Well friends, we are three weeks from Christmas. It’s hard to believe that we’re already listening to carols, buying gifts and wrapping paper and our ovens seem to be constantly churning out some of our family favourites.

Last week, my mother came to Calgary to teach me how to make her Christmas Cakes. She has been making them for years, she learned from her mother, my Grandmother and then adopted a few of my Nana’s (my dad’s mum) cake ideas and eventually developed her own flavour. So this week, I have been given what feels like the holy grail. The coveted Christmas Cake recipe has been entrusted into my hands, not only the recipe but time spent together creating, teaching, learning, loving. This week will be with me for a lifetime.

As Christmas draws near and as I learn these new skills, I always seem to find myself thinking about the importance of Tradition and how cultures and people groups across the globe crave tradition. Tradition proves itself to be important simply through how we all gravitate towards the things that make us feel right, the things that occur year after year and the things that we know will always exist. In my life Christmas without my mum’s Christmas Cake just wouldn’t be right. It’s like Turkey without the stuffing, if that were to happen it would feel like the world if off kilter. Tradition anchors us to our centre, it warms the soul and regardless of circumstance or situation, tradition allows us to feel a sense of peace.

So as you prepare for Christmas, make sure you keep your traditions. Perhaps, like me, baking with your mother with your children watching on and taking part is something you do each year or decorating the tree on a particular night or, like in my case, anxiously awaiting the arrival of your Aunt’s famous almond crunch. Again, a tradition outside the immediate but oh so necessary, this tradition allows you to sneak away and steal a moment alone during this busy season tosavour the goodness of life and to reflect.

Tradition in our house, as you can imagine, is very important. If flows through everything, especially at Christmas time. I spoke about baking with my mum and we also have our Christmas Tree Decorating Night complete with appetizers, much laughter a few broken baubles, countless burnt out lights and friends who drop in just because they know they can and it’s always a fun night in our home. Additionally, my children know that Christmas is not Christmas in our house without Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s Christmas Album on repeat from the end of November until after New Years.

Enjoy the next few weeks and remember this season is busy and if you fail to plan, plan to fail. Make lists, check them twice and create a wonderful Christmas for your family and friends. Let the countdown begin…..

Stay tuned for our famous familyroom Christmas Plan which designed to help keep you on track, on time, on budget and allow you to enter Christmas day relaxed and organized. This years revised plan will be released December 1st so make sure you check back. Take care friends and smile because this is a magical time of year.

Many or most of you know that my passion is family. I grew up in a great family and we lived in a wonderful home. Our home was one that was created and specifically designed to grow strong family. With that goal in mind, my parents worked tirelessly to make sure our needs (physical, emotional and spiritual) were met. In meeting our needs they also made sure that fun was a huge component to our healthy living.

Susan xo

How many times have those of you, who have their mums present in their worlds, called up or dropped around to ask 101 questions of how to fix something, cook something or make something?

For me, living in a different city, the phone calls are often. They could range from how to make that particular gravy she masters every single time without much thought to those ‘Help! My teenager’s being a teenager’ SOS calls.

It amazes me how my mum is still my ‘go to’ person, no matter how menial the question. I guess the level eases off the older you become, yet even in my 30’s I still seek advice from her. She raised us to be independent free thinkers armed with strong tools to navigate our way through the labyrinth of life, but for me, mum has become my ultimate sounding board for many of my decisions.

Raising a daughter myself, I have taken this into account as the questions keep rolling my way and are becoming more complex. How much have I already trained her? Am I equipping her thoroughly enough or am I coddling her? Having an only child, it can be an easy trap…believe me.

So this year, I have steadily taught her to cook the basics, to navigate her way around the city, to work the washing machine, to decipher between plants and weeds when helping in the garden (more to curb my frustration rather than help her gain gardening skills!), to decorate and create atmosphere, how to dye her hair without dying the entire bathroom, to manage her finances, to compose her first resume and apply for a job, to host her friends well, etc…these things are the basics.

It’s the trickier questions and skills she’ll need answers for that are in our conversations now…drugs, sex, alcohol, parties, how to conduct herself around the opposite sex (going to an all girls school makes this a little foreign), how much make up is too much at 16!, to use the internet with wisdom, etc.

It’s these questions that beg the ultimate question. Do I know who I am and do I know what I know well? Am I confident in what I am teaching her? Are my facts correct? Am I forgetting too easily what it was like being her age? Am I clued in enough to know teenagehood is light worlds away from what it was in the 80’s?

As I continue this path witnessing my daughter’s self discovery and journey to independence, I am happy with the results to date. As everything I do today plays such a vital role in her tomorrow, I am happy to work hard at it and cement my responses with the back up of a quick phone call to my mum or a trusted friend. No mother is an island, so don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions of those who have walked this road ahead of you. Feedback from wise people in your world are like nuggets of gold.

That said, know who you are, believe what you believe and parent with confidence. Be prepared for that phone call 10 to 20 years from now, minutes before one of their first guest arrives for one of their first dinner parties, asking what on earth to do when the roast they cooked looks fabulous but it’s still frozen on the inside!

Good luck!

Michaela.

I work in the children’s product industry. I can pretty much tell you about anything from the hottest stroller on the market to children’s organic bedroom decor to toilet training necessities to the best books to add to your child’s collection!

One thing that I am always excited to discover is the new quirky toys and art supplies for kids that keep rolling in. I could go crazy bringing home crayons, art books, etc if my daughter wasn’t too old for it all.

A toy that I recently stumbled across was a recycling truck from an eco friendly range. That’s right…it’s no longer just diggers, trains, Lego and dolls dominating toy boxes in many homes…it’s all about teaching ‘green living’ from toddlerhood. Actually it seems to be starting earlier on with parents opting for organic linens such as Little Bamboo and clothing such as Pure Baby aswell as returning to recyclable glass milk bottles such as Life Factory WeeGo.

Image by Sewn Natural

Wooden Animals by Anamalz

Knitted Owl by Lil' Sprout Knits

Wooden Blocks by Uncle Goose

Have a look through this range of toys as the Christmas (yes I’m putting it out there in September!!) shopping season hots up.

Here are some great sites to get you started:

Inhabitots are committed to creating a resource for parents, families, and anyone else interested in sustainable modern design for children.

Eco Toys range consists of wooden toys made from environmentally friendly and sustainable sources such as recycled plantation rubber trees, FSC certified timbers, local plantation pine or 100% recycled timbers.

Green Toys are made from recycled plastic milk bottles. A material called high-density polyethylene (or HDPE) which is considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around.

Yogee Toys are made from reclaimed trees and recycled cardboards.

Lil’ Sprout Knits have handmade toys chosen from materials that have been organically harvested and manufactured. All of their cotton has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Biome sell handmade eco friendly wooden toys, books, green school stationary, organic baby products and clothing.

Tree Blocks toys are all made from reclaimed timbers.

Enjoy shopping!

Michaela.

Image by Missing Goat Farm

Thought of the week… 

Spring has sprung in Australia and I am determined to jump on the ‘home grown veg’ band wagon! 

Something wonderful that I have noticed from living in Melbourne, is that over the last few years, the humble veggie patch has not only made a serious comeback, it has become part of so many friends regular food sources. 

First stop markets, next stop backyard…ideal for encouraging home cooking!

More and more Australians have taken to growing their own herbs, fruit and vegetables. They can be grown amongst existing gardens, in raised planter boxes or if space is limited, in old wine barrels or ceramic pots.

Image by Alarna Zinn

Rather than place this idea in the ‘too hard basket’, why not try your hand at this alternative and inexpensive way to feast on good, organic, homegrown food?

Here are some great books/sites to get you started:

Garden Anywhere by Alys Fowler 

The Edible Garden by Alys Fowler 

The Diggers Club – books and magazines available 

Jamie At Home by Jamie Oliver

Get out your gardening gloves and enjoy!

Michaela.

Thought of the week…

We all know it’s something we need to do…take an hour out of your week to go through your fridge or pantry, throw out anything long expired, rediscover delicious purchases and figure out what needs restocking. With Foodie Fortnight hitting our pages soon you will be inspired to use those fancy herbs that have never been opened.

With our children heading back to school, returning to the routine of drop-offs, pick-ups, packed lunches and homework is a daily challenge.

To help with the balancing act, we’ve put together a weekly planner for you to download, print out and stick on the fridge. We’re hoping it will help you to stay organised and keep one step ahead of the busy demands of family life.

If you haven’t already tuned in to Susan’s Back To School radio show, click on the tab at the top of the page to listen on demand.

Click here to download our family room weekly planner

School Lunch Solutions

Well friends, in the northern hemisphere our school year is upon us again. Most of us only have a few days before routine hits and our lazy summer fun is but a distant memory. In preparation for the days, weeks, months ahead, we, thefamilyroom, have come up with a few easy solutions to eliminate some of the school day stress plus keep our children healthy.

I hope you enjoy these workable suggestions and that your children love them. Remember, they are ALL familyroom tried and true.

Enjoy,
Susan

School Lunch Ideas:

• Salads are a great alternative to sandwiches. Sophia (my eldest) has NEVER been a sandwich person so I’ve had to come up with new things all the time. Just remember to include the dressing in a separate container because it can and will wilt and become ‘sludgy’.
• Wraps are great and you can use lavash bread, tortillas or even do a lettuce wrap.
•  The good ole hard-boiled egg (must be left in the shell and shelled at school outside by the garbage/bins). My eldest loves the egg option and couldn’t care less about any offence it may cause.
• Canned baked beans or spaghetti.
•  Bagels with cream cheese.
• Tuna/Chicken/Egg Salad – mix with mayo and a little salt and pepper and onions if you can chop them small enough to hide them (adds great flavor). Put in a little Tupperware container.
•  Popcorn preferably air popped.
•  I give heaps of chopped veggies in zip-lock bags, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, carrots, celery, sugar snap peas etc. Couple this with a hummus dip or veggie dip in a separate container . . . yummo!
•  Fruit – apples/bananas/peaches/pears and other fruits you can chop and put in containers such as: watermelon, rock melon, cantaloupe, grapes, etc.
•  Another really good option (if you have time) is muffins. I make oversized muffins, which is a great substitute for sandwiches. Little muffins are great for morning and afternoon tea as well. Remember muffins don’t have to be sweet – savoury muffins are yummy!
•  Homemade rice pudding (way better than the bought and it’s so easy to make) just go easy on the sugar and it can almost be eaten like a meal. Chuck in some sultanas or whatever fruit you want and you’ve got a meal fit for a Scottish King and it’s budget-wise. All you need to do is pop your left over rice in a pot with some milk and let it simmer away whilst you clean up after dinner and zip, zap, zoom it’s done.
• Olives and feta (if your children like them).
•  For the avocado lover send the entire thing with a plastic knife and spoon. This is a very filling option.
• Homemade sushi – this is for the more adventurous. Although seemingly time-consuming, sushi is surprisingly easy and quick to make (we will post another sushi recipe very soon to help).
• Left overs – let them be your best friend. Nothing like warm stew on a cold day or home made mac and cheese. Soups are a great option as well.

I think I’ll stop for now. I hope this has helped you ‘keep it exciting’. I would LOVE to hear back from you through our comments – remember something you do may really help someone else.

After receiving so many emails from people about the last article ‘Lonely World’ I decided I needed to do a part two. Can I say that I would love it if you would convert your emails into comments on the blog itself. Although I do enjoy the emails I can tell you that many people would be encouraged and challenged by the comments you make to me personally.

I received and overwhelming response to the article and found that most people are willing to step out a little further and try and reach people. The challenge seems to be time and confidence. So, with this in mind I am going to try and give you a few tips on how to overcome these two challenges.

Time:
This is something thefamilyroom girls discuss regularly and it is something that most people grapple with. How do you find TIME to do what you need to do? In our busy schedules how do you carve out space for yourself, let alone space for someone else? Well friends, to have time you have to make time. I strongly suggest (as I have before) journal what your week looks like. Do it like you would a food diary (we’ve all had one of those at one time or another) if you will. Write everything down for an entire week. At the end of a week look at what you’ve accomplished and how much time you spent doing everything. Then, at the beginning of the following week set some goals, things that need to happen and again journal your week. At then end of that week, sit down and access.

In doing this simple exercise I’m confident you, like myself, will find time. You will realise that there are somethings you are doing that you don’t need to, some you are taking to much time doing them, etc., etc., etc. Before you know it you will have found time to do something different and you will be using your time much more effectively.

This is a great exercise to do not only for yourself but for your family as a whole. You can also use it to help those friends whom you know are struggling with time.

Confidence:
This one is simple. Put one foot in front of the other and just make it happen. Do it with fear and trembling if you need to, just do it.
If you’re inviting someone over for dinner cook something you know really well. You really don’t need to turn into Martha Stewart overnight!!! People just want to be included, they aren’t looking for a 5-star performance or a performance at all, they are simply looking for a sense of belonging and significance.
So, keep it simple. We’ve had some of our best parties or get together(s) simply by scouring the pantry and kitchen and pulling a meal together.
The main ingredients you will need: an open door, laughter and an interest in someone else.

You may be reading this saying, “this is easy for you, you’re not me I don’t know how to do this.” To that I will remind you that I too had to start somewhere and put one foot in front of the other. You can do this and it’s amazing how the simplest of things can make the biggest difference. Dare to be different and make a difference in someone else’s life.

Susan J. Sohn

ps – remember if you need food ideas check out our archives for great, simple, familyroom tried and true recipes.
xoxo

Hey everyone today is a super quick blog and it’s simply to say Happy Valentine’s Day to all. I know those of you in the Northern Hemisphere aren’t there yet but others are so why not start celebrating early.

I thought I would share a few essential ingredients to create an amazing day/night with your husband, wife or better half.

1) Make sure you let go of the worries from the day.
2) Try and plan something (a familyroom secret…. be organized).
3) Remember to laugh.
4) Remember to tell your date how great they look.
5) Make sure you shower and girls feel free to make ‘good’ use of a razor.
6) Drink Champagne for no reason at all other than BECAUSE.
7) Don’t forget to say ‘I Love You’.
Wear deodorant.
9) If you’re cooking something new ~ keep an eye on the directions/instructions.
10)If you’re heading out to a new area print out directions (avoid a domestic at all costs).
11)Give the babysitter a little extra ~ remember, they were alone for the night and probably wishing they weren’t.
12)Play tacky 80’s love songs.
13)If you’re ordering in and pretending you’ve cooked everything make sure you take the evidence to the outside trash/rubbish.
14)Don’t dribble chocolate sauce on your top, keep your head well over your plate.
15)Make sure your breath is fresh.
16)Relax and enjoy your night together.

Have fun and make sure you tell us what you did in our comments section.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone )))

Susan and Crew