Gonna Make You Sweat!

I had no intention on writing a blog post tonight.  I have worked all day, then gone straight to the Season Opener for Junior Cricket......................................   Sorry, that is a big long line of dots because the excitement that cricket brings to my life is just that, like a long line of dots.    And now that I'm home and have make a hot chocolate, put on my pj pants and started popping the immune system boosting tablets I bought from the chemist on the way home, I decided it was a good time to catch up on all the blogs I read.

UNTIL

I logged in and found that Blogger wanted to tell me:

"You are currently not following any blogs"

WTF?!?!?!?  Not normally one to panic, I felt my heart pick up pace and my finger clicking the mouse, trying to figure out what kind of cruel game Blogger was playing with me??  I diverted the mouse back to FB, to my handy-dandy-blogging-library-friends, where I put out my anxiety ridden call to help.  And thankfully, a lovely level headed blogger calmed me by saying it had happened to her and to refresh or go out and back in to Blogger.    PHEW.  (Thanks Carmel).

So in a bizarre roundabout way, it made me think of some of the things that make me sweat.  The things that raise my blood pressure or peels anxiety out of its hiding place.  So here are a few.....

*  Meeting new people - namely Mothers whom I've never met before.  This should not worry me, but it does.  I can't help wondering what they think of me?  Don't talk too much.  Don't not talk enough.  Don't get too friendly.  Sad I know.

*  Watching my kids hurt.  Like, really hurt.  The hurt that produces tears.  Each of my four kids have done damage enough to themselves to reduce me to a mess.  And I'm pretty sure there will be more.

*  Expecting visitors and looking around to see my house resembles a literal bomb site.  Happens all too often.  Although I go into a tizz over it - it's also the best remedy to a messy house.  Never do I clean as well as when I am expecting people!

*  Big sporting events.  Strange.  11 years ago, before I met Andrew, I had never really watched sport.  Never participated in sport (well, apart from my famous season of soccer when I got the trophy for most improved).  Never had family members participating in sport.  Now I find myself at Cricket finals.  Basketball finals (remember THIS final?).  And bloody AFL Grand Finals!  It's all too much....

Ok.  I could go on and on.  But it's now 10.30pm and I need to walk back down the freaking stairs (I now FULLY understand why my pleas for a house with stairs when I was younger fell on my parents' deaf ears) and get another fancy Immune-boosting tablet, before traipsing back up here to curl up in bed and hopefully be cured of this lurgy by morn.

Tell me - what makes you sweat?  Well, apart from the obvious??

Night night!

WTF - Another What The Friday!

Lots going on this week! When isn't there?  I've had some very amusing and weird things happen, as well as GREAT moments that I think I will always remember.  Here's just some of them....

I'm always trying to make the process of washing, drying, folding and putting away clothes easier and less time consuming. Yes, this is what my life has come to.......  I have ALWAYS folded the clothes as I take them off the line (and have successfully trained both my husband and Lochie to do the same!).  This week I've found another way to cut down time - take one person's clothes off the line at a time!!!  Then all I have to do is take a clump of washing out of the basket - already in a pile and put the friggin things away!  Or, leave them on the dining table for a few days until someone gets sick of eating around them.....

I went for a "personal" appointment last weekend.  Yep - waxing.  Another horrifying conversation to confirm to me that I am, indeed, getting old.  Or maybe I'm just sane?  The lovely 19 year old torturing me with hot wax was discussing with me all the different ways people request to be waxed.....ie. all off, landing strips etc etc.  She then conveyed to me that a 13 year old came in and asked for a brazillian!!!!  I was so shocked I didn't even feel the hair ripping from my BROW.  WTF??  She very maturely chose to tell this 13 year old that there was no way she was doing that, and that it was against the law.  Apparently said 13 year old was unimpressed.  Next shocking story was of a "Mother" who brought her 14 year old in to have her NIPPLE pierced!  WTF??  What on earth in going on???  Thank God for some sanity and common sense on behalf of this salon.  They straight up refused.

We received our sponsorship package on Wednesday for our lovely new daughter/sister Keniya!!  I showed Chelsea who immediately grabbed a little card and wrote to her.  This fills my heart.  And I think it will continue to do so.  I received a lovely message on my business page today from a customer/reader who said my blog post last week has inspired her to sponsor a child.  Thanks again go out to Eden who has started a chain of goodness.

My stoopid migraine that set up camp last Sunday has left me with the glorious migrainer hangover all week long.  I was going to go and see my Mr Miyagi for some more torture today, but it would mean missing out on Cadyn's jumper presentation for footy tonight.  I emailed my husband about this and was somewhat humbled brought down to earth with his reply.  Apparently my quirky little 7.5 year old commented to his Dad "I can't wait to play basketball, because Mum watches basketball".  It made me stop in my tracks.  I miss most of his cricket season due to work, and also miss half of his footy season for the same reason.  Needless to say - I popped some pain relief and suffered in silence to cheer him on as he received his footy jumper tonight.....

I had a really good conversation with my Mother-in-law this week.  We've had them before, so no surprise there, but she gave me some really good advice as well as some insight.  I still need to process it before I do anything with it, but am grateful....

I've been convinced we need another frickin pet!  Yep, she of the "we're never getting another frickin pet" bandwagon, is getting another frickin pet.......  I'm a sucker for punishment.  New said pet will come in the form of a kitten.  And will be a birthday present for Chelsea who started this strange turn of events by batting her eyelids at her Daddy and begging.  Timing is impeccable and it turns out a lovely friend of mine has a sister with a kitten needing a home.  We pick her up next week.  Stay tuned - for I am sure I will have plenty to say about this in the near future.....

Major excitement yesterday!  Prince's concert dates were released!  I'm so damn excited.......  The Diamonds & Pearls Tour was the first concert I ever went to - back in 1992 I think?  And I still class it as THE best concert I've been to....and I've been to lots!  Friends and I have organised to go in May - it will just be a case of fastest fingers Monday morning to try and get the tickets online!  Hooray!!

Remember THIS post?  The bit about the exciting news??  Well, I'm still excited.  But things came to a bit of a grinding holt.  Wanna know what's going on???  Do ya?  I'll tell you next time!

What's been happening with you this week?  Spill!

Weekend's End

 We have had a HUGE weekend here!  Cadyn has been sick for a few days, so in between doctor visits and cleaning up vomit, we've fit a fair bit in.  I worked yesterday then enjoyed a fabulous evening with friends to celebrate a 40th birthday.  And today started with Cadyn's first footy game of the year, a Purple Day Fundraiser at a friend's home where this gorgeous dress was auctioned off

Then, straight from the fundraiser to my gorgeous workmate's 40th birthday celebrations......which we could only stay at for 40 minutes before heading off to look at a house.   Yes, you heard correctly.  We went and looked at a house for sale......

You see, things are looking up in the world!  After ten years of just cruising by and making ends meet, we are finally getting somewhere in the finance department, and are coming to the point where we can start to realistically dream of buying our own house!  So today's journey was to a five bedroom house with a pool.  Kids were pumped.  But after wandering around the property (which was clearly owned by a family of smoking, over-excited decorators) we figured there was just too much to do.  Too much that we didn't rate.  But it was a good experience.  Tiny steps.....

The other thing that was exciting this weekend, was getting my hand on these beautiful prints

One of my gorgeous girlfriends has just started sewing again, for the first time since high school, and a few weeks ago she asked me where I buy my fabrics from.  I mentioned a few sites overseas she may be interested in, and a week or so later she told me she was placing an order - "Did I want anything?" Ummmmmmm - YEH!!  So these darling prints were delivered to her on Friday.  I have some more prints in the range arriving soon, from my lovely friend Jewel at The Intrepid Thread.  You should go and check out Jewel's gorgeous new website!

So now it's time to pack of our over-tired children - who clearly do not deal so well with SUPER late nights - and then I'm going to sit on the lounge and watch some tv.  Lovely.

What did your weekend treat you to?

Holy Mobile Phone Bill from Hell Batman!

I've been rather busy the last few days.  But yesterday went to shit because of an unexpected surprise in the mail.  A mobile phone bill for $488.70!!!  To say I was unimpressed would be an understatement.  I spent the next few hours on the phone, live-chatting and cursing Optus, all the while trying to be polite and not lose my temper.  I also had to ring the teenager of the house and explain that he does not have unlimited YouTube....contrary to his thinking.  The next task is working out how much of the $300 excess data charge I will get him to pay me back for?  In his defence, I don't think he did it on purpose - but it doesn't take away from the fact that we are  now behind the 8-ball....  It also doesn't change the fact that I never thought this would happen.  Was I naive?  Or stupid?  Or both?

So I have taken my photos for the last three days, and have popped in to share....

Day16 - Something New.  I will be trying something new, once I find the perfect Chore Chart!  It was Mr 7 year old's idea....so I'm running with it!  Miss almost 9 is most unimpressed with his suggestion....Oh, and see the lovely
before-mentioned ridiculous phone bill there?

Day17 - Time.  When I read that "time" was the photo for that day, I was sitting right where I am now, with the screensaver on.  Yep - I'm so lucky that I have the Hawthorn Football Club season fixture as my screensaver.  I love AFL football, and am wrapt that it is just starting for 2012 - mostly because it means Cricket is finishing!!

Day 18 - Drink.  This is my drink of choice each and every day.  Pepsi Max.  I only started drinking soft drink about ten years ago.  And I am now probably addicted.  This is the only caffeine I consume, and when I have gone cold turkey - I have paid the price.

Do you use a Chore Chart at home for your kids?  Please share your ideas!

Things I'm Loving

So I have decided to join in with Paisley Jade's Things I'm Loving.  Here are my things for today:

My Instagram App on iPhone - these are my two beautiful girls

I know - I'm mad!  Even though my beloved Hawks are not in the grand final this year - I still love the buzz it gives Melbourne, and our annual Grand Final BBQ here at home!

Trying to contain the post-migraine ache in my head the past two days! I don't think a boozy BBQ
 tomorrow is going to help?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! xxx