Its been a while

Yes, its been a while. I have been seriously missing in action on this blog. Time has come and gone, and I am not sure what this space means to me right now. It used to be somewhere I shared my feelings on family, life, recipes and creativity, but all of the creativity seems to have leaked out of me of late.

Now that it is holidays, I am hoping that I can pick up the blanket where I left it last year and get it finished. But before that I have a marathon to run. My second marathon and this year will be SO MUCH more different than last year.

Last year I was all alone. I trained all alone and I ran all alone. This year, I have my Running Mums Australia crew behind me all the way, and well, the experience is going to be so different. More than just running the race, I can't wait to put faces to names of some of these lovely women that I have met online through this community I have created.

This community has really changed my life and my focus. From wondering where I fit and what I wanted to do, to wholeheartedly knowing where I belong. I am really in a good place. I am so busy, but when you have a passion and you run with it, how can being busy something you dislike?

I admit, I am looking forward to a break this holidays, but look out Gold Coast Marathon. I am coming to get you!

This week its just me and my girl as hubby and the older kids are off at camp. I plan on sleeping in, catching up with my sister and relaxing this weary body before I give it all I have got.

Farwell for now.....

Oceans

School holidays. A walk in the fresh air with family. Adventures. Finding treasure. Breathing in the end of the day.....

Home made pita bread

Life has been so busy lately and I am finding myself wanting to cook simple healthy meals. 

Wraps are a bit if a staple in our house but I didn't want to buy the store bought ones as they are laden with additives we just don't need.

Then I saw a post on my friend Tatums Facebook page about a home made yoghurt pita bread that was made on My Kitchen Rules.

It was a no brainer. I was trying this.

They were so easy to make and use only a few key ingredients. Wack any meat you please on these, or even use them with a curry for a winter option. They are divine.

Ingredients

500g plain flour

500g natural yoghurt

2 tsp baking powder 

1tsp dried oregano.  

Method

Mix ingredients into a dough and divide into 8-10 balls dusting well with extra flour.  Cook in an oiled fryingpan.  Cooke them on the first side until a crust forms then flipped them over and pushed them flat finishing with  a second quick cook on the first side.

So easy. So good. Perfect for the upcoming school holidays I feel.

RUNNING MUMS AUSTRALIA

Well HELLO everyone. Yes, I have been missing in action. My last blog post was yonks ago and for that I am truly sorry, however I have been one very busy lady of late and something had to give. This blog was the first thing. The thing about this little space of the web of mine is that I come here to write when I have something special to share or say, or an amazing recipe I must deliver. It's not that there hasn't been many wonderful things to share with you, there has, but there has been little time to share them, and some things I have been leaving to share until I saw that they were well and truly success stories. This blog post is just that. It is a success story that I want to share with you all.

Last September I ran my first full marathon in Sydney. It was one of the most amazing days of my life, and something that I have wanted to do for a very very long time. On that day I not only ran that marathon, I overcame things that I thought about myself. Things like that I couldn't do it, that I was not worth much and that I really didn't have anything much to give to this world. It lit a spark in me that I can't explain. It helped me to see my worth and that hard work and commitment reap a magnificent reward in the end. Yes, I am a mum, but I didn't want that stereotype of a 'just a mum' staying with me for one second longer. I wanted to do something worthwhile with my life and make an impact.

One night I was sitting on my couch and an idea popped into my head. I could start a running network just for mums. These special mums would be in Australia from all kinds of places and we would share and connect with one another, we would meet up at events and encourage one another. We would work with brands and events to let everyone know that mums are amazing and they have a lot to give and a lot of commitment , especially in the fitness industry where running is concerned. We would come from all walks of life and from every state in Australia and we would be one of the faces of Running Mums in this amazing country. We are the role models if you will for our children. That is not a small task. When we are fit and healthy, our children see that and hopefully they follow in our footsteps.

So what started as an idea and a couple of key people that I added to a Facebook group has grown into almost 300 members since August! Every day new members pop up to be added to our membership. They see us on instagram, on the street running in our awesome singlets, they see us pop up on Facebook, they meet us at events. We are slowly taking over the world ....hahahaha.

Only joking.

The most amazing thing about this lovely network is that it is supportive. There has not been one negative thing said in there since it began. Its the most supportive environment I have been part of. The aim of the group is to share and be encouraged, offer advice and support and give tips on running and exercise. We have also set up a blog at www.runningmumsaustralia.wordpress.com where we share our news, reviews, events, programs etc. Many exciting things are in the pipeline.

I have found my passion or should I say it found me. The women I have connected with on the journey are amazing. One thing we all have in common is that we are all mums. And we love to run. Why don't you join us?

I can't wait to see where we end up next.

Date and Coconut Bliss Balls

There is one thing I love about being a runner. All the food that I am able to eat.

No, seriously, the good thing is that I can treat myself from time to time, but really I do like to still try to keep it healthy. This recipe is just that. Healthy, but still a good sugar hit when I need it. These bliss balls are great right before a run, or during a run, but they are full of natural and healthy ingredients. No nasties. Even the kids love them. They think they are chocolate balls and boy do I have them fooled!

The other good thing is that they take next to no time to make, and you can mix up the ingredients if you want to make them a bit different, so you could add in nuts, or other dried fruit. Its really up to you. 

This is the recipe I use.....

1 packet dried dates

1 cup desiccated coconut

drizzle of honey

dash of vanilla

Mix all of the above ingredients in your food processor until it all comes together. Roll the mixture into balls and roll in coconut. 

Its that simple.

Sometimes I add some nuts like cashews or almonds. Thats good too. 

See what works for you. 

One thing is for sure. They won't last long as they are too yummy to have just one!

The perfect meringue

So it's Australia Day today and it has really been a non-event around here, but other than wallow in self pity about nothing going on I thought I would bring a little Aussie into the house by whipping up these little perfect meringues. They are just like a pav if you will, and are chewy on the inside and crisp on the outside. Coupled with cream, some berries and banana these went down fast! Happy Australia Day people! 

The prefect meringue:

220g caster sugar

4 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

So, preheat your oven to 150 deg. basically, in a mixing bowl add the egg whites and the sugar and the vanilla and mix on high speed for about 5 minutes! 

Wack some large spoonfuls onto a tray lined with baking paper and turn the oven down to 140 deg. Bake for about 40 mins then turn oven off but leave in oven for a few hours to cool. Serve with whatever you fancy or on thier own!

Simple times

These holidays we have spent enjoying some exciting new adventures. We decided to take the kids down to the snowy mountains of NSW and to hike to the summit of Mt Kosciusko. 

I will never forget this amazing holiday with my family. Even my Naomi managed the 14km walk {even if she did trip and fall 1.5km to go and put a massive egg on her chin :( }. 

The scenery was amazing and really I don't know how people don't believe in a God when you see things like that.

2014 Adventure #2: Kamay Botany Bay National Park

Today saw us exploring the site of where Captain James Cook first landed his fleet upon the shores of our great country Australia. It was a great day of fun, exploration, bush walks and a fish and chip lunch on the beach followed by a swim for the kids. All in all a great day out for the family.

2014 adventures #1: Back in time

School holidays can be a lot of things, and one thing they can be is expensive. Endless movies or shows or experiences to keep little people busy that costs lots of money. But I always try to find things for my family to enjoy that doesn't involve breaking the bank. 

This summer I was trawling through the internet and came across the living museums site for Sydney and decided that a trip into the Rocks Discovery Museum was in order. It's a free museum with lots to see and learn about or colonial past and even has free tours to the dig site of an infamous convict butcher who settled in the rocks in the 1800s. It was great and the kids loved it. The cobblestone lanes, the old world architecture, the imagination of what it would have been like back then. Love it. 

We decided to kill two birds with one stone and we caught the train to Milsons Pt and then walked across the Harbour Bridge. Something I fondly remember doing as a child on my school holidays. 

So if your up for an adventure these holidays check out the museums around Sydney. They are a wealth of fun and information, as is exploring out beautiful city.

Holidays

Lounging about, a trip to the country, some sparklers and evenings by candelight. I never want it to end.