Baking day.

(Isn't it annoying how baking is usually all the same colour?)

As part of my attempt to keep our weekly spending at bay, I have been making an extra effort to make sure I bake each week. I try to crank out a few things in one go, put some in the cupboard and stash the rest in the freezer for later in the week (amazing how much longer things last when the boys think there are only a few left!).

For this week I made blueberry muffins, choc chip cookies, and apricot almond cookies. All from the Edmonds cookbook. I didn't have enough margarine to make the crackers yesterday, but I'll make those this afternoon from the usual recipe. Nom!

Part of my resolutions for this year (which I might tell you about one day..) was to start making our bread.
I really dislike the fact that bread costs so much, meaning we can only afford to buy the really budget brands. The cheap-o brands, for some reason, seem so much less nutritious than the other brands and don't really taste of anything much. We eat A LOT of bread in our house, so while it probably still works out cheaper to be buying the packaged stuff, I much prefer the idea of having something I KNOW has at least a little nutrition.

I can't remember where I found the recipe that I've been using (such an out-of-practice blogger!), but it is for a lovely part-wholemeal bread. It's a little bit sweet, and very scrummy. I am using the 'dough' function on the (borrowed) breadmaker, then rising, and baking in the oven. It is more time consuming but the loaf is a nicer shape and it just seems to work.

I should really try a few more recipes, but it's tempting to just stick with what you know is good! Anyone got any tried and true recipes?

FFF!

(I know, it is Saturday. Just play along!)

I'm really, really loving Kristins new wee section on her blog at the moment ' Boy Style Friday'. It's all about stylish clothes for boys, that don't break the bank. It's perfect for me, with two boys and a very small-to-non-existent clothing budget. And Kristin is the perfect woman for the job, being such a stylish lass herself!

So, without stealing  any of her limelight, I'm going to to use this as the perfect way to get back on the blogging horse. If there's one thing that always seems to get me inspired to sign into blogger, it's photos of outfits.
I've decided that I'll include myself in the post too though, just for a bit of difference. I've found myself missing our little 'Wardrobe Wednesday' posts, and neglecting to take so much notice of what I'm wearing. So, hoping noone minds, I'm going to attempt to tie-in with Kristin and do a Frugal Fashion Friday.

This is my outfit today. A fairly standard outfit for me at the moment, it's too hot to wear much else!

Sunglasses - $10 on sale at Just Jeans
Singlet- $8 full price at Kmart
Skirt- $2 at the Sallies
Belt - $1 at the Sallies when I was in high school
Shoes - $6 at the Warehouse

And these are outfits the boys wore this week.
Aesop chose his own clothes, he's getting to be quite the individual when it comes to clothes, his outfits are certainly not always to my taste, but they're very 'Aesop'. His modelling moves are all his own too, I told him I wanted to take a photo and this is what I got! NZNTM as.

Hat- a gift from a friend, originally op-shopped.
Scarf - an op shopped piece of gingham.
Singlet - about $6 at Farmers
Shorts - $17 at Farmers, bought by Nana.

Beads - mine, $2 at St Vinnies
Hoodie - bought for Aesop for a dollar or two at St Vinnies in Nelson
Shorts - bought by Nana, for Aesop.
Shoes - hand me downs from a friend (that stayed on only long enough for one photo!)
He also had a plain grey singlet underneath that was Aesop's.

Sweet! Oh, and thanks to those of you who are still reading! Thanks for hanging around!