Monday, December 19, 2011

New Dawn, New Day .....



I will be taking on some new challenges next year, and the blog will start to reflect this soon, I hope you will join in, follow along and help keep me motivated.
Stay tuned ..... all will be revealed!!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Pinning Madly!

OK - so Pinterest may not be the most intellegent use of time on a computer, but it can sure serve up some gems! I am in for some big changes next year, and hopefully some of these will help along the way .....









Source: google.com via Skye on Pinterest


Come and find some inspiration and laughs today with Tina and all us other mad pinners!

Tina Gray {dot} Me

Monday, December 12, 2011

Bad Mummy Moments ....

       My girls are not babies any more. At nearly six and just three, I think sometimes they have missed out on things that others would consider a rite of passage for a child.

      Example #1 - They have never had a photo taken with Santa.  Every year I would think - "This year. This year we'll do it." My fear I suppose is that the photo would turn out something like this....

"Get me the f*#k out of here!" (Source)
    Years ago, a girlfriend described an horrific trip with her two boys to see Santa - the yelling, the crying, the bribery and the resultant crappy shot that they still had to pay for.

    I kept thinking why would you bother? Who are these photos for? For Great Aunt Millie who never gets to see the kids? For Gran and Pop to put on the mantle? OK, perhaps I'm playing Scrooge for the sake of own sanity, and I know there are many, many families who have no dramas at all with the whole photo with the guy in the red suit gig.

    I'd love to hear others opinions - have you struggled through the photo with Santa, or do the kids boldly sit on his knee, reciting a well practiced list of possible Christmas morning bounty? How do you answer hard hitting questions like " How can Santa be here and and the other shops too Mum?" Or do you, like me just walk calmly past the line and think, "if they ask we will, if they don't - I'm off the hook!"

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Singing and Pinning - The Feast

I have avoided doing a Christmas themed edition so far, but at the request of the lovely Natasha who hosts our weekend glut of ear and eye candy, here it is!

On my extensive list of things to experience is a White Christmas, complete with a huge feast with all the trimmings - I know many in Australia do the big lunch thing - we tend to have a BBQ because we have so many places to go over the Xmas period. So, in an ode to all things decadent, enjoy my ultimate Christmas feast!




What will be on your Christmas table this year? While you salivate over these I will leave you with one of my favourite Christmas songs ...





Friday, December 9, 2011

Things I thought I knew........

I know it has taken me half an hour to get this far because my computer has decided that it will play host to some nasty Gremlins!!
But, lets get to it shall we?
Linking up with Shae at Yay! for Home for Things I know Friday!



This week I thought I knew some stuff, but then life helped me change my mind!

- I thought I had all my Xmas shopping completed - then realised I had forgotten about my parents and in the in-laws!! Oops, how did that happen?

- I thought I would relish the coming of summer to Melbourne, but then it decided that 32 degrees was a nice temperature for today and I changed my mind ;-)

- I thought I knew that after 12 years of attending the same companies Xmas party it would all seem a bit passe, but then they brought out the big guns, a cocktail function here.....




So I know that tomorrow evening I will be sipping wine, catching up with some great work mates, and hopefully not drunkenly swimming with the fishies!!

What do you know this week?

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - Mission Accomplished!

The tree is up - and so is an early Christmas pressie for the girls!!



I think this is the first time in three days it hasn't been occupied!

    Linking up with Trish for Wordless Wednesday!!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Oh Pinterest, how you help me waste time.......

Joining up with Tina this week, because if there is anything on the interwebs that can help me avoid doing the housework then Pinterest is surely it!

I am collecting colours, there are some great images on here....

Red -------










Purple --------------

Source: wanelo.com via Skye on Pinterest




Green --------

Source: flickr.com via Skye on Pinterest

Yellow ------




  





Source: imgfave.com via Skye on Pinterest




Come and share what has helped distract you from the daily grind this week!

Tina Gray {dot} Me

Monday, November 28, 2011

Christmas Countdown #2

The tree is going up this weekend, pressies are starting to be wrapped.... did somebody say Christmas?

I posted earlier in the year about my preference (OK addiction!) to online shopping, and it once again is proving a simple and stress free way to tick the tasks off the list.

Two down - um, lots to go??

The girls will be getting a trampoline from us, so I am not even going to attempt to wrap that!

The workmates will not be missing out - I will be filling these -
A real find - 50c each at the Reject shop!!
With these -


White Chocolate Peppermint Truffles - for recipe CLICK HERE

                                          and these -

Bailey's Rocky Road Fudge - SEE RECIPE HERE


I will have to make these at the last minute to avoid me sampling too many pieces!
There are so many clever crafts and recipes by bloggers to soak up, we will be trying our own soon, will post more if it is a success!

How are your preparations coming along?

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Smell of Success

Thank you to all who entered my Aquamist Giveaway - and here are the winners!

2 X $100 vouchers plus Aquamist prize pack.

Melanie W turned her hand to poetry;

"To keep my home fresh i let the air and light in
open the curtains,blinds, windows and take out the bin
Incense or the oil burner in the go
flowers on the table don't you know
Eucalyptus oil to give the house a good clean
Bi-carb to soak up odours unseen
plus nothing like having a visitor or 2
to inspire ones housework gets a power through
But nothing freshen a house more
than childrens laughter and baking smells galore! "
Mmmm, baked goods, Yes Please!!



Kate's tip was a simple one, but I had never thought of it before ...
  "I read a great tip on a great blog a whole ago that I've been using to freshen up the house.

Basically use your slow cooker as a giant aromatherapy burner! I put water with some sliced lemon, mint or whatever else takes my fancy and set it to cook with the lid slightly off to release the vapors. Works great!"

I can smell the freshness now!
 

Winner of $150 Coles Myer voucher and Aquamist prize pack;

Michelle had all bases covered with her winning entry -

"To keep my home looking fresh and clean,
(And trust me, I'm no domestic queen!)
I use vinegar to scour and scrub away
It's effective, and cheap enough to use every day!
Then there's lemons; they're great little wonders
For removing those stains caused by blunders!
And a cotton ball soaked in your fave scented oil
Put into your vacuum bag, you'll no longer recoil!
A small bowl of vanilla placed in the fridge
Will keep the aromas, well, ridgy-didge!
And last but not least, open a window or door,
The fresh air is simply too good to ignore!!!"


Thanks to Aquamist and Soup for the opportunity to host this giveaway!

Winners have been notified by email, great work ladies, I have no excuses for a stale home any more!!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Blatant Master Card Ad Rip Off ......

The last week has been incredible!

Too much to tell in words, so I'll rip off the old Mastercard ad ....


School Uniform - $270
We got WAY more than what you see here!


New set of wheels - $28,500

Love, love love ............

Cat at the vet for major surgery - $500

She was attacked by another cat  - ggrrr


Knowing our finances are in decent enough shape for the up's and downs of life - PRICELESS!!

What have been your "Mastercard moments" this week?

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Winner announced - Who's going to PROM??

Thank you to all who entered the Disney PROM movie pack giveaway.

The winning entry come from Elise, who captured beautifully the feeling of that one night where you feel so special .....

"My favourite school formal memory? That breathtaking "Ëver After" moment when I stepped down in my dream dress and met my boyfriends (now husbands!) eyes and watched them light up. That complete feeling of everything being right in the world right at that moment, with all other noise and distractions facing away. I can't wait to share that with my daughter and create her perfect night."

Thanks Elise, hopefully your daughter will enjoy the movie (and goodies) too!




If you missed out I have another great giveaway at the moment - go and CHECK IT OUT!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

WIN!! Aquamist and Vouchers!

** Thank you for all your entries, this give away is now closed. Winners announced shortly!  **


We have had some sicky tummies around here of late. Thank God I had my stash of AirWick Aquamist to help freshen up the house!



Get your hands on some!
Now, you have the opportunity to try these great fragrances for yourself. I am giving away 3 Aquamist packs which consist of;

1 X
One each of Aquamist full size (345ml) bottles in Fresh Waters, Wild Lavender & Mountain Breeze and Magnolia and Cherry Blossom. PLUS a Coles Myer Voucher to the value $150

2 X
One each of Aquamist full size (345ml) bottles in Fresh Waters, Wild Lavender & Mountain Breeze and Magnolia and Cherry Blossom. PLUS a Coles Myer Voucher to the value $100


Not only will your home smell amazing for your Xmas festivities, you will have some extra cash to splash too!

HOW TO ENTER - 
* Become a follower of Wherever the Day takes You, and tell me your best tip for keeping your home fresh.
* Competition runs from Wednesday 16 November - Friday 25 November 2011.
* The winners responses will be published in a post, winners will be notified by email, so make sure I have a way of contacting you!
* The best response, judged by myself will win the pack with the $150 voucher, two next best will receive packs with $100 vouchers.
* Winners will have three (3) days to respond, otherwise an alternate winner will be announced.
* This giveaway is open to Australian Residents only.

GOOD LUCK!!

If you haven't entered my Disney PROM giveaway yet, it closes Friday 18th, so get in quick!!

** No payment was offered or received for this promotion. I was given Aquamist product for the purpose of review, and Soup very kindly chipped in with the vouchers.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Bloggy Love...... 5 things I love about blogging.

I feel like Sally Field at the Oscars (you like me, you REALLY like me!)
This week, not one but two wonderful ladies have decided that as a blogger, I am finally getting my shiz together!
Firstly, Kerry, aka Special K, gifted me a lovely blog award, a wonderful surprise.

Then, the amazing Mama Grace decides to bestow a versatile blogger award to yours truly! In order to accept this award, I need to tell you 5 things about myself, and of course, share the love around!

Seeing my 50th post was a massive overshare,  I have decided to instead let you know what blogging has brought to my life.

1. I have found a community of strong, funny, courageous, resourceful women (and some guys!) who inspire me daily.

2. I am seeing myself more fully. Beyond a mother, wife, employee. I am someone who now has an outlet for opinions and creativity, and SHOCK HORROR! others are actually happy to read them!

3. I am learning to be more accepting and less judgemental. More accepting and grateful of the things I have in my life, and less judgemental of people who choose to live differently from the way I do.

4. I am becoming more skilled with a computer! Who knew I could do more than my banking and wasting time hanging out on facebook! I still do not understand a thing about html (sorry Glowless!), but I'm getting there!

5. I am loving the opportunity to share opinions, share experiences, share tragedies and triumphs with so many others - if you see a crazed short woman drooling all over her fellow bloggers at DPCON12,  just hand me a Kleenex and say hi!

Here are my 5 nominees to share the Versatile Blogger award with;

Mandy - A Little Space like Home

Jo   - Chickens and Bees

Eloise - The True Adventures of Eloise

Daisy - Daisy, Roo and Two

Shae - Yay! for Home

If you haven't already read any of these amazing blogs, go check 'em out!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Singing and Pinning - A little bit of magic....

A great song from one of my favourite films - Practical magic.







Some magical images to make you smile today





Do YOU believe in magic?
Come and join in with 5 minutes just for me!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Things I Know - The Random Edition


Lots and lots of random things are swimming around in my brain this week, so here goes!

- I know that these girls are growing up so fast! Shannyn has had two school transition sessions to date, and is so excited to be a 'preppie' next year. Ashlee keeps asking me when her 3 year old kinder starts - good luck to her teachers trying to get her to sit still for more than 30 seconds!

- I know that the year is speeding to an end way too fast - we have the girls large pressie already sorted (can anyone say trampoline!!) but no others yet. If my Xmas tree turns out anything like this I will be well pleased!

Source: flickr.com via KKBar on Pinterest


- I know I am chuffed to be awarded my first Blog award from a day with specialK - and I will be passing on the love very soon ....


- I know I just had to take a break from this post for a minute to change the stinkiest nappy ever, and that I am SO OVER toilet training!! (Sorry for the overshare xx)

- I know that you all still have time to enter my PROM movie pack giveaway. If you have 'tweens' this would make a great Christmas present.

Come and share the things you know with Yay for Home this week!
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