The Gallery - My Weekend - Are they ready yet?

I love this photograph taken whilst baking with my children this weekend. They do say that anticipation is a pleasure all of its own. I also like how the back of the oven is acting as a mirror. Plus with me as a blogger, there had to be a day when I posted something half-baked lol.

I don't think I have ever seen my boisterous boy so still and with one focus before.

Apologies for the stain on the work surface but it was impossible to wipe up in the midst of a mega baking session as these little ovens get very hot indeed.

Of course, it is not all about the looking forward to eating buns.

And finally, if you are into baking or wanting to get into it, check out the Celebrating Mums Carnival on Baking over at http://celebratingmums.wordpress.com

Silent Sunday - Sunday Lunch

Do You Have Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, please check out this information.

http://celebratingmums.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/a-bank-account-that-can-help-if-you-have-bad-credit/

Hope it helps.

The Gallery - Three Words - Things to Do

The Gallery's theme this week is "Three Words". How about "Things to Do"?

I have to get my CRB form into school and have my identity documents checked so that I can start volunteering in school. I have no problems with the check but does the form have to be so stupidly rigid in how you fill it in. Second attempt is fine so need to work out the best time to go into school now and move this forward. I have also signed up for a course on Helping out in Schools after really enjoying a morning with my son and his friends at school earlier this year.

I really must send off for a provisional driving licence. Everyone keeps telling me driving will transform my life and hey, it really does need to change quite a lot.

Like most parents, I have to tackle the tedious but has to be done tax credits form.

I have a volunteering from to complete in my attempt to become a charity shop worker. Sneakily hoping I get to see the best stuff first as well as helping a very good cause and meeting new people.

I also need to put some serious thought into our family holiday and maybe an extra little break too.

So lots of Things To Do but first for lunch and a little bit of Wimbledon. Every Wimbledon Fortnight, my late mum used to down tools. She was a very traditional housewife and mum but did pretty much nothing when the tennis was on. I am not quite that bad, honest!

Do check out some fabulous entries over at the Gallery.

Magpie Monday

I am a great fan of bargain-hunting and a great source of money-saving finds is the Netmums Nearly New Board. There is one for each locality and if you ask me, you would be daft not to check them out and regularly too.

I have decided to get fit, well fitter anyway. This may well be a flash in the pan but I am hoping not. Partly to persuade myself to actually stick with it, I have bought a Wii bundle this week. It is the Wii itself, plus the balance board thingy, Wii Fit and a load of family games too. £120 and to be honest I don't care if that is a bargain or not. Someone was selling what I wanted all in one place so I got it.

Of course, I can only use the Wii Fit when my boys get off the thing.

Next wonderful finds were two Monsoon dresses and accessories for my little girl.

She wore one to a birthday party on Saturday and I am sure they will come out time and time again.

Of course, every princess deserves her own red carpet so we bought her one again from the Netmums boards.

Finally, in an attempt to keep our unexpected kittens under some control, I bought a travel cot. The one obvious thing I had forgotten about cats is that they can jump and climb. So the only time the kittens go in their travel cot is at feeding time.

P.S I have decided to get rid of a few things and will post them on here for fellow Magpies. If you like them, contact me and either offer me some dosh or ask for it for free whatever you prefer. With a family holiday to fund, obviously the things will got to highest bidder or to my very fave Magpies.

Here are the first two things. There will be lots of pottery, retro stuff, jewellery and other stuff coming soon.

Orange glass bowl thing. No damage at all.

Little trinket box or use it for what you will. Blue/gold/white/pink and not marked as far as I can see. No damage at all.

You can email me on mums-the-word@live.com or leave a comment here.

Meanwhile, do go and spread some blogger love to these wonderful Magpies with their hauls from this week.

Silent Sunday

Reasons to be Cheerful

Joining in with the Reasons to be Cheerful blog as usual and in a better place emotionally than last week.

1. The first reason to be cheerful is all the comments and support I received when people read last week's post. I felt less alone and also loved by people that matter to me and liked by those I admire. So a huge thank you to all concerned.

2. I had help with the children. This is unusual really and sometimes I tire of always being the one to referee, waitress and entertain. That might make me a woefully inadequate mummy or maybe just a very real one.

3. I went out to an after-school cookery class with my little girl. It looked like it would be impossible too so it was an even bigger reason for smiles. When I arrived, she ran towards me and gave me the biggest cuddle. There was I worrying about how sweaty, fat and ugly I was and she put it all right in an instant. For her, I am the best Mummy in the world. The other mums were nice too and one of them lives in my village so who knows? I could have a friend at some point. Wouldn't that be lovely? We made American Muffins and brought our efforts home to share with the family. I have 4 more weeks to go and I am so looking foward to it. Him Indoors has said he will come home early from work to look after the boys so that I can go.

4. I have received an application form for voluntary work in a charity shop. References might be an issue after I was unfairly dismissed from my last post but there must be a way round it. Answers in a comment please.

5. I have received a form to fill in to get a provisional driving licence. My excuses for not learning to drive are running out and it is all down to me.

6. I have an invitation to do a course in September so have reserved a place on that too. A comment someone left last week about me over-thinking things hit a nerve so I am trying to do more rather than just brooding on things.

7. I have 4 little kittens to play with until they go to their new homes. They are 6 weeks old so at a very cute phase. The children want to keep one but inevitably cannot agree on which one.

8. I have picked up various bargains to shout from the rooftops on Magpie Monday, the blog hop hosted by the Me and My Shadow blog.

9. The barn is cleared of a lot of my brother's junk (sorry - belongings) so I feel more in control of that too.

10. I got up at 20 past five this morning. This will strike you as a strange reason to be cheerful. I got up because the dog was barking but then sat and reflected quietly on things for a couple of hours. For some reason, I feel very sane today. Maybe I should get up at 20 past five every morning? Watching the sun rise and seeing a new day begin was restorative to my soul.

That will do me for this week methinks.

Have a great week, focus on the positive and check out some fab reasons for cheerfulness over at the Mummy from the Heart blog.

Silent Sunday

Reasons to be Cheerful

NIL

That is how I feel right now that I have no reasons to be cheerful.

I am aware that this is not really true as I have my 3 lovely children, food in my belly and a roof over my head.

I feel my husband is bored stiff with me.

I feel fat and that I always will be and you can throw in ugly and old too.

I get a sense other bloggers don't like me either or some of them anyway.

I feel I have no real positive future ahead just more of the same endless round of tidying and cleaning and always being the one people blame.

So back to the Reasons to be Cheerful.

1. The bin is out, the blue one that they only collect once a month.

2. I am helping people I think a little bit.

3. Sorry, can't think of a third right now.

I know this is a self-indulgent post but I think by writing it down, it might help a little bit.

Silent Sunday

Reasons to be Grateful

Well, how a bit more positivity this week after yesterday's slightly lacklustre Reasons to be Cheerful?

1. My wicked stepdaughter is doing much better with the all clear in the insides department. Less crying and more trying for her then! She so deserves a positive outcome for her baby-making efforts.

2. It is the weekend which means Him Indoors is around to pitch in with the children. As we speak, he is off to Argos it for airbeds and camping equipment as we plan a little camping expedition this evening. Can you see the rainclouds gathering as I blog that?!

3. My Dad and Him Indoors have worked on our land today and you can now see short grass in parts rather than 15 foot nettles. That has to be good, right?

4. I have blitzed the boys' bedroom and always feel better when order is restored to that area.

5. An old schoolfriend sent me a photograph of myself at 17 years old. Brought back memories and oh, to have that figure again! I always feel a bit like Del Boy on this topic. Instead of "This time next year we will be millionnaires!", I say "This time next year I will be slim and gorgeous"

6. People have started entering my first competition over on Celebrating Mums at http://celebratingmums.wordpress.com largely down to a very good friend promoting it for me.

Will that do? Feeling much more chirpy today anyway.

Check out all these wonderful people who are appreciative and grateful today too



How are you today?

Reasons to be Cheerful

Sometimes there are weeks where it is not easy to be cheerful. I have had one of those weeks really. I have not exactly being depressed but just a bit fed up.

Half Term has not gone particularly fantastically so far. I think it had so much to live up to after that long break around the Royal Wedding and so on.

My stepdaughter lost her baby and now it turns out the doctors have not got rid of all they should have done so she is in a right state physcially and emotionally. She has longed for a baby for years so I rage at the injustice of it all.

My oldest brother has lost the use of his legs apparently permanently following two fits. As he is not talking to me, it is difficult to know how to respond to this news.
That might sound hard but he is a strange character, charismatic and difficult in about equal measure.

Oh lordy, this is meant to be Reasons to be Cheerful. Now let me think.

1. It is bin day! I don't know why but we seem to be overwhelmed with rubbish at the minute. So I am delighted to see my green bin out in front of our gate waiting for collection at lunchtime. Believe it or not, this brings me deep joy. How sad is that?

2. I have a new leather sofa and chairs. When we moved in, I inherited lots of my late Mum's furniture including a suite that whilst lovely is not to my taste. I like leather, far more stylish and practical in my view. It is soft but firm, reddish brown and "just right" as Goldilocks would say.

3. I have made progress with housework. There is still lots to keep up with but some rooms are looking a lot better than they were previously.

4. I won a competiton and received some "smellies" for the bathroom. Nothing major but always nice to receive a parcel.

5. The sun is shining and there is talk of putting our tent us this weekend.

6. My dog is looking great now. So good to see this as having puppies really took it out of her. Her coat is sleek again and she is so much more relaxed. I am sure I will be just the same when the kids go back to school next week lol.

Lacklustre reasons this week I am afraid but here's hoping for some bright and shiny ones next week.

Check out other people'e entries to the lovely Mummy from the Heart's blog hop.