A Positive Year - Day 342

Day 342

Well, it's the last day of the year, and what a year it's been!!

This has been a lot of new beginnings for our family and we have had a fantastic ride!!

To sum it up, here are some of the things that have happened this year....

• The girls started a new school and are thriving in their new environment.
• One of my dearest friend's got married to a great guy (and the added bonus, I got to fly down for the hens night as well as the wedding!!)
• I got to have another weekend trip to Sydney for my school reunion.
• We were able to have a weekend get together of fun with our closest friends.  It has been so long since we were all in the same place at the same time.
• I started 2 new fantastic jobs in places that I love.
• I had surgery on both my hands.
• The whole family has started a new healthy lifestyle and the kids are embracing it as much as us adults by becoming our personal trainers and motivators.
• My hubby and I got to go on our first overnight trip by ourselves in 12 years to Melbourne.
• And last, but certainly not least, I won a game show (and had a fantastic time in the process).

This is only a quick overview of the things I can remember but there are so many other things that had happened.  It was definitely a jam packed year full of highs and lows.  Although the lows aren't fun, I have definitely learnt from them and would not have appreciated the highs if the lows didn't happen.

I hope that when you look back on your year that you feel like I do and you can smile and appreciate what the year has brought you and I sincerely hope that you have all had a fantastic year and I wish you a happy and positive 2013 full of love and laughter.

A Positive Year - Day 341

Day 341

I have proven to myself today that the saying is true "once you learn how to ride a bicycle, you never forget"

Although I was a bit wobbly to start, it didn't take long for me to get the hang of it and keep going.  I think the reason I was a bit wobbly is because I still don't have the strength or confidence back in my hands as yet.

We didn't go for a huge ride today because we had already been for a big walk and a swim and I wasn't sure how my hands would hold out, but it still took a bit of effort to ride for the little bit that I did (especially up the big hill of our driveway!!)

The girls are pretty keen to hit the bike tracks over the holidays so I am getting myself ready for our first big ride.  I am not sure where we will go but I am sure we will go down somewhere near the waterfront and make the most of this gorgeous weather.

A Positive Year - Day 340

Day 340

As much as we have been having fun out in the sunshine for the past few days, life still catches up with you and there is work to be done.

Today our messy house caught up with us and it was time for a big clean!  Although I don't like the act of cleaning because I find it totally boring, I do love it when the house is clean and tidy.

When we all band together and attack the mess, it's surprising how quickly you can get it done and then be able to get back to the more important things, like swimming and having fun!  Perhaps if I am really lucky my trainers might forget to make me workout too!!

A Positive Year - Day 339

Day 339

Watch out waterfront!  We are on our way!  Armed with 2 crazy kids and 2 psycho dogs, this should make for an interesting workout!

I am just wondering how long we can go for before someone ends up going into the water!  Perhaps I should start taking bets now!!

Insert slight pause here as we are now walking..........

We just arrived home and we have two slobbery, panting balls of fur who are now passed out happily in the backyard!  What a gorgeous day for a waterfront walk!  We decided to check out a different waterfront and went to one closer to home.  It was so quiet and peaceful down there and wasn't packed out with heaps of people.  Wow!  Talk about your own piece of paradise!  We will definitely be heading down there more often!  I just hope no one finds out about it!

Now after melting away at the waterfront I think I will go and recharge in the pool!  I am replacing all wine with swimming so hopefully it will help with my quest to reduce the size of my ass!

A Positive Year - Day 338

Day 338

Today we decided to take our exercise to the mountain and do a bit of hiking.  A bit of a change always spices things up and stops it from getting boring!

We all agreed that we wanted to go to Mt Tamborine and check out somewhere new.  After the line up to get into the Glow Worm caves was too long, we decided to head off down the road and stop at the first hiking place we could find.  We ended up at Witches Falls.

It wasn't the longest of hikes (it was about 3.5kms when include walking to the lookout) but it was still a good workout with all the extra hills and stairs.  There was also a lot to check out on our travels as well which took our mind off the exercise.  This is the type of fitness I love!  A lot of distractions so I don't think about the work!

Now we are back home and chilling out by the pool for the arvo and soak up the sunshine!

A Positive Year - Day 337

Day 337

Well another Christmas is done and dusted and what a Christmas it was!  We were woken at 3.30am by our youngest daughter screaming out in excitement that it was Christmas.  We managed to convince her to stay in bed until 4.30am while she wriggled with excitement giggling.  It's hard not to get into the Christmas spirit when the kids are so excited!

Today is my other favourite day - Boxing Day!  This is my self proclaimed official day off for the year!  Every year I have boxing day to relax and chill by the pool while my hubby takes care of me!  He is an awesome supporter of boxing day and I am so lucky to have him!

Even though today is raining I will be making the most of today!

A Positive Year - Day 336

Day 336

Merry Christmas!!

As I am planning on eating, drinking and being merry I thought I should probably write my post a day early because I am sure that I will not even think about it on Christmas day!

I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas day and get super spoilt by Santa and enjoy every minute with your family and friends! 

A Positive Year - Day 335

Day 335

Well Christmas Eve is finally here!  This would have to be my favourite holiday!

I love everything about Christmas!  All the cheesy carols, cartoons, music and decorations!  It is hard not to enjoy something when everything is lit up or sparkling!

I also love how excited the kids!  My youngest was up at 5am all excited because there was only one more sleep to go!  I still remember being that age and how I couldn't sleep and how I thought Christmas Eve was the longest day and night ever! 

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a great day celebrating with your family and friends!

A Positive Year - Day 334

Day 334

Another gorgeous day leading up to Christmas and we are going to make the most of it!!

I am sure that no matter what we do there will definitely be some training involved.  I have to admit that I am feeling so much better after all this healthy food and training and I have so much more energy (just don't tell my girls I said that or they will be even more ruthless!!)

This gorgeous weather has definitely helped in motivating me to get out and get healthy.  Who can resist the call of a warm sunny day!  I absolutely love this time of year and will squeeze every minute out of it!

A Positive Year - Day 333

Day 333

You would've thought that surviving the end of the world would be a good excuse to have a day off from training!  Obviously my ruthless trainers don't agree with you!  lol.

I was lucky to have a bit of a sleep in this morning but ever since then they are back on the job, making sure that I drink my water and do my fitness. 

We started off with a few laps in the pool and then after our big fruit and veg stock up for the week we are now setting out with the dogs to take them for a walk before heading back into the pool for another swim.

I am loving their dedication and the fact they have not given up on their old mum!  It has also strengthened our bond even more than it was.  I just hope they let me have a glass of wine this arvo!

A Positive Year - Day 332

Day 332

Well today was the first weigh on my fitness challenge with the kids.  In the first week I lost 2kg, 3cm off my waist and 3cm off my hips.  Not bad for a first week of the kids training me!

The girls are so excited because they have made some money and I am totally chuffed because these personal trainers only cost me $2 each for the week!  Now that is a bargain!!

The scary thing for me is that they now are even more excited about this challenge that they are gearing up for an even bigger week of training this week.  Boy am I in trouble!

I am so proud of how they have taken this challenge on board and how committed they are to it!  It has been a fantastic bonding project for us and we are loving every minute of it (no matter how painful it is!)

A Positive Year - Day 331

Day 331

What a fantastic day!  The girls and I have been at home all day waiting for some furniture to be delivered and we are making the most of it!

As we couldn't get out to do our training we opted for laps in the pool.  My arms are no exhausted!  My trainers worked me as hard as ever and I knew that I was in trouble when they stopped calling me mum and started calling me by my name!  At least at the end I got a pat on the back and was told "good work babe" so I must've done alright!  lol

To top off another day of bonding I am quite excited about being able to sleep in our new bed tonight!  We had our old bed for 17 years so, as you can imagine, it was quite flat and lumpy and uncomfortable.  This is also the first time that we have had a matching bedroom suite so I am feeling a little posh right now!

So if the Mayans are right and world is going to end tomorrow at least I worked my butt off today and I will sleep well tonight!  Bring on the next adventure!!

A Positive Year - Day 330

Day 330

Well the training is back on and as ruthless as ever!!  We couldn't get out yesterday morning because I had an appointment and we never made it out the day before either.  Well we definitely made up for it today!

I had to get to the shops to do some final Christmas stuff and my harsh trainers decided it would be a good way to fit in a workout and walk there and back.  I am pleased to say that I outlasted one of my trainers because she ran into a friend and wanted to go back to her place and play.  My youngest daughter is rock solid though and braved the heat and hills to do the whole trip with me!  I can honestly say that I have never loved our pool as much as I did when we got home!  My poor legs were certainly feeling fatigued by the time we finished and it was great to soak in the cool salt water!!

It has been fantastic watching the girls embrace this challenge with such enthusiasm!  They have not dropped the ball once and have kept focussed on the final goal.  Paying them $1 per kilo lost doesn't hurt either!

A Positive Year - Day 329

Day 329

My whole life I have always been the type of person who tries to please everyone and a lot of the time it is at my own expense.  I don't consider it a bad trait to want to see people happy but unfortunately not everyone feels the same. 

This has been a big lesson for me to learn.  I now know that it is absolutely impossible to make everyone happy and I am now okay with that.  I now know that it is not my responsibility to keep the peace or make sure everyone feels happy.  Happiness must come from within themselves and all I can do is make sure that I don't do anything negative or hurtful and the rest is out of my hands.

An even harder lesson for me has been that I don't have to accept any negativity in return.  Supporting someone does not mean that I am an emotional punching bag.

I feel better in myself for finally working this out and I will be sure to do everything to make sure my girls don't fall into the same trap that I did.  All of the positivity and support I have offered to others over the years I am going to make sure I offer it to myself first!

A Positive Year - Day 328

Day 328

Today hasn't been the best of days.  I know we all go through them and this is my turn to have one.  It's always hard to find something positive on these days but I am determined to see the year out on the same positive note that I have been hovering about all year.

My positive post today is how lucky I feel to have such wonderful kids and husband.  Without them I don't know where I would be.  Their unfailing support and sense of humour lightens the darkest of days and I am so grateful for them.

I also love sharing the happy times with them and I am looking forward to when it comes about again.

A Positive Year - Day 327

Day 327

This morning I was a bit rebellious and went out for a girly breakfast with two friends that I haven't seen in ages!  I even celebrated our breakfast by having a pancake with ice cream (that was the rebellious part) lol!  Although my trainers will both be ruthless in my workout afterwards it was totally worth it!!

It was such a great way to start the morning!  Down at the waterfront, the sun was shining and it was a gorgeous morning, and to top it off the markets were in full swing!  I couldn't think of a better way to start the day!!

The only way to top off a morning like this will be to spend the afternoon lazing by the pool with the family!  I love these kind of days!

A Positive Year - Day 326

Day 326

Well we are onto day two of the holidays and of our family health kick!  My two girls are being awesome trainers and nutritionist.  They are ruthless!!

I was hoping by day two they might've gotten a bit bored and ease off a little, but no!  They are more determined than ever!  Secretly I am glad they are still keen on doing this because I need the motivation but I will never let them know that!!

Now it is time to sign off because they are cracking the whip and we are walking to the shopping centre instead of driving!!

A Positive Year - Day 325

Day 325

Finally the school holidays are here and we have started off with our fitness program!

I was woken by my youngest at 6.15am who was demanding that I get out of bed and get ready for our first workout!  She is already on the ball!  My oldest girl was a bit harder to wake up but she got right into it straight away and we headed out for our morning walk with the dog.

We have headed out to the fruit shop to stock up on all things healthy and they are making sure that I drink plenty of water and watch what I eat.

I am so glad we have decided to do this project together!  Not only is it healthy but it also encourages them to think of others.  Which at their age can be a bit of a challenge!

I know it's going to be hard work but I think we will all come out of the other side much better off for it!

A Positive Year - Day 324

Day 324

Well finally the last day of school is done!  The girls had a great time at their celebration of success activities and they came home full of stories and laughs, and even a few tears from my big girl because half of her friends are leaving to go to a trial year of high school.

I spent my last day of freedom working in my old job to help the new manager, and I have to say that I am so glad that today is over!  Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a horrible day but I am totally exhausted!  I had forgotten how draining that job could be!

Now it's holiday time!  I have employed both my girls as my personal trainer to keep me motivated to get fit and healthy!  We have come to an agreement that I will pay them $1 each for every kilogram I lose and they will pay me $1 each for every kilo I gain.  That should keep them focussed to be ruthless!!  lol.  We are already planning some fun activities to do over the holidays!

Now the fun begins!

A Positive Year - Day 323

Day 323

Well the end of the school year is coming up so fast now!!  Tomorrow is their last day and I have been asked to work so that should keep me out of the shops for the day!

It has been a fantastic week leading up to the end of term, it have been the perfect ending to a great school year!

I can't believe it was only a year ago that I was so nervous about changing their schools and how they would settle!  One year on and I am so glad that I did it!  It was the best thing we ever did!  Not only have their grades skyrocketed even further, they are both so much more confident and happy.  As much as they loved their other school and their old teachers, this environment seems to be a better fit for them.  I hope it continues on like this next year!

Until then I think we will sit back and enjoy the holidays!

A Positive Year - Day 322

Day 322

It was so good to be able to go out for a walk along the waterfront this morning!  I haven't been able to do that in so long and I had been missing it!

I couldn't stay out too long because I had someone coming to the house to do a quote for a new patio roof but I was grateful for the couple of hours I had.  Also I was walking with my friend who pushes me to work harder and walk faster so I don't slack off.  The added bonus is we get to gasbag the whole time we walk along which makes it a lot more entertaining!

To top off an awesome morning I have my oldest daughter's graduation ceremony from Grade 6.  They don't usually have one but because half the grade is moving onto high school for a trial year they are having a special ceremony for them.  I just can't believe how fast they are growing!!

A Positive Year - Day 321

Day 321

Well we are finally into the last week of school for the year and now the fun begins!

The girls are so excited for all the things they have planned this week and all the fun they are going to have over the next few days and it is wonderful to watch.

They have thrived and come a long way in their new school,.  They are both so happy and settled and much more confident.  I never knew they could change so much in a year!

I must admit I am also looking forward to the holidays so we can really get into the Christmas spirit!  It's time to make the most of the silly season!!

A Positive Year - Day 320

Day 320

I thought I'd better start today's post before I get caught up in the day and forget again!!

Although it is still the morning, there are still heaps of positive things I can write about!  Firstly, I am sitting here watching my girls play together, they have been so sweet and happy with each other now for a couple of hours.  I love the days when they get along and are friends.  Even though they do fight occasionally, it's no where near as much as when they like each other!

The other positive thing I am happy about this morning is that it won't be long until we have our new bed so will be able to get some decent sleep!

Our current bed is older than our kids and it is flat and rickety.  None of the furniture matches and it all just looks cheap and nasty.  This is the first time we have ever had the expendable cash to be able to afford a good bed with a great mattress and matching furniture!  It was a great feeling to go to the shop and pick it out!  We even got to do one of those sleep tests to see which mattress would suit us best!  Now that's a step up from when we got our last bed!

A Positive Year - Day 319

Day 319

Oh My God!!  I completely forgot to write my post yesterday!!  That is the first time in a year that I actually forgot!  I guess the end of year and the silly season is finally catching up with me!

Yesterday we were invited to a Christmas barbecue and swim at a friend's house in the afternoon.  The kids had a great time splashing about and running about everywhere and while us adults relaxed with drinks and awesome conversation.  It was a great way to end a busy day bed shopping!

This is the best thing about Christmas, everyone is happy, the weather is gorgeous and there's plenty of barbecues and drinks to go to!

A Positive Year - Day 318

Day 318

I have had a very much needed quiet day today.

The last couple of months have been so full on and although they have been absolutely fantastic, I have been feeling totally drained.  So I decided today would be a day of regaining my mental strength to get me through the holiday period.

Christmas is always my most favourite time of year but it is also the most draining so I am recharging my batteries as much as I can before the busy time really hits.  I am determined to end the year on the positive high it has been all along!

A Positive Year - Day 317

Day 317

Today is a great day!!  Not only is it another gorgeous and sunny day but it is the day I finally got the mail I have been waiting for!!

Anyone who knows me would know that I am not the most patient person in the world so this whole waiting game has been driving me crazy!  I have to say I handled better than I would've before but I am still human so it was driving me a little nuts.

Now we can finally move forward and start to finalise a few things that we have been dying to do!

What a perfect early Christmas present for us!!

A Positive Year - Day 316

Day 316

I love the smell of freshly baked cookies.

It has been a busy time of year and my girls are absolutely exhausted so I thought I would make them a special treat for when they get home from school.  It is so hot at the moment so people will probably think I am crazy for baking today but the look on my girls faces when they get home will be worth it!

They have had such a fantastic year at their new school and I am so proud of all the fantastic positive feedback I have received from their teachers which is another reason why I love doing special little things for them.  It's nice to see that they can still appreciate the little things.

A Positive Year - Day 315

Day 315

Today is going to be one of those extremely hot days!  It is forecasted to be 39 deg celsius and it already is very hot and humid. 

The old me would've seen this as a good excuse to have a bit of a whinge about how hot is was going to be, which is pretty funny considering I love the heat!  But it was a good excuse to have something to whinge about!  The new me is embracing the moment and looking forward to a bit of a shop in the air con followed by a swim.

It's funny how differently you look at things when you change your perspective!  I have noticed that I am not complaining much these days at all and I am looking for things that make me happy and avoiding negativity.  That's not to say I don't have any down days because that's just impossible!  But instead of wallowing I pick myself up and look forward to when it's over!

I am so happy I took this project on board!  It's exactly what I needed to show me a different, and more positive, attitude!!

A Positive Year - Day 314

Day 314

Aaah another gorgeous sunny summers day!  As much as I would love to spend the whole day relaxing by the pool, there is ironing to be done and boy am I glad that I have finally finished it!

Now I am going to enjoy the next 90 minutes of peace before the kids finish school and laze around the pool soaking up some serious sun!  This heat wave is awesome!

A Positive Year - Day 313

Day 313

Today was a great day to catch up with a friend and go to the movies.  We haven't been having much luck in catching up lately so it was good we could finally get to today!

Even though it is the lead up to Christmas the shopping centre was no where near as busy as I thought it would be which was an added bonus!

It is so hard sometimes to be able to take time out of work and from kids to be able to just chill and go with the flow so it was so good to be able to do that in the luxury of the awesome new movie theatres at Carindale.  It's always nice to feel a bit posh!!

A Positive Year - Day 312

Day 312

Today would have to be one of my most favourite days of the year!  There is no special anniversary in our family or anything but it is always a happy day.

This is the day we decorate for Christmas.  Not only that, it's the first day of summer.  My most favourite season!

Today has definitely been a perfect welcome to summer!   A nice hot sunny day, Christmas decorations, lots of swimming and to top it off a couple of cosmos by the pool.  What could be better!!

A Positive Year - Day 311

Day 311

There's nothing like a power shop!  I only started my Christmas shopping yesterday and I finished it all today!!  Luckily I didn't have much to get because we are planning our holiday and we decided it would be more fun to go shopping on our adventure.

I had been really stressing about the fact that I hadn't even started and school was almost finished so it is a great load off my mind!  I even got to get myself something and pop into the travel agent to sort out some details.

All in all it was a fabulously productive day!!

A Positive Year - Day 310

Day 310

I am loving this heat wave!!

It's been above 30 degrees celsius all week and will continue for the weekend and although I know not everyone likes the heat, I absolutely love it!!  I love everything that comes with it too!  Swimming, suntans, ice blocks and margaritas!!  What is there not to love about summer!

This also means it's getting closer to school holidays and Christmas which is my most favourite time of the year!

Now all I have to do is start my Christmas shopping and I'll be set!!

A Positive Year - Day 309

Day 309

After a busy start to the morning I have decided to go on strike for the afternoon (until the kids finish school anyway).

It has just been one thing after another these past couple of weeks and it has all caught up with me so instead of wearing myself out completely and being exhausted when the holidays start I have decided that this year I won't be falling into the same trap I usually do!

So for today I am going to laze around the pool and soak up the sun and just enjoy this gorgeous warm weather!!

A Positive Year - Day 308

Day 308

Today I had a last minute surprise and didn't end up having to work today.  I know I will have to do it tomorrow instead but I have been so busy lately I was grateful for a day of nothing today.

I have been swamped with things that need to be done and it was doing my head in!  I know it's just that time of year but it was still good to have a day to catch my breath and try and recharge the batteries a bit before it all starts again tomorrow.

I know there is only two and a half weeks left of this busy period before the holidays are here and I can relax so I am visualising the finish line and a cocktail by the pool!!

A Positive Year - Day 307

Day 307

Today is the first day I have had off work for a while (well sort of anyway, I still had to go and do some work in the video shop!).  But most of the day is a day off and I have a fair bit of work to catch up on around the house. 

I do have my youngest one at home from school sick though.  It's not anything serious but it was enough to keep her home for the day.  I think it is just that time of year where things are a bit busy and they are a bit run down.

Although I have heaps of ironing to do, I am just going to enjoy some time out with my youngest and just chill out.  The world can wait another day!

A Positive Year - Day 306

Day 306

It's been a while since we have had a super lazy Sunday and today it couldn't have been timed better!
My poor big girls isn't feeling very well and had an attack of the vomits so she is happy to be able to chill on the lounge and watch movies.  Now that we have caught up on the washing, groceries and the lawns I thing we may join her and chill out while watching a family movie.  Even our youngest is a bit quieter than usual because she is tired.

There's only 3 weeks left of school and their batteries are definitely running out so it will be good that they can recharge before tackling the rest of the school year.

A Positive Year - Day 305

Day 305

The weekend is finally here, I have a day off work and hubby hasn't gone away!  This means that I might be able to catch up on some things that I haven't had a chance to over the past few weeks,

We have a lot to do over the next couple of days and I am so grateful that we will have the time to do it!  Now we just need some sunny weather so we can get outside to do it and it's looking pretty promising at the moment!

A Positive Year - Day 304

Day 304

What a fantastic day!!

It started off with two lovely friends and a trip to Gold Class to watch the last movie in the Twilight series.  It really is the only way to go to the movies!!  Talk about relaxing and stylish!!

After a fancy morning watching an awesome movie I had to go to work for a couple of hours but as I have been working with the loveliest people I really don't mind having to go in.  They also gave me the most gorgeous windchime as a surprise present which made me feel extra special!!  I shall miss them now that my time has finished there and I look forward to the next time they need someone!

Now it is time to relax with a nice glass of wine while the girls are at their school disco and I pass the pickup duties onto hubby!

A Positive Year - Day 303

Day 303

Today was phenominally busy!  I have been on the go since I woke up this morning!  So the one thing I am totally grateful for at the moment is the fact that the day is nearly over and I survived it!!

Although it was busy I didn't make any mistakes and I was able to get everything finished that I had to so I am proud of myself that I was able to make it through.  Now it is 5pm and I am just having a spot of lunch and putting my feet up and will enjoy the peace and quiet while my girls do their homework.

I now can't wait until tomorrow morning when I can have a nice quiet morning at the movies with some friends before I head back into work for the afternoon!

A Positive Year - Day 302

Day 302

What a week!!  I have been absolutely flat out juggling 3 jobs plus everything else that a mum has to do!  Although I am absolutely exhausted I am so grateful that I have work and that it is during school hours. 

I don't know how long this workload will keep up as I am filling in temporarily in two positions so at least I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel as far as demands go but I will make the most of the extra income while it lasts!

A Positive Year - Day 301

Day 301

My head is all over the shop today!  I can't seem to remember anything and am tongue twisted and have no idea what is going on!

Because of this I am so grateful for coffee today!!  If it wasn't for a bit of a caffeine boost I think I would fall down in a heap! 

Luckily I made it through the day at work without any mistakes or anybody noticing my vagueness for the day.  I am now looking forward to a good night's sleep so I can be back to normal for work tomorrow!

A Positive Year - Day 300

Day 300

Woo hoo!!  300 days of positivity and I'm still going strong!!  And I have plenty of positive things to talk about today!

Firstly, and most excitingly, my hubby has arrived home after a mini holiday to Wagga Wagga to see his family.  Us girls have missed him heaps and we are so glad to have him home!  And to top it off he has come home to a gorgeous sunny day and he missed all the rain and storms from the weekend.

The other positive thing from today was the lovely lady I met from the Wynnum Herald.  They called me last Friday to see if I would talk to them about my experience on the Hot Seat so this lovely lady came out today to take some photos.  All I can say is a chair with wheels and hills to not mix very well!!  Unless you are ready for an adventure that is!!  At least it provided a few laughs for the afternoon!

Now we get to pick up the kids and have a nice relaxing family arvo together!  A perfect way to top off the day!

A Positive Year - Day 299

Day 299

How awesome was that storm last night!!  We haven't had a good storm like that in years!  The lightning show was spectacular!

I know storms can be scary and cause a lot of destruction but when I know everyone I love is safe and sound I can sit back and relax and enjoy the sound of the rain on the roof and the awesome lightning display.

I also have to chuckle watching the kids jump in the really loud claps of thunder.  They aren't scared like they were as kids but they do still get startled at how loud it can be and it makes us laugh everytime!

It's in this type of weather we love chilling out together as a family and not going anywhere and this weekend we are making the most of it!

A Positive Year - Day 298

Day 298

Well it's day two of our girly weekend while hubby is away and we're heading out to do all things girly before we have to come back and do the boring stuff like cleaning.

Although we miss having hubby here I love spending time with my girls just hanging out and doing girly stuff.  Time is going way too fast and my girls are growing up way too fast so I want to make the most of it before they're too cool to want to hang out with their old mum!


We don't know exactly what we're going to get up to this weekend but I am sure we will make the most of everything!

A Positive Year - Day 297

Day 297

After a huge week and with hubby away us girls decided to go out for a little mother/daughter dinner at Sizzler.  The girls had never been there before because hubby isn't too keen on it.  They hadn't experienced the awesomeness of cheese toast or the excitement of making your own desserts and eating anything you wanted and as much as you wanted!!

I loved watching their reaction to the whole experience!  They were in absolute heaven!  I don't know if they were more excited about eating what they wanted or by pouring their own drinks and making their own soft serve ice cream!

As for me, I was happy to have the night off from cooking or cleaning.  Between work and the excitement of the Hot Seat it has been an absolutely exhausting and exciting week and I am totally wiped out!

It was a great way to start our girly weekend!!

A Positive Year - Day 296

Day 296

I am still on a total high this morning after last night's excitement!!

I can't put into words how excited I was to be able to finally share my game show experience with my girls and to see their reaction to it!  I was definitely not disappointed!!  They were so excited to hear their names and to watch their old mum make a fool out of herself on tv!  Although I must admit I found it hard to watch (I hate watching things of myself).  It also brought back all the memories of how nervous I was!!  Talk about cotton mouth!!  lol.

Anyway the experience was worth every second of nervousness and excitement and I would recommend it to everyone!!

A Positive Year - Day 295

Day 295

This morning I was up super early with excitement!

I had gotten a message last night that someone had seen the ad for the tv game show that I am going to be on tonight so I wanted to make sure I saw it!  My youngest daughter and I have been sitting here for about 45mins waiting and we were not disappointed!!

Even though I know the outcome and I was there at the time, it was so exciting to see her reaction when it was on the tv!  I can only imagine what they are going to be like when the whole show airs this afternoon!

I can even overlook the fact that they forgot to use the skinny lens!  lol

A Positive Year - Day 294

Day 294

Today I am one very excited little chicken!!

Finally, 3 months of waiting, I only have one more sleep to go until my episode of the Hot Seat is going to be on air.

I had so much fun on the day of filming and met some fantastic people in the process so I am looking forward to being able to relive it and to share it with my friends.  It is so exciting to have something to look forward to!  I feel like a kid at Christmas and am sure I won't be able to sleep tonight!!

Don't forget to tune in to channel 9 tomorrow at 5.30pm!

A Positive Year - Day 293

Day 293

Today, after work, I got to catch up with a lovely friend of mine that I don't get to see very often.  It was so lovely that we both had some free time in our busy schedules to be able to do so!

It's not until you get to catch up that you realise how much has happened since the last time you saw each other.  The time seemed to go really fast yet it felt like we had only been talking for 5 minutes!!

I just wish I didn't have to leave when I did so we could keep talking! 

A Positive Year - Day 292

Day 292

Last night I went to a friend's house for a barbecue.  I haven't caught up with them in ages so it was such a great afternoon catching up on everything that had happened over the past few months!    The kids also had a great time because they had not seen each other for as long as us adults! 

The past year has gone so fast since we moved that I hadn't even realised how long it had been since we'd seen each other until we got the invite to go over.  The good thing about that was that we had plenty to talk about and we never ran out of conversation!!

Now we are up for a quiet Sunday before we have a big week ahead of us!  Hubby still has his manflu so that will render him useless until the worst passes so I will spend the day pottering and catching up on things that seem to get overlooked during the busy week.

But before I start anything I need my morning cuppa!

A Positive Year - Day 291

Day 291

Haha isn't it always the way!!  It doesn't rain for months and months and then all of a sudden you plan a barbecue and it pours down!!!

Luckily we are not the types who will let it bother us and we can see the funny side of it.

I have to admit though, apart from the barbecue side of things, it's so nice to see the rain finally come down!!  Everything was so brown and dry and really needed a good soaking so it's nice to see.  It's also a good excuse for staying inside and taking it easy after a busy week!

I plan to make to most of it while it's here!!

A Positive Year - Day 290

Day 290

Aaah Friday!

After a busy week I am so glad that today is the last day before the weekend!  I am looking forward to having a break this weekend because I am working six days next week and hubby will be away for 4 of them! 

I tend to be the type of person who overthinks things and will stress myself out with the anticipation of such a busy week, but I am determined to not fall into the habits of a lifetime and I am going to take each day as it comes!  So far so good!

I just hope that I can keep this positive attitude up and not fall into my old ways. 

A Positive Year - Day 289

Day 289

I just made myself a cup of tea after a busy morning at work and it got me thinking.  This cup of tea I made tasted just perfect and I was thinking about how many cups of tea I have made in my lifetime and how many have actually made me stop and think how tasty it was.  I am not sure if it is how I have made it or the mood I am in that changes the taste.

This probably doesn't make sense to anyone else but I was so excited about the cup of tea I just made that I wanted to share it.  Right now I also wish it could be a neverending cup!!

So I will now finish my post so I can sit back and thoroughly enjoy the rest of my cup of tea and relish in the peace and quiet until it is time to go back to school to pick up the kids.

A Positive Year - Day 288

Day 288

I had a nice surprise today.  My friend called me when I was at work and made me go out and get the local paper.  In there was a little feature with photo advertising the episode of the game show I am going to be on next Wednesday!

I have no idea how they found out about this or how they got the photo because I don't even have a copy of it! 

I can't wait to show the kids!!  They have been so excited about the whole thing that it has been worth it just to see their reaction! 

Now we have to wait another week to see the show!  I can't wait!

A Positive Year - Day 287

Day 287

Usually on Melbourne Cup Day I will organise a lunch and get all dressed up and have a day out and cross all my fingers and toes in the hopes to pick the winning horse.  This year I have decided not to.  I have had such a great year that I have decided to have a quiet lunch with a couple of close friends at a cafe that is not putting on a special lunch for race day.

The added bonus is that I didn't get called in to work today so I can really enjoy myself and relax.  I also won't have to worry waiting all day for the race to start and then about racing back off to school as soon as the race is finished because it's time to pick up the kids.

The weather is perfect so a nice lunch down on the waterfront is just what the doctor ordered!

To all those people who are betting on the race today I wish you the best of luck!

A Positive Year - Day 286

Day 286

The cookbook that my recipe was published in arrived in the mail today.  Although I knew it would be coming sooner or later, it was still exciting when it finally arrived!

I love getting packages in the mail!  It's like being a kid again!  The excitement of wondering what it is and who it's from gives you a bit of a buzz, just like opening birthday presents!  Even if it is something that I've bought from ebay, I still get excited about it's delivery!

The other thing that I guess that makes it so exciting is that I know the parcel isn't a bill so I don't have to cringe over how much it's going to be.  It's just the fun of ripping open the paper and discovering what's inside that I have to worry about!

A Positive Year - Day 285

Day 285

It always take a date or something like an anniversary to make you realise how much happens in such a short amount of time.

This weekend I realised that it will be a year next week since we moved into our home.  I don't know whether it is the change of scenery or if it's a change in attitude but I can't believe the turnaround in lcuk we have had since we moved here!

So much has happened in the past year that when I think about it that it sends my head into a spin!  I am so happy and grateful for what the past year has brought to my and my family.  I am looking forward to what is yet to come over the next twelve months!  Let the new adventures begin!

A Positive Year - Day 284

Day 284

I am still half asleep and finding it hard to think about what to write today but we've got a lot on and I don't think that I will get a chance to write anything later. 

I love the excitement and anticipation of knowing that you have so many fun things planned.  It's always exciting to have something to look forward to. I especially love the kids reactions when they hear about our agenda!

Now I need a coffee so I can be sure to have the energy to last the day!  Have a great weekend!

A Positive Year - Day 283

Day 283

I love Fridays!  This morning was especially fun because I got to catch up with a friend that I hadn't seen for a while.  How we didn't get banned from the coffee shop for being too noisy I will never know!!

It is certainly an awesome way to start the day!  Top it off with happy hour afternoon and it has definitely been a Fun Mum Friday!!

A Positive Year - Day 282

Day 282

This is a good week for fitness for me!  I actually got to go to the gym for 2 days in a row!!  I haven't been able to do that all year!  Today I went to the boxing class, which was a struggle with my dodgy hands but I made it through.

I have really missed the endorphins and energy I get from exercising so I am making the most of it while I can!  Who knows I may even back it up this afternoon with a session of Hip Hop Abs!

A Positive Year - Day 281

Day 281

It was sooo good to be able to get back to the gym today to do a Zumba class!!

Between surgery, work and family commitments I haven't been able to get to the gym for about 6 weeks!  I am the type of person who needs an outlet to burn some energy or I feel like I am am going nuts so it has been a long 6 weeks with no outlet!

Already after the first class I feel like I am back on an even keel and am thinking more clearly!

I can't wait to go again tomorrow!

A Positive Year - Day 280

Day 280

Yesterday was a big day of excitement and nervousness for me!  I am not sure if there is a shift in the universe or what but everything seemed to happen at once!

Firstly I got called into work for my first shift in over 3 months.  I was super nervous that I would forget everything but surprised myself by doing better than I thought I would!  On the way home from work I got a message from my old job asking me if I wanted to go back there until they found a new manager.  Although I have always believed that you leave somewhere for a reason and that reason usually doesn't change over the years.

Finally when I got home I had an email confirming something that I had been waiting for.  It was the most exciting news of my day!  I feel on top of the world at the moment and am so looking forward to the next couple of weeks!  It's so exciting to have something to look forward to!

A Positive Year - Day 279

Day 279

I am not one to get excited over having to get up early on a weekday morning but today I am feeling refreshed and back to normal and it's a great feeling after a week of lurgyness.

I have been so sick of lying around feeling awful so it's nice to be able to look forward to getting out of the house for a while (even if it is only to go to school and help out in class).

I am also loving the fact I have my energy back so I can get back into the fitness and lose a few more kilos!  The girls and I have discovered Hip Hip Abs and have been having a lot of laughs about it while working out at the same time.  Having fun while exercising makes all the difference!!

A Positive Year - Day 278

Day 278

Woo hoo!!  I finally have my voice back!!  After a week of no voice I am so excited that it has finally returned!  I also have a heap of energy too!!  I was so bored with feeling like poo so I am totally going to embrace this energy and my voice and I am going to attack the spy garden today!  It is the only part of the house that I haven't gotten to yet but today is the day!  Time for a bit of demolition!

A Positive Year - Day 277

Day 277

I love a productive morning!!

This is the first morning that I had a bit of energy and could get some things done that were bugging me.  I may have only last for an hour before I was out of energy and feeling yuck again but that is the most that I have been able to do in a week so I'm pretty excited about that!  I guess this means I am on the mend and will be back to my old self very soon!  Woo hoo!  I will be able to talk again!

That's definitely something to feel positive about!  Although I think my hubby is enjoying the peace and quiet!

A Positive Year - Day 276

Day 276

I had to laugh this morning when my doctor told me that I have laryingitis and I am not allowed to talk!  Seriously does he really know who he is talking to?!  I am the talking queen! 

I have really struggled today to keep quiet but that is just impossible!  I will admit I did go out this morning and meet up with friends for a quick cuppa because I am suffering from serious cabin fever after a week at home!  It was so nice to be able to get out, even if it was only for a couple of hours.  It's surprising how even just a little time out makes all the difference to how you are feeling when you have been stuck at home all week.

Now it is back to lounging around and watching movies and not talking anymore!

A Positive Year - Day 275

Day 275

Well I am still stuck at home with this lurgy - it certainly doesn't know when to quit!!

I am so grateful that I have the chance to chill and really get over this dreaded flu.  I don't get sick like this often and I can't remember ever feeling this awful so it's nice to be able to take the kids to school and then come home and flake out on the lounge and rest.  I really hate feeling so tired and blah but at least I don't have to feel this awful while at work!

Now all I have to do until I pick up the kids is rest up and catch up on some cheesy daytime tv.  Although I am looking forward to having the energy to get out and enjoy myself again - come on antibiotics, it's time to start working!

A Positive Year - Day 274

Day 274

Today I forced myself to go out in all my lurgyness to get a few things from the shops that we needed.  While I was out I also wanted to look for a cookbook that was released yesterday that has my cookie recipe in it.

That moment of nervousness that turns to total pride and elation when you finally find what you're looking for is the best feeling in the world!!  I was so close to yahooing in the shop and doing a happy dance because I was so excited!

This awesome feeling has definitely made me feel a little better in myself at the moment and instead of focussing on feeling sick I keep thinking about that feeling I had when I found the recipe and how excited I was!

A Positive Year - Day 273

Day 273

It's pretty hard to come up with something positive when your head is all foggy with the lurgy and throat is absolutely killing you. 

Today I have chosed to make my positive post about my cup of tea.  When I am feeling like this and my throat is so sore that I can't swallow anything and I sound like a drag queen, it is a cup of tea that seems to make everything temporarily feel a bit better.  There is nothing like that warm liquid soothing your thoat and the steam clearing the sinuses!  Although the effects only last for about five minutes it's nice to have that tiny reprieve from feeling so blah!

A Positive Year - Day 272

Day 272

It was so nice to have a day off after a big weekend.  The girls had a pupil free day at school which meant we got to have a lazy morning at home doing nothing.

After a big weekend it was just what the doctor ordered, especially since I have no voice at the moment!  I was happy to have a quiet morning to rest up and try and get my throat back to it's old self!  For a compulsive talker it is absolute torture to lose your voice!!

Anyway we're all a bit better off after a quiet day and my throat is feeling better after a rest and a cup of tea so hopefully that means my voice will be back soon too!!  Although I think my hubby is enjoying the peace and quiet!

A Positive Year - Day 271

Day 271

What a fun weekend!!  As usual I made a fool out of myself thanks to wine but hey it was a lot of laughs and life is too short not to be a bit stupid every now and then!

That and the fact that I had a spray tanning disaster where I look about 10 shades darker than usual certainly made for a night of laughter and fun.  I love that I can laugh at myself and not take life to seriously.  I really am enjoying not stressing about what other people think all the time.  It makes life a lot less stressful that's for sure!!  Life is way too serious these days so it's good to be able to let your hair down once in a while and just go with the flow!

A Positive Year - Day 270

Day 270

I am a day late with this post because I was off having a life down in Sydney for the weekend!  I am so lucky to have such an awesome set of friends and family to be able to have days like this! 

A Positive Year - Day 269

Day 269

Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner - Lao Tzu

I read this quote the other day and it really made me think!  It was like a slap across the face confirming exactly how I have been feeling for a while now. 

Growing up I wasn't a very confident person.  I was an annoying people pleaser and a total sook!  During my teen years and into early adulthood I had a group of friends who liked me for me and Iwas so confident and had so much fun and didn't give two hoots what anyone thought of me! 

Once I had my first daughter all my old insecurities started to weave their way back into my head.  It was especially noticeable when she started back at school and I was thrown into a very new and very judgemental environment!  I am sure all mums would understand what I am talking about!  I thought I had to try and please everyone and be friends with everyone to make my daughter's schooling experience better.  How wrong I was!!  I tied myself up in knots for years and for what!!  Between that and my busy job I stressed myself into a very bad state emotionally and then I got very sick.

Finally I had a lightbulb moment!

It took my hitting rock bottom to realise that it was me that dug the hole!  I sat back and focussed on my family and the few close friends who have always been there for me and saw things through completely different eyes.  I finally got to see things clearly!

I am now a prisoner to no one!  I worked out that I don't care what other people think!  I am happy with who I am.  I am comfortable with the crazy behaviour and I am not sorry for sucking it up and getting on with my life and I will stand up for myself whenever I have to regardless of the outcome!  I am finally back to the carefree person that I was as a young adult and my family and I are so much better for it!!

A Positive Year - Day 268

Day 268

Today my youngest girl and I are both home with the lurgy.  I know it's not a positive thing to write about in a post.  The positive thing is that my lovely hubby has taken the day off work to look after us while we lay around on the lounge watching movies and feeling sorry for ourselves!

I know he is super busy so it's not ideal for him to be taking a day off but it's nice to know he cares enough to do so.

It's also nice to know that I don't have to go out and walk up to school when I'm feeling awful and face people when I am not in the mood for talking.  It's the little things like this that make a big difference when you're not feeling well!

A Positive Year - Day 267

Day 26y

I don't know if this happens to anyone else but I always find that when I get some quiet time after a really busy period I always end up coming down with some sort of lurgy.

I am so grateful that I had nothing on today because I have woken up feeling pretty ordinary.  It was so nice to be able to drop the kids off at school and have nowhere to go or nothing to do.  I could just come home and make myself a nice cup of tea to try and soothe my sore throat and just enjoy the peace.  I really appreciate times like this because they come few and far between!

I have a big weekend coming up and I really don't want to be sick for it so that's another reason that I am so grateful to have some time to myself to relax and feel better.

A Positive Year - Day 266

Day 266

My positivity for today is the changes I have noticed within myself when it comes to dealing with something negative.

I'm not saying that I am immune to negativity and that it doesn't get to me.  But I do notice that I don't hold onto things like I used to.

Today was a great test to my reactions.  I had an appointment with a surgeon about my hand which has had problems since it was operated on.  Now I am sure you will agree that specialists seem to keep you waiting for ages!  To add to my wait for today I arrived an hour early because I had the wrong time written down.  Then to add to the stress factor, the surgeon was running late so it turned out that I wouldn't even get to see him before I had to leave to pick up the kids from school!  So not only did it waste my time but I also had to pay $14 for parking!

The old me would've gotten myself into such a state that I would've made myself absolutely sick!!  Yes I did get annoyed (hey I'm only human!!) but I didn't keep it within myself and keep stewing on it.  I have worked out that hanging onto the anger and negativity only punishes me so what's the point of holding onto it because I am already annoyed!

Anyway after I phoned my hubby to vent, I hopped into my car and cranked up the dodgy 80s music and sang at the top of my lungs the whole way home!  Now I am feeling much better and I am ready to enjoy my afternoon!

It has been a long and hard lesson for me to learn but I am so grateful now that I am dealing with these things a lot better these days! 

A Positive Year - Day 265

Day 265

Today is the first day that I have had nothing planned in two months!

I have been so busy with different things that it was really starting to wear me down!  I was supposed to help out in my daughter's class this morning but then she said they had musical practise so I wouldn't be needed and I was so excited to not have anything that I had to do!!

I decided that a morning of much needed retail therapy was in order!  I was on the prowl for some awesome shoes for the weekend and there was nothing that would stop me!!

Luckily I know and awesome shop that wasn't going to disappoint!  I didn't just get one pair of shoes, I ended up walking away with two!!  Now that's just an added bonus!

A Positive Year - Day 264

Day 264

Aaaah I love the excitement of a child on their birthday!

They will count down for weeks and weeks and when the day finally arrives they wake up at some ungodly hour so excited and run around yahooing to wake up the whole family.

This would have to be one of the rare times I love waking up early!  I will be first to admit that I am not a morning person but on days I absolutely love getting up early so I don't miss seeing their faces when they come running in to tell me what day it is.  As if I'd ever forget!!

It's a fun morning watching paper fly and screams of delight when the present is revealed!

A Positive Year - Day 263

Day 263

What a big weekend!  My youngest is having a birthday this weekend and she is so excited!  She started celebrating last weekend with friends and then today continued it with a spot of rollerskating at the roller rink.

I absolutely love roller skating!  It definitely takes me back to my childhood where I lived in my rollerskates!!

Unfortunately, thanks to my hands, I wasn't allowed to participate today but I still loved watching her fly around the rink with the biggest smile on her face and having the time of her life!!

Now all we need to complete is our movie trip tomorrow and cupcakes at school on Monday and then all birthday celebrations will be officially over!  I am happy to see her having a great time!

A Positive Year - Day 262

Day 262

Today was my last day helping out in the office while people were on holidays and as far as I am concerned there is no better way to say "bon voyage and thank you for being so lovely" than with a nice batch of home made profiteroles! 

Profiteroles have always been a favourite of mine but I only make them on special occasions because they are just too sinful and yummy for words!  It also puts a big smile on my face to see how much others enjoy them too!  It definitely makes the effort worthwhile!

Now it is time for me to look forward to my next adventure!!

A Positive Year - Day 261

Day 261

After having such a dry few months it's so nice to finally see a bit of rain!

Everything in the garden and grass was looking so brown and miserable that it's nice to see it get a good soaking.

I am usually one who doesn't enjoy this type of weather but since it's been so long I actually don't mind it today.  I even don't mind trudging up to school in the rain under my umbrella to pick up the kids!

I somehow think I will need to breakout my inner child and jump in a few puddles on the way home!

A Positive Year - Day 260

Day 260

I have such a wonderful hubby!

Yesterday afternoon he left work early because I hadn't gotten much sleep the night before so he wanted to make us dinner.  It is an extremely rare occasion for hubby to be able to get home early so this makes it even more special to me.  The added bonus is he also came armed with gifts!  We a gift for me that is. 

After the death of my Kindle last week, thanks to an unfortunate sunbaking incident, I was at a bit of a loss.  I am constantly reading my Kindle and it was hard to not be able to escape into books as it is my way of winding down.  Last night hubby came home with a new Kindle for me!  I am so excited to have by beloved reading restored so I can now have a relaxing read before I go to sleep!

A Positive Year - Day 259

Day 259

It is the end of another busy day and I am so grateful to be able to put my feet up and have a cold drink (non alcoholic) while the kids are quietly doing their homework. 

Things have been non stop for the past six weeks and this week has been one of those weeks where it has all caught up to me and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.  It's probably also coinciding with me breaking my kindle so I don't have that escape to relax and not think about things without hurting my hands.

Anyway I can't change things and I know it will pass so I am just taking the time out to live in the now and enjoy each tiny moment as they present themselves.  At this moment it is my can of soft drink and the peace and quiet!

A Positive Year - Day 258

Day 258

Today is the first day back at school.  I love how the kids get so excited about going back that they get up extra early on the first day and are ready hours before they need to go.  If only we could bottle that excitement to last the whole 10 weeks!

I always love the school holidays but it is also nice to get back into a productive routine.  Usually I would spend the first day back at school catching up with friends and going to the gym but this week I am in the school office for the week so it will be an extra week before the catch ups can begin and I am so looking forward to it!

A Positive Year - Day 257

Day 257

Well today is the last day of the school holidays and what a perfect day it is!  It is forecasted to be 35 degrees celsius today so that means we will be having a nice relaxing day by the pool.

The girls and I have had a fantastically busy holidays and we're all keen for a nice quiet day to round the fortnight off.  It's times like holidays when I feel sorry for hubby because he has to go to work and miss out on all the holiday fun. 

The new school term is starting off with a bang and we have a lot coming up so I am sure that it will go pretty fast so the next 10 weeks will fly by and we will be back to enjoying another awesome holiday!  Until then we are determined to relax and enjoy our last day of these holidays.

A Positive Year - Day 256

Day 256

My youngest girl has had two of her oldest and bestest friends sleep over and help her with an early celebration of her birthday.  They are such great friends!  It's so nice to watch their innocence and imagination while having the time of their lives!

I have always been the type of person who watches people interact.  Even strangers you see out, I find it interesting to see how they are with their friends.  I have noticed that society in general has become very negative and very selfish so it is such a refreshing change to watch these girls play and have fun and be so happy and considerate of each other. 


I am so proud to have the privilege of seeing what a wonderful little friendship they have and I hope they are still as close when they are all grown up!  I am lucky to also have friends like this because they are rarer than hens teeth!

A Positive Year - Day 255

Day 255

It's all about embracing the craziness today!  My youngest miss is having a birthday next weekend so we started the celebrations a week earlier.  The poor little thing has had lots of bad luck happen on her last couple of birthdays so we are making up for it this year!

She has her two bestest friends from her old school staying over and they have been going crazy all day.  She has been friends with these girls since she was 2 and a half and they have always gotten on so well.  It is a really nice friendship that I hope lasts a lifetime!

After a day of swimming, teepee building, trash pack and dancing I think they will still have enough energy for plenty of giggles and laughter in tonight's sleepover!!

A Positive Year - Day 254

Day 254

What a gorgeous day!

I am absolutely loving this weather at the moment.  It gives us plenty of opportunities for the kids to swim while I break out the coconut oil and sunbake 70s style!  Although I think the coconut oil of today has a much higher spf!  I just love the smell of it!  It reminds me of the hours spent at the beach or the local pool when I was a kid!

I remember spending every waking minute chilling out the the beach when I was a kid.  We were lucky enough to live around the corner of it until I was 11 years old.  I can't believe that we could spend all day there by ourselves without our parents, especially when my daughters are now at the same age and we were at the time and they seem so young! 

I may not be able to walk around to that beach anymore but I definitely visit it in my mind everytime I smell the coconut oil :-)

A Positive Year - Day 253

Day 253

Today is our wedding anniversary.  What a great ride we've had so far! 

Every day I am so grateful for what we have together.  We have come so far and gone through so much and we're still as close (if not closer) than what we were on our wedding day. 

I am not one for mushy sentiments but I didn't want to let today go by without public acknowledging how much I love my hubby xx

A Positive Year - Day 252

Day 252

After an awesomely big weekend it is always nice to spend a day mooching about doing nothing.  The girls were still a bit tired this morning so they asked if they could have a pyjama day.  They are currently laying in my bed watching dvds and have a great time. 

I always find after such a fun weekend that I end up feeling a bit flat and lost the next day.  I know I am the type of person that gets so excited and work myself up when I get to see my friends that there is always going to be the inevitable crash afterwards.  I know that if we still lived near each other that we wouldn't get to spend much time together because of family and work commitments but it doesn't mean I don't miss hanging out with them like mad! 

I am so grateful to have such close friends like this.  We have known each other forever and even though we don't get to see each other all the time, when we do get to hang out it's like we saw each other yesterday.  The added bonus is that the kids and hubbies all seem to have a great time too!!

I just hope we can do it all again soon!

A Positive Year - Day 251

Day 251

What a fantastic weekend!!  It's a shame the good times have to end!  It always hard to say goodbye but at least it shows that you've had a fun time! 

The kids swam like crazy and all got on like a house on fire which was awesome because us adults had time to hang out together and catch up.  It's funny to see how things have changed over the years.  We may not be able to drink as much as we used to or stay up as late but we still seem to have a laugh and lots of fun when we get together!

It makes me look forward to when we will get to see each other again!

A Positive Year - Day 250

Day 250

Everyone who knows me would know that I am not one to want to wake up early in the morning.  However, if I am excited or I have friends or family staying I can't sleep so am usually up pottering around in the dark so I don't wake everyone.

My early mornings have proven to be quite handy the past couple of days because I can catch up on my blogging while everyone is still asleep!  It's a quiet task that would wake up no one which is an added bonus!

I am having such a fantastic time with my friend staying this weekend.  All the kids have been getting on like a house on fire - even us mums ended up in the pool!   Now you know it must be a special occasion or a very hot day before the mums usually get in the pool!!  But with my new beaut blow up 1.8m palm tree it's pretty hard to resist the temptation!

The fun continues today with a ladies morning at the markets - what more could you want to start off a Sunday!

A Positive Year - Day 249

Day 249

I thought I would take the opportunity while everyone is asleep to write a sneaky post of excitement!

I have been waiting for this weekend for ages!  Finally it is here! The weather is gorgeous and the kids all went swimming last night already!

Today is the day of awesomeness when we have the rest of our lovely friends arrive so we can really get the party started!  The weather Gods have also come to the party by providing a sunny 30 degree day, so it's already started off beautifully!

A Positive Year - Day 248

Day 248

Finally the long weekend is here! I have been so excited about this weekend ever since I knew all my lovely friends were coming up.

We haven't had us all together in a long while so it will be so much fun to be able chill while the kids wear themselves out in the pool.

I think there might be a few posts I will need to catch up on next week because I am not planning on being on my computer when there are margaritas to be had by the pool.  Time to warm up those pool ponies!!

A Positive Year - Day 247

Day 247

Today is the start of a super long weekend with some of my most favourite people in the world!!

It starts of with my conference drinking buddy, the Grogfather, and his kiddies coming for a swim.  They are such a lovely family.  Both the Grogfather and his gorgeous wife and genuine, fun, good people (which are hard to come by these days!)  I know everyone will have a good time because we always will!

Then tomorrow the first of my closest and dearest friends arrive from Sydney for the weekend!  We haven't had all of us here together in such a long time that it will be great to be all in the one place to celebrate the weekend and officially welcome the pool pony club into summer!

These lovely people are like my extended family.  We are always there for each other and it's always a laugh!

All I can say is "let the good times roll!!"

A Positive Year - Day 246

Day 246

Todaythe girls were lucky enough to be able to go to a golf camp for the morning.  I was originally planning on taking them in the second week but Jess has to go to school on both days for musical rehearsals so that blew all my plans out of the water!!  I didn't think that I would be able to get them in on such short notice for this week but luck prevailed and we got the last spots!

They had an absolute ball!  Talk about value for money!  They learnt heaps, got fed and came out with prizes as well, plus they were so excited about what they achieved and they are mad keen to go again. 

The added bonus is that the golf course they went to was a 2 minute drive away from Harbourtown so this made everyone happy! 

The girls have already asked if they can go the next holidays if the camp is on again and I am more than happy to take them.  It's a surprisingly cheap option for something different for the kids to do and who knows, one of them might end up being the next Shark!!

A Positive Year - Day 245

Day 245

Today I am so proud of my two girls

I had a day spare with nothing planned so I thought it was time I finished painting their bedrooms.  It was a much bigger job than I first expected, especially with my hands in such a dodgy state, but I got the job done!  I ran out of paint after finishing the first coat on both rooms so I had to walk to the hardware store to pick up some more.  All I can say is thank God for the old granny wheelie bags to helps us carry the tin back home!  Also I am loving the 7eleven Mango Slurpee, it's a delicious and refreshing way to bribe the kids to walk with me!

Anyway six hours of painting later, the kids are still being perfect, well behaved little angels!  They have played beautifully together.  They swam, watched movies, played games and chilled on their ipods.  Not one bad word was said between them and they got on like best friends all day. 

The other beautiful thing was my little one kept coming in with cold drinks and treats to keep me going.  Although I think she knew I would politely decline the treats and she would get to have them!  But I have to give her credit for trying!

I know that sometimes kids will be kids and they aren't always perfect but it's days like this that show me that I must've done something right to have such sweet girls!  They are growing up so quickly!

A Positive Year - Day 244

Day 244

Today is the first day of the school holidays.  I am one of those crazy mums who loves the holidays and spending time with my girls.  After a pretty full on term I am also looking forward to taking a step back and doing nothing for the next two weeks.  Apart from an exciting weekend this weekend we have no plans except to relax and swim.  Lucky for us, the weather has also come to the party to guarantee (for today at least) our first day of swimming.

These holidays are always my favourite.  Term 3 at school always seems to be the hardest because it starts in winter and the kids are tired and seem to catch every lurgy about!  These are also the first holidays for spring/summer.  After winter I always love to thaw out by the pool in these holidays and officially welcome the warm weather!

A Positive Year - Day 243

Day 243

Hubby and the kids have had a Sunday morning traidition going for a little while now.  They all head off down to the driving range to hit some golf balls before we start the rest of the day.  I would love to join them but unfortunately my hands are still having problems so I can't swing the club!  However I must say that I am loving the slow, quiet morning to get ready!

Anyone with kids will know what I am talking about.  On these days they are out I get to have a nice quiet brekky, a hot cup of tea and a shower with absolutely no interruptions!!  These were things I took for granted before kids but I now make the most of every second!  Sometimes I am even lucky enough to have a second cup of hot tea!!  Wow!  I feel like royalty!

A Positive Year - Day 242

Day 242

Today we decided to go up to Mt Tamborine to do a spot of bushwalking.  It is a gorgeous sunny day and we wanted to make the most of it!  The bushwalk was cut a little short thanks to a red belly black snake blocking out path but on our quest to find another track we stumbled on the Mt Tamborine Show.

I love the atmosphere of a real country fair!  All of us had an absolute ball!! The kids loved the horses and other farm animals and hubby loved shooting the .22 rifle.  I loved everything about it, especially watching the looks on the girls faces while we were watching the show.  It was a great way to kick off the school holidays!

I wonder what tomorrow will bring us!

A Positive Year - Day 241

Day 241

Aaaah Friday!!  I have not been this excited for a Friday in ages!  Don't get me wrong I love every Friday but this Friday is extra special because not only is it the end of the week but it is the end of the school term!  This means two weeks holidays!!

I had to work through the last school holidays so I missed out on so much.  I am lucky that I don't have to work these holidays (that's one good thing about my dodgy hands!). 

Hopefully the weather Gods will be good to us and we can have some much needed relaxation around the pool!  Roll on 3pm!!

A Positive Year - Day 240

Day 240

Only one more day of school and then it is school holidays!  I can't wait until they start!  It has been a full on term with work, operations, game shows and lots of other excitement that I am looking forward to a bit of a break.  Not that I am complaining, because apart from the two hand operations everything else has been fun and exciting!

The other awesome thing about the holidays is that the weather is absolutely gorgeous!  I hope that it says this sunny and warm for the whole holidays (especially the weekend when my lovely friends will be here!).  The kids are already swiming like mad in the pool so "it's ready for when our friends arrive".  They're so considerate!  lol

A Positive Year - Day 239

Day 239

Today was one of those proud mother days.  I absolutely love them!

To start it off I got to go and see my big girl in her presentation for the gifted and talented program that she was seletected to participate in over at the high school.  They had the opportunity to solve a crime scene using forensic science.  It was absolutely fascinating to see what the kids achieved over the 8 week course.

Then I got my youngest daughters NAPLAN results.  Her results were just as fantastic!  A lot better than I had expected!  I think she even surprised herself!

These are the types of days that make me feel all warm and fuzzy.  I love watching my girls grow and achieve!

A Positive Year - Day 238

Day 238

It doesn't take much to make me laugh and I seek out funny things regularly.  Today when I finished work I fired up the Facebook to play a game while I had a cuppa and filled in a little time before I had to go and pick up the kids from school.  By the time I had finished reading this post I had tears streaming down my face, a sore tummy from laughing and I was clapping like a hyperactive seal!  Oh my God it was hilarious!

I somehow don't think I have ever grown up fully because the story was about a fart and for some reason these sorts of stories just make me giggle like a big kid! 

It's funny how something as simple as a story can make you laugh and pick up your mood!  I know it does with me!

A Positive Year - Day 237

Day 237

After a super busy day it is so nice to be able to sit and relax with a nice cuppa tea and watch a spot of tv when the kids have gone to bed.  It's just a bummer when there is absolutely nothing on tv to watch!

After a bit of flick (whoever invented the remote is an asbolute genius!) we settled on watching a show of Jimeoin's.  All I can say is what a funny guy!  I don't know if it's his accent or what, but he has a way of telling you something that is totally boring in your everyday life in a way that has me in stitches!  The sad thing is half the things he was making jokes about are things that I have done myself! 

I love to laugh so this is exactly what I needed to finish off the evening.  Some good humour to wind down with!

A Positive Year - Day 236

Day 236

I love a Sunday sleep in!! 

Our youngest was at a sleep over last night and she is our early riser so it was sleep ins allround this morning!  I actually got to sleep in until 9.20am!!  I haven't done that since my clubbing days!

It was great to be able to catch up on some much needed z's.  I have been so busy now that there hasn't been much downtime (except for when I was knocked out for my operations!)

I now feel like a new person!

A Positive Year - Day 235

Day 235

I am sure anyone who has always struggled with their weight will understand why today's entry is so exciting for me.

I have always hated my bathroom scales.  She is a bitch that always tells me the truth in numbers, even when I don't want to hear it!  These past couple of years have really been disasterous for my weight.  I have gained 20kg thanks to stress, work and bad habits.  It has been a huge roller coaster of emotions and no time or energy. 

It started when I was working as a manager in our local video store.  That probably doesn't sound like much to you, but I was expected to do all the extra work (like the accounts, BAS and EOFY etc) with no training and no idea of what I was doing!  All this extra work was also supposed to be done while bringing down the staffing budget, so I was either doing the accounts while still working in the store, or I would be doing them late at night on my own time without pay (which was my own stupid way to try and bring wages down).  Needless to say all the extra pressure and stress caused me to get very stressed and sick.  I started skipping meals and eating incorrectly for a long while that when I started dieting it seemed no matter what I did, my body wouldn't shed the weight.  It was so frustrating!!

Anyway that gives a bit of useless background information into why I am so excited about my post for today.  Because today when I stepped on my dreadded scales I was excited to see that the numbers have finally starting going in the right direction!  Down!  I have lost 3kg and have kept it off and the numbers are still falling!  Finally I think I am in the right place (mentally and physically) for this miracle to start happening!  This has given me the hope and incentive to keep forging ahead!

A Positive Year - Day 234

Day 234

I am so glad that it's the end of the week!  It has been an absolutely jam packed week and I am exhausted!!

I love it when you can come home on a Friday after a big week of school, working and appointments and there are no plans and you can get straight into your pjs and chill with the kids in front of a movie.

Friday arvos are usually reserved for happy hour but hubby was supposed to be home this arvo so we didn't happy hour today which worked out okay because I have been so tired that I don'think I could've strung together two words, let alone a whole sentence!!  Unfortunately hubby ended up running late so he missed out on relaxation movie arvo but there's always next time!!

A Positive Year - Day 233

Day 233

Today is the start of another adventure.  I am a tad nervous and a bit excited also!

I really am enjoying everything that is being offered up at the moment.  It is like I have been woken up after a long sleep and I can finally see everything life has got on offer.  It's surprising how much you miss when you have blinkers on and are focussing on the wrong things!!  Well those blinkers have now been removed and I am loving the adventures!

To top off today, I finally get to go and see my specialist so I will be able to find out if I will get any feeling back in my thumb and how long it will take.  I am so impatient and I hate waiting!!

Now it's time to go and live the adventure.......

A Positive Year - Day 232

Day 232

Another gorgeous, sunny spring day!

The other gorgeous thing about today is the little baby ducks that are running around our neighbourhood!  They are so small and fluffy and adorable, I just want to pick them all up and give them cuddles!

The kids are just going crazy over them, but luckily they are smart enough to keep their distance so the little duckies don't get scared and start hiding.  It wouldn't be the same without them running around!

A Positive Year - Day 231

Day 231

Today I was helping out a friend which saw me back at a place I never thought I would go again, especially after all the stress it caused me in the first place!

I have to say though it was great to go back and face old demons.  I always did love the people who I saw everyday so it was so good to be able to see them all without the added stresses that I used to have to deal with.  Although my hand now hurts like hell I feel like my spirit has been mended a bit because I felt I could finally let things go that I shouldn't have taken on in the first place.

This was a big step for me to take and it was so worth it to get rid of some of my excess mental baggage. 

A Positive Year - Day 230

Day 230

I was feeling a little down in the dumps and frustrated this morning because I still don't have any feeling in part of my left hand so I can't use it properly yet.  Instead of wallowing in it and staying down in the dumps I took myself for a walk down to the shops for a spot of retail therapy.

I don't usually go crazy on expensive items but I decided to splurge a little bit today.  I finally bit the bullet and bought myself a GHD hair straightener!  I have been wanting one forever because whenever my lovely hairdresser straightens my hair it always looks better than when I use my cheap one.  Boy was I not disappointed!  This thing is awesome!  Especially since I can only use one hand to do it!  Imagine how much better still it will be by the time I can use two hands again and do it properly!!

This walk and purchase certainly picked up my spirits and made my day better. 

A Positive Year - Day 229

Day 229

Last night we had friends over for a bbq and couple of drinks.  This is the first night we have done this for the season so it really feels like summer is definitely on it's way now!

It's always fun when you can chill in the yard while the kids are all running around having fun.

We aren't the type who drink and party every weekend (there's no way I could handle that anymore!) but when we do have a night like last night, it's always a laugh and there are no dramas or hassles.  I have gotten beyond the stage where I have to drink like mad so the added bonus is that I don't drink enough to wake up with a hangover so we can enjoy the next day too.  I probably sound a bit lame by saying that but when you have to wake up early to kids there is nothing worse than feeling seedy.  So by not going too crazy it means I get the best of both worlds!

The added bonus is that we have woken up to another gorgeous sunny spring day so it looks like there might be more swimming being done today too.

This is why I love summer so much!  Sunshine, family, friends and swimming!  How can you not love it!

A Positive Year - Day 228

Day 228

It's another gorgeous sunny Saturday sping morning!!  It's especially lovely after having a marathon 12 hours sleep last night!  I didn't even know I was that tired!

This is the first weekend in a long time that we have absolutely no plans whatsoever and we're just making it up as we go along.  Although we won't be doing much because I haven't regained the feeling in my hand after my operation on Wednesday, it will be nice to be able to just dag around and enjoy the sunshine with my family.  It will be a nice couple of day winding down after a big couple of weeks ahead before school holidays start.

Gees if this weather keeps up today, I think we might even see the kids go for a swim! 

A Positive Year - Day 227

Day 227

I can't believe how things just keep getting better and better!

Although my hand is still swollen and bandaged after my operation on Wed, I was given an unbelievable opportunity that could be really beneficial to my future and I was so stoked that I was able to do everything that was needed to be done.  It is amazing how things just keep falling into place!

The great thing is that I am able to appreciate how lucky I am to be given these opportunities and I really appreciate how important it is to me and my family.

I know it's going to be a busy few weeks coming up but it is totally worth it and I am going to enjoy every minute!!

A Positive Year - Day 226

Day 226

This morning I was woken up by my two gorgeous girls who had made me a beautiful breakfast of toast, tea and orange juice.

They wanted to make me feel special and help after my hand surgery yesterday and they definitely succeeded!

This one simple act of love has jusy brightened up the rest of my day and has made me feel so special and all warm and fuzzy!  They are such sweet girls and I am a very lucky mum!

A Positive Year - Day 225

Day 225

This will be a very short post today because I can only type with one hand.

Today I had surgery on my other hand.  I was lucky to be first on the list for surgery today so it was over and done with really quick and I was back home by lunchtime.

There's nothing more frustrating than waiting around for ages so I'm really grateful that I could be in and out of hospital so quickly!  Now I can relax and watch dodgy movies for the afternoon.

A Positive Year - Day 224

Day 224

What a great day!  It started off with a reading with the lovely Jade Sky.  She always helps me see things clearly and gives me the confirmation that I must trust my instincts.

To top of a great morning I then went for a walk in the sunshine with my friends.  It is a perfect day to be outside and making the most of this gorgeous weather!  There's something about a sunny day that lifts my spirits and makes me feel happy.

In the past I have developed the bad habit of waiting for something bad to happen instead of just enjoying the happy and positive moment that I am in.  Since I have stopped doing this, life has taken a turn and I am finding that the happier times last longer and are happening more often!  It's a much nicer way to live!

A Positive Year - Day 223

Day 223

I am taking time out from doing the ironing to write today's post (not that I need much of an excuse to take time out from the ironing!).

It's very hard to think of something positive out of doing the ironing but it has to be done so I can be up to date when I get my hand operated on this Wednesday, and I am one of those annoying types who can't put the clothes away until they are ironed.

So the positive thing that I will focus on today is the dodgy movies and tv I get to watch while I am ironing.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good cheesy movie.  Especially dodgy 80s flicks.  It doesn't matter how many time I have seen them, I still laugh in the same ridiculous spots as I always do.  At least watching dodgy movies I have seen before it makes the ironing more bearable and I don't have to worry about missing any of the storyline.  The only problem is picking which dodgy flick I feel like today!  Any suggestions are always welcome!

A Positive Year - Day 222

Day 222

It's hard to believe that it has been a week already since hubby and I went on our trip to Melbourne.  After such a big week it feels like it was a lifetime ago!

Today is Fathers Day and it is a gorgeous and sunny spring Sunday so we are making the most of the sunshine to plod about the house to get things done and do a bit of spring preparation of the gardens.  It's a great way to spend a sunny Fathers Day!  Nothing is urgent and we aren't stressing ourselves out trying to get heaps done but just a nice plod along and enjoying this fantastic weather!  A perfect way to wind down before the working week begins again!

A Positive Year - Day 221

Day 221

Finally!!  It's the first day of Spring!

I absolutely love the warm weather and long sunshiney days of Spring and Summer!  And with the first day of Spring today we are now one step closer to swimming weather!

Everyone who knows me well knows I am not a cold winter person and I find it totally depressing!  I can't wait to break out the summer clothes and enjoy the sunshine!

A Positive Year - Day 220

Day 220

There's a lot to be said for having a quiet day with nothing planned.  This has been such a huge week and I haven't had a lot of sleep so it's nice to have some quiet time now that my batteries are completely flat!

After being on a huge high and cloud nine for days the inevitable crash is bound to happen and I am definitely feeling it today.  I am just glad that I can recognise that it was going to happen and made sure I had nothing on so I could just mooch about.  I am not sad or anything like that, just totally drained and very tired.  It is nice to have the luxury to just be tired and not have to push myself!

A Positive Year - Day 219

Day 219

I am so grateful to be surrounded by a bunch of fantastic people.  Not only do I have a wonderful hubby and fantastic kids, I also have the best mates a girl could ask for.  We are there for each other when we're down and celebrate with each other when something great happens and we are honest with each other when we need it!

After having such a stressful time over the past 2 years it really opened my eyes to a lot of things and I am so appreciative to be on the other side of it all and seeing things more clearly. 

I know some pretty damn special people and I am so lucky!!

A Positive Year - Day 218

Day 218

It is now time to hop off my awesome weekend cloud and get back into my regular routine!

What better way to start back on my regular routine than by going to the gym for a spot of Zumba and then finish off my mountain of ironing!  I am still in a bit of a daze but have my feet firmly planted back on the ground.  It probably helps my return to reality that I only have a week until I get my other hand operated on so I will be out of action again so I need to catch up on getting things done!

All I can say is what a fantastic week!

A Positive Year - Day 217

Day 217

Although we had the best weekend together as a couple, it is so good to be home with our girls!

They had an absolutely wonderful time without us and had so much fun with their Grandparents so it made our first ever trip away from them so much easier and much more enjoyable!

The whole weekend seemed to go in a blur of excitement for all of us!  It will be very hard to get back to reality today!

A Positive Year - Day 216

Day 216

I know this is a day late but yesterday hubby and I were still in Melbourne until late last night while I was part of filming for a game show.

I can't give you any results or too many details from the day, but I can say that we both had so much fun!!   What a great bunch of people!!  We were all so different yet all seemed to just click and have a great time!  Even all of our supporters seemed to band together and get along like old friends. 

It was quite funny to see the difference in the mood between the transfers to and from the airport.  When we first arrived in Melbourne we were all so quiet and didn't know what to talk about.  On the way back to the airport everyone was laughing and talking like we had known each other for years!

I seriously recommend if you ever get the opportunity to do something like this that you should definitely give it a go!  Whether you win or not, the experience is totally worth it!

A Positive Year - Day 215

Day 215

I know this is a day early but since I will be in Melbourne with hubby there is no way I will want to be taking time out to write my blog entry for the day.

I figure that is a positive in itself since we will be enjoying ourselves too much to find the time for me to write it!  So I will keep this short and sweet!

Happy Sunday everyone!!

A Positive Year - Day 214

Day 214

The weekend is finally here!  I can't believe it!  Hubby and I are off to Melbourne tomorrow for our first trip away together in 12 years!

Today is totally frantic making sure we have everything ready and doing all the last minute things but it is so worth it knowing that tomorrow we are off!

But before I start cleaning and groceries etc I have to get my natural tan sprayed on so I don't look to pasty or white on tv.  Gotta get my priorities straight!  lol

A Positive Year - Day 213

Day 213

Aaahh it's finally Friday!!  I am extra excited this Friday because this is the weekend that hubby and I get to go to Melbourne.

Regardless of the outcome of the game show that I am going on, I am so grateful to have this trip to get away with hubby for a couple of days.  Especially since it has also been paid for!

He is so busy at work at the moment it feels like we haven't seen each other that much so it will be nice to be able to spend some time together with no distractions.  It's taken us 12 years to be able to have a weekend away together so we're gonna make the most of it!

A Positive Year - Day 212

Day 212

It was one year ago today that we bought the home we are living in now.  I have to say it was the best decision we have ever made!

Since moving here we are all more settled and happier than any other house we have lived in.  It is such a nice quiet neighbourhood and the girls are loving their new school.  The added bonus is we still get to see all of our good friends from the old neighbourhood as well.

This past year has gone so fast and so much has happened but since we moved here and it has all been so positive.  It makes me feel more confident and confirms that we have done the right thing.