Scatterbrain , splatterbrain.... what was I doing?

Oh yeah! Women's retreat stuff!

Tomorrow we head of for our women's retreat which I am the main leader of. I do have 3 other ladies helping me with stuff. I am very excited & looking forward to the weekend, but today my brain is mashed! I keep forgetting stuff!

I have called so many people this week with last minute requests, simply because I havn't thought of them earlier! Things that could have been organised AGES ago! God bless those helping hands :)

Today I KNOW I have heaps of last minute things to do. But I am so unsure of what! I wish I had written a list last week.

So in the midst of my confusion & excitement (never a good combination) I will leave the land of blogging until next week. Bring on tomorrow evening when I can relax!

Look what Mr Postman delivered today...

I love getting parcels in the mail :) Look what arrived today!!

I have to say! I need that tea towel to remind me to Keep calm!! Especially in the kitchen! I also got the magnet for my fridge for those times when the tea towel is hanging on the line!


I got some funky hair clips for me! Yes ME, not Almond Eyes (for once). The cute vintage buttons are for a project I have in mind. The cute christmas decorations I havn't decided whether to gift them or keep them.... I think I will keep the toadstool :)

Check out Lark! You'll love Allison's shop :)

Childhood Memories

Did your Grandma make one of these? My brother had one & I had this one. Recently my mum cleaned out her linen cupboard & found it.

I love it, mostly because my late Grandmother made it, but also it kinda looks funky...... Now for winter to return so we can use it!

Dont forget to tell me your favourite funny movie moment in my previous post!! :D

HELP!! I need to pick your brain!

Can you tell me a couple of your favourite laugh out loud chick flick moments!!
I am compiling a video for our ladies retreat which is THIS WEEKEND! I am having a mental blank...
So far I have....
*Miss Congeniality - When she trips coming out of the shed after her make over.
* Legally Blonde- The bend & snap
* Sister ACt- When they sing 'Hail Holy Queen'
*Charlie's Angels- The opening clip where they dance to "cant touch this"

Now I KNOW there are many funny moments out there, but I am struggling to remember them.
They need to be relatively clean & no swearing. (It is a church event after all)
Thanks in advance friends :)

Quiet Time

Do your children have quiet time? Or more to the point are they supposed to have quiet time?

Chestnut Cheeks decided before his 2nd birthday the he no longer required a day sleep. Mummy was very disapointed by this.

I did however decide to enforce quiet time. A period of time after lunch where he had to stay in his room and play quietly. Usually while his baby sister slept. The rule was he could come out when Almond Eyes woke. Sometimes I would go & check on him to find that he had taken himself of to sleep anyway.

This was a treat! It was rare, but I loved it!! These days he wont sleep at all unless I confescate his glasses & sit on his bed until he falls asleep. Needless to say that is rare too. Usually only happens if I know he will be having a late night.

Almond Eyes is getting bigger. She is almost 3. She still likes a sleep most days. But I can only let her sleep for an hour, otherwise she rages on until late into the night. However, when her big brother is home from kindy, she doesn't particulary enjoy a sleep. After all CC gets "quiet time" why should she? Hmmm...

The trouble is she just doesn't 'get' it. She thinks its normal playtime.

So today instead of having a sleep or proper quiet time.... they have been playing dress ups with Canteen Bandanas...

Notice how AE's pants or on inside out? What's with that?

CC: "Mummy, I am Mighty Mouse!"

AE: " I Mighty Mouse too"...

And they proceeded to race around the house.....

I fear my beloved "quiet time" is becomming extict also.... I hope not!

7 things...

Going off Givinya's meme...
Seven random things about me:

1. I am terrified of snakes. Terrified. So much so that I usually will have a nightmare in the days following if I see one on the t.v. Though I have become somewhat immune to Bindi the Jungle girl, who always has one wrapped around her neck. [though it took a while].
2. Peas. I hate them, they are disgusting!!
3. When I was in high school I was in a cool band called "Confetti Head"... I was the lead singer & we wrote really gnarly songs like "Raindrops, stripey sock & skittles" HAHAHA
4. My favourite colour is Pink, and yet I only own one pink piece of clothing, not including underware & pyjamas.
5. I had great aspiration when I was 11. I either wanted to be an astronaut or a hairdresser when I grew up. And I most definately wanted to get married. My year 7 teacher laughed at me.... I wonder why?
6. I have a lot of tupperware, so much so that my husband has put me on a ban.
7. I often wish I could escape to a remote country. It seems life would be much simpler there.

So there you go. Want to join in? Go on!

WOW!

I got an award!! My first ever award! :D I have seen these cute little awards around, and today I was surprised to have recieved one myself!! How chuffed am I!!

The amazingly crafty/artist jewelstreet awarded me! I love looking at her beautiful jewellery designs! She is one clever lady....
So it's my turn to share the love and hand out some awards that I think are deserving...

In order to recieve the award, here's what I'm supposed to do. I have to post the rules then nominate some more people.
Here's the rules:
1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link the person you received the award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the persons you've nominated.

Ok, so here are the seven blogs I choose to nominate for an award [in no particular order]....

Approximately none
Antique teacups, diamonds & recipes
BG Sydney- side
The Lark
168 Hours
Operation Skinny Cow
Snap in to it photography

NOw pass on to seven of YOUR favourite blogs :) Have fun...

Introducing....

My good friend Tracey!

We met just over 3 years ago via an internet forum called bubhub. We hit it off right from the beiginning. We were both pregnant, due a month apart & we both already had a boy each, who's birthdays were only a month apart.

Over the past few years we have become so close even though she lives in Melbourne & I live in Brisbane. We have had the pleasure of meeting in real life twice! And what a treat that has been...
The first meeting was in Melbourne. Swift Jim gave me the BEST birthday present & we both flew to Melbourne childfree & spent 5 days! We had a blast! (except for the freezing cold!! That in itself is a post all on it's own!)

Then in June this year, Trace & her family had the holiday from hell up here in Sunny Queensland. ( I am sure that is a blog post all on it's own from her point of view!) But we had a wonderful time with them!

Tracey is very talented with her camera & took some lovely photos of our family at beach while they were here...

Tracey has set up her own web shop & blog! Go check her out! You may even get some christmas gift Ideas :)

Tracey's Blog and Tracey's Website and Tracey's Redbubble

Enjoy! Love ya Trace xo

OUCH!

You know when you kick your toe on the door!!!!!!!!
OUCH!
How often do you do it? I just did it now, it hurts!
You know I got the idea for my blog title after Swift Jim kicked his toe on the door.
But it happens to us all... all 1,2,3,4 of us!

Our Weekend...

Swift Jim's sister is turning 21 soon. She didn't want a big party, she just wanted to go to the beach...

We had a wonderful time. The whole family was there, 10 of us all up. We spent most of saturday relaxing at the beach and had a BBQ dinner on the massive deck.
Sunday morning we had a cooked breaky and then we all went to some local markets. I love markets! The kids thought it was awesome - there was a jumping castle and Blue slushies to drink, what could be better!?
I had a lovely time too. I picked up a few bits and pieces. Including some fabric. I am not exactly sure what I will make with the fabric. But it is kinda cool..
This piece is particulary cute!


Then there were these...


And this one has little blue birds, the photo doesn't do it any justice but it's pretty cute...

Before heading home on Sunday afternoon, we called into Fingal.... the beach where Swift Jim & I knew we'd be together forever. It's been years since we have been there, but it was just as beautiful as ever.


Us and the lighthouse behind. Such great memories!
We even saw some dolphins...
I think we are going to make it an annual trip. I hope so because it was so much fun!

And now we are home. And I have a head cold.

Well I swallowed my fat pride!

You may remember on Monday I went shopping for work clothes & got all depressed coz the size 16 was too small.... oh how horrific!
Well, the truth is I DESPERATELY need new work clothes. The ones I have that are semi ok are getting a bit old & daggy.
The trouble with being a hairdresser is you have to dress fashionably. *sigh* At least doing it from home, I could get away with being a little bit daggy. Not in a salon though. Especially when the two women I work with are both skinny & beautiful! Not to mention their great sense of fashion.
So I hit good old faithful Target this morning (kids in toe *sigh*). They were having a sale... buy one get the next 1/2 price! Ok!! So I browsed for sometime, the kids ran riot! I grabbed a few things and hit the dressing room.
I had a pair of size 18 pants, a size 18 dress, a size 16 skirt & a size 14 top. Now before you think to yourself, what was she thinking with the size 14 top? It looked big ok....
So The pants fit. They are nice dressy ones. I'll take them. The dress fits. I'll take it. The Skirt fits, but makes my bum look somewhat larger than it already is. They can keep it, though Almond Eyes told me it was "bootiful and can you spin?". She is such a girl! Right, now for that size 14 top.... I held it up agaist me first... well it might fit. I put it on. It went on!!! It fit!! I can't believe it! I quite like it. I'll take it too! Though I am very convinced they labelled it wrong!

Here is the top & the dress, the pants are a bit boring, so I didn't post a pic of them! I will of course wear tights under the dress. Dont you reckon that the red top looks too big to be a 14! Well it has to be if the dress beside it fits me too!!
Oh and I just had to indulge my shoe fetish with their 30% of sale.... on Almond Eyes of course!

I dont think she will be able to get these off herself anytime soon... though she could surprise me. Buckles haven't stopped her in the past. But 3 buckles? Mwahahahaha...

Where the blog are you?

I AM HERE!!!! :D

Welcome girls from WTBAY!! Thanks for featuring my blog today!!

If you havn't checked out Where the blog are you... Do it now!! You can meet lots of Aussie bloggers there!

Thanks Louisa!

SITS... the place to be!!

When I first started blogging in August, I didn't get what SITS was all about.
I did however think it looked like fun, so I persisted with it & since figuring it out I have been having a lot of fun!!
I have been really enjoying browsing peoples wonderful blogs & a lot of you ladies out there are amazing artists!!!! Getting the odd comment has been lovely also!!

Here's a special mention to 5 of my favourite blogs....
1. Killing a fly... How can she not be on my top list. Givinya introduced me to the wonderful world of blogging! And she is a real hoot!
2.Graze if you want to... Now Crazy Sister is fun!! Crazy is Givinya's sister! So between the two of them I find myself giggling most days! My kids often asking me "what's so funny?"!
3. Raking leaves.... Adelaine was the first person, off Australian shores to comment on my blog! I am a loyal reader now!
4. The Cottage Cafe... I found Kim's blog on her featured Day at SITS! I fell in love with her blog design and now I HAVE to check on her blog every time she posts! It's just so pretty!
5. Eight Crazy... Now this woman is so talented! One day when I save up enough money I might get her to redesign my blog.... But in the meantime I love looking at her creations! I found Eightcrazy when she did Givinya's blog! I have been hooked ever since!!

Now it has to be said! My blog roll is not tiny, not huge yet either! But I do love checking up on lots of other peoples blogs! Thanks for helping me waste time!!! :D

It's all about motivation...

One of my best girlfriends gave me some great advice recently...
"To get motivated you have to start doing, once you start doing you will see results and become motivatated."
Now. Doesn't that make sense!
I have a wedding coming up in May that I will be a bridesmaid for. I am very much looking forward to sharing this day with my life long friend. She and I have been friends since Kindergarten :)
I am however dreading getting dressed for it. I have put on sooooo much weight!
You'd think that this would be enough motivation to lose weight. But it hasn't been. I have known for over a month that I have limited time to get to a reasonable size for this wedding, but have still done nothing.
I went shopping this morning to see if I could find a nice top to wear to work tomorrow. I was mortified when I couldn't even pull a size 16 top on! There was no way in hell I was going to try the 18 on. I just put the top back & walked out of the shop.
It took all my mental energy to not head straight to McDonalds for a Big Mac.... Instead I went into Woolies & grabbed a weight watchers meal and a bottle of Coke Zero. It also took all my mental effort to not grab a chockie bar from the check out...
So this is it, I am only 1 kilo off my heaviest weight ever. How depressing. Time to be motivated, and I will only get motivated if I start doing!!

Lavender...

It is an amazing flower.

Whilst the fragrance of lavender is lovely, it's not only why I list it as my second favourite flower (next to roses of course).
I just really love looking at it! When I look at pictures of lavender fields... it makes me feel like a child. Not that I have any childhood memories of it, but I can just imagine a child running through a field of lavender. I wish I could have done that as a child...

It's almost like my imagination runs away with me...
One day I would love to visit a lavender farm. I think it would be pure joy! I will have to take the children and let them run!

When Swift Jim & I married in 2001, I had Lavender in my bouquet. I loved my bouquet so much. I hung it upside down after the wedding & dried it. I still have it, but it is sadly very dusty.


The car we travelled in that day had an amazing aroma. I remember getting into the car directly after the ceremony & the smell of lavender filled the car.... It is one of my fondest memories.
Prior to the wedding I had spent a 10 minute ride in the car with my Dad. We sat quietly and he held my hand...

Why I love being a woman!

I was just thinking about pretty things....

I have been wondering through many blogs recently... many beautiful blogs....

The Cottage Cafe
Shabby Cottage Studio
Antique Teacups, Diamonds and recipes
The Lark

Lollishops

There are many more, but I cant list them all...

I just love pretty things. I really love pretty shabby chic, vintage things.

I would have my house decked out in it, but alas I live with a man.

Though I have been slowly collecting things and adding them here & there.... I figure if I add things one by one, he wont really notice the transformation to beauty! Hehe....

I truly believe God gave woman an eye for beautiful things. After all we were created in His image. And HE is beautiful! It makes sense really.

I love that I can enjoy beautiful things because I am female. Men get labelled "nancies" if they can appreciate the beauty of pretty pink things. So that's why I love being a woman!

These are just a few of my favourite things, that I have snuck in.... The pot is my favourite!

There are many more things. But unfortunately they are mostly hiding in cupboards. One day they will make an appearance!

I have been collecting plates with pretty designs from op shops that I plan to smash up one day and turn into a piece of art.

Now, I just need to find the time to do it!

I had been searching for a handbag, one that was cute & quirky. And it had to be just the right size. I couldn't find what I wanted. So I made one....

I love it!!

I love being a woman, because I can enjoy beautiful things!

Speaking of kitchens...

The thought of a new kitchen.... well it's never gonna happen but young Givinya has been setting my imagination wild!

This is my current kitchen...

It's small pokey & has HARDLY any bench space. Which is possibly why I hate cooking so much. I have no room to be creative.

This is what I would like....

Ooooh Ahhhhh

Or this......

Doesn't it look warm and cosy!

But somehow I think swift Jim would prefer something like....

Maybe when I get to heaven I will get the kitchen of my dreams. Or maybe by then I wont care!!

A sad day in history at our place.

Both of my children have attended the BEST daycare centre. CC went last year. AE has been going this year.

It's called Bush Kidz, and let me tell you why! It's out in the sticks! Well in the country anyhow. They have a mini farm & the kids get to feed the animals and collect eggs from the chickens everyday. The have a massive bike track, a great water play area and the staff are so caring!!

We love that place!! It is so popular that they had to build a second centre down the back paddock! The waiting list is HUGE! We were privaledged to have a place there.

But alas, the time has come & I need some extra work. The bills are piling up. I asked them if AE could swap from Monday to a Tuesday. But no surprises they are all full up :( So I had to cancel her enrolment today as I have found another centre that can take her on a tuesday.

It was a sad sad phone call to make.....

A girls getaway!

I am currently in the depths of organising a retreat for the women of my church!

What a huge job! But what a fun one! So far I have over 40 ladies registered! I am stoked! Its going to be a whole lot of fun :)

Today I got to do what I love doing! Shop. Shop child free!! YAY... I bought lots of lovely little things for the retreat. Lovely little things to make lovely ladies smile :)

The theme for our retreat is "She who laughs... lasts!" I am pretty sure there are going to be LOTS of laughs! Especially with givinya & crazy coming along!!

I imagine the next couple of weeks will be fairly busy.... but I tell you. I will very much enjoy a weekend away with my girlfriends!

Bubbles & Fun...

I figure.... 3 year olds love bubbles! We will have lots of bubbles!

Lots of bubbles and lots of fun at Almond Eyes' party :)

Organising a party...

For my soon to be 3 year old.
When Chestnut Cheeks turned 3 we threw him a party. It was fun, we hired some toys & borrowed a jumping castle. All the kids had fun.

I dont think I can borrow the jumping castle again and the place I hired the toys from before doesn't do it anymore.

How on earth am I going to entertain 20 odd children for 2 hours!!! I have done some ringing around.... to hire toys from somewhere else, $200. To hire a jumping castle, $250. To hire a face painter, $150.

GAh!! I dont know what to do. Three year olds dont really 'get' the party games!!

Oh! ANd my soon to be three year old is the little baby tring to climb onto the jumping castle! Where did that time go?

Clickety Clack...

Today was an exciting day for the kids. I took them on a steam train ride.
Steam trains are very rare now days. I assume they are all over the world, not just in Australia?
The kids were very excited. And I was a brave mother taking them both on my own....

We had to catch the normal electric train into Brisbane. Now the destination of the steam train was at the Workshops Rail Museum. Which is only 2 minutes from our house. But it was departing from Brisbane, thats ok, it's a decent train ride; 1 hour and 45 mins.

So we caught the train with Swift Jim, he works in the city. That was fun! Except the part where we had to park the car in the Train station car park. Now in order to get to the train station from the carpark you have to cross a VERY large VERY busy road. Especially at 7:15 am. Peak time. This road stupidly does not have a padestrian crossing. Grrr... I was terrified of the return trip back to the car without swift Jim helping...
We got to Platform 3 (in Brisbane)... and we were an hour early so I entertained the children with food! HAHA..
Then the steam train arrived!! How exciting! The children had a lovely time.... I however got a headache from getting a face full of smoke the one and only time I stuck my head out the window!

We arrived at the museaum & they had a circus theme going on for the school holidays! The kids had fun, so did I (except for the headache). And at 1pm I decided it was a good time to go home.
We had to catch a bus into town, so we could get back to our car.
Well, we waited and we waited and right before it arrived Almond eyes says "mummy I need to go to the toilet again!" I told her she would have to hold it. Hmm, that was a risk wasn't it.
The bus arrived and we start heading back to our car which I was wishing so badly was at the rail museum, not in town. Almond Eyes sits on my lap for the ride. It turned out that it was possibly better than sitting on the chair, as I wore the mess instead of the bus! We got to out stop, I stood up and a lovely wet patch, quite visible to all is on my lap. Nice! Poor AE, she held for a long time. Lucky we were heading home.....
So the big scary road. I stood & looked at it feeling all nervous. My head was throbbing by now, AE's little legs were so tired and could barely keep up as it was. My hands were full from the esky, show bags & other goodies the kids got from the museum as well as holding little hands. I couldn't carry her. How was I gonna get across that road between cars quick enough?
I decided to take the long way. We walked the whole way around, under the big scary road, up the hill and to the car. At least her legs didn't have to hurry. She was asleep within seconds of me starting up the car! I was asleep within seconds of sitting on lounge!