Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Flybuys dollars on Consume

A couple of days ago, I was at Coles and wanted to know how many flybuys dollars I had on my card. The confusion my simple request caused the checkout girl was immense! I ended up having to pay with my debit card, and still I had no idea what my balance was.

Then last night, I had a brainstorm! I was using Consume, one of my very favourite apps on my iPhone, when I spotted the option to add a Coles Myer giftcard. I remembered once using my flybuys dollars to pay for some shopping when I was going through a self serve checkout. To do so, I chose an option called "pay with giftcard/flybuys dollars". So I thought I would give it a whirl, and it worked!

So, if like me, you have trouble keeping up to date with the balance of your flybuys dollars, give this a try!

1. Download the Consume App. (if you haven't already!)
2. Choose the gear icon at the bottom right of the screen, then "add account".
3. Select Australia, then "store cards".
4. Here you will find the option "Coles Myer Giftcard". Add it.
5. I changed the description to "flybuys dollars" for clarity
6. For card number, enter your flybuys number. The one that begins with 6008.
7. Then enter the pin you gave when you redeemed your points for flybuys dollars on the flybuys site
8. Your done!

The balance shown is up to date. After adding my card, I redeemed another $10 worth of flybuys dollars and it showed up in consume instantly.

Even before this little discovery, I have been a huge fan of the Consume App. I use it to view my internet data usage with TPG, my current balance with my Telstra home phone, my Virgin Postpaid Mobile, my Easyway Tea Loyalty points, my flybuys points, and now my flybuys dollars. It is such a handy App to have. Plus, it updates to the iCloud!

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/consume/id337064413?mt=8

Sunday, June 17, 2012

SOS no more!

I'm not doing the Save our Sleep self setting routines ever again. EVER! I'm so mad at myself for putting the words in a book above my instincts. For letting a book make me think that comforting my hysterical little boy was counter productive. Never again.

After what we went through tonight, I've decided that I don't mind having him fall asleep in my arms anymore. He's able to settle himself most times he wakes in the middle of the night. That's the most important thing.

My son is going to be so sick of cuddles from me over the next few days. All I want to do is hold him. I'm so upset.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Bini's Tuna Mornay

I'm terrible in the kitchen. Always have been. But since my son came into our lives, officially making me a Mummy, I've really been trying to make an effort.

This recipe is my saving grace. When my husband first tasted it he told me I was now in charge of making tuna mornay. It's my recipe, in that I read the original recipe wrong! I have since tried that same recipe as written and it was a bitter disappointment. After a couple more tweaks, I give you...

Bini's Tuna Mornay

Ingredients;
185g tin of tuna in brine, drained
440g tin of corn kernels, drained (3/4 tin may be all you want)
2 tablespoons of margarine or softened butter
2 tablespoons of plain flour
1 cup of shredded tasty cheddar cheese
2 cups full cream milk
Salt and Pepper to taste

Method;
Start with the white sauce. Over a medium heat, mix the flour and butter. Constantly stir as to avoid burning. Once it forms a uniform paste, start gradually adding the milk. Stir as you pour, as to avoid lumps.

Now add the corn, tuna and cheese. Salt and pepper to taste and reduce to a low heat. Allow to simmer while rice cooks. Can be removed from the heat five minutes before serving.

Easy as that!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Our Sleep Needs Re-saving!

We used to have it sorted. My little man was a champion at self settling. Every nap. Until he came down with croup, and then it all went pear shaped. When he was unwell, he needed the extra cuddles and rocking. But then we made a habit of it. Many, many months down the track we are still there. Considering little man is 15 months old now, this is shaping up to be a big problem in the future. I need to start making steps to fix it.

As things stand at the moment, things aren't entirely difficult. It's more that I'm thinking about the future. It usually only takes 10 - 20 minutes of cuddles, rocking, and lullabies from his MyPal Scout. He needs to be asleep before he is put into bed, or he gets incredibly worked up once we leave the room. If he wakes up at night, that's a bigger issue. It has on occasion taken as long as 2 and a half hours to get him back to sleep. And given that we live in a unit in close proximity to our neighbours, that can be incredibly stressful. I remember the nights when night wake ups just required a couple of pats on the back with some shushing. Oh how I miss that. Especially in this incredibly cold weather we are having at the moment.

All those months ago, when he finally mastered self settling, we were using the techniques in Tizzie Halls book, Save Our Sleep. A controversial book for some people, but for us it worked perfectly. I thrive on structure and routine, and bub did too. However, now he's older. The techniques are different for toddlers. And little man is now more aware of being left alone, and has been through several bouts of separation anxiety. We must be strong though. I know this. I need to make sure all three of us; myself, daddy, and our little man, are in the right frame of mind when we start the arduous journey of teaching a toddler to self settle... Again.

There is sure to be a few more posts on this topic. Please cross your fingers for me!

Friday, June 8, 2012

My irrational fear.

Random Friday night confession. I'm terrified of the title music on Doctor Who. All started when I was about five years old. My Dad had just mounted a glass cabinet onto a wall, and it crashed onto the floor while we were watching tv and it just happened to be while Doctor Who was starting. Twenty Five years later, it still fills me with dread. :/.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Bini wants to blog

I'm getting a little frustrated! I want to blog! And more than just product review and OMG, I love my iPhone to death posts! How do other mums do it?!

Time for some time management me thinks! And organizing when it comes to by blog too. I think it's a little scattered, and if anybody is ready it, I'm sure they'll agree.