Monday Madness

28th May


Well that was that.

Turns out daily posting is not my thing.  (Not that I am overly surprised but hey I like to keep on trying these things)  I am trying not to beat myself up to much about not even making it to ten straight days of posting.  I am just going to be happy with the ones that I got out.  Though I must admit that the last few were a bit iffy.  I mean Thoughtful Thursday could well be a good idea but I definitely think that it needs a bit more thought, don't you agree?

Anyway life has been somewhat busy of late.  I am really trying to engross myself with human interaction. I know that this can at times be somewhat dangerous but I feel that all odd are in my favour at this point in time.  Today was another wonderful day spent doing cakey things.  Not as many or as stunning as last week but still wonderful none the less.  Today we made little frangipani flowers which I felt I struggled with.  They were very fiddly and I couldn't get the hang of them.  It was really interesting to watch her do it though.  She makes everything look so easy.

Back to today, two days later no less and still no posting.  Lucky that I am here really.  But here I am so that must be good.  The weekend was once again jam packed with action and madness.  There were two birthday parties plus one we never made it to.  Which I feel terrible about, as it was with a mum who I really love to hang with but don't get to very often.  Unfortunately hers was the last invitation that we received and it over lapped with a prior engagement.  On top of that it feels like the middle of the local winter and the party was at the water park.  My poor little blossoms are already using every once of their strength to fight of seasonal flus without adding a chill.

Last night we went here and listened to Carl Riseley.  Let's just say it was nice to be out and I am glad that they were free tickets.  Free tickets you say?  Yes that's right free tickets I said.  Clever duck me won them on the radio the other day.  Which was more than a bit cool and I must say a huge thanks to Territory FM.  No wonder they are my most favourite local radio station.

Today was spent as a major clean up.  I can not begin to explain just how much crap I have somehow managed to acquire.  Hopefully I will be able to work through it all tomorrow. 

Today's photo is from stock.xchng I got it by searching for plug.  My original search for unplugged did not really give me much joy and while this is not exactly what I wanted the shade of orange made it somewhat irresistible.

Thoughtful Thursday

Your mission, should you choose to accept it is to find something thoughtful to share.

Personally one of my favourite places for online reflection is Wisdomology

When it comes to the real world though places like this are perfect for quiet reflection

Day Eight

Yay! Eight straight days of posting.  That means it has been a whole week of posting.  I must admit the only reason I am here is because I don''t want to have to start again.  After all, I am nearly a tenth of the way through my challenge.

Today I got up super early (6.13) made muffins and scrolls.  They were yummy but we still ended up late to school.  I can't remember the last time we weren't late actually.  Mornings are not a fun time at our place at the moment.  After yet another sock battle with DD2 I was ready to go back to bed by 9.  Instead I visited mum, helped her change her dressing, plus a few other little jobs.  When I did make it home, DD3 had a sleep, and I cleaned, tidied and responded to a few emails.  As well as hanging out some washing and folding a little as well.  Oh and did I mention the sweeping and mopping?

Once DD3 woke up we dashed down the shops to buy the last few things needed for dinner.  I was determined to make my first ever lasagne,  I find it hard to believe I have never made one before but I certainly can't recall when that might have been.  Turns out that I have quite a knack for making lasagne.  It was seriously yummy.  

Anyway because of all of this and a whole lot more, this is all you will get out of my tonight.

Even the best laid plans

The start of yet another jam packed week.  Jam packed with what I am not sure yet but if previous weeks are anything to go by I am sure I will find plenty to do.  It seems as if I have a knack of finding things to do.  Especially if the things stops me from having to do the housework.  Oh, the dreaded housework.  I swear I am constantly plagued by the mundane and never ending repetitiveness of it all.

I know that part of being a woman/mother/person means that housework is just part and parcel of the job description, but I still despise it with a loathing passion.  Yet at the same time if the truth be told I do find it strangely satisfying and even rewarding (shh don't tell though).  It is just one of the many daily difficulties that I tussle with.

Generally speaking I am a 'go with the flow' kind of person.  As long as the majority of the boxes are checked then near enough is good enough.  Possibly not the best attitude for ultimate success but if you mix a bit of the greatest good for the greatest number then surely an even balance can be created?  

I know that planning and preparation and all that type of stuff has some super huge positives at times but for some reason it never seems to go to plan for me.  Take today for example.  I had planned to come straight home from dropping the girls off at school.  Well straight after I dropped into see mum and help her out for a while.  After connecting the washing machine and a few other little odd jobs we were suddenly on our way to a shopping expedition.

The lasagne I had planned on cooking for dinner didn't eventuate.  Much like the clean and tidy living area I was  hoping for.  On the up side, because in my world there is always an upside, (though today the upside was super easy to find)  The girls did end up with some lovely winter woolies and we also got a new, super chic black dinner setting.

Even though I was shopping all day I didn't seem to make it to the shops that sold food.  I thought that I would have to resort to baked beans, bacon and eggs.  Which might be great for a Saturday night but not really what a possible mother of the entrant would serve.  Thankfully though, after a quick peak in the fridge, I was able to whip up something much yummier instead.  In fact I am surprised at just how well it all came together.  I had no idea my fridge was so well stocked!

Here is what I did.

Well this post, which is nothing like what I had planned to write when I started has no taken some three hours to write due to the up and downs of being a parent and having a kitchen to clean.  On the up side though I did actually manage to get two posts out so yay for me!  I am hoping to get to my second hundred much quicker than my first.


Don't forget to click the box.  Once a day.  Every day.  One click that's all it takes...

Meatless Monday-Cheesy Potatoes and Veg

Now a little while ago Nic over at From Highlights to Housework started a Meatless Monday link up.  Now she has been busy having a baby and what not but I thought that I would still create a MM dish so here it is.

In case you are wondering the inspiration behind this particular masterpiece? It was all that I had in the fridge!  

8-12 baby potatoes, quartered and tossed to fry in butter it one roughly chopped onion.  Add a few cloves of crushed garlic or a couple of shakes of garlic powder.

Chop two carrots into 2inch square cubes (or there abouts)  Add to potatoes.  Gently move around fry pan to avoid sticking and burning.  Once a light crispy outer has appeared transfer to oven proof dish and sprinkle with your favourite cheese.  Place in a moderate oven for around 20 mins or until potatoes and carrots are soft.

Meanwhile back at the fry pan, squeeze in some lemon juice and add some asparagus stalks, capsicum, mushrooms broccoli and a few sliced beans.  These really only need to be cooked for around 10 mins so time it to be ready at the same time as the potatoes.

Once potatoes and carrots are soft remove them from the oven.  Place a few spoonfuls in a bowl.  Add a few spoonfuls from vegetables in the frypan.  Sprinkle with a little more cheese,  (I actually tore up a few shaved slices of jarlsberg.

Eat and enjoy!

Now I know that this is supposed to be a meatless post and so far it is but I just wanted to mention that if you were cooking this on a meaty day then you could easily and some bacon and salami when the potatoes are cooking.  Another meaty alternative is some sliced chipolatos.

I must say that I was rather surprised at how well this meal was received by everyone.  When DD2 asked what was for dinner  and I said potatoes and vegetables she kicked up a right fuss.  When I put the food in front of her she gobbled it up in like two seconds flat!  Go figure!

Inspiring Interview Number One

Now I have been going on and on about this for ages.  Trying to build some sort of mystery and interest in it.  Personally though I would not blame you for thinking I was never actually going to get around to posting it.  After all it was nearly a week ago that I went and met with my first inspirational woman.

For those who have not yet worked out who this talented lady, is I would like to introduce Anna from mangolime  Anna creates gorgeous children's clothes and modern cloth nappies (MCN) right here in little old Darwin.  I have always used cloth nappies.  The thought of using those awful plastic alternative has made me cringe.  

I have at times been slightly envious of the no wet patch advantage that disposables have, but it is still not enough to make me use them.  Actually that is not true I used them when DD3 was about 6 weeks old for my brother's wedding and then when we went camping with overseas visitors.  I had massive issues out there using them.  We were surrounded by this beautiful bushland yet my poor little darling was expected to be covered with those awful plastic things.  Needless to say there was a bit of nappy free time.  Everyone else on the trip convinced me there was neither the space nor ability to store and wash cloth nappies.  It turned out they were wrong on both counts, but by the time I realised that, it was too late. Back to the inspirational Anna though.

What is it that I find so inspirational?

Well basically she had a problem and found an awesome solution to it.  One that she could sell to others and help save the precious environment one nappy at a time.  How could that not be inspirational?  Especially since the beautiful nappies she makes are not only reusable but also free from wet patches.  For a simple terry towel user like myself she is a dream come true.

In case you are still wondering what it is I am talking about here are a few pics.

mangolime nappy in action

mangolime dress (has a matching nappy)

one of the first mangolime nappies I got

I know that this has not exactly been much of an interview as such but some things just can't be helped.  When we met last week we were both short on time and me being me, took a little while to feel comfortable.  Don't get me wrong Anna is as warm and welcoming as her wonderful creations are.  Everything that held me back was all in my pretty little head and slowly I am working around it all.

Anyway if you would like to see more of Anna's beautiful work she is currently a guest WAHM on the FireFly Collective otherwise check mangolime for more details.  Anna and I will be meeting again in the near future as she is kindly making DD2 a bit of a birthday skirt, (but shhh don't tell her) So maybe I will try the whole interview thing again then.

Thanks for stopping by and may in every way this be a special day x

Sunday

Today has not really been a great day.  Which is just plain stupid.  It is a Sunday,  Sunday's by nature are suppose to always be a good, if not great or possibly even wonderful day.  It is the Sabbath, the day of rest, and all that.  It is the day that family catches up and spends time together.  A day of enjoyment and good food.  Egg and bacon for breakfast, roast for lunch or dinner.  You know what I mean?

Well my Sunday has been nothing like that.  Not even close.

It makes me want to go ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!! 

I have been in the worst mood all day long and I can't really explain why.  I guess the main reason is because I couldn't do any of the things the I wanted to and actually feel rather terrible for being so selfish and self absorbed but I just didn't want to be any of the things that I had to do today.

Now it is time for us to go to my mother's.  So I can't even start to tell you all about it.  Though since really it is all just about me whinging you are not really missing much.  Maybe a good feed will cheer me up and I will come back with something awesome to share.

In the meantime here are a few more of my fav shots.  I just love scrolling through my old photos

Have you voted for me yet?  Can be done daily.  All it takes is one click

5 Days...100 Posts!

Sounds rather impressive doesn't it?  Almost sounds like I might be eluding to writing one hundred posts in five days.  After all it really only equates to twenty posts per day.  Which is technically doable as there are twenty four hours in a day and generally speaking I can get a post up in less than an hour.  Actually in an ideal world I could get a top quality post out in around twenty minutes.  Which means I could knock twenty posts out in around 7 hours.  I could what!!  Clearly that is not anywhere near a reality I know.

The reality I know though says that this is my fifth consecutive day of writing!  So well done me and on top of that this is my one hundredth post on APL. I am rather chuffed by the fact that the two just happened to coincide.  Adding to my extreme happiness is that I have recently had a few rather nice little comments from various readers.  Naturally I love getting beautiful compliments but I also just love to know that people have taken their time to stop by and have a read.  I know how busy and hectic life can get.  Which makes time ever so precious.

My precious time today was spent creating these

Actually...truth be told I only created the love hearts.  The rest (as in the main part, the actual yummy cup cake) was made by the my dear friend over at House of Cupcake  Let me tell you I had THE best fun ever helping her make these.  We did some other pretty awesome stuff as well but I don't have photos.  Dummy here, was so excited about have some total child free time, that I to take my camera,  The ones above we taken on my phone.  Which apparently can take a rather nice shot.!

Since lunchtime yesterday I have been aware of the fact that my next post would in fact be my muchly anticipated hundredth post.  I have spent this entire time thinking about how this post would go.  This is not even close to what I originally had in mind.  My original idea.  Which I actually started writing, on paper no less, at my mum's yesterday while I waited for her deliveries to arrive.  Why was I waiting for her deliveries I hear you ask?  Because she was off having a rather laregish lump from her back.  My mother though is a whole post in itself though and not one I am sure I want to write now so let's keep moving right along.

This wonderful hand written post was a list of 100 Things That Make Me Happy.  I never made it to one hundred.  In fact I didn't even get close.  I think I got to twenty.  I say I think because I don't actually know where this piece of paper is now.  Maybe in the car, maybe at my mum's, all I know is, it is not sitting here at my desk right this very instant.

So for now my 100 Happy Post can wait.  It will however be added to the To Do List.

Thanks once again for stopping by, may lots of fairy wishes and butterfly kisses come your way

What a day

I feel like this has been the first time I have sat down all day.  Of course I know that is far from the truth.  While I feel I may have been incredibly busy all day long the results seem to speak a different story.  Every where I look I see several half finished, possibly even a few nearly finished, chores.  I can't actually see anything that has been successfully completed yet though.  No matter how hard I look.

The thing that I struggle with the most is clothes.  There are always so many clothes that need attending to. They need to be...

This post was actually started on the 15th (yes as in four days ago,Sunday actually)  I spent all weekend trying to get the house work under control.  Or at least manageable.  I knew that I had a busier than normal week ahead of me (sorry got distracted...The NRL Footy Show is on and 6 days out from the first State of Origin  Queensland is hoping (expecting?) to win their sixth straight series.  Which as a proud supporter  I am rather pleased about.  Unfortunately for my dearly beloved hubs, he is under the misguided impression (as are a few others) that NSW will somehow be able to perform a minor miracle and win two of the three games.

Again though I digress.  So easy to do though when there is so much going on.

My mind is still whirring with all the information gained from day two of my training thing.  DD3 was just absolutely wonderful again.  She took a little more management than yesterday but all things considered she was still a super star and I am just thrilled that I was able to attend with her.   Considering they were all about positive behaviour though it is not overly surprising for her to be welcome.  I do however think they were surprised we both lasted through every session!

Anyway back to starting this post four days ago and only publishing now.  I am very close to cracking the 100 post mark and I want it to be something special.  Given my brain activity over the last few days I am not sure a post today would actually make the special mark.  Talking of special posts go and check these two posts out.  The first is over at Hello Owl and is about how she convinced her hubby to pose naked with her for a national magazine.  The second is at The Artful Parent which I have only just stumbled across and let me tell you I like it a LOT! Go on go check it out.

Oh and I haven't forgotten about my Inspirational Interviews either.  Small steps I guess.

Day Two - Yay!

So today was not nearly as bad as what I thought it could be.  In fact it is possible to say that it was even a good day.  Surprisingly I was not late.  I managed to easily find somewhere to park, find where I needed to go and to top it all off DD3 was an angel and the strangers turned out to be quite welcoming and lovely people.  I also gained a lot of new knowledge and food for thought.

Only being up so early and not having an midday nap has left me one tired mumma so I am not sure you will get a whole of sense out of me.  Instead I give to you some of my favourite butterfly photos

Day One

Ok so I am going to count how many days in a row I can post.  Fingers crossed I make it into the thousands though quite frankly I would be happy just to make it to ten.  Only time will tell I guess.

I am absolutely knackered.  Last night I stayed up way too late.  Especially given the early start for today.  Which I was only a little late for but still, late is late.  In an effort to return to my conscious effort to improve, I have decided that I need to be a little more critical of myself.  Life is all about a careful balance, which at times needs careful and constant consideration.  Tardiness is no longer acceptable and I must change my ways.

(slow deep breath)

Tomorrow will be the real test though.

Tomorrow I have to 

• leave the house just after 7am (this is approximately an hour earlier than normal)
• interact with unknown quantities of strangers all while ensuring DD3 is happy and quiet

deep long breath out. straighten back. big slow breath in... and go.

Oh and did I mention the half hour drive to search for a room in a building I have never been to before.  On the upside I do get to check out a rather new school and learn all about positive behaviour support.  Must always remember the upside.  I like to think that I do but sometimes I know it is easier said than done.

Anyway that is it about it for now.  In light of tomorrow I am off to sleep.  You see on top of the already mentioned I would also like to bake some muffins, wash the dishes, fold all the laundry, iron some clothes, dust the fans, fly to ... oh wait... where was I? 

That's right I still need to tell you about some of the exciting things I have planned.  Well to start with there is my Inspirational Women Interviews.  The first of which I hope to have out before the end of the week.  I already have two more wonderful women with whom I want to share with you.

The other big thing is photos.  I am going to be needing a photo for every single post.  Some of these I will take specifically for the post.  Others may come from my personal collection and others again will be sourced from various places around the net.  I will also be taking suggestions and requests.  If you have a photo you would like to see featured on A Parenting Life (APL) drop me a line in the comment box.  

On that note I need a photo for today.  

(scratches head and creases brow)

Ok photo sorted (which  you actually already know as it is at the top of the post).  It is a landscape shot taken nearly 12 months ago.  It is somewhere in Kakadu National Park.  Darling Hubs took it while we were playing tourist with some much loved English family. (longing sigh)

Point + Shoot: Making Pancakes

Once again I have decided to play along with Sunny + Scout and Point and Shoot.  This weekend for us was pretty much a stay at home kind of weekend.  Hubs had to work for a while on Saturday and Miss L went shopping with the neighbours for a while but apart from that we all pretty much just stayed at home which I just loved.  I knew that I had a big week coming up so I wanted to take the chance to just chill and enjoy the girls while I could.

In between my endless efforts to get on top of the housework we took time out to make pancakes.  This was DD3's first time helping in the kitchen.  Miss L and DD2 thought that it was rather amusing to teach her how to taste test.  To them cooking is more about tasting than actually cooking.

The photo which I love (for obvious reasons) is in black and white to hide some of the mess and clutter that we were meant to be getting rid of.

Wanting to try something new and exciting we tried to make double chocolate pancakes.  They sorta turned out ok.  Sorta.  Unfortunately the original mixture was much nicer but there was not nearly enough of it, compared to the abundance of the awful chocolate ones.  In a desperate attempt to make the chocolate pancake disasters more appealing I turned them into this

Just in case you were wondering it is layers of double chocolate pancakes (they have white choc chips in them) with a delish raspberry butter and whipped cream.  Served with a drizzle of chocolate sauce.  Yum.  It actually tasted a lot better than this photo would suggest.  Well if a sickly sweet kinda I just want lots of sugar kind of way.

Monday Madness

With another Monday out the way I feel that it was all a little mad.  Enjoyable, but still a little mad.  Actually I think it is only an indication of how the rest of the week is going to go.  All of a sudden human contact seems to once again be heading towards new all time highs.  

Today saw me have a close one on one with an almost stranger.  And in her house as well.  Tomorrow is filled with canteen roster and school council meetings.  Followed by a 2 day positive behaviour thing with a few people from school.  Gosh my head spins just thinking about it all.  Seriously I just tried to make a date with my next inspirational lady and my head now feels like it is wants to explode.  I ended up closing the email and returning here.  Scheduling can be done later.  Much to my dismay I am slowly coming round to the need for a schedule.  Back to today.

Back to today where somehow I managed to step inside a wonderful woman's home and see the magical little space where she creates some of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.  Today where I sat in awe of some very gorgeous fabrics that I just knew would soon be beautiful clothes.  I actually got a little overwhelmed by it all and forgot a lot of what I wanted to ask.  Thankfully though they are only minor details and can be found out later.  I had thought about walking in with already written questions, but I did not want to appear too nerdy.  One of my strongest early memories about school is being called a square... Moving right along... ... ... 

More important though, than any interview I may or may not have carried out, I had a wonderful relaxed chat with a woman I really enjoyed getting to know and I hope you will too.  I found it warming to know that there were many similarities to be found.

All in all, my first Inspirational Interview went rather well.   I am rather looking forward to writing it all up and sharing it with you.  I am still not exactly sure when the final version will be ready but naturally as an APL avid reader you will be the first to know :)

Happy Halloween!

Editor's note: This is the final of the unpublished posts.  Fingers crossed from here on in I stay on top of it all and there is no more of this unfinished post nonsense.


Or not...depending on which side of the river you come from.

I live on the Australian side of the river where traditionally Halloween is not one of the festive seasonal events that we take part in. At least that was the way it was when I was a kid. In fact I can barely even remember the day as a child. My nine yr old just went to her second fancy dress Halloween party.  This time she had a black cape and hat and was a "Vitch" which apparently is the result of mixing vampire and a witch.

Personally I am reluctant to be fully supportive of the whole Halloween thing. I fail to see how encouraging our children to take candy from strangers is a good thing. However if the event can be celebrated without that taking part then hey who cares? At the end of the day it is the great time of the year to have a party.

The weather is starting to change (pretty much regardless of where you live) Hot is going cold and vice verse just as the droughts and the rains move from one place to the next.

As it turned out between then and now there were significant floods throughout the Eastern and South Eastern states of Australia.  In fact the were record rains across the country.  Which may have caused more destruction than good.  As I write large parts of America are also bracing for the devastation that excess water brings.  This comes after significant earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan that have left thousands without homes.  Not that any of that has much to do with Halloween but since my last sentence was about the weather I thought I would give an update on it.  Winter is well and truly on the way now.  So far it looks like it will be a cold one.  Records have already started to fall.  I wish I could be like Tony Abbott and not believe in Climate Change

Oh me oh my!

Editor's note: This is for some reason a previously unpublished post.  The only thing wrong with it really is that it is a little on the short side. 

Hard to believe that it is already the fourth no sorry wait fifth of November. That means there are about fifty odd days till Christmas!

Of course for those in the amateur literary world there are only 26 days in which to deliver a minimum of 50 000 words for the annual National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) This will be my third attempt. Last year I fell rather short of the mark. The death of my father the month before fills in as a lovely excuse for my failure but deep down I think if I had of tried just a little harder I would have been successful. The first year I managed to just scrape over the line in terms of words but the actual quality and story left more than just a little to be desired.

In some ways it is slightly crazy I guess to just sit down and spit out around 1700 words a night but at the same time it is exciting and challenging. Unfortunately though at times it is just overwhelming and put in the too hard basket. Which is where I have been the last four days :(

On a slightly positive note I do think that I have a story line (it may still be a little loose but at least it is something right?). I know that it is possibly a bit cliche and done a hundred times before but I think this year I will write a love story.

In case you are wondering, NaNo last year was a complete flop for me.  I barely even made it to the 10,000 mark.  On the upside though I have recently been writing a little more frequently than ever before