Dinner Wars

My little man, that used to be the most awesome eater ever. He's now 17 months old and an absolute nightmare at meal times. So much so, that I'm constantly thinking and stressed out about it. Its been going on for about three month now. Between this and the sleep regression I'm going out of my mind.

I can't get him to eat on a spoon. It's finger food only. And then there is the massive struggle with which finger foods he will eat. Nutrition usually falls by the wayside. I always offer healthy options, but in utter desperation the chicken nuggets keep making an appearance because at least I have the peace of mind that he has something in his tummy. Albeit rubbish. I've been lucky with some fruits. Red seedless grapes are a big winner. I think he thinks they are lollies. (Wonder how long that will last!) He will also eat a banana if it's given to him whole. Cut it up, and he won't eat it. Sandwiches, sometimes. Vegemite or peanut butter and jam are the only fillings though. Cheese toastie, he will eat this too. Veggies? Not happening. At all. I'm going to try a vegetable muffin recipe he used to love. Kinda my last resort. If it doesn't work, I have no tricks up my sleeve. This sucks. :(

Flybuys dollars on Consume

A couple of days ago, I was at Coles and wanted to know how many flybuys dollars I had on my card. The confusion my simple request caused the checkout girl was immense! I ended up having to pay with my debit card, and still I had no idea what my balance was.

Then last night, I had a brainstorm! I was using Consume, one of my very favourite apps on my iPhone, when I spotted the option to add a Coles Myer giftcard. I remembered once using my flybuys dollars to pay for some shopping when I was going through a self serve checkout. To do so, I chose an option called "pay with giftcard/flybuys dollars". So I thought I would give it a whirl, and it worked!

So, if like me, you have trouble keeping up to date with the balance of your flybuys dollars, give this a try!

1. Download the Consume App. (if you haven't already!)
2. Choose the gear icon at the bottom right of the screen, then "add account".
3. Select Australia, then "store cards".
4. Here you will find the option "Coles Myer Giftcard". Add it.
5. I changed the description to "flybuys dollars" for clarity
6. For card number, enter your flybuys number. The one that begins with 6008.
7. Then enter the pin you gave when you redeemed your points for flybuys dollars on the flybuys site
8. Your done!

The balance shown is up to date. After adding my card, I redeemed another $10 worth of flybuys dollars and it showed up in consume instantly.

Even before this little discovery, I have been a huge fan of the Consume App. I use it to view my internet data usage with TPG, my current balance with my Telstra home phone, my Virgin Postpaid Mobile, my Easyway Tea Loyalty points, my flybuys points, and now my flybuys dollars. It is such a handy App to have. Plus, it updates to the iCloud!

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/consume/id337064413?mt=8

SOS no more!

I'm not doing the Save our Sleep self setting routines ever again. EVER! I'm so mad at myself for putting the words in a book above my instincts. For letting a book make me think that comforting my hysterical little boy was counter productive. Never again.

After what we went through tonight, I've decided that I don't mind having him fall asleep in my arms anymore. He's able to settle himself most times he wakes in the middle of the night. That's the most important thing.

My son is going to be so sick of cuddles from me over the next few days. All I want to do is hold him. I'm so upset.

Bini's Tuna Mornay

I'm terrible in the kitchen. Always have been. But since my son came into our lives, officially making me a Mummy, I've really been trying to make an effort.

This recipe is my saving grace. When my husband first tasted it he told me I was now in charge of making tuna mornay. It's my recipe, in that I read the original recipe wrong! I have since tried that same recipe as written and it was a bitter disappointment. After a couple more tweaks, I give you...

Bini's Tuna Mornay

Ingredients;
185g tin of tuna in brine, drained
440g tin of corn kernels, drained (3/4 tin may be all you want)
2 tablespoons of margarine or softened butter
2 tablespoons of plain flour
1 cup of shredded tasty cheddar cheese
2 cups full cream milk
Salt and Pepper to taste

Method;
Start with the white sauce. Over a medium heat, mix the flour and butter. Constantly stir as to avoid burning. Once it forms a uniform paste, start gradually adding the milk. Stir as you pour, as to avoid lumps.

Now add the corn, tuna and cheese. Salt and pepper to taste and reduce to a low heat. Allow to simmer while rice cooks. Can be removed from the heat five minutes before serving.

Easy as that!

Our Sleep Needs Re-saving!

We used to have it sorted. My little man was a champion at self settling. Every nap. Until he came down with croup, and then it all went pear shaped. When he was unwell, he needed the extra cuddles and rocking. But then we made a habit of it. Many, many months down the track we are still there. Considering little man is 15 months old now, this is shaping up to be a big problem in the future. I need to start making steps to fix it.

As things stand at the moment, things aren't entirely difficult. It's more that I'm thinking about the future. It usually only takes 10 - 20 minutes of cuddles, rocking, and lullabies from his MyPal Scout. He needs to be asleep before he is put into bed, or he gets incredibly worked up once we leave the room. If he wakes up at night, that's a bigger issue. It has on occasion taken as long as 2 and a half hours to get him back to sleep. And given that we live in a unit in close proximity to our neighbours, that can be incredibly stressful. I remember the nights when night wake ups just required a couple of pats on the back with some shushing. Oh how I miss that. Especially in this incredibly cold weather we are having at the moment.

All those months ago, when he finally mastered self settling, we were using the techniques in Tizzie Halls book, Save Our Sleep. A controversial book for some people, but for us it worked perfectly. I thrive on structure and routine, and bub did too. However, now he's older. The techniques are different for toddlers. And little man is now more aware of being left alone, and has been through several bouts of separation anxiety. We must be strong though. I know this. I need to make sure all three of us; myself, daddy, and our little man, are in the right frame of mind when we start the arduous journey of teaching a toddler to self settle... Again.

There is sure to be a few more posts on this topic. Please cross your fingers for me!

My irrational fear.

Random Friday night confession. I'm terrified of the title music on Doctor Who. All started when I was about five years old. My Dad had just mounted a glass cabinet onto a wall, and it crashed onto the floor while we were watching tv and it just happened to be while Doctor Who was starting. Twenty Five years later, it still fills me with dread. :/.

Bini wants to blog

I'm getting a little frustrated! I want to blog! And more than just product review and OMG, I love my iPhone to death posts! How do other mums do it?!

Time for some time management me thinks! And organizing when it comes to by blog too. I think it's a little scattered, and if anybody is ready it, I'm sure they'll agree.

I finally own an iPhone!

For my very first mothers day, my husband bought me an AWESOME thing. An 4th Gen iPod touch. For a year, this thing never left my side. As somebody who used to think that iPhones and iDevices in general were just overpriced and overrated, I was converted. The thing is though, the iPod touch had a few areas where it fell short. It's camera left a lot to be desired, it constantly crashed on me, and well, it wasn't a phone! I could
text other people with other iOS 5 devices (seriously, I could text on an iPod! For free! How cool is that?!) provided I was hooked up to my wifi. Same for the Internet of course. I had to carry around my crappy Nokia E63 whenever I left the house.

I then became desperate for a iPhone. More specifically an iPhone 4S. So, a year later, with my second mothers day fast approaching, hubby finally caved in and now I have a beautiful, new, iPhone 4S. I'm in heaven! I love this thing so much! 8 mega pixel camera. Stunning video recording. Dual core processor. The ability to put a sim card in it! I can leave my Nokia at home! And let's not forget Siri.

See enclosed pics for conversations I had with Siri this morning! Lol.

New app! I am in love!

Last night I came across a brilliant iApp called Path. I've had it for only about twelve hours, and I must say I'm already well and truly hooked. It's beautiful. Social networking and photo sharing at its best. Yet, it's quite unique. This is a place where you won't seem like a total freak posting and taking photos of every minute detail of your day. For social networking and photo sharing junkies, I suggest you check it out!

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/path/id403639508?mt=8

Childcare Sonic Versus Steelcraft Agile

When I was pregnant, my mother in law bought us a pram. A Childcare Sonic. Incredibly generous of her. But it meant that I didn't have much of a say in the pram we had. And while the Sonic had some pretty cool features, it was wrong for us. After a year, it's been donated to a local pregnancy support charity, and I've got my amazing new pram. A Steelcraft Agile.


Childcare Sonic ($220)-
Pros;
Reasonably priced stroller suitable for newborns and up. Reclines flat for newborns or sleeping older bubs. Massive cargo area under pram. Parent console with cup holders. Child console attachment that clips onto belly bar support.

Cons;
Not suitable for taller children. Even as young as one. Heavy pram that is even quite large when folded. Difficult if taken on public transport due to weight and iffy brakes. Maneuverability and suspension not ideal. Doesn't take bumps in the footpath very well. Hinged compartment in parent console never stayed closed since purchase. Wheels don't swivel adequately.

Steelcraft Agile ($400)-
Pros;
Massive canopy, with viewing window that silently opens and shuts with a magnet closure. Lots of room for tall babies. Wheels and suspension that ride smoothly and quietly. Ability to lock and unlock both brakes with one foot switch. Large pocket at back of canopy. Light stroller, that folds down in a simple action. Carry handle for carrying folded stroller. Folds nice and small. Easy recline with a single action. Comes with its own storm cover.
Cons;
Cargo area under pram smaller that what I'm used to and difficult to access. Harness straps a little fiddly and padding doesn't seems to want to stay on straps. Belly bar support not included and needs to be purchased separately.

All in all. I'm ecstatic with my Steelcraft Agile. I've only had it for a couple of days and yet to take it on the bus, but so far so good! The little passenger seems to enjoy it too. The Agile is intended as a travel system. A capsule is available separately that can be transferred from car to pram. Worthwhile if purchasing this pram for a newborn and if traveling by car. Neither an issue for us!

First of hopefully many posts

I honestly don't know what's up with me. I love blogging. I've been an avid journal writer since I was a preteen. I find writing so therapeutic that I even considered (and dolled out a stupid amount of money in course fees) writing professionally. I have a lot to write about, and opinions that I would like so share. So why oh why can't I commit to a blog?

If I were to be honest with myself, I could safely say I have started around ten or twelve blogs in recent years. My most active blog would probably of been in 2010 while I was pregnant with my son. Sixty nine entries in that one. The last one being when I was about 36 weeks pregnant.

So here I am, trying once again to get a blog happening. This blog will be about all kinds of things. From motherhood, cooking, knitting, iApps and a few other things that interest me. It won't be everyones cup of tea (oh tea! Another topic that could come up), but so be it. It's my blog.

Wish me luck.