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Tuesday 11 December 2012

Some beachy fun!

We live quite near to one of SA's great southern beaches but we definately don't utilize it enough, especially in Summer. This year I want to change that, especially now Master A is that bit older and he is such a water baby, just like his Daddy!
Last Sunday was our first trip this Summer. And I just bought my new toy. Ironic much?! So I took much delight in click click clicking away at my fav two boys. Their love for each other (and the beach) is pretty obvious...dont ya think?!













This is definately something we'll have to do more often! But maybe bring some wet gear next time!

Sunday 9 December 2012

An early present

For so long Ive wanted a DSLR. I'd lust over peoples glorious photos taken on one and I'd try so hard to replicate the same sort of clear, light filled images with my own plain old 'point and shoot'. But, of course, it just wasnt the same.

Money was always the issue, I couldnt justify spending that amount of money, especially as the last 18mths have been quite tough money wise. But we're picking ourselves up and now that Husby is working casually and Ive been saving like crazy, I decided maybe now would be the time to start looking again. Plus it was coming up to that crazy time of year...Xmas but also my birthday.

I found my new love on Gumtree for a steal and thought I better just go for it and take the plunge.

So I did. And I couldnt be happier.


Today I spent all day click, clicking away at anything and anyone.

Hre are some of my very first SLR shots. I basically just looked for anything of interest around my place. I also took her to the beach...but those are for another post....






























Monday 3 December 2012

Gotta get my Christmas on!

Last week I mentioned I was struggling to get into the Christmas spirit. Ive been flat out with work, travelling and what not, whilst trying to fit in family stuff, housework...you know, normal Mum stuff.
I was getting frustrated as all I wanted to do was to get my Christmas on. Do some crafting, baking, tablescaping, work out a meal plan for the big day. All the fun stuff I love about Christmas.

On the weekend I grasped the opportunity to get the Chrissy decorations out and merry the house up a bit.
 

 

Even though I dont have half as many decorations as I'd like, it certainly worked and I cant wait to get crafting on some projects I have up my sleeve. Lets hope time is on my side!
 
These are Master A's special ornanments from last year, his first Christmas. He was 5mths old.





 
 


























 




Friday 16 November 2012

An Eventful Night

Now let me tell you. About an hour ago this post would have had a very different title. Namely 'The WORST night EVER!'
However an hour into the future and its been downgraded to just Eventful.
And it goes a little something like this:

So after a 10hr shift (normally 7.5hr) I go and pick Master A up from childcare. He was actually in a great mood considering it was already 6 o'clock and he hadnt even eaten dinner.

Drive home was uneventful. A rusk kept him occupied and we arrived home about 6:40pm.

Dinner was ok after a couple of knockbacks we settled with easy yoghurt cos I knew he'd eat it.
Meanwhile I was getting my own tea ready to have after he went to bed.

Then it was time to tackle the bath. This is where it went pear shaped and I was ready for that.
So I chucked him the bath (not literally of course!). Tears were streaming so I got the deed over as quickly as possible. (He did have yoghurt smeared everywhere!)

Off to the changetable where he started to just get hysterical. So much so he was coughing and choking, like you do when youre just so darn upset.

Anyway off to get the bottle which I knew would calm him down and then it was home free.

Well so I thought.

On the way to the kitchen, still hysterical, he starts coughing and out comes some spitty vomit. In that split second I knew what was coming but I was too late.

POWERCHUCK everywhere. And not once but TWICE!

We have wooden floors which comes in handy in these cases but Master A's aim was so good he even managed to get some on the one rug we have in the house!

So at this stage we have vomit all over him, me, the rug, the floors. Oh, and Mr Seahorse. His favourite toy.

So off we all go into the bathroom again and chuck him back in the bath. Meanwhile I'm stripping off and about to lose my shit.

So we repeat the bath process again. Changetable, new jammies, clean Mr Seahorse and manoeuvre our way back through the living room, dodging vomit along the way.

Make it to the kitchen relatively unscathed.

Bottle is fed. Once relaxed again I decide Ill try and tackle this mess.

So I prop Master A on the lounge, out of the way and get to cleaning.

Ive almost finished cleaning the walkway when he starts getting hysterical again.

And he powerchucks again.

All over the couch.

Our suede couch.

FUCK!!!!!

I'm about to join Master A and cry. I throw my hands up in the air and ask God why? What the fuck have I done to you tonight?!

I grab Master A, who, by the way, is still vomiting and crying hysterically. Pop him on the floor nowhere near any fabric and get to finish cleaning so we have somewhere clean to walk.

The poor kid is sitting in a pool of this afternoons food and muttering obscenities to myself even though I know its no-ones fault.

Bath, change for the third time and I get to cleaning up the mess. Again! This time Master A is sitting near me ON THE WOODEN FLOOR.

So here I am 90mins later writing this post. Master A's now in bed and Ive vacuumed and mopped all the floors. I still havent had tea and the washing machine is now beeping at me.

The vomit covered clothes are now clean.

So I just had to get that out. Not only for a riveting blog post but also for something to look back on and maybe have a chuckle about.

....maybe...

PS I was flying solo tonight. Husby was at work.
Damn him.

Monday 12 November 2012

Driving. No longer one of lifes simple pleasures.

I was thinking, whilst I was driving home from work, how much I used to enjoy driving.

Back in my heyday it wasn't unusual for me to just get into my car and drive, just for fun.

I'd play my favourite tunes, wind down the windows and let the car take me wherever. Its something I
still sometimes do, just not very often.

I might pack Master A up and head down to the Esplanade, take in the wonderful scenery and look at the dreamy beach houses. But unfortunately being out on the road can also be a risk. And this is no more apparent than now.

Its a shame that this once stress reliever, now brings with it the stress of trying to get home safely everyday. There are so many idiots on the road, you can be the most aware driver but one momentary second of distraction can lead to disaster.

Now Im not saying I'm perfect in the driving stakes. In fact, Ive had my share of fines and also, shamefully, loss of licence *gasp* but I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. I screwed up and I admit that, but i have also learnt my lesson and have been 'clean' for more than 3 years now.

Its the people that constantly think its ok to defy the law whilst in the meantime putting innocent peoples lives in danger.

Ive seen a couple of news stories lately that really brought this home.

One was about young men who have been drink driving and subsequently killed people, mostly their own friends, and the impact this now has on the rest of their lives. They have to carry that memory around with them forever haunted with the 'what ifs' and 'If onlys'.

Another report showed how dangerous texting is. Now I'm sure 80% of people do it or have done in the past. I stick my hand up and shout 'Guilty'! But that split second you look down could be the worst mistake of your life. And it was a massive wake up call that I have to do everything in my power to keep my family and myself safe. Unfortunately I cant control all those around me but i certainly can control my own actions.

I ask you all to just take a moment. Think before you pull out in front of someone, or get behind the wheel after a couple of reds, or pick up the phone to text or speed down the backstreets. Is it really that important to do any of those things, just to make it home 5mins early, or reply to that message RIGHT NOW. Im sure getting home safely is the number one priority as it also would be for all other fellow road users.

Driving is a privilege not a right. No single someone owns the road. We must share and consider the safety of those around us.

(PS: Even thought this was a serious topic i thought i would end with this image. It made me giggle!)



source

Saturday 10 November 2012

A very High Tea 60th!

My dear mum turned the big 6-0 a couple of weeks ago and to celebrate i threw her a High Tea party.

My lovely Aunty offered her house as the venue, which was perfect. Her garden has the best backdrop we could ask for considering the theme.





 
I spent a couple of months planning and liasing with Mum and my aunty, scanned good ol' Pinterest (what on earth did we do before that site?!!) and shopping around for ideas.

I love to entertain even though I'm stressed on the day and exhausted by the end of it! I love how it makes people happy and brings them together. Mum had a few of her high school friends come and her sister travelled from Sydney.

Food was very important and I'd spent a few hours scouring my cookbooks and making a plan.

In the end there was:

Caramal filled shortbread
Melting moments
Coconut and Passionfruit slice
Hedgehog slice
Cherry and nut fudge
Red velvet cupcakes
Chocolate cake

I did all the sweet stuff, my Aunty did sandwiches and sis in law made ham n cheese croissants, just to balance out the overload of sugar!

We also decided on a fruit platter at the last minute considering the weather was a balmy 35C!

I decorated the table with flowers I bought for Mum and my Aunty and some ceramic cupcake jars.
I was so disappointed as I'd ordered all these decorations and cupcake wrappers etc online but it didnt turn up on time. I had to make do with what I had. Although really, the food was the main attraction.

 



 Aren't these just the sweetest cupcake holders?! So fitting for the day!
 
 
 
I made my mums cake. I like to decorate cakes but Im not really good at it. I always have this awesome image in my mind but it doesnt translate through into my hands!! To minimise stress (cause that's really important!) I usually buy packet cakes so i can concerntrate on the decoration.

 
 All in all it turned out a great day. And this little guy had a ball!! Needless to say, he crashed on the way home straight to bed!



Tuesday 30 October 2012

Weekend break

There is a small town by the sea,

That goes by the name of Port Rickaby.




It was a time of celebration, some friends came to stay,

To help celebrate a 30th birthday.

There were plenty of laughs, lamb on a spit,

Kids had a ball, there was no time to sit.


This rhyme is lame and Im out of steam,

Keep looking at my happy snaps if you are keen!