Everything Was Red.....

I was going to write this post much earlier in the week, but I have only JUST recovered. Not from my trip away with my eldest two boys, but from everything that had to be done on my return home.

Six days of washing for six people and an entire house to tidy and clean, that the men folk who were left at home still insist was kept clean and tidy.......

                                                     
                                                         Yeah, 'man clean'

It was the first time ever that I had been away with just my two big boys, we had the best time EVER.
It all came about when son number one discovered that Taylor Swift was bringing her Red Tour to Brisbane. As we are big fans of hers we instantly wanted to attend, however being at the 'crunchy' end of the year, I decided that although I desperately wanted to go, financially it was not a wise move. So imagine how I reacted when my son purchased a ticket for me for as a combined birthday/Christmas present. I was utterly blown away, and yes, I cried {sooky la la} But not only did he purchase my ticket, but he also paid for his brother to go as an 18th birthday present. His generosity for us both will forever be remembered. To add to all this, son numbered two decided that he to would get in on the generosity and ended up paying for my part of the accommodation for my Christmas gift. I really do have the most wonderful, selfless, generous children. The time we spent together was one of the best times we have ever shared together and a time that I will cherish forever.

We flew on Friday, wow has it seriously been a week ! and stayed at the Mecure which had stunning views of the Brisbane River. And when in BrisVegas what else do you do besides party on at the hottest concert in town ?  Shop of course, and eat, drink and shop some more !
Armloads and armloads of shopping.......

The highlight of course was seeing Taylor. It was magical. And although there were some technical difficulties that caused the show to stop at one point, instead of leaving us wondering what on earth was going on, or relaying a message over the PA system, Taylor came onto the stage and talked to the audience the whole time. She was sweet, apologetic and funny. It was just one of those things that can happen and within about 15 minutes the problems had been dealt with and the concert resumed. The costumes were stunning, the stage show amazing. I have always been a fan, but after seeing the Red concert, Taylor is now high up on my list of performers that I would defiantly see again.

The weekend continued with much laughter, good food and of course more shopping :) we  took in a movie, taking the time to rest our tired sore feet and watch the new Hunger Games movie Catching Fire {our weekend did have a theme going on} ....  RED .... the movie was fantastic and really did do the book justice. However as usual it left us hanging on the edge of our seats desperately waiting for the next instalment.

The boys decided to spend a few hours (yes hours) checking out Time Zone, so I casually wondered the mall people watching. Boy you see some sights in the city ! and checking out all the beautiful Christmas displays.
Ahhh Christmas, my very favourite time of year. The city was dazzling with lights and decorations all adding to the holiday feel.

We certainly had the time of our lives and hopefully it wont be the last time that we get to share such a wonderful time together laughing, talking and bonding even more. My boys gave me the most amazing Christmas/birthday present that I could ever imagine. They are my world and the time we spent together was an amazing opportunity that I am glad we got to share, and one that I will forever carry in my heart.

Thank you boys, you light up my life xx

Linking up with the fabulous Grace for FYBF :)
Happy weekend everyone x

Snow Man Family Craft

When I saw these little guys on Pinterest I fell in love with them and just had to have some of my own. A gorgeous family of snowmen to welcome my family and friends at Christmas. 

I decided that I needed to make four, to represent my boys.

They were easy and inexpensive to make as I had all of the bits and pieces 

needed to whip them up in just a couple of hours.

I am really pleased with how they have turned out and I am 

sure that they will be around for many

Christmas's to come.

To make you will need :

*Pieces of wood

*Fabric for the head pieces

*String to tie the hats

*Material, ribbon or tinsel for the scarves

*White paint

*Buttons for the eyes, beads or orange paint for the nose

*Black glitter glue for the mouth and eyebrows

*A hot glue gun

I didn't have the wood cut into any specific lengths. I just made sure that they were all different sizes. I painted the wood roughly so that they had a worn look. 

Next cut rectangles out of the fabric, wrapped and glued them around the top creating a hat, tying with string to secure. 

The face was next. Using the glue gun, I fastened the button eyes and bead noses into place and then using the glitter glue, drew on the eyebrows and mouth.

Lastly I tied a scarf around each snowman using Christmas ribbon and tinsel pipe cleaners. 

Happy Snowman Making !

                                                           

A Birthday Letter

From day one you stole my heart. My tiny bundle of joy, a second son to bring love and happiness into our lives. A little boy to love, cherish and nurture.

It's eighteen years today since I held you in my arms for the very first time, and looked into those gorgeous blue eyes and promised always to love you, to be there for you, and forever and always protect you.

Remember that no matter what, you can always count on me. I will always be by your side.
Never doubt how much you mean to me, and how much you are loved.



You have grown up SO much. I cant believe how fast the years have gone. It seems like yesterday you were running around at knee height, and now I have to look up at you.

Forever my 'little' 'big' boy.....

Always the smallest at school, you would get very cranky when your teachers would move you to the front and make reference to your height.
So cranky that you once refused to line up and attend the school assembly unless the teacher would allow you to be last in the line instead of first.

Your determination is a strong part of your personality.


From day one you have been feisty, and have always been competitive. No matter what you are involved in, your determination to come first and not be left behind has been your number one aim.

You have grown up into a wonderful young man, one that any mother would be proud of. I am ever so grateful that God gave me the opportunity to be your mum, it is an Honor, and one that I will cherish for my entire life time.

You are a very caring person, always the first to lend a hand where ever it may be needed.

You are selfless, in a very selfish world.
You can brighten even the darkest of days.


Today as you celebrate your eighteenth birthday, I hope that the wish you make as you blow out your birthday candles comes true. You deserve nothing but happiness in your life.

So my birthday boy, may all your dreams come true, and that as you follow your life's path, you continue to do so with confidence  strength and that gorgeous smile.

The entire world is now at your feet, you are about to begin the next part of your life's journey, never loose sight of your dreams or your determination to succeed.

You are a light in my life that burns brighter each and every day.
Happy 18th birthday my sweet boy, enjoy life to the full xxxx


Linking up with Jess this first Tuesday in December with bells on my fingers and tinsel in my hair for another fun filled IBOT

My Christmas Wish List

Unless you have been living in the confines of a bubble, or wondering around with your eyes closed. There is absolutely no doubt that the Christmas Season is yet again upon us.

YES it's that time of year again.

The time of year when stress seems to triple, sleep is almost non existent. And the chubby guy at the North Pole is filling your letter box with copious amounts of pamphlets hinting that the only way to make everyone happy is to empty your bank account entirely.

It's exhausting, so much work goes into this one day and right up until the last minute you are in panic mode, wondering what it is that you may have forgotten.

Even so, it is my favorite time of the year.

This year, getting Christmas present ideas out of my boys has been like pulling teeth. DIFFICULT

I'm not sure about you (those of you with sons) but it seems the older boys get, the harder they are to buy for. 

Me on the other hand could write a list as long as my arm. However instead of pinning my list to the fridge, I am going to post it here, because in my home a list pinned to the fridge wouldn't get a look at as everyone is too busy looking inside the fridge trying to find something to fill their bellies.

                                 *Candles, I love them. A girl can never have too many

                                 *A gold necklace chain so that I can wear my favorite pendant again

                                 *More arm bling. I am newly obsessed with bracelets and bangles

                                 *A new sewing machine

                                 *And a fabulous Christmas surrounded by my family 

                  Do you have a Christmas wish list for 2013 ? And is it pinned to your fridge ?
           Linking up with Jess for the final November IBOT.........My where has this year gone ?

Chocolate Pudding Bar

This pudding bar dessert is a winner !
No seriously it actually is. Along with two other recipes, the Chocolate Pudding Bar was responsible for winning me a Fisher Paykel fridge back in 2004 with Super Food Ideas Magazine. Read about it all here.

By using a total of only 4 ingredients

There is no cooking involved. It is super easy to make, super delicious, and a hit with everyone.



Chocolate Pudding Bar
serves 6-8

2 packets of of malt biscuits
1 packet of fun size Crunchie bars, refrigerated
395g can sweetened condensed milk
600ml thickened cream


-Line a lamington pan with baking paper. Layer malt biscuits over the pan base, cutting to fit if  necessary so that the base is completely covered.
-With the crunchies still in their wrapper, use a rolling pin and crush the chocolate bars so that they  are broken into small pieces.
-Using an electric mixer, beat the sweetened condensed milk and the cream in a large bowl until  thick and pale. Stir through crushed crunchie bars.
-Spread mixture over the biscuits. Top with another layer of biscuits and freeze until firm. Cut into  squares and serve.

:Variation ... You could replace the Crunchie bars with other chocolate bars to change it up.

Don't Blink

I know I have said it many times before, but I am going to say it again anyway.

My how time flies....

 And it was never more evident to me then in the past week, when big things happened in our youngest sons lives.

As parents, we have already watched our eldest teens graduate high school with wonderful results and enter the next stage of their lives. And now the time has come to watch as teen number three begins the next part of his journey. 

Last week the time came to sit the interview and re-enrol him as a senior student for 2014.......

How can this be ? It seems that only yesterday we watched him take his first steps, and now it is almost time for him to begin one of the most important stages in life. 

As we sat listening to him answer questions and watching him interact with the interviewer in such a grown up way, I realised just how much he has grown and matured. 

It made me smile with joy at the confidant young man he has become and it made my heart sad as I came to the realisation that our boy was not our "little boy" anymore !

I am not ready.

I should not have blinked....

It seems that life is going by way to fast, and I for one feel as though I am fighting a loosing battle.

I want to keep my children small, just a little longer.

Teen number four, our youngest and my baby has achieved amazing success in his first year of high school. On Monday night we attended the Annual Awards Night to witness his success first hand, and watch as he received an Academic Merit Award.

I was so proud to see him up on stage in his formal uniform accepting this wonderful award, so proud that tears formed in my eyes as I realised that not only was my baby doing such an awesome job at his schooling, but that this was indeed my baby up there in front of that audience looking so grown up. A high school student, standing tall and proud. 

He is growing up way to fast. My baby is no longer my baby but a handsome, confidant young man.

I should not have blinked...

Life is racing ahead. I am trying to keep up, but all I want is for it to slow down.

I am not ready to let them all go.

I want to keep my children small, just a little longer.

It amazes me that as we grow older the years seem to pass by much more quickly. Its as though time is laughing at us, mocking us, poking fun at us.

Yesterday my sons were babes in arms, now they strong independent young men, making me ever so proud to be their mum even though I do wish that I could rewind time and keep them small and under my wing forever.

Its hard, an impossibility.

But try not to blink..... 

Motivating Teens

Teens can sometimes be hard to get motivated. Believe me, I know. It seems that some of them reach a 'magical age' when they think it acceptable behaviour to become a lounge lizard and expect everything to be handed to them at their beck and call. On a silver platter no less.
I have had moments when I could literally pull my own hair out at the attitudes of my teens and their lack of motivation sometimes, normal ? yes of course, and I am certain that I did the same to my own mother more than once.....

The truth of the matter is, all teens are motivated, just in different ways. There are teens who are motivated to get the best grades possible, and strive to be the best students they can be. And there are teens who are motivated to be the best at sport and fitness. It doesn't matter where there motivation lies, as long as they try hard to achieve the best results that they can, is really all that matters.

Over the years it has at times been a struggle to keep my teens on track and keep them interested on the path of motivated success.
There are always many distractions in a teens life (not all of them bad) and I guess the trick is to keep a healthy balance between study/training, fun and games. Everyone's mind wonders and we all need a break sometimes and teens are no different.

My best tips to keeping my teens motivated, and myself sane (even though it doesn't always work)
is to....
*Always encourage them to do their best.
*Let them know that even though they may not have achieved the best result that they are capable   of, you are still proud of their effort, but that next time with a little more applied effort their             result maybe even better.
*Try to stay calm (yeah hard I know) but loosing the plot when your teen puts up barriers can do     more harm then good. I have learnt this the hard way.
*Talk-talking is the ultimate tool, make sure your teen knows your there for them and always           available to them.
*Don't stress LOL I know, I know but in the end your teen will surprise you, at times they/we all     lack motivation, but in the end when it really counts they will pull through and can achieve the         unachievable. Never loose doubt or confidence in your teen, no matter what, they WILL make         you proud.
*Remember that ultimately, your teen is responsible for his/her own choices.

Motivation is the key to success, and as far as your teen is concerned it will click in. It may be a little later then we may like it to, but click it will and when it does everything will fall into place and we wonder what all the fuss was about :)

How do you keep your teen motivated ?
I would love some more tips so that I can get through the remaining teen years with at least some hair !

I'm Back

Life can be a difficult path to navigate, and unfortunately I let it get the better of me. But no more. I have been doing my best to search for my rainbow. To find my missing light and return to the woman that I use to be, the woman that I want to be, the woman that I know that I can be.

But enough of that

I'm back
Did you miss me ?
Nah, I wouldn't either...

I needed the break, and just like the quote that showed up on the tab of my tea bag this morning, I'm back because I've regained my Oomph.

I have taken the time to clear my head and find a new path to follow. It's taken me a few weeks to realise that my patch of green grass is the perfect patch of green for me, all that I have ever wanted in life is right here in the palm of my hand, and only I have been standing in the way of my happiness.
Silly huh......
But that's me, letting things get the better of me and allowing them to take over my thoughts and emotions, it is something that I have been working on and will continue to do so.
I am doing my best to be strong.

Since I went on my break, quite a few things have happened around here !
My son applied for University. I had a birthday. My third son was officially enrolled as a senior student for 2014 and has become a gym addict. We welcomed a new addition to our family (don't freak out it's the furry kind)  and the renovations around here have again picked up speed.......all this and more will be blogged about soon : )

I must confess, it's great to be back. You will now most likely get sick of me !
Thank you to everyone for your tweets and emails, I appreciate that you all stuck around and I apologise to you all for my disappearance.

Happy to be linking up again with the gorgeous Jess for IBOT xx

My A to Z Of Parenting (and how I have survived so far)

Writing this three part A to Z of parenting list has made me stop and think about my journey as a mum, and what I could have done differently or could do differently in the future. It opens your eyes when you actually stop and think about where you have been and where you are headed along the path that is parenthood.
I am the first to admit that I have made many mistakes, and like many other parents out there I struggle, wondering why on earth I was given such a huge responsibility.
Only time will tell how well I have guided my boys through their youth. I only hope that I have laid a good enough foundation for them to continue to have a happy and successful life whatever path they choose to follow.

S is for survival and sacrifice
These are two major parts of parenting.
We do "survive", I promise. Even though the road is tough and the end seems so far away, we do eventually see a light. Me time for a mother is something that does not happen very often until our children are of an age when we can actually say enough is enough let me be ! I am lucky to have reached this stage in my journey, but to get here has been a long hard slug. There are still times that I can go weeks without an hour to myself. Believe me, my parenting journey is far from over.
There is so much that we "sacrifice" to parent our children, but if you love your kids as much as I do and I know you do it is a sacrifice that we make with love, and I/we wouldn't have it any other way as long as there is large amounts of coffee, chocolate and wine on hand

T is for trust
"Trust" like respect is a two way street in parenting and its something that both parent and child have to earn.

U is for universe
From the first moment that I held my first born in my arms my whole world changed. And with each of my sons births my heart grew. It is a  love so strong, a love that I never knew truly existed until I became a mother. My boys are my entire "universe" and no matter how old they get or how big they grow they are way to big to sit on my lap now they will continue to be the reason I get up in the morning, the reason I make it through each day and the reason why my life is complete.

V is for void
It's funny how lonely a parent can be when their children are away from them. I dread my sons leaving home the first is nearly ready to leave the nest it is going to create a huge "void" in my life and I'm not sure how I am going to cope........

W is for wise
A "wise" women once told me that to be a mother is the greatest gift given to a woman. That woman was right, and that woman was my mother.

X is for X marks the spot
Like the X that marks the spot to buried treasure, an X marks the spot on my heart, showing my boys that my heart is full of love for them no matter what ever happens. Decisions may be made that they regret, a wrong path traveled. But no matter what my love for them is never ending....

Y is for Yawn
Parenthood is one long "yawn" being tired goes hand in hand with the job......I have been told that we eventually do get sleep. If this is true can someone please verify this for me ? : )

Z is for ZOO
I don't know about you but this describes my house to a tee. I'm sure my home is full of animals. Cute, adorable ones but animals all the same. How is it that putting rubbish in the bin, closing the toilet lid and putting dishes into the dishwasher is so hard ? I guess that is something that I will never understand........

So I have finished my list, but not my journey. In fact I don't think that a mothers journey is ever really over. I believe that it continues for our entire life time it just changes direction, but continues never the less.  <3

My A to Z Of Parenting (and how I have survived so far)

Part two of my A to Z list of "my parenting journey" took a little more thought to put together. If you didn't get the chance to read part one, you can find it here
Parenting has at times been difficult, overwhelming and had me at a loss more then once. I have spent countless hours laughing at myself and my unskilled parenting, countless hours crying my eyes out at my parenting failures, and countless hours wishing that at certain times I had done things differently.
But in the end, when all is said and done, my boys have grown into responsible young men that have made me so very proud.

So could I have done a few things right along this journey after all ?

K is for key
The "key" to parenting is lots of patience. Something that I have had to work on since my boys became teens. It's funny how with each step of parenting the rules and regulations seem to change as much as the growth of our children. There are plenty of books out that attempt to show you exactly the right road to travel, and offer all sorts of advice that does help to some extent, but when it comes time to put these words into action I found that trusting my own instincts was far better then to rely on other peoples.

L is for love
Without "love" we can not function. Love is the most vital key between a parent and child. Sometimes I think that I smother my kids with affection, but I cant help myself, ever since the day I first became a mum, my boys have been the center of my world.
Have I embarrassed them ? Heck yeah : ) but that is a mothers right.

M is for marathon
Parenting is like running a marathon that is all up hill, it can make you short of breathe and oh so tired, but the reward is SO worth it in the end.

N is for noisy
Holy heck boys make a lot of "noise" it started of with loud renditions of The Wiggles and Barney The Dinosaur, and has continued with loud Rock and Rap (what are they really "rapping" about ?) and the aggravating noise of the play station.......I really need to get back into meditation and yoga to bring back some peace to my world, however I know that when all my chirping birds fly I will miss them more then words can say (even their noise I'm sure)

O is for open
In our home we encourage our boys to be open with us, we tell them often that we are there for them and that they can come to us with anything....it can be daunting to talk about some things, and they may choose not to, but at least they are aware that we are always there for them and can come to us with anything if they need to. An open relationship between parents and kids is vital.

P is for priority
My boys are my "priority" it saddens me to see kids that are pushed aside, and lack parental guidance. Becoming a parent in my book means that your children and their welfare comes first and everything else is second to that.

Q is for quality
Quality time spent with your kids at any age is important. No matter if its a walk, time spent kicking a ball or going out to dinner as a family, showing unity and laughing together is a way to keep communication open and a family close together.

R is for respect
"Respect" is a two way street in parenting. To gain respect from my boys, I have learnt that I must respect them in the same way. It doesn't mean that I am not in control and don't demand to know things that are going on in their lives, but some things are best discussed in private without an audience, I do not attempt to go through their phones or personal things. I do however expect them to befriend me on face book, twitter and instagram so that I am able to keep a check on their online activities. I am aware that I do not in anyway know everything that goes on in my sons lives, but that is I guess where respect and trust comes into it.

Part three and the final post will be published tomorrow : )

My A To Z Of Parenting (and how I have survived so far)

Raising a family of boys has been a mish mash of trials and tribulations, fun and games, ups and downs and the most wonderful experience of my life. I have truly been blessed in life, honoured to be trusted by God with raising these four wonderful boys.
I have not always had success with my parenting, I am in no way an expert and I have had many failures let me tell you, and even though I now have 20 years of parenting under my belt, each day I continue to learn and discover new ways to parent, and hopefully give my boys the skills to live the happy, fulfilling life that they deserve.

I don't think that you can ever learn enough about parenting, so over the next few days, I have decided to put together an A to Z list of words and explanations of what I have learnt so far while raising my four boys

A is for attitude 

This seems to gradually grow, and before you know it, it has just about OUT grown the child and taken over. It's like the inner monster finds its way out and turns the once innocent  into raving lunatics.

However being a mum to sons only, I have found that over the years I have had to change my attitude and outlook on life to raise these boys to the best of my ability. 

B is for brave     

Raising boys is fun, crazy, full of adventure and the unexpected, so being "brave" is a huge part of raising boys. I admit that being brave {like them} has not always been my strong point, but ending up being the only female in our household has made me have to dig deep for courage at various times in my parenting journey.

C is for charm and caffeine

I have been guilty of letting my boys "charm" take control of my parenting at times over the years. {bad parenting, or the easy way out ?} but sometimes those eyes, they just get ya. To recharge and start again I recommend a good strong cup of coffee, it seems that parenting and caffeine go hand in hand : )

D is for drama

Boys, just like girls can be "drama queens kings" and this is when I tend to loose the plot, after all the drama should be all mine... right ? 

I may or may not have at one time or another said "toughen up princess" bad mumma is me.

E is for earplugs

Ahhhh I am so grateful that the humble "earphone" was invented, me time would not be possible without them. Just to drown out the boys and their noise every now and then is pure heaven.

F is for food

How is it possible to go through so much ? There is always a bum sticking out of my fridge and at times I think that because of this I would be able to recognise my boys bums in a line up more than if  their faces were shown LOL no I am serious....maybe I need shares in Woolworths !

G is for grateful

My family is the one thing that I hold dear to my heart. Without them I am nothing. They are my entire world and the fact that they are mine to love to cherish and keep safe, to guide and watch them grow makes me beyond grateful each and every day of my life.

H is for honesty

Being honest is always best no matter what the situation, and when it comes to children I believe its no different. I have always been honest and forthright with my boys, without putting to much on their shoulders of course. I believe that if I am honest with them then it is possible that they will be honest with me. I am not blind however and realise that this is not always the case. Kids are kids and always will be. But if I am willing to teach them that honesty is the best policy then maybe it is a trait that they will continue to have throughout their lives.

I is for Individual
Each of my boys are "individual" and so I believe that although they ALL must obey and live by the same rules, I have found at times that each of them need to be parented in different ways. Each child understands and absorbs things differently and so on more then one occasion I have had to approach certain situations with a different angle to accommodate the child that I am dealing with at the time.

J is for junk
They collect it, stash it and wont give it up. My house is over run by "boy stuff" its stuffed under their beds and piled high in their wardrobes......Its almost school holidays and time to Spring clean LOOK OUT BOYS : ) I am on the clutter free war path !

To be continued :)

Puppy Daze

Last week I tweeted how much I would love another baby. I miss the early years of my boys who have grown up way to fast and have often wondered why I didn't go back for another.
Exactly one week later, that wish of mine was granted, well kind of. Instead of the sweet smelling ten fingers, ten toes kind of bundle, the furry four legged kind entered our lives which the boys promptly named Shadow.

                                               
He is a ball of cuteness, a bundle of energy, a real fireball and already a well loved member of our family.
But my oh my ..... how quickly I forgot how much work puppies can be. Next time on twitter, I think that I will hold my tongue in the wishes department !

The first night we had Shadow home, the house was crazy. It seems that no matter what age we are, puppies bring out the BIG kid in everyone :)
Shadow was wild, the boys were wild and much laughter filled our house.

The next day however things did not look good :( poor Shadow was sick as a dog {no pun intended} he was lethargic, wobbly on his feet, yelping in pain and vomiting *yuck* a trip to the vet was very much needed.
As it turned out, Shadow was indeed very ill and was put on a drip right away. Poor little guy. He was kept overnight and given plenty of antibiotics and fluids. Thankfully it was nothing serious, just a small puppy tummy bug that required lots of care and attention.
Picking him up the next day, he was full of beans, back to his own crazy self. The boys were so happy to have him home, and I was ever so glad that I was not the bearer of bad news.

He has now settled into life with us quite nicely, turning everything and everyone upside down. Of course as usual most of the work has landed in my lap even though I made it quite clear that the job was to be shared by everyone in our household. Come this weekend when things have calmed down a little, I will be reminding everyone that raising Shadow is a family job and will be participated by all.

Welcome Shadow, may you live a happy and contented life as a member of our crazy, wild family.

                                          Happily linking up with Jess for another week of IBOT

Message In A Bottle

I used to dream that one day I would discover a message in a bottle. The idea that someone, from somewhere in this world could write down their dreams, their most private thoughts or a simple hello, seems like something straight out of a fairy tale.

It is highly unlikely that my dream will come true, that I will ever find a message in a bottle. But each time I walk along the beach, my eyes search the debris always in hope, always with that dream in the back of my mind that maybe one day I will be lucky enough to find someones message.

I have decided to throw caution to the wind and send my own message in a bottle out into the great unknown.
I am being realistic. I know that it may never be found, that it may bob around in the ocean for ever. Never finding an owner, never being read, never finding its place in history. 

But who knows, it may very well be found by someone who just like me had a dream. And instead of me being the one to find a message, it maybe my destiny to fulfill someone else's dream of finding their message in a bottle

Bon voyage

Happily linking up with Jess for another fun week of IBOT 

Accordion Wheel Photo Frame

I've been getting my craft on again, its about time really as not only did I have writers block, which alone was frustrating enough, but to loose my craft mojo was something new !!

So here is what I have been busy creating, an Accordion Wheel Photo Frame, and I am quite delighted with how it turned out........

Begin by cutting 2 strips of scrapbook paper. I cut them 2 inches wide and the full length of the paper

Lightly score the paper down and across in 1cm squares. This helps when folding the wheel

Fold each strip of paper along the scored lines

Join the ends together, I used a hot glue gun as it has a very strong hold

Push the wheel together and hold firmly

Glue a square of paper to the back to keep the wheel together

Wheel complete

I chose a 13cm x 18cm shadow box frame 

And after arranging and hot gluing the wheels in place,
this is the finished product.

I Wish...

I know that everything happens for a reason,

but sometimes I wish I knew 

what that reason was

I wish... that I had a magic wand so I could go back to that first moment when I first found out about you.

I wish... that I could bottle that time and happiness, so I could hold on to that memory forever.

I wish... that just for a moment I had the chance to hold you in my arms. 

I wish... that I had kept you safe, done things differently. Then maybe you would still be with me.

I wish... that I could have jumped on your bed this morning and wished you a happy birthday, that I was baking your favorite cake, blowing up balloons and watching your face as you opened up your presents that were chosen with such love.

But this will not be happening today for you did not even make it into this world. I have cried a river of tears for what was not meant to be, and even though I never had the chance to hold you, to kiss you and take care of you, I have never loved you any less. Till the day that I die, in my heart I will have always been the mother to five precious children, all who mean the world to me and have made my life so extraordinarily happy.

So to you my angel baby, where ever you may be. Happy 18th birthday and may one day we meet and have that cuddle that so many years ago was denied us..........

Linking up with the gorgeous Jess for this weeks IBOT 

Happy Tuesday xxx

Flashback Friday - 1991

Glancing through our local paper this week, I saw a photograph that was taken at one of the local High Schools Debutante Balls. The girls looked beautiful in their white gowns standing along side their handsome partners, such a far cry from their usual school uniforms and pig tails.

It immediately took me back to 1991 when I, as a 16 year old grade eleven student and made my own Debut. 

I felt like a princess dressed in my flowing white dress, my handsome boyfriend (now my husband) on my arm twirling me around the dance floor along side many of our friends while our families watched from their seats. In all reality when I look back now it almost seemed like an early rehearsal for our wedding day.

I have been so lucky to have celebrated so many of the big moments in my life with the same partner, we have shared many special occasions together, and when I made my debut it was the first of many, with many more wonderful times still to come.........

Linking up with the lovely Cathy for another Flashback Friday xx

Teens And Man Flu

At what stage did your teenage sons discover man flu ?

My four seem to have discovered it at various times, one I think was born with the knowledge of man flu. It seems from the moment he got his first belly ache the world was going to end, and this has since progressed into full blown man flu like no other that I have ever known to exist.

The other three are 'victims' as well of course but with less severity, although the older they get, I am sure that they will discover the ways of the man and use it to full advantage.....I sympathise with their future wives.

I am of course such a lucky woman {insert sarcastic laugh here} with a house of five males, I am bombarded with different levels of male 'helplessness' at an alarming rate. It's no wonder that at times I feel as though I am loosing my mind.

If you find yourself in a similar position to me, and at one time or another you have been surrounded by the dreaded symptoms of man flu.  DO NOT PANIC you are not alone, and believe me, they will survive  

                           providing that you do not hit them over the head with a piece of 4 x 2

It's quite sad really being witness to such helplessness. Seeing such big strapping boys crumble at the first sign of a cold, instantly reverting back to their youth when nothing but a mothers full attention was required. Why is it that when a male is sick they expect the whole world to revolve around just them ? Why are they unable to carry on with their everyday duties ? Women have no choice, it is very rare that a woman will receive the same loving care and attention from the males in her life.

At this point in time, I am trying to survive both a husband and one of my teens going through the woes of man flu nothing I am doing for them is right. Typical really, but as I am sure that any woman is aware of, no matter how demanding the men in our lives may be, the man flu brings out a whole other side to our men and its sure not pretty.........

Do you have any tips on coping with man flu ?

Have your teenage boys discovered it yet, or are you still living in hope that they will not be cursed ?

Frankly from what I have noticed over the years, men do not sneeze or cough any different from women, it's just that men lack the coping mechanisms to keep them away from deaths door !

Strawberry-Mint Infused Water

As our weather begins to warm up, it is time to ditch the warming hot chocolates, and opt for cooler, refreshing, hydrating drinks to quench our thirst.

I am not a huge fan of drinking plain old water and would much prefer to grab an icy cold glass of diet coke bad Beck, so over the cooler months of Winter I began searching for, and trying out new refreshing, healthy recipes that would encourage me to drink a lot more water.
I came across this simple yet delicious recipe that I immediately fell in love with and know that it will have constant place in my refrigerator this coming Summer.

Strawberry-Mint Infused Water

A punnet of strawberries quartered
As many mint leaves as you like
Water
Ice

That is all !

It has a subtle flavor, its simple, cheap to make and its healthy.
Another flavor that I like is lemon, lime and thyme.
Give them a go and let me know what you think, or if you come up with any more delicious flavors :)

Liebster Award

   When I started blogging just a little over a year ago, I opened myself up to a world full of inspiration, life lessons and wonderful friendships.

The inspirational blogs that I have come to know and love have made me laugh out loud, cry rivers of tears and have helped me to over come some personal hurdles.

In comparison to these, my blog is small, sometimes insignificant, crazy, and most of all full of useless ramblings. But I enjoy writing and my small space has become a place of immense joy for me. 

So imagine my utter astonishment when the gorgeous Bec of mummatells nominated me for a Liebster Award. 

The Liebster Award is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers. It is for the 'up and coming' bloggers, the small guys (yep that's me) who are just starting out on their bloggy journey.

There are a few teeny tiny rules that apply if you are to participate, but all in all it's just a bit of fun 

*You have to answer 11 questions of your nominator's choosing.
*Write a list of 11 things that tell others a little bit more about you.
*Write your own list of 11 questions for 11 'up and coming' bloggers of your choice.

It's that easy :)

If any character from a novel could be your best friend, who would you want it to be and why? 

Willy Wonker, so he could keep me happy with my addiction to chocolate !

Brights or pastels?

Brights, colour makes me happy :)

What is the last thing you ate?

Toast and Vegemite

It's your birthday, what's for dessert?

Has to be cheesecake :)

Which is your favourite season?

I am a Spring/Summer gal. I love sunshine.

What is your favourite social network?

I am addicted to Instagram and Pinterest

Coffee, tea or neither?

I am both a coffee and tea drinker. I am likely to have a few cups of both during the day

What is the most unusual gift you have ever received?

For my first Mothers day, I received a can opener LOL

Driver or passenger?

Driver, I like to be in control

What, if anything is under your bed?

Boxes and boxes of photos and some of my craft stuff

Look to your left, what are five things you see?

Photos of my boys, an owl, a candle, a paperweight and our home phone

A little bit more about me...

1. I became a Mum for the first time at age 18

2. I was married to my highschool sweetheart 8 months later aged 19

3. In March 2014 we will be married for 20 years

4. Next month is my birthday and I will be 39 years old :(

5. I am slightly very obsessive

6. I never have the same hair cut or colour for more then a year at a time

7. I am currently on a mission to loose weight and get fit, but I have hit a wall with my success

8. I try to avoid being in a huge crowd, but I am working on this

9. A messy, dirty house drives me nuts and I annoy my family with my obsessive cleaning

10. I am never without a book

11. I fall asleep on the couch watching movies without fail

My Liebster Nominees are...

Me, at My Journey-Am I There Yet?
Beck, at Dream Big Live Full
Marleisa, at This is who I am
Lisa, at Mum of Adult Kids
Laura, at All the Etcetera
Becci, at Birdy Num Num
Michelle, at Pinky Poinker Tales From the Mother of Teenagers
Jessica, at Trying Something New
Sim, at Mummy Chaos
Cassandra, at Cass can Sew
Robyn, at Slightly More Depth than A Teaspoon

And my 11 questions for you are...

1. What is the scariest thing you have ever done?

2. Milk, white or dark chocolate?

3. If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?

4. Two things you always keep in your handbag?

5. What is your dream holiday destination?

6. What accomplishment are you most proud of?

7. What is your one guilty pleasure that you will not give up?

8. What was the last thing that you purchased?

9. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

10. Who in your life has influenced you the most?

11. Your favorite flower?

Have fun and enjoy the process :)