Good news is that it is getting better which is a relief but I still need to be careful and as such sitting for long periods of time isn’t very good for me at the moment. I will get there but at least you know what’s going on in case you don’t hear from me quite as often.

I have some random photos taken the past couple of weeks for a wrap up of ‘The Week That Was’. So I hope you enjoy them.

Love walking in the school gate in the morning, its like we have actually achieved something for the day, we managed to get up, fed, dressed and to school before the bell rings. It’s the little things!

I am signed up to a few research companies, (completely non related to being a blogger and a PR firm sending me goodies) I don’t do many of them anymore, due to the timing of things but I did say yes to the Moccona Coffee review, where I get to enjoy some of their flavoured coffees. The jury is still out on them, not too sure I am a fan. (Contagious Network is the one I am doing this through for those wondering)

Before I hurt my back I did go to a Bloggers Brunch, I hope to do a wrap up of this soon.

One of my favourite things as a mum is when my 2 boys play well together, I can never resist getting a photo.

I had taken to drinking green smoothies for breakfast, but my blender broke Now I have to get a new one before I can make them again and I miss having them.

Even though it’s turned chilly around these parts, I spied a lovely sunrise outside my back windows one morning.

Then I spotted a rainbow a few days later!

Say bye to my fridge. Walked towards it one day and the doors fell off right in front of me and smashed to the ground.The hinges snapped. It seems a strange thing to have happened but the fridge is 12 years old so it was getting on.

Once a month our library hold a ‘Lego Club’ which my boys love going to. This is one of my 8 year olds creations, it’s a police helicopter.

With a broken fridge comes the use of a smaller one as we won’t buy a new one until we get back from our holiday (yes it’s that close!) so that means I started the using up of food before I planned to, this was one of my creations which is basically a Gluten Free Savoury Bread and Butter pudding and it was delish.

If you follow me on facebook you may have seen these already but I was delighted to find Choc Coated Honeycomb that is gluten free at Woolworths. $2.98 for a 400 gram bag.

And on that note, it’s time for me to sign off for now. Have a great week!

Bit of an Update and The Week that Was is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

I am in Melbourne, so these are for specials for that area for Woolworths and Coles, products and prices may not be available where you are, you can always check the particular stores catalogue online. Here for Coles and Here for Woolworths.

Woolworths Gluten Free Weekly Specials

• Fantastic Rice Crackers and Delites 99 cents a packet – I love the Delites, really yummy

• New product Heinz Beans of the Day – all but 1 flavour reads gluten free, I am yet to try them – $2.80
• Sirena Tuna – 4 for $7
• John West Salmon Tempters (watch ingredients) – $1.80
• Select Chickpeas – $1
• Rice Bran Oil – $13

• La Zuppa new product – Pouch Soup – $3.30
• La Zuppa Microwave Soup – $3

• Weis Bars – $4

•  Nestle Soleil Diet Chocolate Mousse – 2 for $4
• Danone Greek Yoghurt 4 pack – 2 for $5
• Yoplait Squeezie Yoghurt 7 for $7
• Yogo Dairy Snack 12 pack – $5
• five:am Powerpack – 3 for $5
• five:am Smoothy – 2 for $4
• Dairy Farmers Yoghurt – 2 for $6

Coles Weekly Gluten Free Specials

• Smiths Potato Chips or Doritos Corn Chips (original in both, blue packet for Smiths and green packet for Doritos) – 2 for $5
• Sakatas Rice Crackers Multi Packs (watch some flavours, they have ‘may contain’ statements on the label) – 2 for $5

• Fuzzy photo of Sakata rice crackers and as above, watch the labels for may contain statements – 2 for $3.50

• Scooby-Doo Iddy Biddy Fruity Bites – $1.99

• Freedom Foods Rice Flakes – $4
• SPC Peaches – $3
• John West Tuna  or Salmon Slices – 2 for $5

• Some flavours of Bulla Creamy Classics are gluten free by ingredient – $5

• Vaalia Yoghurt – $4
• Wattle Valley Chunky Dip – 2 for $7
• Activ Yoghurt 4 packet – $3
• Farmers Union Greek Style Yoghurt – $4
• Big M Flavoured Milk – $4

•  Pitango Soup – $5
• Cracker Barrel Cheese – $4.40
• Bega Cheese Slices – $7.40

I hope these help. Have you see any fabulous gluten free specials?

{And my usual disclosure – no brands asked to mentioned, I am sharing this information because I wish to.}

Gluten Free Supermarket Specials for 15 – 21 May 2013 is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

Bupa have recently released the ‘GlutenSwitch’ app which is an extension of their ‘FoodSwitch’ app (designed to help us make healthier food choices). That in itself is very handy but having a GlutenSwitch app with it is wonderful.

I remember 10 years ago when I was first diagnosed with coeliac disease, my gastroenterology specialist told me to ‘stop eating gluten’. Sure thing I thought. Easy done. That was until I started reading about it and hit the supermarket. The first shop after my diagnosis was the longest shop ever as I had to read the ingredients on everything.

If I had this gem of an app then I know if would have made life so much easier. What you do is install the FoodSwitch app, available on both iTunes and Google Play, click on the GlutenSwitch option , scan the barcode of the product and then it will bring up the ingredients of the product, whether it is gluten free or not and if not, some gluten free alternative suggestions. Genius right?

Bupa kindly gave me a Woolworths giftcard to do a little shopping and give the app a workout.

So first up I thought I’d try the one of the most popular things that people look for on my blog: Gluten Free Lollies. Ah yes we all need our treats!

Woolworths Homebrand Jubes. Now the app wasn’t sure about this product so it asked to take photos so it can be added. To me, by ingredients, it was Gluten Free. So very happy about that as I didn’t know about them previously and for $2 a bag, a cheap solution.

Even though the app wasn’t sure, it still provided safe alternatives, excellent!

Now time to check out another popular search: Cornflakes

Kellogg’s Cornflakes do contain gluten but there are gluten free alternatives so all is not lost.

And I also tried a snacky type of food.

And just to try an actual product that I knew to be gluten free:

Macro Double Choc Biscuits (the gluten free answer to tim tams) I love how it reminds you to check the label also.

One last thing I love about the app is that you can share your find straight from the app to email, twitter or facebook with the blue button the side, or add it to your own list.

It is worth noting however that there are some things I scanned and the product wasn’t on the list and it asked me to photograph the product and ingredient list. I did so as it will help them see what people are looking for and in time I am sure most of the products will be included.

Oh and did I mention it’s free?

I would love to know if you give it a go and how you find it?

Disclosure: I was asked to try GlutenSwitch by Bupa, who kindly supplied me a grocery gift card. No other payment was made, all opinions are my own.

GlutenSwitch App from FoodSwitch by Bupa is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

Fast forward to last March and the Digital Parents Conference and I discovered I was sitting at the same time with none other than Sophie Bone, who along with her husband and family, created the Big 4 Bellarine Holiday Park! I grabbed the chance to introduce myself to her and thanked her again for her invitation and apologised again for not being able to attend.

Sophie was kind enough to extend the invitation to myself and my family to head down and stay the night to try the park out for ourselves and I happily accepted.

We went down a few weeks ago to stay overnight in a 3 bedroom cabin. While I was packing, I asked my eldest son what he wanted to take with him and his reply was, “Nothing as I know there will be lots to do when we are there.”

And he was right.  I am going to share what we got up to and also show you lots of photos!

This is at reception, love the colours

Also in reception, the sitting area around the fireplace, would be perfect on a winters day.

Our home for the night, a self contained 3 bedroom cabin

Great kitchen with everything you need. I needed to use the oven tray to cook our dinner and I loved that the tray was already covered in foil ready to use. Full sized fridge and even a teapot with cups and saucers. And also a dishwasher which was easy to use.

The living area with two sofa’s which is awesome. Love the pop of red. Table with 4 chairs and 2 barstools at the island bench.

Main bedroom with king bed and bedside tables. Also an open cupboard with hanging space.

Second bedroom with two single beds. The boys loved sharing their room. An open cupboard in this room too with hanging  and shelf space. There is also a clothes airer which is handy for hanging bathers and beach towels.

The third bedroom with a single bed and bunk.

My photo of the bathroom didn’t turn out but there is a separate toilet which is handy.

Straight outside is the covered deck with fencing and lockable gates. Perfect for those with toddlers, they can roam on the deck and the gates can be closed and it’s safe for them. Also love the privacy screen at the end of the deck.

First thing my boys wanted to do was jump in the pool! It’s big with an awesome slide. There is also a shallow and deep end.

Plus these water sprayers that the kids loved running about in.

After the pool (don’t forget your own towels!) and everyone got changed, the big kids decided to have a latte and the little kids had an ice cream.

Then time for more playing… the big air pillows…

the go karts…

and a flying fox…

there is even an toddler playroom that’s in a gated area. Sophie and her husband really have thought of everything.

There are walking tracks…

and a lookout which is up on a hill and you can see the whole park from up here.

There is plenty to do close to the holiday park too, like the Geelong Adventure Park and Amaze’n Games as well as many other attractions.

There are also a number of restaurants and cafe’s nearby which are listed in a folder in the cabin, as a coeliac I don’t often eat out and found it easier to whip something up in the cabin. There are supermarkets close by and when the kids went to bed, hubby and I watched a DVD from the park’s DVD library (which is no charge)

We had a great sleep, woke up, had breakfast and the boys kicked the footy, played on the massive wooden playground and went for a walk. Then we jumped in the pool again for one last dip.

All too soon it was time to check out and we did so with lots of fun memories and promises to return again. It is only an hour from Melbourne, perfect for a weekend getaway or somewhere a bunch of families can go to have a shared holiday.

If you have a tent or caravan, don’t worry you don’t miss out, there are lots of powered sites, two camp kitchens and BBQ’s. Plus convenient family bathrooms and toilets. See I told you they thought of everything!

Join their facebook page to get up to date deals.

Thank you Sophie and Big 4 Bellarine Holiday Park team, we had a fabulous time and hope to be back soon!

{Disclosure: myself and my family enjoyed a free night at Big 4 Bellarine Holiday Park in a 3 bedroom cabin. Not other payment was made or received. All opinions are of my myself and my family member’s.}

Big 4 Bellarine Holiday Park – perfect for a holiday or getaway! is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

I thought I might take a regular week and show you some of the gluten free specials in the 3 major supermarkets near me: Coles, Woolworths and Aldi.

Woolworths

• Tasty Bite Curries 2 for $5
• Sharwoods Mango Chutney (I use this to make Mango Chutney Dip)

• Cadbury Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream $4 (one of my favourite ice creams so yummy)
• Weis Bars $4
• Frozen Mixed Berries $4

• Popcorners $2

•  Chobani Greek Yoghurt 4 for $6 or 10 for $10 – yum!
• Custard $1.29 – buy one get one free
• Jalna Greek Yoghurt 2 for $8
• Fruche 2 for $5

Link to Woolworths Weekly Specials

Coles

• Smiths Chips Original Flavour  (blue packet) only is gluten free $2.50
• Sakata Rice Crackers – some flavours only are gluten free 2 for $3.50

• Norganic Corn Flakes $4

• Almond Breeze $2.50
• Nutella $6

• Pitango Soup 2 for $10
• Chobani $1

• Dorito’s Corn Chips – only the original flavour is gluten free which is a green packet – not the red ones shown here $1.59

Link to Coles Weekly Specials

Aldi

I don’t think this is so much of a weekly special, just what’s new in their range. Very happy to see:

• Gluten Free Museli $4.69
• Gluten Free Corn Flakes $2.99
• Gluten Free Plain Flour and Self Raising Flour $2.49 each

Link to Aldi Special Buys

Disclosure: None of the supermarkets or products mentioned have asked me to mention them, I thought fellow gluten free friends would like to know what specials are available this week from the major supermarkets.

Have you seen any great gluten free specials this week?

Gluten Free Specials at Coles, Woolworths and Aldi starting 1st May 2013 is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe