Building our Dream with Stockland

This post is written in partnership with Stockland

As you may be aware, we are half way through building our Dream Home. It all began the back in 2011 when Stockland announced a new community which would be built, in our local area.

 

 

We were rapidly outgrowing our old house with it’s small bedrooms and only 1 bathroom. The kitchen was nice, but tiny and we had no backyard to speak of. The kids wanted a trampoline, but we had no space to put one. It was (and is) a fantastic first house for a young family, but we were approaching the next stage in our lives.

We wanted more space. A bigger house.  something bigger. A house where we could envisage our children growing up – with space to play in the backyard and have their friends around.

 

Standing on our block of land – July 2012

As we live on the edge of town, there is a lot of open land around us. It’s a huge growth area for the state and so there were a couple of new communities planned. We looked at them all. Considered the pro’s and con’s of each but finally decided to build our dream home in a Stockland community. The location was perfect, the blocks of land were large and the proposed new community layout was perfect.

Stockland has been helping Australians create quality housing and thriving communities for more than 60 years. Many people dream of building their own home but see it as being too hard to do. Stockland makes it easy by giving you a choice of communities, lot sizes and positions.

Stockland offer House and Land packages or you can just buy the block of land and then choose your own home design and builder.

Which is what we did.

View from the downstairs alfresco area

We chose to build with Sekisui House (previously known as AV Jennings). We’re building a 2 storey home with plenty of space. Downstairs we will have the study, living room (the posh one for visitors), large kitchen with walk-in butlers pantry, dining room, family room, laundry, powder room AND my all important sewing studio.

 

Family room with a wall of sliding doors. French doors would have been nicer, too expensive.

The house will have 3 garages. 2 for cars and the third will be walled off and will be the “Wood-Working Man Cave”.

The bedrooms upstairs are large which was important to us. We wanted to make sure that the kids would have space of their own. A space to make theirs.

 

Sewing Studio with a lot of natural light

 

Here a progress shot of the front of the house. Those poor builders must be sick and tired of seeing me drive past everyday - snapping photos.

 

 

If all goes well, we’re hoping to move into the new house by November. Still a way to go, but it’s getting closer and closer everyday. In the meantime, I have the fun job of choosing the interior flooring and furniture. We’ll be taking a lot of our old furniture with us, but will buy some new bits and pieces.

Our dream home is all about space to grow and create.

Which features are important to you, in your dream home?

DISNEY Peter Pan {Giveaway}

I’ll let you in on a little secret. Up until this past weekend, I’d never watched Peter Pan. Yes, all of these years, I must have been living under a rock.

We were invited to a special Peter Pan screening in Sydney, but on the day, we just weren’t able to attend. So the lovely people at Disney PR sent through a Peter Pan review disc. Yay! The kids and I sat and watched it on Sunday afternoon. With the cooling weather and winter knocking at the door, a Sunday afternoon film is such a lovely luxury.



Peter Pan is a timeless classic from Disney’s Gold Age of animation. Beginning in the London Nursery of Wendy, John and Michael Darling, the children are visited by Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up. With the help of his fairy friend Tinker Bell, Peter teaches them to fly and takes them to Never Never Land.



I did wonder if my children would like it. They’re so used to the modern Disney films (eg Wreck it Ralph and Tangled) that the classics sometimes bore them. I needn’t have worried.

They sat transfixed with a bowl of popcorn and really enjoyed the film. Sam later told me that it was the “best ever”, though in saying this, he usually makes this claim after every film he sees.

My little miss has spent the past few days at home with a cold. She has watched Peter Pan again and again. It’s surely a sign of a good film – right?



Peter Pan on Blu-Ray is a must own addition to your Disney home entertainment collection. Filled with high flying bonus features for all ages including never-­before-­seen deleted scenes and a never-before-heard deleted song. See Peter pan fly to all new heights with a complete digital restoration and crystal clear high definition picture and sound for the first time on Blu-Ray 5 June 2013.

To learn more and keep informed on this release:
• “Like” the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/WaltDisneyStudiosAUNZ
• Follow on Twitter at @DisneyStudiosAU
• View videos at www.YouTube.com/WaltDisneyStudiosAU
• Keep up to date with the latest Peter Pan information at www.disney.com.au/peterpan

And if your little person likes to colour in, just like mine does, Disney also sent through a few Peter Pan colouring pages which I’ve uploaded HERE. Just print and colour.

My cheeky girl thought Tinker Bell needed a makeover

Thanks to Disney, I have 3 x Peter Pan Blu-Ray’s to giveaway to a lucky Samelia’s Mum reader (or their children, grandchildren, neighbour, friend etc…….)
To be in the running just tell me:

Which Disney character has THE best outfit and why you like it?

Please make sure that you are contactable by ensuring your email address is visible in your Google account settings.

1. Australian Giveaway ONLY.

2. Giveaway will close at 5:00pm on 30 May 2013 AEST.

3. The judge’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered upon.4. The prize will be sent by the promoter. Samelia’s Mum will take no responsibility for any delay, loss or damage  to prizes sent to winner/s.5. Winner/s will be announced on the Samelia's Mum Facebook page and/or contacted by email.

Spring Mini Quilt

My "Spring" Mini Quilt is finished! Needle turn appliqué is one of my new favourite things to do.





The quilt is a pattern by Sarah Fielke from her previous book, "From Little Things".





My little leaves are far from perfect. They don't all look the same even though they're all cut from the same template. I think it's just added character (another way of saying wonky).





Hand quilted in an aqua Perle 8 cotton, around the vine and all of the leaves. Finished with a navy blue and white dot binding.

I've enjoyed this project so much that I've just ordered a Superior donut of cotton bobbins.

I love a happy finish :)

Peppercorn Food Company {Giveaway}

The other week, a delicious package arrived on our doorstep. I’d been chatting with the lovely PR people from Peppercorn Food Company and knew it was coming, so I let hubby enjoy the surprise of opening the box.

His eyes lit up. It was like Christmas had come. Really.

Inside of the huge Styrofoam box, covered in bags of ice was a large selection of Peppercorn Food Company products.




We love to try new products at our house, though sausages are nothing new around these parts. Except. We’d never tried Peppercorn sausages – and really, they are sooooooooooooo much better than the generic ones at the supermarket.

Peppercorn Food Company have a factory in western Sydney and make a whole range of products, all with the Heart Foundation Tick of approval, all gluten free and all made from natural ingredients. Whatever it takes to make the best.



The Peppercorn Food Company has gone from supplying one store in Neutral Bay NSW to supplying Woolworths nationally as well as other leading retailers across the country.

As you can probably guess, we had sausages for dinner that night - with peas and mash. Yum! Extra Lean Chicken Sausages (which the kids LOVED) and Extra Lean Italian Style Sausages which have some extra herbs and spices and delicious flavour.

I put a few packs in the freezer as we couldn’t just eat sausages or burgers every night (though my kids would disagree with me on this). But then, it just so happened that I was watching one my my favourite shows – Better Homes & Gardens. Anyone else love this show? It’s our Friday night staple.

Fast Ed (Ed Halmagyi) was making a Layered Rice Bake which captured my attention. Firstly because it looked like perfect winter comfort food. And secondly, because he made a pie base (and lid) out of rice. And it held together, just like pastry would hold together.

You can watch the segment with Fast Ed in action here:

The next day, I decided to have a go at making the Rice Bake and used some Peppercorn Extra Lean Beef Burgers with Asian Herbs and Spices for the filling.



I subscribe to the Better Homes & Gardens magazine, so I had the recipe easily available to me. I read the instructions a couple of times and began. It was all working well and my main concern was ensuring I’d packed in the rice properly so that it would all hold together.



And it did hold. But best of all, the Asian herbs and spices in the Peppercorn Burgers really shone through and gave this pie an extra depth of flavour. The next day, we sliced it up and ate it cold for lunch. Perfect!

Honestly, the Peppercorn Food Company products may be a little more expensive than the generic brands, but they are absolutely worth it. Premium quality and most importantly, the Heart Foundation Tick.



The Peppercorn Food Company have been very generous and have offered a Samelia’s Mum reader the chance to win the very same pack which I received (top image).

To be in the running for this fantastic prize pack from Peppercorn Food Company, just tell me:

 

What is your favourite recipe using sausages?

If you don’t have a Google account, please enter via the Rafflecopter below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Like the Peppercorn Food Company Facebook Page for products, promotions and recipes.

1. Australian Giveaway ONLY. Due to the nature of this product, the giveaway is limited to metropolitan addresses within Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
2. Giveaway will close at 12:00 am on 30 May 2013 AEST.
3. The judge’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered upon.
4. The prize will be sent by the promoter. Samelia’s Mum will take no responsibility for any delay, loss or damage to prizes sent to winner/s.
5. Winner/s will be announced on the Samelia's Mum Facebook page and/or contacted by email.

Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes {GIVEAWAY}

Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes is bringing eight treasured Disney Princesses and their devoted Princes to Australia this June/July!
 

 
Join Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel, Tiana, Jasmine and all your favourite Disney Princesses and Heroes as they come together to embark on their romantic quests.

In this ice spectacular, audiences will journey with Ariel as she explores the world above the waves, with Jasmine as she discovers a whole new world with Aladdin and with Prince Philip as he defeats the evil Maleficent to rescue his one true love, Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora. Fans will also be treated to the magical moments when Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Rapunzel and Tiana’s dreams come true.

More than 40 world class skaters - including Australia’s Nicholas Fernandez - will perform breathtaking choreography that will mesmerize audiences – young and old! The ice spectacular includes stunning special effects, 750 elaborate costume pieces, an awe-inspiring set design and the dazzling Cinderella carriage featuring 2,000 lights.

So dust off your tiaras and polish your crowns, the royals begin their tour in Adelaide on 14 June and travel onto Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth until 21 July.


TOURING 14 JUNE – 21 JULY 2013 Tickets on sale NOW

2013 National Tour Dates
Adelaide - Adelaide Entertainment Centre 14 - 16 June (Fri - Sun)
Newcastle - Newcastle Entertainment Centre 20 - 23 June (Thurs - Sun)
Brisbane - Brisbane Entertainment Centre 27 - 30 June (Thurs - Sun)
Melbourne - Hisense Arena, Melbourne 4 - 8 July (Thurs - Mon)
Sydney - Allphones Arena, Sydney Olympic Park 10 - 14 July (Wed - Sun)
Perth - Perth Arena 19 - 21 July (Fri - Sun)

Purchase tickets from Ticketek: 132 849 www.ticketek.com.au/disneyonice.

Tickets start from $28.50. Additional discounts apply. Visit www.disneyonice.com.au



With thanks to Disney On Ice and Feld Entertainment, I have 4 tickets to give away to a lucky Samelia’s Mum reader.

To be in the running for this fantastic prize, just tell me:

Who is your favourite Disney Princess and WHY?

If you don’t have a Google account, please enter via the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1. Australian Giveaway ONLY.
2. Giveaway will close at 12:00 am on 27 May 2013 AEST
3. The judge’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered upon.
4. The prize will be sent by the promoter. Samelia’s Mum will take no responsibility for any delay, loss or damage to prizes sent to winner/s.
5. Winner/s will be announced on the Samelia's Mum Facebook page and/or contacted by email.