Rachel's Tears

I finally got this book last week and have now started reading. Already I'm enjoying what I've read so far. Can't wait to get a bit further and be able to start my review :D

I'm still knitting my purple scarf. I ended up pulling it out and starting over. I didn't like the width I'd made it.

I'm currently crocheting a face washer and instead of using cotton I'm using bamboo. It is so soft I can't wait to use it. Will try to get a photo of it tomorrow and post.

Painting Day Fridays

My painting days are on a Friday morning. I drop the kids off at school and go straight to painting.

I didn't go yesterday. I woke up with a killer headache so decided to rest at home instead.

We went to my parents again for dinner tonight and since I was feeling good decided to do some painting. I painted for about 2 hrs while the kids played and hubby watched the football.

My painting is coming along so nicely now.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

40 Day Challenge

Have you heard about the Love Dare?

Friends in the U.S. have told me about the movie Fireproof and how fantastic it is.

Unconditional love is eagerly promised at weddings, but rarely practiced in real life. As a result, romantic hopes are often replaced with disappointment in the home. But it doesn't have to stay that way. The Love Dare, a New York Times #1 best seller and major plot device in the popular new movie FIREPROOF (from the makers of Facing the Giants), is a 40-day challenge for husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love. Whether your marriage is hanging by a thread or healthy and strong, The Love Dare is a journey you need to take. It's time to learn the keys to finding true intimacy and developing a dynamic marriage. Take the dare!

This sounds like a great challenge and I'm going to do it!

I think it would be really great if friends did it too and we could all discuss.


The Love Dare is $19.95 from Koorong.

Days Like These

To be free as children are. Wouldn't it be nice?

I wish I could be!

These days, you wouldn't find me jumping in the water with my clothes on let alone swimming in just my underwear :D

Not that you would want to see that image (hehehehehe)

And before long, the kids will start to become shy about doing it too. The start to lose their innocence as they become more aware of things.

I know its the natural progression of life but still ....... it is sad! Days like these will eventually end yet I wish that they could be forever.

I wish my kids could always have the freedom of thought and actions.

Its Monday again

Where has the last week gone?

I sure don't know. I didn't realise it has been a week since my last post.

Well, today makes 10 day without coke or any alternative like pepsi, la ice, ac cola. No caffeine drinks. *Yay!!!!*

I'm really happy to say that last Monday night was probably the toughest of all though if I see a can/bottle of coke, I still want one.

Oh well, baby steps :D

Today the weather has been a bit abysmal. Rain, wind, no sun shining.

Instead of swimming I hung out with Bonnie and we found some really great bargains. We found this nifty Vinnie's shop and scored some great stuff. I got 3 sets of knitting needles for .......... 20c each ........

Can you believe it?

We couldn't. Definitely going back to that shop one day :D

We then went off to Kmart and guess what I found on sale?

Can't guess?

Well, I'll tell you.

A slow-cooker/crock pot for $50. Yep! It was normally $80 so that's a great bargain.

My mum used one as I was growing up and some people in my "now" life use them. It always smells so good when they are cooking I just had to get one and start using it.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, I will cook my first meal in it - Beef Stronganoff.

Can't wait.

Day 3 Without Coke

Wow! Day 3. I can't believe I've lasted this long actually. 

I feel the "need/desire/yearning" for a coke deep down. Its a burning ball sitting in my gut at the moment but I'm not giving in. Hopefully not in any near future either.

Yesterday I stood in front of a shop fridge just staring at the bottles of coke. I was having such a good conversation in my head and I bet I looked very strange :D The conversation went like this:

"Oh look coke is 2 for $5"

"Yeah and its $5 staying in your wallet"

"But, its on sale"

"Yeah, but you're not drinking it"

"But surely one won't hurt"

"I bet Bonnie won't say that"

"Oh that's right, bring out the big guns"

"Anything to keep you from buying that coke"

And you know what, I walked away empty handed.

Did I regret doing that?

Heck yeah! I am so badly wanting a coke right now I could of cheerfully shot myself but I'm sure it was a good decision.

Goes to show how badly I've been addicted to the stuff but I am glad I didn't give in.

Since Christmas I've lost 9 kgs and hopefully this will help me knock a bit more weight off. Plus going swimming every week is helping to build strength.

As Bonnie said, just need to find a small bottle of something good that I can have instead of coke but I don't want it to be any other type of softdrink.

Dish Cloth - its finished

Yep I finally finished my first dishcloth :D

After pulling it out and restarting about 6 times, I finally persevered and finished it.

Even though it is now made up of different colours and textures, its done!

Even though I somehow doubled my stitches, I got it sorted and its done!

So, this is probably the ugliest little dishcloth you've ever seen but it is special, cause its my first. But, I'm glad its done!

Coke - where are you?

Okay! I finally took the last step and this week's groceries had no coke in it. GULP!!!!!

Hopefully I won't give in. Hopefully I will make it through the next 21 days without having a coke. Once 21 days are past then the habit should be broken.

Oh why oh why did I ever decide to do this?

hahahahahahaha

Did I mention I was really grouchy last week? I hope I'm not this week.

Lucky I have plenty of panadol in stock :D






I so badly want to run next door and grab a cold coke!

Just for Fun - Part 2

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend your cool...

Opening Credits: Into the Night - Santa & Chad Kroeger

Waking Up: Ignition - Anthony Callea

First Day At School: Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne

Falling In Love: Chained To The Wheel - Black Sorrows

Fight Song: Hurts So Good - John Mellencamp

Breaking Up: The Trouble With Love Is - Kelly Clarkson

Prom: Small Town - John Mellencamp

Life: Sex On Fire - Kings Of Leon

Mental Breakdown: Let Me Down Easy - Chris Isaak

Driving: Thanks For The Memories - Fall Out Boy

Flashback: Pretty Girls Don't Cry - Chris Isaak

Wedding: Saving Grace - Pete Murray

Birth of Child: Beautiful World - Coldplay

Final Battle: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing - Jack Johnson

Death Song: Into The Dark - Ben Lee

Funeral Song: The Rose - Bette Midler

End Credit: Lips Of An Angel - Hinder

Stress

Do you have much stress in your life?

If anyone asks me I usually say "no more than anyone else" but this last couple of weeks I have actually felt stressed.

Its made me irritable, grouchy, argumentative, sad, nauseous and filled with a bit of loathing. The thing is, I let myself get stressed when in reality the control of it was all mine. I let myself start to dread things. This made me start disliking things and soon everytime I thought of it, I felt sick to my stomach. Once I had that feeling, lookout people around me. Thankfully my loved ones, love me even when I'm cranky. I don't know what I would've done without Justin last week. When things starting getting too much for me, he would just pop up beside me, hug me and tell me "I love you mummy".

One day his usual had an extra tagged on the end. "I love you mummy" hugs "because you're beautiful and loveable" awwwwwww how the heart breaks.

But it was this, that I grabbed ahold of and it was this that helped me keep from crumbling under the pressure I allowed to build. Everytime Justin told me he loved me, I was the best mummy, I was so pretty, I wasn't fat - just a bit big (hahahahahahahaha) I was able to breathe easier.

I'm not yet ready to talk about the stressor. Maybe I never will be. But I do know that with the love of the people I love, it is easier to bear.