Boxing Day Sales

The day after Christmas day- December 26th- marks the busiest shopping day of the year* for Australians. There are sales everywhere, from online to in store, and I made sure that I was right in the thick of it from the second they opened. Actually planning and eagerness saw us there before the shops were scheduled to open! We were lucky that was the case since the car park had already started to fill up when we arrived.

Please go home shoppers I would not like to get shoved, ran over, squished and barged into as you try to get your prized sales. Yes, I may have been one of them 😉

After breakfast- Hawaiian (ham, pineapple & cheese) crepe for him, ham & poached egg on 6inch wheat sub for me, I managed to score myself plenty of bargains! Plus I spent barely any of my money thanks to my Christmas presents in the form of money and gift cards.

A few essentials from Chemist Warehouse

 

After my first purchase of this style of necklace I just needed more- plus half price? Why did I not get more?!

 

Cute floral shorts for the summer. These are so comfortable and very flattering.

 

I’m thinking the dress may be my New Years Eve dress- loving the colour. The pants are workout 3/4 length pants which are super comfy, keep everything tight, aren’t see-through AND have a cute pink pattern around the waist.

 

A cute skirt. The material is pretty thin so we will see how functional this ends up being.

I’ve done plenty of shopping, however none of that was of the grocery kind. Which is why our fridge looks a little bare at the moment..

Thankfully I managed to scramble something decent up for lunch.

Vegie pattie on wholegrain bread with a side of mixed vegetables.

I also managed to get in a weights workout today! It felt good to be back, even if I wasn’t gone all that long. I did my usual squats, deadlifts, chest press, push ups, assisted chin ups, elevated tricep dips, lat pull downs and I finished with a 15 minute interval on the elliptical- 1 minute level 25- hard out, 30 seconds level 16- faster speed (plus the warm up). I did totally blank out and forget to do an ab workout though, but luckily that’s something I can do anywhere 😉

We’re home a bit earlier than expected, since we actually only spent one night (sleepless night at that) at Port Macquarie. We ended up spending Christmas day travelling 7 hours home to Brisbane and then having our own little Christmas feast and watching some Jersey Shore in bed (one of my presents!). I hope for those who have, are currently and are still to celebrate Christmas day that it’s fantastic- and if you’re someone who perhaps threw moderation out with the smell of Christmas pies coming out of the oven than this post is for you.

Do you struggle through the boxing day sales or prefer to stay safe at home? What was your Christmas day like?

*Statistics were made up, but if you were there you’d understand what I mean since EVERYONE was there.

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Natvia Condensed Milk

For all you Natvia users out there I’ve found one of the most convenient and easy recipes ever, and I’ve got to admit it’s also one of my best Natvia recipes. Natvia has popped up a few times before on my blog:

• In recipes such as my Chocolate Chip Cookies, Fudgey Brownies, Vanilla Cupcakes, Christmas Pancakes and Christmas Thumbprints
• Natvia Sweeter Life Club & Weekly Bake Off
• Reviewing the Natvia Baking Pack

And now I bring you… Natvia Condensed Milk. There is no photo unfortunately, at this stage (since I was so excited at the outcome)…until I make it again which I guarantee will be sooner than later. This recipe is super simple and will be all the motivation you need to make another recipe (which is AMAZING) that I’ll soon be sharing with you.

Natvia Condensed Milk

Equivalent to 1 can of Nestle Sweetened Condensed Milk

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup of Natvia Baking Pack
• 1/3 cup of boiled water
• 3 tbs (60g) of butter, melted & cooled slightly.
• 1 cup of sifted skim milk powder (non-skim is also fine)

Method

1. Boil the jug and place boiled water into a bowl. Pour in Natvia and mix until dissolved.
2. Sift skim milk powder and place butter into the Natvia mix and combine.
3. Blend until all is mixed through and desired consistency (smooth & thickish).
4. Place in the fridge (each time you remove from fridge stir the mixture so it becomes smooth again).
5. Use wherever sweetened condensed milk is needed for a healthier, sugar free, lower calorie alternative.

Take my word for it- this stuff will have anyone fooled. Plus you’ll know feel no guilt (not that you should anyways!) when you’re enjoying the that little drip that got on your finger, the taste tests you just have to have or the leftover spoonfuls you don’t want to go to waste.

What is your favourite way to have condensed milk? My boyfriend goes traditional with a spoon or mixes it with biscuits and cocoa powder, calls it witchetty grubs and gobbles it up. My step mum use to eat some with fresh bread.

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