Monday Menu 3 December

I can't believe that it is December already.  So thinking that I am really tired and busy at the moment the meals I have reflect that.

Monday  cold chicken with baked potato and pea.

Tuesday  chicken curry pasta

Wednesday  spaghetti bolignaise

Thursday Hamburgers homemade

Friday soup and toast

Saturday  bbq kebabs  with green salad

Sunday Leftovers.

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie

When Teaching Tweenagers that Everything Costs Something.

'When I get a touch phone I will be able to get free internet.' was what my 11 (12 in 6 days) daughter promptly told me when she got off the school bus.  Now I know that the hours ride on the bus gives plenty of time for talk amongt the girls but free internet promptly got me thinking about the value of things and how to teach the above 11 year old that everything costs something.  Luckily just a few days later the right moment to make my point came about. 

As I have mentioned before I have been very fussy about my daughter having a phone.  Firstly she did not need one and only wanted one and secondly I did not have clearly in my head what rules I would need in place before such a device would be in her care.

For months and months I with stood the ..'but everyone has one'.....taunt.  I promptly replied the standard ...' when you can pay for one you can get one.  I don't see why you need a phone.  I will reassess it when each needy moment arrives.'

October bought about that moment to get the phone and I bought the cheapest one with the basics on it.  Nothing fancy at all.  6 weeks later it is lost.  Hmmmmmm not a happy mother.  I then went to the ...'well you were not responsible'.....'and I am not getting another one'...mode while secretly thinking well I suppose when the new school year comes around I will give it more thought especially as she had come home sick (vomiting) that day and I had a little empathy for her.  To my surprise my 11 year old said that ....'the phone I had bought her was a piece of junk'.    Well any thought of me replacing the phone prompty went and a whole week went by before I decided that if she was to have a phone she would need to buy it herself secretly hoping she would not have much money and the basic phone would be what she would be able to get.

I must say she was happy to spend what she had in her 'spending' (as opposed to her savings) stash leaving no money left for anything and she bought a phone.  Hmmmm same rules in place.  The plan came with a data package, calling minutes and a txt 5000 plan.  So I quickly rang the phone company just to confirm that this phone would not let said daughter spend more credit than she had and while I acknowledge that the phone was a good deal it was still not necessarily teacher her that everything costs.  Hmmm my plan was backfiring.  Then to my disgust she told me that the headset that came with it was a piece of junk not as good as the ones she lost. Lesson still requires some work I am thinking.

All I can say is thank goodness she has only a few days of school left and she still does not know how to tap into the wireless system we have at home.  That is giving me time to work out how to change the passwork for when I need it.

Project 365 February

Here are my February pages.  I guess I won't be finished by the end of the year but I am giving it a good go

Credits for these pages are Everyday life template set, Sweet and Simple kit 2 and Simply You Simply Me from Weeds and Wildflowers

Fridays Fabulous Five # 27

Here my links for this week.  

1. I am sure going to try and give this photography technique a try in the next week.  Moving lights.  I can't wait to see what I came up with.
2. I think that this is just perfect for my children to have a go at when they wrap the gifts this season.  I love visiting How about Orange's blog
3. If you are looking for a quick advent calendar then the very retro blog Meet me at Mikes is worth a look.
4. Here is some subway art which I thought might be worth a look again and instead of thinking I might just go to spot light to have a look for a frame and do it.
5. then there is this post about tweenagers and their pocket money is spent is well worth a read.

Please feel free to post a link or two of your favourites.

Wordless Wednesday 27 November

During the summer we participate in orienteering as a fimily.  Out where we live the club runs a very family orientated summer series which is why we give it a go.  McKenzie is not confidently reading the maps and way faster than me.  Andre just loves running along with her.  I am usually encouraging Hayden to run along with me.  If you live out my way then you need to check out the Counties Manukau Orienteering Club.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys

When Painting the House

We have begun plainting the house outside.  All 320 sq/m of roof, 150 sq/m of deck and house walls to match.  Thats just this summer.  The inside will need doing to but that will be the next phase.

So the tin roof is a constant work in progress.  It can only be done when it is not too hot and needs a double coat so the roof and walls are both in progress. 

We have tried to be a little less traditional with the wall colours but at the same time not offensive to the main population.

I have been helping during the weekends and my husband is painting all the days when he is home from work.  I love that DH is beavering away at it while I am working hard to pay for all that paint.  I am sure there will plenty of posts about this project as we go.

Here is part of the house front.  Lets call this the before photo

Here we are in the shade doing the carport wall last week.  The photo makes the paint look grey but you can take it from me it is a pastel shade of teal.  I guess that will be for another post.

 

You will note the small part of me showing has my hair totally covered.  That is because it costs me heaps to colour my natural greying hair and don't want to add freehand splatters to the piece of art on my head already.

Mondays Menu 26 November

My blog took a break last week and I really missed my menu so I am back to it this week even though I am posting a little late

Monday  easy fried rice

Tuesday  spaghetti bolignaisee

Wednesday  crockpot beef with a combination of whatever I have in the pantry

Thursday  creamy coconut stirfry noodles and vege

Friday  Asian chcken wraps

Saturday  bbq chicken with salad

Sunday party food.

I am linking this post I'm an Organising Junkie

So I did it

So this year I got back on the photo a day band wagon and decided to put a page a week together again.  My children love the books I have made from other years it seemed that I should make an effort.  So in between all other projects I have on the go I am going to post them up so I can keep track of what I have done.  With out fail here is my first installment.

January pages are all made with Everyday Life templates and Sweet and Simple 8 kit all from Weeds and Wildflowers.

I am hoping to get all of these posted before the end of the year but I will see how busy I get.

Wordless Wednesday 14 November

Yesterday we had a sudden weather moment.  The temperature dropped 5 degrees really quickly and then this.

 

 

 

 

Well there you have it.  A very unusual event that had that hail on the ground for some 20 minutes afterwards.  I even had to kneel on the ground to get the last photo thinking of this post today.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

2012 Christmas Card

In September I blogged about great Christmas card photo ideas I was thinking of implimenting this year.  I really liked the chalk idea but could not find the right surface to have a go at it so then opted for the child and lights ideas.

So here is the card I have made for this year.  Photo taken and tweaked by me.

(The credits for this card can be found at Nuts4Digi)

 

I am so happy with the outcome and can't wait to get the printer warmed up so I can print them off and post.  This weekend I am hoping so that my overseas friends can get the mail in time.  Hmmmm I wonder if card sending is still the done thing.  So much is done on the internet I serious think cards might be an art form that is limited in life span.