Anne is a 30-something full-time SAHM mom of 5 ranging from 3 to 17 and grandma of 1 who resides in Ashwaubenon (Green Bay) Wisconsin. She started blogging in 2008 as a way to regain her sanity. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, cheeseburgers and vodka along with spending time with her husband and kids.
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it before, but I am a big fan of coffee. If I could drink coffee all day, every day, I would do it. When I do get to enjoy coffee, I like to spoil myself with an additional treat and sometimes that is in the form of a scone.
Now, I love oatmeal raisin cookies, so it shouldn’t shock you to hear me say that Oatmeal Raisin Scones…with coffee…OMG, so good!
You can make your own oatmeal raisin scones using this great recipe, I promise, you won’t be disappointed!
Ingredients
½ cup raisins
⅓ cup milk
1 tablespoon molasses
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup quick oats
1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon apple pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon sea salt
2 oz butter, softened
Directions
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper or baking mat.
On stovetop, heat raisins, milk, and molasses to lukewarm over low heat. Do not bring to a boil.
Remove from heat.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, wheat flour, sugar, spice, baking powder, and sea salt. Stir to combine.
Use a fork or pastry blender to cut in butter. The mixture will resemble crumbly lumps.
Add milk mixture and stir gently just until combined.
Move dough from bowl to baking sheet and form a rounded loaf.
Divide the loaf into 8 wedges with a floured knife. Do not cut all the way through the bottom.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 375 until golden brown.
Whenever we decide to renovate a part of the property, no matter how delighted we are with the end result, there is always a mountain of mess and debris to deal with, and aside from a small minority, the local builder will leave that to the customer. If you have had your windows replaced, for example, you are likely to find bits of softwood and timber screws embedded in the borders, and there could also be the odd empty tube of silicone, a major component of window installation. If this is the first time you have had any major work done at home, and you are dreading the eventual clean-up, here is some good advice to ensure that all turns out well.
Hire a Skip – There’s no point in messing around, and any space left in the skip can be filled up with unwanted items that we all seem to accumulate over the years. If you happen to live in NSW, there are affordable skip bins in Sydney at Bins Skips Waste and Recycling, a family owned business with down to earth prices. There is a wide range of sizes, and if you are unsure, explain the project to the skip supplier, who can recommend the right skip for the job.
Plenty of Cleaning Materials – You and your team (you will need help) must have adequate supplies, which would include rags, mops and buckets, brooms and dustpans, and some glass cleaner, and also some scouring pads, oh, and you must not forget the quintessential bin bags, which are always needed. If it is a big clean up after major renovations, you might need a wheelbarrow and some shovels, and don’t forget refreshments for the workers, who will certainly need some sustenance. If you would like a detailed checklist for spring cleaning the home, there are informative blogs on the topic.
Assess the Damage – Assuming, of course, there is more than just a matter of cleaning up, one should assess the damage and decide on the best course of action. If you feel the contractor didn’t fulfill his part of the bargain and left in a hurry, why not call him and ask him to take a look for himself? No one can argue with the facts, but failing that, make sure you don’t use his services in the future.
Golden Opportunity – If ever there was a time to spring clean the home, this would be it, and with a little planning and a suitably sized skip, you can have all the carpets deep cleaned, and if the budget stretches that far, why not redecorate as well.
All you need is a little organization, a team of willing helpers and an empty skip, to successfully clean up after a major renovation, and with a winning attitude, your home will soon be spic and span. If you need any help sourcing a local skip hire company, an online search will point you in the right direction.
We suffer some crazy weather during the Springtime – with blazing sunshine and blue skies one minute followed by wind, rain, hail and even snow the next! Don’t get caught out by inclement weather conditions, take note of these top tips for surviving Spring in style, with the best cover up coats and most weather-proof boots:
Pack a Jacket
Whether you go for a waterproof parka or a full-on raincoat, it’s only the very brave (or the very foolish) who leave the house without a jacket in Spring! Even if the sun is shining it’s a good idea to have a fold up fold-able rain coat in your bag just in case.
Be All Right in Tights
There’s no reason why you can’t wear pretty new season dresses and skirts. Just add tights for extra warmth and off you go! Patterned tights will look great with an on-trend button-down denim skirt.
Bootie Call
Booties aren’t just for babies! Just below the ankle boots are a great stop gap shoe for when showers make sandals and ballet flats impractical.
A Wearable Welly
If it’s raining cats and dogs then only a waterproof wellington boot will do – but you don’t have to watch your style points wash away in the storm! There are wellies to suit every style now, from quirky patterned boots to celebrity-favorite Hunter wellies.
Hat Hair, Don’t Care
Spring showers and quick changes in weather conditions aren’t good news for your ‘do. Why not style out Springtime frizz with a kooky hat instead? A trucker or snapback looks casually cool over a ponytail, or pop a fedora, trilby or floppy hat on over a side plait – sorted!
Style It Out with a Scarf
The right scarf can add just the right element of extra warmth on days when it’s not as warm as it looks. A wool or cashmere shawl-style scarf will be warmest, and you can fold it down and pop in your bag if the sun gets stronger.
Under My Umbrella
If there’s nothing else for it but to hide under an umbrella, at least make it one that you’re happy to show off. A quirky umbrella is a great way to show your individuality.
Nothing can compare to a restful night of sleep. Unfortunately, many people do not get the quality of sleep that they’d like. Stress, a subpar sleeping environment, and your body’s natural rhythms can all make quality sleep more elusive. If you want to improve your nighttime slumber, try using the following five tips.
Paint Your Bedroom
The color of your bedroom can actually affect how you sleep. Colors play an important role in moods, so the last color you see before you close your eyes should be a happy one. Experts believe that hues such as blue and yellow are relaxing and will help calm down your brain. Additionally, matte sheens are preferable over high-gloss sheens, as the reflective surface can agitate your senses.
Practice Yoga
Yoga is a relaxing activity that makes a great way to clear your mind after a long and stressful day. When you practice yoga, you work on controlling your breathing, slowing your heart rate, and loosening your body. By the time you finish a few gentle asanas, both your mind and body should be yearning for the touch of your pillow.
Exercise Regularly
While you probably don’t want to sneak in cardio right before bed, exercising on a regular basis can help people get better sleep. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation performed a study in 2013 that found that people who exercised vigorously got the best sleep. If you’d like to work exercise into your schedule, try to end the sweat sessions at least two hours before you’re scheduled to fall asleep.
Watch What You Eat
What you put in your body makes a difference in how you act and feel. Therefore, you’ll want to avoid certain stimulants, such as nicotine and caffeine, which can cause you to feel wide awake at inopportune times. Also avoid alcohol, which can disrupt your usual patterns of sleep and leave you feeling tired in the morning. Eating big meals before bed is also something you should avoid, as the workings of your stomach may keep you awake.
Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality
When sleeping, you breathe deeply and uninhibited. If your home’s indoor air quality is poor, you could be breathing in pollutants and other debris. Your body absorbs these particles, which can lead to a number of unwanted health issues. You can take a few steps to improve the quality of your indoor air, including changing your HVAC system’s air filters on a regular basis, using natural cleaners, and eliminating mold growth.
In addition to keeping your home’s indoor air clean, you also want to keep your home at a comfortable temperature so that you can sleep soundly without waking up with chills or sweating. Many people prefer a temperature between 60 to 67 degrees while sleeping. To make sure your HVAC system is up to par with its temperature controls, consult with a qualified HVAC technician to inspect your system on a regular basis.
With the tips above in your arsenal, you’ll be able to improve your sleeping patterns. When you do, you can wake up feeling rested and ready to tackle whatever the day has in store for you.
When the last few years of your life have mostly consisted of cleaning up an endless trail of mess, cleverly diffusing tantrums, strategically planning the best approach to potty training and trying to cater meals to satisfy the fussiest of appetites, the idea of going back to a professional environment can seem a little daunting. However, there are a few things you can do the make the transition a little easier for both you and your family.
Define what’s important to you
The first step to a successful transition back to the workforce is to clearly define what is important to you, starting with your key motivations for returning to work. Do you have a desire to break the glass ceiling and climb to the top of the corporate ladder, or do you just want some extra work to help pay the bills?
It’s also important to think about how you want your work to fit into your lifestyle. We all want to achieve the elusive ideal of the perfect ‘work-life balance’, but this can mean different things for everyone.
For some, work-life balance could mean part-time work or the flexibility to work from home. For others, it could mean working close to home so you’re not spending a significant amount of time each day commuting to and from the office. Or it could be a job that won’t impose a high level of pressure so you don’t take stress home with you.
Ultimately, the first step when planning your return to work is to clearly define what is going to best satisfy your career aspirations, family, lifestyle and financial circumstances, then you can start to better define the type of role you want.
Update your skills
We live in a fast-paced world where even a few years out of the workforce could leave you a little behind when it comes to changes in technology, culture or industry best-practice.
If you want to return to the same industry you previously worked in, it could be a good idea to arrange a coffee catch-up with some of your old work colleagues who can give you the low-down on any changes that have happened since you left, so you can start to build a picture of what the current environment and industry culture is like.
It could be a good move to investigate if it could be worthwhile doing a short course or two to update your skills, so you can hit the ground running from your first day back. There are a range of online and face-to-face training organisations that offer refresher courses in computing, business or administration which could prove to be valuable.
Reskill in a new industry
If your old career path is no longer a good fit for your aspirations or lifestyle, reskilling in a different industry could be a great move—and it may not be as difficult as you think!
The best place to start is by working out what your preferred industry is, then completing a short course or qualification in your chosen field. Whether you’re most interested in a career in hospitality, fitness (check out these fitness courses in Melbourne), interior decoration or healthcare, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Then you’ll need to focus on getting some experience in the field. If it’s a high-demand industry, you may be lucky enough to secure paid work straight away, however if it’s a little more competitive, you may want to investigate if there are any volunteering options that could help you build up some experience to make you more competitive when you start to apply for paid-roles.
Ultimately, whatever you want to achieve is possible—with a little planning, effort and determination you’ll be able to return to the workforce in an industry and role that works for both you and your family.
If you are having a hard time making the decision or transitioning back into the workplace you might want to consider talking to a therapist in person or seeking advice from through online therapy.
