Frightfully Frugal Fortnight.

Nothing forces you to appreciate the little things in life than a $0.00 bank balance. Who knew the joys that could be discovered and the humour that can be uncovered.

There was a bit of a mix-up with my first long service leave pay...there was none of it!! Posed a few concerns (alarm, swearing, panic, complete calamity). Turns out there was a mistake and it would be corrected with backpay...next fortnight! With savings invested in a new business it was going to mean a very tight fortnight.

Welcome to frugal boys :)

Ohh the clever creations one can serve up from the dregs in the back of the pantry. Thank goodness that Joe's birthday present had already been purchased and that Poppy had a winning ticket in the meat raffle at the club. The surprising thing is that it was kind of fun. I had to be creative, we made a joke of it all and it seems my children really enjoy plain food. Rice, steak with a bit of lettuce (slightly shrivelled) and tomato on the side was DELICIOUS! Plain rice?!?! Since I don't eat meat I wasn't quite so excited myself- I got the Mumbai Mushroom packet thing that came in a show bag....hmmmmmmm :/ That's why it was still in the back of the pantry. Another frugal favourite was corn fritters and hash browns with salsa- a few potatoes, tin of corn and dusty jar of salsa...YUM!!! And who would ever complain about homemade biscuits and cakes.

We survived our ordeal and even managed to host a party in the midst of our financial crisis.

It gave me lots to reflect on and most certainly made us all grateful for our good fortune, our family and our home (however freezing it is at the moment). It really is the little things that count and we are lucky.

Bugs and Beasties!

My baby boy turned 7! What a gorgeous 7 year old he is too. 

 We had a special family afternoon tea on the day of his birthday and then a little party for his small group of good mates at school. It is exciting to say that they were ALL very chatty and noisy- music to our ears. 

Our bug and beastie loving boy has had this theme before but loved it so much that he asked to do it all again. This time we didn't get the presenters in with their snakes and bugs, we wanted the focus to be on Joe enjoying the company of his friends. So we set about organising our own activities that would involve team challenges.  

They each had a little 'Field Journal' and pencil to start their challenges for the day.

With cones full of trail mix to get them going they all set off on challenge number 1!

I took photos of the plastic bugs we stock at 'It's a Date!' and printed off a grid for the boys to tick off as they found each bug. Their reward for completing the challenge was a bug catcher to take home. Joe buried all of the bugs in the sand trough and they all had to dig through it to find them all.

Challenge Number 2!

All of the boys wrote the number 1-7 in their books and then had to set out to find 7 posters hidden around the yard. Each poster had a number and a word- which spelled out a clue when they found all 7 posters.

The clue led them to this treasure box containing precious, lucky stones. 

Of course there was eating to be done too!!

The gorgeous bug printables included the Field Journals, bug juice labels, cupcake toppers (which I used as cake pop tags and gift bag tags.

 The source can be found here:

http://www.celebratemag.com/content.aspx?id=27157

 

This spectacular cake creation was made by my Mum. 

The bonus cup cakes she made were a perfect treat to take home in cake boxes at the end of the party.

All of the products used are available now from It's a Date! Please let me know if you see something in particular you like or if you'd like the whole kit!! 

The website is coming along and it won't be long before the grand opening takes place. I am more than just a little bit excited!

A Frosty Relationship.

I am not on friendly terms with my house in Winter. It offers no warmth or friendliness at all. In fact it is rather cool and grumpy. When we seek out it's embrace we are met with frosty disinterest. Rude isn't it!
It seems to conveniently grow itself a layer of dust over every surface, that reappears as soon as I so wipe it clean. It doesn't allow the sun in to cast that lovely warm glow over the cobwebby corners but rather blocks it out with it's icy disdain.

I long to meet my lovely friend again- my summer house. That's when we enjoy each others company. The house has a welcoming warmth, the light shines from within and visitors enjoy their stay. The dust and cobwebs are blown away with the breeze that flows through the open doors and windows. The house smiles again, and so do we.

Meanwhile I snuggle up beneath the rug and layers of clothing sipping hot tea in the weak, watery sunshine that is creeping in through a single window... while it lasts.

Embrace the quirky!

Quirkiness is a undervalued trait. It is funny and interesting. Sometimes it can wear thin in big doses, but overall it is a fabulous source of amusement.
Some households are more quirky than others, in fact some households just don't appreciate quirkiness at all! Hard to believe really.

Some people might have quirks in just one area- like numbers for instance. Perhaps they only like some numbers. Maybe they have a preference for even numbers and would rather avoid those 'odd' odd numbers. There is nothing 'ODD' about that is there? It's easy to cope with in real life situations. If someone is adjusting the volume on the TV, it's not too much trouble to make sure it is done in even increments- is it!? Of course buying a house with an odd number may cause a small degree of discomfort, but that minor detail can be overcome. Having 3 children rather than 2 or 4 (or 6 even) may pose some initial concerns, but then again the realities of having 3 children will surely address that issue.

Apparently music notes can have personalities too- in the mind of a creative, quirky type. Here's how it goes:
A- calm and nobody really hates him.
B- a jerk! He doesn't have a sharp and he knows it!
C- really cool and kind of a show-off.
D- really small and shy.
E- weak and needs someone to protect it.
F- really protective over E and wants G to stay away from E.
G- everyone thinks G is bad but he is good inside.

Then of course there is the obsessive type quirkies. For example, maybe they only like to watch BBC comedies from the 1970's- hey that was good TV!! Hilarious and so, so politically incorrect. What's not to love?

Maybe you know someone with a quirk or two. I say embrace the quirkiness!! Enjoy it in moderation and enjoy the good, long belly laughs that can come with it. Appreciate the clever and creative way of looking at the world. Perhaps ask the real estate agent before you view a house whether it is on the odd or even side of the street!!!

Campbell the STAR!!!

I love visiting the Children's Hospital at Westmead these days. We are met with admiring fans who have all sorts of nice things to say. Just yesterday I was asked by a member of the Orthotics team if Campbell 'ever got angry about anything'. According to her she has never seen him cross or upset about anything at all. I smiled and offered my gratitude. I was bursting with pride and took the moment to feel proud of my teenage son (nearly 15- but let's not discuss that). He knew so many people as we made our way through the corridors, some that I couldn't recall or perhaps had never met myself. They all knew him and were more than happy to stop for a chat and to accept his compliments- because those compliments were in abundance!!
He was so kind and made the effort to comment on new hairstyles, lost weight and 'you look pretty good for your age!!!!!!' When he asked our lovely nurse why she didn't like 'Mary' who happened to be walking past at the time, everyone laughed with good nature, and dismissed it as a Campbell Funny. Goodness knows why he assumed that one workmate didn't like the other- but the awkwardness was quickly passed over.

It is a genuine pleasure to take my Campbell to appointments these days. He now works very hard to try to make polite conversation, interpret reactions and apologise when inappropriate slips out (like...' you look very old for your age don't you?') He is ever so charming and wins smiles where ever we go.
Please rest assured parents of autistic children who are now wondering how you can end up with an equally charming teenager. We have indeed travelled a rocky road to get here, but please know that you are not a bad parent- and don't listen to the people who tell you so.
The scars you have as a result of scratching and biting will fade but be a constant reminder of how far your child has come and the wonderful job you have done in supporting them.
The many tantrums will result in a better awareness of what your child needs and how to avoid triggers.
The wonderful professionals who care for your child have very short memories and are also very forgiving.

He is quite adamant that he will be a doctor one day...or at least offer up our dog Charlie as a companion to sick children. Charlie will most certainly scoff their dinner and poo in the corner, but I am certain that Campbell will make a positive difference to sick kids one day. He would be a wonderful companion, cheering them up and making silly jokes. It is the perfect role for him.
I am so much a better person and mum because of my handsome young man.

Thank you Campbell xxxxxx

PS I still feel guilty about the $5 note we found on the path as we were leaving. Although I did immediately look around to see if anyone had dropped it, Campbell said that we shouldn't have it because it belonged to someone else!! I didn't know what I was supposed to do with it, but Campbell did spend $6 on books later that day- do you think it is fair to call it even???

The day adventure found us.

While the two big brothers set off with their packed lunches, seeking adventure in the land known as 'MINECRAFT', what can two younger brothers do? Forlorn and dejected after being deemed too young to fend off lava from the erupting volcano, they would just have to hear all about the amazing resorts and roller coasters, that could be found in this unique and distant land, after lunch. What could be done to fill the day? Could there be excitement enough in the confines of the 'Powerhouse' or would they have to venture further afield and explore the underwater abyss, where dugongs frolic and sharks hover overhead???
What great expense would this day amount to- after all adventure of this type cannot come cheap. Fear not my little companions, fun and excitement will find you where you least expect it....

The great walls are available to you in order for you to construct the shelter to protect you from the hoards of screaming toddlers...

Beware!! The walls are known to shrink at sunset.

The dim lighting and those multiplying toddlers eventually resulted in the need for fresh air and sustenance...

A quick escape was sought and found.

Yes, my young thrill seekers, be ever watchful of the nugget stealing Ibis. 

He is both quick and very hungry.

Make a fast getaway, for there is great excitement ahead....

Your outstanding detective work in solving the mystery of the lost girl was met with much gratitude from her gravely concerned Father. However calm and unconcerned she seemed as she wandered the vast grounds of the Kingdom of Darling Harbour, her father was nearing exhaustion after many hurried excursions around the outlying paths. While the Ranger seemed unperturbed with the chain of events, my considerate companions were thoughtful and creative in finding the solution to this problem.

Although the wailing woman sitting in the nearby ponds caused us great alarm, there was less need to panic than we first believed. As she struggled to pull something of great value and importance from the water, all the while screaming and splashing, it was not quite as serious as we feared. It was simply the iPad she had dropped into the swirling (knee deep) depths. Her soaking wet clothes on this winter day would surely raise more concern to her later (when she stopped sobbing and the crowd of fascinated onlookers dispersed).

Who could have thought what excitement our day would bring, and all for the cost of a few picnic boxes of 'happiness' from the renowned McDonald Clan (minus 1 nugget and 2 fries).

The happy reunion with the hyped up big brothers completed our day. Thank goodness for the terribly long journey we faced on our way home or we would have missed the blow by blow descriptions of the amazing things to do and see in this incredible land of 'Minecraft'.

I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

The winter holidays have passed so quickly. It doesn't feel like we have done much, but it has been so lovely to relax and have time together.

Most of the holidays have been spent unpacking boxes of delightful party supplies and then trying to find somewhere to put it all. My fabulous husband has finally kindly started cleaning up the mess in our garage to make room for my new venture. It's slow and frustrating progress but it is starting to take shape.

I made the decision to take the remainder of my long service leave and not return to work this year. I was fortunate to have just enough leave left to see me through to the end of the year on half pay. We are not sure yet what 'half pay' will actually look like on a pay slip, but we have made some changes to our budget in preparation. Hence the need to step up to make some extra income if we are going to keep this roof over our heads. The Big Hearted Business Conference that I went to with my beautiful friend had planted a seed. The seed has sprouted! I have been longing to do something creative, I have been longing to be more present for my family, I have been longing to be able to catch my breathe and slow down the pace for a while. I am hoping that I am creating the opportunity to do all of that.

It was not as easy as it might seem to decide to not go back to my job. I love being a teacher and I find it hard to imagine ever doing anything else. The class I have left was full of the most beautiful little people who were going to fill my heart with joy this year. My boss has been very much inconvenienced and is disappointed- it was VERY hard breaking the news to him. I love the people I work with and I have missed seeing them all every day. But the time I have had to be Mum just cannot compare. The constant feeling of guilt is no longer there. I am just here for them and I even have time to just be me. I had forgotten what it felt like to breathe deeply, to be still, to sleep peacefully. The pace had become all too hectic and there were simply never enough hours to do it all.

I am hopeful. I am excited. I am happy. I am marching to the beat of my own drum.