tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78537445267745458522024-03-13T23:36:15.814-07:00Once in the WorldJoin us on our adventure to the big unknown, one husband, three children, no dog. Australia's our first stop, but who knows from there! The worlds our oyster.Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-41688253515058972452019-11-25T03:26:00.000-08:002019-11-25T03:26:20.354-08:00I'm not even going to try...<h2>
...not even a little bit!</h2>
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I should really not be a blog owner, I get really excited, promise interesting content and then do nothing...</h3>
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For ages...</h4>
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Mostly nothing for years!! Well, I just found this blog again. It was originally made to document our journey from New Zealand to Australia and back to New Zealand. </div>
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A lot has happened that will not ever be on here haha, way too long. The long and short of it is:</div>
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<li>We are still in Australia</li>
<li>I lost a brother.</li>
<li>We have a long term goal to regenerate family land.</li>
<li>My eldest child finished homeschooling, went to high school, graduated high school and is now a new adult.</li>
<li>One is nearly finished homeschooling and has just enrolled in TAFE doing the academic foundation studies.</li>
<li>The last child is still homeschooling, games a lot and sleeps a lot.</li>
<li>On my own education. I finished a diploma in applied science (counselling) and a Cert IV at TAFE in Graphic Design. As well as several MOOCs courses.</li>
<li>Work-wise I've worked at Woolworths, the NAB and Bunnings, online at Rev and Lionbridge.</li>
<li>My honey has worked at the same driving job almost since we got here and he still loves it!</li>
<li>Recently we've started looking at a market stall as a way to get extra money.</li>
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So while I haven't actually written any recent posts, that is about all you really need to know about our history thus far.</div>
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Here on in, I'll be writing about market stalls and online businesses, self-sufficiency again, permaculture and continuing education.</div>
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Here have a glass of wine!</div>
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Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211641323720024097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-53059036167707091072010-01-29T03:51:00.000-08:002019-11-25T03:34:46.662-08:00Okay, first week missed...<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">...not a good sign, but even though I hate excuses, my father in law was in hospital all last week, and we were there literally day and night, not much energy for writing, only cook eat sleep! My sister in law came down from McKay to, so she could make sure her father was alright, so we've had a full house, or unit as the ca</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">se may be!</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">We have managed to eat healthier, especially since my fathers condition has to do with the heart, and sorting out health before the disease starts is much easier than trying to fix it when its too late. I've talked to the kids and they know that we all need to look after ourselves, more exercise, less fat, more fruit and veges etc. etc. WE've been doing well, but we could do better.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've been reading between splurts of creativity and facebook and hospital! </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Mg_3S8fusc/Xdu7bJ63eFI/AAAAAAAABYU/Qbvjya7jXewl00UqvESxCZE9XqAmDHduwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/lit-book-pages-for-reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reading book light tiles" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Mg_3S8fusc/Xdu7bJ63eFI/AAAAAAAABYU/Qbvjya7jXewl00UqvESxCZE9XqAmDHduwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/lit-book-pages-for-reading.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />An interesting book written by an Australian from Cairns, <i>Tamara Sheward</i>, that I found incredibly funny, called <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.fishpond.com.au/product_info.php?ref=428&id=9780897335652&affiliate_banner_id=1%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3EBad%20Karma:%20Confessions%20of%20a%20Reckless%20Traveller%20in%20Southeast%20Asia%3C/a%3E"><b>Bad Karma</b></a>. Believe me it definitely lives up to its name. From the back cover:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">'In a desperate attempt to escape the tourist trail, two twenty something trouble magnets wreak havoc across Southeast Asia in this not entirely politically correct traveller's tale.'</span></blockquote>
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</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.fishpond.com.au/product_info.php?ref=428&id=9780897335652&affiliate_banner_id=1%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.fishpond.com.au/affiliate_show_banner.php?ref=428&affiliate_pbanner_id=11585937%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22Bad%20Karma:%20Confessions%20of%20a%20Reckless%20Traveller%20in%20Southeast%20Asia%22%3E%3C/a%3E" style="font-family: lucida grande;"><img alt="Bad Karma book cover" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432142582332005234" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/S2LY5d0sG3I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/U9btb0fT92A/s200/Bad+Karma.php" style="display: block; height: 120px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 76px;" title="" /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Her language does become a bit too much at times, lots of swearing and bad manners lol, and it does drag the trip through her adventure out for a while, but it is a satisfying ending, I would love a follow up book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "curlz mt" , fantasy; font-size: 29px;">~oOo~</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 180%;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other book I've managed to read was, <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Perfect Ten</span>, (or the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.fishpond.com.au/product_info.php?ref=428&id=9780061173080&affiliate_banner_id=1%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3EThe%20Perfect%20Fit:%20Fat-Free%20Dreams%20Just%20Don%27t%20Taste%20the%20Same%3C/a%3E"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Perfect fit</span></a> if you want a recent publication!?) by <span style="font-style: italic;">Louise</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Kean</span>, another quick easy to read, this time, romantic, piece of writing.
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.fishpond.com.au/product_info.php?ref=428&id=9780061173080&affiliate_banner_id=1%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.fishpond.com.au/affiliate_show_banner.php?ref=428&affiliate_pbanner_id=4074618%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22The%20Perfect%20Fit:%20Fat-Free%20Dreams%20Just%20Don%27t%20Taste%20the%20Same%22%3E%3C/a%3E"><img alt="The Perfect Fit Book Cover" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432148784885592194" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/S2LeigIs8II/AAAAAAAAAFY/zW_s5vffFR8/s200/The+Perfect+fit.php" style="display: block; height: 120px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 79px;" title="" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is about getting what you always dreamed of, but sometimes the dream isn't always what you expected. Very witty, there's is a bit of naughtiness, and descriptive passages that might not appeal to the less 'adventurous' but you are with the main character, Sunny, all the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Louise Kean, made me cry, which in saying is not that hard, but you know how she feels, because you've felt the same way, the similar experiences, or you know someone whom she is describing. One particular scene when they are at the dinner party, made me angry and upset at the same time. I almost wanted to get in the book and drag her out of there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "curlz mt" , fantasy; font-size: 180%;">~oOo~</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I purchased both books at the library for 50c each along with <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.fishpond.com.au/product_info.php?ref=428&id=9780349117423&affiliate_banner_id=1%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3EIn%20the%20Company%20of%20Cheerful%20Ladies%20%28No.%201%20Ladies%27%20Detective%20Agency%29%3C/a%3E"><span style="font-weight: bold;">In the Company of Cheerful Ladies</span></a>, by Alexander McCall Smith, which is book number 6 in the No1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, I've only read no 1 so will wait till I get to read the rest, but for 50c you can't really pass up the chance to purchase it!!</span><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.fishpond.com.au/product_info.php?ref=428&id=9780349117423&affiliate_banner_id=1%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.fishpond.com.au/affiliate_show_banner.php?ref=428&affiliate_pbanner_id=2329827%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22In%20the%20Company%20of%20Cheerful%20Ladies%20%28No.%201%20Ladies%27%20Detective%20Agency%29%22%3E%3C/a%3E"><img alt="In the Company of Cheerful Ladies book cover" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432152867679685970" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/S2LiQJuqzVI/AAAAAAAAAFg/YedfkpiAqnU/s200/In+the+Company+of+Cheerful+Ladies.php" style="display: block; height: 120px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 76px;" title="" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love the way he writes, and I know this sounds judgmental, but I didn't really picture the author as a distinguished English gentleman! If you've seen the movie or read the books you'd mabey realise why I thought this haha.
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<span style="font-family: "curlz mt" , fantasy; font-size: 180%;">~oOo~</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">We'll<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"> that's all for now, we've off on a walk at 6am so need some sleep. Will update on what we've done since Christmas, and mabey update the craft blog and the homeschooling blog. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Oh that's the other thing that has been taking up my time, we start homeschooling next week, plus we need to register again soon, so making the program for the next two years, our goals etc. Not an easy task, but necessary if you want to stay the right side of the law</span>!<br />
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<span style="color: red;"> <span style="font-family: "ar hermann";"><span style="font-size: 28pt;">~Luv and Hugs World~ </span></span></span></div>
Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211641323720024097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-7334520828857747732010-01-06T03:35:00.000-08:002010-01-06T04:33:05.841-08:00Susan Boyle...<div style="text-align: center;">...I have to share my most favourite YouTube video of 2009, along with over 84 million of my closest friends!! And that is the Susan Boyle, Britains got talent 2009 audition.<br /></div><br />Now I had not really heard of Susan Boyle prior to when her Christmas album came out, and when she sung Wild Horses in America, so already knew she was a good singer, but when I watched the YouTube vid, I was blown away, and was teary throught the whole performance.<br /><br />Mostly, I think, because no one really expected her to be any good at all, and they were just taken back by her talent. I love the look of the judges when the first strains of the song come out her mouth, priceless!<br /><br />I still watch it ever week or so and still cry, I'm a big baby. Of course I asked the kids for her CD for Christmas. Now, she has the song on it that made her a star which sounds better each time I listen, and wild Horses, but I also think some songs feel very moody or dark, which may not be everyone's cup of tea, however her voice is haunting and beautiful. I love it!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY"></a><br /><br />WEll I can't put the link to YouTube in at the mo, but its not that hard to search for!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">Luv and Hugs World!</span></div>Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211641323720024097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-80153980119097500022010-01-01T05:01:00.000-08:002010-01-01T06:40:43.962-08:002010<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Well it has been an eventful year, as all years should be, how boring would a quiet year be?</span><br /></div><br />I won't go into the details that I failed to write about through the year, that would be a long an boring post! Instead I will say, we are all healthy and happy, thank the lord, we have a roof over our head, good food to eat. And for me personally, 2009 has bought a lot of amazing, strong friends into my life, which I am very thankful for.<br /><br />The children have progressed well, had fun and learnt a bit along the way, and my Hunny Bunny, has had a hard working year, topped of by a great 3 days at the Sydney 500 this year! AND he <span style="font-weight: bold;">really</span> enjoyed Christmas and NewYears without drinking!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></div><br />We had a brilliant Christmas on the beach, no beer, no fights with the kids, no playing with the new toys lol! Just sand, (overcast so no sun! but beautiful and warm) swimming, Koro, biking and skateboarding, scootering and ripsticking around the huge park by the beach. We are definitely going back next year. The only thing that was missing was the rest of our families, but heiaha, next year mabey will be different.<br /><br />New years we also spent on the beach, the botany foreshore to be exact, right opposite Brighton le Sands fireworks, not too many people, watermelon, gingerbeer and chips an great weather to bring in the New year!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />So that brings us to today, the first day of the year, and the resolutions we are all making, well some of us. I thought I'd make a list of the hopes, wishes and resolutions for 2010! I'll be back 2011 to tick of the ones that made it through!<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><ol><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I pray that this year brings good health, good will to all and blessings from the Lord above.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I pray also that the flooding victims, and the bushfire victims that are so prevalent in this huge country find peace in the new year, find new homes and comfort in their lives.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I hope to make this year more fun for my kiddies, while acomplishing more work, haha, can it be done?</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I hope I will be more patient and willing to listen.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I hope to finish all UFO's in my cupboards, and to join a UFO competition at sometime this year.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I will post to my blog more than 3 times a year! Trying for 4 times a month on 3 of my 8 blogs.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I will sew more this year, a project a month is reasonable and I will do it.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">But to be more ambitious, to make a wish list of the items to sew for each season, for each person, AND actually sew them, now thats a goal!<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">To be able to stick to our budget, we want to buy a house by the end of the year.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Eat and cook healthier this year, plus do at least 30 mins excercise a day.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Just get out and walk, go to a park or the river, or the beach, climb mountains, roll down hills.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Bake something every week, the kids love it, I shouldn't be so lazy.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Eat more fish.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Ring home more!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Spend less, thinking before you buy helps in this area.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Discuss before purchasing large items, helps with the on the spot purchases.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Read more</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Try and not worry we have to do every extracurricula activity available to children every week.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Craft more, make winter clothes before summer comes around again, make some baby clothes before the baby turns 21!<br /></span> </li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Be prepared for birthdays, its not like they change and creep up on us. I know when they are, now get out there and get ready.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Be prepared for Christmas, same as above!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Learn how to apply make up properly to my eyes.</span><br /></li></ol><span style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 51, 51); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >So all in all, the round up is:</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >Love more, complain less, ease up, lighten up, be thankful, be grateful, be silent, be loud, go to church, be organised, spend more time, spend less money, worry less, plan more, be happy, smile, feel beautiful, think of others, do something everyday, Do more everyday, do less everyday, don't be too hard on me or my family, eat more good stuff, eat less bad stuff, and feel free to change any or all of the above as the year progresses!!</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I will leave it there for now, resolutions always, become a long list of things to do. So how did I go today? </span></span><br /><ul><li>We baked two cakes, my big girl did a packet cake, you know read the instructions and put it together, and it was beautiful, we ate it for sweets. And my son and I baked a banana cake, from the less than ripe bananas, only he had a piece, the rest of us were too full, but he said it was great. haha. We will have it for morning tea tomorrow.</li><li>We had a tuna mornay for dinner, and a salad that 'Lisey made also, so sort of healthy, got the Omega 3 anyway.</li><li>We are not buying white bread anymore, boohoo no more soft, yummy ham sandwiches :( but I will still make white bread now and then.</li><li>didn't do any excercise.</li><li>Spotlight was closed, so I didn't spend anything lol.</li><li>Still got grumpy with the kiddies and didn't take them out.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >This is going to be a good year</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >, peace and love world.</span><br /></div></div></div>Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211641323720024097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-8817047219176851532009-01-07T18:38:00.000-08:002009-01-08T16:29:03.747-08:00<div> </div><div><br /></div><div align="center">Wow, two months since I last posted I thought I finally had the blog thing down and ready to go, but then the holiday season crept up, and wham!! no posting anywhere except Facebook. </div><div><br /><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div align="center">Well nana went home, the kids weren't happy, but thats life, we are currently in NZ on what started as a working holiday, and not for pay either.</div><div><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div align="center">The bathroom at ma'honeys family home had a major leak and was definitely past its use by date, so we needed a complete renovation, at first he was just going to start with the area that was badly rotted, but once we got to pulling stuff down we just kept going, luckily for us the bathroom is a very, very compact 1600cm x 1770cm. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288764528988355154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SWV3UWsJelI/AAAAAAAAABs/j4yY_1a9BJo/s320/100_1128.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This is the reason we needed the complete demolition, a hole had led to water seeping behind and rotting the framework, not a pretty sight believe me, plus the bathroom had most definitely seen better days!!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288752208714880962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SWVsHOGDV8I/AAAAAAAAABk/807MkH6M-ds/s320/100_1130.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>We pulled out the old bath/shower and the vanity and replaced it with a shower, wash basin and a totara, bench surround, ma honey had definite ideas about the colour also, and when I, in my 'wisdom' decided to get another colour instead of the one he had his heart set on, I realised very quickly that it was indeed NOT the colour I should have bought!! Luckily my brother in law went back and got the original colour and we used my 'brilliant' purchase to paint the rather shabby kitchen wall we also had to patch up.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288767229027686642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SWV5xhHsGPI/AAAAAAAAAB0/vipv8lq5NaM/s320/100_1505.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288799240041108754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SWWW4zcBlRI/AAAAAAAAAB8/dxZKfp4LVeY/s320/100_1503.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><br />*******************************************************</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;"><em>CHRISTMAS<br /></em></span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left">So our renovation took a break for the Christmas ie Christmas Eve to Christmas day!! I had already to decided that we would not buy presents this year but make, (my brothers catch phrase was make, bake or create) of course I only had the week before Christmas to organise ours, and most of that was renovation. </p><br /><br /><p align="left">Being the ultimate reborn recycler, I went to my vast stash of various fabrics and assorted stuff and went to work, the kiddies painted paintings and 'Lisey did some baking, I made handmade bags for my nephews and a short cape for my sister in law, and then appliqued motifs or their initials on to their presents, Ma honey used a large piece of the totara we were using for the bathroom bench to make my brother a chopping board (he loved it!!)<br /></p><br />Some of the presents I made:<br /><br /><p align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SWaLn8RvCfI/AAAAAAAAACM/pAcq7XujlzU/s1600-h/100_1438.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289068330704898546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SWaLn8RvCfI/AAAAAAAAACM/pAcq7XujlzU/s200/100_1438.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SWaXBrgSEzI/AAAAAAAAACc/4A9qEKKwitI/s1600-h/100_1437.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289080867507016498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SWaXBrgSEzI/AAAAAAAAACc/4A9qEKKwitI/s200/100_1437.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289071089865991778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SWaOIi9AJmI/AAAAAAAAACU/JSzI46fcjwA/s200/100_1439.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><p align="left">I did run out of time so my kids didnot get their own personalised bags, so had to do some Christmas shopping, including food, amazingly we only took just under 3 hours Christmas Eve and that was it. No spending months buying presents, spent mabey $300 the kids and I had heaps of fun creating, and none of the pressure that goes along with our usual Christmas splurge. My brother, his family and sister both got in on the whole spirit of it and we all got some wicked presents. </p><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SWW-VR-oRzI/AAAAAAAAACE/cyraRHFLNR8/s1600-h/100_1440.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288842610229135154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SWW-VR-oRzI/AAAAAAAAACE/cyraRHFLNR8/s200/100_1440.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"></p>We even handmade our own wrapping paper!!<br /><br />Anyway, we had a great Christmas and a great New years, but thats another story!!<br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Happy New Years World</span><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p></p>Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211641323720024097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-77567727487963960852008-10-31T02:46:00.001-07:002008-10-31T02:46:11.005-07:00After the end......Several things I want to touch on today.<br /><br />1 <br />Seeing as I let my subscription become overdue for the hosting for my Wordpress blog, I've been waiting for the payments to clear, so, I started thinking about other forms of the same idea. What I mean is, while my blog and initial 'business' is handmade bags, I am trying, and I stress <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">trying</span>, to think about how my purchases, what I sell, how I live, affects the world, whether I try to purchase fair trade, find out how and where my materials are manufactured, whether Im doing all I can to minimise my carbon footprint on this earth.<br /><br />My latest foray, as I call it into this area, is recycling old clothing, either into clothes or bags, not a new idea, obviously, and even charities are doing it these days, how ironic!! <a href="http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/lifestyle/health_and_beauty/style/s/1076404_style_on_a_shoestring_designer_charity_shop_chic">See story here!</a> I started today, actually, have been thinking about it for awhile, I pulled out a bag of our old clothes, pulled out the clothes with some interesting, usable material and got to work, nothing to show yet, but some ideas are forming! Want to go to some 2nd hand shops and see what treasures I can find there.<br /><br />Speaking of 2nd hand shops, I went to the 2nd hand shop, on the recomendation of Merah's dance teacher, I went shopping for the kids and came out with 8 pieces of clothing for only $23 dollars! Yesterday, after my son had a small accident, I went to the mall and got him a pair of shorts, a tshirt and a pair of jandals (flip flops) for about $34 and that was a shop at a lower end of the market! The 2nd hand clothing was good quality, some like new, the kids didn't even notice till I said they were second hand, I even picked up a really nice Esprit denim shorts for $2.60!! And tomorrow they're having a sale, everything is half price lol! It is a church charity shop, and believe me with the economy in unheaval, shops like these are definitely need. I am going to take a load of clothing in to their bins, that the kids and us have outgrown, which just helps the cause I think.<br /><br />2<br />Thinking about the economy, I've been wondering how I can bring the plight of people less fortunate than us, to my kiddles. I don't want to stuff it in their face and tell them they should be grateful for the things they have etc. in some sort of lessons or something, just to make them aware, by getting out into the community, so they see that not every one has a great family, food to eat whenever they want, or a pool, or even a roof over their head and a meal each night. Haven't done alot of research into what is here in Sydney, I know they have all the charity shops liike St Vicents, the Salvation Army, and individual church charity shops, but I want to see what other things people are doing, what's happening at Christmas etc. and things we can carry on doing through the year. <br /><br />Will up date when We find something we can participate in. Actually if your reading this and your organising your workplace Christmas party, St Vincent de Paul is having a <a href="http://www.vinnies.org.au/secretsanta/index.htm">secret santa, appeal</a> which may be a nice alternative to the usual secret santa you might have. Instead of wasting money on a novelty mug or similar, everyone donates an amount to <a href="http://www.vinnies.org.au/secretsanta/index.htm">The Vinnies Secret Santa Appeal!</a><br /><br />3<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/">Twitter</a>! don't know what Im talking about!!? <a href="http://twitter.com/">Twitter</a> is a, well I don't really know how to explain it, its a social messaging utility, sort of like texting to cyberspace!! IMO. You can follow people you find interesting, and people can follow you. You can post links to interesting sites, keep in contact with friends, find out breaking news as it happens, really if you follow the right people, you could be right on the pulse of everything thats important to you as it happens, pretty cool ey!!? Have a look <a href="http://twitter.com/">here</a> and join up you can twitter from Flock, your facebook page, even your iPhone or cellphone if compatable!! If you feel like following me, my Twitter URL is <a href="http://twitter.com/THEWhanau"><font size="2">http://twitter.com/<span id="username_url">THEWhanau</span></font></a><br /><font style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" size="5"><br style="font-weight: bold;" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">~~~~Night world~~~~</span></font><br /> <div class="flockcredit" style="text-align: right; color: #CCC; font-size: x-small;">Blogged with the <a href="http://www.flock.com/blogged-with-flock" style="color: #999; font-weight: bold;" target="_new" title="Flock Browser">Flock Browser</a></div>Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211641323720024097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-83088632771140198392008-10-30T05:21:00.000-07:002008-10-30T05:48:07.108-07:00Cast Off, Swimming all go, Raining everyday!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/SQmnkjbOiUI/AAAAAAAAACA/F4dMDMSQA9E/s1600-h/Pool+for+blog+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/SQmnkjbOiUI/AAAAAAAAACA/F4dMDMSQA9E/s320/Pool+for+blog+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262921885985704258" border="0" /></a><br />...Well almost, supposed to be nearly summer here, but noone told the weather that lol!<br /><br />We've had a couple of warmish days, where the kiddles were in the pool, but mostly rainy this week. Mind you I prefer rain to searing heat.<br /><br />The two littlies, have just started swimming around by themselves, bought a few different flotation devices and told the kiddies to choose which one they preferred. I had to actually get into the pool and coax each one in, now they just get into their togs, get their floaties and jump in!! Yay I can sit on the laptop while everyones playing!! (don't worry always aware of whats going on!!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/SQmpLOeyO7I/AAAAAAAAACY/7pzteMXQEgY/s1600-h/Merah+for+blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/SQmpLOeyO7I/AAAAAAAAACY/7pzteMXQEgY/s320/Merah+for+blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262923649890007986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/SQmpg7XqHBI/AAAAAAAAACg/kgu8tV2Vtr8/s1600-h/GG+for+blogfs010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/SQmpg7XqHBI/AAAAAAAAACg/kgu8tV2Vtr8/s320/GG+for+blogfs010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262924022716963858" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'Liseys cast came of last week, so shes been in the pool this week, its been good for her leg too, takin longer than I thought it would to get her back on her feet. Thought she'd be up and running as soon as the cast came off, can you tell I haven't had a broken leg before!!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></div><br />Slowly getting to know more and more about internet marketing, all the info is a little bit over my head at the moment. Did up to day 14 on the <a href="http://www.ThirtyDayChallenge.com/challenge/19537">30 day challenge</a>, and stopped, have just started again goin over the different lessons, of course my hosting was overdue, so my first blog for my business is currently suspended, but should be on by the weekend, if you want to check it out its at <a href="http://www.handmadebags.org">www.handmadebags.org</a>. Doing a bit of work on it once it gets back up and running this is a practice for me call it my beta business, get it!!?? Beta, better, oh never mind!! <br /><br />Im following a few people on various social networking blogs, etc. like twitter, blogger.com yada yada yada. Just trying to get a feel what every things about. Ive got a whole lot more to do.<br /><br />At moment I wondering what social bookmarking is really about?? I know its to get word out to everyone about what your doing, but sometimes this seems alot of work for nothing. I think mabey I should try another niche? I did do some number crunching, but really numbers aren't my forte, so mabey I got it wrong.<br /><br />Anyway Im going to stick with this online thing, I have to make money, and I can't go out to work, this is the ultimate in freedom...Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-25287497323875674102008-10-05T06:04:00.000-07:002008-10-05T06:40:17.415-07:00Move number 4 ........successful!! We've got a pool, six bedrooms, ours is upstairs along with a living room, we have all our bookcases set up and desks etc. so plenty of room for homeschooling in there. There is airconditioning in the upstairs and downstairs living rooms, so hopefully we'll keep cool this summer. I hate the heat!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~8~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><div style="text-align: left;">We had a BBQ tonight, part of our family came back from our nannies tangi tonight, too, so it was good to see them. We had a BBQ to watch the final, unfortunately the Storm lost by 40 to nil, but an excellent result for Manly who definitely were the best team this season. Of course the team I was going for is the Warriors, and as a surprise to most people they made it not only into the top eight but into the semi finals. So way to go guys thats a great result, and I knew you all could do it, I would have made a mint if I had bet on the last few games, I was the only one who in the whanau who backed you guys lol!<br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~8~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><div style="text-align: left;">I unfortunately missed my school reunion this year, it was last night. I also missed my 10 year at college in April. I was disappointed both times, but more so last night. It was over 20 years ago since I attended Ceduna Area School, but I absolutely would have love to have gone. Mabey because it was the last school I attended in Australia, mabey because the memories there were the most vivid, I don't know. But I loved my time there. I was always very shy, I know, if you know me now you might say otherwise, but I didnt like to draw attention to myself alot so I prefered to go it alone and only sometimes interact with others lol! <br /><br />My honey also wanted to go and see where I came from, who my friends were, what I was like as a child.. unfortunately, my actual childhood is not the greatest story, but sometimes the memories you make outside of your normal life make up for the hardships you face at home. We are going down there for a road trip, it will be great, sometimes I even want to go back there, to a time before I grew up, back to childhood. I know it sounds silly, but somedays it seems easier to be a child than to face the grownup world! Anyway, We'll be taking a campervan or similar the cheaper version of a trip, but in my opinion much more fun.. You get to look around see the country side, become one with the plants and animals haha! I am really looking forward to it, I might even suggest we go there instead of going home to NZ. OH my gosh shock horror, but its just how I feel at the mo~!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~8~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Some of my greatest memories in Ceduna are from the time my dad had to come back to NZ and try and make my mum come back to Aus (long story) we stayed with a great German family from church, the boys mum we stayed with made THE best Black Forest gateau I have every tasted. We went on a camp with them and it was excellent, before we had gone, I had an accident and we were travelling somewhere in the car, just pulled out of the driveway, and I think the door wasnt closed, I was in the front, well, I was holding onto the door handle and when the door opened I was pulled out I was dragged along the road, probably not a long way, but far enough to have a nasty gash on my knee, when we went to camp I swam in the sea and it healed it I think, of course I stll have the scar, but really good times lol! On the same camp I learnt to ride a motorbike, I love it, I came off a couple of times one time when I was a ways from camp and I got a bit scared, but I got back on started the bike a rode back into camp as though nothing had happened! After that Ive loved dirt bikes and probably should have given it a go as a professional racer, but nevermind. On the same camp we rode dune buggies in the sand dunes, and went spotlighting on range rovers lookin for kangaroos, I was on the front of the vehicle for a while, Im sure my dad never found out about that!! Good times!<br /><br />Goodnight world, remember the good times forgett about the bad<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211641323720024097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-9318516286388337282008-09-28T05:00:00.000-07:002008-09-28T06:05:01.701-07:00Creativity rocks!!Have had a very creative few months since starting the 30 day challenge, I didn't start the business I was going to yet, but I have been knitting almost continuously, I suppose it was a challenge, I just started something I didn't think I would.<br /><br />I've even got the kids creating, they started knitting Lisey wanted to make a bag for her ipod but after we'd finished it I realised the wool was not stable enough to make a strong bag, so I suggested we felt the finished product. It turned out really well, she gave it to her nana when she came to Aus. See bag below:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SN9zxxewdLI/AAAAAAAAAAU/1YcTg7q3lXI/s1600-h/fern+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SN9zxxewdLI/AAAAAAAAAAU/1YcTg7q3lXI/s200/fern+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251042989470414002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SN9zxrDMRPI/AAAAAAAAAAM/QoZWgpWnVE0/s1600-h/fern+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-ITDyjuuOmg/SN9zxrDMRPI/AAAAAAAAAAM/QoZWgpWnVE0/s200/fern+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251042987744183538" border="0" /></a><br />I've so far started way more knitting projects than I've finished, something which is fairly typical for me! <br /><ol><li>black scarf for my son, finished!</li><li>blue jumper for my son also, nearly finished</li><li>a purple and white bunny, not quite finished</li><li>a blue teddy bear, for my son, just started</li><li>lacy wrap, not finished but getting there</li><li>lace fingerless gloves, finished one, started on the second.</li><li>a pink jumper for my daughter, finished back, started on front.</li><li>rainbow coloured legwarmers, finished one, since my daugter broke her leg she has been using it to keep her unbroken leg warm. haven't started on the second one yet.</li></ol>I want to start knitting for next years winter. My plan is to go home to New Zealand at some time, so I will definitely need some protection haha!<br /><br />I will be posting photos later might do it before they are finished and when I have finished them.<br /><br />Just getting back into the habit of knitting so haven't started anything too difficult, I also don't like anything too big that is repetitive. For my sons jumper I used Panda? Zoomy wool, took about a week to knit and I just haven't sewn it together yet. my daughters jumper on the other hand is in Patons superwash 8ply on 4mm needles, so its taken me alot longer.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to this revival of my hobby.<br /><br />Laters....Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211641323720024097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-47940210664576550242008-06-11T15:49:00.001-07:002008-06-11T15:49:24.947-07:00Well, well, well,...<span style="font-family: Verdana;">...that's pretty cool, using the browser to publish your posts. I know I sound really new at all this, that's because I am. I've been using the PC computer for some 12 odd years, but even though that sounds like a long time, the way technology advances, my experience is redundant by the end of six months, and I really don't do that much on the internet, except emails and blogs, and so on. And if you ask me to write a page of html for my blog I have no idea where to start! <br /><br />Anyway, on with life. <br /><br /></span><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /><br />So we've moved again, I feel like a gypsy at the moment, and not the carefree, happy gypsies of movies. The unhappy packrat type gypsy, who has too much stuff and not enough places to put things. So once again I am setting up and trying to organise stuff.<br /><br />Tools I'm using:<br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://flylady.net/index.asp">Flylady.net</a> - for organizational techniques.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Timetables and Chore charts</span> - for the kids chores and for our homeschool timetable</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bookcases</span> - I know, whaat???, but if your a homeschooler you know exactly what I mean, if your a book buff, then your in the same boat. Bookcases are indispensable for organising your books and other collections into a workable, accessible, solution.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWays-Your-Kids-Work-Home%2Fdp%2F0312299931%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1213222676%26sr%3D8-1&tag=hirsonthemov-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">401 ways to get your kids to work at home</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hirsonthemov-20&l=ur2&o=1" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></span> - Now I'm not talking about setting up my kids to do all the work around the house, while I sip pina coladas, no, no, no, this books helps you to train your kiddies to do their chores well (has check lists on the type of chores and jobs to be learnt) and to become 'self-reliant, responsible adults'. So hopefully in the future they won't be moving from place to place lugging boxes of useless stuff, in a vain attempt to recycle, use, or someday sort and discard!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FManagers-their-homes-scheduling-home-school%2Fdp%2F0966910702%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1213223276%26sr%3D8-28&tag=hirsonthemov-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Managers of Their Homes</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hirsonthemov-20&l=ur2&o=1" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> - This is for the homeschoolers, pretty full on way of organising, but when you get to the end after setting up your chart its a sure way of keep yourself on track. Use with caution though, for the perfectionists amoung us (me included) you may get lost in the making rather than the doing. I'll say no more. Charts and all sorts of stuff in here.<br /></span></li></ul>Currently up to the timetable and chore charts, haven't bought any bookcases yet, so our book collection is in boxes.<br /><br />Timetables and Chore charts:<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;">You can actually get a quite a collection online, and it a variety of organisational books, etc. BUT, they will only work for you if you actually use them, I don't know how many forms I have printed out bought etc. just to find the layout doesn't work for me. I've found that making your own charts, helps because you know exactly what you want, it can be set out how you want, and use the colours, layout etc. that will make it easier for you to navigate and use.<br /><br />For myself, I need a simple, clear, uncomplicated chart that I can easily navigate, haven't got them spot on yet, but I have managed a very workable set of timetables that we use regularily. It is colour co-ordinated at the moment, which I am trying out, not sure if that works, or just confuses me more. One thing to point out, sometimes children get confused when their charts are too busy, I know, because I did that myself, made this amazingly beautiful timetable, all colour co-ordinated and boxed with borders and a lovely fancy font, only to find my oldest couldn't use it, it confused her and she couldn't understand what tasks she needed to do next. So her charts are in the basic large size Arial font, black and white, a plain uncomplicated border and set out simply.<br /><br /><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;" /><br /></div>Well that's all for now, will put pictures of the charts we use later, gotta go and start the morning!<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <br /></span> <div class="flockcredit" style="text-align: right; color: #CCC; font-size: x-small;">Blogged with the <a href="http://www.flock.com/blogged-with-flock" style="color: #999; font-weight: bold;" target="_new" title="Flock Browser">Flock Browser</a></div>Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-15540600100705731632008-06-09T05:41:00.001-07:002008-06-09T05:41:13.379-07:00My latest big find......<span style="font-family: Verdana;">You know I don't really understand what I've got myself into yet, but I think its going to be pretty fun!!<br /><br />I joined up to the thirty day challenge, through a homeschool contact. Now I do know that its sort of about internet marketing and making your first dollar online, but at the moment we are going through something called pretraining with the 'boss' I suppose you call him and he's helping us set up our computers with all the tools we will need to do the challenge. The actual challlenge starts on the 1st of August. Don't ask me what we will be doing, I have no idea, all I know is that I am in training, and actually learning something about all the neat stuff that's out there and available for us to use.<br /><br />I am, at the moment typing this through the <a href="http://flock.com/">Flock</a> browser, sort of like Firefox apparently. I downloaded this browser on the recommendation of this 30 day challenge crew. You can load up all your adddons etc. like facebook, twitter, blogger etc. gmail and lots others, and its all right there at your fingertips. Because I have Blogger signed on I am assuming that when I have finished doing this and hit Publish it will go to my blog, I say assuming, if it doesn't I'm in trouble aren't I lol! I have to say its really cool, IMHO, but seeing as I've nearly always used Internet explorer, with just a little go at I think a hotmail browser, google browser??? I can't remember. The layout uses the tab thing that Vista (for those of you on PC's) has in the internet explorer, which I like, but the rest of the layout is pretty different. Just as an aside, I am thinking of purchasing a Mac computer, for the first time, mainly because I want to get into graphic designing using computer based programmes.<br /><br />This is my link to the thirty day challenge, </span><a href="http://www.ThirtyDayChallenge.com/challenge/19537"><strong>http://www.ThirtyDayChallenge.com/challenge/19537</strong></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.ThirtyDayChallenge.com/challenge/19537"></a> if you want to check it out. I know this isn't the greatest advertisment to say the least, but I think if your like me and really don't have much of a clue about whats out there in cyberspace, then at the very least you'll come out at the other end a little more clued up. If your way more computer literate I think you'd better check it out also, you'll know what this guy is talking about, and you might make yourself some money and have fun. Hey that sounds like the ideal job, learn something, have fun and make some money.<br /><br />Well here I go, if I never find this post again Its been nice knowing you...pressing publish...NOW<a href="http://www.ThirtyDayChallenge.com/challenge/19537"> </a></span><strong></strong> <div class="flockcredit" style="text-align: right; color: #CCC; font-size: x-small;">Blogged with the <a href="http://www.flock.com/blogged-with-flock" style="color: #999; font-weight: bold;" target="_new" title="Flock Browser">Flock Browser</a></div>Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-58583572012654116292008-03-29T23:12:00.000-07:002008-03-29T23:27:37.701-07:00Sunday......So its Sunday today, went out to the beach this morning, the kids had their first swim in the shark net pool. Again I didn't take any photos! I'm beginning to think it was a waste of $30 getting me a camera.<br /><br />We had a little picnic in the cool surf air, the day was very sunny, but not at all hot, just perfect. You could sit in the sun or lie in the shade and still be comfortable. I cooked up a **fried rice using the left over rice from yesterday and we took rolls and ham and salad stuff, as well as plenty of fruit and crackers, brie and sweet biscuits.<br /><br />Tonight we are having a barbeque, sausies and bread and sweetcorn with lots of butter, a green salad and potatoe salad and lots to drink (non-alchoholic of course!)<br /><br /><div align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">**Watched the Food channel the other day and the guy on there said that when cooking the cold rice for fried rice, NOT to break up the rice clumps by mushing it around, he said to let the heat slowly permeate the rice and you can gently break the clumps apart. Aparently when you 'mush' it releases the starch and thats what makes the rice stick together too much. So there you go, and my honey said that it was the best fried rice he's tasted in Aussie, so that's saying something, he usually hates the rice I make. lol.</div>Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211641323720024097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-75745921669408077102008-02-10T04:28:00.000-08:002008-02-10T04:46:08.713-08:00MHoney at work......well cleaning his new baby, his Kenworth truck?!?<br /><br /><a href="http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/sherenanz/At%20Work-MHoney/IM000656.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/sherenanz/At%20Work-MHoney/IM000656.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/sherenanz/At%20Work-MHoney/IM000657.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/sherenanz/At%20Work-MHoney/IM000657.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><a href="http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/sherenanz/At%20Work-MHoney/IM000659.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/sherenanz/At%20Work-MHoney/IM000659.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />This is me helping...you can just see me in the middle of the hubcap<br /><br />And this is 'Merah Moo in front of the sparkling clean truck...<br /><br /><a href="http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/sherenanz/At%20Work-MHoney/IM000661.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/sherenanz/At%20Work-MHoney/IM000661.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-66462496073373910082008-02-08T13:26:00.000-08:002008-02-08T17:15:44.111-08:00Moved my blog......Actually I just changed accounts, so even though its seems that there are now 2 people writing to this blog its only me, using 'sherena' for both accounts.<br /><br /><br /><br />xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox<br />8 Feb 2008<br /><br /><br />Went to see the two houses yesterday, both beautiful inside, 1st one a bit further out than we want to go but the only problem was its not due till we've already left here! 4Bedrooms, lovely kitchen, sunken lounge, weird thing going on with the front door, it was on the corner of the house!!?? nice backyard, carport and a entertainment area.<br /><br />The second was deceptive from the outside it looked really small, the first thing I didn't like was that they had converted the garage to a unit, so you only had one carspace. Inside however was huge. The kitchen/Dining was the whole length of the house and it had 4 bedrooms. Outside it got a bit freaky, the corner of house butted up against the fence on one side on the other it spread out into a huge back yard. No storage for stuff like lawnmowers and the like though!<br /><br /><br /><br />xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox<br />9 Feb 2008<br /><br />Saw one house today, nice 3 bedrooms, right next to school only $330, building a garage out the back and has a back entrance to garage ? Anyway will apply because I like it.Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211641323720024097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-2941930017766914252008-02-07T02:22:00.000-08:002008-02-07T02:41:45.009-08:00Thinking of moving home again......The cost of housing is through the roof, the cost of living is just as high. We want to buy a house, but not with the interest rates continuing to rise. Although that sounds a bit like procrastinating doesn't it, 'the interest rates are too high, the house prices are too high, I need to get an expresso maker,' all excuses to not commit to something.<br /><br />I am not sure what to do next, I want to go home there is the family home we can live in although MHoney will have to find suitable work, definitely won't be getting the money he gets here. There is the option to go to mining, which pays a heck of alot more, but after seeing some of what the miners do here in Aussie, I'm not sure I want him risking life and limb for more money (looks scary to me anyway). I can get a job or start a business, which would be the obvious thing. I am Homeschooling the kids so we'd either have to shuffle around hours to suit or I'd have to put them into daycare and school.<br /><br />Well at least I've written down our options. Although Goals would be alot more helpful.<br /><br />!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />We put in an application for a house today, always scary. My son and I went to the realestate agent and dropped it of, it was in the little village type shopping area, very cute, had a libray and childhood center, the local Catholic church, which would be handy when we move, has heaps of shops and services, which is great, I always prefer to support local establishments rather than go to the malls and larger shopping centers.<br /><br />I have a good feeling about this application, but I have been known to be wrong about these things once in a while. Here's hoping.<br /><br />Got two house viewings tomorrow, one at 10am one at 11am, so time will be tight. <br /><br />Good night...Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-33120714902321988932008-02-05T00:30:00.000-08:002008-02-05T05:17:57.466-08:00A quilt project......I want to start making a quilt, so I designed a pattern, I did it in Paint(the Microsoft program) with no actual patterns/material in mind, just colours, so the colours are a little blah!! But I would like to hear what people think, specifically critisism/ideas from experienced quilters...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R6gfVHkiUyI/AAAAAAAAABg/KH192DZj7Tk/s1600-h/Quilt+pattern+Limey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R6gfVHkiUyI/AAAAAAAAABg/KH192DZj7Tk/s320/Quilt+pattern+Limey.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163411420450280226" /></a><br /><br />...I think it will be longer, haven't got down to specifics yet, but the block(??) will be about 15cm x 15cm without the red border. Do you think that might be too busy, or should I go with a variety of different colours for each block? I will start with a quilt just a little smaller than a single bed, I want it for the lounge room.<br /><br />The whole quilt will be bound with a patterned black fabric of some kind.<br /><br />Thanks for looking and please comment, remember first time quilter, need ALOT of help!!Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-38193171833912674392008-02-04T20:20:00.000-08:002008-02-04T20:38:43.004-08:00HoUSe HunTInG StiLL......I know we've only got a couple of weeks, am seeing about 5 houses so far this week, including one on Saturday. The problems are that some of the houses, in my opinion, are not fit to live in. <br /><br />I went to look at one this morning and it was quite habitable, we will apply, but it is parked two houses away from a main intersection! Just backing out today was a nightmare and there really isn't any fencing to keep my brood in the yard. On second thoughts, safety of the kidddies, vs. a place over our heads! <br /><br />Anyway I have two tomorrow that are pretty promising, so we'll be out and about all morning.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Purchases this week, these are all extras (ie not necessary!)<br /><br />Another camera, although this is a digital camera for $31 mainly for taking photos for Ebay, need to make money some how instead of spending all the time. <br /><br />A canister set:<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R6fm6XkiUwI/AAAAAAAAABQ/ggonA2EUA5U/s1600-h/canisters.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R6fm6XkiUwI/AAAAAAAAABQ/ggonA2EUA5U/s320/canisters.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163349388237624066" /></a><br /><br />A cookie jar:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R6fnK3kiUxI/AAAAAAAAABY/RxA4LT6YZFY/s1600-h/biscuit+jar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R6fnK3kiUxI/AAAAAAAAABY/RxA4LT6YZFY/s320/biscuit+jar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163349671705465618" /></a><br /><br /><br />and some limited edition prints straight from the artist! I won't put the photos on here due to the copyrights of the prints, but they are beautiful, originals done in chalk pastel, I bought a set of three prints of tortoises, swimming, the colours are smooth and dreamy like. One is an A4 size printed onto canvas paper, and the other two are 5" by 7" prints. Not sure how I will frame them yet, but once they are hung will put a photo on.Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-31854393166000325022008-02-03T02:07:00.000-08:002008-02-03T02:43:16.496-08:00Shopping for a bargain......I've been considering that word, 'bargain', and really a bargain to one person, may not necessarily be your idea of a bargain.<br /><br />For instance I bid on a very ornate blue, or deep aqua, leather lounge suite that was on Ebay, I loved it because of the colour, but was only prepared to pay $40 tops, lol, anyway, it sold for $996.00, which we would have never paid, but for the item was totally worth it for the purchaser who obviously got a bargain, I estimated the lounge suite to be worth at the very least $3000.00.<br /><br />So that got me thinking, that my bargains may not be the bargains they seem on the surface, sure, initially we'll save a bundle buying secondhand, or cheaper items new. For example, I just bought a brand new iron for $7.95!! But in the long run will it really save us money.<br /><br /><br />For appliances I'd say definitely, not, we would have to replace or at the very least fix them, before the year is out. Plus for efficiency, like a fridge, I'd have to replace the seals and most likely defrost the fridge twice as often, if not more, than a new fridge. <br /><br />The lounge suite, table, cutlery and others definitely yes, I think a bargain has to be advantageous to the purchaser not just initiallly, but in good condition throughout its life.<br /><br /><br />That all said, this is my lastest aquisitions:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R6WZNnkiUvI/AAAAAAAAABI/i2ILQiz4KB0/s1600-h/teaset.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R6WZNnkiUvI/AAAAAAAAABI/i2ILQiz4KB0/s320/teaset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162701007089718002" /></a><br /><br />One whistling kettle, one teapot, one oil pourer, and a recipe book stand.<br /><br />And for me, they are a bargain! At $24 buckaroos for the lot, including postage, thats a bargain. They are solid, we will use them nearly everyday, they will probably last a lifetime! What more could I ask.Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-16745620129457152262008-01-31T04:29:00.000-08:002008-02-05T21:49:04.104-08:00A new camera.....Hi all, we had a thunder storm earlier on this evening, bucketed down, just when I had to go and pick up my camera. It was about 1/2 hours drive from where we live, but it took longer because it was down the busiest arterial route this side of the city, even at 8pm at night, plus it was dark and pouring with rain.<br /><br /><br />I got the camera of an email group Ive signed up with called <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/groups/">Freecycle</a>, its a worldwide organisation, with I think, about 85 countries participating. <br /><br />Basically its a recycling group, ie one mans junk is another man's treasure, but the idea is to offer what you don't want to someone who does want it, so it doesn't end up as landfill. And as the name suggests, you give it away for FREE, thats right no strings attatched, no money changing hands, FREE. <br /><br />I was a member in NZ and I joined when I got here, anyway, the guy I got the camera of had previously been given the camera on the condition that he then gives it away also. So here it is. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R6lKMXkiUzI/AAAAAAAAABo/i2cN6oTfcSM/s1600-h/IM000616.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R6lKMXkiUzI/AAAAAAAAABo/i2cN6oTfcSM/s320/IM000616.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163740024103129906" /></a><br /><br />It is not digital, I know in this day and age, but it is a great 35mm camera, not unlike my mum's one she uses. its in great condition and he included two films and a zoom lens. The reason I wanted a 'manual'?? camera, is because I like the tactile way you have to take a picture with them, you know zoom in, you have to get the lighting right, and actually observe you photo to see if you have it in focus.<br /><br />I mean digital is great, don't get me wrong, and I still need to get my own to put photos onto here, but I will be able to teach my children on this one, and mabey one of them will take up photography as a profession, or at least come to love it as a hobby, who knows!!?Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-11188138827055302682008-01-28T04:45:00.000-08:002008-01-28T05:06:42.121-08:00Accessories......have been studying my home decor magazines, and wondering why when I have a house it sometimes looks less than picture perfect lol!<br /><br />Well, Ive decided, we've definitely got too much stuff!<br /> - solution: storage, storage, storage. You can never have enough. And throw out anything you don't use/love.<br /><br />Sometimes my styles don't match or compliment each other, and I try to do too much in one space.<br />- Simplicity is sometimes the way to go. <br /><br />And finally accesories can give the room that extra 'pop' lol!<br />-We just bought a lounge suite, pale coloured of green apricot and tan, with a cream base. I love the lastest colours for accessories ( and sometimes clothes, which I don't love, but thats another story), of tangerine, lime greens and creams. I am making cushions that will compliment and bring out the colours in the couches, and the best thing about it is that cushions are cheap to make, and you can change the colour scheme at anytime with out spending much!<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />House totals<br /><br />Total so far: $333.00<br />Couches we picked up today: $50<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R53SmHkiUrI/AAAAAAAAAAs/dSpm3oFb9nA/s1600-h/couch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R53SmHkiUrI/AAAAAAAAAAs/dSpm3oFb9nA/s320/couch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160512300345610930" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R53SznkiUsI/AAAAAAAAAA0/1Buqgh47vHk/s1600-h/armchairs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R53SznkiUsI/AAAAAAAAAA0/1Buqgh47vHk/s320/armchairs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160512532273844930" /></a><br /><br />TOTAL: $383.00<br /><br />Just need a washing machine and i think we are through! Still a few other things that we need to get later, but I think I've got the things to start with for under $500!! <br /><br />Pretty good bargain hunting.Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-30244265889127468522008-01-25T17:39:00.000-08:002008-01-25T17:51:30.036-08:00Update on house totals......Oh yeah, I won on ebay, got a fridge/freezer for $66.00, and six chairs for $15.00!! I think I'm going to make that $500 goal after all.<br /><br />Our new fridge<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R5qQ1XkiUpI/AAAAAAAAAAc/UZkHcV4GDbk/s1600-h/fridge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R5qQ1XkiUpI/AAAAAAAAAAc/UZkHcV4GDbk/s320/fridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159595569641050770" /></a><br /><br />Our new chairs. Might make covers for the chairs.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R5qRKXkiUqI/AAAAAAAAAAk/GwGD3noo3lo/s1600-h/chairs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R5qRKXkiUqI/AAAAAAAAAAk/GwGD3noo3lo/s320/chairs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159595930418303650" /></a><br /><br />So current total: $252.00<br />Plus: Fridge 66.00<br />Plus: Chairs 15.00<br />Total: <strong>$333.00</strong>Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-26421024641688184152008-01-22T02:51:00.000-08:002008-01-22T04:43:29.507-08:00Designer home in a rented house...<em>...The dilema, renting a house, but wanting to make it a home that you and your familly love to live in, on a <strong>very, very tight,budget</strong>!!?. Well if you saw some of the rentals I've been looking at, you'd really be pushed to even get your dog to live in it!!</em> I thought I'd write down what we are doing to help achieve a house that is a joy to live in, not just a place to rest your head! Main influence is the <a href="http://www.flylady.net">Flylady</a> who says not to have anything in your home you don't love. And of course those Home magazines which are a minefield of good ideas.<br /><br /><br /><em>#1 Dont be tempted to go out , buy new, and put everything on credit! I am fully prepared to go second hand, and mabey take a little bit longer to get what I want. Even though we are just weeks away from moving, I will not make that an excuse to blow our budget, just to get everything I think I want. Make a list in order of importance.</em> <br /><br />Ours for example goes something like this:<br /><br />Fridge<br />Washing machine<br />Table and Chairs and Beds (if you don't already have some)<br />Sheets, etc for the beds<br />Towels etc for the bathroom<br />Small pot set,( already have frypans and wok)<br />Cutlery (already have)<br />Dinner set<br />Knife set<br />Kettle, Toaster, Iron<br />Lounge suite<br />Slow cooker (might move this up to no. 3!!)<br /><br />Everyone has different needs, and everyone has a different budget, figure out <em>yours</em>, decide what is the <strong>maximum</strong> you are willing to pay ( especially important if using online auction sites like Ebay.)<br /><br /><em>#2 Try not to accept every offer of free furniture etc. from well meaning friends/family/work mates/ of the side of the road! (Be a bit choosy, if you're able, without being rude lol!) I'm not sure there are many people who need three lounge suites in one house, especially if they don't complement or match each other!</em><br /><br />Instead try and work out your tastes or style, hard sometimes, I know, but if you go through your magazines, or use the flyers or catalogues from home stores, watch the DIY programes on TV etc. Internet sites, or even visit a few showrooms, you begin to know what you do and what you definitely don't like. Try and collect pictures of furniture, rooms, you like in a scrapbook so you can refer to it constantly, and are not tempted to get something, just because its free or a 'good' deal. <br /><br />I'm definitely a rustic/country type girl, (except in the kitchen, which if left up to me would be totally stainless steel, possibly marble or wooden worktops)so luckily its a style that can get away with a bit of the battered look, M'honey however is more contemporary so I have to be careful not to go too rustic or I may end up having to resell my treasures! (he loves my table, so I get to keep it!)<br /><br />A few online sites I'm perusing at the moment for ideas are:<br />http://www.decoratorscatalogue.com.au/ (a showcase of different designs/styles etc.)<br />http://www.diynetwork.com/ <br />And of course <br />http://www.ikea.com/<br /><br />That's all for now. Need some sleep!!Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-24951794004788712942008-01-20T05:06:00.000-08:002008-01-20T05:47:18.448-08:00Self sufficiency......I've always been one to love the country. I was born in the Kimberley region, the far north of western Australia, as far from the city as could possibly be. And really thats the way I like it, when I first got married I was so happy that I'd married a country boy, I would live on a farm, have a couple of pigs and goat, 4 sheep a cow for milk and some little bantam hens, the cute little brown ones! I'd also have some ducks and a pond, and I'd have a homestay with three little cottages on our land where people would pay to come and live!! I'd grow olives and make my own butter, go out and milk my cow and gather eggs and make homemade pancakes for breakfast to serve to the kids and my homestay guests.<br /><br />Well, unfortunately, my country boy wanted to be a city boy, so here we are, in the middle of one of, I think the biggest Australian cities! not a real cow in sight. Anyway, seeing as paying rent is definitely not going to help the savings! I've decided that just because we live here doesn't mean my dream of being self sufficient can't come true. After all, we have to make our own heaven here don't we. I am looking for a house that has a largish piece of land to start a garden on it, when we buy, I want to also keep a couple of hens, although Im not sure what the rules are for that sort of thing.<br /><br />My sister has started planting in boxes and just a little along the fence, and she reckons shes doing real well. Have yet to see any proof (photo posted to my email would not go astray!! you can email cellphone pictures you know!), so once we get settled I will start with a lettuce box, some herbs, a tomato plant hopefully those yummy looking beefsteak ones, mabey some lebanese cucumbers, which m'honey loves, brocolli, carrots if the soil is good, potatoes if theres room and some onions, garlic or shallots. Just start small andd work our way up from there. Oh and of course a lemon tree!<br /><br />^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br /><br /><strong>House total:</strong><br /><br />$163.00<br /><br /><strong>Today:</strong><br /><br /><br />Towels $2.95 x 5 <br />Face cloths x 10 $4.99pkt<br />Table cloths $10.00 for 2<br />Knife set $22.40<br /> <br />Also bought a sewing machine yesterday from Ebay for $36, totally necessary if one is to be self-sufficient!<br /><br />So rounding everythin to nearest dollar, total equals - $251.75Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-21732469793307098652008-01-18T01:34:00.000-08:002008-01-18T23:07:18.959-08:00Budgeting......The 'b' word!! Everyone knows about it, some people talk about it, alot of people even write one down or type one out, but there are not many who actually stick to one! I know Ive done all of it. <br /><br />But this year it's different, (I know I've said that a thousand times before too) It's going to be hard, but we'll do it. <br /><br /><br />I Googled 'budget template' and low an behold, a great budget template popped up, (don't ask me for the website, because that's also one of my resolutions, don't save websites to favourites if I won't use it again. sorry!!) Anyway you just type in the monthly totals the rest is set up, predicted totals, yearly totals, etc. (its a template that can be used in excel, open office and even the google spreadsheets, so very versatile) I went to the library, and got out a heap of books on budgeting, stockmarkets, property investing etc. and one of the things that the budget book says is don't include the bonuses, overtime etc. in the weekly income. #1 reason I'm hopeless at keeping a budget, I always include overtime, come to count on it even, but no more! So far our expenses outweigh our income (surprise, surprise NOT!)<br /><br />But even though seeing the totals is initially scary, I don't feel like running lol!, but I'm even feeling relieved, I know and this is after only one day. So see how we go!<br /><br />Anyway House total so far $141.00 (from the other days post)<br /><br />Today's totals: <br /> Toaster (new): $7.95<br /> Electric Kettle (new): $7.95<br /> mugs (new): $5.50<br /> <br />TOTAL $162.40<br /><br />And I forgot, a free computer chair, and 10 solid packing boxes of freecycle! $0.00<br /><br />But still have to get all the major appliances, fridge and washing machine anyway, a couch and dining chairs, and a new bed for us!!Sherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853744526774545852.post-7161072486873216312008-01-15T04:02:00.000-08:002008-01-18T02:00:35.908-08:00Serious House Hunting......Honestly, for something so basic as a shelter over ones head, it sure is complicated. <br /><br />-First we have to look for an appropriate house in an area we like! Our search is based in a radius of about 26 minutes from where we are now, no further. We are looking for a 3 bedroom with either air conditioning or a pool. And close to parks and a village type shopping center.<br /><br />-Next we have to view the property/ies we are interested in, which usually means packing a quick lunch and drink for the kids, finding the house, and then sitting in a hot car while we wait for the real estate agent.<br /><br />-Then we have to submit an application form with: 6 different types of ID plus payslips, and a letter confirming employment??! And then you have to wait and see if the application is approved!<br /><br />Its a long painful process. <br /><br /><br />I know they are only trying to keep the landlord safe from the millions of fraudsters out there! But when your just looking for a place to call home for you and your family, its frustrating filling out tons of applications and then waiting for them!<br /><br />The property market is so volatile here especially with interest rates going up some people can't afford to keep their houses or they default on their mortgage. Leaving the renter without a roof over their head!<br /><br />We are seriously thinking about buying, even though we never planned on staying long, it looks like we need to buy just to have a secure roof over our heads that isn't going to be whipped out from underneath us. I think probalby the market is slightly weak at the moment, so hopefully within the next few months we can look at something.<br /><br /> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />When My honey and I were first married our wedding presents we got really went a long way to providiing us with everything we needed to start a new house. When we did get our own place, we bought all the appliances from Mhoney's uncle, plus table, chairs and lounge suite, oh, and a set of golf clubs??! (I guess they must be very important when moving into a new house!!)<br /><br />Coming here without our household effects has caused us to start all over again. Its frustrating to know that everything you need is across the sea at home, while here its basically a nap sack on your back.<br /><br />I've set a goal for myself:<br /><br />Buy everything we need for a house for $500.00!! So I'm on Ebay, Freecycle, looking in the local newspapers, going to the fleamarkets, second hand stores and garage sales. And for the new things, in my opinion, you can't go past IKEA!! <br /><br />So far we've got:<br /><br />tv bench $10 Ebay <br />coffee table $20 Ebay<br />electric frypan Xmas present<br />wok Free<br />frypan Free<br />roaster Free<br />Cutlery x 12plc $80 (good set)<br />Cutlery x 6plc $12.95 (everyday set) IKEA<br />Mugs mine<br />TV mine<br />Table $18 Ebay<br />utencils 6.95 IKEA<br />Beds girls our own<br />Beds GG his own<br /><br /><br />OUR $18 table!!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R5B4O4sTaaI/AAAAAAAAAAU/U6QHOFR9sjI/s1600-h/our+%2418+table+haha!!.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4MBiuGbw0Qo/R5B4O4sTaaI/AAAAAAAAAAU/U6QHOFR9sjI/s320/our+%2418+table+haha!!.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156753770470926754" /></a><br /><br /><br />And thats it...<br />...I'd better do some more looking.<br />What am I doing on here I'd better go and Ebay a fride and washing machine.<br />Bye worldSherenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739755273181653032noreply@blogger.com0