your garden at home. Much less traumatic. I must say I’m still stressed about the whole experience. I wonder what would have happened if we went to the pool rather than use the sprinkler in the yard? Who knows maybe it still would have happened regardless of where we were.
This has freaked hubby and me out more than it has Lillian. I have to take Lillian back on the 14th for a final check up. They will do an x-ray to make sure that the bones are still in the right spot and if all good more plaster.
Have you still been stressed from your kids hurting themselves? Let us know.
I have been suffering for days with hay fever and it is doing my head in. Yes very funny it is a head cold type illness and I have said it is doing my head in… well you would be over it if you cannot leave the house without the massive amounts of tissues, hankies and other things that might help.
Normal smells that don’t annoy me are causing all sorts of dramas. Hubby put on his aftershave and it made me sneeze for hours afterwards. I have now told him to do it elsewhere as I find the smell over powers the bedroom and surrounds. This then means that I have constant sneezing and upset for hours.
I usually take a pill of Loratadine which I have called Lorraine and it fixes up the hay fever.
Loratadine or Lorraine as I like to call it. I have nicknamed this hay fever medicine to make it easier to remember.
Now you might be wondering why I have called the pill Lorraine? Well, I could never remember the official name and just called it part of what I remembered. So it has always been Lorraine to me.
I know it is not correct and a bit weird but I’m sure I’m not the only one that does this. Do you have odd or weird names for things that you use all the time? Do others think it is odd as well? What are the names you have given to everyday items?
Last year while pregnant with Alexander I was suffering again from hay fever. I called the medicine hotline to make sure that I could take Lorraine (or otherwise known as Loratadine) during pregnancy. When the lady on the phone what I called the medicine she could not stop laughing.
I told her I could never remember it and decided that Lorraine sounded better. She thought this was brilliant. I hope that my phone call brightened up her day, at the very least it was different. In the end I was able to take this medicine during pregnancy and it worked a treat. However it is not doing its normal magic and making my hay fever go away.
Normally 1 pill does the trick. No sneezing, no itchy eyes and no need to have a constant supply of tissues, hankies and the like.
However my go to pill has not been working at all. Lorraine has not been doing the amazing job she once has for me. What is wrong with her, what is wrong with the pill that it has decided to stop working????
I did think that maybe I had a cold and also hay fever. Maybe that is why it was not working as well as before. I tried some cold and flu tablets but that did not help. OH how annoying!
One last ditch effort was to get the sinus and hay fever tablets from the chemist. They seem to help more. Some days are better than others but it seems to be an especially bad season for hay fever so far.
I just hope that it gets better and I don’t have a whole summer feeling like this. I hang for summer and the hot weather. I don’t want to be forever head in a tissue and having a bad time.
Have you been suffering from hay fever lately? Do your remedies work to make you feel better? If you take any medicine what are the ones that work for you? Oh and if you have a nick name for your pills like I have please share.
I was lucky enough to be given a Dyson Cool to review and to try (Thanks to Dyson and the Bloggers Brunch by Kids Business). I must say I have always wanted to try out Dyson’s new fans and was very happy I now have the chance.
My Dyson Cool. It is so very cool and amazing! It has no blades so little fingers will not get injured. It is also so quiet when it is on.
My old fan is so noisy I just hate the fact that it is very loud. You end up having to yell to get yourself heard. Yes annoying I know!
So what was my old fan like? The below video will give you an idea.
And what is the Dyson cool like when on?
Some great things about the Dyson Cool:
Sound 75% quieter – I hate noise so this is amazing to have a fan and not hear it.
Energy Efficient – 40% less power consumed.
Remote control – The Dyson Cool has 10 airflow settings, sleep timer, on/off and oscillation control
Sleep timer – Fan can be programmed to turn off after preset intervals ranging from 15 minutes to 9 hours.
Super Safe – No blades so it is kid friendly! As you can see I put my arm in the fan when on and all is good.
Easy to clean – Just a quick wipe with a cloth and all is good.
Easy to put together – There is only about 2 steps to put this fan together. It is so easy and done in no time.
I love the Dyson Cool. We now don’t have to yell at each other when the fan is on. I don’t get annoyed and turn it off due to the noise. When the Dyson Cool is on I don’t notice it at all. It is amazing and such a change. I still cannot get over the fact that it has no blades. I do love this due to having kids who seem to touch everything and it is only a matter of time that they put fingers in blades of a fan. However with the Dyson Cool there is no worry that this will ever happen.
The girls excited about the Dyson Cool. Mummy is pleased it is safe for the kids.
I was very excited when I got home with my Dyson Cool and it was a very hot day, nearly 40 degree temperature. A fan was needed to make all of us cool. I opened the box and got out the instruction sheet. It was very easy to put together. One and two steps and you are done. No worry about putting it up and ready for use. I had it done in less than 10mins and we were all cooling down with a much needed drink with ice and a fan cooling us and the house down.
The Dyson Cool is easy to put together and you will be cool in no time!
If you need a fan for the house or the office this is something you should think about getting. It does the job, it is quiet, safe, energy efficient and so cool! It is a wonderful investment and of course will make you feel cool. (Yes I have used the word cool a lot in this post!)
One thing you need to remember not to say to the hubby. “I have to go and turn off my cool now” He responded with, you have had your cool off for ages now! Yes very funny! The Dyson is cool, and will be if off or on! Not sure about me, but I would think the same would apply.
Do you have a fan that needs updating? Been thinking of getting a Dyson Cool or other Dyson Fan? Then I would urge you to take a serious look as they are amazing! If you have a Dyson at home how has it changed things? Have you found that life is a little better? I have! I now can not have the noisy fan on at all… it is very calming now.
If you wish to purchase a Dyson Cool you can find all about where to buy here
Disclaimer: I was given a Dyson Cool to review due to attending the Bloggers Brunch from Kids Business. I would like to thank Dyson and Kids Business for this opportunity and for a cooler and quieter house.
We are in for a very noisy summer, Cicadas have emerged from the ground. We are finding their shells everywhere! Are you finding Cicadas at your place?
I grew up in North Queensland, Hervey Bay to be precise. My childhood consisted of playing outdoors, cycling on my push bike, swimming, snorkelling and outdoor activities.
Summer is my favourite season and I adore the heat, so why do I now live in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains? Where most of the time it is wet, freezing, cold, gale force winds and just miserable. There is a small window where it nice; warm or hot that you could think it was summer but for me it never lasts long enough; and sometimes we never get a summer and it feels like it is constantly winter!
Katoomba in Winter.
I have been in the Blue Mountains for over ten years now and has the environment rubbed off on me? Do I still yearn for the beach, the sun and the all round great weather?
Well the answer is Yes, I still long for the beach and all that goes with it. You cannot change how you grew up and what you long for.
I’m sure that you think that the mountains cannot be so bad. It does have some great things going for it:
Great air to breathe.
Outdoor spaces to play in and to use. Walks, climbing and parks.
You can see stars that you will not see in the city or in built up areas.
Greater value for houses and real estate, allows you to get a foot hold in the property market.
Live closer to nature. Surrounded by national parks and nature.
Experience four seasons and sometimes just one. In October 2012 we had deep snow and it was freezing (see image gallery below). It did not snow in winter but waited till Spring to do this.
Cooler in summer compared to the city. This is great if you like the heat but don’t to get too hot.
Feels like we live in tourist central, this gives us more choice and infrastructure to our area.
One of the main reasons that I am in the Blue Mountains is due to my hubby. He cannot stand the heat and deals with the cold better. So I love the heat and I hate the cold. In summer in Katoomba the temperature is warm and sometimes hot but not as bad as it would be in the city. This is a good compromise, however I wish it would work better for me in winter.
I brave the freezing cold for my hubby, how nice of me. What have you done for your partner?
The view from our room at the QT on the Gold Coast.
What is so wonderful about the beach and warmer weather?
Better climate to allow more activities to happen year round rather than just certain times of the year.
Makes me feel great and energised.
Love the salt water.
Love the smell of the sand, sea and the idea that the days seem endless.
Due to better climate more outdoor activity can be had.
As I write this I am in my hotel room on the Gold Coast. It has been a lovely hot day and just enjoyable weather. I can smell the sea air and it just makes me feel good. Feels like home. I am pleased that I am getting my fix for what I long for, and hope that I can repeat it soon.
The mountains has great qualities also, the fog that makes it so appealing. The trees that change colour in autumn and look so pretty in their reds, browns, and yellows. I know the whole dynamic of the Blue Mountains would change if it was constantly warm and sunny. There would be no curling up in front of the open fire and snuggling with your hot chocolate or skinny cap or maybe a glass of port.
Mind you I do like these things in the mountains, but I hate the cold, and cannot stand dealing with the layers of clothes that is needed to stay warm.
I have decided that I don’t like winter and never will. I love and hang out for summer, summer holidays, Christmas and spending time at the beach, pool and just being outdoors.
What are your thoughts? What is wonderful about the mountains or the beach? What is your favourite?
Note: This post was written to enter the Problogger Competition to win a trip to South By Southwest in 2014 courtesy of Virgin Australia. Wish me luck and hope that I get considered.
I grew up in North Queensland, Hervey Bay to be precise. My childhood consisted of playing outdoors, cycling on my push bike, swimming, snorkelling and outdoor activities.
Summer is my favourite season and I adore the heat, so why do I now live in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains? Where most of the time it is wet, freezing, cold, gale force winds and just miserable. There is a small window where it nice; warm or hot that you could think it was summer but for me it never lasts long enough; and sometimes we never get a summer and it feels like it is constantly winter!
Katoomba in Winter.
I have been in the Blue Mountains for over ten years now and has the environment rubbed off on me? Do I still yearn for the beach, the sun and the all round great weather?
Well the answer is Yes, I still long for the beach and all that goes with it. You cannot change how you grew up and what you long for.
I’m sure that you think that the mountains cannot be so bad. It does have some great things going for it:
Great air to breathe.
Outdoor spaces to play in and to use. Walks, climbing and parks.
You can see stars that you will not see in the city or in built up areas.
Greater value for houses and real estate, allows you to get a foot hold in the property market.
Live closer to nature. Surrounded by national parks and nature.
Experience four seasons and sometimes just one. In October 2012 we had deep snow and it was freezing (see image gallery below). It did not snow in winter but waited till Spring to do this.
Cooler in summer compared to the city. This is great if you like the heat but don’t to get too hot.
Feels like we live in tourist central, this gives us more choice and infrastructure to our area.
One of the main reasons that I am in the Blue Mountains is due to my hubby. He cannot stand the heat and deals with the cold better. So I love the heat and I hate the cold. In summer in Katoomba the temperature is warm and sometimes hot but not as bad as it would be in the city. This is a good compromise, however I wish it would work better for me in winter.
I brave the freezing cold for my hubby, how nice of me. What have you done for your partner?
The view from our room at the QT on the Gold Coast.
What is so wonderful about the beach and warmer weather?
Better climate to allow more activities to happen year round rather than just certain times of the year.
Makes me feel great and energised.
Love the salt water.
Love the smell of the sand, sea and the idea that the days seem endless.
Due to better climate more outdoor activity can be had.
As I write this I am in my hotel room on the Gold Coast. It has been a lovely hot day and just enjoyable weather. I can smell the sea air and it just makes me feel good. Feels like home. I am pleased that I am getting my fix for what I long for, and hope that I can repeat it soon.
The mountains has great qualities also, the fog that makes it so appealing. The trees that change colour in autumn and look so pretty in their reds, browns, and yellows. I know the whole dynamic of the Blue Mountains would change if it was constantly warm and sunny. There would be no curling up in front of the open fire and snuggling with your hot chocolate or skinny cap or maybe a glass of port.
Mind you I do like these things in the mountains, but I hate the cold, and cannot stand dealing with the layers of clothes that is needed to stay warm.
I have decided that I don’t like winter and never will. I love and hang out for summer, summer holidays, Christmas and spending time at the beach, pool and just being outdoors.
What are your thoughts? What is wonderful about the mountains or the beach? What is your favourite?
Note: This post was written to enter the Problogger Competition to win a trip to South By Southwest in 2014 courtesy of Virgin Australia. Wish me luck and hope that I get considered.
Today is yet another hot day, we live in Katoomba and it is over 30 degrees here and expected to be 40 degrees in Penrith, so this would be 104 in Fahrenheit.
It is still 26.6°C and it is nearly 9pm. Crazy warm weather. Kids are finally in bed and hope it gets a bit cooler in their room. Have the fan on, door open, front door open and their window open. Meant to get down to about 20 overnight so that is still warm for here.
Now it is 10pm and it is still 25 degrees although it feels hotter. Probably is with the humidity. Below is a breakdown on what the temperature has been like and also the future couple of days.
Friday
Possible thunderstorm
Min: 16°C Max: 33°C
UV: Extreme
Saturday
Possible thunderstorm
Min: 20°C Max: 34°C
UV: Extreme
At least it gets a bit cooler on Sunday although if this is the end of Spring hate to think what summer is going to be like. Do you find it hard to get motivated in extreme temperatures? I do love the heat but some heat just makes me want to pass out and go back to bed, not ideal when caring for kids. What do you do to cool down? We went to the pool today but not helpful in a car that needs its air con fixed, should have stayed at home and just put kids and myself under the sprinkler. At least I would have been cooler and same with the twins.
