More adventures of Super Mummy and Rainbow Girl...

Today Rainbow Girl and Super Mummy decided that all the Barbie Doll's needed brand new party dresses ( and a special home made chocolate cake for the said party ) so we set about making 6 new dolly dresses. Super Mummy remembers loving making and designing Barbie clothes when she was just a little superhero, and Super Mummy was very keen to pass that enjoyment onto Rainbow Girl. Together they sat down and found a top and skirt design online that they then melded into a dress and added a tie waist ribbon to make putting on and fitting so much easier.

Ta dah !!! We have 6 stunning new dresses all ready to wear to the party !! And Super Mummy is so glad that she is somewhat of an organised sewing hoarder and has kept oodles of scrap fabrics for just such an occasion........ ahhh, who needs Edith Head when one has Super Mummy and Rainbow Girl at the helm !!! (Ok Ok, so unlike Edith in a film, these are all the same pattern !! Never Mind.....sometimes a Super Mummy takes the easy way to giving joy to Rainbow Girl !!)

The adventures of Super Mummy and Rainbow Girl .....

If you are a Mum you will relate. It's pouring rain, the kids have been couped up inside for almost two weeks of school holidays. They have watched every age appropriate DVD your library contains, and you are seriously considering playing the others. Your computer keyboard wont function properly due to the remnants of bread roll caught between the keys from your sons venture online with Wow Wow Wubsie games, (the state of my keyboard at this very moment) the lounge room floor is littered with popcorn and leggo, and the grizzling, fighting and complaining puts you in very near need of a straitjacket. What do you do????

All of a sudden, in a flash of inspiration, it's SUPER MUMMY to the rescue. Ceasing three old t-shirts, you tell your wee ones that today is super hero day and they will need to design on paper their super hero outfit. The whining and fighting stops. They sit down at the kitchen table and draw diligently for 10 minutes. (This in itself is a miracle as the children have the attention span of a Crusty Demons of Dirt Biking fan at the latest screening of Jayne Eyre). OK, you now have three hilarious costume designs, and the children are majorly intrigued by Super Mummies antics as she swiftly cuts out various satin colours from her stash and deftly aplicays them onto the t-shirts in desperate next-to-no-timedness.

All at once, out of no where appear 'Star Boy' in a blaze of blue t-shirt, red satin star on front and gorgeous streaming red satin cape. 'Green Darcy' flies in with a spiral logo in electric blue satin on the front of his long sleeve apple green t-shirt. And' Rainbow Girl' arrives with outstretched flying arm in her tri-coloured rainbow on pink t-shirt with apple green satin cape.

Super Mummy is blown away by the creativity of her children - in particular 3 year old Rainbow Girl who cries out "Rainbow Girl to the rescue" thrusting her fist into the air and zooming off to save 'Petal' her teddy. Talk about one hilarious way to fill in most of a day, and the children spent the remainder of the day playing super hero's. Which was just as well, because Super Mummy was very much in need of an Earl Grey Tea and a magazine......

Stay tuned for more adventures in the next exciting episode of Super Mummy and rainbow Girl !!

Microwave Tips and Tricks...

Well, ok, I know they never had microwaves in the 1950's, so what on earth is this post doing on my blog? Let me just say that throughout my blog I am aiming to recreate the simplicity of the mid century lives my grandmothers lived, as well as aesthetics of the era. If there was something around that made their careers as homemakers more efficient, more effective and less hard work, they would have been onto it !!!

I remember Grandma Jean working over an old fashioned wringer 'washing machine' on washday, cooking scrumptious dishes on a woodfired stove, sewing clothing on her treadle singer sewing machine, and preserving an abundance of fruit from the orchard with her Fowlers kit.

Nanna Alice enjoyed doing her housework to music on her hi-fi system, polished her linoleum floor with a vacuum like floor polishing machine, and had a beautiful collection of photographs of her life that she had taken on her box brownie.

They weren't always after the latest fad invention, they cared for their appliances etc and made them last a lifetime.....but a wringer washing machine was worlds apart from a washboard and tub; a hi-fi system to enjoy made housework so much more pleasant; a singer sewing machine was far more effective than hand stitching everything. And today, a microwave can help make your life as a home-maker (in full time capacity or otherwise!) much more effective too.......let me share with you some clever ways how:

Poached eggs:

I love to cook my eggs this way - it is so quick and leaves practically no mess to clean up at all. Simply crack two eggs into a mug with a drip of water (really, you hardly need any water at all). Pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Let sit in the microwave for 10 seconds, and heat again for 30 seconds. When you remove your eggs should be poached to perfection.....you can increase or decrease the time of the second heating session depending on how runny you like your yolks. *** The reason for the two heating sessions is to prevent the egg from over heating all at once and splattering all over the microwave.

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake:

Friends dropped in for afternoon tea unexpectedly and you have nothing to eat with your plunger coffee? Quickly pop

4 Tbspoons plain flour

4 Tbspoons sugar

2 Tbspoons cocoa

 in a mug and mix well.

Add

1 Egg and mix

Pour in and mix

3 Tbspoons milk

3 Tbspoons Oil or melted butter

Splash vanilla extract

you can add 3 Tbspoons choc chips if you have them too !!

Wack in the microwave for 3 mins on high. The cake will rise up above the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed. Once done, let it cool, tip onto a plate and eat on its own - or with cream or ice cream, or even raspberry sauce if you are lucky enough to have some in the pantry !!

Drying Herbs:

You can dry your own herbs in a microwave - think of the thrill of creating your own herbal teas strait from your garden ! Pick your fresh herbs and make sure there is no moisture on them (it will cook the herbs rather than dry them). Place them in between some paper towel to make sure. Place them in between the paper towel in the microwave and cook on high for 2 mins. Tah dah !! herbs for cooking and herbal teas in an instant !

Potato Chip Revitalisation !! :

Refresh stale potato chips by putting them on a plate for 30 seconds, then let stand for about one minute. You can also do this for soggy peanuts.

Ripen an Avocado:

Microwave avocado on Medium (50%) for 2 minutes. Turn over, microwave 1 minute more.

Increase your lemon juice:

Want to get the most juice from fresh lemons? Before squeezing fresh lemons, warm them in the microwave oven for about 40 seconds. You’ll get twice as much juice from each and every lemon.

Rain Soaked Newspaper:

It’s almost impossible to read a rain soaked newspaper. Don’t throw it away. Heat it on a low setting until it’s dry and once again readable.

Unused Stamps:

Everyone has at one time or another placed a postage stamp on an envelope only to decide later not to send it. Simply place a couple drops of water on the stamp, and microwave it for about 20 seconds. The stamp will come off easily.

  

No Cry Onions:

If you love to cook with onions but you don’t want to cry, trim off the ends, and heat them on full power for about 30 seconds. With these tips and tricks, chopping will be a tear free experience


** Some of these tips are courtesy of Associated Content

Housewife quotes

“No laborer in the world is expected to work for room, board, and love - except the housewife”

 (Letty Cottin Pogrebin)

“I have too many fantasies to be a housewife. I guess I am a fantasy.”

(Marilyn Monroe)

 

"I prefer the word "homemaker" because "housewife" always implies that there may be a wife someplace else”

(Bella Abzug)

 

“I would be content being a housewife if I could find the kind of man who wouldn't treat me like one”

(Terry McMillan)

 

“I don't pretend to be an ordinary housewife.”

(Elizabeth Taylor)

 

“Being a housewife and a mother is the biggest job in the world, but if it doesn't interest you, don't do it - I would have made a terrible mother.”

(Katherine Hepburn)

 

“By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class.”

(Anne Morrow Lindbergh)

“I hate the word housewife; I don't like the word home-maker either. I want to be called Domestic Goddess.”
(Roseanne Barr)

How DID vintage momma's do it?????

My Dad driving the car and his little brother enjoying the ride !!

Yes, we mothers are breathing a united sigh of relief right across Australia as our children get back into the routine of school, kinda or playgroup after the summer break. My summer has been divided between various trips to lakes, rivers and swimming pools and retreating under the airconditioner while the kids did nothing much more than watch TV, grizzle and quarrel. Many a time I asked myself  "How on earth did my for-mothers do it"? After all, they raised their children without the help of airconditioning and television, baked their own bread in 45 degree heat on the old wood stove, hand washed everything and had children galore underfoot the entire time - how on earth did they keep their sanity?

Esther Edis, my great great grandmother and mother of 16 children, all of whom survived into adulthood - no mean feat for that day and age !! But doesnt her worn out face say it all !!!

Whenever I am overwhlemed with the care of my three little treasures (all under the age of four) I remind myself of my great great grandmother who had 16 (!) children.....the majority of her adult life was spent pregnant, every two years another child was on the way just as the last one was weaned. This amazing woman lived in a time of hard manual labour, caring for 16 children and a husband while pregnant or with a newborn for most of her life.....I am truely humbled when I think of her.

Happy snaps - my mother, her sisters and brother as little children - notice the kitten in my mothers arms, one of her favorite childhood passtime memories !

So, as I have pondered these things over the summer, I have asked my mother and aunt how they remembered filling in their childhood days without television and airconditioning, and without a mother free to take them to the lake for a swim....both spoke fondly of beautiful childhood memories such as playing with kittens, climbing the apricot tree, making 'farms' in the dirt and dust of the driveway.....my Dad remembers having pretend livestock sales with his brother, riding horses and playing with cap guns and tin soldiers......isnt that beautiful, pure and delightful? I myself remember my weekends and holidays being filled with building cubby houses in the bush, pretend fishing in the channel, and sending my Barbie Dolls 'swimming' down the fast flowing but reasonably shallow irrigation channel. I wonder what memories my own children will have of their holidays some day? Hopefully more than just watching television!!

 I would love to hear your memories, especially if you grew up without xbox games, TV and airconditioning too !!!

Babies ! Choosing babies sex.....

OK, there is no delicate way to approach this. Babies. I have been asked so many times to explain what we did to have a baby girl after two boys, that I thought I would post this info online to refer people too ! This is defiantly not 1950's material, but it kind of fits the whole 'home-maker' career thing I guess.

My mother was apparently able to choose the sex of her last baby using this method, as were two of my close girlfriends, and I myself would swear that it worked for us....however, I want to stress that this is NOT a foolproof method. DO NOT rush to your singer sewing machine and start whipping up pink or blue garments for baby ! If anything, this method is purely to increase the odds in favour of what you want....but that's just it, they are still odds, and the X or Y chromisome on which you place your bet may still come in a poor second. However, it certainly does no harm to try your darnedest does it !!!!!

First thing's first

The first thing is girls, you need to be pretty regular in your cycle. And you need to spend a couple of months working out the days you are fertile. It all depends on this. (My apologies to any truly 1950's minded people who will baulk at talking about personal stuff like this !!!) One idea is to mark on the calendar the first day of your period and the last day of your period. You can then add up how many days your period goes for and how many days you are period free (woo hoo!!). If you don't run quite like clockwork, simply work out your average. Do this for about 4-5 months....this should give you a pretty good idea. Then go to a good ovulation calculator (there are plenty online)....this is a good one

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/ovulation-calculator.html?s_cid=EB_Google_OvCalculator1&A=0&gclid=CI-q6tO64ZwCFc0vpAodYXZcKQ

Once you have the calendar with your fertile days marked on it, you are all set.....here goes !!

IMPORTANT TO KNOW - IT ALL HINGES ON THIS!

The male chromosome swims fast (just look at toddler boys and this will all make sense !!!). Female chromosomes carry more genetic material (apparently, - I am no Doctor or scientist !!) so they are heavier and therefore swim slower, however, they live alot longer - just look in nursing homes at the male female ratio and you will see this carry's into life as well !!

The theory to get a boy...

Your egg is usually released towards the end of the fertility phase on your calendar. So, to 'get' a boy, you need more male sperm there ready and waiting for the egg. As the male sperm swim faster, but die quicker, you will want to have sex on every day of your fertile phase...that gives those little fellas more chance to get there first when ever the egg arrives ! Now, I would not have sex 10 times a day or anything ('darn!!!' say's hubby) as I have read that the more times you have sex in a short space of time, the less male chromosomes are produced. Dont know how true that is, but it is worth keeping in mind just the same ! Once, or maybe twice a day if you're real keen, should be plenty!

The theory to get a girl......

As your egg is usually released towards the end of the fertility phase on your calendar, and female chromosomes live longer (but swim slower), you only need to have sex once ('oh DAMN!!!' says hubby). You will want to have sex at the beginning of your fertility phase so that all those little male sperm have spent themselves by the time the egg arrives, and the slow and steady female sperm get the prize !

That's the theory - it is that straightforward. At your fertility time, lots of sex for a boy, sex once for a girl. Of course this is all on the assumption that fertility issues are not a problem for you and your partner.

Some other 'tid-bits'.....

There are a couple of old wives tales that you may like to throw into the mix if you want....

1. To get a girl, men should 'use a hair-dryer on themselves' before sex as male sperm do not like high temperatures. (Insert grin here at the visual image this one creates !!!)

2. To get a boy, women should eat plenty of high potassium foods - bananas, peanut butter etc - as this creates an environment helpful to male sperm. Obviously, cut out the potassium if it's a girl you want !

3. There are some theory's as to position during sex, but I didn't find these helpful as they more often than not contradicted each other. Position - who cares ! Just enjoy it !

Now that all that has been said, best of luck to you if you are trying ! And PLEASE contact me via this blog to let me know if you have success with this theory or not - it would be interesting to know ! God bless you and your future families!

Homemaker Tips and Tricks

Best ever play dough

6 cups plain flour
3 cups salt
1/3-cup vegetable oil
6 cups water
1 cup cream of tarter
food colouring of choice

Place in a heavy bottomed saucepan, stir over medium heat until too difficult to stir. Allow to cool, and use to children’s hearts content! Store wrapped in gladwrap and in an airtight container. ** This makes a huge amount so I halve the recipe which is plenty for my three children to use.


Broken Glass

Use a piece of bread to pick up small fragments of broken glass

Window Cleaner

1 cup metholated spirits

1 cup amonia

1 cup kerosene

1 cup water

Combine all ingredients in large bottle. Always shake well before using. Apply to windows, then polish with a clean cloth.

Chewing gum in hair

Soak cloth in eucalyptus oil and dab on affected hair till hair comes free.

Another alternative is to wrap ice cube in a cloth and apply to chewing gum until it is chilled. It should then lift off.


Removing blood stains

Soak overnight is disolved salt and water, then wash in normal way.


Removing grass stains

2 parts metholated spirits, 1 part ammonia, 3 parts water. Soak soiled part, then wash in normal way


Removing lipstick stains

Dab stain with white spirit (available at hardware shops) on a damp rag until stain lifts. Wash in normal way.

Another alternative is to use spray on carpet cleaner on the stain, then wash in normal way immediately. Test the carpet cleaner on an unexposed piece of garment firstly to make sure colours will not run or fade.

Shine and clean floorboards naturally

Use a cap of eucalyptus oil dissolved in a bucket of hot water to add shine and remove marks from polished floorboards

Cleaning Sink/Drains

2 tablespoons bicarb soda
2 tablespoons vinegar

Place bicarb down the sink drain, followed by vinegar and leave to dissolve both unwanted odours and accumulation of grime.


Cut Flowers

Place cut flowers into vase of water with ½ teaspoon of bleach added. Flowers will keep longer.


Remove Fridge Odours

Wipe walls of fridge and freezers with vanilla essance dabbed on a damp cloth. Place saucer of bicarb soda in fridge to remove food odours.


Clean a Dirty Iron

Clean a dirty iron plate with cold tea.


Keeping a clean oven

Place aluminium foil on base of oven to catch spills and grease drips.


Cleaning stainless steel

Use vinegar soaked cloth to clean stainless steel items


Baked on food

Soak dishes in water and fabric softener for 2-3 hours to save scrubbing with steel wool !

Sources: Various cookbooks, magazines, grandmothers 'useful book' as gathered throughout the years.