And this will not be appearing under our christmas tree this year...

Totally Tatooed Barbie - I'm sorry but - what the fug? Is this what we want young girls to think is an accessory? A tattoo? Put on your earrings, match your shoes, your handbag, your earrings and your.. tats. Tats on your back, neck, midriff, legs.. no no no no no!!!!!

Sure to win some hearts with the Bratz (aka trainee prostitutes) crowd.

Dumbfounded.

My indulgence..

I indulged a little today. I've had my eye on a handbag for a while, and I can't afford it ($1300 in these economic times just can't be justified!) So I took myself off to Paddy's Market today which is just around the corner from my work and put my good ol' bartering skills to the test.

I used to travel Asia frequently so have learned to haggle and 'play the game' of hesitation and negotiation. Got my new gorgeous and seemingly (but doubt it) lined leather bag down from $38 to $28. It's big enough to take my lunch to work without taking my handbag and another bag... just a one-bag-chick now! I bought it in red which I'm now thinking might have been a bit hasty. I love red but I don't wear red everyday.. might go and find another bigger bag in black next week...

Sam-I-Am

Last night I had the absolute pleasure of reading one of my favourite books as a child to my eldest child for the first time. I felt that she was now old enough to really grasp the humour and sillyness whilst following the story, and in reality I was so glad I waited because it would not have been as special as it was.

Of course I’m talking about ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ which had her regaling ‘I will not eat them in a house, I will not eat them with a mouse’… right along with me towards the end. Her little eyes were open wide with excitement and my heart was skipping beats and eyes watery watching her experience such an exciting moment. It was truly one moment in parenting I never want to forget. Sam-I-Am

Sibling Dynamics - gets me thinking...

Just watched an interesting show called 'Child of Our Time' it's quite similar to '7 up' series but this starts in 2000 and follows 25 children for 20 years. Tonight's episode focused on sibling dynamics and how the sibling relationship shapes who we are and teaches valuable lifeskill.The episode link is here if you're interested..

They had older/younger siblings but very interestingly had two sets of twins.. First set of twins were identicals, and one was much more dependent on his brother than the brother was. One twin found that his life revolved around his brother and when asked who he would want to comfort him when he was unwell, he said his brother. His brother said his Mum. Then they were asked who they would want to play with at lunchtime, the dependent brother said his brother and his brother said 'lots of friends'... and so it went on. They did separate them and it did seem to go well with the dependent brother coping without his brother but forming intense one-on-one friendships within his class. Interestingly when separated, the more independent twin did seek out his dependent brother at lunchtimes..

The other twin family was a bit of a Kalie-set-up but with a Liss-twist where there were boy-girl twins as the elder siblings with a younger brother born 18 months (that's the Liss twist) younger. They focused more on the relationship of the two boys and how the youngest was very competitive and attention-seeking to the point he was driven (and successful most of the time) to 'win' or 'beat' his older brother at everything. It was really sad as the elder brother didn't really even like his younger brother anymore The youngest had a harmonious relationship with the elder sister, but she seemed to side a bit with the younger brother (a bit unfair!) and it was a sad situation all around. The family moved to the country and the elder kids started school which gave the older brother the confidence he needed but also made him realise when separated from his younger brother - he actually missed him (although he didn't want to admit it to the brother) and similarly, the younger brother missed having his older brother on tap.

Interesting, shall watch the next in the series next week when they are investigating learning life's lessons and conscience building in 6 year olds..

Some anxiety started to build inside me when watching the family with the boy/girl twins and the younger sibling - as when I discovered that we were expecting twins, just 18 months after my first born Eloise I was overwrought with concern about how it was going to affect her. I am paranoid about her feeling left out and obviously when there's a majority of the family the same age/developmental cycle it does affect the family dynamic. I also worried about the attention that would be poured onto the whole novelty of twins when they were born etc which did happen especially in public but I did a lot of making a big deal out of Eloise being a big sister in response. Now I wonder if this overcompensating or if there is jealousy because Eloise is a vivacious, attention seeking individual... nothing to the levels of young William on tonight's show but there is something there... I don't know if it's age, personality or if it's the dynamic that manifesting itself in the personality.. does that make sense?

Mother guilt never ever ends. I'm doing my best, I know what I'm dealing with.. I wish I was a child psychologist!!

My seven...

Was tagged by the lovely Chantelle - take up the challenge yourself!

The Rules:

1. List these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog.

3. Tell 7 unspectacular quirks about you.

4. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

5.Link the person who tagged you.

6.Leave a comment for each blogger.

7. Leave a photo of yourself

7 Facts About Me.

1. I'm short - 5ft 2.5inches - my hubby is a whole foot taller than me.

2. I was in Naval Cadets from 13 to 20 and can still tie all the knots and have a love of sailing.

3. I'm the eldest child in my family

4. My birthdate only has 1's and 7's in it.

5. I'm allergic to Mangoes, Avocadoes, Paw Paw and Guava

6. I studied 3 languages for the HSC, 2 at 3 unit level...

7. I really need a new vacuum cleaner.

7 Unspectacular Quirks About Me.

1. I have a phobia of ledges

2. I can't bear to pluck my eyebrows

3. I really, really REALLY can't stand John Farnham. will turn off radio, tv etc when he appears.

4. I'm anal about how I load things on the shopping conveyor belt and also how and in what order I hang out my washing

5. I wish I was more adventurous with jewelry

6. I have never ever had a cup of coffee in my lifetime and in fact hate the smell of anything coffee/mocha.

7. I don't have a drivers' licence.

Tag 7 People.

1. Krys - Inspired by Children

2. Kat - Kat's Kapers

3. Manda - Making Albuqueque

4. Maria - Under The Tree

5. Chantelle - Chantilly Bowtique

6. Meagan - Bowenvale 321

7. Dee - Words

Pic of me...hmmm I'm cheating :P This is from Yearbook yourself

OK, off to tag my victims.. muwahahahahahahaaaa

Why does it shock me?

People are so freaking rude and selfish? This morning I got on the bus, and I had shoulder bag with my lunch etc in it and my handbag, as I got on the bus an older gentleman about 60 odd I would guess, goes to sit down in the last seat, as he goes to sit down, realises I'm standing and offers me the seat. I say 'No it's fine, you sit' and he says 'No really, I insist'. I'm thinking 'oh isn't that lovely and go to pick up my shoulder bag off the floor when a 25-ish year old male comes in and swoops on the seat! I mean, I didn't *need* the seat but surely he would offer it to the older bloke? Didn't he see me preparing to sit down? I suppose that Ipod made us invisible and also depleted him of all human decency.. also made his eyes suddenly become absolutely uncontactable with any of ours.. mmmm..

Reminds me of the time when I was about 5 months pregnant with Laura and Olivia. I was full-term size and caught the bus to work. One day it was raining and the bus was absolutely packed. Again, Ipods and newspapers seem to make hideously uncomfortable pregnant women invisible, until a young early-20's male taps me on the belly (no less) and asks me.. if he could hold my UMBRELLA. I didn't know whether I wanted to accept, or just hit him over the head with it.

Someone overhead this and offered me their seat. After that I would just evict the youngest-able-bodied person on the bus. Lost all my inhibitions after that moment.

I remember my Mother used to say to me to stand for my elders, even high school girls when I was in primary school... I used to always stand up and take much pride in doing so as I would always get a very genuine thank you and people DO appreciate manners. What are we teaching our children these days or in the last 10 years or is it that schools aren't reinforcing it or is it that it's just a different breed? I would be absolutely devastated if I learned my child had been so disrespectful (that's what it is in my eyes).

If this makes me a fuddy-duddy, get me my fluffy slippers and bex. I'm willing to take on that label!

Tonight's cocktail of choice...

'Dean's Special'

30ml Absolut Vanilla Vodka

1 quarter or large slice of lime, squeezed and left in glass

200ml dry ginger ale

ice to your liking

You know, it smells and tastes a little like CHOCOLATE. I know, weird!! But yum. Hubby has had about 5 over the weekend, me being sick I'm into my first... yum.

Celebrating the differences...

My girls couldn't get more different if we tried really, and the most polarity is evident in my twins, Olivia my pretty girl and Laura, my little tomboy (pictured right today!)

Laura I'm sure will be the one drinking a beer and pantsing the boys at the pool table (like Mummy did in her day) and Olivia will be in the corner watching on with a mini-champagne bottle with a straw.

Laura loves to garden

Olivia likes to tidy up

Laura is a carnivore

Olivia would happily live on broccoli.

Laura's favourite colour is green

Olivia's favourite colour is pink

Laura is outgoing and social with people she doesn't know

Olivia needs to warm to a crowd first

I celebrate these differences, I'm grateful for them. Mind you I always knew they were going to be different from the start. Laura was very active in the womb and frequently would annoy her sister by kicking her (and me) incessently until a fed-up Olivia would retaliate in tantrum fashion. The same dynamic exists today.

Eloise is a bit of both, though EXTREMELY confident and outgoing, but with that goes a tad manipulative and too clever for her own good! She is changing all the time. Her favourite colour has gone from red, to pink and now it's recently changed to blue. She would think nothing of walking into a room full of strangers and start a conversation with someone. She is also extremely caring and if there is a baby in the room she will make a point in checking they're OK... she's taken an almost second-mother role with her sisters at time, but mostly just to boss them around...! I won't need to worry about her going to school next year, in fact, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be the only one crying and I'll be getting a dose of my own medicine... when I started school I asked my Mum to pick me up at the gate rather than in the playground because 'I wasn't a baby'. meh...

What is the same in all my girls and I'm very grateful for is that they are very outwardly affectionate. They surprise us and each other with random hugs and 'I love you's on a regular basis and despite the regular sibling rivalry stuff and whining that's only natural from 3 and 4 year old girls they genuinely care for each other. I hope it lasts into their adulthood and beyond.

A month in Review - February 2009

What we did:

• Went to Gold Coast for a mini-Gold-Coast Holiday
• Caught up with Auntie Lyn in Bangalow
• Caught up with Uncle Peter and some of our friends in Brisbane
• Caught up with my Godmother Gainor and family, and friends on the Gold Coast
• Went to Dreamworld
• I got and started a new job (3 week contract but meh!) after almost 3 months off work
• Got very sick of the rain, which I think out of 28 days of this month it has rained 24. ergh.

Milestones:

Laura

• Transitioned (mostly) to doing all poos in the toilet
• Wearing undies daytimes 100% even going out!
• We started doing 'homework' with Kindy this month
• Started 'Mighty-Mites' at Kindy this month
• 99cms tall on 21st (3 years 2 months)

Olivia

• Transitioned (mostly) to doing all poos in the toilet
• Wearing undies daytimes 100% even going out!
• We started doing 'homework' with Kindy this month
• Started 'Mighty-Mites' at Kindy this month
• 99cms tall on 21st (3 years 2 months)

Eloise

• Starting to get some of her letters the right way (as opposed to backwards due to being a lefty)
• Starting to understand the concept of counting to 100 (i.e. twenty, thirty, forty etc.)
• Small improvement in arguing, but screaming has become a new issue
• Started 'Mighty-Mites' at Kindy this month
• She's not using the word 'hate' as much (well pretty rarely) but now I realise I have probably been dropping too many f and s bombs as at times I will hear her repeating what I have said.. eek. bad mummy.
• Big gains on general attitude, positive reinforcement is working on the whole

When size matters?

Today we had to do some errands and found ourselves agreeing to the pleas of our three obviously-successful-target-of-mega-marketing children to go to McDonalds. Now a disclaimer here, we hardly ever go to Mickey-Dees' usually when on holidays perhaps.. anyways..

I look in my trusty Entertainment book and we've got a voucher for buy one big mac, get one free. My recollections of the Big Mac stem from a teen/early twenties when we'd have them before going to a movie etc and a cash-strapped-students there's little else to afford. I remember them being pretty filling and not-too-bad so I ask my hubby whether he'd like to partake in the buy-one-get-one free deal.. he agrees.

I go back to the seat and then my burger arrives. Is this the big Mac I remember or a kiddies' version? It seems awfully small. Surely this is the "Small Mac"? Where's the "Big" Mac? I'm sure I can remember holding it with my two hands and it *just* fitting, now it seems it could fit in the palm of my hand! It's $5.50 or something (I don't remember!) hmmmm pay same/more -get less... Good ol' Maccas....harrumph.

Then just looking on Wikipedia to see if there has been a change in size perhaps we USED to have a standard Big Mac size the same as the US? Theirs is 214grams and ours is 202gr? That doesn't seem like much, however there is a 170gram calorie difference for that 12 grams. eeek. Wish I hadn't looked that up...

Something to sing and dance about?

At my local theatre they are performing Menopause: the musical now to me this seemed quite confronting to say the least when I read it on an advertisement on the bus... I suppose the iminent threat of menopause isn't a laughing matter to most who are either at risk of it or approaching that age but I suppose laughter is the best medicine..? "Inspired by a hot flush and a bottle of wine'.. hmmm.. Might check it out.

D'oh moment

Sitting here, reflecting on my day, thinking how I don't know as sick as I have felt today how I managed to go to an interview and seemingly getting through it when a) bus rocked up 15 minutes late and then the journey taking 10 minutes longer, making my original 25 minutes to spare a rather panicked run from the bus stop to the interview and arriving in the lift at 4.30pm exactly.

I'm congratulating myself here because I almost didn't make it and arrived unflustered etc and looking my best (I had my eyebrows waxed this morning and even coloured my hair), then rubbing my ear, I remember I took one of my earrings off to change them.. except I ran out time, so yes, I went to my interview with ONE earring. Not a subtle one either - a gold sparkly euroball.

Hopefully the bloke who interviewed me didn't notice.. d'oh!

Long time, no blog...

OK, ok, I have some really good excuses, um I mean REASONS!!
I'm tired
Well a bit more tired than usual, I'm trying to keep the house running, keep laundry going with no sunshine and cook up a storm in advance for workdays so there's no real cooking in the week
I've been ebaying
I've been selling the 'baby' stuff. Babygates (yes the kids now have run of the full house *groan*) and baby food and toddler rearing books etc. At one stage I had 21 people watching our baby gate, before someone eventually bought it 2 days after listing at full buy-it-now price. It was crazy!
I've been working
And whilst the work is pretty easy-going it's a bit of a challenge mentally as I feel there's a lot I DON'T know if that makes sense. Add to that about 3 hours a day commuting and when I get home it's straight into bed-time story, cuddles, whoolf down dinner and pass out.
My new other job
On Wednesday I take over as the cleaner. Our cleaner hasn't been in a while on account of finances so on Wednesday I'm cleaning bathrooms, mopping and vacuuming like the devil. Shame I don't get paid for that one but at least I know it's being done once a week.
Good Telly
Underbelly II, The Life and Times of Harvey Milk to name a few are keeping me up late.. hence I'm tired.!

But here I am, I'll be back to update tonight

These smell devine..

Orange Toffee Muffins
Made these muffins (yes despite the bathroom interruptions!) this morning with the girls, I got a recipe from allrecipes.com and modified it a little (don't I always!!??) - what can I say, they are delicious and end up having a crunchy-caramelly-orangey top. It made 3 dozen for me, so I've frozen 27 of them in sandwich-size ziplock bags in lots of 3 (you could get 4 each in those if you needed to) for trips out on weekends or afternoon tea on the way home from kindy.

Ingredients: (I just put these all on the scales together)

• 500grams plain flour
• 200grams of white sugar
• 100grams of brown sugar
• 2 tsp of baking powder
• 1 tsp bicarb soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

then:

• 2 large navel oranges - zest and juice (about 320ml juice you'll need)
• 220gr melted butter or margarine
• 4 large eggs
  

Basically, choose whether you want ot use a mixer or not - I didn't and we all got a turn of combining the ingredients.. fun. mix the dry ingredients together, and then add one-by-one the wet ingredients.

Whack into patty pans in your muffin tin and then into a preheated 180deg oven and cook until deep golden brown on top (about 20 mins in my fan-forced).

Let cool for about 15-20 and serve. You could also serve these hot with icecream and/or toffee sauce.

Here's some gratuitous shots of the 'apples of my eyes' :)

Why I have dirty hair...

This is not a dramatization.
This actually happened this morning whilst taking a shower. Well trying.

get into shower, wet self, close eyes
(door opens)
E: Mummy, what are you doing?
M: I'm taking a shower like I told you, please stay in the loungeroom like I asked you to - bye
E: Bye mum
(shuts door)
10 seconds...
(door opens)
O: Mummy, I really want to wear a headband today.
M: Your hair is done and I'm having a shower right now, I'll talk about it when I'm dressed
O: Ok Mum, bye
(closes door)
5 seconds
(door opens)
L: Mummmmeeee, I miss you. I stay here.
M: Laura, Mummy misses you too, but I need to have a shower, can I have a cuddle when I'm dressed
L: Sure Mum! Bye!
(closes door)
25 seconds
(door opens)
O: Mummy, when are we making muffins?
M: (getting irritated that hubby is in bed and can probably hear this!) When I'm OUT of the shower
O: You getting out of the shower now Mummy?
M: No, please go in the loungeroom before I get cross
O: Oh, but I want to make muffins!
M: (irritated) Olivia, PLEASE go in the loungeroom
(closes door)
15 seconds
(door opens)
E: Olivia says we're making muffins when you're dressed, are we Mummy?
M: Not if you don't go into the loungeroom and everyone leaves me in peace to wash my hair
E: (whingy tone) ohhh Okkk mummy
(closes door)
25 seconds
(door opens)
L: Mummy, I'm hungry (this is less than an hour after we have finished pancakes and cereal for breakfast)

I gave up. Greasy hair until 8.30pm tonight.

Weather determines the mood...summing it up in 10 points...

1. It's wet.
2. It's grey.
3. I feel yuk.
4. Have done nothing of any significance.
5. My children are surprisingly well behaved.
6. Some washing was done and hung out in my chinese undercover laundry.
7. Hubby's unwell and crabby.
8. Not going to long awaited soiree on account of points 3 & 8.
9. Not inspired
10. That's it for now

Work imitating life....

Whilst on my job hunt in this past three months I’ve come across so many automated application responses and recently when I’ve been applying for roles that I’m over-qualified for, I’ve been getting those ‘You have not been successful in proceeding to the next stage of the recruitment process’ letters too. Ho-hum.

Now in my current short-term contract role I find myself writing functional specifications for a system to produce such letters. It’s depressing analysing all the different types of letters for ineligibility, rejection, withdrawal of application and then physically fleshing out how they will work/appear/worded - to be sent top people , just like me.

Oh well, I’m moving on to letters of offer and-the-like soon…. Hopefully in my real life soon too!

Dead successful?

Do you reckon those guys who play corpses in the umpteen crime drama shows on telly are just struggling actors who list that on their CV, and maybe have a string of appearances as dead guys. I mean all they do is get made up, stay still and well look...errr.... dead.... looks dead easy to me! How much does that pay?

Talking of pay in case of you are interested in earning some extra moulah....

Model required for instructional DVD on Brazilian Waxing
We are seeking the services of a professional female model for an upcoming DVD production in Sydney.The DVD will be an instructional video of Brazilian waxing and will be sold commercially in Australia and overseas.The model will be required to be naked below the waist (clothed upper) as would be required for this type of treatment in a beauty salon. The footage used will only appear on this video in the context of a professional waxing treatment. Models will be required to speak briefly to introduce themselves (less than 30 seconds, no lines, just ad-lib). Screen-names are fine for the production if you'd prefer.The look and feel of the production is stylish and tasteful with a touch of glamour, designed to educate people on this popular style of waxing and for anyone wanting to know more about waxing in general, including women wanting to wax at home and for the first time.The shoot will be professionally run by Louder than Words, a Sydney based Production Company with numerous TVC and other commercial credits. (www.louderthanwords.com.au)A professional Australian licensed beautician is performing the waxing and has over 20 years experience in waxing and training within the beauty industry. Safety and hygiene are paramount requirements of the production.To register your interest, please include a recent Head-shot and a Swim ware photo for consideration (no nudity please). A brief CV, with career highlights would also be appreciated.Finalists will be forwarded to Louder than Words who will then contact you to discuss the role in detail.This is a great opportunity to expand your portfolio to an International market!Position closes Friday 27th Feb (or once the right person is found)
Prefer email responses, with photo attachments as outlined above, thanks.

I'd be a great candidate for waxing but I don't think anyone wants to see me naked below the waist (especially me!) let alone get paid for it... I giggle when I read 'The look and feel of the production is stylish and tasteful with a touch of glamour' mmmm sounds it!....

Dooodle-do-do..

Been humming that most of the day:

Here comes the sun.. doodle-do-do.. here comes the sun ... and I sayyyyy.. it's alright..

Today I'm pleased to report the sun HAS come out! Although I have been in the office for most of it, no coats, no umbrella's I wore a blouse today... was lovely... felt jubilent crossing the Harbour Bridge on the bus with not a cloud in the sky... sigh..

Washing under control.. for now!

Am very tired though - late nights at 5.30am starts catching up with all of us. TGIF tomorrow indeed.

The Great Cookie Commotion

Gotta love a simple and delicious recipe to have fun with the kids. Add to boot it's pretty inexpensive and I didn't have to even leave the house with a shopping list.

Katy has shared this recipe with many, that she got from the Simple Savings website. Thanks Katy!

Apparently this mix makes 120 biscuits, but for us it made 62, but I didn't use the full 5 cups of self-raising flour, instead 3.5 cups of SRF and 1.5 of plain... might make a difference, also my cookies are about 6-7cm diameter and about 1cm high.. you could make teensy-dinky ones if you want!

Ingredients:

500gr butter or margarine (I used 2 sticks of fairy margarine)

1 cup sugar

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

5 cups of self-raising flour (again I used 3.5 selfraising and 1.5 of plain - worked well)

Method:

Cream softened butter/margarine with sugar with electic beater, pour in sweetened condensed milk and keep beating, then turn to low speed, and add flour, 1 cup at a time and combine. Take out of bowl and you can either:

a) Put some in glad wrap and put in the freezer for another day or b) Use the whole lot like we did and divide it up into as many variations of cookie you would like.

What we did today:

Divided into 4.

- mix 1 lot with 1 cup of sultanas (Olivia's cookies)

- mix 1 lot with 1/2 cup of 100's and 1,000's (Laura's cookies)

- mix 1 lot with 2tb ginger and 1.5 tb cinnamon (Liss' cookies)

- leave the last lot... for now.

Once each lot has been mixed, roll into balls and then squash flat-ish onto a greased tray, bake in 180deg oven for about 12 minutes.

The last lot we rolled the same, but squished down and then poked a hole in the top with your finger to make a small well. fill with a little strawberry jam - making jam drops... (Eloise's cookies)

Now for our pics:

Our little cooks:

Olivia's sultana cookies:

Eloise's Jam Drops (modelled by Olivia!) :

Taste testers