A Student Mommy

Deadlines

2012-01-30T22:46:00.000+02:00

It is now 22:45 and I am still working.
Day before the deadline.
Grumpy.
Very.

Well... not really. I'm just plain buggered.

Loving the book I'm listening to, but I'll tell you all about that at a later date.
Sleep well friends.

Playball - God's gift to Date Night

2012-01-26T08:40:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was the Bunny's first afternoon of Playball - a ball skills extra mural thing offered through the school. They do a lot of hand-eye coordination stuff and balancing skills, oh... and ball skills!

We know the lady who runs playball in our town, and she has been awesome with the Bunny. I digress... the point is...
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Bloggy Riches

2012-01-25T12:33:00.000+02:00

Question: How do I make money blogging?

Yes, yes! I looked on Google-my-friend, but it still doesn't help me. I want trusted opinions, and so you lot are it...

I want to be able to write and earn, as well as have advertisers that I approve of putting their links on my site...

Any advice is appreciated.

Ready, Set, Study!

2012-01-20T12:51:00.000+02:00

Some days I could just spit blood!
Blagh... that's a rotten phrase. But I'm about ready to spit acid. Which is equally rotten, really.
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Book Reviews

2012-01-13T15:32:00.000+02:00

Now I'm not one for book reviews. Never have been. Hated them in school as well, because, if I had happened to actually read the book, I ended up writing a long encounter of the read, which inevitably landed up being half the length of the book itself.

But...
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First Day of Pre-School

2012-01-12T11:55:00.000+02:00

Does this look to you, like a child desperate for her mother?
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Ta-Da!

2012-01-09T14:19:00.000+02:00

And there you have it!

1 x splash pool all ready for the cloudy overcast weather predicted for Durban!

If it wasn't for bad luck...(Sing with me...)...

That's that then!

2012-01-07T22:32:00.000+02:00

So the whole point of our beautiful deck (and there's no disputing it's beautiful) was to have a place to put the pool.

Our little pool has a rim that you pump. While the boys were blowing up the rim with some fancy device last night, we discovered a ... leak!!

The leak was met with a patch. The patch was a source of much travel and discussion this morning.

The water was hosed in and...

Leaks!

About 7 patches later we gave up!

We should be collecting the new pool as soon as the shops open!

Bakatcha

2012-01-03T14:17:00.001+02:00

Thanks for all the holiday wishes! Sorry if I didn't send you any personally... I ran out of airtime. Bad excuse... I know... buy hell... with all Christmas spending I'm a bit... short of purse... and since it's going to reboot itself in a day or two, I'm not going to bother topping up.

I have had a wonderful break. Christmas was amazing and restful - what more could you ask for? And New Year's was wonderful too, although it would have been better if Angel Boy had phoned at 10pm to ask if he could sleep at a friends after their party, instead of at 11:45pm!!!!! But hey... At least I got a Happy New Year kiss in from the Hubby. Before I staggered bleary eyed and sober to bed.

Aside from the Bunny doing the sky rocketing temperature thing, all has been good and gentle at home.

We had a birthday party for a friend at her daughter's house on Sunday the 1st, and the dogs scared the poop outta the Bunny. She was then fearful of the kittens. I am now putting my foot down and we're getting a pet. I just haven't worked out what yet. Cats are out because of allergies... I like the idea of a hamster or a bunny rabbit, since I can't afford a real live pooh bear.
Birds are a no-no because you can't cuddle them. I want to cuddle, even if the Bunny (mine, not the pet) doesn't.

Any other idea's out there? No reptiles Mrs X!!!

Christmas Decking

2011-12-26T17:07:00.000+02:00

So today is Christmas day. We opened presents, ate like pigs... again (because we did the feast last night) and watched Braveheart (because nothing screams Christmas like Braveheart).

The parents then went for a walk, so we got stuck into prepping the wood for the deck we're building. Hubby did the deck wood (something that sounds a bit like 'blue') and I painted the pine frame.
This is one of the awesomely amazing things about a hands-on husband and a carpenter for a father-in-law! Stunning home at a fraction of the cost.
Hubby then recalled his spray-gun!!!
This meant I could come inside and blog! He was doing about 10 times the work I was doing with a roller.

Hope your Christmas was as productive as ours.

Zanzibar

2011-12-23T09:27:00.000+02:00

I'm sitting in Zanzibar having breakfast before I embark on The Great Shop.
I L.O.V.E this restaurant! R15 for breakfast (2 eggs, 2 rashers of bacon, toast, coffee). What a winner. It has a Morrocan feel to it and the decor is right up my ally. Did I mention it's only R15? Let me translate that: 1.50 euro's.

Anyway. Zanzibar has not paid me to write this, neither have they offered me freebies, but with such amazing value... How can you not speak about it?!?

Almost lost my bling

2011-12-13T09:16:00.003+02:00

Today I have a meeting at SARS (South African Revenue Service) - well... not just me. Technically it's an open event for all the Practitioners that use the Pinetown office, to air their views and gripes, and for SARS to tell us about new things.

The problem is that it means I'm out The Office seeing Other People. When one sees Other People one has to put a face on. When putting a face on, one has to ensure the outfit goes with the face. Today I look pretty damn good.

Except for one little thing.
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I survived...

2011-12-12T14:04:00.001+02:00

So I survived the weekend, and nothing else broke!
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5 Minute Friday - Colour

2011-12-09T11:06:00.000+02:00

Colour…

Go
My first thought on Today's 5-minute Friday word was, "You spelt it wrong!" and then realised that... Since I am the 'guest' here, perhaps I spell it wrong.
It's amazing how small the world has got. So much so that pronunciation and spelling difference are a daily thing.
However... The word colour is not what I'm supposed to be writing on. Although there's no real set theme is there?

The second thing going through my mind is , "Bugger... I haven't started that blasted painting, net alone finished it! And my Handsome Hubby built me that beautiful easel and everything!"
The colour is a problem, which is why I haven't started it. It needs to be in pastels, and I'm a primary colour person, so this is WAY harder than I actually anticipated it to be.

I have a vague design... Which is a good thing, and at least a step in the right direction. I know how I plan to do it, but getting those colours into my head in a way that will translate beautifully onto canvas is really giving me a headache, so I do what I always do - put it behind the curtain and hope no-one brings the subject up.

Not the smartest way to finish a painting... Definitely not the smartest way to start one!

Stop

See the World as a Nurse

2011-12-08T10:58:00.005+02:00

My best friend does care-work in the UK. Basically she's like a nurse, but didn't do all that hard graft for so many years. Not that she didn't graft - she is often on courses updating her qualifications in this field. She travels all over the UK to different clients and has taken the opportunity to site-see in this way.
Very clever.

While on the Good Old Net, trying to find out exactly what she does (because, seriously...),
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Christmas is Finally Here

2011-12-05T19:01:00.001+02:00

...Because my in-laws are heading to the airport!

Yay! They'll arrive in South Africa at 11:20 tomorrow morning!

I'm so very excited! (How many people can say that about their in-laws?)
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

5 Minute Friday - Tired

2011-12-02T12:48:00.001+02:00

TIRED

Go

It strikes me as absolutely amazing that, as I saw this blog post pop into my email, I thought, "Not now... I'm too tired!"

I really am, and I can't tell you why, other than I've just met my individuals tax deadline and I more than likely have brain drain. It wasn't a particularly difficult deadline, but it takes a lot out of you when you are used to going to bed at 21:00 and land up closing your machine down at 22:45. It's exactly a week later and I'm still trying to catch up.

I've also taken two half days this week, so that may have something to do with it too.
Not used to being at work this long. *insert embarrassed smiley here*

I am so excited, though... My in-laws arrive next week. *Happy Dance*

Full time babysitting!

Although... We tend to all do everything together, so I'm always with my Bunny.
But I guess it's true, what they say - a ... Child shared is a ... Child halved (?) - oh golly ... I hope not! I rather like her whole.
Stop

Awards

2011-12-01T18:28:00.000+02:00

I am blessed out of my socks.

Truly!

A Late 5-Minute Friday (I had deadlines on Friday!!)

2011-11-28T09:54:00.001+02:00

Five Minute Friday - Grow

2011-11-18T11:09:00.001+02:00

On Fridays around these parts we stop, drop, and write.

For fun, for love of the sound of words, for play, for delight, for joy and celebration at the art of communication.

For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.

Won’t you join us?

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

3. Most importantly: leave a comment for the person who linked up before you – encouraging them in their writing!

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:

Grow…

GO

She was a bean.
Then she was a bean with arms and legs. And she used those extensively in her little 'pool' in Mommy's tummy.
Her heartbeat took my breath away, and brought tears to my eyes when she was eight weeks old, hiding in my uterus.
We bonded as she grew inside me. I didn't have to share her then. She was my secret treasure.

She loved the water. Whenever I sat in the bath she'd party on - I'm still surprised she didn't cause waves.
To this day she loves water - will bath for hours. When we put the pool up, she doesn't want to get out.

She didn't hurt me when she was born. In fact I was instructed to feel the contractions that I wasn't feeling (even though the little machine was off the charts) because 'they' couldn't give me an epidural until I was feeling it. Those three contractions I felt were happily surrendered to the anesthetist.

She was my gift from God. She was a decision we made, Daddy and Mommy together - there was no oops here!

She's never been difficult. She's never been antsy. You even have to guess when she's ill because she's so pleasant and friendly and happy that you can only tell when she's suddenly overcome by fever.

Today she is the most delightful little three year old in the world. Always smiling. Always wanting to play with Mommy or Daddy, eagerly offering loves and kisses. Loving her brothers with all her heart.

Daddy's Princess.

Everything pure and gentle and beautiful.

My blessing. My gift from God.

STOP

Bed rest - hahahahaha

2011-11-16T09:02:00.000+02:00

So as I go to bed, the night before last, I start coughing. It's pretty much a guaranteed thing that if the bunny gets ill, I'll follow in her footsteps about a week later.
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Five Minute Friday

2011-11-11T12:43:00.000+02:00

Wow! This is a challenge if ever I came across one. I like to have a topic to write about, and having to just drop and type is enormously daunting for me.
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Being a Mommy is definitely not easy

2011-11-10T15:56:00.001+02:00

I missed, probably, the most important day of my Bunny's schooling career.
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Parenting Blogs are my Life-Line

2011-11-07T12:45:00.001+02:00

Oh, that Blogger.com would bring out an App for Blackberry... onwards we dream. Ho hum. I could really use it because I don't open my laptop on the weekends... so I don't blog on the weekends... and my traffic flow on the weekends is embarrassing.

I have subscribed to a couple of blogs that deal with parenting and guiding your children to adulthood.
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Trick or Treating and a Happy Dance

2011-11-04T15:04:00.000+02:00

The kids in the complex went Trick or Treating on the 1st... it was too cute. Personally I think the adults get more of a kick out of this thank the kids do!

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Back Massages and Sumo Wrestlers

2011-11-02T14:19:00.001+02:00

I treated myself to a back massage today. I have decided that I will do this once a month until the deadlines are over, in the hopes that I don't land up back in physio in February.
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Contentment vs Expectation

2011-10-28T11:48:00.000+02:00

I have to be the luckiest woman in the whole world. To have a husband that I love deeply, children that are adorable (when Angel Boy isn't sulking... tough being a teen), a beautiful home, wonderful in-laws, school across the road, and much more, is so much of a blessing that I can't describe the warmth the feelings give me.
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Mind Reading - how to avoid it

2011-10-25T10:36:00.001+02:00

YAY! God is smiling on us again... or continues to... Although I could be speaking out of turn, as we haven't received confirmation on anything as yet.
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Snotty noses, and a SITS Reference

2011-10-21T12:29:00.002+02:00

I'm sleep deprived, and have gone partially mad, due to sick babies (one). Last night was the first night I wasn't kept awake by weeny coughing from the baby room.
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Aptitude Tests

2011-10-18T12:24:00.001+02:00

Now that we've got over the shock of Angel Boy's Nascar stunt we have settled down to more normal events.
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Pink slips and Accidents

2011-10-17T14:35:00.000+02:00

Handsome Hubby threw something out there last night. He said, "Imagine waking up tomorrow morning without a job, and bills coming in."
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Interview with Anna Deskins - Children's Author

2011-10-14T07:00:00.000+02:00

Well today I have something really awesome! I met a woman a couple of months ago who really does it all - runs a home, runs around after her children, runs a business and travels between two cities, and still manages to whip up a children's story before bedtime (okay... maybe not that quickly, but hell... how many of us barely make it through points one and two in that list?).
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Dogs and Rabbits

2011-10-13T13:58:00.002+02:00

Today we have a really short post.

All I'm doing really, is letting you know that tomorrow I'll be holding an interview with a talented Mom (not that we aren't all talented... because we are!!!).
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2011-10-12T09:19:00.001+02:00

I have finally done it. I have reorganised my Housekeeping Schedule to accommodate three days a week instead of every day.
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Proud Parent

2011-10-11T12:34:00.001+02:00

I have to admit I have the most beautiful little girl in the whole wide world. She is polite, happy, friendly and loving. She doesn't get easily upset or hurt (emotionally, that is... she has as many bruises as I had at that age - something to do with so much to play with, and not enough space to move around in to get to the stuff to play with).
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Happy Anniversary Handsome Hubby

2011-10-10T15:48:00.000+02:00

Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Today I have been married to the most amazing man for six years.
Not long, I know. And God engineered the whole thing.
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Effective Self-Management and Televisions

2011-10-06T15:45:00.004+02:00

My problem is that I'm up to date...
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'Reading' is frustrating

2011-10-04T13:51:00.000+02:00

It's remarkable, the amount of work I get done if I hide behind my earphones. I think it's because everyone feels I'm unapproachable... which would be correct.
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Routine and Housekeeping

2011-09-28T16:04:00.000+02:00

My Bunny and I had a 'girls night' last night. Angel Boy had gone to his mom because they're going away for a holiday, and Handsome Hubby was working.
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Weekend

2011-09-26T12:48:00.000+02:00

Not Just Cute is a blog I read quite excitedly as generally she has really interesting discussions and suggested activities for pre-schoolers. Her post today really hit home for me.
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I Gave Up

2011-09-21T14:12:00.002+02:00

I finally went to the doctor this morning. Apparently I'm all inflamed and infected.
Well now... Really?
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Reading with Ears

2011-09-20T15:51:00.001+02:00

So today my throat feels like someone has got inside there, and is stabbing me every time I swallow.
Woe is me! Dagnamit!

That aside (because who gives a rats arse anyway) I have been terribly productive today - again... I am thinking there may be something in the water... but it is a good feeling. I have been feeling a little overwhelmed by the amount of work I have had to do, but my faithful staff chipped in nicely and I managed to klap it upside the head, and now I am officially up to date and running smoothly again.
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MYM starts again...

2011-09-19T20:05:00.000+02:00

So I get up early this morning to put the bread on and do some bible reading. My day sort of went south from there. I say "sort of" because while all sorts of things were thrown at me (no yoghurt for Bunny's lunch; a meeting I'd completely forgotten; one of my clerks being pregnant, etc), I did not lose my sense of humour! Ok... I knew about the clerk, but her sense of humour is waning with every trip to the bathroom, so she gets included.

Basically there's something refreshing about starting your day with the Lord, even if it is only sitting together because you cannot get your eyes open to read your Bible.

We are back on the MYM routine. I need a ten minute yoga routine. Any out there?? I tried to download one to my phone, but the blasted thing keeps hanging and I hate that, so I haven't got past the first 30 seconds. Basically I've yet to exercise!

The last one I attempted was Kat's 10 minute rescue workout (sit ups, push ups, squats and lunges) - she darn near killed me with that!! It was while I was wallowing in self pity over broken arms (push ups) that I discovered that warming up before your exercise is not huddling under the blanket with your coffee!
Seriously?

Tomorrow is day two. 05:05 again. One hopes that I can be more focused - less bread, more exercise.

And on a high note, I do believe the Bunny is going to be a doctor... Or maybe a vet... Or the person that put Frankenstein together - do you see the look in her eyes?

Rugby and Reading

2011-09-17T09:32:00.000+02:00

Right! The Rugger is on.
We're playing Fiji.
What a game - the Boks are really making us proud. However, Fiji are like a pack of wolves. As soon as we start going down they're there en mass. Remarkable how quickly their support structure gets there!

I 'read' an amazing book recently, although the author needs some serious prayer for his personal beliefs. It is called The Ruby in the Smoke, written by Phillip Pullman. The person reading it was brilliant!
If you enjoy a good Mystery, this one's for you! Its the first in a set of 4 (originally I thought it was 3).

My plans for this weekend are as follows: light cleaning, a really fantastic game of Rugby, and a hectic schedule of doing nothing!!!
I may even visit my mother later!

Decor

2011-09-12T18:36:00.001+02:00

Have you noticed how easy it is to change the mood of a room ('space' dahling) with a change of accessories?

For example: I have a lounge suite that has cushions in the same fabric as the couch. Just changing the cushions has taken the living room from a pleasant family room, to one that could comfortably pass for the Formal Sitting Room... Ok... Maybe a formal family room, but the point is... Accessories make a whopper of a difference.

Another thing that is amazing is that if you pick up those wretched yellow flowers off the grass, the garden actually looks well maintained! For all of ten minutes. Damn tree isn't even in my property!

Anyway... Slowly, one item at a time, we're making our home into something beautiful. People say you shouldn't do this with babies around, but I say, 'They're always around, and I want to enjoy my home now!'
It's like hiding the crystal, china and silver. Why would you do that?

Housekeeping

2011-09-06T15:50:00.000+02:00

I read a blog by another person I ~~stalk occasionally~~ read avidly, Keri at One Mama's Daily Drama had posted about her re-newed housekeeping enthusiasm.

This made me realise I may be a little too thorough (Read: OCD) myself... although you'd never think so looking at my dining room table - it's coated with stuff - computers, baskets of papers that I need to get to, car parts that Handsome Hubby needs to REMOVE, etc. However, my housekeeping schedule for my helper is appears to be as ~~OCD~~ thorough as you get.
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Writing your feelings

2011-09-01T14:05:00.001+02:00

A while back a ~~person I blog-stalk~~ friend of mine posted about writing on her blog.

It made me realise that blogging isn't just a way to meet new people and find people with like-minds, but also a way to relieve you of your anxieties. Of which I have many.
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Ellusive Posts

2011-08-25T15:03:00.001+02:00

I wrote a long post last night, all about the Bunny and I, how kitchen appliances make life sooo much easier, and with such a cute picture of the Bunny staring unblinking at the TV...And it disappeared!
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I have to get something off my chest!

2011-08-15T09:22:00.002+02:00

I have been watching the 2011 South African Idols, vaguely. Handsome Hubby's been watching and I've been forced to pay attention because it's on. To be honest it doesn't really interest me.
HOWEVER... Some of the guys are okay. But...
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2011-08-02T13:38:00.000+02:00

All I can say is... sport was bitter sweet this past weekend. We got ourselves handed back to ourselves by the All Blacks... Not wonderful.
Then... apparently the Sharks were awesometastic (didn't watch because I was too wounded as a Springbok) but the saving grace came from Vettel NOT winning the GP!!
Yay. It was a very good GP too... lots of interesting and edge-of-your-seat overtaking manoeuvres.

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Furthering My Education - alone....

2011-07-28T16:01:00.000+02:00

It is official! I've finally done it!
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Weekend Splendour

2011-07-25T11:04:00.000+02:00

This weekend was wonderful... except for the fact that the Bunny's eye doesn't look all that great, and handsome hubby had to work. But aside from that...

Saturday was spent sourcing vegetables to pot (Yes! I said pot! Don't judge me!).

We chose carrots (because that's what you choose when you're three, even though you refuse to eat them), and cherry tomatoes (because if my aunt can, so can I), spinach (duh), cauliflour, broccoli, and our own dried butternut seeds! We made a Farm In Pots. A Farm is the only place that has vegetables, therefore... we made A Farm In Pots!
Also... I have a dodgy track record with plants, so pots it is, rather than digging up a garden just to kill some seeds! We did pray over the carrots though, so hopefully those take.

We get to water our farm every day until they sprout... And then I have no idea what the heck to do!

Any words of wisdom out there?

International Tax Transactions

2011-07-21T15:10:00.000+02:00

Dropped by a seminar on the above, held by SAIT with Di Seccombe as the lecturer.
WOW!!!

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AARRGGHHHH

2011-07-18T09:29:00.001+02:00

I had to change the title of my blog, because there are some severely dodgy Russians out there that think a working mommy is ... um... THAT kind of working Mommy. I AIN'T!!! Backoffy'all! Go get a wife!
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My Bunny

2011-07-16T09:34:00.001+02:00

My Bunny is my most treasured possession - not that she's a possession! Gift! Better word!

To see her all puffy-eyed breaks my heart! (And you just have to ignore how Morning I look!) I want to take the injury away from her. I don't mind having it instead! I can handle it. The bunny is handling it very well, mind you. Much better than me, that's for certain.

Injuries

2011-07-14T14:25:00.000+02:00

I was completely flattened yesterday.

I've always thought I'd be one of those really sorted and organised mom's when the catastrophe hits, and I was, kind of, but when the dust settled I went to sleep because I Just! Couldn't! Anymore!

The Bunny couldn't have been at school for more than 15 minutes when I get a call from them.

School: Bunny's had a fall.
Me: Is it bad?
School: No, but she may need stitches.
Me: (How is that not bad???) I'll be there now.

I thank Jesus that I was working from home that morning!

When I got to the school her eyebrow was covered with gauze and a plaster, so the wound was hidden from me. There wasn't much blood, so I assumed that the wound couldn't be that bad. We went off to the hospital to have it looked at.

Well!

It. Was. Huge. And. Down. To. The. Bone!

But what stunned me more than the grand canyon on my daughters forehead, was the fact that there was hardly any blood. Just odd. However, the doc decided that he would not traumatise the Bunny by giving stitches, so they used glue instead. She did fine until he had to push the wound closed. Poor thing was sore! She was already swelling slightly so it hurt, and there was nothing I could do. Which made my knees weak so I kinda clung to the gurney and Bunny's head so that I didn't sit on the floor.

This has to be my very first I-Can't-Fix-This moment and I don't want to go there again! Ever!

She's off school today because her little face is swollen and I just would rather she wasn't around little ~~brats~~ ~~gremlins~~ children that feel the need to ~~push and shove so that we fall face down into tiled benches and split our eyebrows open~~ play boisterously.

So what was your first I-Can't-Fix-This moment with your children?

Pool & Glasses

2011-07-08T13:50:00.001+02:00

Pic Credit: Harvil 40-Inch Table Top Pool Table

When we had Handsome Hubby's birthday party (ooh... sounds fun... but it was just a braai (bbq) and some games of pool), I was encouraged to play some pool with the big guns.

The problem I experienced was exasperated by the fact that I had a reputation at one time. I used to play pretty good pool.
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Dinner at My House

2011-07-06T09:13:00.003+02:00

Curried Vegetable Stew!

So far in my quest for all things vegetarian I have found a whole two (yes! 2!) recipes that I like. I've been at this for about a month! Every day!
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How Wasteful Was Our Older Generation?

2011-07-05T09:36:00.000+02:00

Morning All,

This was far too good to not share with everyone. I am 100% behind this email, and whomever wrote it, good on you!!!

HOW WASTEFUL WAS OUR OLDER GENERATION?

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized to him and explained: "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded: "That's our problem today. The former generation did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store.

The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilised and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But they didn't have the green thing back in that customer's day.

In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.

But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby's nappies because they didn't have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up 240 volts - wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that old lady is right; they didn't have the green thing back in her day.

Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of the Scotland. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. They used a push lawn mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right; they didn't have the green thing back then.

They drank from a glass tumbler when they were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But they didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the tram or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus instead of turning their mothers and fathers into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn't need a computerised gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks were just because they didn't have the green thing back then?

Now if that doesn't say it exactly like it is... what does?

Fluey again... like... seriously!? You got nothing else to do but plague me with Flu???

2011-07-04T11:48:00.000+02:00

I am soo groggy and have so much to do I could just sit in a corner and cry. Well... bemoan my fate... but I'd need an audience, and I couldn't face people right now.

I was the charming perky one on Saturday, all Sunshine and Happiness when everyone else was all ImaSikanDying, and now it's me. ImaSikanDying! Well... not really... but feeling decidedly sorry for myself - and that counts BIG.

At least the Bunny was cheerful - but then she's always cheerful, so that helps - makes my day a little bit better. On Friday I asked Hubby how he was doing. He said he had a hangover... odd... he wasn't drinking... we narrowed it down to possible sinus since Bunny was a bit off for the week previous, and had been kept away from others for the whole week because of it. On Saturday he was toast. Off to the doc we go, hei ho... and the Bunny hadn't come right, even with all my home remedies.... Ghah! So off to the doc for her too. And yesterday I Hot toddy'd myself, and watched the tennis. Today I would love to hot toddy myself and sleep. Lots. For a Good Long While.

That aside, we sanded down the outside bench and revarnished it. Looks lovely. All shiny and bright and new-like. We had friends over on Saturday (flu aside) and that was pleasant, except my fries didn't turn out so great. BUT, in my defense, that's because they were meant to be potato salad, and I got told half way through the cooking process to fry them rather...

I'm thinking butterflies. In a field. Flitting about and having a ball and not feeling fluey or foggy at all... me, that is, not the butterflies. Not flitting, that's the butterflies. Me not feeling foggy or fluey... butterflies flitting and having a ball.

Urgh... I'm going to put my head on my desk and whisper sweet nothings to my laptop from up close and personal.

PS. We heard a friend of ours is in hospital with heart issues, so if any of you praying people out there wouldn't mind dropping a prayer for our friend, that would be awesome.

Bread-makers and Puzzles

2011-07-01T12:28:00.000+02:00

We went to the Durban House and Garden show last night.
The Bunny went to Granny. The Bunny LOVES going to Granny. We love getting out every now and then, so it was a win all round.

At the Show we saw Jacuzzis because our friends want one. And we looked at Caravan's because I've always wanted one, however they cost the same as a medium larney car, so that was the end of that. Although... the one with the bathroom wasn't awful.

Then... we tried to upgrade our bread maker... the numb-nuts didn't have the one we wanted to upgrade to, so... sorry for you... you lost a sale! And I got home and huggled my little ~~inferior~~ bread maker because she has served me well over this last two/three month period. Filled her up with all her ingredients. Went to bed. Woke up to the lovely waft of home-made bread. She is a cherished little bread maker.

I also bought the Bunny some puzzles - she loves puzzles! I loved easy puzzles. Don't particularly find the serenity that apparently comes from hunting unsuccessfully for a piece of picture the size of my pinky-nail to squish into a space the size of my pinky nail bed. However, anything for the Bunny. Well... this morning we made the puzzle several times before I realised I was running late. I realised this because the Nanny arrived to take over and I was still in my gown and slippers.

Then Handsome Hubby's car didn't start so I flew upstairs, brushed the teeth, looked at the hair, put shoes on that vaguely co-ordinated with my clothes and flew back out again. Kissing Bunny as I went, who then collapsed in howls because I'm keeping her off school until she's better (snotty nose again) and she "waahhaannttssss to gooooo toooo schohoohooollll!" (Did I mention that Handsome Hubby changed his mind about buying the Alfa??? Bet he regrets that decision today!)

I made it to work a minute late. Not too shabby actually, since I had to go into Durban from Westville and then fly back out to Kloof in half an hour.

Anyway... the day has been progressing successfully until I tried to lodge a VDP application at SARS... it took an hour to fill the stupid form in and then I saved it. SARS decided that there was a glitch and they couldn't save it. I now have to repeat my efforts. GRRRRR. And it's not like I was being daft and didn't save my work - SARS wouldn't save my work!

We soldier on regardless! Avon has still not removed me as a Team Leader. Urgh... I am inundated with panicky queries because I told my reps I'm leaving. You'd think that it would be enough hint for them to contact someone else, rather than me... but nOOOOO.... So I'm exactly where I was before. So much for that.

I'm so looking forward to this weekend. I may even finish weeding the garden. I'm definitely going to buy some garden planters to see if I can grow some veggies with the Bunny - hopefully she'll be a positive influence and I don't forget to water them.

So how are you doing?

2011-06-27T13:57:00.001+02:00

The Bunny is now "three fingers"! I'm so proud. Not only because she made it this far with me as a mother, but because she can tell you how many fingers she is.

We had a very quiet tea at home for her yesterday. Handsome Hubby was working so we woke the Bunny up at 6:30 to give her presents - she got blocks! Loves those! And a colouring in book and a reading book (if it doesn't start "once upon a time long long ago" then it's not a story!). Then Hubby went to work and at 10:30 Granny arrived with dinosaurs (a hit, if you don't mind...), a pretty bag dangly thingumy-bob and bubble fun (you dip it into bubble stuff and push a button and it blows the bubbles for you - super cool). Shortly thereafter Nanna arrived (and the cake had only just come out the oven!) with puzzles, a colouring in book and some ~~kokies~~ ~~cokies~~ ~~kokkies~~ felt-tipped colouring pens. I assembled the cake, iced it and stuck her '3' candle in the top and lit it. Off I went. We sang and she blew out the candle on the third bar.

I can understand the thinking... "We're here to eat cake, not sing about it."

I took a couple of photo's, but with my phone, so you can't see them. Today, however, is a different story. I may have mentioned my genius plan to have a party at school so I wouldn't have to deal with countless kids and parents.... or I mentioned it to anyone who would listen... which meant I had an audience and forgot to mention it here. I had a genius plan! To have the party at school! Thankfully they were very accommodating. So I got pictures of Bunny blowing out candles (one) and eating sweets.

The reason I couldn't take a picture of the candle blowing event yesterday is two fold - firstly there are only so many hands on a mother... no matter WHAT we tell our children... (I should re-phrase - "a mother has only so many hands"... So many things could go wrong with that first version) and she blew it out as I put it on the table.

Here's a glimpse of my Bunny's third birthday party - she's my precious child. And... school even bought her a present - an AWESOMETASTIC warm fuzzy jersey-jacket.

(and the stripy one)

And there you have it.

(My only gripe - you can't manoeuvre these pictures to where you want them to go. Damn things won't do what I want them to do!)

So what do you do for parties to get out of the whole 'entertain the parents' thing?

Lunch Break post... to whine and winge... why else would a person blog???

2011-06-23T14:03:00.001+02:00

I snuck into the Blogger Challenge, and to my delight, nothing! We haven't been updated for the day yet... whoop... this means I can almost pretend I have a day off.

Dr Mom is also out, it appears, as no one wants advice... or... Perhaps they actually know Dr Mom and have decided asking advice is probably not the best idea...

The Bunny turns 3 on Sunday.

3!

T.H.R.E.E.

She was teeny tiny.

And now she's 3.

And a big 3 too. She isn't yet three and is already wearing size 3 - 4. She outgrew size 2 - 3 at around the half-way mark. Definitely her father's daughter. He's a big bear of a man, and I love him (just shouting that out there)! The bunny won't be a bear of a woman! She's just really tall.
Then again... Tweedle-O1 is about 6'2" already. Handsome Hubby is 6' and Tweedle-D is fast catching up. We think he may even be taller than Tweedle-O1 by the end of it all. Poor Bunny doesn't stand a chance. Although... I'm 5'5", so you never know... she may get lucky.

Then again... the stupid BB conversion app says I'm actually 5'4"! How rude!

I am very excited about getting my Torch. I can't wait. I have to though. Which is a bit sucky, but what can you do?
I don't HAVE to... but I'm buggered if I'm paying what they want for the phone currently, so I have to wait, until such time as the price is more acceptable. This could be a bit further in the future though. Which is rotten because I've found a buyer for this one.

Another thing that's terribly interesting is this silly Whatsapp application. And I haven't been asked to extol the virtues of the application. Well... not by the manufacturer...
What's super cool is it works off your contact list. Anyone in your contact list who has downloaded the application is available to chat to, and if you have a BB it's free (provided you have the BIS thing too... duh!). Which means you have access to more people than you have when you're limited to your BBM contacts. I don't know enough people with Blackberry's, but I know a lot of people with smart phones who have downloaded the whatsapp app. Makes life a whole lot cheaper.

And now for the big news.
I have decided that I am going to drop the Sales Management side of Avon.
I am going to just concentrate on my personal sales. I am honestly finding it to be such a drag. I can't motivate anyone to do what they're supposed to do, and it's terribly frustrating.
I'm neglecting my clients in favour of my sales team and they (the team) are not performing adequately enough to warrant it. Aside from that... it's time consuming. I don't want time consuming thanks.

We're about to run headlong into work deadlines and I just won't have time to molly coddle a bunch of ladies who really couldn't give a damn. If they don't sell, or pay their accounts, I don't earn any money off them. I was earning more in sales comm before I started this team, than I am currently. How daft is that? I think that a SAHM has a much better chance of getting something like this running and running well. I just cannot find the time.

The product sells itself so I basically just collect orders on my personal sales, so that's super easy, but to have to chase staff because they don't pay is just demoralising. It's bad enough having to chase clients who don't pay! I've still got two stretch mark creams in my car from a woman that hasn't paid up. And here at Avon we don't deliver the product if you don't have the cash. This doesn't mean that we don't order it. And we don't do returns unless it's a faulty product. This means I have to foot the bill, and then try and find someone who wants to pay for it in order to get rid of the stock.

PS These Avon creams WORK!! I actually cannot stress enough how fantastic this product is! Seriously.
No jokes!

Anyway... enough drivel about whiny whiny crap...

I am almost finished my work for the day... this is bad... I still have some day left.
What I like about this place is you allocate your time - like time sheets... well... it is time sheets... so there's a sense of acheivement at the end of the day when you look at your diary, but when day outweights work... issues. And since I also do billing I'm able to see where the time sheets are realistic and where they're a load of hog wash set up to cover personal time. I, therefore, have to limit my personal time to lunch and tea. Because if I'm looking... so are the BigWigs.

Yep... You guessed it... Lunch is almost up.

Happy reading and writing and sharing.
I am happy to say I've really been blessed by the blogging community. Especially those at Inspired To Action. Thank you ladies for all your support... even if it is only laughing at my one lonely, excruciating push up!

I’m sharing my awesome with Momma Made It Look Easy and you can too.

2011-06-22T14:21:00.000+02:00

Yesterday on the Blogger Challenge I was told to find a Blog Buddy... What exactly is that?
It sounds rather mean. Much like find-someone-who-is-prepared-to-tear-your-blog-to-shreds-under-the-guise-of-making-it-better... To have someone else come and criticize my writing, when I'm just a little fledgling blogger, does not sound All That to me.

Today... they want me to "Identify a reader's problem"... now... if that means I need to lend an ear because you've got issues then I need to brush up on my Psych skills (of which I have none, so be warned - but I'm HUGELY opinionated, so all should go well.). If, on the other hand, it is Readers with Issues with My Blog... well if you neglect to leave a comment, don't expect to be accommodated.

Having read it now (because often I just jump right in there without any facts, or with partial information)... it appears you need to give me problems to work through, or advise on... Good luck with that! And... here's the fun part... I need to research it to give you something informative and credible in return.

Who wants nonsense fed to them anyway? I certainly don't. The problem though... is... I generally take my queries to an expert... and then expect and expert opinion. I am not an expert... on anything... other than Tax. So... Got a tax question (and bare in mind that I'll be advising from a South African standpoint...)?

Your part of my Challenge:
Gimme something to work with here...
It doesn't have to be tax... ask me a question and I'll see if I can answer it. I may even look something up so that my opinion isn't all dug up from the squelchy bits of my brain.

Seriously...

And nothing obscure or airy-fairy. I don't want to advise on the choice of colour of your next set of curtains.

Blogging challenge aside, Tweedle-D is almost finished exams. He's half way through, in fact.

He seems confident.

I hope it is justified.

He didn't put nearly as much work into these ones as he did in the first term, so I have my doubts, but we can be hopeful none the less.

The Bunny has been accepted into our choice of pre-school. I now just have to warn Nanny that she'll be doing some hiking from next year. Poor thing. The Bunny has no issue walking 1km (we discovered when she took us for a walk around the block), but I'm not sure about 1.3kms. And poor Nanny will have to walk 2.6kms by the time she gets home. She's not much older than me, so she can do it, but it will take quite a whack out her day. I suppose I could give her the option of walking every day or not walking and cutting back on working days, because I cannot afford both Nanny and school after-care. While I was at the Pre-School trying to pay the admission fee (who in their right mind doesn't have a credit card machine when they're a school??) I saw a pamphlet for one of the other schools we've been looking into.

The only problem is that Bunny would have to go to after care, which is why I've chosen the one I've chosen - I would prefer her to be home from lunch time. The other one takes kids from Pre-School right through to Grade 7, and they're a little Christian concern, which is full of the Awesome... but the boys went to Atholl, and most kids at Saturn (where I've just paid the admission fee) go straight through to Atholl... so... dilemma!
From Grade 1 the Bunny will be able to take the taxi home. It's just the next three years until then that are going to be a bother, but if Nanny is prepared to walk... the bother will not be a bother... Well... depending on how you see 2.6kms exersize every day.

Do not forget to post a comment with your 'concern' so I can 'advise'. Should be interesting to see what responses I get.

Planning a Blog Post by drawing a picture

2011-06-15T14:18:00.000+02:00

Day 11 - Blogger Challenge - Plan 10 Blog Posts

Today we were told to plan ten Blog Post ideas. I have none. Then they lead us to this nifty place that shows you how to do online mind maps - Happy Happy!! I love mind maps. I study with them.

I don't believe they're particularly useful for anything else, since I've never used them for anything else, but hey... you never know... maybe they will make me get some idea's for blog posts... One can hope, anyway.

Here is my online mind map:

So... what do you think?

Pretty nifty. Pretty Pretty too actually.

I have never really planned a blog - I just regurgitate whats in my head at the time, so this is bound to be interesting, if nothing else.

From this little picture up there I am able to see that I have a fair amount of information available at a glance. The bunny is always doing interesting things and saying things that make me want to cuddle/huggle her. Hubby is just straight awesometastic, so I generally stare off in the distance with a stupid grin on my face... which does not lead to awesometastic blogs, but I feel great, and sometimes that's more important.

Tweedle-D generally gets the short end of the stick... He's pretty good at his sports, when he doesn't have knee injuries, so I could always discuss more about him and less about the Crazy.

I hardly ever discuss work. I only gripe about SARS. And so I should... sometimes they can be real palouka's (SP????). So I suppose there's a whole avenue of untapped info lying in wait for me there too.

I'm pretty sure I could get ten blogs out of that little picture, and it literally took me about 3 minutes to draw up. The other half an hour was trying to figure out how to get the little bubbles on the page... Way to go with instructions there Bubbl.Us.

I hope you get a chance to try out this mind mapping thing on the web... Way Cool!!

Monitoring...

2011-06-13T13:00:00.001+02:00

?

Seriously?!

I did that little check thingy where you see who's linking to your site... NOTHING.
I did a check to see who's stalking me personally... NOTHING.

Clearly I'm doing something wrong. However... I have officially proved that I did the Blogger Challenge for today, and since Friday was day 8 I have no idea what today is... but I did the challenge. And no-one ~~wants~~ ~~stalks~~ ~~reads~~ links to my blog.

I had a fantastic weekend, thank you. Hubby's birthday went off splendidly, and my Portuguese Pudding Did Not Flop!! Happy am I.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend too... now we just have to get Hubby's car. I wanted it for his birthday, but that didn't pan out... so we're hoping to get it for the long weekend coming up.

Ours will be black though... yummy ... and have the sharper nose related to releases after 2005.

Blogger Challenge...

2011-06-10T09:01:00.000+02:00

As I was typing the title of the blog I thought, "well that just says it all, now doesn't it!"
Whenever I'm faced with a challenge I ... go to sleep.
Well... not really... I work my butt off to meet it and then I go to sleep.

However... I started this blogging challeng to allow me to see new ways to make my blog interesting (because the old ways... well... weren't). I then lost the challenge. Not the desire. Not the urge. The actual challenge. The place you go to find out what to do each day ... that bit. Thankfully I got a little email reminder of what was up... turns out we're on day 8! DAY EIGHT!!!

I now have the delightful challenge (there it is again) of making six become one! Move over Muscateers!

Firstly I'm supposed to have promoted a blog post... of my own... Are there any out there that people want to reread? For this challenge I have shot back to my Stats page and see what people read the most. Turns out it's this one titled I Have Not... Personally I think it's just because it has a nice catchy title and not because it's full of the Amazing Read.

We were then instructed to Analyse a Blog in our Niche - well I had to look up Niche quickly... which wasn't fair really because I clearly don't have one, now that I know what it is.

I don't have a particular thing I write about, unlike the women below:
Dear Lissy is AMAZING because she is just AMAZING and so useful!!! She's all about how to Make It Happen and Make It Work. Move over Martha Stewart.
Aunt Becky is just full of the awesome. She's soo funny... I hope she means to be... or I'm a real cow because I laugh til tears stream down my face. Some days I cringe... you'll have to look to see what I mean. But she's real.. and I want to be real too.
And then there's the Mama Bird Diaries. I love her family. Never met them, but I just love how she sees them. The fact that you can find the humour in everyday things, and make them appealing to others is what gets me about her blog.

I hope you enjoy reading them from the links here. I'd appreciate you leaving them a comment letting them know you got there from here.

I was then instructed to email a Reader - that's easy... I email my sister everyday, so that one was covered even before it happened.

We got 27 Must Read Tips and Tutorial next. Since I don't have the book... I missed this one. Guilty... I know. Back off.

Then I had to write a Link Post... hehehehe... I think I did that just now - have a peek at the links above.

And then we were told to interlink an old post... of which I have none. Blah... okay I do, but I've only been blogging a couple of months (crikey it's almost a year now!), so unless I find someone elses old post... you'll just have to deal with todays... or yesterdays... or the very shocking first post I ever wrote.

I'm now officially up to date. And I've found the blog forum, so I will hopefully remain up to date. But it is me we're talking about after all...

Choices

2011-06-08T08:58:00.000+02:00

I was reading a post by Kat from Inspired to Action and it got me thinking. She was saying that she has always gone on about how she isn't a writer she's a runner... but in reality she wasn't a runner until she started training for it. So she's now choosing her words and choosing her approach. It made me think about how I've changed in the last couple of weeks, because of choices.

I have decided to be a house-wife!

I work full time, so I have the housekeeper, which means I cheat a bit... quite a lot actually, but... I now (thanks to the Maximise your Mornings challenge in Inspired to Action) have a weekly plan where I make sure I know what's for dinner every night and on Mondays I buy all the ingredients so I don't have to think straight after work. I bake bread every night (machine... I don't want to kill my family) so that there's fresh bread every morning for lunches. I chose to make sure the house is tidy before I go to bed so that when I wake up it doesn't terrify me, and I can get into my bible instead of cleaning the kitchen.
My whole life I've had the attitude of I don't Cook, Clean or Knit - if you want that get a mother!

Well.. I'm a mother.

And I have the most amazing Husband! And he deserves fresh bread every day; he deserves a healthy meal every night that he didn't cook; he deserves a nice clean kitchen and living room when he wakes up in the morning.

But most of all, I deserve all the free time that comes with doing the little things - who'da thought you would have free time by working harder?! Didn't make any sense before I started doing it, but now I'm noticing the change. I actually have time to sit in front of my computer in the evenings without encroaching on cooking or family time.

I am discovering along the way, that I like being organised! (Who knew?!)

I like knowing that on Monday we having X for dinner, Tuesday is Y, Wednesday is Z, etc. I also like knowing that all the ingredients are staring at me from the fridge and I don't have to rush out to get anything at the last minute - the joys of shopping list apps on your phone. I plan the menu on Sunday for the week, and my life is soo much easier.

The whole point to this monologue is that it was a choice I made. Born of necessity, but a choice none the less. I have chosen to be a mother, so I need to act accordingly; I have chosen to be a wife, and need to act accordingly; I have chosen to love my family and the best way I can do that is to provide a welcoming home with plenty of healthy comfort food.

Clearly I live in South Africa - We're all about food here!

So what life altering changes have you made? My choices may not seem life-altering, but if you knew me you'd understand!!!

Winning Day

2011-06-07T19:58:00.002+02:00

Well today has been a shocker! Seriously... something out there is out to get me! First the Nanny didn't arrive, and I saw a missed call on my trusty BB, but... and here's the cracker... I couldn't access it. Neither could I access my emails, or my phone book or my text messages. It took a while for me to realise that my alarm didn't go off because my phone was... on holiday. Which ultimately means I couldn't get hacked off that the Nanny wasn't here because she may, just possibly, have tried to contact me to tell me why! Of course the number I have for her, on paper, is long outdated, so I couldn't even get her using the land line.

I eventually get hold of her from work, and her baby is sick... which means mine is neglected... I'm a cow! I know! Blagh.

Anyway, she swears she'll be at the house by 10:30 and will fetch the Bunny from School, so I shoot home to open the house, because Duh(!), and then hightail it to the Mall to drop my not so trusty BB off for repairs, and floor it back to work because they're going to string me up if I don't get my life sorted out shortly. I left the house at 10:25 and still no Nanny!... Hmmm.... The last time she swore she'd be there at 10:30 she never arrived at all and claimed there was no transport after 9am in the morning.

Now I have no phone and am unable to contact the Nanny because she's not answering her phone now - I have the correct number at work, so at least there was one Up there.
I have to ask if the bosses wouldn't mind me working from home in the afternoon as I am not sure if the Nanny will actually get there, and then the Bunny is Nanny-free, which is not the bet way to have a Bunny after school. They say yes. (Best company to work for! I swear!)
I shoot back to the Mall to get my phone, which is supposed to be working... HA! That took another 45 minutes, but at least I had a phone when I left - apparently BB needs a software reboot every now and then - something to do with an Application I'd downloaded! Seriously!?
Anyway... I phone the school in a panic cause now I'm late. They say, Yes, the Nanny did indeed collect the Bunny, but the Bunny was howling when she left. Winner!
I get home and set up because, seriously... I'm NOT traipsing all the way back to work with all the work I hauled out of there in the first place. I said I'd do it at home so I'm doing it at home!

And then Skype... the method of communication with the office when I'm not in it... spends the afternoon swearing at me.

The upside is that my daughter was delighted to see me when she woke up after her nap, and that makes the world a better place.

Now, if I could just get out of having to do my Board year in order to qualify as an Accounting Officer, life would be pretty much perfect.

Admin Day

2011-06-06T11:53:00.000+02:00

I have a new follower! I am dancing like Snoopy and throwing streamers and flowers everywhere!
(And I have just given away my age)

Being new to blogging means that every comment and every follower means I'm There! I've Made It! I'm Big Time Baby! Ok... so it means... Whoops... someone accidentally tripped and landed up on my page, and was nice enough to apologise.

When I first started blogging I had visions of ranting all over the web about how frustrating the Crazy was, and that would some how make me feel better, vindicated almost. I've since found that I'm not really a ranter... to that extent anyway... I can rant! About important things! Like how the hell did the price of bread flour go up by that much In One Month? Seriously... they saw me coming!

I also don't want my Bunny to read this one day and think... Yow... Mom's a drag! Coz that would not be cool. Then again... saying "cool" will probably not be cool either.

My tea's cold - not that you care... I'm just putting it out there.

Anyway... now that I have a following (Dance Dance Hop Hop Flail) I'm going to have to try and be interesting... more useful to my fellow blogger.

Which immediately leads to Bloggers Block *rolls eyes*.

So I will share with you my very first Official Admin Day.

So far I have sketched out how my week will go at the office... and by the looks of it, it shan't be going terribly far. BUT... it does allow me a bit of an idea on how I plan to run things here for the next couple of days. I feel better with lists for some reason. You can cross out, tick, scratch in a different colour all over the item you were meant to handle and didn't... (stress relief). Additionally you can even use it to see what you've achieved for the day.

My problem is:

lists get lost (statement, not instruction)
lists get overlooked
lists glare at me, knowingly

So while lists are an awesome way of ~~wasting time~~ planning, I achieve nothing with them.
I have found I work best under pressure. Deadlines - Love them! So how is this going to affect my Admin Day? Adversely, it seems.

I am now off to make another list... not sure about what though, but today is ADMIN DAY and I will ADMIN all day, even if it kills me!

Brown Bread hates me

2011-06-05T20:46:00.000+02:00

I swore to myself that as soon as I'd finished writing exams (exam... really) that I would dedicate myself to my blog. Clearly I'm still working on that.

Instead I bought a bread machine - as mentioned previously. I have an almost unnatural affection for my bread machine. I discovered Herb Bread... the world is my oyster. Except... and this bugs me terribly, brown bread hates me. It either rises so high it gets stuck on the top of the machine, and then collapses, or it collapses... White is wonderful, raisin bread is amazing, and now Herb Bread gets the pride of place... but Brown bread hates me. And that bugs me. I have never been able to handle things hating me, especially things that aren't allowed a say in the matter! I'm going to have to find a wine bread recipe, or something, so that I can at least drown my sorrows with the fruits of my labour.

Work again tomorrow. I have decided to make Monday's my Admin Day! We'll see how long it lasts.
I hope it's been a good weekend for all. Good night.

5 Things I am Most Grateful for

2011-06-02T16:07:00.000+02:00

1. Every minute with my family
I have been blessed with a very easy baby, a wonderful provider, friend and lover, and step children that any person would be proud of;
2. The fact that God saw fit to choose my husband for me
I asked God to find me His Adam and then turn me into the Eve his Adam needed because clearly I was hopeless at making my own choices. Oddly enough my husband told God to find him the right mate 'cause he wasn't doing such a good job on his own - we met about 2 weeks later;
3. That I have a solid roof over my head, with no leaks, and secure walls to keep out the cold
Every night I go to bed and thank God that I am not living in a leaky shack with threadbare blankets to cover my cold family on an untreated floor - it's winter here in South Africa, and it's a nasty one this year;
4. That I know I choose my attitude - it doesn't matter what life throws at you, if you choose to be grateful and choose to be a blessing to those around you, you somehow feel better about your situation - but it's always a choice;
5. That I am blessed with quality friends and a loving family!

Changing Diet

2011-06-02T11:59:00.001+02:00

I must update you on the latest in my family.

We have adjusted our diet to something more omega 3 friendly... lots of fish, less red meat and NO processed anything. Sorry Bunny... no more Vienna's for you.

So far this week (because I'm getting all I've Got The Power on my organisation skills) we have had:

Monday - Creamy Pasta and Bacon (which we're not supposed to have because it's not technically healthy, but seriously!!!)
Tuesday - Steamed Fish and Vegetables (Skate wings - AWESOME)
Wednesday - Stuffed Butternut and Lentils (wow! Who would have thought something so Vegan could be so delicious - sorry - we're a red meat family)

And planned:

Thursday - Baked Fish and Chips (no more frying)
Friday - Bean Curry

I have now set aside time for me on a Sunday where I can plan the menu for the week ahead, write out the shopping list (grrr... type out the list on my BB app because... duh!), and all those other wonderful things that come with being a responsible adult/ mother/ wife. I'm a late starter!

I now just have to apply the same consideration to my working life - probably should hide in the board room on a Monday and plan my office week. I HAVE to give myself an admin day - I am not an admin lover... but it's vital stuff... so necessity dictates I need an admin day. Probably Friday for that - no one can think on a Friday...

The Bunny and I have both got Sinusitis. Again. She has it quite badly and the doc wanted to book her in for a sinus wash...

I was all: WHAT? HELL NO!

She's not even three yet! Okay... so she's three on the 26th, but technically she's not yet three right now, and I don't think a little tot needs such drastic action so early in life. If we can't fix it with Antibiotics, then fine... but lets do the less invasive thing first please. She had to have blood-work done to see if she has allergies - she handled that so well. Way better than I do. I just wanted to kiss her all over and cuddle-snuggle because she was so brave.

Oh bugger... see... you get sorted in one area and all the other ones come flooding through with fan fares blasting how disorganised you are - I'm behind on my billing.

It's that wretched admin day I was thinking of - it must now be implemented and actioned and every other catch-word you can think of that applies.

I'm off to plan my planning.

Early Riser

2011-05-25T06:56:00.001+02:00

And that is what you get when you forget to put the blending paddle into the bread machine at 05:00! Not what I had in mind. I made Tweedle-D some pasta for school.

Oh well... I needed a laugh this morning.

My niece turns 5 today! Wow. it was only last month that I sat in the ward and listened to my sister extol the benefits of caesarian section over natural birth. I pray little Princess has an AWESOME day today and is blessed out of her tiny little socks!

My exam is tomorrow... Lord, please step in here!? I don't do exams too well. Blah!

I am definitely enjoying the Maximise Your Mornings challenge. Can't get fully into it until Friday, but at least I'm doing my bible study.

have a fantastic day!

Bitter Sweet

2011-05-19T14:46:00.000+02:00

The In-Laws leave on Sunday. It's going to be a miserable day. They will be sorely missed.
These are two of the very best and wonderful people you will ever meet. They are always eager to help in anyway. Mom's made the bedroom curtains this year. Last year she made the living room curtains. Dad helped Hubby build the laundry (extend) and last year they built the benches for my dining room table. The time before that they put the laminate flooring in downstairs. Mom is ALWAYS baking. She likes to leave her son some cakes that can be frozen and eaten at a later stage. Last year Hubby hid it until his Birthday, when he thawed it out and enjoyed it for breakfast.

I just love the fact that they're so easy. So easy to live with, so easy to be around, so easy to talk to, and so easy to sit silently with. They have spoilt the Bunny rotten - she has completely ditched the routine for Gampa time! He takes her to school in the morning and they both fetch her at lunch time. I wish that had started earlier, but Mia is so organised (the nanny) that they never got a chance. Tomorrows the last school moment with her, so I hope they love it.

I'm on leave so I'll be taking photo's of everything! I want to make some little movie moments for them to take back with them because the Bunny's been dancing and singing with them. I have to take more family photo's too. I'm always behind the silly camera, so it's only accidental when I'm in the picture. I even have that timer thingy... you'd think I'd use it more often!

On a more cheerful note, my Best Bud is down from Warrington, UK. Happy am I!!! She's supposed to be coming over for dinner tonight... yay yay! I will be taking more pictures. Hmmm.... need to dust off the scrapbooking stuffs. Har! I had planned to haul out the oils and do a painting during the folks visit - didn't get around to that... I did, however, manage to knit 5 scarves! Which reminds me... I must go and get more wool on the way home.

Anyway... again... nothing terribly inspirational to say... but hey! Who needs inspiration all the time... especially since I've been up since 04:00! First to do my Maximise Your Mornings routine, and then to study for my Exam on Thursday. I'm in Third Year and would ditch it in a second... no I wouldn't! I'd love to be finishing up now though. So many people get their degree's and then do something with their lives... I have to get my degree and then do Board! AARRGGHHHHH! So close but so far...

See y'all later.

Ma-Baker

2011-05-17T12:21:00.001+02:00

It's official! I am a bread baker... or at least, my Kenwood is... I didn't even know Kenwood made breadmakers until I couldn't get my hands on the one I wanted.

I did my research first, though. Shot off to the neighbour who has a 15 year old panasonic breadmaker (who knew you had a machine for bread back then?) and we worked out that it costs the same amount to make bread as to buy it, if you pay attention and buy clever. She said she used hers every day for 12 years, and now on weekends since the kids have moved out. I was instructed to get the one that puts the water in last, not first... I was told to go to Hirshs and buy the Panasonic or a Ma-Baker (Mellerware) bread machine. "Steer clear of Russel Hobbs!" (which is odd, since Russel and I have had a long and loving history together). I did as instructed, but the daft store lady wasn't playing ball! "Oh," she smirked, "we've sold out of Panasonic."
I looked at the Ma-Baker and thought... no gluten free mode... hmmm... Tweedle-D needs to steer clear of gluten... Then a little glint caught my eye. I turned. And there, in amongst the blenders and mixers, sat a coy Kenwood Breadmaker, shyly winking at me. I sidled over, so as not to offend the eager Ma-Baker machine, and saw, to my relief, Gluten Free mode. "What's the discount on this one?" I asked, sounding like I was well aware that there was a discount, which I was not. She scuttled off to wherever sales people go when under pressure, and came back declaring R690.00 (69Euro's). Taking note of the fact that it was R200 less than the listed price on the box, I said, "Hmm... Okay... I'll take it." You don't want to sound too eager at clinch-the-deal time. After all... what if some renegade manager somewhere intercedes and WHAMMO there goes my discount?!
On my way home, having taken all of about 10 minutes to leave home, buy the machine, and get back, I thought to myself, "After all... how wrong can you go with a Kenwood? They're like... the baking guru's!"

I have made three loaves of bread since Sunday. I'm intrigued by the fact that the nutty wheat loaf ~~rose~~ ~~rised~~ managed to grow to twice the size of the white loaves. The first loaf I did on the French Loaf setting.... it didn't rise all that well... and when I tried to cut through the crust I thought, "What have I done?! I've wasted all this money!" BUT the bread was delicously soft on the inside and crusty yummy on the outside. On Sunday night I set a brown loaf to bake for 6am in the morning. It rose so well it stuck to the top of the machine. Awesome (having some for lunch today) and then when I got up to study this morning I loaded up the last (no more white flour) white loaf... When I left it looked rather dodgy, but I have a feeling my scale is all "What's up with you? I'm retired!" so the flour content may have been less than the scale displayed. It glooped more than doughed. I shall be procuring a scale on the way home. I also have not yet asked the family how it turned out - I left before it was complete, so Ma had to take it out the machine... hmmm...

Anyway... it appears I'm getting all domesticy (?) because Hubby had me make mayonnaise when I got home, rather than use the stuff in the bottle. I prefer home-made Mayo anyway. You can adjust flavouring to suit yourself - eg: I like it thick (more oil) and with a zing (more Whorchester sauce). We tried to make it with Olive Oil... DON'T! Just... don't!

Other than that... I still feel icky. The chest is REALLY tight and breathing is noticable - normally you don't notice it, and that's how it should be - this laboured inhale/ exhale crap is just that... crap! If I wanted to breathe like that I would have carried on smoking!
(Yetch... I go green just imagining it now)

I'm going home to feel sorry for myself. And to check the bread. But mainly to feel sorry for myself.
Now go out there and buy a bread machine - they're soooo cool. Well... hot really, but why split hairs?!

Flu

2011-05-16T13:37:00.000+02:00

I hate being sick... what's the point in being home when you're too miserable to enjoy it? This is why I'm at work... at least I can get one or two things done (and only one or two - I feel like I left my brain under my pillow).

This is not why I'm updating the blog - as in, I'm not here to gripe (although it feels awesome to whine and be justified). I am, however, here to encourage anyone who reads my blog to head over to Inspired to Action and have a look at what they're all about. I've joined their Maximise Your Mornings programme and can't wait to get going.

I have also decided to find blogs about homemaking and de-cluttering and what not so that I can see how it's all done - I am NOT a good housekeeper. I am more of an OCD in one little thing at a time person, but by the time I've OCD'd an area, the rest of the house has gone to wreck and ruin. Not terribly productive if you happen to be looking at the bigger picture. If anyone knows of any women who run a remarkably tidy and tight ship, while working full-time, shouldering a part-time job, and managing a family... please direct me there. Although I'm not sure if I'll grovel at their feet in abject admiration, or slap them for being so insensitive to the chaos in my life by pulling it off.

Anyway... as I claw my way through the fog that is my flu, I have made the choice to de-clutter and then organise. It could, quite possibly, be the drugs talking. Then again, maybe I'm rising with my fist in the air (Bunny yells SuperHero when she does it, so maybe that will work for me too) and conquer this beast called C.L.U.T.T.E.R!

Or I could just crawl into bed with a hot water bottle and feel sorry for myself.

After a rough day

2011-05-07T21:15:00.001+02:00

Long day again today: college from 8 to 12, followed by a 3 hour hair appointment, so when I got home and started dinner knowing that the bunny is really ill with a throat/ ear infection, and dinner is a while away, I offered her a biscuit. She did the rest. I couldn't be prouder!

L F

2011-05-05T15:51:00.000+02:00

I have just spent about half an hour trying to work out who LF is in my company because they signed off some assessments from the Revenue offices and I don't know who they are.
Don't be touching my stuff if you haven't asked me!
Grrr
After taking it to a partner, because I'm completely stymied... it turns out it was actualy NAF. I had to get NAF to 'do it slowly' for me so I could see how the hell she got NAF out of LF?

As you can see, that is LF.
And now in step-by-step mode:

Hmmm.

The partner, once I'd found out who it was and hollered it through the open door, came out his office and said, "I would have thought she'd be the first one you'd ask." Which technically she should have been, since she worked in my office for her first month in the company, but her initials were not LF!!!!! (in my defence)

Puce... I think that's the word that described my colouring when he said that.

Oh well... I am DEFINITELY working from the house tomorrow. I have to, really, because if I don't I waste all the gigs I'm paying for.
Must use them!

In-Law Update... kinda

2011-04-28T21:49:00.001+02:00

Granny & Bunny Playing at the Table

Grandpa took us to lunch for Granny's Birthday. Granny and Bunny played the Knock-Over-Your-Drink-While-Trying-To-Find-The-Rolled-Up-Paper-Under-The-Cup game, complete with shrieks of delight and gales of giggles.

Tweedle-D was visiting with the girlfriend so he missed out - they grow up so quick. It feels like only moments ago he was the shrieker! He's decided to finish the term and then move back to the nest. You can imagine the reaction. Needless to say he spent this weekend with us.

The In-Laws have definitely been keeping us running. Grandpa has to fix something or build something every day, and Granny has finally started to bake again. I say 'finally' cause I don't, and the boys LOVE cake. They have to get it from somewhere.

I have completed the brown scarf and have started and finished the Bunny's multi-coloured one. Looks AWESOME! I'll put a pic up when I remember to take one.

Anyway. Midlands Meander today - Grandpa got a belt, I got shoes and a bag, and Hubby and Granny came away with nothing really. We'll try again tomorrow.

Time for bed!

Have an excellent day.

All fit & healthy

2011-04-21T22:10:00.000+02:00

Well... when Hubby went to fetch Mom & Dad there was an accident on the highway! The detour was astronomical! Whatever could go wrong on Tuesday, did!

Tweedle-D is loving having his grandparents here. I'd love Tweedle-Other1 to come over, but he's so damn stubborn he probably won't. What can you do? Rather leave it and watch what happens.

Otherwise... the long break begins! Yay!

Have a fantastic long weekend, to the locals, and a great weekend to the foreign readers.

God bless you all.

Ill - No! Really!

2011-04-19T16:51:00.001+02:00

I am well aware that this happy little girl smearing the remnants of a lollipop all over her hands looks nothing like the Hacking Spluttering Miserable Child that got me up every hour, almost on the hour, last night. The Doc has put it down to allergies. Not great.

Tweedle-D seems to have wrenched something. At least we hope so, because X-Rays are a very expensive way to hook a day off school. It looks remarkably like it could be plain old constipation. That will tick Hubby off properly.

And to top it off the folks sent a text last night to say that they've been stuck in traffic for an hour and hadn't got to the airport! It was the start of a panic because the next text I received stated that they were only leaving Madrid 'now', which was a good 3 hours LATE! I phoned the agents who did the booking and they explained that the airline would make up as much time as they could in the air, and the layover in JHB (Johannesburg) should make up the rest; I had Nothing To Fear. Clearly I was onto something. After the last person on the flight walked past, and they Were Not The Folks, we realised something was not all as it should be.

Once we found SAA (!) we were informed that their (the folks) international flight had been delayed (true?) and that they missed their other flight and were only going to land at 17:50!

!

We came back home and told Tweedle-D they aren't coming til tomorrow. Hubby will take him to get 'fruit' when their plane is set to arrive.

The amusing thing was we were on our way back home already when they sent us a text to say they had just landed in Johannesburg. Four hours late. It appears the pilot managed to LOSE an hour in the air!

At least dinner is ready. They can come home and rest!

What a day!

2011-04-16T18:59:00.000+02:00

I'm standing in my kitchen waiting for the silly gem squash to cook, wondering why I bothered to dish up the mashed potato since I now have to wait for the blasted squash and it's all going to go cold, and it strikes me... I love my life! Gem squash aside, of course.

Granted we have the Crazy, but hey... there's always one of those.
But other than the Crazy, my life is perfect.
Bunny is dancing in the dining room (clearly to something in her head as Telly Tubbies is on the TV, and they're talking, not singing). Hubby is on his computer looking up something to do with the Grand Prix. Tweedle-D is out with his new 'sort-of' girlfriend (He's 14... relationships are open right now - everyone thinks he's the 'hottest' thing). I like this one. He had a video evening here one night and she followed him around like a puppy. One of the quieter ones. Which is always good for a thinking boy. At least, I hope he thinks.... He's a teenager after all.

My husband has worked very hard to get us the home we have. He's worked over-time to buy exclusive and exquisite pieces of furniture - some self-designed and crafted by a carpenter we know. Funny story there, actually: the Carpenters father worked with my husband, and his son is one of Tweedle-D's best friends. I digress. Handsome Hubby has created a wonderfully furnished house. Together we have created a blessed and calm home. I really do believe God carefully chose us to be together. We each asked him to find our 'mate' and a couple of weeks months (for me, and weeks for Hubby) later we met.
Anyway... our home is calm and peaceful, so much so that Tweedle-D has chosen to live here for the time being (recently discovered that routine can actually improve your marks... we're now looking to see if a little bit of effort will help too).

We have a good home. Stable. Secure. Full of love. Seriously... what more could you ask for?

And when you can't find them...

2011-04-08T08:08:00.001+02:00

Jessie's Room Rocks

You can be sure Jess has them. Jess is my cousins daughter, and the ultimate babysitter!

whenever we have family gatherings she's there, quietly rescuing the parents for a couple of hours.

Bunny is watching Gummy Bears and is in heaven with the blanky and tiger. I'm quite certain that life doesn't get any better. And the continued "We going to Onna Bicky's house?" supports my theory.

So... Here's to Jess! thanks for all the work you do!

Lunch

2011-04-05T14:23:00.000+02:00

Ahh... junk food. Gotta love it. Although I think my combination is having issues. Dried wors (meat stick), nougat and crisps.... perhaps I should have thought this through a little more.

Tweedle D missed ONE (1 - O.N.E.) day of school this term - I do believe this may be a school career best. That's what happens when you live with dad!

Hmmm... That could be viewed one of two ways:
Yay... you're brilliant for only being sick once!... or...
Bugger - Dad's a slave-driver!

With the dawn of April I find myself in a headlock - I have only 1.5 months left to study before my Accounts 3 exam (blah!!!!) and no time to do it in. Not true... I could get up at 4:30... if I could make it down the stairs.... generally I get as far as the bathroom and head back to bed again. I've taken to hitting that snooze button regularly.

Time for a change of mind, people! Some one come up with some sort of rousing Cheer to get me out of bed in the morning.

Holidays for the kids... and my dishwasher is being fixed! I have mixed emotions - dishwasher being fixed is The ABSOLUTE, but no dishwasher while the kids are at home all day????
Mixed emotions.

Luv to all.

Life...

2011-03-30T16:04:00.000+02:00

.... is sometimes a bitch! And sometimes not so much...

Like... for EG... When you make plans to snag someone in their own dirty water, and it doesn't work that way, BUT you end up getting what you wanted in a back door kinda way... that's where we're at today. Yesterday morning we were snagging, today we realise we're actually exactly where we offered to be. The snagee, on the other hand, hasn't read correctly and thinks they have the upper hand. HAHAHAHA! Wait... it's coming to BITE YOR ASS!!!!

Now that I have that out my system...

I was supposed to be on leave today, but there's so much work to do that I had to come in anyway... LIES.... sort of.... the Bunny will be Carer free on Friday, so I swapped my days.

Tweedle-D has chosen to live with us for the year, from my understanding... not sure if that's a permanent choice or if he's going to exercise his right to change his mind, but from what I understand he's decided to spend his whole holidays with us, and isn't making any immediate plans to return to the 'nest' so to speak. Presumably we've become the nest. From the other side's actions, it appears he's .... 'fallen' ... from the other nest anyway. Poor little bird. Not fair on his little heart, but he's welcome with us any day - what an easy teen!?

The bunny is gorgeous. Handsome husband is amazingly wonderful and genius with a car, and I'm me... which says a whole lot more than you think it does.

God bless,
ME

Happiness Is...

2011-03-26T19:08:00.001+02:00

Doll House Paradise

My little Bunny is definitely a girl! She loves her 'babies' and her dolls house. She tucks Pig and Nephant into bed. She loves her teddies and lugging the one that's the same size as her round the house. She is constantly pretending to iron, loves putting 'pink' on her nails and dressing in dresses and flowers.

I'm happy to say she also likes playing with cars and climbing the burglar bars, which means there's a little bit of me in there too, even if it's sometimes a little hard to see.

Budding Artist

2011-03-21T21:14:00.001+02:00

School Art - 2 1/2 Yrs

I come from a long line of artists. Every one of us is creative. My cousins are all arty, varying from painting to music to photography to graphic art, so am I and my sister. So are all my aunts and uncles and my mother (who can make pastels look like the photo she copied!). My father also, apparently, had a remarkable artistic streak - remarkable because it only materialised after he became a Christian and dropped the I'm A Man nonsense and became HuMan. That's not to say that men are inhuman, but rather that here in South Africa we have the traditional Ek is die Ordentlike Man issue where a Man is a Man and a woman is in the kitchen with a doek on her head and a brat on her hip.

I digress. I am an avid watcher of the Bunny's artistic abilities as I can't wait to drawer with her and help her, like my mother did with me.

This picture, one of many from school (and No! I haven't been able to sift the chaff from the wheat, so to speak, and they ALL reside in my cupboard), is my particular favourite. I love the peace and harmony... and the fact that the roof looks like cake. That, and the fact that Barney Is In The House!

This one holds a special place on the fridge, so I can see it several times a day.

I desperately need to do another painting. For several reasons, but the main one being that I feel terribly un-creative lately. The last thing I painted was about 4/5 years ago, and the most challenging thing I've done since then is colour in a picture of Lunar Jim at a kiddies restaurant. I'm in a creative desert. I suppose that makes old Lunar Jim rather appropriate then, doesn't it!?!

I officially challenge myself to go and get a canvas and get started! I would open it (the challenge) to the public, but my penchant for procrastination requires that I only have myself to loose against, which can't be called a loss really, and therefore I win the challenge no matter when I complete it!

Challenge initiated!

2011-03-18T14:11:00.000+02:00

Well I'm back, however briefly, I'm here at least, and that's what counts. (sort of)
I was waylaid by silly things like work, studies, children, husbands....

I have definitely decided that the power of One is at work in my life - That One extra thing, whether it's Avon, or Studies, or homework, whatever it is... That One thing is what knocks me sideways.

I may have said that all before. But it's one of those things you can say over and over again in the hopes that either it changes, or someone feels sorry for you and gives you a free pass... to something... else.
What I would do to jump 6 exams and be a qualified Chartered Secretary/ Accounting Officer.
Studying has become ... the Yukkiness! I used to love it... now I don't... at all...

Having said that... I did some homework last night and actually may have staggered punch-drunk-like into understanding the section. Problem is I'm understanding a section from 3 lectures back, and pretty much need to understand last weeks lecture before tomorrow... *Rolls Eyes*

I have also discovered, through no fault of my own, that I need to sign clients up with an engagement letter. It's apparently a side-effect of having letters after your name.
But seriously!
I have to officially tell my family (so far not many others trust me with their taxes) that because I do their tax/ bookkeeping/ yell-at-SARS-on-their-behalf I have to make them sign a letter giving me permission to do so.
While I have no problem flailing a letter giving me permission to yell at the Revenue Offices, because Obviously! I feel rather odd telling them to sign a letter giving me permission to add, fill in a number, and push enter. Okay... maybe it's not all that easy, but Seriously?

I can imagine it now:
Me: Hi, got something for you to sign
Family: What?
Me: An engagement letter.
Family: Don't be daft! I'm married.
Me: Not that engagement, twit!
Family: Aside from that, you're family.
Me: !

It just can't go well.

And on the Tweedle-D front - he's gone on a fishing weekend! Complete with rod and tackle and sleeping bag - OMG! I think he forgot the sleeping bag! I am NOT driving to Baines Field to give him a sleeping bag! (probably)

Bunny is gorgeous, but is having to learn that if you by-pass the toilet in favour of floor you're getting a smart thwack on the tush and going to bed.
When a parent said, "This will hurt me more than it will hurt you" I think they may have meant it. Seeing it from this side of the situation, that is. Back then I was all like, "Yeah right! Who'd you think you're kidding!?!"

Anyway... back to work! Have a great long weekend, for those of you in SA. And have a fab normal weekend for those of you that aren't.

And Congratulations Mrs Mootz on your anniversary.

Stretched...

2011-03-10T15:19:00.000+02:00

At least, that's how I feel.

I often moan about how much I have to do, but honestly I think I have just ONE thing too many... Literally! I cope just fine when I'm on break from studies, but as soon as the term starts again I feel pulled in 1000 different directions, and totally incapable of pulling it all off.

Daft. I know. I'm Super Woman after all. BUT... some days, like Tuesday, I just wanted to run away and hide from everyone that wanted a part of me - so I went and had a candle lit bath.

I have GOT to change my 'ring tone' on my emails... crikey... every time I hear that gong I get confuddled.

I've been wondering what theme my blog should have, of late... not the theme of late, but wondering of late...
I keep feeling I'm being drawn towards my faith... clearly I'm not a humour blogger -which is what I REEAALLLLLY wanted to be, but I'm Not Funny. That kinda puts a spanner in the works.
Like the sad office colleague that cracks the hysterically funny joke and no-one laughs, they all just stare, until the colleague slinks off to hide under their desk until the clock strikes home-time.

And currently I'm angry... so that also puts a damper on the whole Humour Blogging thing.
I'm angry at the injustices that are currently hovering in my life... which makes me a whiner and a moaner and a self-pity... er... And so Humour Blogging, evidently, is not my thing.

~~Humour Blog~~
(!)

~~Moaning/ Venting Blog~~
(who wants to read that?!)

~~Inspirational Blog~~
(...)

~~Family Blog~~
(My family has so many external issues to deal with that I'd be properly spilling the beans and on trouble from all sides)

~~Religious Blog~~
(Too scared to be honest...)

So I've decided it will be A Little Bit Of Everything Blog.
Except for Humour - we've established that we can't venture there.

So... on the Moaning Venting side - I'm peeved, in HUGE doses, at the cheek of that Wretched Woman! The fact that she thinks she can get to my salary because she's squandered her own, under the guise of 'for the children' absolutely blows my mind. I read a post by a friend of mine on facebook, and what she writes there towards the end, describes this woman to a tee!

On the Inspirational Blog side of things:
...

On the Family side - my bunny is just adorable. Tweedle-D must be one of the easiest teenagers in the world, which blows my mind, because I thought they were all supposed to be horribly difficult. I love my Handsome Hubby and wish Tweedle-Other1 would wake up to the truth instead of preferring to ignore it.

On the Religious side. I believe in Jesus Christ, Him crucified to wipe away our sins so we can be returned to the Father, and Him raised from death to be seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven.

This doesn't, of course, stop me from Venting...
Obviously.

I was soooo mad yesterday that I actually had to tell Tweedle-D that I didn't want to know anyone's business until 7pm and that was that! I set the computer up for him at about 6pm though.

He had homework.

And I was tired of feeling sorry for myself.

I must say that is one of my better characteristics - I can't hold a grudge and I get horribly bored trying to be angry or sulk.
There's too much going on for self-pity, and I'll miss something exciting or important... or even dead boring, but at least I would have seen it.

There you have it. My blog in a nutshell.

Slow Cooker Meals

2011-03-05T17:45:00.001+02:00

Dinner

Doesn't that look amazing?

Handsome Hubby had to leave for work by 05:45 this morning, so I thought, since I'm at school in the morning, have a hair appointment in the afternoon, and we're going to be buggered in the evening 'cause we were up so early, I may as well do a slow cooker meal for dinner.

it's been cooking ALL day!

I'm really looking forward to dinner now!

hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

I'm so Frustrated!

2011-03-03T13:51:00.000+02:00

I hope Tweedle-D doesn't get into trouble when he verifies the facts of a Story that he was told. It destresses me that his little heart is so often broken by the person that should be protecting him from broken hearts!

Anyway... My rant is over!

My new desk arrived only to be wrong. The correct piece was brought, only to discover that it was damaged. A new Correct Piece will need to be brought again. Grrr.

I have also had to return my laptop to the IT guys because it's konked out AGAIN!!! Blah! Luckily I can revert to my netbook from home (all linked up so I can work from home so it's easy to do), but the screen is really not designed for full-time work! I'm becoming Chinese with all this squinting!

I have STAX of billing to do... which is why I'm telling you all about the mundane happenings in my life - like desks and IT issues. Billing is Long. And. Tedious! Especially when you're as behind as I am. There are some happy clients out there... but my performance rating may slip a little if I don't get onto it... groan.

So how is everyone?!

She's not a Toddler anymore

2011-02-28T07:57:00.001+02:00

Big Girl

I was having my three-monthly-jab and the Sister asked how the Bunny was doing and how old she was now. I replied that she's my treasure and will be 3 in June. to which this Icon of Babydom (she is a midwife and convinced me to opt for natural birth rather than a caesarian - which didn't end well, and should probably have been my indicator) says to me, "Oh how lovely. So she's not a toddler anymore; she's a little girl now."

The world must have stopped for a full 30 seconds!

And so when I got home I studied my little treasure, and would you believe, she's NOT a toddler anymore!

How did that happen?

I've been so excited with her when she puts on her own cloths and shoes. We've jumped and clapped together when she gets a puzzle right. we snuggle in bed for stories and prayers, and somewhere in all that love she grew up. Clearly the clothes and shoes didn't give it away!

And as I sit here at 7.30 in the morning, watching 4 people wash my car (heap God's blessings on their heads!), having dropped her at school, I wonder how I missed it. I'm trigger happy so clearly I took pictures of the transformation, but I didn't see it!

Very odd. It just means that I'm going to have to stare at her every waking second so I don't miss anything ever again. I will wear a hat/ newspaper/ wig, etc, in order that she not develop a complex. Psychology costs a fortune here!

So there you have it - not only am I The Worst At Taking A Hint, but I'm totally un-observant too.

And this...

2011-02-20T15:52:00.001+02:00

My Angels

Is why my life is perfect.

Adjusting

2011-02-16T14:13:00.000+02:00

Changing your office around is like adjusting your bra-strap... at first it keeps twisting and eventually, after hours of correcting the damn thing, it settles down in the right place and you can ignore it.

I am most of the way through the adjusting part - we have the new desk for the cluster of 4 and it's been set up in place for now; it all now hinges on whether or not I accept the quote for a new desk. I wanted a handy little attachment to my current desk to make it bigger... the desk people think differently and will only quote on a whole new setup... blah!

I do, however, have the current new extra desk set up in a pretty acceptable place and my staff didn't have to cluster, as originally ~~feared~~ thought.

It wasn't without it's drama's though. Presumption being the error of my ways... I presumed that, since we wanted a fourth desk for a cluster set down here, and they were ordering four for upstairs, that they would just order 5. I also presumed that since they were ordering new phones and extensions for upstairs that they would, automatically, order one for the extra person down here... NOT!! Clearly I'm the idiot! Why on earth would you order another desk when we want one, and another phone line for the new desk??? What on earth would be the point in that?! So, rant over with, I have to make allowance for the fact that possibly no one gave ACTUAL or SPECIFIC instructions (that wouldn't be me, by the way!!!!!!!!!!! sort of) and therefore the Orderer (good word) would have to be partially exonerated - only partially, mind you - If I can make logical presumptions, why the hell can't anyone else?

Anyway... if my 'bra-strap' does not include a new desk set up then it's settled and I can move into the Ignore It part of the operation, however, if it includes the new desk set up, then I'm still adjusting... and will be as unsettled as I am today on another day. And in case you hadn't worked it out (logical deductions and what have you) I don't approve of being unsettled. But it appears to be nothing that a packet of Doritos can't cure.

That aside, Tweedle-D has decided to move in with us permanently. He's been with us since the New Year and is a wonderful addition - no issues, no drama's, no fights and growing pains... he's just a pleasure to have in our home. His reason is that he just feels more comfortable with us right now. That's a huge ego-boost, let me tell you. I am just not impressed with the way it was handled from the other side initially, but I think the attitude has amended and all are friends again, which is good - his little heart was properly broken and it was terribly unfair.

And on a more cheerful note - I had a wonderful Valentines Day, and didn't do a damn thing!
However.... my Dishwasher pretended to go on the blink.

It was a disaster!

I nearly had a memorial service.

If you know me, you know how I feel about dishes. I love them! When someone else washes them, and they're ready for me when I need them. Dirty dishes don't exist unless they're on their way from the sink to the dishwasher... then I'll deign to notice them. Handsome Hubby knows me, and loves me, and Daisy the Dishwasher was (I say so at any rate) my wedding present and she has been good to me (I love her, Love her, Love her) for almost 6 years now. She may not die! Ever! (said in Dirtgirl World enthusiasm)

So what appliance makes your heart glad? Daisy makes me giggly and smiley and skip-to-my-loo (what the hell is that anyway???) happy.

All in the Name

2011-02-04T15:15:00.000+02:00

And it appears Jennifer is the name!

Has anyone else noticed that there are a crazy amount of Jennifers that blog out there? So... when they say it's genetic they lie... through star-sparkly teeth... it's in the name!

Duh!

Love
Jennifer

I'm a Blogging Failure

2011-02-04T08:44:00.000+02:00

I was a blog slut....
Now I'm a blog mess....

I think I've over done it a wee bit. I sell Avon, I am an Avon Team Leader, so I run a team of reps that also sell Avon (and one chick has just gone CRAZY - she's signed up as a team leader under me and has become recruiting-happy (trigger happy with a twist) and I'm battling to keep up with her. In addition I work full time as a Tax Manager in an Audit firm; I also do bookkeeping part time from home, as well as tax matters, and in addition I start the second part of third year accounts on Saturday.... Oh... and I blog... sometimes.

I was all about Raise the Genius; Envelope The Handsome-Hubby in LURVVV; Build The Readers; Build The Client Base; Make Partner; Pass Your Bloody Exams.... Okay... the order may be a bit sketchy, but you get the idea... Now I'm all about... SURVIVE THE DAY!!!

So Please Please Please forgive me if I miss a couple of days... of writing or visiting your sites...

On a happier, less apologetic note... I'm so excited that my first sales leader has gone MOGGY!!!! I earn commission off that Moggy thanks! Whoop.

Being Genuine...

2011-01-31T15:54:00.000+02:00

Hi all.

I've been missing for a while - I have had tax deadlines, which generally means I'm useless to everyone. I did 21 hours of work this weekend, so you can all sympathise nicely.

Anyway... just read a really inspirational blog post from a friend of mine (well... almost) and thought I'd share it. Head on over to Mrs Mootz and have a squizz at this post. It's nice when we can say what we feel and be honest about it.

ME

Home Office

2011-01-24T08:29:00.001+02:00

My Home Office

Yay! The main reason I'm looking for a house is so I can have an office. Tweedle-D has moved in with us so we've restructured the budget accordingly. As a result we won't be moving any time soon... so I have an office dilemma.

Handsome Hubby and I are of the opinion that my office must not be blocked off from the family as I'd never see them if it was. This makes office ... erm ... house hunting a little difficult.

Voila! My solution!

I am not isolated as this is in the corner of the living are. I am also not hogging the dining room table - which is the current Bug-Bear.

Yay! happy am I.

Now, if you don't mind, I'll get back to work. :)

Must See Blog

2011-01-21T13:13:00.000+02:00

I have to share this blog with you... Granted I've only read two of them (I'm just finishing up post no. 2.... hold up... there! Done). But .... SERIOUSLY... six children!!! That's 6... in case the lettered version doesn't sink in... S.I.X!!!!!

She's funny though... which is a good thing... ~~She'd be dead if she wasn't, surely~~... You have to laugh at life with that many children... then again... maybe it's because of that many children...

Who knows?

But I had to share The Inevitable Unraveling of My Sanity. I don't know this woman... although I hope to some day... but anyone brave enough to take on that many children (on purpose even) get's my vote!