Wednesday 29 December 2010

Wordless Wednesday - Surprise pregnancy

Aussie Wordless Wednesday
(Maybe not so wordless)




Kindle of kittens ...born @ 19/12/10 ?

A kitten is in the animal world what a rosebud is in the garden.” ~ Robert Southey (English Poet and Writer of prose. 1774-1843)
Remember the Engineer's Guide to Cats


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Sunday 26 December 2010

Christmas flew and why we didn't

I hope you all had a

╔═════════ ೋღ❤ღೋ ═════════╗
ೋ❤❤❤~MERRY CHRISTMAS~❤❤❤ೋ
╚═════════ ೋღ❤ღೋ ═════════╝

We had a lovely Christmas eve & Christmas day with our families.
Christmas just flew by for us.

It got away on me at the last minute on the 23rd after a little drama with our credit card and tickets to Canada and other items we did NOT purchase overseas totalling $13K.

The bank detected 4 suspicious transactions- Nigeria, Uruguay & ? only intercepting the last.They called DH who may or may not have thought I was having a holiday without him. A frantic phone call to me ensued.We were confident the bank had it under control. The credit card was cancelled due to the fraudulent activity.

Though we had more angst trying to get a low value credit card (incidentally we have just for internet & phone purchases) increased temporarily till new cards arrive. A had to use my lot louder voice to make them see reason - we had to live the next 2 weeks and we have automatic deductions from our account.

Finally after an hour, resulting in the transfer to our local manager, it was sorted by the push of a button.Literally before my eyes the limit magically increased.

The next day Dh's other credit card's entire network (different bank) was shutdown due to fraud (not us we hope) which he only discovered when he went to buy fuel, and it was declined.It makes you wonder how easy it is for the thieving mongels... so 'Be Aware'.


I digress ... Now my next wish for you is

╔═════════ ೋღ❤ღೋ ═════════╗
ೋ❤❤❤~Happy New Year ~❤❤❤ೋ
╚═════════ ೋღ❤ღೋ ═════════╝
filled with more love,more joy and more laughter than your hearts can contain ... your cups
overflowing :)

I hope 2011 brings better things for you and all of us.

❤❤~M'wah~❤❤

PS We do use our credit cards responsibly.


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Wednesday 22 December 2010

Wordless Wednesday - Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Aussie Wordless Wednesday











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Saturday 18 December 2010

Grateful Saturday - Goodwill


  1. Traveling at night and seeing Christmas Lights we would normally miss.
  2. Special families who take the time and effort to spread the Christmas spirit & joy and entertain other less able people by putting up Christmas Lights.
  3. My 50th blood donation Friday. I feel quite good not just because it's 50 donations but because of the lives I may have helped.I like to think my Dad is smiling down upon me. I am thankful for the many unknown heros who give this perfect gift ...
  4. this song

What makes you grateful ?
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Friday 17 December 2010

Getting busy with the fizzy


Who remembers slurping down a soda stream fizzy drink on a hot summer's day ?

Generations of parents today can probably remember how easy and fun it was to make soda or flavoured fizzy water to guzzle at home or at friends ...or remember the mess when you missed the mark !



Soda Stream has had a revival recently. I was excited to be asked to review the
new healthier 'sparkling goodness' flavours with an exclusive starter pack.


It contained everything I needed to make all my family’s favourite fizzy drinks at home at the touch of a button !
SodaStream Drinks Makers work by dispensing CO2 from a gas cylinder in the back of the Drinks Maker, into fresh tap water to make your sparkling drinks
Within 5 mins I had it unpacked, had slipped in a bottle of cold tap water and presto (3 presses of the button) - we were enjoying a refreshing , yummy and cold fizz.

Things I liked about Sodastream
  • New sparkling goodness flavours - Orange&Pineapple, Lemon & Lime and Pink Grapefruit so many new flavours with no artificial colours or flavours or preservatives - gets my mum tick & kids' slurp of approval !
  • saving the planet by using less plastic bottles - comes with 2 x 1litre BPA-free plastic bottles and lids
  • saves nagging my older son to empty the kitchen recycling bin
  • less groceries for me to carrrrrry in by myself
  • 750mls syrup = 6 x 1l bottles or approx 33 cans .
  • one cylinder makes us to 40-60 L of sparkling drinks or soda (you control the fizz)
  • exchange empty cylinders in store or via Sodastream's direct delivery system
  • it's a fun gadget that lets fizzy drink lovers make their own drinks at home. My boys loved it -undeniable novelty value
  • Fits on kitchen counter and doesn't take up much space.
The children preferred the orange pineapple and I liked the lemon & lime & the pink grapefruit too.

I am not sure if hubby will give up his 'Coke' though we didn't try the Cola yet !! It might not hit the mark for him & his scotch.

The verdict - While I try to limit the amount of fizz my children drink because 'we' prefer water as their main beverage I think it's a fun healthier alternative than other bottled drinks.

I liked being able to control the amount of fizz & flavour and no artificial colours/artificial flavours or no preservatives is a big win.

Join Club soda and find more information .

* For those who don't know, SodaStream is an over 100yr old softdrink making system where you carbonate water yourself, then add flavours you want.


Ps I wasn't paid for this review but I get to keep the Sodastream !
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Thursday 16 December 2010

The Perfect Gift

Australian Red Cross Blood Service has launched a new and innovative Christmas campaign with the tagline “The Perfect Gift”. The focus of this campaign is to get people to consider giving something that will really make a difference this Christmas by donating blood and giving the gift of life.

There is a dedicated page where users can watch and share “The Perfect Gift” TVC. They can also print out and personalise a specially made “The Perfect Gift” gift box which they can put together and give to friends, family and colleagues bringing this digital campaign into the real world.

My dear Dad (~2005) during his treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia received countless life saving blood donations. I am forever grateful to those people who gave him this gift that allowed us to have him in our lives longer.

Ivy also needs your gift ...

This beautiful ballerina "Ivy"(5yrs) is one of many special people who have received the gift of life thanks to people who donate blood. Ivy receives a transfusion of IVIG every 3 weeks.
THERE'S NO BETTER GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS THAN GIVING LIFE.


Stuck for the perfect Christmas gift? Why not give something that will really make a difference. This year, give something life-saving and donate blood. Every donation saves three lives. To find out how to give the perfect gift, visit http://www.donateblood.com.au/blood-service-campaign/the-perfect-gift?sourceId=PGBL

  1. Make an appointment to donate blood 13 14 95 or online
  2. Print the PDF gift box on the ARCBS website (see above).
  3. Write a personal note inside , talk to your family & friends about donating blood.


The hard facts: (AUSTRALIA)

  • Every donation can save three lives.
  • Every donation is valuable because 1 in 3 Australians will need blood, yet only 1 in 30 donates.
  • The need for blood is constant and all blood components have a limited shelf life, which is why donations are needed every day. Blood and blood treatments are delivered to hospitals around Australia 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – even on Christmas Day.
  • Australia needs over 26,000 blood donations every week to save lives and to meet the need of patients.
  • Donations made in December could help patients recover to be home for Christmas or the New Year.

Editted to add ...Please keep Ivy in your thoughts & prayers today as she is having surgery.

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Wednesday 15 December 2010

Wordless Wednesday - Rainbow connection

Aussie Wordless Wednesday



We saw this full rainbow (almost double) [after we unbogged our car] as we headed back to our side of the farm ...sans the pot of the gold at the end it was a magical end to a sorry day.

I didn't have a lens to get the whole rainbow in one capture and it was still raining so I was mostly undercover with my camera.

“Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make its colors appear.”~unknown


I pray for the safety of those affected by floods and the strength they will need to deal with the massive cleanup.
(Can you spot the Horseshoe )

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PS I love songs about Rainbow ~ Kermit & the Rainbow Connection
It's a great cheerup song

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Tuesday 14 December 2010

Lickety split

This takes me back yonder.
As simple as buying a packet of paddle pop sticks from the $2 shops or craft store & some glue.






Or you can have fun licking and eating your way to a collection (not recommended)!

Whichever way you go, there are so many simple , quick and fun paddle/popsicle stick activities to do with children ...google & see 1001 paddle pop stick craft ideas.
We made simple stars for the Christmas tree and spelt their names.
What did you play

We Play

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