Being Still ...... Take #2.... Follow the Yellow Brick Road

oooooohhhh don't red heels just say "hot"?! So prettiful......

Back to reality...
Today, I'm not sure stillness was achieved..... but contentment and indulgence (cheap indulgence) was.....

After planting a few sloppy kisses on Master3's gorgeous-as cheeks, and saying goodbye.... 5mins later, he turns to me and says "Mummy, are you still here?"
It was because I was talking to one of the teachers..... not because I was planted there. For real.
Then at the door, I called out, "Theo, See ya later. Bye!" To which he replied, without looking at me: "Bye Byeeeeee" - in the same tone of voice that I associate with his sister rolling her eyes at me, one that says Mum, seriously, just go, you are doing serious damage to my coolness image here.....

So I left, quite happily..... walking home....
Do you notice anything wrong about this picture???
Yep, I was pushing a buggy home.... it was holding my handbag. (I relented and had to take the buggy this morning after yesterday unsuccessful attempt to get Master3 to walk to kindy. 2 minutes later he was moaning and asking to be carried..... )
I stopped to talk to a couple of other kindy mums further down the path and asked them exactly that: Do you see anything wrong with this picture???....

Why didn't you just leave the buggy at kindy and pick it up at pick up time??? they suggested ..... because really, that would have been the sensible thing to do!

Doh. I have obviously lost a few marbles.
Tomorrow, I will do that.

So my morning disappeared quickly.......

In the bag, a lethal possum trap I picked up from the regional council..... there is both joy in having it, and in the fun of my shoes.....
New health tonic from my favourite Huckleberry Farms..... this apparently will do everything I want it to... used by the Egyptians, you know..... and as far as we know from those drawings on the walls..... Cleopatra was a hottie.
Free samples of "Choc-Like"..... which is free of all sorts of important Yummyness.... and tasted nothing like chocolate.....and reminded me that nearby (across the road and around the corner by car) I would find two of my favourite C words......

chocolate caramel slice and coffee..... full of everything yummyness and the perfect way to celebrate finding the new health tonic.
I spent 30mins here, sitting, eating and reading a rubbish magazine dated Oct 2009, full of photos of Brangelina and their tribe, and ideas of how to get bikini ready.....

Still, I was still for that time.

Then on my way to the car, well across the road, I spotted some fabric offcuts..... but nothing to buy. Which is a good thing too.
And with 5mins to spare before really needing to go in for pick-up..... I cleaned out my wallet.

Good.

I asked my friend at pick up time, what she did that morning. She said nothing. She watched a movie.

I like.

Being Still..... Take #1.

I had the most unsuccessful first attempt at being still today.

I'm not quite sure what being still means to me.


Today was the first time we walked to school and kindy and I had to walk back home again by myself. Master3 is now doing 3 mornings. It's different.
My plan this year has been to use those mornings to do work I get out-sourced to me..... work I would usually do in the evenings or sometimes at the weekend or both (if there is heaps).... but as I would think someone would have it, my first week of our new routine managed to coincide with a week of not much work, which I'd completed already.


hmpf.
So, I walked away from dropping both kids off and began to walk home..... then managed to grab a ride with my friend who goes my way...... and therefore filled a gap.
Home was strangely still.
I've intentionally decided that I'm not filling up my mornings over the next few weeks with coffee dates etc. It's too easy, and I'm not really wanting it.....
What's not easy, is sitting still..... and just enjoying it.
After a few tears of woe me... and a text to MJ asking for prayer because I was finding it strange being by myself .... I decided to run some errands and take my search for stillness to the mall....



Being still at the Mall....... Oxymoron......

did some banking

browsed....

tried on clothes

have no confidence with clothes shopping

and no money for clothes shopping,(so I'm all good with it)

still, browsing and trying on was much nicer when not in a rush

leave shop questioning my style....

found some shoes I'm coveting.....emerald green... lovely heel.... $189.... coveting is better than stealing aye?

(I'm so sure that if I had those shoes, I could tap the heels together and something spectacular would happen. Too cute, they are.....)

leave shoe shop empty handed

buy with confidence a grande-trim-flat-white-with-sugar-free-vanilla from you-know-where

ahhhhhh sip of stillness..... and a bit of this is good....

spot interesting sale sign on way to buying yet another lunchbox

in 5mins flat I walk out of a shop with a shoebox in hand

they are red

with bows

a bit of colour and fun

aptly named Kansas

and only $15

That'll do, Gail, that'll do

Oh Dorothy.... such a trend setter.

This is so odd for me. I'm a person who quite enjoys her own company. Quite love it actually......(I'm my number 1 fan!) Just not so used to having it anymore..... snippets here and there... just forgotten how to completely relax.... I can 50% relax, maybe 75%.... but part of my mind is always elsewhere......

Being still for me will involve getting used to it being me. Not wife. Not mum. Not friend. Not anything to anyone else. Just Me. I want ME time. Whatever that is supposed to be.

It also hit me today.....

( as I was being still and driving a car at the same time and listening to some pretty great lyrics "I find, you here, in the stillness of your Love.... and you sing over me, I'm defined by Your love...")

.......... that I'm feeling the same uncertainty about entering into a different season as I did when I stopped teaching to become a SAHM. Its different. Not bad. But it does and will continue to, take me a while to adjust.

Take #2 tomorrow.

I already feel a few steps ahead of it.

A Slight Baking Overkill....

I ran 9.84kms today. (Yeah, it has nothing to do with this post, but I thought I'd chuck that out there.... you know, because I'm thinking I'm pretty AWESOME.)
I then drank a whole bottle of that sports drink stuff because I was pretty wasted because, you know, I pretty much ran 1okms. (Let's round it up because we can and that's what the supermarket would do with my money).
I also mapped out a full 10kms run for my next attempt because, you know, my guesstimating isn't quite cutting it, and you know, I should have listened to MJ and done that before hand.
But you know, my intention this morning was to only run 5kms..... so guesstimating the other 4.84kms was pretty on-to-it.
Yeah, I'm AWESOME.

Anyways, onto today's post about nothing.

There has been this humongous baby boom in our church. I think I missed the sermon where this must have been promoted (jokes) because there are babies popping out - pow, ping, shazzam - left, right and centre.
Once upon a time this would have stirred up the masterchef within and I'd have meals on wheels for all these baby-making people...... but for some reason, it just hasn't happened. I blame the heat. And the fact that there are SO many families.... it's quiet overwhelming.
I did try. Twice. And both times I'd forgotten about the extra casseroles I'd cooked, left them cooling OVERNIGHT and then remembered about them the next morning and had to chuck them out. The second time it happened I swore. #@%!! Such a waste.
So yeah, it just hasn't happened.
And then this afternoon...... it didn't happen again.
Instead I got into this mode of cooking. For us. Put the sprinkler on in the back yard and left the children to do whatever out there while I thought about making dinner........ I decided on this bacon/egg open pie thing I'd done before... which requires pastry.... which I didn't have.... so I made some......
and because I had the food processor out, I thought oh what the heck, I might as well make two more lots of pastry and chuck them in the freezer ready for another two times.

Honestly, this is the easiest thing in the world.... pastry in the dish, chopped up bacon, eggs cracked on top.... (not cheap as I used around 7 free range eggs).... some onion if you wish, a grated zucchini....whatever else.... a sprinkling of cheese on top... some tomato.... cracked pepper...
And because the cheese was out and so was the grater, I made some tiny cheese puffs for lunch boxes. Chucked half in the freezer.
And what the heck, what about some biscuits too?? The easiest recipe in the world (thanks Carol) and I chucked a whole heap of craisins in to offset the mountain of butter and chocolate chips in it....the cool thing too about this, is you can freeze half of the biscuit mix (if you wish) or even just freeze some of the biscuits.... which I did.And because I was thinking chocolate chips, I decided to make a coconut-chocolate slice. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Half of that in the freezer too.

Hopefully I'll get inspired to make those meals this week........ my freezer is looking pretty good though.....

Did I mention I went on a run this morning? Practically 10.5kms..... hahaha.

Will post recipes soon.....

Crikey, What's My Name Again?

..... honestly, this is where I am at.

I think routine has hit me hard. It took it's jandal off and threw it at my face. Then slapped me on the backside a few hundred times.

This week I have:

grieved the end of the holidays

considered home-schooling (briefly,again)

realized that the next 1 billion years will have "first days of" where I feel like a part of me has broken off

made some yummy muesli bars (Donna H has redeemed herself)

watched an AWESOME start to the final LOST season. Oh my jolly goodness.

watched a pretty-ok start to the Greys Season

positioned myself as the most high-maintenance mum at our swim school (swapping, changing etc). I'm so clever.

impressed myself with my organizational skills at being ready for the next day.....

annoyed and disorientated myself by not being able to find my car keys this morning (see how one cancels out the other so you end up not feeling anything about yourself at all)...

missed his cheeky smile and calming personality

missed her raucous laughter and chatty persona

oozed money from my pores into our free education system

said no to her pleas for roman sandals for school

slept on the couch, not because of marital discussions but because the girl heard a possum on the roof and refused to go back to her own bed

functioned in a sleep deprived state...... which is not fun for anyone....

talked to my friend at swimming about herbal sleep deprivation remedies.....(it's been a few weeks of waking up in the middle of the night and not being about to go back to sleep, possums are playing on this)

felt sorry for the dog so bought her a dog bone chew thing

coffee-ed at friend's (thanks Shells) and caught up with another friend at the same time (Tracey, looking fabulous btw)

needed the distraction and detour on the way to doing groceries

wondered how I can generate more income by doing nothing??

THANKED GOD for: Friday, MJ's great job, Miss6's new class & teachers, Master3's fabulous kindy, coffee and chocolate, friends, MJ and his magical tv powers, stationery packs that can be bought from school for less than the shops, ice blocks, swimming, my friend Carol, a comfy couch, fatal possum traps that will be hired from the council soon, TAKE-AWAYS for dinner tonight

His promise of SO MUCH MORE..... & this cool-as verse from my reading this week:

The Lord will fight for you; You need only to be still.

Exodus 14:14

I am so thankful for life, aye?

Going to be still. Stillness intrigues me. So funny thinking about "trying" to be still..... coming up with a plan for stillness....... so hard when you have ants in your pants and possums waging a war against you.

How you all going?

This Room has been known to make me Cry.....

Sad, but true. I have found myself on my knees more than once in this room..... crying in desperation and in wonder of why me Lord?!
Please put on your 3D glasses if you need the mess to jump out and hit you even more than it already does...... Be WARNED all you OCD people. Some of these before images will distress you. My door is open if you need to bring your cleaning crew. I understand.
Know that before Christmas I sent 3 large sacks of stuff from this room to the Salvos..... but came home on Christmas Day with a boot full of new stuff to fit into their room. It's an issue we are looking at dealing with........
The other thing I'm working with is a limited budget to help create better solutions..... but I think we are doing alright with that......

So here are the room occupants. This is their room.... tidied.
I'm not sure if I can say well, at least they tried? I think they did. Their faces read amused to me.
Before: One of the first things I had to do was paint out this wall. All the time I'm thanking God that we didn't buy our home any sooner than we did. Just three years earlier and I'm sure it wouldn't have been a Cab. Sav feature wall we'd have to paint out...... no, in the late 90's I'd have painted my house so that it resembled the 6 sides of a Rubiks cube. Primary colours. Shudder.

After: All the same colour. Phew. It has lightened up the room and made it more gender neutral. Cost: nothing. We had the paint.
This is a mummy's tidied room.
At the moment the kids have to share a room. We bought these king-single bunk beds when Master3 moved out of his cot. They are huge, but perfect. They also separate into two large king-single beds so when they eventually move into their own rooms, one day, they will be sorted. They are huge beds too so should last them into their teens.....

Before:
Just a mess. I moved the bookcase to the other side against the bunks (see above photos). Sent anything that was an "outside toy" outside (in the back porch, now awaiting me to find a garden shed for the backyard!)...... Most of this stuff belongs to Miss6. The masking tape feature she added to her dolls house on a whim is just about all off now too.

A desk off Trademe (NZ Ebay equivalent)...... $25

After: Miss6 has a space. I am on the hunt at the Salvos for a chair. She LOVES it. All her girlie stuff is kept in the top drawer..... barbies and dolls house stuff on the bottom shelf there... craft bits in the middle shelf..... MJ is also making a shelf to go up next to her bed on the top bunk so she can put some of her other bits n pieces. Girls are all about bits n pieces.

I found these noticeboards at the Salvos last year with this all in mind. They were $4 each. I gave hers a pinky paint and his a bluey coat.

Before: I guess what I really wanted to do, aside from eliminate a lot of the stuff in this room, is give both kids their own space. They have their own wardrobes but aside from that, it's been a one big collective mess.

Cubbies off Trademe for $20

After: Master3 has his own space. It's been so funny watching him with this. Everything has a particular spot - and he notices REALLY quickly if I've picked up something and put it in the wrong spot. Beaver-muchly.

Other bits:

Their wardrobes ...... a work in progress still.... more hooks inside to hang things on the door....

After reading Growing Great Girls..... we got Miss6 a full length mirror as part of her birthday present ($15 off Trademe)

Master3 has a sticker on his wardrobe door...... haha. No need for a mirror. This is him.

And see this suitcase? I love suitcases..... there are two large old suitcases under their bunks, one is full of dress-ups, the other is full of doll clothes......

This one has been fought over..... Miss6 won... and it now is cover in these peel-off heart stickers. (She got heart stickers and he got monster ones from someone at Christmas)....
$4 at the salvos..... it has all her precious school books in it..... perfect. He wanted it for his cars and trains. I've promised to find another one.

And there we have it. A bit more organized..... I'm hopeful for a few less tears this year. It helps now that they have "their spaces" to look after...... fingers crossed.

Yeah, It's Not A Pretty Look......

but after a 9km run

this is where I'm at.

Don't think make-up would help.

Loads of water and a cold shower did.

Have I mentioned I'm LOVING the running thing?

I'm LOVING it.

LOVING.

Marry it.

I set myself a few running goals..... every second day during the week I'm doing a 5km run. On the weekend I push myself further..... and have slowly built up to around 9kms. 9.26kms last weekend, 9kms today... but I ran a bit harder.

I think I might try for 10kms next week. No promises. Will see how it goes. Trying to build up slowly and sensibly so as to avoid the need for knee surgery..... so taking advice from running-researched husband. (I mean, seriously, who researches these things??? He also reads manuals for things....geek muchly. A hot geek muchly though.)

But how cool huh?

I feel fit.

Not trim.

Fit.

Trim may come.

A girl's gotta eat right???

It's the "right".

Alrighty then.

Note to self: wear other shorts made of sweat-proof fabric. The whole sweat down there look is not HOT. Crikey.

Delighting In.....

Gosh, it's been many moons (well, for me) since I last posted.
To be honest, I'm pleased. It simply means I'm busy and too tired in the evenings to sit and type.
I quite like it that way.
Loving reading your posts though (usually while eating a long and lazy breakfast). As per usual, something I read in blogland has me awake to the wee hours of the morning, taking stock of life, time and how I spend it.

I have lots to write.... but in the meantime,
this is what I'm delighting in........

..... These two.....

..... gifts awaiting me when I've been out for the evening.... and have been missed....
..... the view from my kitchen window.....

..... an album recording last Sunday night.... that was touched by heaven and completely OFF the hook in AWESOMENESS...... the excitement of a new album coming to play repeatedly in the car.....

..... a night out (after the album recording) with MJ.... dinner and a movie - it was an unusual watch...... reminding me that we really can't do life without connecting with others...... and oddly enough, bumping into the sister of an old v.good friend of mine I'd lost contact with....

..... summer fruit

..... the people who have said they will join in with the walk (I think around 7 or 8 so far).... sponsorship pledged.... how cooooool

..... my running achievements..... a 5km run every second morning during week days and a longer run at the weekend..... 9.26kms last Sunday!!!! I'm LOVING running! Too coolness!!

...... FUNNY, funny, funny...... who really wrote the last comment here...... what a crack up!

..... a basket of mostly unread books.... 50c - $1 from op-shops. Stealing moments to sit, read, chew up and spit out.

..... watching this old movie with Miss6..... tearing up at these two songs..... and clapping with excitement when Miss 6 announced her intention to be a singer in a choir like that. (every music teacher's dream come true) ....... Oh Happy Day.......







Man, the early - mid 90's was the greatest music, dance and fashion era ever. True story.

i woz there. Dungarees and all. word.

Come and join the chorus, the mighty, mighty chorus.......

Walk for Haiti - Details

Hey-ho!
A quick one tonight.


As you can hopefully see, I've added an events gadget in my sidebar. If you'd like to join me walking the Coast to Coast walk on Saturday 20th March, can you please join up??!!

It will involve:

• Walking 16kms across the Auckland Isthmus
• Allowing 4hours to complete it.
• Connecting and talking with other walkers...... or blocking out the chat with your MP3 players/ Ipods / DiscMan or GhettoBlasters (all you retro walkers!)
• Hopefully a couple of cold water offers along the way (if I can organize the help)
One here at the top of Mt Eden.....

And here at the top of One Tree Hill.......


• A sense of achievement when we finish.....
• Collecting sponsorship to go towards helping the desperate situation in Haiti.
  More details about how to make donations as soon as I've sorted it with the Red Cross here in Auckland.
  

My heart is heavy for the children who have been orphaned in Haiti ...... and are now more vulnerable to other quite horrid scenarios.


I feel quite certain that it doesn't matter how much or how little this small event will raise.... just the fact that we can work towards doing something to help from this corner of the world is enough of an incentive.


So join up, encourage others, sponsor, get out training.... try 3 - 5kms of walking every couple of days!

now that I have seen, I am responsible

Albertine by Brooke Fraser

P.S. Regular posts coming..... so much happening at the mo!

Where it started: Walk For Haiti

Note to Self

Just because.

Walk for Haiti

*Bing!*

That was the sound of a light bulb doing it's thing in my head.



So today, have been writing down a list of my personal challenges for the year. Cringe. Some of them could end up being a disastrous moment in my life...... but you know me, I'm up for it. List in the next post.



On my list a walk across the Auckland Isthmus. The Coast to Coast Walk.

For a proper view of this walk look here.
I last did this when I was 12 years old and remember our intermediate school teacher hustling all the girls in a room and having a weeeeee chat to us about periods and being prepared on the trip. Hahaha. I digress.



It's a 16km walk, and supposed to be done in under 4hours. Pfffff! If I can walk a half marathon chatting away with my friend Gillian in 3.5hours, I'm thinking 16kms should be done in less time. I could be kidding myself though - we did push ourselves hard to get our 21kms done and by the end of it we were speaking gibberish and I had an answer for just about any question in the world....... in my delirious state, I found wisdom.



I digress. (so what's new).



I am supposed to be doing a duathlon next month. But the $60 entry fee to do this is putting it off...... especially when I stand it next to our newly plumbed bathroom. I WANT to do the duathlon (my butt is yet to find the bike seat under the house)...... BUT I also WANT to give to the Red Cross Haiti Fund. $60 could help, one thinks.



So, I'm thinking that instead of paying to do the duathlon (at this stage - who knows, it may happen....) the lightbulb went off and said hey Gail, you want to walk the Isthmus this year, so why don't you sponsor yourself to do it and give the money to Haiti.

Awesome idea, lightbulb, but there's still the problem of finding the $60.



hmmmm, no worries, lightbulb bings again, the people of Haiti have lost everything, all their possessions, and here you are complaining about there being too much stuff in your house..... so why do you do what you did last time and clean out some of that stuff and sell it on TradeMe for Haiti.





AND lightbulb continues, why don't you see if anyone would like to join you!? a) for a bit of an exercise goal, and b) they can sponsor themselves too.....

Lightbulb, you are so smart!

So peeps, I'm looking at a date towards the end of March..... (I have a few things to get out of the way first, will get back to you, either Saturday 20th or 27th March, 8am start)..... and that gives ANYONE time to build up their walking fitness..... and to sell any surplus possession/find sponsorship...... What do you think?? Who wants to walk and talk with me and do something good for those in NEED too??? (and for those wibbly, wobbly bits).

We could have a nice big group ....... come on!!!!!!!!

And HEY!!! If you don't live in Auckland you could do one on the same day - same distance, just your region!!



See on my list for before I'm 35years old...... initiate another fundraiser for a worthy cause. Check.

Don't be chicken, sign up....... those of you I know who lurk, you too. (Gillian, Jo..... just to name, well, you two.)

A Prince and A PM and defeating A Mountain

Isn't this photo just hilarious???

I love it. Our Prime Minister knocking back a beer while the future King of the Commonwealth tends to the BBQ. Too funny. SOOOOOO kiwi. And front page of the NZ Herald. Perfect. Hmmm. Not so sure it's right to eat Hippo though aye? Or is that just a GM cow? Humongous.

Gosh, I needed this laugh.
Today has been such a crazy day.

Last night I heard a drip-dripping, drizzling noise in our bathroom..... MJ identified a leak in the wall behind the bath taps..... cut a hole in the wall to see if it would be an easy fix, DIY type thing (me:please Lord, please).... a call to a plumber.... the small hole will end up being an entire wall because all of the old pipes in this old bathroom need to be replaced....complete with a bill the size of a small mountain. To add to our already medium-sized mountain we call CRIKEY.

Our goal this year was to knock the mountain flat...... and today, trying hard to not be overwhelmed with the new-look mountain (which I failed completely and have had to apologize to children and promise to up my game tomorrow) I am now in a place of God, we can't do this without you.

It's so easy to give up when you are facing these mountains, isn't it. Sunday night's sermon was awesome, powerful.... and I took our mountain CRIKEY and declared it would not ruin our year, it would not have a hold on us...... I spoke to it and told it to p-off. I had NO doubt that we would be able to achieve this.... and that we would see what we were saying come to pass. These words from the speaker, echoing in my mind:

Nothing really takes place until we speak.

And then today.... when the mountain grew, I began to doubt. And then changed my mind. And now I'm speaking to it:

CRIKEY you have NO place in our life. I HAVE a God who is THE God of ALL things Impossible. It will NOT be impossible to Defeat you. So take a Hike (pardon the pun). You Dork.

And today, while the mountain was growing, I took note of all the things that have come about in the past week ..... things that show we are helped. Small, small things.... but the type of things that will help make the mountain smaller.... because it's not dollars straight from our purse...

Free fruit and vege from our neighbours; a free morning tea @ Starbucks, shouted by a good friend; more work from my bro-in-law; a free movie ticket for MJ....

.....small individually (well not the work one), but all add up to a lot!

but really, all I need to do is look at the news from Haiti. And see, as Weza put it, it's not all that bad really. Is it?

It's just a mountain. We'll flatten it.

Twenty 10..... Release

As this New Year is unfolding.... I've been thinking a bit about what it is I would like to achieve. Or perhaps what I need to face. In terms of achieve - this will hopefully be a DO-MUCHLY year.

I mentioned in an earlier post that my word for the year was Release. I have an expectation centred around this word.... and have been pondering what it will mean to be released. And what will I be released from.

Initially the word release was about becoming free from a few small things that I'd allowed to be in 2009. Small things I'd thought were insignificant and rather harmless, but on reflection towards the end of last year I saw them for what they were..... and saw how such small things can amount to bigger things.... and suddenly I'm feeling trapped, choked or just restricted in who I am and what I am about. Some of those things are emotionally based lies, some of them are time-consumers which have held me back from being present. I've started the process of freeing myself from these......

Last night I was talking to MJ about something I've had on my heart.... and area that I feel God has been nudging me about..... a "look at this" post-it note stuck on it. It has made me see that release as MY word is not just about those things that I can see, but those things that I have perhaps chosen to avoid looking at...... yet they are there festering in the background..... sitting on my to-do/sort pile....... waiting for a rainy day or perhaps another great flood.

I put it to MJ that it will be my personal challenge for twenty10. At 11pm last night, it was a perhaps challenge..... and now, after a day in THE HOUSE..... and a fairly prompting sermon on moving mountains and speaking faith into being..... my challenge has changed from a perhaps to a I should.
And now, I'm typing it. Going to put it out-there...... which petrifies me somewhat, because I am now saying that I WILL do this.

Don't laugh at this. I write that because it will seem rather trivial to some of you. You do this all the time.... it's easy and natural and you wouldn't think twice about it. And I have sat and watched and quietly admired you from here. In my no-go-zone.

This is what I'd love to try and do this year...... and in doing so, take a major step towards a release from some things holding me back.
I will need to save like crazy for this. Give up my pocket money. (Hmmm. I give up now.)
So where do I start with explaining the challenge.

As much as I am an independent woman..... capable, and fairly headstrong..... I have a few insecurities, trust issues and fears. Yes, I am human. I know you thought I was superwoman, but seriously..... I fear things. But I suppose what overrides this is my desire to not pass on my fears to my children.
I fear flying. I've mentioned this before. It has usually been ok to fly because MJ has been with me - to physically hold my hand or speak comfort to me. I pray a lot to God.... and He is SO comforting. He has promised ..... but I still hold too much onto the fear. And when the kids come too, I stick on my confident act for them.....whilst sitting there internally freaking out..... I've never flown as an adult without MJ.
I also have difficulty leaving my children for more than a night. And that night, they are usually at my sister's place.... and well, it's like my other home. And therefore, it's been fine.
The thought of leaving them for a weekend......... kind of freaks me..... even if they were with MJ (whom I trust completely) ..... it does start a sick feeling in my stomach. It really does. It's a security/control thing. It stems back to childhood issues..... trust issues ..... separation issues.... but THEY (the kids) don't know this.

Small steps people.

So my challenge. Will be fun. If I can manage it.
A weekend in Melbourne.
No MJ.
No kids.
Just me....... and Gillian?? I haven't run it past her yet (hey chick, what do you think??)...... but she is one of three friends I have that would possibly be a) keen to join me and b) able to shop till we drop with me.
Quite frankly, any of my girlfriends would be welcome to join me...... but if you're a "I'm tired" kind of shopper, then stay at home. I will stop for breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee on the go.
My only thing with you Gillian, is that you're on that "only buying fabric" challenge..... and I'm not planning to visit many fabric shops. Just clothes, shoes, shoes, shoes, bags, bags, and accessories. And some tiki-touring.

So, I know...... seems a bit of a funny challenge. But the fun aspect should hopefully help me get over two of my fears here....... the flying and leaving the kids - complete inability to control anything from a 4hour flight away..........

My palms are sweating now. No worries though for the now. It will take me a good 6-7 months of hard-out saving. A challenge in itself.

Dear Donna Hay.......

WTF what the ...... hey, Donna Hay.

Today I served up a cake at my daughter's birthday celebration which was nothing like the expected result.

When 5 months ago Miss5 selected this cake from your magazine as her choice for her up-coming-5-months-later birthday, I thought to myself, BRILLIANT. No baking involved..... and look how simple and pretty it is. And I took heart those pink large words you had printed on the page:

This no-bake cake is bound to be a real hit - think of it as a giant crackle. Even the kids can help you make it.

I repeat EVEN THE KIDS CAN HELP YOU MAKE IT.

I took that to mean: this cake will be easy, peasy, lemon-squeesy - and yes, making the rice bubble part was easy......

However......

You failed to mention, DH, that the kid who can help make this cake, will need to have a friggin' PHD in Cake Decorating from the friggin' University of I-CAN-DECORATE-ANY-CAKE-I'M AWESOME.

I followed the instructions, DH. I NEVER follow the instructions..... yet, because I was misled into believing these instructions would produce this cake:

I FOLLOWED them.

Instead, following the instructions gave me this cake:

I believe you left out one vital instruction, DH. You know the one. The one that tells you how to make your cake WHITE before icing it so that the baby pink icing you attempt to pipe onto it will look baby pink NOT merely blend into the rice bubble cake. How did your cake turn out SO WHITE????!!!!! I did everything you said to do!!! Yet it turned out FLESH coloured. Not white. So the baby pink looked like dark flesh on the flesh coloured cake.

Instead, after trying twice to pipe on pretty pink icing, all ribbon-like as in YOUR photo, I had to cover the entire rice-bubble stack with pink icing to camouflage the smudgy mess where I had twice attempted piping 2 different shades of pink. I then piped on white icing ..... and sprinkled fairy sprinkles on it to further camouflage the disgusting mess the cake had become. Fairy sprinkles!!!! Talk about amateur hour! AND because I couldn't find any of the lovely pink and green candy-coated chocolates that you specified in your instructions, I made do with these heart lollies..... and as a result..... I produced a cake, in 3.5 HOURS, which looked like something a 10 year old could make in a 45min class of home economics.

It took me less than that, including baking, to make this cake, last year:

I had nightmares about that cake last night. When Miss5 opened the fridge to look at her cake this morning, I knew her WOW was feigned. Especially because in the car on the way to picking up her friends she said I was expecting something bigger.... and chocolate. Hmmm. Different matter I suppose, she said that even though she watched me make the cake.

SO thank goodness for the candle. Yes, the saving grace here, DH. The candle saved the day. I had to practically set fire to the cake to give it it's WOW factor. This candle was like the Chinese New Year Fireworks of ALL candles. It even sang.

And see, DH, in that photo, that is not a look of WOW, how awesome is that cake that Auntie Gail made!!!!....... that is a look of WOW, how awesome is Auntie Gail that she let Master3 decorate Miss5's birthday cake!!!

Don't worry DH, I won't go down the "cutting of the cake without a chainsaw" path ....... I will simply continue to buy your annual birthday/kids magazine, because actually, it's pretty chocka full of ideas.......... Just please make sure all the instructions are included.

Yours,

The Un-Delighted Diva

P.S. Go here if you want to try your hand at this cake

P.P.S. I really do love Donna Hay...... no defamation case necessary.

Keeping It Clean.......

Well after yesterday's rather hot topic, I feel the need to fan the heatwave with a less sex-related topic..... especially as I noticed that over night I LOST a follower. Boo-hoo. Someone was sent over the edge with my condom shopping experience that they felt they couldn't read me any longer. Oh well. So sad. Not really.

Ahem.

That was me clearing my throat. (Come on, it was a good laugh wasn't it? I must have looked like a complete desperado waiting on a Tuesday evening in the pharmacy for my 60 condoms and nothing else..... sorry, I'm not one to shy away from talking about these pro-creation topics.....)

Anyways.....

Miss5 will be Miss6 in a couple of days. I am busy baking and getting a few goodies together for Friday when she has a small group of friends coming over to go to see The Princess and the Frog and coming home for lunch. We are trying to down-play the birthday "party" aspect..... but that is proving to be the same as trying to contain her excitement and love of birthdays in a jar. Impossible.

Amongst all this, I am trying to clean out and reorganize the kids room so that life will hopefully be less stressed this year. I've figured that most of my kid-related frustration has been centred around the mess they have in their room. They have so much stuff but we live in a house that was built when people didn't own more than the clothes on their back and little else.... and therefore our home has minimal storage. I am really trying to not go down the track of House Envy again. I have resolved to be happy and content and to make the most of our shoebox ..... and therefore on a budget of about 55cents, I am doing an EXTREME makeover. Well, maybe not too extreme, but enough to give the boy and the girl their own space. More on that later. Like, when I've finished.

In the meantime, I leave you with this photo.

I had promised if I found it, you would see it.

And then by chance, I spotted it on MJ's plasma screensaver (which is a slide show thing of all the photos we have stored on our computer. This is not always great because one minute you can be looking at a beautiful photo of one of the kids doing something quite joyful... and within a second, you are looking at a photo of one of the kids, 2 seconds after they've damaged my inners and pushed their melon sized head out of .... well you know where. Keeping it clean here. It's always quite a surprise for dinner guests.)

So here:

There I am, 6 months old.

There he is, blowing out the candles on his 3rd birthday.

Coolness, huh?

Condoms, Anyone?

Oh what a treat for you tonight. Don't read if you don't want to think about sex.

I've just been to the Dr's for another check for various things..... google self-diagnosing proving to be a non-winner in this house hold. You try googling neck lump and see what happens. It will certainly help you if your quest is to draw closer to God ....... which, it so happens, is my only real life-year-round resolution.

So after dinner, I stand up and tell MJ that I'm off to the doctors. It's about 6:45pm. Luckily our Dr's are part of a medical centre that opens really late.

No one is there when I arrive, and my prayer to God before hand to see the head doctor has worked. I'm seen to straight away. Yay, and thank you, I think.

After explaining to the Dr about google and how it told me I was dying and then having my neck examined by the Dr who helped me see my fault in relying on google for anything other than long winded driving directions from A to B...... we moved onto other things I wanted. I'm tired etc.... want iron levels checked and so forth.

Fine, said Dr.... and then he asked, and what are you doing for contraception?

Winging it, I replied laughing. No, seriously, I don't want to go on the pill, I don't want anything inserted anywhere.... so we're using condoms.

Would you like a script for some? asked Dr
Why not, I said. Are they free? They cost an arm and a leg at the supermarket.

$3 for 60, he said.

Hang on, I quickly said. Are they good ones? I'm sure my husband's twin cousins were conceived using Dr prescribed condoms.

I don't know how people break them, Dr said laughing. Give them to your kids and get them to fill them up with water. Then knot them and drop them. I swear, they bounce.

Cool, I said. We'll take some.

So I leave. With a script for 60 condoms for $3. Bargain, I thought. Until I had to pay for my visit, which was $50 instead of the usual $15 because I visited after 6pm. World's most expensive condoms I thought, as I went into the adjoining Chemist.

Without thinking about it, I handed over the script and sat down. The young Chemist man looked at it, and said it would be about 5mins.

While sitting there, I realised what I was waiting for. Crap, why didn't I ask for panadol and a top up of Miss5's allergy stuff too, I thought.
My name was called so without making eye contact with anyone I went and paid my $3 and collected the ginormous paper bag.

Thanks, I said.

Thanks, said the Chemist man, Have a great weekend then.

I will, I said.

And then, walking out I realised that today is only Tuesday.

Cheeky Chemist man.

hmmmm maybe I could make one of these ........

Whole.......

Um, Hello.

No, not avoiding you at all. Just haven't had any words to share.

Lots going on though.

Posts running through my mind all the time...... just not the desire to sit and type. So weird for me. Yet so good.

I failed the facebook sabbatical. I think it lasted 3 days. Facebook Anon anyone?? Or should we just call that a bloggers meet? It will involve sitting in a circle and saying out loud our status updates..... then giving that person a thumbs up if we like it. Sign up here:

After being away from home for a couple of Sundays in a row, we went to church yesterday. Home. It's a strange feeling...... after a week away I've got this feeling I'm missing something big.... then two weeks away, a visit to a different church...... I'm hungry to go back home.

I am serving in kids for most Sunday mornings of this month. Giving the regular leaders a really WELL-DESERVED break. It meant I practically ran to the night service. The service I usually drag my feet to get to...... but so, so needing to be in the house.

And there I was......being touched by heaven.

Whole. Complete again.

In His presence.

Strengthened.

In Awe. Free. Filling Up. Surrounded.

In Peace. Lightened. In Refuge.

Whole.

You see, since the start of the New Year.... without it being a "resolution" I've been trying. Trying hard. Trying to read, devote, listen. I've figured that it's not something that comes easily to me..... to do any of that. I've improved over the years...... but I want spiritual fitness. I want for it to be easier. That just means giving it the time it needs for it to happen..... like running.... building up time, distance, fitness. Increasing all of those things surely.... stepping up the challenge.

It's been good. Dwelling on His word. Dwelling in His Presence.

Today..... just working away at home and listening to an old United Live CD, I was brought to tears - like, ugly cry tears.

I just love being in this place..... I feel both vulnerable and strengthened at the same time...... this song was the undoing of me.....an oldie, but goodie.



I called. He answered.

Holiday Exhaustion.......

....... has set in

We arrived home yesterday at dinner time..... after a 5 and 1/2 hour drive back from the in-laws........

my butt is still numb.

The kids were brilliant travellers. No bribing necessary- not that I was prepared with anything more than "the look". You know "the look"?? The one that says "Cut it out or else!!!". Or else what? Or else mamma is gonna stop this car and buy you an ice cream. That's pretty much all "the look" can mean here in NZ.

He slept a lot. She kept herself occupied. One of those lucky people who can read, write, sing, enjoy long trips...... and MJ set up the laptop on the way home, so she watched a couple of DVDs.

MJ drove. I talked to him. Tried to keep him alert. And aware of any dangers on the road.

I do not fare well in cars. 'Nuff said.

Today I am sick. Been popping panadol pills. They have helped. MJ returned to work...... the kids are tired and needing a break from the fast-pace of the past 3 weeks. We all slept this afternoon..... and I declared hibernation mode for the next few days. This involves rest, no playdates, no interaction, staying at home and putting my cellphone on silent.

Miss5 slept for 3 hours. She herself declared that she wasn't in the mood to do anything or see anyone. It has been a full-on time and in the hast to get through Christmas, a couple of trips about, and New Year..... I forgot that they are only small people. And if I'm tired with it all..... then they are too.

So we're winding down this week .... so that the next few weeks of term break will be pleasant.

Anyways, our trip south to Taranaki took us to a part of our awesome country that I've never ventured to before. We were thoroughly spoilt and looked after by my lovely in-laws. Their new home is gorgeous...... far away..... but being far away is all a part of what they do. They go where God calls them.

So, you keen on some pics??

The car trip looked like this....

We were in AWE of this mountain. Mt Taranaki or Mt Egmont (two names in NZ). It is beautiful and majestic. It speaks purely of an AMAZING creator.
It also provided the backdrop of a bizillion photos......... we look forward to going back in the snowy winter.....

We went to a pioneer village .......

I had an overwhelming feeling that I should be living there......
in that little miner's house there at the bottom of the town....

...... living in sepia tones..... but the dream faded when I remembered that I'd have to grow my own coffee beans.....and make my own shoes...... and that just wouldn't do at all.
We spent a bit of time at this great park...... which has a name I can't remember.......

Very cool park with a small lake where you could hire a row boat......
and just sit back and enjoy taking photos of oneself ......

while they put in the hard yards......
me and my lovely MIL....

We enjoyed a few ice creams......


and.... the panadol has worn off, so that will have to do. One thing our short stint there has done is motivate us a bit to tiki-tour other parts of our great country. I'm thinking though, that flying maybe the best option.

Am reading and catching up on you all.

My facebook Sabatical has not been overly successful ..... have reduced my time there GREATLY.... but have been tagged in some photos..... and have a few games of scrabble going (which I love BTW)..... how you going with it all Widgey?

Goodbye 2009. You Were a Good One.

I am drinking instant coffee (the first cup I've had since forever..... foreign to my body now, yet surprisingly easy to drink.......)
I've just had some fudge which came out of a Christmas Cracker which was part of a small "gourmet" food basket we were given on Christmas day. This cracker was impressively large in the basket...... I got excited when I saw it labelled Christmas Fudge Cracker..... so in my search for something to accompany my instant coffee, this seemed like a fabulous idea. This large, impressive Christmas cracker contained...... wait for it...... 3, yes THREE, individually wrapped small squares of fudge....... what is that about? All packaging, 3 sample pieces of fudge. Tut-tut.


I am still trying to work out what on earth I am supposed to do with the MOUNTAINS of gifts our children graciously received. Blessed muchly, they were. So much so, I am thinking that I will force encourage them to send thank-you notes specifying who gave them what to prove a point help them see just how giving their family is..... and to try and teach them a bit about appreciation. My children shamefully tore package after package and then stuffed things into big bags without really looking at them....... I felt almost guilty for not teaching them any better...... but then the adults were just as at fault for not allowing ANY time and space between gifts. I positioned myself away from it all. Simply because it was all too much. Then in the aftermath, it was my job to collate everything they had been given. We took home FAR more than we arrived with.



I went to dinner and a movie with MJ last night. We saw Sherlock Holmes. It was a goodie..... but even better was my Venti-trim-toffee-nut-latte which, after 4 nights away from good coffee, was like meeting up with a naughty best friend. Fun.



I am not ill. Yesterday I thought I was. For a few weeks I thought I could be. A little lump popped up on the back of my head. All sorts of nasty things go through my mind when I find these things...... I managed to turn the lump into something terminal. Self-diagnosis. It has not been painful, just present. I was going to give it time (more than the four weeks I already had) to disappear..... but on returning from camping yesterday, I told MJ that I would just go to the doctors then. And did. No, I'm not ill. Just getting older. There is some fancy name for the little lump.... but in short, it's an AGE spot.
WHAT? was my reaction. Do they just pop up randomly like that?
Yes, the Dr said. We can liquid nitrogen it away or, because it's hidden by your hair you can just leave it and see if it gets annoying.



I left the Drs muttering stuff about how unfair it is, that getting older is all about saggy boobs, wrinkles and age spots. She laughed at me, asking if I would rather go through being 14 years old again. I said I would like to have back the awesome body and fitness level I took for-granted as a 14 year old.

I like my turtle's smile....


I have been trying to have some deep and meaningful thoughts about 2010. But am coming up short. I hope, want, desire, pray, think, dream, anticipate.......... all sorts of things. But find it hard to specify exactly what. I have action plans - for fitness, finance, parenting stuff, God stuff..... but in truth..... I just want next year to be a year of Release. Release from stuff which I feel I've let slip into my life and choke aspects of it. Release from pressure. Release from frustration. Release from unseen things that hold me back and steal my joy.


I don't think I'm asking for much.


I was drawn to a verse I read in Malachi last night, Chapter 1 vs 10-14, particularly this latter part from vs13-14:

"When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?" says the LORD. 14 "Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations"


When I read this, I thought about a saying we have here (maybe elsewhere too). When you do something half-hearted (not giving it your best) we call it half-arsed.
I was challenged by that passage last night. 2010 is not going to be the year of me doing life with God and the people I love, half-arsed. I will give the best I have to offer. That is what 2010 will be about for me.


I hope and pray that you have a wonderful New Year. That you will see amazing things happen in 2010. That God will be with you in what ever you endeavour to do!
We are off again for a few days tomorrow. See you when we get back!

I Think My Nose is Getting Bigger......

Hello All things bright and beautiful....
I'm just popping in today and maybe tomorrow...... and then we are off again.
We've been camping.

It was fabulous. We've booked again for next year (just! - there were only 2 sites left for our two families for summer next year! Busy, busy!)

So here's a run down..... (all photos courtesy of MJ's blackberry-thingy)

This would be me and my nose..... eating a smores. Verdict, very sweet. Liking them. Thanks for the hook-up Cat!

Eating same smores.... only this photo highlights my unkempt hair. I washed it daily after a mandatory swim in the ocean each day... I think I used a comb twice.... otherwise, this is camping hair. No product baby. Not the most attractive photo.... I must like you gals a lot.

Miss 5 likes a smores too.

And they've dicovered toasted marshmellows are pretty awesome. Especially when you use sticks you've found around the road because the parentals forgot skewers.

This would be our new 12-man tent which very comfortable sleeps our family of four and no more. New tent = great thing.

Sleeping and reading in the tent .... the sleeping part takes some getting used to for Master3 who liked his bed at home better.

The camping kids do a whole pied-piper thing..... or sheep thing..... they just follow each other around.
I love how children just befriend.... and just walk into other tents and help themselves to food and toys............ I love how the parents are all cool with that. I must remember to take supplies for this next year..........

This would be the hill we called "exercise" for our time away. Running just didn't feature.

This is my serious challenge face......
Meredith's homemade Ice Cream was DELICIOUS even though it spent a day in the camp freezer and failed to freeze. It was yummy cold whipped cream with condensed milk and blueberries.
These would be the seriously cool rock pools we enjoyed exploring and disturbing...... Does one ever grow too old and tired for flipping big rocks and seeing crabs scurry? Or watching cat's eyes close? Or finding cool-as star fish?
A happy Miss5 (this was not always the case ;) )
A happy Master3 (again, not always the case)
Inspired by so many Facebook photos, I did gangsta.
Granted, most of the photos on facebook I've seen that are "gangsta" are on young pacific island peeps.
Oops...
My Mermaid Sand Sculpture.......

Oh, hang on..... this is MY sand sculpture..... the other was one we found and admired and were inspired by....

Camp Aerobics.........

I like this photo...... I am still very much a teacher.......

So there we have it........

I've eaten way too much

Swimming every day was just fabulous.

I love NZ.

I love good friends.

Will catch ya tomorrows.

'Tis the Day Before Christmas.....

a.k.a. Christmas Eve.

I've shopped.

I've made my 4th double batch of Russian Fudge this season.

I've had coffee.

I've made White Christmas Crackle Slice (OMGoodness, the childhood memories from one taste!)

I've cleaned and have more to do.

I've packed a few things.

I've eaten some DELICIOUS cherries (one of my favourite things about this time of the year!)

And am feeling rather..... ready. pleased. relaxed. happy. content. sorted. (and not really caring if I'm not sorted). thankful. prayerful.

It's a BEAUTIFUL day here in Aotearoa.

Tonight the kids will open a couple of gifts. Traditional things - new pjs and a new Christmas story each. Hers this year is A Right Royal Christmas and His is Cowshed Christmas. His is the more traditional one this year. They take turns. His is by a NZ author called Joy Cowley.... basically it's what the animals see in the cowshed on Christmas night.

We'll read through a few stories in our Christmas collection..... and also read about the Birth of Jesus from Luke Chapter 2.

There is so much that can be shared about the importance of this time ........ when you are a believer.

My prayer for you all is that you will experience, feel and know some of the LOVE, the HOPE, the PEACE and the JOY that came from the original Christmas gift ....... He was born in a manger.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday time.

I will be here, there, and everywhere.... popping in, reading your posts when I get a chance. It's my quiet time.

I've loved meeting some of you this year. Others, maybe not so much. Kidding.

Looking forward to sharing blog-life with you in 2010, the year of the...... pen? den? yen? when?

Love and Blessings,

P.S. Miss5 finished the canvas today. Earlier this year MJ's parents moved to pastor a different church in another region..... leaving behind their beloved house. They will move back and retire there again one day..... this is Miss5's interpretation of their home..... green roof, green shutters, green picket fence. They were big on gardening and roses..... the swirls in the background represent the beach in Waihi..... there are shells she collected from the beach there. The sun nice and big.......and a yellow tree stands in the corner of their side garden. I think she has done an AMAZING job, with very little input from me. We talked about what she wanted to put on it, composition, different things she can do with a brush...... and time and patience later.

You may remember this one, this is US...... she made it when she was 3 and 1/2 and it hangs on my kitchen door. I love it.

Time for a Break... Perhaps.....

Hello friends,

I'm in the middle of making shopping lists... meeting up with friends (have been to the zoo 3 times in the past 1 and a half weeks)...making fudge.... eating things I shouldn't. I am about to turn into one giant chocolate. I thought I would be a corn chip, but no. MJ keeps coming home with boxes of chocolates from his team..... and they scream to me EAT ME.... and I scream back where's the wine this year? In these recession times though, chocolate seems to be the favoured gift for your boss-man. Wine can easily be used at sensible times.... (lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, after dinner...) chocolate, however, has no set timetable. It's hard going for this chocoholic...... Miss5 has been testing boundaries working hard to try and finish off a canvas for the in-laws (actually, she started it in June.... a long time coming this one). They have both been full of energy and exhausted all at the same time. It has meant we've had magic meltdowns...... and lots of enforced rest time. I think the anticipation of Christmas is both exciting and way too much for them. I've tried hard to keep it all rather relaxed.... but it's hard for them huh? Master3 has insisted on wearing his spiderman costume 3 days running...... with gumboots. It's hot man, and he has been sweating like a porcupine....but insists he's all good. Smelly, but good.

I am running further than ever! Last Friday I broke through my 5km wall, went for a 3km run and ended up doing 6kms! I was stoked. So on Sunday morning I decided to go with no real plan, just a see-how-I- go-run..... I ran for an HOUR... did 8.08kms in that time (yes, Clydesdale horse am I). My body decided to punish me for that, so had two days off the run and then ran 5kms this morning. Good times. I am at the point now where I CRAVE a run after a day off. It's a change I've noticed ... one I'm liking.
I am also trying to build up eating credits to cover me for the Christmas/Camping/New Years feasting that I WILL be (let's not pretend that I will reach only for salad here) participating in.
So will be fitting a run in each day this week.

Yesterday I cleaned every window in my house (not the spare room, did them earlier). At least every interior window and the exterior ones I could reach. I also got on my hands and knees and scrub right around the skirting/kickboard/floor join in my kitchen. This afternoon I plan on doing a bathroom clean... and the doors. No, I'm not nesting. I'm not too sure what it's about, but most likely it's because my in-laws will be house-sitting. Last time they house-sat for us, they had an unwanted rat visitor. They locked it in our spare room where it tried in vain to nibble it's way out through our carpet. Then it died. Under the spare bed. GROSS.

Another random thing for you all to know too is that I will be on a Facebook Sabbatical for the month of January. I loved Widge's post about how she bravely disconnected herself from the facebook world. Me, I just need some time out. It's summer man! I'll let you know if I lose weight from this decision.

Anyways, thanks for your camp cooking challenge suggestions.
Here's what we are going to attempt on Sunday. I will let you know how we fare.

Blog Inspired Camping Banquet

Entree: Abigail's Hummus & Whole Wheat Tortillas

Main: Sophie's baked Potato, Lyn's Sicilian Caponata, with some kind of meat/fish thing

Dessert: Meredith's Homemade Berry Ice Cream Cake

Extra Goodness: Cat's Smores. (These will be interesting).

(See comments here for Caponata & Smores how-tos)

The whole smores-thing kind of weirded me out.... crackers with marshmallow and chocolate? But then Cat googled it and said that we would use digestive biscuits..... which now, makes more sense. Graham crackers - what a strange name.

Right-O, I must get on with things. I will be in and out of blog-land over the next wee while. Am late night shopping tonight with my sister. Looking forward to that - because I quite enjoy the madness at the mall at this time. I don't have a lot to buy, just a few bits. Then tomorrow, yes on Christmas Eve, I am hitting the supermarket at 7am to do our grocery shop. Awesome. I can't wait. Seriously. I will be the calm amongst the storm. Loving it.

Has everyone received their Candy yet? I am hoping it will arrive safely soon..... or if it comes while we are away, my in-laws won't eat it! I'll do a blog sum-up on it in the New Year.

Wahoo, 2010.... it's gonna be a good time!

I'll be back once more before we leave :)