Things I Know #35- Thanksgiving

What a shitty week it has been around the globe.  I try to avoid watching the news but this week it has been unavoidable.  So much sadness and violence.  All of it completely inexplicable.  I have been counting my blessings a little more this week thats for sure.

So here is some random bits that have made me smile this week because I know how important it is to take stock of what is around you.

I won this on Facebook by guessing how much the outfit was worth.  I guessed $17 and was the first to guess correctly!!  I requested they donate it to the nearest refuge because as much as I would have liked the bag and hat I don't need them and there is someone else who does.

 The Lego Christmas Tree we missed out on seeing.

I ended up buying these little aloe vera plants on ebay after debating whether or not too.  After a dash up to the local nursery for potting mix and the little biodegradable pots they are "hopefully" going to thrive then I can put them into bigger pots.  Fyi it is fine to send plants around NSW (not sure about interstate) and these were express posted.


Ooh look what I saw an ad for.  I love the original and this looks like a great remake.

I cracked a wally about going to bloody presentation day today as it was going to be an extra long torture session and the Kindergarten class of 2014 were performing right at the end but I chanced it and went right when I thought it was ending.  I missed their performance by about 2 minutes and was a little broken hearted until it was announced that the kindy kids were staying on the stage so parents cold take photos while the rest of the school went back to their classes.  I got to see them perform the song twice which was a lovely thing for the school to do as no one would have been able to see properly as the hall was packed and the smile on my kindy kid's face when he saw me was worth being there.  We just won't tell him I missed the main thing!!

In other news it is Thanksgiving in the US this weekend (Happy Thanksgiving) and I am seriously considering having a Thanksgiving next year with friends.  What a great idea, gathering with your nearest and dearest, eating and drinking.  There are so many awesome Thanksgiving recipes although they might not be the best to have on a summers day!!  I like the idea that it isn't about gift giving which has overtaken what Christmas should be about.  Definitely something I will look into for next year!!

Linking up with Sarah from Creating Contentment for #thankfulthursday

An InLinkz Link-up

Things I Know #32- Proud as punch

The Lounge topic this week is "your top ten proudest moments".

Here are mine for this week because I am just that awesome!!

1. I made sure our smoke alarms were working by burning toast.  I can confirm both alarms are in perfect working order. 
2. I made perfect soft boiled eggs.  Yes this is an accomplishment I am very proud of as I have had an absolute shocker when boiling eggs lately!!  
3.  I resisted the urge to scream and chuck my computer/phone out of the window every time I saw some kind of crappy status update this week!!  I use bad grammar to keep you guys on your toes, think of it like a game called "How many mistakes can Ann make in one post"!!  
4. Christmas present shopping will be completed by the end of the week.  Just some online ordering to do and I can sit back and relax.
5. Speaking of Christmas I am going to be cooking my first ever pudding.  I will be making a test one on Sunday and cannot wait!!  I will be mighty proud if it works out!!
6. I am so proud to say Kindy Kid caught the bus home from school this week and it was a big success.  After last weeks near disaster (looooooong story) it is all good and today he even caught the bus to school with his little friend from up the road.  I actually don't mind the drop off as all I do is slow the car down and throw him out, ok not really I do actually stop the car but we haven't had to walk him in since the start of term 2 so it isn't a big deal!!  The bus leaves about 20 minutes before we would drive to school so if he wants to catch it we will need to be out the door a lot earlier.  As the bus stop is directly across from our place this is an awesome new achievement. and my life just got a little easier a couple of days a week!!
7. After months of the vacuum working a bit half assed I am proud to say it has been serviced and is now working like brand new.  I really should learn how to clean the filters etc!!
8. I have been hand washing the dishes for nearly a week (after the seal on the dishwasher crapped itself), I am proud to say I have only bitched and whinged about this about 30 times a day.  Good gawd we go through some plates and cups in this house!!
9. 
   

 I ran out of awesome things so Proud Mary!!

Lastly, in all seriousness I am so proud to have attended our local Remembrance Day service.  It was a lovely fitting tribute to all those who have fought for our freedom.  I was so proud of my two littlest boys.  They both behaved so beautifully as did the group of kids who went from our preschool.  Next year though I will take more food and drinks and not bounce the baby up and down so much so he doesn't vomit down my top five minutes before the service ends.

I am resisting the urge to unleash a full rant about all the negative stories I have heard regarding certain groups and individuals who do not feel it necessary to mark such a special day.  Shame on them is all I have to say.

 I love this image of all the poppies surrounding The Tower of London.

Linking up with Tegan at Musings of the Misguided who is this weeks host of The Lounge and Sarah at Creating Contentmet for Thankful Thursday.

Don't forget to pop over and enter the giveaway I have going at the moment!!

An InLinkz Link-up

#zennotes and Rainbow farting unicorns

I was going to have a mega whine today.  Like how annoying life can be.  You know the little things which are minor but combine them altogether and it is one massive pee off.

For example

• Bonds stay up baby socks DO NOT STAY UP.  False advertising right there.  Maybe they do on a mannequin but not on any child.
• People who drive really slow in the ultra fast lane.
• Afternoon radio.  While I am at it morning radio.  Gee I would love a digital radio in my car.
• My precious Bon Jovi cd in the car is scratched.
• People who don't kiss and drop in the kiss and drop zone but kiss, hug, faff around, have a conversation, etc.  (not that we have a designated kiss and drop zone which I thought was mandatory at all schools??)   
• Kids who will not let me walk into a shopping centre without having meltdowns.
• Continually forgetting what it is I went into the bloody shops for.
• Mother Nature not getting the memo that it is spring or that we have had enough rain.  
• Keyboard warriors.  
• Wasting a precious half hour of my life working out just what the heck Skylanders are and then having to break the news to a five year old that he will not be having any part of the bloody things because I am not buying a freaking xbox or playstation.  (I think I got the gist of them- a video game with toys that interact??!!)
• The fact I have zero computer knowledge and cannot do simple things like plug an iphone in to it and transfer music from the lappy to the phone.  Nothing I plug into the computer registers on it at all and I don't have any idea how to make it.

But then something special happened.  Thanks to the crazy day that is Monday I forgot to check the mail so it was such a beautiful surprise to check this morning and discover these gorgeous things.


from the very lovely Lisa from Random Acts of Zen.  I just love these #zennotes.  I will be keeping one of them and giving away the rest, Which is the whole idea of them, although I could keep all of them!!

Then I saw these pop up on my facey newsfeed and really like their inspirational messages.

I am also loving getting tftd from Me.  This lovely lady has twice in the last few days made me spit my coffee out.  Firstly by using the word "fugly"which I believe is one of the most underused words ever and should be brought back into daily use asap.  Also by giving me the image of unicorns farting rainbows!!

 This right here is FUGLY!!  But oh so funny!!

 Turns out people all over the world love a rainbow farting unicorn!!



This weekend we are going to the country to visit the most awesome of friends and while our trip has been cut short by a day it is still going to be epic and I cannot wait!!  There will be wine, food and laughs.  The perfect recipe for a great weekend!!

Linking up with Essentially Jess for #ibot, The Lounge which is over at Robo Schmobo on Thursday and also Creating Contentment for #thankfulthursday because one post can say so much!!