A Party Dilemma .... But it is not all about me

(Last years cake , with the birthday boy in the back ground)


SO, i love parties, I love throwing parities, i love the planning, creating, theming, organising , writing the lists, and then making all the beautiful food.

This year, My Master M turns 5, we have also recently moved to a new town and i really don't know that many people.

Today , Master M informs me that he is inviting everyone in his class , plus his friends next door to his big birthday party. He has picked out a cake from my cake book, and so, it seems we are having a party. (Why am i surprise, he is my son)

My hesitation is that i don't know any of the other mums, they don't seem to be overly friendly at drop off and pick up time at school. I am sure they are just shy , or maybe they don't want to talk to the mum they all don't know.

As my husband keeps reminding me , "It is not all about me" , and so to keep the boy happy i have agreed.

So, i am inviting 17 kids from school and their parents to a birthday party at our house. (plus our neighbor and her boys)

Should be very interesting ..... thank goodness it is still a while away.

M's Room Needs A Make Over

Master M's room needs a Make Over, since moving into the new house, i haven't had the time or energy to do anything in there. I seem to be forever picking up his toys and putting his clothes away.

In the old house his room looked like this-

Unfortunately, i never got the chance to tweek it, as we moved after a couple of months.

M's room currently looks like a BOMB has hit it. His book shelf is a mess....


So, this morning M and i are having a big clean up (i hate messy kids rooms) and then we are going to do a bit of decorating !

Will be back to post some pics !

Buttons By Lou Lou

April over at A City Girl in the Country held a comp recently which i won ! YAH, i never win anything !

The prize was a gift from Lou Lou At Buttons By Lou Lou .

Her work is amazing and so much fun ! I am so happy with my little gifts and since i can't find my cord to upload my pics , i have stolen a few from her site !

Slack, Slack Blogger

Ohh, i have been so slack in blog world .....
Those that know me realise my life is pretty hectic at the moment, i am 22 weeks pregnant and still suffering from severe morning sickness, my little Master M is settling into prep, for the first time ever i am a stay at home mm, i have to drive 3 hours each way to see my obs regularly, plus trying to keep a semi-normal relationship with my husband that works a crazy roster !

BUT i have so much to blog about .....

Comming up in the next couple of posts

~ Some Cafe Reviews
~ Some blog reviews
~ Some pics of my boys
~ and a little update on our mouse baby
And lots lots more.....


STAY TUNED !

14 hour days.... What about families ?

I usually write fluffy posts about things i love, people i love or food i love. Today's post is about something that i am probably as passionate about.... Working conditions.

My husband works in the mining industry , yes it is very lucrative and it allows us many luxuries, but he also works long days. 12 hour shifts might not sound to bad on the surface, but factor in a hour each day travel time , and the fact that when he gets to work he is operating large scale heavy machinery.

We live in a smaller mining town in the hope to get ahead, we understand that there is risk associated with the work that he completes and i am thankful every time , he walk back in that door.

Today's Daily Mercury front page is blazed with the headline 14-hour days for mining workers

ONE of the big miners has introduced a new fatigue management plan, that allows employee's to work 14 hour days (16 hrs in an emergency) and up to 14 days straight.

Is this safe ?
These men and women, will finish these shifts and then drive home , it could be 15 minutes or 4 hours home. We advise our normal drivers " that tired drivers die" , that we need breaks while driving"
Is it family friendly ?
14 hour days ..... so , based on roster now, these men could start work at 5am , well before the family wakes, and will not be home till 7pm. The kids will be feed and ready for bed.

As a wife, mumma and mumma to be, i would hate for my husband to do 14 hour shift. I would hate him to work 14 hour days, with 14 days straight work.

I understand that big mining companies want and need to improve productivity, but instead of increasing days at work , and more than likely increasing Loss Time Injuries or even deaths, lets improve moral for the employees.

We are trading Valentine's Day for Chinese New Year.

So, i hate Valentine's Day, maybe because in the whole time i have known my husband he has never really got the point. I have dropped hint after hint, sent him email after email, and i am still waiting on that elusive pink diamond ring.

I also find it a little crazy that men who treat their wife horribly all year are praised because they cough up the bucks for a bunch of red roses and a box of chocolates. My husband is nice to me everyday (well most days) and i don't think i would appreciate the sentiment, if he followed the trend and bought me the unoriginal gift of red roses on the most expensive day for flowers of the whole year.

So, it just happens that Valentine's day falls on Chinese New Year this year, and so we plan to celebrate Chinese New Years , with a New Years Eve Party.

We have never celebrated Chinese New Year before, but think it is a great way to expand our horizons and allow our Master M a look at other cultures whilst living in a fairly remote area of QLD.

We have a great Chinese Restaurant here, and we thought about going there for dinner, but the logistics of a cranky pregnant mumma (me), a hyperactive 4 yo (M) and a husband who has just come off night shift , didn't really mix.



So, we are having a banquet at home with a few close friends. We will be decorating the house with red decorations, we have red lanterns and red streamers (the best i could do on short notice), we will be eating Jau Gok (Chinese New Year Dumplings, Mandarin Oranges (Mandarins), Melon Seeds (or pumpkin and sunflower seeds), Noodles, ,Whole Fish (if the boys can catch one tomorrow) AND also some very Australian chinese food in spring rolls, steamed dim sims, some stir fry dishes and fried rice.





I know people will laugh and probably cringe out our attempt to celebrate Chinese New Year with such ignorance, but i like the idea of sweeping away the previous year and bringing wealth , prosperity and happiness to our lives.

The only hitch is now Fireworks, but my husband assures me to leave it to him. He knows a man , who knows a man, who something , something. so , we may have a few little snap , crackle and pops in the back yard.

Checky Check Up

A little reminder for all women to check out the link to Checky Check Up

Please ensure that you all check your breast regularly and ensure that you are vigilant. Breast Cancer affects women from all walks of life.

Please also check out my fave breast cancer charity - Chick's in Pink. They have a great pink online shop - HERE

Did the baby eat the cleaning lady ?

My son, M, is very concerned that our cleaning lady doesn't come to visit anymore. I explained that now we are having a baby and mummy doesn't go to work anymore, we couldn't have a cleaning lady and a baby.

About an hour later he came back and asked
"Did the baby eat the cleaning lady ? "
My reply - Ummmm.............No.
M:- "Well where is she ? "

What could i say nothing was going to fix this problem in his head. So, he has now told everyone that our Baby ate the cleaning lady !

4yo Logic....... ? ?

Marriage .... by Kerri Sackville

Love this point of view on marriage by Kerri Sackville - Check out her blog


Marriage suits me. I like knowing that I have a regular date for Saturday nights (provided we can get a babysitter). I like having someone to talk to (and I don't even need him to listen). I like knowing there's at least one person who'll remember my birthday (if I remind him repeatedly in the preceding weeks). Oh, and of course I like my husband. Just a bit.