Aarrrrggghhhh!!!

Apparently she had a great night.
Really need to make that peasant top - although she wanted to go without the singlet underneath.Heaven help me.

Blogtoberfest Day 28 - The Halloween Grinch

I'll admit it, I'm a Grinch. A Halloween Grinch. I don't believe it is 'our' holiday. North Americans have great fun with it and celebrate it in great style, but I just don't believe that it is an Australian holiday.

Pre-kids Cal would go and buy HEAPS of lollies for the neighbourhood kids who came Trick or Treating, and all that happened was that we were left with a MASSIVE bowl of lollies to eat for the next week or so. He has it in his head that everyone out there is celebrating, when really, not many do.

Now that we have kids, he thinks that I should embrace it for the sake of the kids.
To me, it's still an American holiday and I don't see why we need to adopt it. Even for the kids.
Every year, I do (begrudgingly) I buy lollies to save having an argument), but when someone does come to the door I refuse to answer it. This is Cal's holiday, not mine.

Last year was the first time that we really had to treat it with a bit more 'oomph'. Ardyn started school and the kids were discussing it. The school put on a Halloween Disco, and even one of the girls in her class themed her birthday party as a Halloween Disco. So I made a costume for her. For the party - and then she could wear it to the school disco. She wanted to decorate the house......how that wasn't happening any time in my lifetime.

I still bought lollies and refused to answer the door, and Cal made the decision that there was to be bo Trick or Treating, but that they could go next year.

And here we are. Halloween weekend 2011. Both Ardyn and Bailey are asking to go Trick or Treating. Cal has told me that I have to take them (apparently it's my job as a mum) which I won't. This is his holiday. I have not bought any lollies, and the hhouse is DEFINITELY NOT getting decorated.

I have however made a costume for the school disco. It's tonight, and she is yet to see it finished. Here's a sneak on our in-house dress form (affectionately known as Andrea):

I hope she likes it. I enjoy making stuff for her, and I love dress-ups. I just put it out of my mind that this particular dress up is to celebrate a holiday that I don't believe is ours to celebrate.

Please note: I have nothing against Halloween or anyone who wants to celebrate it, so I do not wish to offend anyone. That is not my intent. My intent of this post is purely to point out that my family sees me as a Grinch - I'm taking the piss out of myself.

Blogtoberfest Day 27 - STUFF!!!

Do you have stuff?? We have stuff! In fact we have TOO much STUFF!!!!

I feel like 'stuff' is taking over our lives.

I had a bit of a meltdown this morning. Over stuff.
We have an approximately 40sq house (400 square feet), and it feels as though it is bursting.
I think I ranted about this only a few weeks ago, but it's come back to me and really made me feel AWFUL today.

My kids just have so much. It's almost disgusting. I feel sick at the thought of mow much we have.
I didn't grow up with this much stuff, and I don't think that Cal did either (I think it's the same with most of us), and even though it's lovely to know that we can give them all of this (stuff), I know that they can live on less.

It's Ardyn's birthday in a few weeks, and then Christmas not long after that, and I have explained to her that if we don't thin out her "stuff", she can't get anything new - it just won't fit.

I have to stop complaining and melting down, and just DO.

I am creating a list, and not the wishy-washy type of list(s) that I usually make. This list is going to be comprehensive. I am going to walk through every room of the house, imagine it how I would like it, and write down EVERYTHING that has to be done to get it to that point.

That list is then getting typed up, printed out and put on the wall for all to see. And when I find myself with a block of time to get to action, it's there. And when the kids whinge at me "What can I do?" I can direct them to the list, and they can do their bit.

Determined to get through this before Ardyn's birthday, so that gives me a deadline. December 1. One month (give or take). Time to just do it!!

Is STUFF taking over your life?? Has it in the past and you've overcome it? I'd love to know how you went about sorting through everything, especially if you involved your kids. And what did you do with the STUFF after you got it out of your house?? Help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blogtoberfest Day 26 - Do you "Like" me??

I am always banging on about how I come up with these Blog posts in my head, but they never make it to my Blog. Or I think of a clever comment, and a clever comment does not a Blog Post make. So I usually share it on Facebook. But what if you read my Blog (does anyone really??) and are not my "friend" on Facebook?

Well I solved that dilemma and created a Facebook page just for my Blog. I can make my clever comments without annoying my friends and family, and if they want to know more 'bloggy' stuff, they will pop over to that page, or to here.

So pop on over and "like" my page. Until I put a button thingy on the sidebar, you can find it here.

Blogtoberfest Day 25 - Weight Watchers Day 1

I started today by eating a cupcake. What a way to start after my big spiel yesterday!!
To be honest, I was a little disgusted with myself. So I quickly had some watermelon. Filled up on the zero-point option.

As you probably know, Weight Watchers works on a point system. I have been allocated 29 Pro-Points a day. I have downloaded the iPhone App to track what I eat, and how many points things are. It has made today so easy. A few small changes have made he world of difference.

I drank my coffee black.
I snacked on fruit instead of baked goods (oh my dear baked goods, I am going to miss you so).
I cooked a stir fry tonight in which I usually include noodles. I cooked the noodles seperately, served them to Cal and I just had the meat and vegetables.

I still had a shortbread with my coffee.
I don't feel as if I have missed out on anything.
It was just a matter of thinking about what I actually put into me.

Small changes, and I still have 3 points left!!
I am a little hungry, and it is at this time that I would usually go and have my late night snack - so naughty - but I am going to go and have a BIG glass of water and go to bed.

Day 1 done and dusted, and I have an exercise plan for the next week waiting to be put down on paper, but that can wait until tomorrow.
K xx

Blogtoberfest Day 24 - The honest truth

I have decided that it's time to get rid of "That Last 5kg". I need to be accountable to someone, and I thought that I would put the numbers out there and be accountable to my readers/friends/family.

I will post my weight here each Monday, and if it doesn't go down, I need a boot up my butt. I am expecting that from you.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not massively overweight, I could just stand to lose that last 5. And ask anyone, the last 5kgs is the hardest.

Here's the facts:

• I have never been a skinny mini girl. Wen I was full-on reffing and playing basketball I weighed 63kgs. I was a size 12, and had a pretty athletic figure. I've never had a waist to speak of, I've always been pretty much up and down with not a lot of curves.
• I stopped being so active (but was still playing basketball and netball), and put on a few kgs (and a set of boobs), but always stayed in the 60s. At one stage about 10 years ago I had some minor knee surgery and got up to about 73kgs, but got back down to 67kgs with the help of Weight Watchers.
• When I got married in 2004 I weighed 67kgs.
• I have been happy as long as there was "a 6 in front" and I was a size 12.
• I barely exercise. I don't watch what I eat. I enjoy life. I have had 2 kids (BIG babies who stretched my tummy more than I would have liked), I am 38 years old and 168cms - and am still that size 12.
• A few months ago I weighed in at about 74kgs. I joined the gym and started going on a regular basis, and it started coming down slowly, but I wasn't really pushing myself. 
• In late August I was sick, really sick, and lost a couple of kgs in a couple of weeks just being sick.
• After that I stopped snacking after hours, decreased my coffee intake and increased my water intake. I try to limit my carbs and increase my protein. But I have been completely unmotivated to go to the gym, and haven't exercised in WEEKS......if I'm honest, it would have to be months. I still managed to drop a little bit, but I still have more to go. 
• I have nowhere near the muscle mass that I used to have, so I am a bit flabbier than I would like to be.
• I have not lost any real weight in the last few weeks, but at least I haven't put anything on either.

This morning I weighed in at 70.5kg. I would like to be 65kg, but I'm not sure that I could. I'm going to give it a red-hot go though.

I joined up with Weight Watchers online. They have a 2 week free trial on their FB page and I thought "Why not?" I've got nothing to lose, except my flabby bits.

So here I go on my journey. I know that there are people out there who have so much more to lose than me, and that 5kgs doesn't seem like a reason to offer support, but we all have our happiness quotient, and this is mine. Please be my support. Help me be accountable.

K xx

Blogtoberfest Day 23 - In Pictures

Blogtoberfest Day 22 - Enjoy the Quiet

I walked out of the back door today to see this.

I quickly and quietly ducked back inside to grab my camera in the hope that I would capture this moment. I was not disappointed.

Once she realised I was there she quietly said, "Mum, there's a bird up there in the tree! I'm watching it and it doesn't know I'm here."

She was quietly enjoying the quiet, nature, and just BEING. I get that.
She's growing up so quickly. She GETS it.

Blogtoberfest Day 20 - Slowing Down

I am always told to slow down, take it easy, relax. And I find it very hard. There is always something to do, and always something I want to do. I find that my head can run at a million miles an hour some days, and that can be a real problem, as then I start to over think things.

It's been busy the last few months, and I've enjoyed it. But this week has been different. I've slowed down.

I have no one to justify my time to. I have no one to answer to. And I am enjoying the ride. This may sound corny, but this week I feel like I'm not just existing, but actually living. For me.

It's true. Sometimes we just need to slow down and just BE.

Why rush? We don't get there any faster. We all live and learn at a pace that is the right one for us.
There has definitely been less of this type of thing

and more of this

(even if it is only in my head).

I am enjoying this week.

K xx

Blogtoberfest Day 19 - What to do

I have a new laptop and printer sitting on the floor of my study. They have been there for one week and one month respectively.

I have a bookcase at the end of my study stuffed full of fabric, with a tub of more fabric in front of it.

Do I set up the computer and printer, or organise the fabric???

Blogtoberfest Day 18 - Tuesday is Bailey-day

I have pretty much made Tuesdays Bailey's day this year. Every fortnight the cleaner comes in on Tuesdays and we have to get out of the house for the morning, and it is just fortuitous that it also falls on the day that she has music.

For that time between dropping Ardyn off at school and getting to music, I let her choose what she wants to do (from carefully selected options of course).

Today she chose to spend the morning at the Hills Flower Market, chasing chickens and drinking babyccino, playing with my phone's camera and generally having fun goofing around.

 

 

Then it was off to music. Her teacher LOVED her twirly rainbow skirt, and insisted she play the piano with it like this.

While we were there we found out that Bailey is going to have to move her music to Monday, so this was our last Tuesday Bailey-day. It's a little sad, but these things happen. We are going to have to mix things up a bit. Maybe we will make Monday Bailey-day?

Blogtoberfest Day 17 - Almost back to normal

I had one last piece of market business to attend to today, and then I thought I was pretty much done. I just had to get to school by 8am to let the dude in to pick up the tables, but after rushing the kids so that I could get them to a friend's place to have lunch with her kids (I am SOOOOO grateful), I got to school to find out that he got there early and was well under way.

So a quick coffee run for us both, a debrief with a couple of the other mums, return all the stuff that I needed to the office, a quick note the the neighbours to apologise for any disruptions.....and we're done. Well I am. Thanks for Lea I didn't have to drive around the neighbourhood and collect the banners that were out and about (what a gem) and I'm feeling a little back to normal.

After a cuppa with my friend who fed my kids breakfast, took Arydn to school and amused Bailey, we (Bailey and I) did some groceries, and then came for babyccinos and some cooking. By 12:30 I had dinner in the slow cooker, the filling for chicken pasties cooked and cooling, lunch made for the girl and chocolate cupcakes on the go.

I felt like mum again.

It was pleasant.

The pasties were delicious, the cupcakes scrumptious (although no photo - sorry) and dinner.....well, that could have been better.

And now it's 10:30(ish) and I am actually considering bed.

After being in bed and up out of bed relatively early for the last few days, I kind of like the feeling of getting things done before anyone else gets up. I don't feel rushed.

It's pleasant.

So after my very quick update, I'm off to snooze.

G'night.

K xx

Blogtoberfest Day 16 - Wonderful day

It was a glorious day today, in more way than one. The weather was beautiful. I am still a little buzzed about yesterday. I had nothing to do except take my big girl to a netball match. It was a fab day.

First, yesterday

After a week of rain and very ordinary weather (including a downpour on Friday night and torrential rain only a few suburbs away that morning), my mantra of "It's not going to rain. It's not going to rain." came through.

It was a beautiful day for a market, and months of hard work by a very dedicated team of people came together with not much of a hitch. Other than a couple of minor issues, it really was an amazing day.

The Wakehurst All Things Kids Market was a wonderful event for the school and community.

I have said it many times today, and I will continue to say it. I am continually astounded by how giving Wakehurst families are with their time when it comes to a school event. The team of volunteers who were on hand yesterday to make sure that the day ran smoothly fills my heart with pride. I love this school so much, and the community within it has a big place in my heart - and it gets bigger every day.

It was a long day, but a very fulfilling day. It was such a buzz, and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. 

I fell asleep on the couch before 10pm.

 Today

The family let me sleep in, and it was so nice to not have to get up to an alarm or a little person. My body was allowed to wake up with it needed to, and I felt so good for the sleep.

Nothing much in the diary today, except for a game of netball.

Ardyn has been participating in Netball Australia's introduction to netball program (Net Set Go) for the last couple of years. Next year she is old enough to play Netters, which is their program for 8-10 year olds that involves modified-rules games. As she has never seen an actual game of netball, I took her to see the Diamonds play England in the third test today.

I played netball as a junior and played socially when I lived in Melbourne, but at heart, I'm a basketballer. I always have been, right from the first time I took the netball court. I was in Grade 3. I was passed the ball and took off down the court dribbling it. I was meant to play basketball. But here in Sydney, especially where we live, it's soccer and netball.

I must say, I was not expecting what I experienced at all. There was flashing lights, rock-star type entrances and fireworks!! The game itself was pretty good. The scores were close, but I still get frustrated at times with the way advantage/disadvantage is called. (Sorry, really bad photos, but hard to take on an iPhone in the dark.)

At the end of the game Ardyn was so thankful for the day. She said it was the 'best day ever', and kept exclaiming "I'm so happy Australia won!"

What a weekend. I can't wipe the smile off my face.

I hope that you had a lovely weekend too.
K xx

Blogtoberfest Day 15 - tired

Market day today. Great day. Tired now. Will blog tomorrow.

Blogtoberfest Day 14 - Market Day tomorrow

To market, to market........

I am very excited that our school's All Things Kids Market is on tomorrow. Lots of people have put in a lot of hard work to make this day happen, and I am very excited to be a part of it.

As I type this though, it is raining, and doesn't look like stopping. The forecast for tomorrow is for 'slight showers', but I'd like non please. The weather we had today would be perfect. No wind. No rain. And not a huge amount of sun. Perfect for a market.

Fingers crossed it all goes well.
K xx

Blogtoberfest Day 13 - Thankful Thought Thursday

It's been a while since I posted a thankful Thought. Not to say that I haven't had any, I just haven't posted them.

Today I am thankful for my very understanding family.
For the last few weeks (and especially the last few days) all of my spare time has been taken up with the All Things Kids Market that we are holding at school on Saturday. There is washing that needs folding and putting away (at least it's clean) and dishes that need doing, but it's all being put on the back burner until Sunday.

But everyone is dressed and fed! Bailey even had preschool photos today and has gone to school looking decidedly cute.

So I would like to thank my family from the bottom of my hearts for their patience and support.
I'll make it up to you all next week.

K xx

Blogtoberfest Day 12 - Wordless Wednesday

Let's go fly a kite......

Blogtoberfest Day 9 - Happy Sunday

 Today the icecream van came down our street.

 It was the first taste of summer.

And it was GOOD.

Happy Sunday to you.

K xx

Blogtoberfest Day 8 - BUGGER!!!

I'm usually the WORST Blogger in the world when it comes to updating, and I was so happy with myself that I had posted every day in October.

It has been school holidays here, and I haven't actually spent a lot of time at home in front of the PC, so I've tried the whole mobile blogging thing. And as I sit here now lo-an-behold none of it has published. And I have no way of knowing if I can get it off my phone.

I was going to Blog about Operation Barge Arse, but that will have to wait until tomorrow now. I have to go back and either find my posts, or try to recreate them.

Is that cheating?? I will have to back date them. Grrrrr.
Well bugger you all if it is cheating, I'm doing it.

Back later. I'm off to a little blog-hopping of my own
K xx

Blogtoberfest Day 4 - Sandwich Masterclass

Today we had plans to go to the zoo with Emma and Charlotte. We were all really looking forward to it. It's been so long since we've all caught up.

Ardyn had spent the day yesterday with Charlotte and then slept over at her house. Such an exciting couple of days for my girl. She loves spending time with Charlotte Adores her, to the point she says she will marry her when she is grown up. So cute.

A couple of weeks ago an email went around to Zoo Friends members to notify them that bookings had opened to attend the Kids Sandwich Masterclass at the Zoo on October 4 (how lucky), and Emma booked all three girls in. The synopsis of the day was that the kids would learn the importance of healthy eating and how to make sandwiches from "World Champon Sandwich Makers". We weren't sure exactly what to expect, but it was free, the kids got to make sandwiches they wouldn't normally eat, and it was something different.

I'm all for the kids preparing food that they normally wouldn't eat in the hope that they might try something a little different. So whatever they did, I was up for it.

What we experienced was a pretty good morning. 

When we registered the kids were presented with a goodie bag filled with lots of products from the sponsors, a small chopping board, an apron and hat. After they were kitted up in their aprons and caps, they had to collect their supplies - now this impressed me. Each child was given a decent sized cooler bag with contents that included ham, baked beans, beetroot, tomato, chicken, chocolate milk and an apple. At the tables they received a loaf of bread, cheese, wraps, butter.......basically, everything needed to create any sort of sandwich you would like really.

The kids got to watch competitors from the World Sandwichship Competition make different sandwiches and wraps, and then had to copy them using the ingredients from their cooler bag.

They had so much fun creating sandwiches and wraps for us to have for lunch (which we actually did eat). I got both of my girls to try beetroot - which they promptly spat out - and they realised that there is more to a sandwich than jam or vegemite. 

Ardyn even brought some home and Cal is going to take them for lunch tomorrow.

It was a lot of fun. The girls seemed to enjoy themselves. 

Then we spent a few hours at the zoo. We haven't been there for a while and I must say, it has been renovated beautifully. But Ardyn was exhausted after the sleepover and there were a lot of tears and meltdowns - self-inflicted injuries, anxiety over possible turkey attacks, and general fatigue. When we left she fell asleep within a kilometre of the zoo. Bailey too. 

 

The silence was golden. 

Great day.

A Public Apology

I need to apologise to my closest friends, my confidantes and the people who see me most days. For the last couple of months I have been one of 'those' friends, and I hate myself for it. You know the one? The one who is just too much hard work? The one who complains all the time? The one who is always all about themselves and displays a ridiculous amount of self-pity? The one that you just don't want to be around, so you avoid them?

My God, that was me. I'm SO SORRY.

I feel awful admitting that I have been like this, but also happy as I realise I have been like this. That's the first step to getting out of it.

I have spent some time working through some personal issues and doing a HELL of a lot of soul searching, and I would like to apologise to everyone for my behaviour, attitude and general Blah-ness (yes, I've made up a new word to describe the funk that I've been in).

I promise to be more like the easy-going, nice-to-be-around person that you have know in in the past.

To those friends who have put up with my crap, and are still with me, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. I love you all, and appreciate you even more for sticking with me.

To those of you who have possibly written me off, or are thinking about it, please don't. Give me another chance. We all have our issues, and it's taken me time to deal with mine.

Thanks for listening. 

K xx

Blogtoberfest 2011 - Cal's birthday

I just stumbled across Blogtoberfest 2011 on a couple of Blogs, and thought that I'd give it a go and join in.

Basically I am joining the challenge to make a post EVERY DAY in October.

Well if this doesn't get my Blogging motivation up and running, I don't know what will.

It of course, was meant to start yesterday (being the first of the month - durrr) so my Day 1 is actually the official Day 2. Oh well. Better late to the party than never arrive.

I apologise now if 1) I miss a day or 2) my blog posts are less than enthralling, but I'm going to give it a go. Please bear with me.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today. Well today was my beloved's 40th birthday, but the party has been going since last weekend.

Last Saturday morning we shot down to Melbourne to host a cocktail party for family and friends. You see, so have only lived in Sydney for 6 years, and Cal wanted to celebrate there. As he is at work all day, I don't think that he has made the same connections that I have up here. Other than work friends, or husbands of my friends, he hasn't really met anyone, and in his defence I guess he doesn't get the chance. 

So here are some shots of the party last weekend.

Today Cal said that the girls could decide what we were to do to celebrate his birthday. 

First we had to let dad sleep in. When they heard him coming down the stairs they quicly ushered him back to bed and bought his presents to him. I didn't have my camera ready for it, but he was quite amazed with some of his gifts.

During the week when I asked the girls what they wanted to get him Bailey said "A ring with a heart on it and a Beanie Kid" and Ardyn said "A book on Triathlons". I managed to talk Bailey out of the Beanie kid (a preciousness completely wasted on him) but she still insisted in the ring with a heart. Very big and very Liberace. Ardyn chose a book on Triathlon training and a book written by Sig Hansen (captain of the fishing vessel Northwestern). We also got him a pair of 2XU running shorts.

I gave him a certificate for a aerobatic plane flight from Red Balloon. He deserves to go for a joy ride in a small plane. When he was 18 he went to the US for basketball and his mum was a team chaperone. The morning that all the guys were going on a light aircraft flight over the Grand Canyon, his mother didn't wake him. Deliberately. She didn't want him in the plane for fear it would crash (which it obviously didn't). Cal has never forgiven her, and she still stands my her actions as the right decision. It's a stand-off.

So I though that I'd give him his joy flight. A friend of mine did the same flight for her 40th, and said it was fab. Okay, so Camden isn't quite the Grand Canyon, but I'm sure he'll still have fun. 

Wheeeeeeee!!!!!!

The girls then wanted to have lunch down at the beach, but the weather was PUTRID today, so it was off bowling we went (please excuse the poor iPhone pictures)

.

Bailey was upset that she lost

Then a lazy afternoon at home to play games, watch the NRL Grand Final, have a roast dinner, ice cream cake and a couple of glasses of red. 

A pretty quiet day, but a very enjoyable one.

 

Happy Birthday my sweet. Thank you for being my one and only, and living this life with me every day. 

K xx