Saturday 1 December 2012

Our Advent Calender Project

Marleymooo Creations has been a little quiet these last 2 months as we are busy creating and sewing up new products to add to our little collection. We are also working out what markets we will be attending in 2013, details to come. Don't forget if you would like to purchase any of our products which are great as stocking fillers, let me know via my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/marleymooocreations?ref=hl.

In the mean time I thought I will keep you posted on a little project that our household has decided to take part in for the festive season. My husband and I decided this would be a good year to start teaching Missy Mooo the art of giving, so why not do this as our Advent calender. ( I also got the idea off a blogger who did this but more extensively, still a great idea for when Missy Mooo is older)
I made our "Giving" project simple for Missy Mooo to get the idea and gist of giving to others. She has really gotten into it and understands what is going on.

Day 1: Yesterday we ventured out the shops to look for more decorations for our house. We took with us 4 candy canes to give out whilst we were there.

Our 1st receiver was our real estate agent Les (we had open house).
2nd receiver - the guy who made Missy Mooo's juice at Boost Juice.
3rd receiver - a young girl at Osmosis. Missy Mooo needed new thongs, didn't realise how picky she is over designs.
and our 4th receiver was a lady at Kmart, who was very surprised and kissed and hugged Missy Mooo as thanks.

Each one of our receiver's were very grateful and very polite. How could you not be when a 3yrs old hands you a candy cane with a big cheesy smile and saying "this is for you, it's Christmas. Merry Christmas" (Mum's proud moment).


Maybe you will be a receiver from our Advent project. This has made Christmas even more exciting, although we already love the festive season in our household. It's all about Christmas this month!!!!

Is there anything traditional or a project you are doing in the lead up to Christmas???

1 day down, 23 to go............

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday 3 October 2012

Attack of the Gallstones

About 2 months and 1 week to be exact ago I was diagnosed with Gallstones and although this is my business blog I though why not share this to help others out there with the same problem.

I only have a week to go before my operation to get my gallstones out and it has felt like an eternity since I got them. I have researched as much as I could to educate myself on how to deal with them and prevent anymore attacks, so I am sharing all this information with my fellow gallstone sufferers. I hope you find it as useful as I have and I have only managed to 2 attacks so far, the 1st attack was the diagnosis and the 2nd attack being self inflicted by poor judgement.

Diet was the hardest thing to adjust to as I come from a family of big meat eaters and the use of oil being never ending as it goes on everything (pretty much).

So what is gallstones;
Cholelithiasis; Gallbladder attack; Biliary colic; Gallstone attack; Biliary calculus

Gallstones are hard, pebble-like deposits that form inside the gallbladder. Gallstones may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.

The cause of gallstones varies. There are two main types of gallstones:
  • Stones made of cholesterol, which are by far the most common type. Cholesterol gallstones have nothing to do with cholesterol levels in the blood.
  • Stones made of bilirubin, which can occur when red blood cells are being destroyed (hemolysis). This leads to too much bilirubin in the bile. These stones are called pigment stones.
  •  
you can read more hee: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001318/

When I got diagnosed with Gallstones I got told that I had to eat clean and fresh foods. So here are two list what to avoid and what you can eat.

The Rule is to eat a low fat diet so always look at the fat totals on the packaging less than 5g of fat per 100g serving is the safest way to go. It was my saving grace!!

You should also be careful on having to much sugar in your daily intake but I didn't worry to much as I thought dealing with fats was bad enough but it's up to you. (Just being lazy I guess)

Foods to avoid
Oils (any type of cooking oils)
Cream
Cheese
Avocado (high Cholesterol)
Mayonnaise
Eggs (I have used 1 egg white if needed in baking but that's it as they are high in Cholesterol)
Chocolate
Fried Food of any sort
Popcorn
Creamy ice cream
Bacon
Any Butter
Fatty meats such as duck and lamb, sausages etc
curry sauces
Cheesy pasta sauces / Italian dishes such as lasagne
Breakfast / Energy bars
Crisps
Nuts
Salami, ham, prosciutto any type of fatty lunch meats.

 Food you can eat
Fruit
Veggies
Garlic
Lite or Skinny Milk
Weight watches food that is 97-98% fat free
Weight-watchers desserts (with < 5% fat)
Any sauces that are less than 5g of fat per 100grams ( I used this rule for pretty much any food and I found I was ok) I found Asian sauces were usually less than 5g of fat as well as BBQ or Tomato sauce.
Gravy
Wholemeal or grain bread.
Weight watches lite cottage cheese
Smoked salmon ( only 2 slices max or less per day)
Tuna in spring water only
Low fat 98% fat free blueberry, raspberry or Apple cinnamon muffins ( Always double check )
Vegetarian or prawn steamed dumplings
Sorbet
Yoghurt just check with the less than 5g per 100 g rule.
Meat: Chicken (don't eat the skin), lean mined beef, white fish, Turkey or lean eye fillet
Pasta sauces: Most tomato-based sauces contain very little fat (the “light” sauces are actually light on sugar).
Stir fry: Most Asian sauces are fine
Rice, potatoes and pasta will form the bulk of the meal
Toast and jam (no butter!)
Fruit toast
Jelly
Bircher muesli as a breakfast choice if at a cafe was always fine with me.

I found steaming fish, poaching or roasting chicken and using a non stick fry pan for cooking meat was the only way to go, just remembering not to use oil which is not needed in any of these methods of cooking. Marinating fish, chicken or meat was a good way to to make it easier for cook it in a pan or wok.

Here are some ideas in marinating:
Chicken when roasting; 1 lemon juiced, garlic, salt, rosemary and cummin powder
Fish when steaming; lemon grass, garlic, salt and coriander
Eye fillet when in pan; garlic, salt and cumin powder. Cook on each side for 1 minute and then place a lid on and put heat on low. The juices just come out, yummy.

As much as I at times found it very difficult to find something to eat I always took my own little snacks everywhere I went. I also found I lost a lot of weight which I think it was a little weight I needed to loose. I am much wiser as to how to eat a little more cleaner and it has benefited my family too as I really don't want so much unwanted fats in my little girls diet.
There have been times where I am sick of eating so rigid but the thought of having an attack brings me back to reality and so I suck it up pretty much.
The hardest part was going out for dinner which I completely minimised as I found it so difficult to order as you don't know what or how they are cooking the meal with. The one time I did go out I ordered the grilled eye fillet with roasted potatoes and steamed vegies.It was the safest option.

Well I hope this helps in some way and good luck.

Wednesday 5 September 2012

Yarraville Market

So the next market I will be at will be at the Yarraville market this coming Saturday 8 September. I am so excited as I am a frequent visitor to Yarraville and have attended this market quite a few times.

Before any market appearance I begin the task of sewing away some more stock.

Hope to see you at the Yarraville Market masonic hall on Saturday 8 September 10am-5pm.

Wednesday 8 August 2012

The Market Aftermath....

On Sunday 22 July I did my first market at the Sugar and Spice Childrens Market in Woodend.
I didn't have any expectations and it was such a great day. I learnt so much from seeing the other retailers and increased my knowledge of what actually happens at a market and what to expect.

I was so nervous that I wouldn't sell a thing but an hour in I sold my first product. YAY!!! I was so excited that my sister and I did a very low key high five. The day went great and I sold quite a few products and received alot of feedback. I loved talking to the shoppers and selling my creations that I am so passionate about.

Here are some photos of Market day.

The Little Soothie

The Little Entertainer

Me (Marleymooo Creations)

The Quirky Toys

E's Girlie Pouch

I am now hooked on doing more markets.....my next appearance will be at the Yarraville Market at the Masonic Hall on Saturday 8th September 10am-5pm. Hope to see you there.

Monday 18 June 2012

I have been blogged.....

The wonderful Sugar & Spice Children's Market have blogged a special feature on Marleymooo Creations. So excited!!

Have a read....
http://sugarandspicechildrensmarket.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/all-things-nice-marleymooo-creations.html

Sneak Peek........

Introducing "E's" Girlie Pouch to the range of creations.

Inspired by my little sister "E", I designed E's girlie pouch with the intention to place all your girlie needs into one little pouch, safe and contained.







20.00 each. *Please note all pouches come empty*
Delivery and postage not included (additional $6.60, postage maybe a little more for multiple items)
Made from Cotton and Lining
Delicate Hand wash or spot clean only in warm water

 

A place devoted to sale

I have finally taken the plunge and decided to start selling at markets. So my first one is on Sunday 22nd July at the Sugar & Spice Childrens Market in Woodend.



The thought of doing my very first market is a mixture of excitement and being very nervous. It has also started my creative juices flowing again in my brain, thinking about;
How will I design my stall?
How will I market my business name?
How will I stand out?
How much money do you take for a float?
Do I take pre-paid orders?
How much stock do you take with you?
So many questions............and so the research and preparation begins.

I am thinking, simple but eye catching. Inviting and neat. Hand made and most importantly keeping it very true to Marleymooo Creations.
Have I got you hooked yet on what the outcome will be?

You will just have to come along to the market and see my market stall for yourself and assure you I will not disappoint you. (fingers crossed) Put it in you diaries for
Sunday 22nd July, 9am-1pm at Ambrose Hall Woodend.
I hope to see you there. xoxo



For other new market stall holders out there with similar questions, I found both these websites very useful
http://canberrahandmademarket.blogspot.com.au/2010/03/tips-for-market-stall-holders.html

http://www.annieandre.com/2009/10/craft-fair-check-list-things-bring-craft-fair