I actually really enjoy seeing pics on social media of where people are standing and the story of where they are, what they are doing/experiencing; it's fun to see and read about people's journey through life and the everyday.

I love doing it.

Photographing memorable moments.

Writing down things I would like to remember down the track.

 

I am always 'snapping' away with my camera or jotting down a little quote or activity from throughout the day. For memory's sake.

 

Ever since January last year, I have joined in with a photo-a-day challenge created by Chantelle of Fat Mum Slim.

It has been so much fun and I am still carrying on with it to this day. Here is next month's daily photo prompt list for April.

I really enjoy the idea of taking a photo every day related to the prompt. It gets your mind ticking over and I feel that my imagination has expanded more in coming up with different ideas for photos and such. Good for documenting the 'everyday' too!

 

In mentioning about documenting the everyday, this year I committed myself to Project Life and creating a weekly double page layout showcasing our family's adventures for 2013!

In doing this, I thought that for April - in addition to the Fat Mum Slim photo challenge - I would create my own list of prompts to help me along in documenting more things about myself and things around me. And to just take more 'life snaps' that are great for Project Life and creating an album full of moments and meaningful tidbits.

Part of my aim for this year was to 'go deeper'. Don't just document the normal, on-the-surface stuff but really write down feelings, include some of the not-so-good moments as well as the really awesome times, and to just be REAL! That way, I can look back and see the true journey through life with all its twists and turns. And see how far I, and we, have come! Not to focus on the drab and mundane but just to include it. In some way, shape or form. Life isn't perfect. But sometimes our imperfections can help in making us better and create beauty in us.

Embrace every aspect of life.

That's what I wanna do.

 









There are so many words, quotes, phrases around that spark a certain meaning and importance to us when we read them.

Today I was browsing my 'Words to Live By' pinboard on Pinterest (you can follow me by clicking on the Pinterest button in the sidebar), and there was one particular quote that stuck out to me...

{Source}

I have always lived by these words. I have said before that I hate negativity and always strive to be positive in every circumstance. Sometimes the moment gets the better of me and I need to step back and get some perspective. I am reminded of something I used to do every night before going to sleep while I was going through Uni.

I had an A5 size envelope, a pad and a pen beside my bed. I had labelled the envelope with these words:

'Something Positive For Each Day'

And I would do just that. Write something positive about my day on a piece of the pad paper, rip it off the page and slide it into the envelope.

A couple of years later, I found that envelope again. Wow! The power of positivity. It was such an eyeopener, reading some of the things I had written on those pieces of paper. At times, it had been as desperate as saying, 'The sun was warm coming through my window'! My favourite one was the one that read:

"[He] proposed to me tonight. And I said 'Yes'!"

Squeal. So much fun to look back on and think of such fond moments in time.

Which brings me back to the quote above. There is always something good in a day! Heck! It might just be that it was a bright sunny day, but that is SOMETHING. And sunshine is always GOOD in my opinion!!

This has challenged me to start up my little envelope tradition again - maybe you would like to start one too. You don't have to use an envelope either; you could use a jar or a box. Whatever you feel like really. I'm even gonna go as far as writing something positive at the end of each blog post I write in June! If you have a blog, maybe you would like to join in with me for the month of June :-) Let me know if you do so we can share the love and spread the positive vibe!!

Think Positively!

Choose Joy!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna



I love food.

I have always liked dining out, although it never happens much these days - unless you count McDonalds or Subway or Dome.

It would be nice and really fun to be one of those real foodies. You know the ones that dine out alot or cook this awesome gourmet food at home. To experience many differents foods or same ingredients cooked in different ways. To know all the food lingo. Just to bask in the wonder and beauty of the culinary arts!!

To be on MasterChef or My Kitchen Rules. Seriously! Those guys have the BEST job, don't ya think!?!

Ahhh...

Just a moment while I dream for a little bit...

Food...glorious food!!!

ALAS! I am not an extragant foodie.

Nevertheless, I DO love food.

I am just not a lover of cooking or being in the kitchen for hours.

I am a simple meal creator. And try to be as healthy as I can.

I get a real buzz out of the end result, especially if it has been quick, easy, and looks darn good. And of course, tastes delicious as well!

I love plating up! I reckon I would be an awesome 'Food Presenting Artist'. To have someone else prepare and cook all the foods and then leave it to me to plate it all up and make the dish shine would be such a fascinating and enjoyable job hey!?!

Anyway, I have digressed...

Simple.

Quick.

Yummy.

That's me.

I have a variety of main meal dishes that I rotate around weekly, occasionally adding in a different dish that I found in a recipe book, magazine, or online on a blog or website somewhere - just to mix it up abit. I find it hard to stray from what I know works - but I am getting better!

I thought I would share one of our favourite dishes we like to eat in our household.

Whenever, we go to a pub or some restaurant, I pretty much always order Chicken Parmigiana or whatever chicken dish is on offer. I rarely ever veer away from chicken. I am not sure why. I mean - I love chicken- so, Go Figure, I'd pick chicken. I guess though, I am not really good with change, particularly in the food area. In a way, I am probably afraid that I would have paid good money for something new and if I didn't like it, would have wasted good money when I could have ordered the chicken dish that I know I would have liked.

Holy heck, I am coming off sounding like some complex fusspot aren't I!?! Pffft.

Well, onto the recipe share.

Low and behold, it's...

[drumroll please]

CHICKEN PARMIGIANA

Anna's style

This recipe serves two (possible four) so if you have more people, obviously get the amount of ingredients applicable to your situation.

I use two chicken breasts and kind of butterfly them open to make them less thick and bulky so they cook through quicker.

[In this particular photo, I had sliced off a couple of edges to cook for Sprout]

I pour water into a pan (to come up about 3cms) and sprinkle some chicken stock powder in it for flavour. Bring it to a light boil and then place the chicken in to just cook through. Turn it over to cook through the other side as well.

When it looks not too pink inside, transfer the pieces of chicken to an oven proof dish.

You would have realised by now that I don't crumb the chicken. I don't find it necessary to do so. Plus it's healthier this way.

Spread diced tomatoes over the cooked chicken breasts - I use a can of organic diced tomatoes but you could chop up fresh ones or even put tomato slices over the chicken if you like. Whatever tickles ya fancy :-)

Spread over grated cheddar or mozzerella cheese.

Place in a moderate oven for about 20mins or enough to melt and slightly golden up the cheese.

Serve with a salad OR bake some chips in the oven and serve as a side dish with some vegies of your choice.

It can be quite a large portion size, depending on the size of the chicken breasts, so you might want to half each piece if you desire less. I tend to serve up the whole piece as my hubby usually comes home famished after a days work on the farm doing sheepwork or what-have-you, and just wants to sit down to a good hearty meal. And this dish, pretty much does the trick :-)

So there you have it.

Let's Eat!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna



There is an old phrase that I am sure we have all heard...

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

And it is still true!

When we put our heads together - ideas are born. When we link hands - the load is shared. If we come together - CHANGE CAN HAPPEN!

When seeing today's prompt, my mind automatically flicked to the many causes and charities out there that are formed with the idea of making a difference. But in order to do that, they need the help and good will of everyone one else TOGETHER - including you and me - to give their cause a chance.

I thought I would mention a few causes that have caught my attention lately that I would love to contribute to and hopefully maybe spur you in their direction too.

MY LIST OF CAUSES

Foundation 18 - Cate Bolt

This organisation aims to improve the quality of life of orphaned & underpriveleged children; providing education and a safe environment in which to learn and grow. It was established by a remarkable Australian woman - humanitarian and conservationist, Cate Bolt.

They have an Etsy shop!

All proceeds of the shop go entirely towards running their orphanage in Indonesia & towards education outreach programs ensuring Third World children receive an education.

For more information on Foundation 18

SHOP

This organisation runs an additional campaign which supports this cause also, which is called...

The Giving Bowl - Cate Bolt

This is an international campaign for incidental altruism.

They also have an Etsy shop which sells beautiful manually felted wool bowls. The concept behind the shop is simply to buy a bowl, throw in your loose spare change each day and when it's full - donate to a worthy cause. But this is only one option - they would also be great for keys, jewellery, storage for any crafty knick knacks, etc, etc.

Each bowl purchase also benefits disadvantaged children in Indonesia.

For more information on The Giving Bowl

FACEBOOK

SHOP

But it doesn't stop there.

Cate's 8 year old daughter also runs an Etsy shop to support a cause called...

Planet You

All money raised through this store goes to funding microloans so women in developing countries can start or grow their own business.

For more information on Planet You

SHOP

I saw an ad for this next cause and was instantly intrigued so just HAD to look it up...

5cent - YGAP

YGAP is a not-for-profit organisation aiming to redefine how people contribute to change.

5cent is a creative fundraising initiative where they are seeking your spare change. On its own, 5 cents doesn't hold much value BUT with 150million dollars worth in circulation, collectively they can create lasting change. And this organisation is aiming to change the lives of people living in disadvantaged communities, both in Australia and abroad.

Go here to sign up

For more information on YGAP

Have you seen the movie Taken starring Liam Neeson. It is a compelling, somewhat disturbing, story based around human trafficking and forced prostitution. If you are a father, or just a parent full stop really, this movie would stir something in you for sure! Well, it did for hubby and I.

It got me thinking of times when I was in school and at church, where people came and talked about these issues and the causes that were out there to stop these events from happening or to save some of these girls (and boys) from slavery.

Here is one...

The A21 Campaign

Targeting Human Trafficking.

Abolishing Injustice in the 21st Century.

Their aim is to Prevent, Protect, Prosecute, and Partner in order to combat this very serious injustice to many humans.

{Source}

For more information on The A21 Campaign

Visit their blog

These are all causes that I have tagged and favourited and aim to get more involved in and contribute to. So you will most likely hear more about some or all of these at a later date. I shall keep you posted!

One last thing...

I got a parcel in the mail today from my dear family in Tassie. One of the things Mum had popped in there was a magazine she thought I'd be interested in. She thought RIGHT! I flipped to a page and this popped out at me...





na-ture [ney-cher]

The natural world as it exists without human beings or civilisation.

The elements of the natural world, as mountains, trees, animals, or rivers.

{http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nature?s=t}

Let's take a peek into the world of nature...

The universe, with all its phenomena.

We are surrounded by such beauty!



Today was all about LOOKING OUT at the world around me and seeing what my life is filled with.

We all got up this morning and rushed around getting dressed and ready to go to town. We had decided that we would go to church today. We haven't been for over 2 years now and thought, since we live closer to town, we should start finding some place we would like to attend more regularly. It has always been about travel issues which is slightly easier now being closer so we will see how we go.

Whilst getting dressed, Sprout came to me like this...

I had no idea what I was going to post about for today.

But then I kept seeing red things throughout my day and started snapping!

The cup Sprout has her hot chocolate or juice in every morning.