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Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

June 13, 2017 By Laura 2 Comments

So, I started writing and editing the photos for this post the day Sadie was born. I had gone in the truck with Josh as I figured it would be the last time I would be able to (so true!) and I took my laptop to do this while he was loading/unloading the cattle. I planned to finish up when I got home but Sadie had other plans for that evening and instead we made a mad dash to the hospital and found ourselves with a baby that night! And now we have a 3 week old! So anyway, I am sorry that it's taken me 3 weeks to share the recipe for Oreo Cheesecake Cookies with you - but apparently newborn babies are very time consuming! But so very snuggly and adorable!...

Sadie's Birth Story

June 10, 2017 By Laura Leave a Comment

Introducing our baby girl Sadie Jane MacDonald! | thekiwicountrygirl.com

Sadie was due on Saturday 20th May. That day came and went without any sign of her arriving which I wasn't at all surprised about. I was still feeling really great and was only just starting to be a little uncomfortable while I was sleeping which I thought was pretty amazing really and not at all how I expected to be feeling at 40 weeks pregnant! That day we went down to the local sports complex to watch the rugby and came home reasonably early. That night I woke a few times overnight feeling a little uncomfortable but didn't think anything of it. Sunday was also very relaxing and we just spent the day at home. I actually think I climbed a ladder and cleaned the ceiling in the bathroom...nesting much?! Sunday night was a different story and I woke about 10 times feeling kind of uncomfortable but again, didn't think it was anything.

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Introducing Sadie Jane

May 31, 2017 By Laura 4 Comments

It's a girl!! We have a daughter...wow.

On Monday 22nd May at 7.57pm we welcomed our gorgeous little girl Sadie Jane MacDonald weighing in at 7lb 2oz.

It was a super speedy delivery (she reeeeeally wanted to meet us!) but it all went as smoothly as it could have and Sadie is doing really well, as are we....

Baby Mac Update - 40 weeks!

May 21, 2017 By Laura Leave a Comment

And just like that we have passed the date that has pretty much ruled our lives for the last 9 months! May 20th came and went with no sign of this baby being ready to arrive! So I thought I would sneak in with an extra update this week as I'm hoping to not still be pregnant in 2 weeks time...buuuut we'll see! It's just got cold here so I don't blame the baby for wanting to stay where it's warm for a little longer!

It's a really strange thing to think that it really could be any day now. I'm excited that I've had 3 whole weeks off work and I'm now feeling totally wound down, relaxed and ready for this baby!...

Autumn on the Farm

May 17, 2017 By Laura Leave a Comment

It has been the longest time since I did a farm post!

Autumn on the farm is super exciting this year. We have autumn calves, and for the first time, actual baby chicks that we hatched ourselves, from eggs that our chickens and rooster that we also hatched ourselves made!! Eeeeek! The whole process is finally happening on farm. Yay!

The best thing is that we got a new incubator because we were having some serious hatch rate issues with the old one and now I can see in the top when they are hatching. I was ~~almost~~ late for work the day they started arriving because I couldn't stop watching them! It's the coolest thing. But now we have 13 little chicks all of our own.

They've just got big enough that they are starting to explore the outside world. It doesn't take long for them to get to that weird awkward feathery stage but for the next few days anyway they're still cute!...

Easy Baked Mac & Cheese

May 13, 2017 By Laura 1 Comment

This easy Baked Mac & Cheese is the perfect comfort food and even better for making one and putting one in the freezer for busy times!

Ok team, things are about to get real simple up in here. I'm talking the most simple of them all, Easy Baked Mac & Cheese.

Not that they've ever been complicated...hi, I'm the girl who lives on 5 minute blender enchilada sauce, spaghetti bolognese and even cuts corners with homemade granola. But as good as 39 weeks pregnant is, it also comes with the reality that at some stage in the next 3 weeks, there will be a crying, sleeping, eating tiny human being in this house that is going to be occupying about 150% of our time. And considering the fact that Josh & I are probably going to be functioning on a very similar schedule, only without the food on tap, I'm thinking that having meals that can be pulled out of the freezer and thrown in the oven without any thought are probably going to save some of the aforementioned tears from at least 1 party...um, me.

I'm thinking soups, lasagnes, meatballs and obviously, the epitome of comfort/simple food. Easy baked mac & cheese! Especially because after a week of beautiful sunny days, the weather has finally packed it in and it is wet, so cosy comfort food is definitely the order of the day....

Baby Mac Update - 38 Weeks

May 9, 2017 By Laura Leave a Comment

Carseat. Check. Bassinet made. Check. Finished work. Check. Teeny tiny baby clothes on the line and in the drawers. Check. Hospital bag packed. Check. Waking up in the middle of the night trying to decide if I'm going to cloth nappy my newborn? Check. It's alllll happening. We are now in official countdown mode and it's actually quite terrifying! But also so so SO exciting!

The highlight this month was definitely making it through opening weekend of duck shooting in 1 piece. Not that Josh would have missed the birth at all, but we are forward planners and both knew that this would mean birthday parties clashing with opening weekend every year! Luckily for us, we have passed that hurdle and now I imagine we will be in for a bit of a wait! Which is fine. I'm all done at work and am now making the most of whatever time I'm going to have at home before the little one arrives!...

No Bake Peanut Butter Chia Bars

May 2, 2017 By Laura 3 Comments

These No Bake Peanut Butter Chia Bars are the perfect healthy snack. They are tasty, full of great ingredients and only take 15 minutes to make!

Guuuuuys guess what? I am officially a housewife! I had my last day of work on Friday and my first day at home yesterday. It was so weird! I was sitting on the couch, it was well past the time I should have left for work and I felt like I was being so naughty not going in! But after the initial strange feelings I had a leisurely breakfast and then spent the day baking, painting drawers, washing cot sheets, packing the baby bag for the hospital (eeeek) and just...being at home! I have to admit, it was kind of nice.

So now we play the waiting game! Which involves lots of snacking.

Even though I've so far managed to avoid massive cravings, sometimes I see something that I do need to have. These No Bake Peanut Butter Chia Bars were inspired by a post on Instagram from Taylor over at Greens & Chocolate. I saw her version of these and made them immediately!...

Anzac Slice

April 25, 2017 By Laura 4 Comments

This loaded Anzac slice recipe is a twist on the traditional Anzac biscuits, filled with cranberries, apricot, walnuts and topped with a chocolate drizzle!

Just popping in quickly this morning with an amazing Anzac Day recipe. Today is the day in New Zealand & Australia that we celebrate and remember our soldiers and traditionally this is celebrated with a day off and Anzac biscuits!

Last year I shared my favourite Anzac biscuit recipe but this year I've mixed it up a bit with my favourite loaded Anzac slice....

Roast Vege Couscous Salad

April 22, 2017 By Laura Leave a Comment

Roast Vege Couscous Salad - the perfect healthy quick and easy lunch or side dish. Full of roast veges and with a simple lemon dressing this is an awesome dish!

So there has been a lot of sweet stuff going on here lately. Cupcakes, slices, desserts - I just like sweet things ok?! But we have hit that time of year where apparently it's starting to cool down - I haven't noticed because I have a heater in my belly and it still feels like summer to me - but that usually signals the start of comfort food eating. Diets go out the window because bikinis are back in the drawer for the next 6 months and suddenly all good eating intentions are gone. So before that totally takes hold let's try to sneak a few good healthy recipes in. Starting with roast vege couscous salad! ...

Butterscotch Slice

April 18, 2017 By Laura 1 Comment

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone had a great long weekend and ate loads of chocolate. We made the most of the Easter sales and bought alllllll the baby things! Cot, pushchair, adorable teeny tiny clothes...oh my gosh. So much cuteness. I also re-covered the rocking chair I bought second hand for the baby room, re-organised my pantry and freezer and did a bit more de-cluttering. Is this what they call nesting? Because I think it's happening to me. Plus we got a surprise visit from my friend Tammi who is over from the UK at the moment. Such a great weekend! I think they should all be 4 days. Speaking of 4 days, I only have two 4 day weeks left at work. Whaaaaat?? Then I am on permanent holiday/waiting around/mum duties. Kind of terrifying and exciting all at the same time! Things are about to change in a massive way!...

Baby Mac Update - 34 weeks

April 12, 2017 By Laura Leave a Comment

So suddenly I have 3 weeks of work left, and only 6 weeks until this baby is due. Wow. The nursery is actually looking like it's expecting a small child to stay and we are starting to get pretty organised now! We've bought a new family car, started buying the things we need and even though being mentally prepared for a baby is something that seems impossible, I am starting to feel pretty ready for this next stage!

Bump size: It has definitely grown a lot in the last 4 weeks and is a very obvious baby bump.

Size of baby: Baby is as big as a muskmelon, whatever that is, or a butternut squash! It's about 45cm long and weighs about 2.1kg....

Granola, Yoghurt & Berry Popsicles

April 7, 2017 By Laura Leave a Comment

The perfect summer breakfast on the run or a snack for anytime is granola, yoghurt & berry breakfast popsicles. Healthy, easy to make and pretty!

If you are into popsicles for breakfast you are in luck. I've got a recipe for granola, yoghurt & berry popsicles that you can 100% eat for breakfast without feeling bad about it! Yuuuuus!

We have launched into autumn so quickly here. We got the tail end of a tropical cyclone that left us stranded at home on Wednesday morning - all 3 main roads into town were flooded! To make things worse it was my really busy day at work and it was the first week that the girl who will be replacing me was there! Luckily my other amazing workmates helped out and Josh & I eventually made it into town about lunchtime in his monster truck tyred 4 wheel drive ute. Phew! I'm telling you though, at almost 34 weeks pregnant it definitely made us think about how far out of town we live and I was preeeetty happy I wasn't about to go into labour!...

Peach & Blueberry Galette

March 29, 2017 By Laura Leave a Comment

Peach & blueberry galette - a quick, easy rustic pie and super impressive dessert! It's the perfect way to use up all the delicious end of summer fruit.

If you are after a quick, easy and super impressive dessert, this peach & blueberry galette is just what you need. It's the perfect way to use up all the delicious end of summer fruit that I can't seem to stop eating at the moment and looks like a million bucks!

The best thing about a galette is that unlike a pie, there is definitely room for error. They are supposed to look rustic so rough edges are in, and if the worst case scenario happens and your perfectly assembled galette falls onto the floor <--- this actually happened - you can patch it back together and it will look as good as new!...

15 Minute Stovetop Granola

March 22, 2017 By Laura 1 Comment

15 Minute Stovetop Granola - simple ingredients put in a frying pan and toasted for 15 minutes...this is the perfect base to make it your own!

I would like to announce that I have become lazy. Well, sort of. But it's going to benefit you because I have 15 minute stovetop granola coming for you today. Yippee!

The thing is, I seem to have run out of time for lots of things lately. I don't know if it's because my bedtime has come back by about an hour since I've become a human incubator, or because it's summer and light outside for longer so it always feels earlier than what it actually is, or because we have had the busiest social calendar of our lives in addition to trying to get ready for this baby for the last few months. Anyway, for whatever reason, evenings - particularly Sunday evenings - turn into little worker bee events involving me running around like a headless chicken trying to bake for the week, reassemble the house back into a reasonable state, prepare myself for the work week and about 1 million other things. And if Josh is really lucky and I'm tired because we've had a big weekend, exhausted/overwhelmed crying is also something that is generally happening at this point.

It's great....

Chocolate Baileys Cupcakes with Mint Frosting

March 17, 2017 By Laura Leave a Comment

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with Chocolate Baileys Cupcakes with Mint Frosting - moist chocolate Baileys cupcakes, Baileys ganache and mint green frosting!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Even though this year I won't be celebrating with an Irish coffee first thing or Guinness for breakfast you can bet I will be wearing green & eating Chocolate Baileys Cupcakes with Mint Frosting. It's tough, but replacing beer with cupcakes is something I'm ok with. And I knew I needed to bring you an epic green recipe in case you had a sudden desire to make something festive!

Being the super responsible pregnant person that I am, I've steered clear of anything super boozy this year but I still couldn't help myself and put Baileys in the cupcakes. Aaaaand in the ganache. Sorry! It's St Patrick's Day!

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Baby Mac Update - 30 Weeks

March 14, 2017 By Laura Leave a Comment

30 weeks....3-0. Stop please. When did this even happen??? 7 weeks of work left, 10 weeks (hopefully!) until we have a tiny human being moving into our house...it's definitely starting to feel a bit more real now!

Bump size: HUGE! Well, people still tell me it's tiny but it feels pretty big to me!

Size of baby: Baby is as big as a cabbage, about 40cm long and weighs about 1.3kg…getting big!

Weight gain? About another 1.5kg since last time which over 4 weeks probably isn't that bad... I did have a moment and have to Google the "healthy weight gain for pregnancy" and I'm still 100% in the ballpark. Just for my peace of mind!

Boy or girl? Still no ideas/thoughts/inklings. Just excited to find out!...

Mini Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

March 10, 2017 By Laura 8 Comments

Mini Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins - perfect for lunchboxes and little hands, these mini muffins are packed full of banana chocolate goodness!

Oh my gosh, frustrations of country living at their finest have happened this week.

Our internet, which is bad at the best of times has for some reason just decided to stop working on my laptop. My phone is fine, my tablet is fine, just not my computer. I have no idea if it's the internet or the laptop, but it's super frustrating, because I rely on my laptop for so many things! So I'm stealing Josh's when he's not here, editing the photos on mine because that's where Photoshop is, putting them on a USB!!! and plugging it into Josh's again.

Also, the power went off the other night (yay summer) which meant that the alarm clock didn't go off because we are super old school and have a plug in alarm clock (omg who are we?) Luckily this baby carrying body woke up to go to the bathroom 10 minutes before I usually leave for work. Seriously. ...

No Bake Snickers Cheesecake Bars

March 1, 2017 By Laura 2 Comments

No Bake Snickers Cheesecake Bars - a new flavour of our favourite dessert, easy no bake cheesecake bars. Caramel, peanuts & cheesecake...dessert perfection!

We are back from a 3 night escape to the beach and it feels good! My aunty, uncle & cousins are visiting all the way from Switzerland at the moment so the whole family packed up and moved to our beach house in Whangamata for the week. Josh & I managed to sneak an extra day off work so had a long weekend and we made the most of sleeping in, eating breakfast out, reading, beach swimming, relaxing and generally just doing what we wanted as it's getting closer to the time that our holidays are going to revolve around a tiny human being instead of us! It was such a great thing to do, we came back feeling super relaxed and ready to start now getting ready for this baby! And eat cheesecake...:)...

Tomato & Basil Bruschetta

February 22, 2017 By Laura Leave a Comment

This tomato & basil bruschetta is THE easiest, best summer appetizer you could possibly make! And eat.

Our summer garden is pathetic this year. I had really high hopes for it, but about the time I should have been getting organised & planting things was when our little baby became a thing and I suddenly had zero energy & motivation for um...anything! Luckily I did manage to get a few tomato plants & basil plants in the polytunnel so at least we have something growing in there! And nothing says summer like tomato & basil together - especially when it's on toasty bread! Pluuuus if you use red & yellow tomatoes it's even prettier...look at them!...

Baby Mac Update - 26 Weeks

February 17, 2017 By Laura 2 Comments

Hey check it out, I'm all caught up! I am actually 26 weeks now (well, almost 27) so we're in real time! Yay! I can't believe that I am almost in the third trimester...the first 12 weeks seemed to take forever and I feel like I've blinked & missed the last 14! It's starting to seem a bit more real now that we are making couple trips to baby shops to test drive prams and look at cots...eeek! Here's the 26 week update on Baby Mac!...

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookies

February 13, 2017 By Laura 1 Comment

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookies - the perfect basic cut out sugar cookies recipe and easy icing. Great for Valentine's Day, or any other day!

So we're not really ones for Valentine's Day but when it's a rainy summer day and Josh is away for the night, clearly making and decorating heart shaped sugar cookies is top of my priority list.

Along with finally 6 months later finishing painting the lounge! YAY! I've even managed in my ever increasing pregnant state to move the couch and coffee table back to their rightful spot in front of the TV so that I have somewhere to sit and eat my breakfast again! Yippee! All that's left to do is put down some new carpet and then we have a brand new room! The only downside to how awesome our lounge looks now, is how terrible it makes our kitchen look in comparison. Gah! It's never ending! But now we can actually get onto the most important room of the house currently...the soon to be baby room! Cue extreme panic....

Small Batch Vanilla Cupcakes

February 8, 2017 By Laura 3 Comments

Another quick and easy small batch recipe - small batch vanilla cupcakes! Makes 4 cupcakes in less than 30 minutes - perfect for celebrations!

Yuuuuuuus, it's the return of the small batch cupcake recipe...this time, the vanilla edition! Small batch vanilla cupcakes!

So guess what? It was our 1 year wedding anniversary over the weekend! Amazing! I can't believe this magical day was a whole year ago already. And what a year it has been! We obviously went to the Guns'n'Roses concert, because what better place for a pregnant woman and her best friend with a 10 week old baby (who didn't come to the concert BTW, but we did see 1 mumma rocking her bub in the front pack...parenting win!) to go on a Saturday night! Seemed like a great idea when we booked tickets 6 months ago!! Oh yea, our husbands did come too! But seriously, it was an epic concert - such a fun way to celebrate a year of marriage!

You know what else is a great way to celebrate an anniversary? Cupcakes!...

Baby Mac Update - 22 Weeks

February 3, 2017 By Laura 2 Comments

How far along? 22 weeks

Bump size: There is definitely a baby in there. For people who know me it's now very obvious but I am still getting questioning looks from people who don't know me too well, especially if I'm wearing a loose top or dress.

Size of baby: Baby is as big as a banana, about 28cm long and weighs about 430g…lots of growing since 18 weeks!

Weight gain? Still not sure but I'm guessing it's at least a few kilos.

Boy or girl? We had our 20 week anatomy scan and Josh had barely shut the door when I pretty much shouted to the ulstrasound tech "we don't want to know if we're having a boy or girl!" I think she got the idea. We both still have absolutely no desire to know much to the dismay of some of my friends...I'm looking at you Tyler 😉

Cravings/aversions: Still eating summer fruit like it's going to be taken away from me at any moment and the need for juice is still strong.

General feelings: It was super exciting seeing the baby on the scan but it still doesn't feel real! It's kind of like I'm looking at someone else's pictures!

Looking forward to: Looking really obviously pregnant. And buying cute things! We got a couple of really sweet things for Christmas which was pretty exciting.

Missing anything? Fitting some of my clothes and again with the beer over summer. But I found non-alcoholic beer which actually tastes like real beer so I can pretend!

Movement: So much! This kid can kick! I seem to be growing either the next 1st V for the All Blacks or a dancer in there because there are some seriously strong movements happening. It's amazing! Josh has been able to feel them too which is awesome. He's super into it for the first couple of movements, and then he thinks about it too much and it kind of freaks him out a little which is understandable! It's kind of alien like really!

What I’ve been loving: The kicks are definitely the coolest part - it's pretty amazing really. And also *warning, possibly TMI* I can no longer fit any of my bras which is a situation I'm very happy about 😉

What I’ve not been loving: The only small issue I'm having is that I've been getting blocked ears. They will randomly just block up for a couple of minutes and then come right which is kind of happening throughout the day. A little bit annoying, but in comparison to what some women have to deal with, I am not complaining.

Maternity clothes? Still not into maternity clothes yet but I've had to buy a couple of new outfits for work, just in stretchy material. Over the Christmas break was great as I just lived in elastic waistband shorts and singlets but having to look nice for work is a bit more of a challenge. At least I don't have to dress super corporate for work, so nice summer dresses and all the clothes from Kmart are fitting the bill right now!

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