Now pass the chocolate before someone gets hurt !

1. I  drop the ball often  take on too many things at once and get stressed out.
2. I am a professional procrastinator.
3. I speak awkwardly or repeat myself and talk loudly from time-to-time (the later due to my hearing mostly) 

if you ask my husband  ...

win a Hamper of Fairtrade tea

1. I spend too much time , drinking tea and on the Internet / digital devices - he just doesn't believe I am reading ...articles, news , weather {and about my community AKA Facebook}.
2. I don't spend enough time cleaning because of #1 ...except if visitors are imminent.
3. 

Now pass the chocolate  before someone gets hurt !

 ♥

Lessons learnt through the tears of mascara stained cheeks

• 101 uses for this  It has a multitude of uses ...

• Not to buy "Dry Clean Only” garments - It really burns a hole in your pockets any time and when you can't afford it - the clothes become Moth chow.

• That most of your time will be swallowed up with things you don't want or like doing - like washing and cleaning and working for someone else to get

• That the older you get , the more you need of ........... {insert - everything ~ chocolate, money, love, forgiveness ?}

• How often you need to say “I love you” and “I’m sorry.” 

• That the light at the end of the dark , lonely road tunnel is always still visible and hopefully not just an oncoming train.

• How to sell yourself  ! That we must believe in ourselves and our unlimited potential even when things do not go as planned. 

• How to prune roses ? yes, I wish they had taught me that instead of algebra.

• That every lesson worth knowing , you will learn through the tears of mascara stained cheeks ...yours, your mum's or friends.

• That Zach Sobiech , a teenager with a terminal illness will touch the world in a mighty way with his music and life.

I'm taking part in the City to Surf as Gold Charity Runner  raising funds for Breast Cancer Network Australia .Today alone, 40 Australian women will hear the words ‘you have breast cancer’. Life will never be the same again. I was one of those women 12 months ago.

Every extra dollar raised goes towards Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) works to ensure that women diagnosed with breast cancer, and their families, receive the very best information, treatment, care and support possible, no matter who they are or where they live. You can help me too I've pledged to raise $1000 - donate here
♥

You're My Cup of Tea {Giveaway}

*sob* I'm sad my favourite mug is broken. I have one of 4 left.

My favourite treat is when my beloved brings me a cup of tea in bed, first thing in the morning.

Before I have to get up, and start thinking about school lunches, socks and lost library books or permission notes or anything else I needed to do ...yesterday !

I was to'tea'lly delighted when I received a little hamper of Fairtrade tea.

I love the little infuser for one - available on Tielka website

Tea! thou soft, thou sober, sage, and venerable liquid,... thou female tongue-running, smile-smoothing, heart-opening, wind-tippling cordial, to whose glorious insipidity I owe the happiest moment of my life, let me fall prostrate.  ~Colley Cibber, Lady's Last Stake

I drink all kinds of tea , my favourite is a mug of strong Australian Afternoon for breakfast and English Breakfast all during the day (I'm a bit of a tea rebel) and lots of green tea. Green tea is ultra healthy and filled to the brim with antioxidants, so I'm trying to drink more of it . Plus organic tea is my tea of choice.

tea leaves
tea loves
loves tea
lives tea
leaves tea?
never.
~Uniek Swain

I have a lovely purple teapot and the nifty tea infuser above for leaf tea , though often I'm too impatient to use leaves.

I like Chai tea but I'm not drinking much milk right now - so it's a rare treat.
All tea is good for you.

A cup of tea calms me and  

Harry found the [tea]... seemed to burn away a little of the fear fluttering in his chest. ~J.K. Rowling.

Includes the beautiful glass Tielka teapot

It was Fairtrade Fortnight ~ May 4 – 19th - creating awareness and the opportunity to support Fairtrade products. I'm trying to be more conscious about what I buy.

Fairtrade have provided this fabulous giveaway of 3 tea hampers, for My Little Drummer Boy Readers.

---

What is Fairtrade

...is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. 

Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, by requiring companies to pay sustainable prices ,which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives and their community through better schooling and improved health services.

---

I'm curious -

Do you prefer a cup or a mug ?

Do you use a Teapot ?

Do you Jiggle or Dangle ?

Who wants to knit me a tea cosy ?

Includes the beautiful glass Tielka teapot

1. Only Australian Residents are eligible to enter.
2. Entries not answering the question will be deemed invalid. The winner will be chosen by originality and creative merit, not by chance. Judges decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
3.There are three prizes - 3 x Fairtrade tea hamper as pictured above.
4. Entries - Open 22/5/2013 - Close 11.59pm 4/6/2013 AEST. The winner will be notified by email, and posted to mylittledrummerboys.blogspot.com.au - the winners have 7 days to respond or a new winner will be drawn.
5. Prizes are not transferable, changeable or redeemable for cash.
6. Prizes sent out by PR firm directly will not be replaced in the event that they are stolen, lost or damaged in transit or if they differ slightly to the image above.
 
7. Subscribe to my blog  to receive MLDB updates.
8. Follow via Facebook or Bloglovin on the sidebar >>>>
 
Enter as many times as you like as long as you answer the question in a 

 comment below describing your favourite cup of tea moment.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary hamper of Fairtrade tea and three to giveaway - however opinions expressed are purely my own. I already purchase Fairtrade tea because I believe in it.

Linking up with

 
 
 

Wordless Wednesday ~ This little Piggy

Sunday afternoon we were on our way to visit my in-laws , driving through the scrub/bush paddocks . [Yes, it very dry here-please send rain]. Suddenly, we saw this pig walking up from the dam.
 

In the 6yrs we have been visiting/living on the farm, we've never seen a pig on either of the two farms. This little [medium- size] Piggy wandered in from somewhere ? Nearest neighbours are a km or more away.

It appeared quite tame , not that I got out of the car. Hub quickly snapped a few photos with my iPad. I was taking some fruit& vegies scraps over to our Nephew's pet pig [white] so we tossed them to this pig instead. It ate hungrily. We drove off. 

It then tried to chase and follow us like a dog. We haven't seen it since. 
 

Wild Emus were spotted out the front at in-laws farm next door on the weekend too.I wonder if the drought is bringing them out searching for food.

 ♥

Blowing out ...

S

truggles ! I have a few dozen.


I don't know about you but even after doing kids' birthday parties for 18-19 yrs , I struggle each year. In 2-3 weeks I have to send invitations out. Their birthday being in school holidays in 6 weeks time.

Last year my friend and I were discussing her twin boys' upcoming birthday. She was asking for my expert opinions how to make it a success and as simple as possible ?

I was glad I wasn't alone in my feelings of overwhelming inadequacy !
I said you are asking the wrong person !

Though I've certainly picked up quite a few tips and tricks in the organisation of my oldest son's birthday parties and in delivering him for attendance at countless other raucous birthday events. My eldest , being our only child for 13 yrs, had yearly birthday parties and each year it was a struggle to find ideas and venues acceptable to all parties.

My own little lads started planning a raucous 6th birthday party with plans to invite a infinite number of 5yr- 6yr olds within days of starting school {80 kindergarteners}. I trembled every time a new friend or three was added to the list. I was filled with absolute fear at the birthday party monster they were creating.

Each day, my head spinning off it's axis, their heads filled with yet more requirements for their own party, 10 different birthday cakes, 20 different foods and 1000 lollies , jumping castles or a pool party {in July} .

Life had other ideas.Thankfully, or really with some disappointment, before the first invite was officially issued. Their birthday was 6 days after I was discharged from hospital for my surgery and in the July school holidays to boot. I'd originally planned for it to be when school resumed. Plans were cancelled. They were only a little disappointed and I'm struggling to make it up to them this year.

My experience ; I know that throwing a party for my twins and a few closest friends is likely to ensure a far more enjoyable experience for me and all involved. Yet, dare I cause a meltdown by only inviting a few, plus we have a few yr 2 children in their class and kindy class mates from last year , soccer team mates ...

Last year we had an impromptu backyard party {at my brother's} with a few friends from our old church & playgroup, their cousins , balloons , the trampoline and a Skylander's cake. They had a ball anyway.

Oh Yes, the children chorus !

Parties are fun, exciting and joyous...

Mums cry ...with money to burn the right planning,

and by breaking the day down into smaller, manageable components.

I reviewed a book last year but it doesn't help we can't host a backyard party or take a risk with a park and the weather in July. We had two local park parties with their friends in January. Too easy for their mums.

Is it wrong to want to throw the kind of birthday party that will be remembered for years to come and spend as little as possible ?....(with as little stress as possible!) 

I am thinking of hosting a Karate /Ninja party , though the centre I rang has yet to host birthday parties and are not too definite. It would be self catered so I can control the food.

I am so grateful for my boys , every day they are my reason for living.I want to make this birthday very special because they bring magic to every day and they have been so patient the last year.

Now before I turn into one of those intensely annoying mums who puts a ridiculous amount of pressure on myself to throw the perfect party I'll go make a cup of tea and come visit your blog.

What do you love or hate about birthday parties ?

Do you struggle too?

 


♥

From all the lands on earth we come

Today's prompt is we were asked to write a post about "Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them "

I ask myself and you "What sets one blogger apart from another blogger ?”

That is one of the hardest questions to ask - it is very challenging to pick -just- 5 bloggers amongst the 100+ I read for different reasons.  What if I exclude someone who I read often and perhaps unintentionally offend !

Not everyone is a writer , not everyone is hilarious and I enjoy the 'depth' of people blogging through challenges, well written or not.




Just saying ...I've been there.All my life I've tried not to compare people. I have never been competitive and nor taken competition too seriously.

I feel very blessed with the people I have met through blogging - the friendship and the connections and the honesty of some bloggers in revealing their own adversity, adventures and triumphs. I love the social side of blogging and connecting with other bloggers and readers. There are also many other fine bloggers who are never included in the Top Blogger lists.

We are one, but we are many 
And from all the lands on earth we come 
We share a dream and sing blog with our own voice: 
I am, you are, we are Australian  bloggers

All of us have traveled different journeys , we bring our baggage into blogging.We all have stories that count and matter. I just don't like naming names because I hated not being picked for the team .

 {Shhh - don't tell anyone but you are my favourite if you are reading right now}.

  ♥

Friends make life more fun

Dredging up my childhood isn't that interesting. Born and raised in Sydney, nothing really big or important ever happened in my childhood . I was happy enough and well loved. Instead I will tell you about my dearest childhood friends who helped make me the person I am today.

Two of my longest friendships are from high school, we met as 11-12yr olds. We are still firm friends almost 34 years later. Until I moved we saw each other for lunch every few months as well as family get togethers once or twice a year. Our husbands are friends too. Their daughters are all adults now, I was a late starter.

My friend D, who is one day older than me, has been a friend since we were 5yrs old. She lives 8 hrs away so we don't see each other much but we keep in touch. I even remained in contact when she was in foster care for 3 yrs (from 9-12yrs old), because my parents knew she was a special friend and facilitated contact.

Flowers from L ' behind her compost '; she said no-one was appreciating them so she picked them for me.

Another very special friend is L, I met her a family holiday in a caravan park, when we were both 16yrs old. Later we became housemates for a year and she would be my gorgeous bridesmaid. Since our tree-change we live 2-21/2 hrs apart and still have a close and strong friendship. I saw L, and her 3 adorable daughters a few weeks ago - they are 6, 8 and 11 - my youngest twin and her youngest daughter gang up against the 'middle' kidlets.They are so funny together and great mates.

I truly value their unconditional love, support and acceptance. They have been my sounding boards, a shoulder to lean on and someone to laugh with or whinge too. They have shared my pain and touched my heart and soul with warm and tender hands.

They all have a lot of patience especially with my hearing impairment and we all share a love of good food , talking and laughing out loud and wine (in the past !)

Have you had the same friends since childhood ?

 ♥