a(bout) 10 minute makeover

Over the past week I have been inspired by The Nesters 10minute makeover tips and by all the participants of her linky party, all those others who were inspired to make changes and get them up for others to see....well I'm a bit late for the linky but here's my 1st effort...

our entry... Yes this was the first impression a visitor would get at our door...



(well possibly it's not that far off the wrong impression since most of the house is not real tidy!)





So I tried 'shopping the house' and came up with a few bits & pieces but I had to buy what made the biggest difference - the shoe basket.




The rest was mainly tidying and re-arranging.



add a blue box to tidy up all the re chargers, move the mat in...dust...







still not quite perfect or finished but a huge improvement I think





....now how long can it stay this way??








Looking thu all the other 10minute improvements, I realised there seems to be a growing trend (in the USA mostly?) to have words on walls and I'm thinking they don't look too bad....so I had a look but only found US suppliers (in US$- a bit of an issue at the moment!) but I have been inspired so I may pursue it further to find just the right words for the wall to the right of the piano -you can see it in the lounge & dining rooms so it'll have to be good!

Flower Friday

Our Passionfruit vine is struggling to give us some fruit

Bubble Boy

I am very much enjoying my time alone with *Boy during school hours. I'm starting to think we are very much alike . Yesterday he delighted himself with a bottle of bubble he found -got to say a quality bubble mix makes a huge difference to a cheapy brand.

Monday Madness

A bit late but it has taken a bit to sink in.... On Monday I volunteered to be the schools fete co-ordinator.... having now seen the files from last year I fear madness had indeed taken over and I could not be held accountable for my actions that morning.

The fact was that rumours were starting that it would be cancelled so I felt that if it was and I hadn't volunteered it would be my fault for being lazy....I mean I've got heaps of time haven't I being 'just' a stay at home mum with a sideline in mostly weekend facepainting????

I was thanked on the front page of this weeks newsletter and lots of people have been (sniggering) coming up to say 'good on you' and they'll be there to help, just let them know.....

Anyway I picked up the 'stuff' from the co-ord of the last 2 years and will trawl thru it all this weekend and try to work out a timeline which doesn't involve everything having had to be done by January. The fete is 1August.

Wish me heaps of luck and if anyone out there has any tips please pass them on.....

Flower Friday

My day after VDay when the flowers are on special bunch of Lilys from YD.

my special valentine

no, not YD this pre dates his meeting by 5 yrs.....

On my 25th birthday (in October) I arrived, alone in the big smoke of London. I found somewhere to live and secured a job but found friends a bit hard to come by, not having someone to do any introducing....

Come February I thought it was time to get out and start getting over to Europe and where better to start than a visit to the Venice Carnivale??? SO I got me butt booked on a tour that travelled across to Paris, down thru Germany & Switzerland to Italy for a couple of days in Venice then back to London.

So it was cold and bloody early the morning of Valentine's Day when I stood on Kensington High St alone and wondering whether I was in the right place, when I was finally approached by another muffled up person carrying a bag - are you going to Venice? she asked and thus started a conversation that lasted all the way to Paris and has continued from then on...

We have returned to our respective homes (she's in NZ), got ourselves married and produced some kidlets but tho our face to face contact time is sorely limited now our friendship endured. She also has unfailingly sent me a valentine's day card each year...I fail to remember to get organised nearly every year but really do appriciate the friendship, memories and love she has shown over the years..


Make a Grunge Heart at WiddlyTinks.com

Have a lucky Black Friday the 13th

(clipart from http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/halloween/)

wet weather fun

After school drop off this morning I stopped to have a chat with another Mum.....*Boy took his chance in the rain and was soaked thru by the time we got to the car.... When we got home he was straight back out in it.

Wet but he was soooo happy!!!!

Flower Friday

I've always know these as Matchsticks but that probable not the correct name...
This display is at the Brisbane Art Gallery.

museum round 2

To beat the heat today *Boy & I went into South Bank to the MoMA and Museum - the air con was wonderful! (And that includes the a/c on the new train we had for the trip home -icey!) But unfortunately we couldn't stay and made our way back outside into the heat.

I think *Boy really enjoyed it, altho it was a slightly shorter trip than with #1Son a few weeks ago. The pic is of his favourite kid activity - in a dark room with 'blue' lites you could make things with all these shapes or just move them around on the wall. It looked really good an while a bit blurry, I'm surprised how well the pic actually turned out.

He was all tired out and fell asleep in the car after the train ride home and is now still sleeping on the lounge - until #1 arrives home from school -conveniently being dropped off by one of his friends mums today (Yay).

Fire Storms

Unfortunately I don't think Ruddy had this in mind when he was writing up his stimulus package....

(image source - http://news.ninemsn.com.au/)

I wonder if he can take it all back and donate the huge sums he was to outlaying into helping these poor families to get their lives back on track. Unfortunately this hell on earth has even pushed those suffering from massive floods in the north off our radars.

The death toll is over 100 and I tear up at each news bulletin.

Wonders of Blogsville

Again, I will admit to being the eternal lurker - reading many blogs daily but often not knowing what to say or how to comment on the blogs I read.

Over the last month a few posts or whole blogs have stuck in my mind....

One of them is By the Chimney with Care on Kreg's blog. It reminded me that true Xmas spirit can show up and it surprised me that I read about it in this blog - not because Kreg doesn't deserve something nice happening his way but his blog is usually full if humour and little gems he has found like this...

Two more have had me wanting to just hug the writers as I have nothing I can say to them that I think could possibly ease what they are writing of. I haven't been there myself but want to offer support, take them away from their troubles and make them all better. They are strong and wonderful mothers and my heart aches for them both.

Fe has custody issues and an ex who doesn't seem to have the sense or goodness of a cockroach but is raising the most wonderful pair of boys. And over at 3Ring Circus there's Tiff, Mum to 7 & who takes the most gorgeous photos and who is being tested by the govt/hospital (?) over the availabiltity of medical proceedures for one of her beautiful but sick preschool twins. This amazing woman has already suffered thru miscarriages and the death of a child and the world should be doing everything they can to get little Ivy over the hurdles placed in front of her.

I am so lucky.

Finally on a light note WhatKatyDid had been doing some research on an 'uncomfortable proceedure' and found this hilarious read which really made me LOL!

Have a read if you haven't been there already and leave a comment if you can, I will call it mine by proxy....

baker baker...

I am doing a trail gluten free week to try to eliminate some possible problems regarding my innards.....so I go out and buy some gf bread as if I can't have my cormflakes, I am going to have toast for breakfast.

This gf bread was on sale for $4 and I got to eat 4 slices before it went all moldy -that's 2 days worth of toast!! $1 per slice! not impressed at all.

So I thought I'd give baking a loaf a go, can't be hard just a pkt of Basco bread mix, an egg & 1 cup of water and stir with a mixer.....and da dah I have a lovely looking loaf. So proud I've never baked bread before - not even sure if I've ever made a proper big cake actually! How good does it look??

Anyway its mostly ok tasting, just fine for toast but a bit gluey near the bottom - maybe a little longer in the oven next time....

Australia Day in our street

Just realised I hadn't posted about A-Day, must'v e started and got interupted...unusual!....



This year one of our neighbours got very much into the spirit of things and had us over for a BBQ. Lamb, mango salad, pav & lamingtons were amongst a huge spread.

After a swim and eating we ventured out into our street ( a dead end) and had gum boot tossing, cooeee calling then for a finale' 2 toad races. The kids were all very excited - some had been toad catchers and were sure they could pick the winners.

The winner was Big Warty and a disgusting speciman he was too!

______________________

Earlier in the day I did my face painting stint at the RSL which was extended to 4 hours during the 3rd. Not that I minded, it wasn't very busy and I was sitting in the nice coooool air conditioned foyer. Did quite a few faces but only got to do 1 koala which I thought would have been more popular. Anyway they were pleased with the work so if they want a painter again I think they'll call us -which is what its all about!