Something Special Somewhere?

Pretty Sure...

2011-09-07T23:19:00.001-07:00

That I'm talking to myself and nobody actually reads this blog. Heh.

Meanwhile, I'm also pretty sure that I felt a kick/wriggle last night. Sort of felt like a wee alien in my belly jabbing me with it's finger, a la ET styles. *poke, poke*

Brain Cake

2011-09-06T05:05:00.000-07:00

Baby Brain, that is.

I made a lovely cake this evening. Put my best effort into it. Cooked it. Cut into it. Took a bite.

I had forgetten to add sugar. Spat it out and cried.

For now I'm blaming it on the baby-brain. But being the unlimited resource we all know and love, Google saved the day. It advised me to make a simple syrup, poke holes all over the cake and pour the syrup over. Let it sit for a while and apparently it tastes as good as new.

Not quite as good, but close enough. So now I have my cake. And I will eat it, too.

Day 02 of the Great Spring Clean Challenge

2011-09-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

Bathroom is half way done for me. I've done all the decluttering and I have one plastic bag full of junk and another full of goodies I will pass on to friends who would like them or the local Free Shop. Since I started the bathroom though, I have commited to cleaning every little corner of it. Mopping, scrubbing, dusting - you name it. When I am done, I will have one spotless bathroom. How did you go?? Leave a comment!

Your Mission Today — Clean out your wallet, purse, briefcase, duffle, backpack, bookbag, laptop carrier, toolbox (if that’s what you carry with you all the time), etc. Get rid of all receipts that don’t count, gum papers, old coupons, bits of straw paper from your last soda, business cards you haven’t taken a look at since you collected them and other trash. While you’re at it — donate good quality extra purses and the like that you haven’t used in six months to a charity or give away to a friend or family member who lusted after the design– throw away the battered, torn stuff.

On the surface you may think this isn’t an important move; but, consider it this way – a wallet, purse, bookbag, etc., is something you carry with you every day (or most days). The material has a lot of your energy already attached to it. Scientifically, they have proven that every time you touch something, you leave a bit of you on it, and it leaves a bit of itself on you! Considering how many times you’ve touched that bag, it truly has a LOT of you on it. Plus, it represents your personal wealth. If you look at your bag or wallet — what does it say to you about how you’ve been thinking lately? Cluttered? Dirty? Worn?

While you’re at it, check out your keychain. Do you have any old keys on there that might represent a part of your life that has long closed? Remove all old keys and dispose of them.

Day 01 of the Spring Clean Challenge

2011-09-04T19:47:00.000-07:00

Firstly, on a more personal note, I had a lovely visit from Angela Noelle of Striking Keys today. Not only did she drop off some wee pregnancy samples (Weleda Bath gel and Lanolin) but also a very cute sliver Iron-On staing "Due in March". Can't wait to slap it on and stick my belly out!

Now for Day One of the Challenge.

Today’s Release Suggestion: Go into your bathroom with a trash bag in hand. Throw away all those old toiletries, cosmetics, and other junk that tends to gravitate there. Get rid of the ratty magazines, the crusted and bent toothpaste tube, the errant and wandering old toothbrushes and razors, and that mouthwash brand your sister left when she was visiting last month.

As often as I can I’ll be posting my own progress. Be sure to add your comments and include the stuff you’re releasing, too. We’ll get to that refrigerator, too — I just didn’t want to hit you with the big stuff right away. Give you a chance to ease into the program; but, don’t worry, the molding food’s days are numbered.

Ready?

2011-09-03T22:11:00.001-07:00

Due to a slight technical glitch, the Spring Clean Challenge starts tomorrow!

30 Day Spring Clean Challenge!

2011-09-01T23:24:00.000-07:00

I was going to start this yesterday, but life happened. I would like to invite my Facebook friends and blog followers to join me in this 30 Day Spring (or Aumtumn depending on your hemisphere), Clean and Release Challenge.

Each day will feature a new release challenge, whether that is bathroom clutter, negative feelings, dirt or emotional stress. And yes, we'll be doing the car, too!

This is pretty much based on what orignally comes from Silver RavenWolf's 31 Day New Year's Great release Challenge, but has been adpated by me to suit a more NZ lifestyle. to help prepare for Spring and then Summer, and to be friendly for both secular and religious people (the original was based towards a more New-Age following).

As she quotes on her page:

"In the old days they called this release energy — sacrifice — a heavy word that carries too many violent connotations for the modern mind. Even saying the word can conjure fear, anxiety, or panic — feelings that are not conducive to creating a sound, psychological platform for any spell or working for positive change if your goal is focused on the harmony of the higher mind, body and spirit. The word — release — indicates we have a choice that carries a positive spin.

It is human nature (I believe) that we all hoard in some form or manner. There are folks that gather physical stuff and those who collect things we cannot see; but, certainly feel. Regardless of your type of collection — it doesn’t hurt to do some sort of cleansing on a cyclical basis.
...
So! Beginning today, start pitching, giving away, and letting that ratty old, broken stuff go! If you start vacillating over something, then ask yourself this: Have I used this item in the last six months? If you haven’t, odds are you won’t ever. If you counter yourself with the — I can fix it — excuse, ask yourself this: Have you bothered to fix the item in the last three months? If the answer is No! — its gotta go! If you think: I can sell this, — that’s really a great idea; BUT, did you bother to sell it in the last six months? No? Out it goes!"

So tomorrow we'll be starting with Day 1 of the Spring Clean Challenge! Join, in, direct yuor friends here, and most of all: Participate. Each day I'll be journalling to let you know how I went with the day's challenge, and in the comments sections I want you to as well! Keep us all working together by posting your thoughts and feelings, even if you didn't manage to get around to the challenge that day.

Each Sunday will be challenge free as a day of rest. If you prefer to have a different day as your own rest-day, don't be afraid to adapt. Likewise, if a certain challenge doesn't apply to you, don;t hesitate to take that day off , or find a challenge that you feel is more appropriate to you at this time.

Happy Clearing!!

Lights Out!

2011-08-26T21:07:00.001-07:00

My house is over one hundred years old. It creaks. It bangs. It has character.

It also has dodgy wiring. And last night all my lights went out.

OK, I suppose this has been a bit of a gradual thing. A couple of months back the lights went for the kitchen, taking the fuse with it - and the lounge lighting. Then a couple of weeks ago the bathroom blows (honestly, I saw sparks), taking the toilet with it as well.

And last night it was my bedroom. We had problems with the bedroom light blowing fuses when we first moved in four years ago, but it had apprently been fixed (by my ex, who since he works with telephones thinks he also knows about electrical wiring).

A wee shower of pretty sparks and the wire the light dangles from is singed half black. Not to mention I now no longer have lights in my hall or the other two bedrooms. That's every light in the house gone.

So for now it's lamps and candles.

Anyone know a good electrician? And might I add, a cheap one?

For anyone interested in knowing...

2011-08-24T22:10:00.000-07:00

I am NOT getting clucky. I am merely maintaining a healthy interest in all things cute and baby related.

Random Food Cravings

2011-08-20T00:57:00.000-07:00

So tonight I was craving Edamame. No big suprises there, as a general rule I love the stuff. Teamed with a couple of sausages and mashed potato, a winning combination.

I got about half way through the beans and all of a sudden I didn't like them anymore. Took one bite of a FABULOUS Boreswors Sausage and couldn't stomach that either.

But the potatoes? All of a sudden I want to make another pot full. Somehow two small potatoes just weren't enough.

Stop me. Someone?

It's Official

2011-08-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

That's right, it's officially official. As of today, I am 12 weeks pregnant and just beginning my foray into the joys of the second trimester. Fantastic.

After having two miscarriages while I was married, this is truly a blessing for me. It's been a long journey getting here, and the road hasn't always been smooth. But I am grateful.

While what I've been through hasn't been a picnic, I know that it has forged me into a stronger and more able person, and I will hopefully be able to put these past trials to use in being a good mother.

I am now over the vast majority of my morning sickness, much to my relief. Though when I wander down the petfood aisle at the local supermarket and get a whiff of the potting mix kept down there, I still gag just a bit. I've learnt that I must eat something before having a morning shower, or else the gag reflex kicks in then, too. Stomach bile first thing in the morning isn't exactly the sweetest treat... I guess it must be the heat combined with low blood sugar?

I am starting to get back most of my mental acuity. Thinking isn't quite so exhausting anymore. My physical energy is coming back in dribs and drabs - much slower. Honestly, if I let my dishes build up over a full day, I have to do them in two stages and have a wee rest in between. Forget vacuuming the house all at once. It's one room at a time and even then I have to take a nap.

But other than that, I'm thrilled. Terrified about the fact that I'll be doing it on my own, but content in the knowledge that someone a lot higher up than me thinks i can do it, and so has blessed me with the caretaking of a new wee soul.

And on that note, I am going to sit blissfully being grateful for a while, and not even think about pushing it out, sleepless nights or poo explosions. Ugh.

Baby Widget

2011-08-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

If you look down to the left, you'll notice a cute wee widget detailing the progression of the wee one during my pregnancy. See how I cleverly made it both blue AND pink to illustrate the fact that I don't yet know the gender? So clever.

The cute little fetus bobs around inside it's virtual amniotic sac, floating around and bouncing off the edges. Which leads me to the one thing that bothers me about it. Look at the umbilical cord and how it is tethered right in the center.

Looks like a bungee cord right?

According to the widget, my baby's going to be an adrenaline junkie.

Hot Soup for Colds.

2011-07-15T05:29:00.000-07:00

My cold is finally starting to subside a little bit. My running nose has slowed to an easy jog, and I don't feel like I'm sucking down razor blades with every inwards breath. I'm feeling ever so fractionally more coherent than I have in over a week now.

The only good thing about having this cold is that it gave me a brief respite from Morning (24hr) sickness. My throat was too sore to swallow anything other than the small chunks of ice I was sucking on, so perhaps it was more of a fact of there being nothing to throw up, rather than the morning sickness disappearing. But I wasn't even nauseous, I swear!

Now that I'm slowly recovering (yes, I'm a tad dramatic when I get sick), the morning sickness has returned like a long-lost friend, winding me in it's exuberation.

It was really nice pumpkin soup, too. Darn it.

Homocidal Naturopaths?

2011-07-14T01:18:00.000-07:00

I have the worst cold. Really, I do. Perhaps it feels worse than it is what with being pregnant and all? Nah, it's the worst cold plain and simple.

A cold I could deal with though, if only I could suck on a strepsil. But in my little pregnant bubble, I can't touch lozenges, throat syrup or any other wonderful man-created drugs intended on getting rid of this terrible sore throat. I've been sucking on ice like it's going out of fashion.

So I go to the local health store, and after explining I'm pregnant, a wonderful older lady who seemed to know what she was talking about recommended some treatments for me, one being a herbal throat spray to help numb off the pain. THANK YOU, I thought, and headed on my merry way.

I get home and unwrap it.

Not suitable for use during pregnancy. She was trying to kill me.