6 eggs 4 bacon rashes (chopped)

1 small onion (diced finely)

In a pie dish put one sheet on puff pastry. Spread the onion and bacon over the bottom of the dish. Whisk the 6 eggs together and pour over the top. Put the other sheet of puff pastry on top and add some vent holes. Bake in oven at about 180 until the top is golden.

We also like to add sundried tomatoes and mushrooms, but up to you.

Do you ever think about how you would like to spend your time?

Are you over scheduling yourself?

Is everything you do for others?

Do you spend any time alone?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to 3 of these questions – You need to make a change!

If you have answered ‘yes’ to all of these questions, drop what your doing and make a change TODAY!

“But, I have no time” I hear you say.  ”It’s not possible” I hear you say.

You have to make time.  You have to make it possible. – Not just for yourself but for your family  (i’ll explain in a minute)

Dare I say that the above may be excuses.  Or could it be self sabotage?

Yes, it takes effort to schedule yourself in.  Yes, it may mean saying no to someone, or lord forbid cancelling a a scheduled commitment.

I used to hear myself making excuses all the time.  ”I have no time”  is a favorite of mine.

Be realistic with your self care, don’t set yourself up to fail.  You want to make small changes that are manageable.

It may just mean locking the bathroom door and having a soak in the tub.

It may mean going for a walk by yourself.

It may mean sitting on the beach with a magazine.

It may mean sitting in the sun just thinking.

It may mean snuggling up in bed with a new book.

It may mean meditation. – You can download free or cheap aps I love this one 

All of the above iv’e listed take less then 25 minutes each.

Just once a week to begin with, it’s about reclaiming yourself and your time.

Take the time to schedule in YOU TIME.  It may mean having a chat with your other half and working out times where you could take turns having “me time”.

It may mean taking turns with one of your friends, ie she picks the kids up from school one afternoon a week and vise versa.

It may mean grabbing a new movie for the kids and setting them up with blankies etc – That will buy you at least an hour (depending on age).  There are ways – just put your thinking cap on.

You will not begin to imagine how invigorating it is and how much better you will feel.

Trust me, this is a new thing for me too and I know life can be extremely busy.  But please do yourself a favour and do something for you.  Believe it or not this too will have an impact on the entire family.  I would like to share a story with you.

Just the other day, I felt really stressed, uptight and tired, so I ignored everything else and poured myself a nice warm bath and relaxed in it for about half an hour.  A little while later I was in the kitchen and my daughter walked up to me and said.  ”Mum can you light this candle I want to relax and have a bath.”

What an amazing moment as a Mother, I thought well there you go,  I’m role modelling self care to my daughter she is picking up on my self choices.  This was a very proud moment for me.  And it instilled in me the importance of my new choices.

Do you think you can commit to 25 minutes a week to look after you? – Just remember these small changes can have a HUGE impact on your life.

You don’t want burn out, or worse case scenario a break down. – Who will look after the kids then?

Really think about that! – As parents we know that we need to fill our kids heads with words of affirmations and try to give them as much praise as possible so they can grow into successful humans.

We know that right?

Well, what about us?

How often do you hear that little voice in your head putting you down saying things like:

“Well you really stuffed that up”

God, you’re slack!” or “You really could have done better if you were more organised!”

To be honest, I personally hear that negative voice a lot. (If I don’t monitor it) It’s like this little yucky fellow that slowly makes his way back into your head.

I caught myself feeling really sad the other day so I started to question why I was feeling that way.

I started to listen to that voice consciously.  That little inner voice was having a great ol time ripping into me.

I find it creeps back when I’m either tired, stressed or I’ve simple over-scheduled myself.

It’s when I haven’t actively looked after myself by taking time out to actively do things I love.

I think I speak for us all when I say, we as Mothers do that a lot!

It’s about maintaining control and taking the time out to be active in our own self care.

Here’s a couple of questions I would like you to ponder.

When was the last time you thought about you?

Can you clearly articulate what makes you happy?

Do you make time for you?

How loud is your self love voice?

How loud is your self hate voice?

Which one do you listen to more?

How did you go?  do you think it’s time to make a change?

In order to function and be the best we can be; we need to self check regularly we need to check in and listen to our thoughts and ask ourselves are they negative or are they positive?

That negative voice effects our feelings and they way we parent, THEY DO! That is why we MUST actively turn that self love voice up!

If you want to be a better Mother you MUST look after your own needs and wants.  Think back to the last time you flew in a plane.

What did the Air Hostess say? – She said, fit your own breathing device before you fit your child’s.

You can not physically help your child or be the best role model for them if you don’t first look after YOU!

Next time you hear that negative voice, say stop in your head.  Then  replace it with some words of self love.  Practice self compassion,  be kind to yourself.  It will come naturally after time.

It’s something i’m still practicing. Practice makes perfect right? – RIGHT!

If you would like to learn more about Self Love and Self Care visit my friend Kirri

Kristy xx

1. Turn your inner voice up

Turn it up REAL LOUD!

Listen to your own thoughts and your own feeling on matters.  Dull the chattering voices,  you don’t need to  look to others to hear what have to say.   It’s time to start looking within.  The voice is there, it may be quiet,  you just need to practice listening to it, this may take time, but honestly practice listening, it will get louder the more you listen. xx

2. Don’t compare yourself with others

It’s really easy to get caught up other peoples successes,   The problem with comparison it that is you start to doubt yourself;  and you start to pick yourself apart.  They are them you are you.    Don’t sell yourself short by comparing yourself to them.

3. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover 

Be respectful to everyone you meet.  You can not possibly know someone from a 2 minute encounter. You can not assume they are not worthy of your time because they are different to you; or people that you normally spend time with.  You never know, this person may be in your life to teach you something, or you may have just met a new friend.

4. Activley  practice Self Care

Self-care covers a broad range of behaviours and activities, designed to enhance and nurture your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Self care means different things to different people. There is no set formula of what you “should” be doing in order to take care of yourself. The  only  ‘should’  about  these  activities  is  that  they  be  things  that  you engage in regularly and that they edify and lift you up! – Read more about Self Care here

5.  BE YOU BE YOU BE YOU!!

I honestly believe this is THE MOST important point.  Be Honest, Be Real!  Whatever you do don’t try to be someone else. Humans have a great inbuilt bullshit detector and it comes off as insincere.- That’s why it’s easier to just be You!  And once you really settle into being you and listening to your own voice, people will be drawn to you because you will be comfortable in your own skin.

Image taken by Amy 

Have you got any points to add? I would love to grow this list so please share other points. xx

The Port Douglas Carnivale is NEXT WEEKEND!! This year I will be taking my family and I’ll be sharing my mini holiday with you.

I love The Port Douglas Carnivale, it’s such a fantastic event.  It’s an event that you could either take your kids and have a nice family weekend away; or you can make it a “date weekend” with hubby.

This year we’re going up as a family and here’s our schedule: *(Tip take notes of our schedule as it will be the bases of my next giveaway which is a Sunset Sail Trip)

Friday 17th May

We’re heading up on the Friday afternoon and we”ll be attending the “Street Parade” – Free Event

It’s starts at 4pm with entertainment, music, street theatre, markets stalls, rides and amusements.  So we will be there as early as we possibly can, we don’t want to miss a thing! The the street parade starts at 7 pm followed by Fireworks at 9pm

Saturday 18th Of May 

We’ll be heading to the ”The Carnivale Beach Day” – Free Event

The day starts at 6am, with a series of holistic activities including Meditation, Yoga and Tai Chi. I would love to go the that, but I reckon I may be snoring in bed.

There will be a dedicated Kids Fun Zone sandcastle competition, treasure hunt and giant water slide, as well as the market place serving food, refreshments and gifts on the Esplanade.

Local buskers, art happenings, pony rides and street theatre performers will be all over the beach, and there will even be a skydiving display! so come along, join in and celebrate with the local community on this happy, creative and energetic day of fun.  Saturday night , We’re having the kids minded and we’re getting all “dressed up” to attend the outdoor food and wine festival.

Sunday 19th Of May

You will find me relaxing  by the pool, with a cocktail in hand listening to smooth grooves at QT there will also have punch jugs and local and imported beers, all served alongside yummy food offerings including  wood fired pizzas, and specialised spit roast on the lawn.

Now, That’s what I call a weekend!

I have only showcased 3 days there are heaps more activities over this 10 day festival check them out here

I put myself LAST. No self care at all.  I have decided, I’m CHANGING that!

I’ve joined  a Community Health & Wellness Challenge.  A challenge is good for me I like to challenge myself it’s only 30 days. So, I’m committing to that 30 Days like no other. I’m giving up Wine. *Inner scream*

And I will be exercising and watching every bloody thing that passes my lips.  I WANT TO WIN THIS!

I want to win it for ME!!! Me is crying out to be looked after.

If you would like to join me (we will even have our very own private I.M FB Page, so we can barrack each other on) Please comment below if you would like to know more and I will be in touch. – WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS or Mobile number. Or email me at kristyvallely@gmail.com xxx

p.s You can’t beat me ok?

p.p.s You can win up to $7500 in prizes.

And not to mention the fact that we can sometimes lose ourselves as we are FOREVER putting other peoples needs before our own.

In order to be a great mum, you must look after yourself, your marriage and your life.

I believe Self Care is the key, if your life is happy and fulfilled your children’s will be too.   However, as much as I believe in Self Care I’m still not  so so good as it myself.  So I’m going to change that. You have to practice what you preach right?? RIGHT!

I have a friend Kirri White, she is a coach, her tag line is Reclaim Your Life.  Celebrate Your Worth.  I just love that. Anyway, she has offered gifted me with an online Self Care course, It’s an individualised action plan that is based on the pillars of Self-Care, Self Knowledge and Self-love(C).  Today is day 2 of the course and I wanted to share my journey with you, so here’s a video on a little bit about what I will be doing. Don’t laugh at me too much ha ha!! The video might take a min or two to come up so just hold onto your hat.

The Give away includes:

• 2 night’s accommodation in a QT Two Bedroom Villa
• Breakfast daily for two in Bazaar restaurant
• Welcome cocktails for two
• A one hour spa treatment per person in spaQ, our brand new day spa
• One dinner for two people in Bazaar, including Bazaar interactive marketplace style dining experience and a bottle of wine

To Enter all you need to do is comment below and tell us in 200 words or less about who you would bring and why.  Inspire us with your friendship story.  

I personally would love enter but can’t – OBVIOUSLY ha ha.. The photo below is my bestie and I, she lives on the Gold Coast and I never get to see her.

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” – Henri Noumen

“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.”

― William Shakespeare

GOOD LUCK!!

Last weekend, I was blessed to be in Melbourne for a book release. It was my first time flying to Melbourne and the time spent with family was precious.

The book that was released is titled ‘Heartbreakingly Beautiful’ which is the perfect description! It is ’52 week devotional journey of hope, inspired by the life of Bethany Wake’

Beautiful Bethany passed away at the young age of 15 from an aggressive brain cancer in 2011.

The book itself was Bethany’s idea to her mum and is a collection of reflections from shared journals Bethany and her mum kept during her extreme year long trial. (You can read more about Bethany here)

I was blessed to be able to stay with Bethany’s family for the release and to help out on the night also. It was a privilege to be able to be a small part of something so beautiful.

But, it was also a big hit of reality for me too, being with the people left behind, who still miss their daughter / sister / niece / granddaughter and friend so very much.

Some of them are still asking God why and wanting answers and I found myself this week asking these questions too.

And when you have so much faith in God, who you know can heal even this, and He doesn’t, it hurts.

I know God does answer prayer, but not always with the answers we want.

And yet, this family still continue to shine, reaching out to so many in their own painful trials and sharing the Hope they have found.

To me, that is a miracle.

As most people would know, today is Easter Sunday, which is a day where I and many other people spend remembering Christ conquering death.

Today, March 31^st 2013, would of also been Bethany’s 18th birthday.

I believe God did this on purpose. To remind me on such a trying day, there is Hope. Hope in Him.

On hard days, it is what keeps me going…

Happy Easter to you and your family too. May you find that deep Peace that passing all understanding

xKelly

P.S – Bethany wanted to be a midwife to help women in poorer communities who suffer from obstetric fistula (you can read more about obstetric fistula here) and profits from her book will be continuing to help these women.

Her legacy lives on… She is helping these women still… *Joy*

I have 3 copies of ‘Heartbreakingly Beautiful’ I’d love to donate to anyone who may need to hear a story of Hope in any difficult time they may be going through. Please message Kelly through ‘The Imperfect Mum’ Facebook page and I would love to send you a copy x

Lightly fry onions (2 brown 1 purple)and add to browned mince.

Season well with Salt and Pepper.

Add Sauce and whole peeled tomatoes, both of these are cheap and work well.

Cook for 3-4 hours on low, stirring occasionally.

Trick the kids by adding a heap of small cubed carrots, mushrooms, eggplant and any other veg that you have in your fridge that you think with compliment the sauce.

Layout everything you need including utensils for layering.

Then layer.  Mince, Gluten Free Pasta sheets or Mountain Bread, Bechamel sauce – Repeat.

If you’re on a short time-frame or you’re a slacker like me use this already made Bechamel Sauce.

Top with Cheese and Pop into a pre-heated oven at 180 for about an hour and a half.

Pull out and cover with tinfoil and pop a clean folded teatowel over the top to keep warm, we want the lasagna to set, so leave for about 15 minutes –  this step is quite important.

Serve with a green salad.

ENJOY!

Kristy Vallely – The Imperfect Mum