Make a Disney Princess Castle - Arts & Crafts

Hello,

So with all this talk of recent heat waves and only non stop rain the girls and I got stuck into some Paper Mache Arts & Crafts.  We decided on a Disney Princess Castle. You could just paint it grey to make it more boyish or pick colours to create a neutral Fantasy Castle.  In my house as usual, we went for an explosion of pink!! 

                                             
                                         










So I started with getting the base ready. I collected a series of cardboard tubes and taped them together.  I then taped this to a cardboard piece. See below;

To make the towers you roll up a piece of paper in one corner.  As you roll, turn the paper to the right to form a cone.  Tape along the edge of the paper to hold the cone in place.  You will need to make a number of cones for each tower top. Tape cones onto the cardboard towers. These will be the turret roofs. Don't worry about the tape looking untidy as all this will be covered in Paper Mache later.

See below;

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To make the Paper Mache glue I just mix flour and water. So simple!! Tear strips of old newspapers, the kids will love doing this.  I get the girls to use big paintbrushes when applying the Paper Mache glue then place a strip of newspaper then recover it with the glue mixture again.  Cover the whole thing with layers of this Paper Mache glue and newspaper.  It will look like this;

Leave this to dry overnight. Then the painting fun begins!  So we went for all over pink for the base colour.  Get the Aprons on, these are from Ikea. I find them great.

So after the painting was finished we had a very pink Disney Princess Castle.

That was left overnight to dry also and then we just added some details.  Farrah informed me Disney castles have blue tower tops. We just added some windows and doors.



Here is the finished result;

 We are getting some fun out of it with the Disney Princess characters :-)

Have you ever tried Paper Mache with the kids? Give it a go, Great for the rainy days! 

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Orla & Kerri X

Countryside Mumsie Planting Series - Growing Courgettes

Hey Guys,

Here is the second blog in our Planting Series.  It is all about growing courgettes. Courgettes are really easy to grow.. two courgette plants will produce ample courgettes for most families.  Courgettes are not frost hardy so they need to be planted out in June when the risk of frost has passed. I prefer to sow my Courgettes inside, I think it is safer.Sow seeds in small pots or seed trays using fine compost.   Place each seed about1/2 inch deep in each pot.  Gently water and leave indoors by a south facing windowsill.  Keep the compost moist but dont over water while the seed is germinating.

Here is my first courgette plant raising its head!  The excitment out of the girls was something else!

Potting On
After about 3 weeks the courgette plant will have used up all the compost nutrients. Repot it into a larger pot with fresh compost, this will give it more room to grow its roots.

Hardening Off
Plants that have been raised indoors will need to get used to outdoor tempetures before they can be planted outside in the raisaed bed.  This can take about 10 days.  When you know the frost has passed move the plants out for longer periods each day.

Planting out Courgette Seedlings
Courgette plants are not hardy.  So pick a sheltered sunny spot which is protected from strong winds.  Courgette plants take up huge amount of space.  The leaves are huge and will shade out anything else growing nearby, take this into account when planting them into your raised bed. Planting distance between palnts is 1 metre apart.  It looks like a huge gap, but they will soon fill the gap! Courgette plants need rich soil, I add horse manure each year to my rasied beds. Water around the plants heavily not on them.Watch out for slugs.

One of many courgette and carrot harvest we had last summer;

Harvesting
Pick the courgettes as soon as they get to the aquired size.  The courgettes get very big very quickly. Better to harvest when small, they will taste better.  It also encoursages more fruit to grow if picked smaller. To harvest cut the fruit at the base with a sharp knife taking care not to damage the plant.  Continue to pick fruit to encourage the plant to produce.  The courgette flowers can also be eaten and are a lovely garnish for salads.

Here is one of my courgette plants from last year;

I hope our planting series is inspiring you in some way to take to the garden! ;-)

 

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.

 

Thanks for reading,

Orla & Kerri X

My Planting Series - Butternut Squash

Hello,

Today I am sharing with you my first blog in 'My Planting Series'. I have decided to start with Butternut Squash.  I love buying Butternut Squash in the supermarket and making risotto, soup and pasta sauce out of this vegetable.  Butternut Squash is rich in Vitamin A. It is a creamy vegatable that little ones love to eat.  This vegetable is an interesting and tasty addition to the standard vegetables and it offers many uses in cookery.  Butternut Squash is easy to grow, needs no great expertise for success.

See below the full health benifits of the Butternut Squash;

One cup of Butternut squash, cooked, baked, drained with no added salt has 1.84 grams protein and 82 calories.

Minerals:

Potassium - 582 mg Phosphorus - 55 mg Magnesium - 59 mg Calcium - 84 mg Iron - 1.23 mg Zinc - 0.27 mg Copper - 0.133 mg Manganese - 0.353 mg Selenium - 1 mcg Sodium - 8 mg
Also contains small amounts of other minerals.

Vitamins:

Vitamin C - 31 mg Niacin - 1.986 mg Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.148 mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.035 mg Pantothenic Acid - 0.736 mg Vitamin B6 - 0.254 mg Folate - 39 mcg Vitamin A - 22868 IU Vitamin K - 2 mcg Vitamin E - 2.64 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.

Butternut Squash are heavy feeding plants.  they grow quickly and use large amounts of nutrients from the soil and alot of water. The ideal place to plant your Squash is an area fully open to sunshine with good shelter.  The soil should be rich.  Every year we get a truck load of horse manure from our neighbouring horse Stud Farm.  This really enriches our raised beds, it is great for ensuring good home grown veggies!

You should sow your your Butternut Squash seeds in late April or early May. I had mine inside by a large window that gets alot of sun.  If you have a greenhouse even better.  These plants cannot tolerate frost.  Sow each seed, on its edge, in a good sized pot to avoid potting on.  Be careful not to over water, as this can cause the seed to rot.  Allow the compost to dry abit before watering, but do not delay watering at the same time.


Planting out your Butternut Squash
Harden off the seedlings towards the end of May or early June and plant outside after a few warm days.  The planting site should be well prepared with compost and manure.  Set the plant on a slight mound, about 25 centimetres from the plant to allow the watering layer.  If the plant is a bit floppy, a light cane can be used to secure it against wind damage.

Aftercare
Allow the plant to settle and do not water until it has hardened and settled fully.  Watch out for slug and snails! When the plant begins to grow, it will grow very fast.  The Butternut Sqash plant takes up alot of space. Butternut Squash seeds can send out vines up to 15 feet long!! If cultivated and maintained properly each seed could potentially yield 10-20 squashes.  Allow the squashes to continue to ripen into October, then they will begin to colour and our ready to be picked.

Enjoy planting amd growing.  I love this time of the year, getting all the seeds growing and the great hope for lots of home grown vegetables at the other side.  My children love to help maintain the plants by watering everyday.  They love nothing more than the excitment of spotting the vegetables arriving!

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Orla & Kerri X

Visited Aldi for the Baby Event / Special Buys

Hey Guys,

So Aldi had their first day today of their Special Buys/ Baby Event.  I have always picked up some great baby bits in Aldi, I think their nappies and wipes are brilliant.  

Here is what I got for the girls today.

As we do alot of Arts & Crafts at home I thought I would get great use out of the PVC tablecloth.  It is at a great price at 4.99e.  It comes in 3 different / cute patterns. We tried it out with some painting this evening, good quality. A must for any home with small kiddies.

Check it out here;

 The pattern I chose below.  Good for my two year old's vocabulary too, she enjoyed naming out all the things she saw!

On the table;

The drinking beakers at 3.49e are handy and don't spill or leak, we checked! A few colours to pick from. Have grips on them to help small hands.

I go swimming with the girls at least 2/3 times a week. We are all members in our local hotel/leisure facility so it's a great activity/option to have to keep us busy and avoid the dreaded cabin fever. As my youngest still wears nappies that means we go through a lot of swim nappies. I spotted these washable swim nappies that keep in all accidents due to the elasticated sides. At 5.99e they are worth trying out, especially as summer is coming which means holidays, beach trips and playing in the paddle pool in the garden. The design is cute with unicorns, there was also a boy design option. Various sizes available.

Pick up these nappy sacks, they are much better than the Tesco ones! 1.39e

Did anyone else head to Aldi today? Love to hear what you picked up. There was some great things there. If you were pregnant it would be a good place to start shopping. Here is the link to everything they have in the Special Buy/Baby Event; 

https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/thur-21-apr/

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Orla & Kerri X

Invested in some porcelain cookware, check out my first recipe...

Hey Guys,

So recently I decided to invest in some really good porcelain cookware from a brand called Revol.  Check out their website here;

 http://revol-porcelaine.fr/en/materials/from-white-porcelain/

It is of very high quality and due to this has great performance, dinners I have tried so far taste great when cooked in them.  The modern design and colours used by Revol appealed to me as I felt they fitted well with the modern style kitchen that I have.

The first recipe that I tried out in my new Revol Tagine was 'Moroccan Lamb with Sweet Potato and Raisins'. Recipe below. If you don't have a Tagine a normal casserole dish is perfect to use. Give this a go, fabulous dish to indulge in on a Sunday!

Here is the new cookware;

Ingredients

1/4 cup of Olive oil
700g diced lamb
3 red onions, 1 sliced and 2 chopped
2 garlic cloves crushed
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds
1 cinnamon stick
1 Bay Leaf
A Can of Tomatoes 
375g or two small sweet potatoes into 3cm chunks
4 tbsp Raisins
4 tbsp chopped Dates
500ml of Chicken Stock
Sea Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Bunch of Chopped Coriander 


Method

1. Coat the bottom of the dish with olive oil.  Spread the sliced red onion on the base of the Tagine. 

2. In a bowl, combine the lamb, spices, remaining red onion, chopped coriander, garlic and remaining olive oil, mix well. Season this with salt and pepper. Pile into the middle of the Tagine.

3. Arrange sweet potato in the dish.

4. Pour in your can of tomatoes and stock and sprinkle over fruit (Dates and Raisins)

5. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer for 3 hours or until the lamb is tender.

Then serve, we used pittas and Greek yogurt. Cous Cous would also go very well with this.

It was just Yum!! :-)
Give it a go!

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Orla & Kerri X

Electric Car, See How I Am Getting On??

Hey Guys,

Today I am blogging about my new car.  These days I wholely commute without fossil fuels!! I am very proud to be able to say that!! I recently purchased a Nissan Leaf which is a 100% Electric Car. 

This car in term of performance is brilliant.  It is surprisingly quick.  Acceleration between 0km/h and roughly 100km/m.  The Leafs power train is comprised of 48 laminated compact lithium ion batteries and a motor that can churn out C02.  Therefore sits in the lowest tax band at just 120 euro a year.  

 Electric cars have no gears so getting used to an automatic and getting to 120km/h was a pretty surreal experience for me at the start, I've gotten used to it all too easily now!!

I am now a tech expert due to the Leaf.  It starts up with the touch of one button. The key can be in your handbag, saves me time finding them in my work/gym or changing bag!  The car will also lock if the key is in close proximity, unreal! I was forever spending five minutes trying to find the keys at the end of my bag! In the car is a display that informs you how far you can go on the map before you need to recharge your car, it will inform you of your battery level also. I have an App on my phone that allows me to turn on the heated seats, heated steering wheel, A/C and heating from my bed! No more freezing cars in the morning.  No more getting the kettle out to defrost the windscreen! Love it!

I like the interior of the Leaf. It is comfortable and we can easily fit a four person family, buggy and shopping.  I love the futuristic exterior look of this car, I am delighted I got it in White, I personally think it is very stylish.  The car is very quite when A/C is turned off.

I got a charge point installed at my house.  ESB did so free of charge.  I find the charging so easy. Just have to remember to charge it daily like my mobile phone. When I get home I must plug it in for the next day. I haven't forgotten yet or been caught out with no battery. Full charge at home is about 6 hours and this will give me average 140km.  If you charge the Leaf at a public 'Fast Charge' point it takes roughly 30 minutes for 80% battery.  There is a  'Fast Charge' point in Adare by the Heritage Centre. I park up and go for a coffee in The Good Room Cafe while my car charges free of charge!  No petrol costs anymore!  Seriously are you not on the way to test drive one already?  I love owning an Electric Car.  The Leaf genuinely fits in very well with my lifestyle. I am delighted I took the leap and purchased an Electric Car.

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Orla & Kerri X

M&S 50%Sale, My Kidswear Picks

Hey Guys,

                                     

                                           

So M&S online are currently having a 50% sale. Here are my top picks for kids wear.  Certainly have a look, their kids clothes are fab, great quality and wash very well. I am a big fan!!

Girls

A Lovely Spring/Summer 3 piece set 

Click here to see; http://www.marksandspencer.ie/3-Piece-Top%2C-Shorts-Tights-Outfit-%281-7-Years%29/P22429097,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22429097_color=R4&start=

I find M&S fantastic for PJ's and dressing gowns. They have lots of lovely designs. They are always really comfortable for little ones.

This two pack set is now at a great price;
http://www.marksandspencer.ie/2-Pack-Pure-Cotton-Assorted-Pyjamas/P22422516,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22422516_color=ZZ&start=




I love this Spring/Summer jacket for the young fashionista.

Check it out;
http://www.marksandspencer.ie/Faux-Suede-Fringe-Jacket-%285-14-Years%29/P22435490,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22435490_color=VS&start=

My last girl pick is a real kids wardrobe basic, both my girls have one and they are very handy for playground trips as the weather improves. This one is very pretty and comes with a fur hood for added warmth.

Click to see it;
http://www.marksandspencer.ie/Showerproof-Padded-Thermal-Gilet-%285-14-Years%29/P22390508,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22390508_color=XM&start=





Boys

This boy's gilet is at a great price @ 9.50e and is fur lined!

To purchase click; http://www.marksandspencer.ie/Showerproof-Padded-Hooded-Fleece-Lined-Gilet-%281-7-Years%29/P22390233,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22390233_color=F0&start=

I am back to dressing gowns now for boys, these are adorable!

For the Spider man fans;

http://www.marksandspencer.ie/Anti-Bobble-Spider-Man%E2%84%A2-Dressing-Gown-%282-12-Years%29/P22396252,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22396252_color=B0&start=

For the yeti monster fans;        

So adorable and super fluffy;
http://www.marksandspencer.ie/Anti-Bobble-Yeti-Hooded-Dressing-Gown-%281--8-Years%29/P22420466,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22420466_color=T4&start=


Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.  

Thanks for reading!


Orla & Kerri Xx