Time Spent with Friends

This week amongst the busy and crazy I have been so lucky to spend some quality time with a few of my closest friends. 

The frenzy of life quite often means that we can take ourselves for granted.  We push ourselves too hard, we forget to take time out for us, to stop, be calm and relax.  I, like most, am guilty of not listening to myself, sometimes I don't stop until its too late, I fall in a heap, I am grumpy, tired and feel terrible.

Late last week I went walking with my BFF, we usually run together every Sunday, but do to my icky injured calf muscle, we are temporarily back to walking.  While walking and talking my friend noted that she was tired, I reflected upon myself and realised that I was starting to feel that way too, my upcoming week at work was going to be huge and just thinking about it made me yawn.  My friend gives a lot of herself to others and I really wanted her to take some time out for herself and relax.  Instantly I hatched a remedy, a morning spent at a local day spa - perfect!

The day before Spa Day I was lucky enough to spend with another close friend who was home from Melbourne.  Over what turned out to be the best milkshakes ever and a walk, where aching backs were discussed, Spa Day was mentioned and another was added to the remedy list.

The day arrived, and off the three of us went.  Our morning was spent lulling about in a beautiful mineral pool set to THE perfect temperature and equipped with "The Worlds Best Tension Killing Jets".   We laughed together, giggled, gossiped, offered advice, talked about dating and all things girly.  It was wonderful and just what we all needed.

After a long and successful soaking, the day only got better with a scrumptious lunch and a little bit of shopping.  I arrived home that afternoon feeling superb, relaxed and mellow, I'm fairly sure my friends did too.

Today I was lucky enough to spend time with another friend.  She lives 3 1/2 hours away and for a couple of days was going to be in a town that was a bit over an hour from where I live.  When talking together on the phone I knew that today was going to be hectic as I had a few commitments, but I decided to go over anyway.  It's been a couple of years since we have seen each other and unfortunately we only had few hours to catch up, but we made the most of the time we had - it was fun.  We ate, we shopped and just enjoyed each others company.  This is a friend who has known me since I was 12.  Friendships of that length are rare and special.  This is a person that has known you since you were a kid!  We giggled at so many things.  Like when I said the word orange.  She giggled and got me to say it again.  Her next words were "OMG you used to say it that exact way when we were at school".   Apparently I pronounce it funny!....hmmm do I?, well I said it again, listened and what do you know, yeah I do! (haha).

Normally my weeks are not rewarded with this much time spent with friends.  Perhaps sometimes I am guilty of not making the time.  This week I am thankful for a well placed long weekend and only working part time.

Oh and the outcome of our first ever successful Spa Day?,  BFF and I have made a solid promise....once a month (we hope) there will be no running, once a month...is Spa Day!

Perhaps you should too   :)

Liebster Award

Recently my annual tradition took place.  Me dressed in my gown (dressing gown), plonked in front of the telly, watching the glitz and glamour of the Logies.  Whilst oooing and  ahhhing over the winners and loving their acceptance speeches, little did I know that my own acceptance speech was soon to be needed (haha)....So thanks to my buddy Jodie (no not me another one), I humbly accept my Liebster Award.

The Business End/Rules:

1. Anyone with less than 200 followers can be nominated for The Liebster.
2. Each nominee should post eleven facts about herself or himself.
3. Each nominee should answer the eleven questions that are asked by the person doing the nominating.

There are more rules, but I am cheating, well not really cheating, but being new to blogging my numbers don't add up!


The Fun Stuff:

1. If you could experience anything again for the first time, what would it be?
The first time I saw Michael Jackson in concert.  He was such an important part of my teen years and I still remember the excitement and the tears I shed when I first saw him.

2. If you could change one thing in history, what would it be?
John Lennon being killed.

3. How do you think the world would change from your answer to #2?
He wrote so many beautiful and inspiring songs, I think the world has missed out on so many more.

4. What's your happy song?
Anyone of these will do it:
Blackbird, Penny Lane, Imagine, Beautiful Boy and anything by Ben Harper.

5. What scent are you wearing?
Happy by Clinique.

6. What's the most important thing you would tell your 16yo self?
Hang on, life gets better, it really does :)

7. Described your town/country in one sentence.
Oceanic

8. Sweet or savoury?
Both

9. What are the five best things about women?
- We are lucky to have close, loving relationships with our beautiful friends
- We can do 101 things with our hair, clothes and makeup
- We learn to love ourselves as we grow older and wiser
- We can do more than one thing at once
- We live, we love and we laugh

10. What are the five best things about men?
- They're strong and fix stuff
- They don't take themselves too seriously and really know how to have a laugh.
- Gay men, because they are a woman's best friend (please don't take offence as I say it with the utmost sincerity)
- My man balances my personality
- My man is a kind, caring and loving father, brother, uncle, son, nephew, cousin and grandson

11. Who would play you in a movie?
Haha for those of you who know me personally of course it's Debra Mailman, but if Hollywood was calling then it's Deborra Lee Furness, only because that would mean Hugh Jackman would be parking his slippers under my bed!

These are 11 random facts about Me:

 I am absolutely petrified of geese and a close second is spiders

I love orange

I love the ocean and couldn't live away from it

I am claustrophobic

I was best friends with a beheaded ghost when I was 4 (I wasn't scared of him, but everyone else was)

I have survived and conquered the terrible and come out smiling

Buddhist monks take me to a very happy place

I love yoga

I prefer vegetables over meat

I wish I had the courage to sing in public

I absolutely love being a mum and still cannot believe that I didn't want to be one

Hope you had fun reading, please do my a favour and visit my recommended bloggers (as listed at the bottom of this page)

A Lesson From The Pet

Recently we acquired a new pet.  I had been thinking about a pet for the children for quite some time, but life seemed far too busy, I always had too much on and frankly did not want the extra work.  That all being said we became the new family for a lost kitten.  He's a friendly little thing, tabby with four little white paws and the children have named him Boots

Although the kitten is cute he soon became a source of frustration for me.Whenever Boots needs to use his litter, he doesn't seem happy unless he has dug all the way to china and managed to spread clean litter all over the floor.  Every day I could feel myself becoming more and more frustrated and really impatient with the whole situation.  These are traits of mine that I am not proud to have, they serve no purpose and I never feel happy when I have displayed them. 

So, "how can I turn this around", I found myself asking one day.  The answer was simple really, accept and be happy.   Accept the situation, accept that you have an obsessive little digger, but most of all be happy.  This little kitten is doing EXACTLY what you want, he is using his litter every time, he does not leave accidents anywhere through your house.  Accept his little bit of mess, see the positives in the situation and be happy.

I think this lesson could be used a lot in life!

Memories and Moments of Happiness

This past week has been one that I have been lucky enough to share with my wonderful Aunt, a woman I truly adore.  She called recently and said she was on her way to visit.  We hadn't seen each other for more than 3 years and I was looking forward to seeing her.

As a small 5 year old girl I was sent away to live with my Aunty.  Her home and love offered a safe haven from the household that my biological mother offered at the time (a whole other story).  I lived with my Aunt for more than 12 months until my mother sent for me again. 

Upon return, my mother's house now contained a step father.  Violent, aggressive, explosive and tyrannical are an excellent choice of words to describe him and the type of household he ran.

It was whilst growing up in this household that I developed the capacity (looking back now probably a self preservation technique) to really enjoy the small moments of happiness that most tend to take for granted.

One of my fondest and happiest memories is of early Saturday mornings spent with my younger brother watching cartoons together.  The whole household would be asleep and it would  be just the two of us.  Free to be ourselves, free to enjoy small moments of peace and quite together, free to laugh and free to smile.  This doesn't sound like much, but to us it was the world. 

Another fond memory I have is of my sister and I sharing a room.  This room has created memories, that the two of us share and laugh about today as adults.  We both remember the "invisible line" between neat and orderly and total utter chaos and my fantastic AFL worthy kicks at the invading items!

Whilst growing up my Aunty moved overseas and travelled for many years. I always looked forward to her letters and post cards filled with adventures and stories to brighten our days.  When she called a few weeks ago and said she was coming down to share Easter with us, I was so excited and couldn't wait.

I felt such joy watching my Aunty spend time with my two young children.  She read books, played basketball, went for walks, watched the birds fly by, picked flowers, giggled and laughed.  These were all the things she and I did when I was that little 5yo girl and it was wonderful to see my children enjoy these things with her as well.  I loved sharing Easter with her.  She helped the children write their letters to the Easter Bunny, she understood the importance of choosing the healthiest and freshest carrot you can find for Easter Bunny and she shared in the love my husband and I have for our children whilst we all watched them excitedly hunt down the Easter eggs.

It was sad to see my Aunty leave, but this week I felt blessed.  I had the chance to share with my Aunty, my life and my love.  That sad little 5yo girl has grown up and she's OK.  Her life is safe and comfortable.  She feels and gives love and her life is filled with many moments of happiness.