Recent Things: Date Nights, Church Challenge & Herb Heaven (RT#7)

It's Friiiiiiiiidaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Another week has flown by! 

This weekend is another super busy one for us as we have something on every single day - but I can't wait for it! Let's get started on this week's recent things, shall we?!

Recent Eats: We're working on a very exciting new SIL project and this was one of the recipes I tested this week were these deeeeelicioooousss Mocha Oats.

Recent Events: On Tuesday, I took Mama SIL to a Gourmet Garden Event at Manu Fieldel's Kitchen where they launched the new Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried range. 

Let me tell you guys, this idea is brilliant. I don't know about you - but when I can't grow herbs and I'm buying fresh herbs I tend to get really frustrated. They cost so much and they wilt and turn to mush so quickly. You either have to eat those fresh herbs every day until they're used up or you feel like you've wasted them. 

These new lightly dried herbs, however, are organic and last for four weeks once opened - and they're retailing at $2.98 per pack at Woolworths! Plus, you'll be as pleased as I was to know that they contain no added nasties, so us allergy bugs are safe!

  

Recent Baking Adventures: Baked Cinnamon Donuts and Mini Baked Cheesecakes. Truth be known, Jesse went out with a friend on Sunday night after church and I maaaaay or may not have sneakily scoffed the last mini cheesecake whilst he was gone :P On Monday night he went to the fridge and hmm, where did that cheesecake go?! ;)

The donuts were delish but Jesse's not a cinnamon donut fan (more donuts for me!) so I'm going to have to experiment with lots of different recipes seeing as he was the one who bought me the donut pans!

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Recent Things to Look Forward To: First up, youth group tonight (we went from 2 kids to 10 kids last week, so I can't wait to see how much it grows over the next couple of months - it's always exciting being apart of something from the very beginning!) followed by a focus group with Paul Borden from Growing Healthy Churches.

This weekend is our "Church Growth & Challenge Weekend" as Paul is coming to work with us on identifying the things that we do brilliantly and the things that we should be doing better. He's currently training up one of the Sydney Archbishops and they chose our church as one of the 9 churches around Sydney they're working with so we're excited to be involved! We'll be at the Church all day tomorrow for church growth training and then home in the evening to relax!

Then on Sunday Paul will be leading our Sunday Service and our Church Challenge will be revealed. We have the night off from Discipleship Explored as this weekend is so busy at OAC, so Jesse and I have a Date Night planned instead! 

We're going to see Mr Peabody and Sherman - and I am so glad that I married a man who will happily and willingly watch kid movies with me. I like kids movies way better than most adult aimed movies ;P 

I'm also really excited for the lovely Leanne at Healthful Pursuit to launch her new eBook next week! I have an advance copy and it looks incredible - but I'll tell you more about that when it launches.

Recent Purchases: A toasted sandwich maker! We already have one at home, but it's a gluten haven and I don't really feel comfortable making gluten free toasted sandwiches in it - so I picked up this nifty little sandwich press at Kmart for $17. Oh Kmart, how I love thee. 

Recent Randomness: This little dinosaur that Jesse came home with one day. He found it abandoned in a parking lot and brought it home - if you needed any proof that my husband is five, there you have it ;P 

Recent Excitement: You know how I told you we were conquering our black thumbs? It's working!!! Check out those baby herbs!

Recent Inspiration: Heather Von St James. Heather emailed me to ask her if I'd help her spread Asbestos Awareness as April 1-7 is Asbestos Awareness Week. 

Did you know that every year, around 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma. A deadly cancer which is caused by exposure to asbestos. Generally speaking, they are only given 10 months to live. That's only 3700 hours. 

You can find out more about Mesothelioma here, but I think you should watch Heather's story above and then spread the awareness through your own social media channels by clicking one of the buttons on this page.

And because no post is complete without Chanel, here she is! Doesn't she melt your heart? 

But tell me about your recent;

- inspiration

- baking adventures

- things to look forward to!

And what are you up to this weekend?