Paying it forward 2014

To start this year off in a loving way I’m participating in this Pay-It-Forward initiative: 

The first five people who comment on this status with "I'm in", will receive a surprise from me at some point in this calendar year - anything from a book, a ticket, a visit, something home grown or made, a postcard, absolutely any surprise! 

There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy.

These five people must make the same offer in their FB status and distribute their own joy. Simply copy this text onto your profile, (DONT 'SHARE;) so we can form a web of connection and kindness. Let's do more nice and loving things for each other in 2014, without any reason other than to make each other smile and to show that we think of each other. Here's to a more enjoyable, more friendly and love filled year!!

I saw this doing the rounds on Facebook last week and love the idea.  So if you want to be involved flick me an email help_stuck@hotmail.com! 

I have another idea for a fun get involved activity for later in the year,  stay tuned!

That's it for me today, busy, exciting week here with two firsts.  Linking up as it is Tuesday with Essentially Jess for #ibot. 

Mexican Cob

Ingredients:

• 1 cob loaf
• 300 mls sour cream
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 4-6 tablespoons tomato salsa (we used medium, depending on taste use mild,medium,hot)
• 1/2 cup grated cheese

Pre heat oven to 180 degrees.

Place sour cream in a bowl and mix in taco seasoning. Cut the top off cob loaf and remove the bread centre. Spoon1/2 of sour cream a layer on the bottom of cob, then spread 2-3 tablespoons of salsa and 1/4 cup grated cheese. Spoon remainder of sour cream mix, then salsa, then top with cheese.

Place cob on oven tray. Break bread centre into small bite size pieces and place around cob, put cob lid on and bake for 15-20 minutes until bread is golden brown.

Recipe Hints and Tips:

• Mexican Cob Dip can be made the day before, wrapped in aluminium foil and baked at 150 degrees for an hour before serving.
• You may need to double the filling ingredients if you have a particularly large cob loaf.

I totally stole this from Stay at Home Mum and am giving it a crack for a bbq this weekend.  Being super organised and actually having this post scheduled all ready for Open Slather with One Mother Hen means you will have to wait until next week for an update on how it went!!  

I am looking forward to trying this one as I love Mexican food and cob loaf dips, its a match made in heaven!!

Bloggers Boogie- Happy Australia Day 2014

Linking this mega daggy selection of Aussie hits with Little White Dove for Bloggers Boogie!!

One of those days!!

Somedays you have to laugh.  I am laughing right now as "one of those days" which started at 345am is escalating by the minute!!  A screaming unhappy baby, burnt toast which is still stinking the house out, a 3 year old who wanted to get his own cereal resulting in the dogs scoring breakie as well, the list is going on and on!!

Lets hope the afternoon is an improvement, lets face it it can't get much worse!!  

Linking up this little disaster with One Mother Hen for Open Slather!!

FFS Friday/ Things I Know- School freaking holidays

The Bad Stuff

Two words- SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.  Should I make it through the next few weeks without running away and joining the circus I will be awarding myself a medal.

Before the joy that will be sending one to school 5 days a week and one to preschool for 1 day a week I first must brave the shops and buy school uniforms.  I simply cannot wait for the day I take 3 children to the shops and try and buy everything on my ever growing list.

The dogs have out done themselves with food stealing, they stole another advent calender, a box of muesli bars and a whole box of chocolates that were wrapped up to give to our neighbour as a Christmas present.  One dog then outdid himself by eating 6 cicada shells that the 3 year old had lined up in a row.

Shiraz the cat keeps escaping usually thanks to the kids.  Nothing says mother of the year than when your children are yelling out Shiraz out the front of your house.

I find it so puzzling how a 3 letter word can sound like the longest word in the dictionary.  "Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum"!!

The Good Stuff

We made it through another festive season.

Last week I caught up with my very bestest friends, it was a quick catch up but awesome just the same.

100 days until I hit the massage table in Fiji.

75 pages read this week for #FFFi14.  Not the book I had planned as the HOTH has claimed that one but still, a book is a book and I call that a win.

Speaking of the HOTH he is now on holidays.  Yay.  We have a few fun things planned starting with a night away tomorrow, although the organisation involved in packing for one night is ridiculous.  Not to mention the fact we need a trailer to cart all of our things!!

I think that is about it for the first few weeks of the year.   Linking up for FFS Friday with Dear Baby G and Things I Know with Miss Cinders

Thankful Thursday- Swimming Lessons

So excited he would not keep still for me to get a decent photo!!

Today I am thankful for swimming lessons.

Speedy had his first swimming lesson on Tuesday.  For half an hour I saw a happy, smiling and laughing baby.  A complete 180 from how he normally is.  To see such sheer joy was incredible.  I really must make more of an effort to take him swimming as it really is his thing.

It made me remember that swimming lessons can be so much fun when they are little despite the organisation required!!  I will probably contradict myself in winter when it is freezing getting in and out of the pool but for now I will enjoy every second and soak it up as this will definitely be the last time I have to start the swimming lesson process again.

I have been doing the baby class for nearly 5 years, starting when the eldest was 14 weeks old, then just after he turned 2 and moved up a class the now 3 year old started and after a few month break I am back in again with Speedy.

I love the water and want the boys to be able to enjoy and be confident as well.  Getting to do swimming lessons and be in the pool is a real highlight of parenting for me.

I am thankful we can afford to put the kids in lessons, it is quite the expensive exercise with 3 kids.  They will continue to do them until they can swim, I do not care if they are Olympic champions but I do care that they have the very important skill.  It really is one thing I wish the government subsidised in some way so everyone can benefit.

Doing a double whammy link up today with Rhianna from A Parenting Life for Thankful Thursday and also with The Lounge which is being hosted this week by Tegan from Musings Of The Misguided

Wordless Wednesday- Kicking Back

The face behind the feet complete with vegie stained singlet!!  Photo taken by the 4 year old!!

If there is a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than laying outside nudey rudey kicking a dog I would like to know what it is!!

Linking up for the first time in 2014 with My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday.

Finding my groove.

I love how the tube knows me and suggests cool stuff!!

I saw this on facebook and loved it!!

 from here

While I am finding my groove in 2014 I thought I would share a couple of things which have inspired and made me smile this week.

Linking up for my first #ibot in 2014 with Essentially Jess.

The times they are a changin'

Life survives on change, so instead of avoiding it, take every change as a challenge for growth. Either it will give you what you want or it will teach you what the next step is.  TFTD from the lovely Me

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

― Mahatma Gandhi   

“Life is a journey, not a destination.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is a time of change around here.

Linking up with

#FFFi14 and Bloggers Boogie- Story

A new year and a new reading challenge from Little White Dove.  Last year was 13/13, read 13 books in 2013.  I managed 4 which was 2 more than 2012 so I called it a win and am not too sad about it!!  I did however read about 500 childrens books!!

This year is to pick 5 books you have always wanted to read and read them.  Simple!!

I have got 2 in mind so far.  The first is Sycamore Row by John Grisham.  The second is the new Bridget Jones book.  Now I am stumped.  I need 3 more.  I want to read a biography, a non fiction and maybe some kind of classic.  Any suggestions very welcome!!

Turns out Bloggers Boogie is back Yay!!  My 5 for this week are all story related!!  Yes I did add OneD I really like the song!!  Brandi Carlile is from Greys Anatomy, and the last song is from The Princess Bride and I am so glad I rediscovered it today!!











Linking up a sneaky Saturday post with Little White Dove for Bloggers Boogie and also making this a Things I Know with The Miss Cinders because I know I am excited about reading five whole books!!

 

Seeya 2013 Howdy 2014

I saw this this morning and it could not be more true.  What a crazy busy few weeks, it has been good but I am thankful its over!!  Just a special 3rd birthday on the weekend then all celebrations can cease and we can go back to normal!!  At least for a few weeks.

2013 was a great year around here. A new baby and finally seeing Bon Jovi among the highlights!!  I am looking at 2014 through new eyes and knowing what needs improvement.  I want 2014 to be even better than 2013 and am looking at serious ways to achieve it.  Like not using the quick fix for situations but finding more permanent solutions.

I am just stopping in today to say hi and Happy New Year.  I will be back on deck next week hopefully with some new ideas.. I will leave you with song of the week which has been stuck in my head for days!!



Linking up with Rhianna for my Thankful Thursday contribution!!