Opportunities not appoinments!

Today I have learned a valuable way of thinking that I hope will keep me more positive.  I will no longer call things I have to do, places I need to attend, people I need to help, appointments.  My appointments will now be known as opportunities.

My diary is NO longer filled with appointments this week.  Its filled with opportunities.  How exciting!!

How did all this thinking come about you ask?  Today  I was given an on the spot opportunity to do kindy roster.  That is to help out and play with the children. Usually you place your name on the roster weeks in advance.  One of the parents were unavailable today and so I had the opportunity....see there is that word again....to offer to help.  I totally and thoroughly enjoyed it and the spontaneous nature of it becoming available to me really taught me something.

Normally, despite loving to help out at my daughters' school, the rostered day I would pick would go into the diary as an appointment and although I would be looking forward to it, it would be seen as another item I need to get done in my busy schedule. 

Try thinking of your appointments as opportunities this week and see if it can make a difference in your life xx

Picture Ponder: The Week Ahead

 
 I wrote this yesterday - Sunday evening:

As I sit here on a Sunday evening I think we can view the week ahead as a journey.  A tiresome, "are we there yet?" journey or an exciting week ahead.

I appreciate that it wont be exciting for all, as some of you may be dealing with life's difficult times right now.   However, for me, my week looks, at this point ahead,  to be quite a busy week with lots of committments in addition to the regular routine activities, work and chores. 

I find it's easy to get overwhelmed and instead of living the week, I'm absorbed by its "busyness" and struggle with feelings of fatigue and exhaustion.

I want to view this upcoming week with positive anticipation and lots of affirmations about how fortunate I am and how some people would relish in a week without pain, anxiety, suffereing, hunger, loneliness, grief, disability or illness.

I want to wake up each morning and remind myself what a wonderful day it's going to be.  I won't let thoughts of fatigue or stress penetrate me.   Yes they will probably pop up, but I wont pay them any attention.

Our house is at the end of the street in this photo so the road for me symbolises travelling on the week ahead.  And at the end of the week I have the comfort of knowing I will be spending time with my family in our home.

Have a great journey this week xx

Picture Ponder: Do you ever feel different?

Do you ever feel different?  Do you feel that all the other mums out there are breezing through their day, all organised and have it all together? 

I know when I am struggling with the constant battle to keep the house tidy, keep up with all the activities, appointments, work, meals and all the things we have to do in our busy lives, I wander why I can struggle with this busy lifestyle when others seem to sail through it.  Why am I different?  Perhaps I'm not organised enough, perhaps I dont time manage well, perhaps I just dont do things efficiently?   

Or perhaps, could it be possible that there isn't enough time in today's lifestyle to get it all done and I am not actually different at all?  Maybe there are other mum's out there, that seem to have it all together, that struggle too with balancing all the balls in the air? 

As long as I continue to create those happy moments for my family does it really matter that I can drop some balls whilst juggling?  I can pick them up and keep trying to keep them in the air and in the meantime create ways to make juggling easier.

So although little Charlie here is this photo IS different, he really doesnt think he is.  He is just one of the bunnies, enjoying his present moment living alongside his mates.  Maybe I am not any different to you either? 

And as Charlie and the bunnies teach us - Enjoy the bounty whilst its there! 

Mixed Berry and Choc Chip Muffins Recipe

These are SO simple and really yummy and the best part is you dont need to use a mixer/blender and have all that extra washing up.

Ingreds:

1 2/3 cups self raising flour

2/3 cup caster sugar

1 egg

125 g butter, melted and cooled

1/2 cup milk

1 cup frozen mixed berries or any berries you prefer

1/2 cup choc chips or broken up choc bits

Method:

Combine ingredients, except berries into large bowl, stir getntly with wooden spoon until just combined, fold through berries.

Divide into patty cases and cook

Now I cook them in my Patty Cupcake Maker so not sure how long they would take in the oven but probably similiar to any other cupcake recipe.

Why do we blog?

Last night when I came home from work, I checked my facebook page and found that a lovely blogger called "Mummasays" gave a shout out to my blog.  Wow, I didnt even realise people were reading.  Yes I see the follower numbers creeping up S L O W L Y but wasnt sure if anyone actually hung around. 

Your tag gave me a buzz Mumma and got me thinking.  Why did I start this blog?  Why do people blog?  I guess its different reasons for different people.  I think I started this blog for ME, something I can have that's mine.  Somewhere to share feelings, ideas, funny stories, etc.  My own little time in space where I can grab a coffee and be absorbed in doing something I like - reading other people's blogs, looking at pictures, finding inspiration and feeling connected with other peoples lives.

Then I thought some more (gee brain cells on overdrive)... why is it so great when you see people are actually reading and following your story?  Its kinda anonymous so what does it really matter if 1 person reads or 1000's?  I think its like a kinship of friends.  Gone are the days of our parents or grandparents days (yes Im old enuf to say parents ;) .. where women spent lots more time socialising and dropping in for a cuppa.  Time with friends these days, although very special, can be very limited in our busy whirlwind lives.  Catching up with friends needs to be a priority and we need to just pencil those friendship days into our schedules from time to time. 

In the meantime, the great news is WE ALL HAVE EACH OTHER in this cyber world.  And that is why followers, likers, tags, shout outs make us happy.  Its the modern day friendship circle.

Now off to get my friendship fix :)

A few minutes here and there can make a huge difference

Thought I would share with you some before and after shots.  Having moved house recently, I found I was running out of time unpacking the boxes so in the end most of the stuff was just placed into the cupboards to get it out of the boxes and have kept convincing myself I dont have time to tidy them up.  Today the timer proved otherwise:

Medicine Cabinet Before  (sorry for the blurry pic):

Medicine Cabinet After 10 mins:

Tupperware Before:

Tupperware 6 mins AFTER: 

The Week That Was..

Continuing on from last week, here is my few minutes reviewing some of the memorable moments from last week:

• Celebrated DH birthday
• Got to see DD work at school at their child parent interview
• Had a fun time with friends at playgroup
• Enjoyed a catch up lunch with classroom mums
• Helped the school with some items
• Visit to my hairdresser
• Saw the end of term 3 at school
• Watched fireworks and had fairy floss with the girls
• Had a very proud sporting moment watching my oldest DD
• Had a sausage sizzle at home to end the week
• Went from 11 followers on facebook to 28