tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71075098355707019872024-03-05T07:55:37.708+02:00Mel's Mouthful on MotheringA blog about a South African homeschooling mother with an opinion about everything.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.comBlogger260125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-49984117863499327042013-12-17T19:16:00.000+02:002014-02-06T19:25:15.235+02:00Christmas on a Budget: Decorations: CD Mobiles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Every year we have a number of traditions around Christmas time, and one of these are making and creating all sorts of decor for the house to create that Christmas atmosphere.There are some that we tackle every year like <a href="http://mothers.co.za/mel-s-mouthful-on/homeschooling/homeschooling-in-south-africa/item/christmas-on-a-budget-decorations-magazine-christmas-tree.html">Christmas trees made from magazines</a>, <a href="http://mothers.co.za/mel-s-mouthful-on/housekeeping/special-holidays/item/christmas-on-a-budget-decorations-snowflakes.html">snowflakes are a big favourite</a> and of course anything that takes lots of arting and crafting, is always fun.<br />
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As some of you may know I am married to the most amazing man <a href="http://www.sling-shot.co.za/">who specialises in anything online</a>. And with that comes all the paraphernalia - cords, cords and did I mention cords? And for more than a year I have been eyeing out a pile of old CD's and DVD's that have been tucked away in one of our drawers. I kept an eye on them and noticed that they have not moved in the last year - which of course I was very quick to mention to the aforementioned hunk. (I can say these things because he's MY hunk and we have been married 13 years which makes him especially hunky;) He relented and I had a pile of disks just begging to be part of this special time of year <br />
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And so this is what we did: We got a pile of paintbrushes, paint and some varnish and started to create. <br />
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First we had to put our base colours on, we used <a href="http://www.dala.co.za/">Dala Craft Paints</a> for this. I just got the primary colours (red, blue and yellow) and then a black and white. This way we could pretty much make any colour we wanted to - though to be honest, when I mix colours I always seem to come up with the most obscure shades. Like oh my word orange, pukey pink or fungus green. Sorry but being a mother to 3 boys, kind of gives me permission to use gross terms too. <br />
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We had to start with red of course, being a house full of red heads! One coat may not be enough. We did one side first, waited for it to dry and then added further coats until we were happy before we turned them over and painted the other side too.<br />
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Also a bit of advice, don't paint on paper, because guaranteed someone will mess a little bit of paint on the underside of a disk and you'll have to unglue and remove the offending bits stuck, which will mean lots of mom involvement and a bit of a mess. As you can see I am getting more art savvy - slowly. I also put them in the kitchen just in case there was any mess or water spillage, which didn't happen because I put them in the kitchen. Guaranteed if I hadn't, there would have been one. Oh and by the way, this rather 60's looking kitchen is not my own but my parents. I love my parent's home. It's old and I get to experiment in their home without messing up mine. Of course the fact that I was house sitting and they didn't know anything about is .... well... for the best I think:0</div>
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We painted and painted and painted. It doesn't take long to dry. We painted and then took a break and had a swim and by the time we got back it was time to paint the next layer. Also the nice thing about this activity is that it even works for little ones because as you will see later on, with a bit of glitter paint, you can make any design look beautiful.<br />
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We put all our disks on a dish rack, because sometimes when paint is not fully dry they end up sticking to each other and pulling some of the paint off which we didn't want to happen after all the hard work.</div>
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And then we go crazy and decorate to our hearts' content. Besides the <a href="http://dala.co.za/product_003.php?id=60&color=black">Dala Craft paint</a>, we also used their <a href="http://dala.co.za/product_003.php?id=63&color=black">Glitter Craft Paint</a> in gold, red and green which just gave everything such a lovely sparkle. You can see that even Ruthie created some real masterpieces.<br />
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In the beginning the children were quite reserved and stuck to very basic designs but as they gained confidence and also became familiar with the way the paint worked and how to use colour, they really enjoyed coming up with designs unique to each one. I especially enjoyed seeing how their different personalities determined the type of patterns and colours they chose. </div>
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We painted different designs on both sides. We painted our designs first and then added the glitter paint. <br />
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The last layer we added was <a href="http://dala.co.za/product_003.php?id=27&color=black">Dala Deco Varnish Dead Flat</a>. We chose this because we like to keep our decorations. We don't toss them away at the end of the Christmas season, even if they are homemade. We always keep them until the next year.<br />
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Of course there were times where I wanted to grab the paint brush out of their hands and "fix" what they had maybe done, or correct their lines. (colour between the lines kind of thing) But I resisted the urge. I tried once, but my one son was mortified that I would dare. So I quickly put myself to work and got busy with my own disks. I found this hugely addictive and loved working alongside the children. In fact, even after they went to bed I worked on some of mine. <br />
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And then we hung them with some string in front of the windows. We made rows of 4 or 5 at a time. We mixed and matched and just hung them so that they would catch the sun and breeze.<br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEh921u-h1-M-2oQXNnUfGhlOFeAryM44f8tTGauJVC2B-IHYMAndOFxoo4f35sVpMFNAWoMn182UTc11gO00bRAz5FCagcGguLJn4Fn6LOBuo9AMZLrHLTnSykE25d676rteeIT0j5OI9EC8a0xFwIMdky9v2Nqjj_95i8XBmi9HzaXIP2UlknJYfVmDfvSVX7QYWkWQP9tvzNFGTlQ=" width="244" /><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEh7gFQ-HxWMaJxjisuV19AOR5oBlIEufSC1MM0G-0be-SPoFOtmsOXzn2uAq_OX-D14HC6RUjt-HtOd7f_XWsBdI8T2rP1Ajs0cKLJyqk7kW1NpyWCJv0q1ywJioOFPYQpiia3yYxkJdnpPLGCD-0cWjDxpsM71InLUHX05IxpxpDgl2NIxCULrxf7ICny1SgbeGh_RE-IKrKUiptI0rf3qfHw=" width="244" /></div>
And there you have it. And look how pretty it looks. They catch the slightest breeze and just turn and rotate. They really are such lovely creations, and they just beautify our view. We had a couple of extras which we also put on our Christmas tree which also looks lovely. Such a display of colour and life is just befitting for this wonderful Christmas season. <br />
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<img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgSKweXWS9xKTnIoU_QAZXCrsEgPpxIIyNlHI9ltFFDDHAiI-KKSCOmnP54NRGKiwuiAsmF5l5vCTdBLskMPMq65dI8_02-3ALb-hEu6B-OOIWRyJYXbV-TCgeqYk0q5uYPfd8YyYCm0siruvwIQ_MocFbJ6KZeeXruO7cKmGNpexFpraGRXcJJ3r93kWgqbPH6=" width="308" /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Christmas Crafting</span></b></div>
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Thanks to Dala for sponsoring our art materials.</div>
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<a href="http://www.dala.co.za/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjSgs1ySSbqLQvyxKvM3apwAKW6rDLzU3hwT1FdLcZIILRddNFi1aST9XosJXxuDwI5BFwnDU_jYzmK5N5g-kjlqldOadVNS2_uVdEaG9KnE9pWBbsfduCJukMyv4TNReo8Qr8I5-Bupn0j8LY6AVUI9fo7PdY295Fu8BlK1g=" /></a></div>
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-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-65282795045256008972013-03-25T22:53:00.000+02:002013-03-25T22:53:03.838+02:00Preparing to goWith our pending departure to China, there is much to do and only another 4 months to do it in. I am in no way an expert on moving from one nation to another but these are the things that I know really work for me and have helped alleviate some of the stress and pressure of our preparations.<br />
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<b>1. Make a list </b><br />
My husband and I share a google doc, which enables us to keep adding things to the list and to tick it off as and when it's done. We also try and put a time frame we hope it's to be done by.<br />
<br />
<b>2. First things first</b><br />
Do the important things first. The deal breakers need to be first. Sometimes just because I am tired of a specific task I may find a task that's not so important to do but I don't get stuck or distracted there, its just a temporary reprieve.<br />
<br />
<b>3. A little at a time</b><br />
Start the process as early as possible and keep going. I don't do mountains. I break everything up into smaller parts and keep doing it. If I need to sort through clothes - I do a drawer today, a drawer tomorrow. This way I stay motivated, keep doing and it all becomes achievable.<br />
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<b>4. Declutter again and again</b><br />
I have probably decluttered about 4 times already. Hoarding and keeping things for just in case, seems to be a pattern in our family. It helps to go through rooms more than once as time passes, because you start to become more and more discerning in your choice of what stays.<br />
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<b>5. Make time for friends and family</b><br />
Don't withdraw, don't end things abruptly. Friends and family are important and they count. You may be moving to another country but you are not leaving planet earth. They also need time to get used to the idea and the children need the time to communicate with their friends.<br />
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<b>6. Get your children involved</b><br />
They can do so much. Simple tasks like checking which clothes still fit, sorting through cupboards, writing thank yous. The more involved they are the more they will adjust to the idea of going.<br />
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<b>7. Read Read Read</b><br />
Read books, read sites aimed at expats, read travel books, autobiographies written by locals. There more you know from different perspectives the more prepared you will be. <br />
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<b>8. Chat to people who have done what you want to do </b><br />
Talk to those in the know. Ask for their to do list, ask them for advice. Even if they don't offer you any revelations, they definitely will know how you feel and might be a shoulder to cry on or to bare your soul.<br />
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<b>9. Learn the language as soon as possible</b><br />
Of course if you are moving to an English speaking nation - you're probably not going to do this. However, if like us you plan to go to China, then Mandarin is a must. My children have been studying Mandarin for about 2 years already. They have made some progress and though they may not be fluent by the time we get there, they are definitely going to be more prepared - and they will pick the language up very easily because they already have some foundations.<br />
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<b>10. Not everything will go according to plan</b><br />
And that's OK if you have left enough time for the unforeseen.<br />
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Who knows in a month I might change this list or add some more but these work for the moment. Have you moved to another country? What would you add to this list?</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-57181093241736493212013-02-28T23:00:00.000+02:002013-02-28T23:00:03.932+02:00A Month in Review: February 2013 It seems that the year has got off to a running start with hardly a moment to breath, but of course there is always time to blog! And so if you've been (MIA - missing in action), here's what's been happening on Mel's Mouthful on Mothering<br />
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2013/02/birthdays-bash-ethan-my-11-year-old-hero.html">Birthdays Bash: Ethan my 11 year old hero</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2013/02/what-gets-up-your-nose.html">What get's up your nose?</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2013/02/what-gets-up-your-nose.html">Reaching Out: Considering Adoption?</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjAC-03oVYf-a9mnBrCfoBHgfuY6UDxhLPFda_J5aZI13tZ1OkMR6LaL3CiHl8UeLVDZErvBkxiItS1i5AS1AZHsiVzWqkf7inNo0d8YzJgJiVjCgTC0z9HAX9LJPXQvYkQZB2na5swY/s1600/together+for+adoption2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjAC-03oVYf-a9mnBrCfoBHgfuY6UDxhLPFda_J5aZI13tZ1OkMR6LaL3CiHl8UeLVDZErvBkxiItS1i5AS1AZHsiVzWqkf7inNo0d8YzJgJiVjCgTC0z9HAX9LJPXQvYkQZB2na5swY/s1600/together+for+adoption2.png" height="291" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2013/02/what-gets-up-your-nose.html">Blogger Bum: Get Moving</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2013/02/what-gets-up-your-nose.html">Mel's Mouthful Reviews Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The T...</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2013/02/what-gets-up-your-nose.html">Homeschool Hotspot: You know you homeschool when....</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2013/02/15-ways-to-cure-fussy-eater.html" target="_blank">15 Ways to cure a fussy eater</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbdo0wI3NJOa1e7kA0EEfRS-AR_IguwhUlpI48pfgrsbe3dKKCgRlStVGRIolNWfcaDn-2syWv69WOw_Uc0YINLvUPmLK2XjsqObvL30Ywa-ZEKaiVQn58NpNdoNwOwRBzTnv-r8_wng/s1600/Fussy+Picky+Eaters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbdo0wI3NJOa1e7kA0EEfRS-AR_IguwhUlpI48pfgrsbe3dKKCgRlStVGRIolNWfcaDn-2syWv69WOw_Uc0YINLvUPmLK2XjsqObvL30Ywa-ZEKaiVQn58NpNdoNwOwRBzTnv-r8_wng/s1600/Fussy+Picky+Eaters.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2013/02/family-life-why-family-traditions-are.html" target="_blank">Why family traditions are important</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-11628149594883028572013-02-25T21:47:00.000+02:002013-02-25T21:48:46.779+02:0015 Ways to cure a fussy eater<div style="text-align: center;">
Fussy picky eaters in your home? Oh and by the way they don't have to be toddlers to be fussy - I know LOTS of fussy eaters ranging from toddlers to adults. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are fussy eaters you ask? </b> </span></div>
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Silly question I know but you may have become so used to this way of life that you think the grazers in your family with their likes and dislikes are pretty normal. Here would be some very simple indicators that you have a fussy eater in your home:<br />
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* they pull up their nose at the mention of certain foods</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
* they hide their peas under their gem squash skins(or equally ingenious ideas)</div>
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* they "accidentally" drop the offending food on the floor, or tell you the cat took it, or the dog - or the bird next door...</div>
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* gagging (oh yes they can be very good at acting as most mothers will immediately remove the offending food away just at the thought of this one - oh come on be honest, so would you!)</div>
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* they have a list of things they do or don't eat, or how they do or don't like to eat it - they sound like they are ordering food at a restaurant</div>
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How to get your picky eater to eat is not usually the problem. If they were surrounded by their favourite foods, they would be quite content to eat all day - the problem is that they don't want to eat the healthy stuff, or the wholesome stuff or the unidentified floating stuff...<br />
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And to get picky eaters to eat certain foods requires <b>strategy and planning:</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1. Camouflage</b></div>
Hide them, the army does it through the clothes they wear, we do it with the make up we put on our face - simple camouflage works wonders! Put some of those green things with the other green things that they DO eat and hopefully they won't see them. <br />
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<b>2. Cloak and Dagger</b></div>
Hide them under sauce. In our house white sauce with cheese is a sure winner. They love the stuff on top so much they often don't notice what's at the bottom until it's too late.<br />
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<b>3. Nuke it</b></div>
Blend those babies! I don't care what it is - if you blend it they won't even know what they are. Sometimes its more important to get those vital nutrients and vitamins into their system. <br />
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<b>4. Close ranks</b></div>
Don't let your fussy eater, eat snacks before meals - I have seen some of my children have a look to see what's for dinner, decide it's not their favourite, promptly eat 3 apples and 2 slices of bread and then tell me that they are not really hungry. Yeah right!<br />
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<b>5. Put on a Show</b></div>
Make faces with fruit, dig tunnels in rice, make castles with peas and mash potatoes. Dressing up the food, like they have never seen before, will have them rethink some of the foods they always thought looked Yucky! You may think this is only for children but how you present your food can often determine how people view what it will taste like. Do you blanch your vegetables or do you boil them until the beans go grey and the peas look all withered, the cauliflower looks brown and the broccoli looks wilted. Get some cooking skills:)<br />
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<b>6. As head honcho you need to lead the way</b></div>
Oh yes you too! You can't expect your children to eat food that you conveniently leave off your plate. They see, they take note and boy do they have ammunition.<br />
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<b>7. Leave Ethiopia out of it</b></div>
Telling your children about starving children somewhere else will not produce any lasting effect. But letting them miss a meal so they understand what it's like to be really hungry - might change their perspective. I often tell my children that when they are fussy they are not hungry enough, because when you are hungry even a plain piece of bread tastes like a slice of heaven. <br />
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<b>8. Make sure it's not the enemy</b></div>
Our bodies have natural defense mechanisms in place to protect it and sometimes the aversion to a specific type of food can also be related to their bodies just shouting NO! <br />
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<b>9. It's all about team</b></div>
When everyone else is eating something, it's easy to follow suit, especially for a toddler who has never seen something before but if it looks like everyone is happy and eating, it's a lot easier to be a little more adventurous.<br />
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<b>10. The Sound of Music</b></div>
My children do chores, some days they love it, sometimes they don't but put on some music and they hum happily along and will do it without a single complaint. Get some sing a long tunes on vegetables or by vegetables - like VegeTales. You could even get them to watch the DVD - look this might not be a stand-alone-I-will-eat-anything-you-put-before-me-moment but it's all about reinforcing a common theme.<br />
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<b>11. Try Try Try</b></div>
They say (not sure who THEY are - but they say nonetheless) that a person needs to be exposed to something up to 7 times before they acquire a taste for something. Just think back to when you were a child - there were probably things that you didn't like then that you really like now - I can think of a few myself: olives, beetroot, mature cheddar, green peppers, sardines. But somehow that can all change in a moment - it could be the 5th time of the 7th time or the 1st time. Don't give up.<br />
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<b>12. Sshhhh! Keep it a secret</b></div>
Don't announce to your picky eater, you have a new food for them to try, and then followed by the words "I'm not sure if you 'll like it but give it a try!" You are setting yourself up for disaster. Even I would be wondering what taste defying object you were about to give me - like the day I asked my sister to check if the watermelon was over ripe and she did.... let's just say, she has never forgiven me and always reminds me of this day. <br />
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<b>13. Let them cook/ create or make</b></div>
I remember trying to convince my children to eat salad - just plain, regular lettuce, tomato and cucumber - but for some reason they were just not interested. Until one day I put our pita breads, and each of the children were allowed to fill their pitas with a variety of fillings - from cheese, to salad, to bits of meat. Before I knew it they were eating salads to my utter joy and they have never turned back. I also find that when I let them cook they almost seem to eat twice as much, just because they did it! <br />
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<b>14. The Reason for the Season</b></div>
Sometimes we go off food because we've had too much of it. Imagine eating 4 bananas at home, going to someone else's house and being offered a banana dessert. Yum Yum - NOT! We need to be careful of not feeding our children too much of the same types of food all the time, otherwise they will be put off. Try to vary the type of food, and also how it's prepared. <br />
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<b>15. Stand your ground</b></div>
Be sure that this is not a power struggle. Don't allow yourself to manipulated. I firmly believe in children being taught to eat what is put them. Fussiness is rude and especially when you are a guest at someone else's house. To receive a long list of what they do and don't eat might ensure that you don't get invited back. (enough said)<br />
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Now you have some of the ways I have dealt with my children. Of course they will always test me, and sometimes I get a little fussy myself - just ask my husband. But eventually if you persevere you can achieve greatness:0 <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-71284225525108782192013-02-19T23:43:00.003+02:002013-02-26T19:17:59.506+02:00Out and About: Durbanville Rose Garden<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My parents live in Durbanville,I grew up in Durbanville, well at least from my 12th year in life and I go there at least once a month to show my face, get all the lovin' I need from my mom and dad, and to add a couple of kilo's to my already ample figure. (mom's cooking is great - totally old school - none of this organic, healthy mambo jumbo stuff which I do rather reluctantly). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As long as I can remember I have driven past the Durbanville Rose Garden but as a teenager, who really has an interest in rose gardens? Unless it's because your current teen heart throb is taking you there for a romantic stroll and chances are his interests do not lie in the plants. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And so almost 28 years later I finally took the plunge (sounds far more exciting than it really is) and took my 3 very reluctant boys and my not so reluctant girl to the Durbanville Rose Garden with promises of scones and tea which had been advertised on the building which operates as the tea room. This was definitely a winning idea and we all headed off on a Sunday morning to see roses and enjoy a real English delight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is what we saw: </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">3,5 hectares - 500 rose varieties and 4500 rose bushes!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Roses are red</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Violets are blue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sugar is sweet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And so are you</span></div>
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<b><u>Pointers for visitors:</u></b><br />
* The major disappointment was that the tea garden was closed with no apparent reason - consider packing your own picnic - however you may be lucky they apparently serve tea and scones on Sundays from October to May.<br />
* Flowers are not in bloom all year round. I know this sounds like an obvious comment but we moms don't always think these things through before heading out (or is that just me?)<br />
* Lots of place for little ones to run, so no real problem taking little ones there except for the thorns, best to wear shoes just in case the occasional rose branch is lying on the ground.<br />
* It's<b> free</b>, the gates are open from sunrise to sunset.<br />
* Ample parking especially if you park on the Durban Road side. They have a whole area sectioned off for parking, away from traffic which allows you to get in and out of your car with relative safety especially with small children or toddlers.<br />
* Lots of wedding parties come here for their photos so at times may require sensitivity -especially if your children love being in other people's photos.<br />
* There are no shops close by so if you did forget your picnic and the tea shop is closed, you're stuck. Unless you climb in your car and you can find a shop in about a 3 km radius either towards Durbanville or if you head towards Tygervalley Shopping Centre.<br />
* Not on the top of my list of things to do in Cape Town but lovely nonetheless. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-42390275429563591912013-02-16T23:58:00.001+02:002013-02-26T19:17:48.123+02:00Family Life: Why family traditions are importantFunny, I have few family traditions that I remember as a child. Both my parents worked and were pressed for time and finances and so we spent very little time enjoying each other's company like I have the privilege of doing with my children. And I do - count it as a privilege. I have worked as a high school teacher (not a great one mind you - imagine a woman with a hooked nose, black flowing gown, slightly crazed look on her face and a broom) - and I have worked as a SAHM (stay at home mom) and homeschooler. And yes we do work, hard! I have found both to be a challenge but I have definitely preferred my time at home with my children far more than working in a commercial sense.<br />
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I used to feel envious listening to other people's stories of the things they did with their family for those well known holidays and celebrations, and felt like I had somehow been excluded or left out - until I realised that just because I couldn't remember too many family traditions of my own, didn't mean that I could not put some in place for our family. And we have done that - from birthdays to Christmas we are creating repeatable, enjoyable, fun activities for special days and events. And I am by no way the most original person but boy are there sooooo many resources online to come up with great ideas on what to do. And I will definitely share some of these ideas with you at some stage in the unidentifiable future.<br />
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But besides wanting to be doing what everyone else is doing - there are some very real reasons that make me want to be part of some of these traditions and why I try to establish our own traditions and grow them every year.<br />
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<b>* Memory Moments!</b></div>
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My children remember these activities so well. Then they say things like "do you remember last year when we did this...." or "the year before when we did that..." I want them to look back fondly at our family life and remember. Not necessarily the specifics, but just the feeling of being together and enjoying each other's company.</div>
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<b>* Something to look forward to</b></div>
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Just by knowing the tradition, gets them even more excited about what's coming. They start planning <i>that </i>breakfast meal or the card way in advance because they know what's coming and what we do.</div>
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<b>* Sense of Uniqueness</b></div>
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Each family has their own "special" moments. Yours will never be mine: we're different, we have different budgets, our children are different which is why this is so fun, there is no point in comparing but enjoy the uniqueness of your family.</div>
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<b>* Gives each family member a sense of value</b><br />
I love the look on their faces when everyone is pouring out love on one specific family member or when special words are written in a card. Let's be honest, boys are not always the most forthcoming in words of love when it comes to their brothers, but somehow during these special times the words flow and I feel like I have a home of writers and poets. Often I catch myself getting all teary listening to the things they write, of course an hour later they are rough and tumbling and shouting which almost but not quite erases that impression.</div>
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* <b>A sense of continuity</b></div>
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Traditions are an inheritance to pass on. Cycles of continuity, doing the same thing again and again adds an element of stability and predictability which is good for children. And hopefully I will see my children take some of our traditions and apply them to their families while adding some of their own.</div>
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<b>* Joy - which is just a clever way of saying - LOADS OF FANTASTICAL FUN!</b><br />
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<b>* Relationship Building</b><br />
The more meaningful time we spend together, the deeper we build with one another. It really adds depth to our relationships, especially with siblings who are given a platform to express their feelings for one another. This can be especially significant - "I love you" has such power!<br />
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Remember it's not so much about what you do (otherwise you might fall into tradition-envy, trying to outdo another family, or just spending money which you don't have) but rather it's more about the fact that you DO them. You don't have to overdo it, the simpler your traditions the easier they are to duplicate. And then on a side note, there are times when we have totally missed some of these big events or have just had a non-event because of circumstances, and there is freedom in that too. Traditions should not be binding and cause unhealthy stress, life happens and we do our best as parents but we are not always going to get it right! <br />
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Why do you have family traditions in your home? Have you made your own or were they traditions that you inherited from your childhood?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-10842876844539758352013-02-10T20:00:00.000+02:002013-02-10T20:00:00.884+02:00Birthdays Bash: Ethan my 11 year old heroEthan - the one who perseveres, that's what his name means but who would have thought that he would have such a love for life! As long as he is outdoors, or messing with tools, building or breaking - he's the guy! He is the largest outdoors equipment owner in our house - surfboards, body boards, skateboards, J-Boards, skates. cricket bats, tennis racquets, balls, snorkelling kit - you name it and he's probably got it or about to buy it with his next birthday or Christmas monies. <br />
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As I think back on the last 11 years I am amazed at how much he has grown as a young man, and its always good to look back at the last year<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2012/02/and-now-hes-10.html" target="_blank"> since his last birthday.</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXwOM2gO_KCLyPrYbp2g5SQiGHVleoEl5NEPtJcCIP6PlMbRhrkPGpkYxXCBK-v1nRopyDG-3Fl4DSJf6ddsIEKdlOFtSCByHjXlmJKqdqlS61T2fBziApB94EmUJVA3wBm7QSPA9fxw/s1600/Hands+on+child.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXwOM2gO_KCLyPrYbp2g5SQiGHVleoEl5NEPtJcCIP6PlMbRhrkPGpkYxXCBK-v1nRopyDG-3Fl4DSJf6ddsIEKdlOFtSCByHjXlmJKqdqlS61T2fBziApB94EmUJVA3wBm7QSPA9fxw/s1600/Hands+on+child.JPG" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">He helped prepare his first pork belly in the Weber, for Christmas and it was delicious!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Adenoids removed on the same day as Chad. </span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKF6ZGcpbgnhxfeHI0NcvLdUaSjXSFiS826mD2LwNhriGWcueY_KZgltZI_YVRhfN67pU7AwL4YsRkKUyzcJNWVlh-7DWjuZIypOLQGlcm_mflTBFKCcJ2i-A21t2Rptu35KChSPRNcAY/s1600/Noisy+boy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKF6ZGcpbgnhxfeHI0NcvLdUaSjXSFiS826mD2LwNhriGWcueY_KZgltZI_YVRhfN67pU7AwL4YsRkKUyzcJNWVlh-7DWjuZIypOLQGlcm_mflTBFKCcJ2i-A21t2Rptu35KChSPRNcAY/s1600/Noisy+boy.JPG" height="400" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">He loves making a noise - I don't think Ethan even knows what quiet means:)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uuYlz3dyNASa2-tMXEyloKl3EscLhVVp8E-Vhks2W_NVtZlX3lOTX2B73mmflwAXZBMGfjdAVgIlVBLd-OJ8F5NOcqg3GVXAbYBhkeKnPAW3GwDoBV3Mn3bTgWvTu9azrfNT2AuxztU/s1600/Team+Player.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uuYlz3dyNASa2-tMXEyloKl3EscLhVVp8E-Vhks2W_NVtZlX3lOTX2B73mmflwAXZBMGfjdAVgIlVBLd-OJ8F5NOcqg3GVXAbYBhkeKnPAW3GwDoBV3Mn3bTgWvTu9azrfNT2AuxztU/s1600/Team+Player.jpg" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Team Player</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2yuf2nB9vImnVDKQjMtnFZCmdAxxNKlFmuNf9SlFkClyVFbbrossHiCo2lI0kenjmytEecjYlUjQR3JeWUvBxveebwdqXBA2l_LVtNDGnfRG0kXo6o2t3Hbp38tAzyX5V2DMsAbNI7Q/s1600/My+outdoors+boy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2yuf2nB9vImnVDKQjMtnFZCmdAxxNKlFmuNf9SlFkClyVFbbrossHiCo2lI0kenjmytEecjYlUjQR3JeWUvBxveebwdqXBA2l_LVtNDGnfRG0kXo6o2t3Hbp38tAzyX5V2DMsAbNI7Q/s1600/My+outdoors+boy.JPG" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">He loves getting outdoors and is serious about his cap being the right way round when he does.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sweet Lover</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VB2zLME3SaF3KFliay75LNJNlHjk_aXkGFQDvnORXfWRE9uTA5i2pRI5lJG6sP5YAufk-ofk8GrfWDNPNk8Kf10ppsVaKLGAtBZDgOVpBU9trlBrLQnEogoMf7cKfezX2qoc_3kBoKM/s1600/Arts+and+Crafts+lover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VB2zLME3SaF3KFliay75LNJNlHjk_aXkGFQDvnORXfWRE9uTA5i2pRI5lJG6sP5YAufk-ofk8GrfWDNPNk8Kf10ppsVaKLGAtBZDgOVpBU9trlBrLQnEogoMf7cKfezX2qoc_3kBoKM/s1600/Arts+and+Crafts+lover.JPG" height="400" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Serious about anything he puts his mind to.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGO1n2tkcnbj4zkkJYGOzb9O1CnBjlyuN5NOvtNCvah7cSjfuEUzTy-9SUM2aFVQPt6JwRim5MqVbiQwABDYRSTDQLoc9aod4iDL4HvmwMT4rKqNcGu3WKURQ4rNXFGHDfxwMm-imkWE/s1600/Team+Player.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGO1n2tkcnbj4zkkJYGOzb9O1CnBjlyuN5NOvtNCvah7cSjfuEUzTy-9SUM2aFVQPt6JwRim5MqVbiQwABDYRSTDQLoc9aod4iDL4HvmwMT4rKqNcGu3WKURQ4rNXFGHDfxwMm-imkWE/s1600/Team+Player.JPG" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Excursions are his life</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Loves children</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Always got to keep moving</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Funny boy - always ready with a smile</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvQG1CmfLwhNSStk0V8vi2g2vYueF9b6ygP70uyImcSI0Y4_RjrbLIjZJROUFchPG6YIXfaJDwcuKt_wGfpZLh6123u77EpzalssqfzktIiMk5XiUZxfd9aOA6DAaglLtQibUU44zhFw/s1600/his+favourite+jacket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvQG1CmfLwhNSStk0V8vi2g2vYueF9b6ygP70uyImcSI0Y4_RjrbLIjZJROUFchPG6YIXfaJDwcuKt_wGfpZLh6123u77EpzalssqfzktIiMk5XiUZxfd9aOA6DAaglLtQibUU44zhFw/s1600/his+favourite+jacket.JPG" height="400" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">His favourite jacket</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNLQOpW4I7lzMPpZHFWYh3zPGsrM8Sj8oPvaR9G-BBeKgT4A3yT7Goj-ZJRazOZHrG2dD0KhtXjUUjsr76h5eWw1W1HwFTcxygKiHrnaDV4AbUOo55jDJLLeAHGbrp7hogqhaSjvTn2s/s1600/always+up+for+a+challenge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNLQOpW4I7lzMPpZHFWYh3zPGsrM8Sj8oPvaR9G-BBeKgT4A3yT7Goj-ZJRazOZHrG2dD0KhtXjUUjsr76h5eWw1W1HwFTcxygKiHrnaDV4AbUOo55jDJLLeAHGbrp7hogqhaSjvTn2s/s1600/always+up+for+a+challenge.JPG" height="400" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fearless in Orange</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7VIFFBZZe5tydjD79MFsnyYaO2xkXz0OK21vktyM0Jtlu-Lm5_9I0W7I0eVaog8P8_-X8l8HU1tk0IGWKJxg6-9GVQtdrZjwMFS10MgSaAO9G6XS00YmfDqyT3AhOPpqGKCJ4MmBhDs/s1600/Loves+his+sister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7VIFFBZZe5tydjD79MFsnyYaO2xkXz0OK21vktyM0Jtlu-Lm5_9I0W7I0eVaog8P8_-X8l8HU1tk0IGWKJxg6-9GVQtdrZjwMFS10MgSaAO9G6XS00YmfDqyT3AhOPpqGKCJ4MmBhDs/s1600/Loves+his+sister.JPG" height="400" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Loves his sister!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Happy birthday special boy!</b></i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-4922050789121132392013-02-09T23:05:00.000+02:002013-02-26T19:18:31.590+02:00What get's up your nose?There are things that can really irritate even the most patient and gracious of people, and you can put on the appearance of tolerance but it doesn't change the fact that inside you're just a little irritated or raging mad. I have a few of those.<br />
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* someone eating crunchy food next to me. I don't mind if I eat the same crunchy food as them, it somehow blocks out the noise and I am not so aware of the sound effects.<br />
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* drink slurpers, my children are experts in this.<br />
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* people who don't share their yummy treats like chocolates, biscuits or cakes - after all "Sharing is Caring"<br />
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* bad coffee - coffee makers should be licenced individuals, I am currently an unlicensed rookie but don't tell anyone that.<br />
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* bad trolley drivers - another unlicensed ragamuffin group - my thought on this is that anyone who cannot drive their trolley should definitely not be driving a car<br />
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* people who expect me to be on call 24/7 - since email and smart phones have improved all types of communication, there is an expectation that I should answer immediately. Even if I just happen to be sleeping, sick or even just not really in the mood to talk to anyone - there are technology harassers who don't seem to respect one's need for space. And boy do you lose big time brownie points - in fact your friendship could be in trouble.<br />
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* dirty oily hair on me or anyone else<br />
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* people with hooks - I love all people - as long as they are not being friendly, generous or chatty because they want something from me - relationship with a hook. <br />
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* cats that fight at night -with two cats in our house, this happens fairly regularly<br />
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* hair in my food - yuk, yuk, yuk!<br />
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* phone calls in the middle of a movie<br />
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* lying - this one is a big one. Honesty can hurt but rather honesty than lies. People don't like honesty, they ask questions and tell you they want to hear the truth, but when you tell them, they take offense. <br />
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* hairy bits on a chicken - yuk!<br />
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* when people text or read their emails on their smart phones while having a conversation<br />
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* music played by neighbouring drivers so loudly that my ears pound and hurt<br />
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* dogs that sniff my private bits - what's up with that?<br />
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* rats, mice, snakes, spiders, bugs, slugs, snails, mosquitoes, maggots - seriously cannot carry on with this creepy crawly list, makes me nauseous.<br />
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* lazy, fussy and picky children - learning to eat what's put in front of you and helping even when you are a guest in someone's house is something that many parents don't seem to nurture in their children.<br />
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* dog poop - on the beach, on the grass, on the sidewalk - basically anywhere<br />
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* face, nose or teeth pickers - need I say more?<br />
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* sand under my feet in my house, the endless sand trail left in my house from my children spending afternoons at the beach<br />
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* crumbs in the bed<br />
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* toe jam - not sure I know anyone with this but it just sounds gross<br />
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* alarm clocks - I love my sleep<br />
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* SPAM !<br />
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* cold coffee<br />
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I have so many more, but this will do for the moment. But I would love to hear from you. What is your list of things that get up your nose?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-73651853903099019742013-02-07T09:30:00.000+02:002013-02-07T09:48:31.975+02:00Reaching Out: Considering Adoption?You may or may not know that we <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2012/05/ruthie-and-shes-only-fwar.html" target="_blank">adopted a precious little girl</a>, while setting up and running a home for orphaned and abandoned babies <a href="http://www.ikhayalikababa.co.za/" target="_blank">"iKhaya LikaBaba - The Father's House"</a>. It's been 4 years now and yet the memories are still so vivid of the day we met her. Adoption has always been important to us and the advocacy thereof. I have realised that it is our responsibility - not theirs, or that non profits. It will take individuals like you and I to make a difference to change the statistics.<br />
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For those of you who are considering adoption, there will be a <a href="http://adoptionconference.co.za/">Together for Adoption conference been held in Pretoria.</a> This is a first for South Africa. This conference has been hosted in North America for a number of years. I remember contacting the organiser asking when they would host a conference here - and now they are! <br />
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And they have even created a short You Tube video explaining what they are about.<br />
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So why not head out there if you can and ask all the questions you have always wanted to ask. What a wonderful opportunity to learn how to truly make a difference in the lives of those who have been orphaned and abandoned. And take your husband with you!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-75727109630352753732013-02-06T09:30:00.000+02:002013-02-11T00:03:07.592+02:00Blogger Bum: Get Moving <br />
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Didn't know there was such a thing did you? Oh well maybe it only happens in the world of blogging - but I doubt it. You could call it "Telly Tubbies"(no offense to the rather strange kiddies TV show with characters like Pinky, Twinky), or "Computer Cushion" or "Food Flab" - you can see these are getting noticeably lame but you get the idea.<br />
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I spend lots of time in front of the computer - researching, socialising, writing, recording and doing my <a href="http://www.sling-shot.co.za/">husband's administration</a>. And so my butt and the chair or just the bestest of friends, which would be fine if the chair was not such a bad influence on my rear quarters. <br />
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I also realised that I love food. OK so maybe I didn't realise, maybe I have always just known. And after all who wants to be on diet every day? I used to do that - eat salad while everyone else was eating steak and chips or mash and meatballs or just about anything. It doesn't help that I am married to a man with a metabolism that has Formula 1 status and children who are constantly active, so when they eat it somehow tames their tummy tigers for about 2 hours before they are hungry again. All of these things do little to help me in not eating so much. <br />
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I had to make a decision and some choices. <br />
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1. I could have posted a pic of my well rounded behind on my blog, claiming all sorts of accountability reasons but I doubt you would be able to sleep at night and I would lose half of you as readers. You've heard that a picture speaks louder than a thousand words - and I reckon my butt is worth about 1000 000 words - so this was not an option. <br />
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2. I could go on a diet while my family enjoyed the good things in life and I get to watch - absolutely not happening.<br />
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3. Or I could try something small. Take small steps at a time and do it slow- REAL slow, so as not to shock my system or to have me despondent and downcast because I hadn't managed to succeed which would ultimately lead to lots and lots of chocolates - and that really would not help.<br />
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So number 3 it is. The question I had to ask myself is what could I change/ add or remove that would not be too hard but yet sustainable? And so I came up with the idea of " GET MOVING". It's not aerobic or running or gym. It's just to "GET MOVING" as much as possible in the week. And to do things that we can do as a family or just the children and I, with very little effort.<br />
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The Result?</div>
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GREAT!</div>
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<u>This last week my schedule looked like this:</u></div>
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Monday: Walk along length of Sea Point Promenade with the boys</div>
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Tuesday: Walk on Boyes Drive with Declan</div>
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Wednesday: Cycle/Walk at Green Point Diversity Park</div>
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Thursday: Nothing (no guilt though)</div>
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Friday: 6km ride from end of Sea Point to Mouille Point with the children - even Ruthie did this</div>
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Saturday: Nothing</div>
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Sunday: Beach</div>
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So there you have it, one week and I have made some progress. I want to live a healthy lifestyle and this is great. Not only is it great for my health but it's great just to get out with the children. We laugh and talk and just have lots of fun and always lots of stories after. <br />
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So this is what I would like to master before I do the next thing. So if you see me walking, riding or running - don't wave, or offer me a lift. Climb out the car and join me:)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-62267032760526533202013-02-05T16:49:00.000+02:002013-02-05T23:38:00.801+02:00Mel's Mouthful Reviews Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel<a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mother-mel.blogspot.com&media=http%3A%2F%2Fmother-mel.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F02%2Fmels-mouthful-reviews-diary-of-wimpy.html&description=A%20great%20book%20to%20encourage%20journalling"><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></a>
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I have to admit that when The Wimpy Kid books first arrived in the bookstores, I told my children that there was no way they were going to read them.<b> It just looked "dodgy".</b><br />
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<b>"Dodgy" is a word we use often in our house: </b></div>
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* when the children see someone suspicious across the road they tell me "there is someone dodgy on the other side of the road Mom, lock the door" - which pretty much covers almost anyone who walks past our house after we recently did a Stranger Danger study unit.<br />
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* sometimes the children refer to their food as being "dodgy" - though this is normally when Dad makes food unsupervised. In fact I remember one weekend where I went to attend a workshop and Chad crying and saying "What are we going to eat? We're going to starve."<br />
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* things are "dodgy" when it's unidentifiable, uncertain, a little suspicious looking, dirty, strange or just plain odd.<br />
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So The Diary of a Wimpy Kid was a dodgy book because I didn't want my kids using the word wimp or even consider someone a wimp because of who they are or what they do. Little did I know that this is not at all what these books are like. In fact this book is often hysterically and uncomfortably close to the truth about family life. An embarrassing mom and dad, a weird younger brother who does all the wrong things at the wrong time, an overbearing bossy brother and the challenges of peer pressure and school.<br />
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I must admit that I first watched The Diary of a Wimpy Kid on the big screen and I loved it - and so did my 71 year old mother (though I probably shouldn't put her age in here, she says it's not polite to mention a ladies age. I wish my boys knew that, as they still haven't stopped telling everyone they meet how old I am. They also enjoy telling people very proudly that their dad is 2 years younger than their mother.) And so when <a href="http://penguinbooks.co.za/" target="_blank">Penguin Books South Africa</a> gave me a copy of <a href="http://penguinbooks.co.za/book/diary-wimpy-kid-third-wheel/9780141344980" target="_blank">Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel</a>, I was thrilled. Of course I had to wait for all three boys to finish reading the book first, before they would even let me get my hands on it. <br />
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This time Greg is at middle school and he's on the hunt for a dance partner for the dreaded Valentine's Day dance with hysterical consequences. Eventually he decides to partner with his best friend Rowley Jefferson to secure a date for himself. We all know the feeling of trying to find the right date for such an important event. Taking a date equivocates with value. It seems all else fades in the pursuit a a partner - initially its all about the perfect girl till eventually it is reduced to anyone who is willing. This is the 7th in the series and with his usual skill at humour Jeff Kinney had me snickering and giggling.<br />
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It was highly entertaining and because the book has so many illustrations it really was a quick read - I don't think I took longer than an hour. <br />
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This book really is suitable for beginner readers and up (or should I just say 40 and get it out there). It's also a great tool to encourage journalling. <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/search/label/Journaling%20101" target="_blank">My children enjoy journalling</a> and every time they finish one of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books- they grab hold of their journal and start to avidly write and draw. Also the fact that there are so many illustrations, definitely appeals to my youngest "because it has pictures and the writing is not too small"<br />
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And I know that some of you are grumbling as you read this saying: "but my child doesn't like to read, I can't even get him to take books out of the library - well never fear - Mel is near (sounds like a superhero tag line that could work - if I only had a cape!) - if he doesn't like to read why not try the audio version - after listening to this on audio first, books will follow.<br />
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If you have any Wimpy Kid fans you can even <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzyMHe6t7dY&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">watch Jeff Kinney(the author)present a cartoon class on drawing Greg. </a> And in fact if you browse a bit there is loads of You Tube videos to watch and share with your Wimpy Kid enthusiasts. And for even more enjoyment, if you haven't had enough already, there is even an official Wimpy Kid website: <a href="http://www.wimpykid.com/"></a><a href="http://www.wimpykid.com/">http://www.wimpykid.com/</a><br />
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We would like to thank <a data-mce-href="http://penguinbooks.co.za/" href="http://penguinbooks.co.za/" target="_blank">Penguin Books South Africa</a> for giving us this book to review. We did not get paid for this review, and all the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely ours.
<script src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-89517789957468461312013-02-04T22:21:00.000+02:002013-02-05T23:59:15.000+02:00Homeschool Hotspot: You know you homeschool when.....<a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mother-mel.blogspot.com&media=http%3A%2F%2Fmother-mel.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F02%2Fyou-know-you-homeschool-when.html"><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></a>
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* you go to a store you spend time looking at the content in the stationary aisle buying books, notebooks, erasers, pencils and pens you don't really need<br />
* the library offers to register you as a school so that you can take an extra 18 books out on top of the 72 books, 4 CD's, 6 puzzles, 4 DVD's and 4 magazines you already take out <br />
* your children ask you whether watching cartoons is part of school<br />
* everything is learning<br />
* you go on an excursion to a museum or nature reserve with a bag full of books and stationary to sketch and record everything you see <br />
* you have maps on the walls instead of painting with little arrows showing pen pals, excursions you want to go on, places you have been or any other topic<br />
* you go on holiday whenever you want to<br />
* you go to the grocery store in the morning and people either stare or ask you if your children are sick<br />
* your boys hair is longer than boys around you<br />
* every question becomes a lesson <br />
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* you don't answer questions with "because I say so" or "don't ask silly questions" - instead you Google it or look it up on smart phone as you drive</div>
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* you have solar systems hanging over the dining room, a science experiment growing in the kitchen and models drying on the lounge floor</div>
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* school never starts at exactly the same time every day</div>
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* when people regularly ask you - "But what will you do when they get to high school?"</div>
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* you take a lunch break and head for the beach to come back and carry on with learning activities</div>
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* making food becomes an opportunity for learning</div>
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* your child is asked what Grade they are in and they say - "well in English I am in Grade 6, but I am ahead in Maths and am in Grade 8 and my History is in Grade 7"</div>
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* Dad asks your kids - "What did you do for school today?" and they answer - "Oh we didn't do school ,we just had fun - we did all these science experiments and made models of the pyramids"</div>
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* your greatest concern is finding another shelf for the new books you've just bought</div>
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* people tell you that your children are so confident and can participate in conversations with any age group</div>
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* your children know more about almost any subject and you don't recall ever having covered it, but you did see them reading books on the topic<br />
* your whole house has become a classroom</div>
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* strangers ask simple questions expecting a simple answer and your children launch into a 20 minute explanation of the how, why and when<br />
* you can't imagine a day without homeschooling your children </div>
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* you go to a new town or area, you look online to see what learning opportunities there are</div>
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* your children's school friends all want to be homeschooled because they see how fun it is</div>
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* your children have books packed all over the car to ensure they can read while they travel</div>
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* your children carry a magnifying glass in they bags as an accessory</div>
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* you love it when public schools start so they can get off the roads so you can get back to your excursions</div>
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* your children are always bringing home 'specimens' to identify later</div>
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* your children consider the library a highlight</div>
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* every visit to the doctor or hospital becomes an anatomy question and answer session</div>
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* your children exhaust people with their questions and their persistence in getting an intelligent answer</div>
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* you eat lunch together at home and have real conversations</div>
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* you take out educational DVD's at the library and music CD's for your latest composer studies</div>
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* when you spend your afternoons doing sport, cultural activities and visiting friends and not having to come home to homework</div>
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* schooling after lunch is considered punishment</div>
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* you keep checking on the clock to see when you can phone your public school friends</div>
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* you get to be the teacher, principal, sports coach and cultural affairs coordinator all in a day</div>
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* your children write with red pens and you mark with pencils</div>
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* the only bully know is your brother who insists on telling you what to do all the time</div>
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* you read whenever you can without anyone telling you to</div>
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* you sleep late mornings after big nights and then do a ful day of school</div>
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* you don't know it's a public holiday until you try to go the library or store and find it closed</div>
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* one of the most important electronic pieces of equipment is the printer for bulk printing</div>
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* your neighbours wonder why there is the sound of children's laughter in the middle of the day</div>
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* your family gives you books for gifts, Christmas and birthdays</div>
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* your children think you know everything about anything</div>
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* your children enjoy talking to grownups and small children </div>
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* your read every website, newspaper or newsletter about excursions, shows for lesson opportunities</div>
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* every time someone comes to your house to install, fix or deliver something, they are met with students eager to learn</div>
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* your cupboards are full of recycled objects for the next project or craft</div>
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There are probably loads more. </div>
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<em data-mce-style="font-size: medium;" style="font-size: medium;">What would be included on your list? Feel free to add your own!</em></div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-60520740871377085612013-01-02T23:49:00.000+02:002013-02-10T23:49:42.642+02:00Top Posts: 2012 I am grateful for all of you who visit and comment on this blog. As a form of creative expression, connecting with an online community and keeping family members updated - this really is a very rewarding place to be. And as this is the end of 2012, it is only fitting that I post about my most popular posts this year. It's always interesting to see what my readers enjoy the most.<br />
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Most popular posts for 2012</div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/09/learning-chinese-mandarin-as-second-or.html" target="_blank">1. Learning Chinese Mandarin as a Second or Third Language</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2012/01/homeschooling-room-of-dreams.html" target="_blank">2. Homeschooling Room of Dreams</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2012/05/interview-with-jeremy-olivier-rock-star.html" target="_blank">3. Interview with Jeremy Olivier: A rock star with soul</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2012/04/snails-and-slugs-and-escargot.html" target="_blank">4. Snails and Slugs and Escargot</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/11/40-reasons-why-i-homeschool-my-children.html" target="_blank">5. 40 Reasons why I Home school my Kids</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/search/label/Journaling%20101" target="_blank">6. Journalling 101</a></div>
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7<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/11/is-your-fridge-empty.html" target="_blank">. Is your fridge empty?</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2012/10/photo-journal-my-backyard-garden-table.html" target="_blank">8. Photo Journal: My backyard garden Table Mountain National Park</a></div>
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<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2012/02/20-ways-to-have-less-stressful-school.html" target="_blank">9. 20 Ways to have less stressful school days</a></div>
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So there you have it, a real mish-mash group of topics.</div>
My conclusion: that there are numerous wannabee Chinese speakers who are dreaming of being a rock star and believe the freedom of homeschooling without stress will allow them to tour the world, while writing about their experiences of tasting escargot. climbing Table Mountain and dreaming big. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-49190468665012368342013-01-01T19:21:00.000+02:002013-02-10T19:22:15.740+02:00A word for 2013It definitely seems to be that naming the year is the thing to do and I like to do the things that everyone else is doing otherwise I feel like I am not doing what everyone else is doing and I feel left out. And so after much thought and weighing up who we are as a family, my children and their personalities, our history and our future (who would have thought that all of this plays a role in selecting a single word), we have decided our word for 2013 will be:<br />
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I love this word! I love the unknown. I want to go to places few people would go, suitcases are the best accessories for this. It implies courage, history making, pioneering, travel and trying things for the first time. So this will be a new season of excitement and I am excited to see what this year has in store for me. <br />
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Have you named your year yet? Leave a comment and tell me what you have decided on and if you feel up to it, tell me why.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-68094702427454488212012-12-18T08:00:00.000+02:002013-02-10T23:06:19.941+02:00Birthday Bash: Happy 9th Birthday ChaddyYes it's that time of the year again, one of my 'babies' is getting older again. Chad is now officially 9. My baby boy. Yes I know he is not a baby anymore but I think all my children will always be my babies. Thank goodness they still let me give them lots of hugs and kisses, not without the sighs and rolling eyes, but I grab every hug and kiss I can get.<br />
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He really is my most social child and much loved with his blonde hair, outspoken personality and sense of humour. People seem to naturally warm to him. He always asks the wrong questions at the wrong time in very public places with a disconcerting and discerning honesty which throws people - and has been known to offend sometimes. A real ray of sunshine in my life.<br />
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We have shared some very special moments, lots of memory moments - caught on camera and some not but that I will never forget!<br />
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Of course we always start with the birthday morning where he got to watch cartoons at granny's house, which is his favourite thing!<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/10/is-that-screen-taking-over-his-life.html" target="_blank"> I don't normally like too much television</a> but DSTV has it's uses at times. Also in our house, one of our birthday traditions is the birthday person gets to choose the meals for the day. Now the rest of my clan normally choose all the cereals I don't normally let eat the rest of the year. The ones with all the colours and pops and sprinkles and twists. Not this boy. <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/09/china-and-rice-porridge.html" target="_blank">He loves Rice Porridge</a>. And so for breakfast he had THREE bowls. </div>
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He loves creating, give him paint, clay, pottery or blocks - his mind his always creating. We took our first visit to the <a href="http://www.claycafe.co.za/">Clay Cafe in Hout Bay</a> and he was able to paint and create - not a word, which as you may know is rare.</div>
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Of course this year has just been one of hair hair and more hair. My blonde boy who doesn't want me to cut it. And of course after a shower, who knows who we might find - Einstein?</div>
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Which didn't mean that he couldn't do an annual midnight visit to the hospital. This time it was a 10 pm visit to emergency with an unknown eye swelling. Poor boy and poor dad who took him and only managed to get to bed at about 2am the next morning.</div>
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And there is always lots of love to go around! So much love from this very affectionate child of mine. When he sits next to me, he has to swing his arm over my shoulder or come in for hugs and kisses. And besides this rather fabulous mother that he adores, he loves his oldest brother. (though don't tell his other brother or sister:)</div>
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Loves his dad, though I can totally get that! Love him too:0</div>
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Of course his love is not limited to the human variety, this is my sweet and cake lover. He can put away a slab of chocolate in no time. And cake, well with <a href="http://mothers.co.za/mel-s-mouthful-on/travel/things-to-do-in-cape-town/item/charly-s-bakery.html">Charly's Bakery</a> down the road - or should I say the trainline, - lots of opportunity for him to get into his favourite past time - eating cake!</div>
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We took our first trip to the the theatre on our date night. He was so excited and thrilled to be one of the special guests with the rest of the media.</div>
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He also took part in his first Nippers competition and clearly winning was not a problem. Funny though, he's not competitive like his brothers. But with his mom yelling and cheering him on, he runs and swims like the wind.</div>
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And if you're lucky enough to have a chat with him, you will find that 5% of the conversation is Chad asking questions, and 95% of you trying to answer them or research them if the answers are a bit tricky. </div>
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Another year iin his life has passed and time rushes by. I am thankful for every day I have with all my children. Life is precious and each moment a treasure!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-68001276477685380332012-12-05T13:14:00.000+02:002013-02-26T19:21:10.826+02:00Christmas on a Budget: Decorations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas Decorations</span></b></div>
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How is it going with getting your Christmas Gifts ready? So far we
have looked at <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas%20on%20a%20Budget" target="_blank">Christmas Gifts on a Budget </a>and then those <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/11/intangible-giving-by-brynne-mack.html" target="_blank">Intangible Gifts </a>. While you are busy with getting those gifts ready for Christmas, decorate your house with some lovely crafts that you and your children can do which allows you to decorate your home simply and beautifully without spending a whole lot of money. Your children will love it too.</div>
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Its funny, I love my children crafting but I always liked the shop bought tinsel and decorations. But I find the children's enjoyment of festivities is directly proportional to how involved they are. This year I decided to let them do everything! We might not get everything done but I want them to take ownership of this and I know its special for them to see all their decorations up for everyone to see.</div>
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So the first decorations we made were Paper Snowflakes.</div>
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<b><u>Paper Snowflakes Tutorial (finally Lesley:)</u></b></div>
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We
had a look at a couple of templates but really they didn't make much
sense to me. Maybe because I have some flu and my brain seems to be
rather thick or maybe its because the creative side in me, refuses to copy
other peoples designs. I eventually ventured into the frightening
world of Paper Snowflakes all by myself. (dramatic I know but I always
love a bit of drama in my day)</div>
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So here we go, excuse the amateur photos!</div>
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First you can start with an A4 piece of paper. I have scrap white paper (recycled) but you can do this with colour paper, old newspapers or even tracing paper - really anything goes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWvEmoyh_DnS0Khgch-INAJnoQmoLd1HK6BjP1C8kLfCVE3Ppydmc98RGsZ_5ry30LuxDporwe41IEluAiQS2HN3_7BJUC2tEdH-tqM3HSF52XGHakxp9EZ-85OrtLGQzRvFxxTPk5Zmx/s1600/SDC15111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWvEmoyh_DnS0Khgch-INAJnoQmoLd1HK6BjP1C8kLfCVE3Ppydmc98RGsZ_5ry30LuxDporwe41IEluAiQS2HN3_7BJUC2tEdH-tqM3HSF52XGHakxp9EZ-85OrtLGQzRvFxxTPk5Zmx/s400/SDC15111.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fold a square</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnuMIEkNgxC56hCL8isJjasLi0uEAfrw8E1dSo9UQmuQ8FArGW0AARuY08ymVh5dGVDlEyb8mk6Z5cID38IFppzP4R7xRNMMZqhCIAcobIr9ilOmS1STlo1SSH3Yb1frUpNX0-RaqQdkO/s1600/SDC15112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnuMIEkNgxC56hCL8isJjasLi0uEAfrw8E1dSo9UQmuQ8FArGW0AARuY08ymVh5dGVDlEyb8mk6Z5cID38IFppzP4R7xRNMMZqhCIAcobIr9ilOmS1STlo1SSH3Yb1frUpNX0-RaqQdkO/s400/SDC15112.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cut the extra bit off</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQR2gUkfk_4YQqQegMpHT-lCMksgPHq0y21SH0nP7sr5CI7xuB7xyKxBcBSA2-SEcP5HTsVJTu3EN7pdgvYCOaoAB3N4q4M8QwFTb88_cRsfJgWHeZ1frjBd8Y3WGudxRAdQECA78fjHkN/s1600/SDC15113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQR2gUkfk_4YQqQegMpHT-lCMksgPHq0y21SH0nP7sr5CI7xuB7xyKxBcBSA2-SEcP5HTsVJTu3EN7pdgvYCOaoAB3N4q4M8QwFTb88_cRsfJgWHeZ1frjBd8Y3WGudxRAdQECA78fjHkN/s400/SDC15113.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fold the triangle over</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBYxSgF3lLnaLOUNfBgq3WQXDVFvw2gxdHBzkBFYqWrw2H4dxa94iC9iOFcWL8eQKvjjL9an8iM6o27_TG718Lzh_cGVxMIS4ISqkvLuvf-hstkU8u1z08NF-bMRiEthomDuUSXGoGr4y/s1600/SDC15114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBYxSgF3lLnaLOUNfBgq3WQXDVFvw2gxdHBzkBFYqWrw2H4dxa94iC9iOFcWL8eQKvjjL9an8iM6o27_TG718Lzh_cGVxMIS4ISqkvLuvf-hstkU8u1z08NF-bMRiEthomDuUSXGoGr4y/s400/SDC15114.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fold the triangle again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWqBKAZXYn2FDWcsbD3UqASv9EemBgjIVgQ0ug_Yf-BfQJeN5gldY5dcMErIkU9PjIcQRZ1_xhv5yvoHnm1sVXwBY3Lp34TQAA3swuc6A5N4ZykTSGGmO3yXt-OUrdK5unSjm8xXfTWUr/s1600/part+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWqBKAZXYn2FDWcsbD3UqASv9EemBgjIVgQ0ug_Yf-BfQJeN5gldY5dcMErIkU9PjIcQRZ1_xhv5yvoHnm1sVXwBY3Lp34TQAA3swuc6A5N4ZykTSGGmO3yXt-OUrdK5unSjm8xXfTWUr/s400/part+5.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have drawn a design in a black marker but this is only so that you can see clearly what I have done. If you want to draw a design on the paper, rather use pencil. You will find that to design a snowflake the first couple of times, you will want to draw a design, but eventually you will be able to do it freehand!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChxOQcUffeqgwhZntax1bg8NaKR7oidiQ4envyK14v2o-e7bk1ZOnCz0dfFlgy2uLVKhOXiYoe0nnGGfOt157BCQ7X6NuI0k5WuOUb-3Kssup4Y4KkLk_KqT9pepxRqG8PS2WnOcXJ-mG/s1600/SDC15116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChxOQcUffeqgwhZntax1bg8NaKR7oidiQ4envyK14v2o-e7bk1ZOnCz0dfFlgy2uLVKhOXiYoe0nnGGfOt157BCQ7X6NuI0k5WuOUb-3Kssup4Y4KkLk_KqT9pepxRqG8PS2WnOcXJ-mG/s400/SDC15116.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The black bits are the ones you want to cut out. The point at the bottom is the centre of the snowflake.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkNz6Z1pKi4_9FHBSi2uuQn17Ea7nhYTN1kjSfAbHaHOEGovGl39ctfpSRJ1B2CySyP3W8Ytq3jxu_l5sTCTblj2fBD5dDJoITwfUCufKb9UIiLGb96dMcUjcyreO2GD2lemKnOzii8fi/s1600/SDC15117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkNz6Z1pKi4_9FHBSi2uuQn17Ea7nhYTN1kjSfAbHaHOEGovGl39ctfpSRJ1B2CySyP3W8Ytq3jxu_l5sTCTblj2fBD5dDJoITwfUCufKb9UIiLGb96dMcUjcyreO2GD2lemKnOzii8fi/s400/SDC15117.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is what it will look like once its been cut out. You can see that I still need some lessons in cutting along the lines, but doing this at 12 o'clock at night when I should be in bed and not wearing my reading glasses may have aggravated the situation.. Once it's cut out, unfold it very gently so as not to break this delicate creation.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_g3oKBXDLyfV5B48mJZkXopaor-ZTaHabVkSfIFYtzfmXXLRVZeWodeO4KkUqUv-lNbgaw-HOZ4JqU3lfkJ92PYH0so6s-9rufiLagiH31gVc2UEp5e9bHyQdpK14tdWs8-WIi4C-96s/s1600/SDC15118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_g3oKBXDLyfV5B48mJZkXopaor-ZTaHabVkSfIFYtzfmXXLRVZeWodeO4KkUqUv-lNbgaw-HOZ4JqU3lfkJ92PYH0so6s-9rufiLagiH31gVc2UEp5e9bHyQdpK14tdWs8-WIi4C-96s/s400/SDC15118.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Beautiful even if I have to say so myself:)</div>
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Easy peasy. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So here are some others that I just did to give you a few more ideas- but once you get the hang of it, you'll really let your creativity flow.</div>
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Here's something a little more symmetrical.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfDkOcRSoz9nsxjUYBHFxyVKSrY0RTWFvkTrsIx_UeijIwTxvAKcvlHqksLYFaYRwFijY-dRnCqvMifOXTGFkMP00fHpgqygvNKIDgENJvBdcKjScz8bruzhUBEdhE4mby-YwNThti42o/s1600/SDC15119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfDkOcRSoz9nsxjUYBHFxyVKSrY0RTWFvkTrsIx_UeijIwTxvAKcvlHqksLYFaYRwFijY-dRnCqvMifOXTGFkMP00fHpgqygvNKIDgENJvBdcKjScz8bruzhUBEdhE4mby-YwNThti42o/s400/SDC15119.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ey7GrgJf6DD-G592qz2xq0RjM9zxUfqesHkspKoxZyaHbKYURQEX1dszJd6gaQcXis-mwPnlnsFS8nlzy5hwvjwsyzUWFSMrWwYPaA1KI-IQ9ek_OXxw6kiWRpyDm5DAvvXNaL23JzJY/s1600/SDC15120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ey7GrgJf6DD-G592qz2xq0RjM9zxUfqesHkspKoxZyaHbKYURQEX1dszJd6gaQcXis-mwPnlnsFS8nlzy5hwvjwsyzUWFSMrWwYPaA1KI-IQ9ek_OXxw6kiWRpyDm5DAvvXNaL23JzJY/s400/SDC15120.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBqs7li4urtXyCngMpzWvXeXZ_UkivLBh0p1FHk3mwrOM5BaNf9AL1WA2vQkGecIg58iPuE-TPvCPSY1kEJA6J0NlJmVYSXsneQ9Ja37Jx3aFE8moQDUSY3L13p3o49xOhH0iPQ6o05Ct/s1600/Paper+Snowflakes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBqs7li4urtXyCngMpzWvXeXZ_UkivLBh0p1FHk3mwrOM5BaNf9AL1WA2vQkGecIg58iPuE-TPvCPSY1kEJA6J0NlJmVYSXsneQ9Ja37Jx3aFE8moQDUSY3L13p3o49xOhH0iPQ6o05Ct/s400/Paper+Snowflakes.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And a paper snowflake that is very simple.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JX4OHlWUf2QsdDscRadLZLNaBkReGn0dh0exbcnVYllGZ3wKlEuKP_pIeiToYdUwCR2otJqbY6Jzf-cWgs4abzySQqY9VyKAWyFlQLZBG2-CsDuu5iZBDiEumnqo5sa0tIy9P7NHYexf/s1600/Simple+paper+Snowflakes+for+Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JX4OHlWUf2QsdDscRadLZLNaBkReGn0dh0exbcnVYllGZ3wKlEuKP_pIeiToYdUwCR2otJqbY6Jzf-cWgs4abzySQqY9VyKAWyFlQLZBG2-CsDuu5iZBDiEumnqo5sa0tIy9P7NHYexf/s400/Simple+paper+Snowflakes+for+Christmas.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
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You can see that I am getting tired of colouring in but hopefully can see what I am doing. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-z_2B4Mq_-DvvC7NYMGqlzWIsMnmBUWN5ku1Gk8Ym9iyomz1-CJs1CQ7-qXekATBFA4v0tRlSNDhm_V6OsghQ503Iq4uO0_o62QN6g5HQ8z1CHFc1S89xmcUb_vRMkrBDiPjt5vkPS0mQ/s1600/Paper+cut+out+snowflakes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-z_2B4Mq_-DvvC7NYMGqlzWIsMnmBUWN5ku1Gk8Ym9iyomz1-CJs1CQ7-qXekATBFA4v0tRlSNDhm_V6OsghQ503Iq4uO0_o62QN6g5HQ8z1CHFc1S89xmcUb_vRMkrBDiPjt5vkPS0mQ/s400/Paper+cut+out+snowflakes.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mho9F9WBHIDzDRX7VZ_NNQDyjDsMYzbI_1DM7NbDUqjzfp6xcxudcHwRz6roRdjWFsam2aXzsIrX3SCk9cJpMGj2QKzGQYwZd_CozHLLqQjCvKR-wDDMWWMN_vKcuStJeh7bRmS8uhWd/s1600/Budget+Xmas+Decorations.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mho9F9WBHIDzDRX7VZ_NNQDyjDsMYzbI_1DM7NbDUqjzfp6xcxudcHwRz6roRdjWFsam2aXzsIrX3SCk9cJpMGj2QKzGQYwZd_CozHLLqQjCvKR-wDDMWWMN_vKcuStJeh7bRmS8uhWd/s400/Budget+Xmas+Decorations.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the finished product?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-BkU1h3oIn1QSI2ibqIWkoXUOhKxosG4cJStE4n7IlNhCm7QcRpUBXsoTogKZj5hakNHFt8qIrC9eQp70-7PqQqrPITMC8Agz-7vNi2WPegqt4g1i-xXPBIdHqzRPXB-p2jh-7aUc5oE/s1600/SDC15068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-BkU1h3oIn1QSI2ibqIWkoXUOhKxosG4cJStE4n7IlNhCm7QcRpUBXsoTogKZj5hakNHFt8qIrC9eQp70-7PqQqrPITMC8Agz-7vNi2WPegqt4g1i-xXPBIdHqzRPXB-p2jh-7aUc5oE/s640/SDC15068.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This was the finished product in our front window. Aren't they beautiful? I only made 2, the rest were cut by my children without any pattern. Once they worked out how to do it, they just went crazy and just wanted to cut more and more.</div>
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The look lovely by the window and if there is a slight breeze they twirl beautifully. I just used a regular punch and made a hole at the top and the bottom of the snowflake. Then I connected them with fishing line, but I think any kind of string would probably work. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Crafting! </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Our next Christmas Decoration will be making Christmas trees out of magazines.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-6227360433018818442012-12-04T14:20:00.000+02:002013-02-26T19:22:27.769+02:00Christmas on a Budget: Christmas Gifts Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>GIFT BOXES</b></u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These are <b>great for families.</b>
When you buy a gift for the whole family it also reduces the cost of
trying to buy individual gift. These can usually be packed in a recycled
shoe box which you could get at most shoe stores if you haven't got any
at home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Movie Box</u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Popcorn, Chocolate, Crisps and a DVD voucher </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Ice-Cream Gift Box</u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cones, Sprinkles, M&M's/ Smarties, 100's and 1000's individual wrapped</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
( I know this one has been doing the rounds - I don't know where it originated from - but don't let that stop you )</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BKy2TEFDzzfI4vIU6KVGmthi89FeVXVPX9Q4WAsw3DWXadzsvSNPJH4YZ8InMRb4DsDoVecCNsU-QYttysh-M9w2eQgC3JQGZTeuj5vVxu49lFn0vetZqXZHhnSYvw7bRmy4SaM7AwxK/s1600/Icecream+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BKy2TEFDzzfI4vIU6KVGmthi89FeVXVPX9Q4WAsw3DWXadzsvSNPJH4YZ8InMRb4DsDoVecCNsU-QYttysh-M9w2eQgC3JQGZTeuj5vVxu49lFn0vetZqXZHhnSYvw7bRmy4SaM7AwxK/s400/Icecream+box.jpg" height="352" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Garden Lovers Gift Box</u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Use seeds that you have collected out of vegetables you have cooked with. Tomato, Green pepper, Beans, Sunflower Seeds, Chillies. Wrap them individually in homemade envelopes. You can even use a magazine picture on the outside. A seedling tray (recycled egg box tray), a small bag of soil or compost (from your garden) and some lolly sticks with the names of the vegetables you have planted. And if you are a crafty person you could even sew some gloves from some scrap material at home. Any person who loves gardening will love this!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>FILL A MUG/ GLASS</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These
can be bought at a second hand store or from one of your cheaper outlet
stores. The more obscure the shape the better. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Fill the mug</b> with:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
* fudge</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
* chocolate</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
* a little bag of special tea,
coffee and sugar</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
* teddy bear <br />
* plant (which you can get from a cutting)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzqKHkmhBJXQL5KuCFI_fLM2VL2xJPH6qevoPt40z5MG7-y0VbqtQr36MFpkQ0_F0O2OV1Q5bCPpW4iDVCuEpIRpOjASyLY1dvorc7YoWwt3H2mlS0xiRxy260UfwpYVRi4MsMmDqKRZs/s1600/mugs+filled+with+plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzqKHkmhBJXQL5KuCFI_fLM2VL2xJPH6qevoPt40z5MG7-y0VbqtQr36MFpkQ0_F0O2OV1Q5bCPpW4iDVCuEpIRpOjASyLY1dvorc7YoWwt3H2mlS0xiRxy260UfwpYVRi4MsMmDqKRZs/s400/mugs+filled+with+plants.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>RECYCLED SCRABBLE</b></u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Second
hand stores often sell scrabble because the previous owners have lost
pieces (and then its really dirt cheap because no one can really use them then. . You can make so many things with scrabble - magnetic scrabble for the fridge, scrabble decorations for the tree and even scrabble coasters.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHBhGORGRCNHb2Vj34NV2RNBWNY_3RBBcVVjjoTw30ZO07xbV5MoyQRwEDT3R6ReAOXagcIQ6YD0ik6tkIIL_KXDfB4YXN2OitQC9nCd02PkaU0-vZtI-I3FjfDAVJbmyXPAx2mjzPNJK/s1600/Fridge+Scrabble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHBhGORGRCNHb2Vj34NV2RNBWNY_3RBBcVVjjoTw30ZO07xbV5MoyQRwEDT3R6ReAOXagcIQ6YD0ik6tkIIL_KXDfB4YXN2OitQC9nCd02PkaU0-vZtI-I3FjfDAVJbmyXPAx2mjzPNJK/s400/Fridge+Scrabble.jpg" height="400" width="300" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuyLCpOG-AYGngDJ0ea7jsdiQRClRvhrH3M5740v-wp327fpRizfJu-5DBAaHR1jF7KU1PKJOfSPBbIMeeINOpqPhwNyJyFRG_S6rChEYC4HGfnnGXeDbckR-XfjtPIpdGKlaSJlLzxXO/s1600/budget+XMas+gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuyLCpOG-AYGngDJ0ea7jsdiQRClRvhrH3M5740v-wp327fpRizfJu-5DBAaHR1jF7KU1PKJOfSPBbIMeeINOpqPhwNyJyFRG_S6rChEYC4HGfnnGXeDbckR-XfjtPIpdGKlaSJlLzxXO/s320/budget+XMas+gifts.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF CHOCOLATE!</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I remember the one year where one of my boys got lots of little toys for his birthday but I added an extra large slab (the double size) as part of his gift pack. To say that all the other gifts faded to obscurity would be an understatement! He was so thrilled that he had this chocolate all to himself and he wasn't even interested in the rest!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwJzNC-hVs7fYBGPyc1dIPtL4QXoOthFVPQm-CxQaZ3H1zsrCJ_qmzEjlMS0rzX9oiyXf59hyCyRZ1DvKyiFkgvtGrkArYrk61meydKx0EklMaera8_AJVbMGQos8K0wCIzQCRYQdCdP6/s1600/cadbury+chocolate+for+children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwJzNC-hVs7fYBGPyc1dIPtL4QXoOthFVPQm-CxQaZ3H1zsrCJ_qmzEjlMS0rzX9oiyXf59hyCyRZ1DvKyiFkgvtGrkArYrk61meydKx0EklMaera8_AJVbMGQos8K0wCIzQCRYQdCdP6/s400/cadbury+chocolate+for+children.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you have a post on how you <b>keep to a budget </b>over
Christmas time, why not pop me an email and I would love to host your
article as a guest post. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Otherwise as always, leave a comment. What are you doing to <b>keep Christmas simple</b>? </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-16333145153334190872012-12-04T11:00:00.000+02:002013-02-26T19:23:30.701+02:00Christmas on a Budget<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You may remember my post on <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/11/is-your-fridge-empty.html" target="_blank">Is your fridge empty?</a> Like a lot of
people worldwide, we are all having to make sure that we are spending
wisely, cutting back on the extras and budget carefully. It's a
challenging thing to do - especially during this time of the year. The
pressure to get all the right decor, get those expensive gifts and that
big Christmas lunch! How do we manage during this time?<br />
<br />
We used to be consumed with <b><i>doing</i></b>
Christmas right - the <i>right </i>gifts, the <i>right</i> tree, the <i>right</i>
decorations, the <i>right</i> food - but really if we really want to get it
right - <b>we need to be looking at Christ</b>. I know its not easy
when you are surrounded by friends and family who seem to have more, but
I know what happens if you give into the pressure - come January and
February, you can't pay bills, and you have overspent - suffering in the
following months with budget issues because the budget was spent over
Christmas.<br />
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I have decided to run a series on how to
prepare for <b>Christmas on a Budget</b> and have fun doing it! (of course we do, we don't
want to be miserable and be so consumed with finances that we can't
celebrate!)<br />
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I decided to start with the <b>gifts</b> as these normally take the most time to make or find. You also don't want to be running around looking for gifts 5 days before Christmas - by then everything is gone!<br />
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The series will include:</div>
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* Gifts</div>
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* Decorations</div>
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* Wrapping and Bows</div>
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* The Meal</div>
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and anything else I think of along the way</div>
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Join in on the fun, send me your ideas, share some links.... join us on this journey. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas Gifts (Part 1) </span></b></div>
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<u><b>Buy Basic Craft Colours </b></u></div>
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Before you start, if you
do decide to craft your gifts and decoration, get some red, green,
gold/silver paint. It helps. Or choose a colour theme - then you only
need to get one:) But again paint isn't always necessary - go natural!
I love natural, not only because its cheaper but because I think
that its important for the children to focus on beauty and not on bling. </div>
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<u><b>Recycled or Re-purposed Items from a Second Hand Store</b></u></div>
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One year I bought a number of second hand wood items for about R5 each, sanded them down, put pictures on with modge from recycled wrapping paper and then varnished them. They were a huge hit! Again be careful don't spend a fortune on modge podge or paints. Rather do this if you already have the materials or if you know where to get this fairly cheaply. Some of the items I used were wooden cutlery tray, condiments holder, knife holder and a salt and pepper shaker.<br />
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<u><b>Cookies in a Jar</b></u></div>
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There are so many recipes online. Choose a simple one. If you want to make a more expensive variety then "upsize" it but just the layers with a pretty label and a cute lid will make this special. In fact a lot of my friends have never seen this before (except the ones who enjoy reading blogs) so I know this would be a real winner.</div>
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<u><b>Go Online - Gumtree/ Craiglist</b></u></div>
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I find these especially useful for gifts for children. They often want the big things which cost big bucks! However if you look around you may find unusual gifts for them. Be careful though that you don't pay for anything in advance. Go and look first. Also anything electrical is a bit suspect as it might not work when you get home because they don't tell you about a fault that exists or lose wiring.<br />
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<u><b>Gift Movie/ Slideshow</b></u><br />
This is especially a good gift for Granny's and Grandpa's or close family members (your friends might not appreciate a slide show or movie of your children). Its so easy to do. All you need to do is choose a selection of photos. Choose the order you want it in, add music - and you can even make it a movie and its a wonderful keepsake. Software for this type of gift is free. You can use a basic image program like <a href="http://picasa.google.com/" target="_blank">Picasa</a>. Get the children to make their own personalised cover and you can add words to pages as well. It really is quite nifty and Granny and Grandpa will be <i>very</i> impressed. <br />
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<u><b>5$ Store</b></u><br />
There are usually a few goodies that I enjoy getting from a $5 store, and make great gifts.<br />
<u>Colourful nail polish</u> - there are few teenagers who don't love fluorescent pink, crazy orange or sky blue nail polish. With the current trends in nail art, this will be a great Christmas gift for any teenage girl or younger. Even Ruthie (3) LOVES nail polish.(and her mother mind you)<br />
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These few ideas should keep you busy for a while. Keep a look out for the next edition of Gifts for Christmas on a Budget<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you have a post on how you keep to a budget over
Christmas time, why not pop me an email and I would love to host your
article as a guest post. Otherwise as always, leave a comment. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">And if you have done so already go and <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/11/psalms-and-box-of-blessings-giveaway.html" target="_blank">enter our Giveaway</a>, you have till Wednesday!</span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-6349958535689212812012-12-03T18:41:00.000+02:002013-02-26T19:24:36.580+02:00Christmas on a Budget: Nativity Scene<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
I have always wanted to do a Christmas nativity scene with my children but to buy them is normally very expensive. I wasn't really inclined to do it in clay, to make clothes and all the rest. Yes, call me lazy - I confess!<br />
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But then I found<a href="http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/free-printable-christmas-nativity.html" target="_blank"> a lovely printable nativity scene.</a> What really works
is to print it off in colour cardboard. Especially for the younger
ones. There are a lot of little characters and the colouring in does
take a long time. This way if they can't finish, they can still have something really bright and colourful.<br />
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And of course with 3 fairly competitive children there was no way that only one would be chosen so we have 3 nativity plays! And they are beautiful. A bit of tumbleweed and the same stars we made with our <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-on-budget-decorations.html" target="_blank">magazine christmas trees.</a><br />
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To print this nativity scene, <a href="http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/free-printable-christmas-nativity.html" target="_blank">follow this link.</a><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Crafting! </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And don't forget about our <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-get-your-children-reading-and.html" target="_blank">Reading Egg Giveaway!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Tomorrow is your last chance to get your comments in!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-2348539744680455722012-12-03T13:00:00.000+02:002013-01-31T17:33:40.966+02:00Christmas on a Budget: Decorations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After our <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/11/christmas-on-budget-christmas.html" target="_blank">snowflakes</a> and <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2011/11/christmas-on-budget.html" target="_blank">gifts</a>, we decided to start with some trees for decorations. With a tight budget, its easier to work with materials you already have in your home of with materials that others might have in abundance. I am sure that all of you have magazines or know someone with lots of magazines.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Magazine Christmas Trees Tutorial</b></u></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwwD_wZlzCSt4qnlSDTzMR1w0drXRieRGAfqEe-8x5JKl8BR16gg_wRU_8Mt-cwVw2bwETOX5LgYCW9ADXmtRPezj34UvcNitcy4ifBREikPpTkGTvs7tMVmaOA1qw0GfCMxoLb5k3mdj/s1600/Christmas+Trees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwwD_wZlzCSt4qnlSDTzMR1w0drXRieRGAfqEe-8x5JKl8BR16gg_wRU_8Mt-cwVw2bwETOX5LgYCW9ADXmtRPezj34UvcNitcy4ifBREikPpTkGTvs7tMVmaOA1qw0GfCMxoLb5k3mdj/s400/Christmas+Trees.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is simply one of my favourite crafts, because I always have loads of magazines and though we craft all the time, I defnitely don't use them all up.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Step 1</b></u></span></div>
One magazine. Sorry Pick 'n Pay - I love your magazine but today you are being used for craft! You don't need to get this specific magazine, any glossy one will do. Just watch out for those Popular Mechanics because I know that I wasn't very popular when I suggested using them arts and crafts. My hubby <i>definitely </i>did not see the humour in <i>that</i> suggestion at all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Vyh1rbEG7p690Knc8PIK1IegC7Mvtx85Kwkswyueuy8ohvIx90sT83zaGzi5TeFAVlk-k0F3teJUGS3ZQFIDyFvIufCG5AW1_RLZSJokKkyn4nuGlvuJF4jUFLH1g3OuPp5sGWZJ7vVM/s1600/Christmas+Tree+Craft.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Vyh1rbEG7p690Knc8PIK1IegC7Mvtx85Kwkswyueuy8ohvIx90sT83zaGzi5TeFAVlk-k0F3teJUGS3ZQFIDyFvIufCG5AW1_RLZSJokKkyn4nuGlvuJF4jUFLH1g3OuPp5sGWZJ7vVM/s400/Christmas+Tree+Craft.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Step 2</b></u></span>: </div>
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Open to the first page. (keeping the step simple:)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrydHzxXnLWrSL9Uyop6XeuqnM-ngCvSvU86b-sYOGynXQ6UdMkgblihKf3EWgwXHZrf0HQ97hp2C6DlpuWEeyhu07wCW5HAUetj0_KJC0pGkSUJ8kf0KQgQyd8faJmNjSYuxNURBgjq5Z/s1600/Crafting+with+Magazines.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrydHzxXnLWrSL9Uyop6XeuqnM-ngCvSvU86b-sYOGynXQ6UdMkgblihKf3EWgwXHZrf0HQ97hp2C6DlpuWEeyhu07wCW5HAUetj0_KJC0pGkSUJ8kf0KQgQyd8faJmNjSYuxNURBgjq5Z/s400/Crafting+with+Magazines.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 3</span></b></u></div>
I could probably do this wordlessly but I have a friend who blogs who really detests lots of pictures, so the only way I can keep her motivated to keep scrolling down is to let her think that I might have something interesting to say. Plus I was reminded this week on more than one occassion that the fact that I haven't blogged for a week is ...... let's just say .... unacceptable! Well that will teach me, can't start a blog and though go MIA (yes missing in action!)<br />
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So fold to the centre.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-7GgzPx2RexJ4WAfPYpLHEZQdVM-bl_hLH7MUXggZ4XoF6Km2T9OGKXoUjGCwPa4RN8p8Pi3l8ZZW6g9oQg_Vg5AuHa67TA4wgFHxLo4o6-ULnDNlnOERxG8EWtlkOZaDkm7BA9Rays9/s1600/SDC15147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-7GgzPx2RexJ4WAfPYpLHEZQdVM-bl_hLH7MUXggZ4XoF6Km2T9OGKXoUjGCwPa4RN8p8Pi3l8ZZW6g9oQg_Vg5AuHa67TA4wgFHxLo4o6-ULnDNlnOERxG8EWtlkOZaDkm7BA9Rays9/s400/SDC15147.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Step 4</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fold again. It looks almost like the beginning of a paper plane.</span><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VIbV9sEHffK47FsRqZtKcSkKS7wtO6KSwpXizhqlk9Cdv8gEp4w_ePSnVIqnQvHz3tgSkCN_nxvlBNZh8fIyko2fVobUtFIev3neOlAflsmZ-TW6jLdSjSIkxOVWDJ-taVUgpVlMphzN/s1600/Christmas+Decorations.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VIbV9sEHffK47FsRqZtKcSkKS7wtO6KSwpXizhqlk9Cdv8gEp4w_ePSnVIqnQvHz3tgSkCN_nxvlBNZh8fIyko2fVobUtFIev3neOlAflsmZ-TW6jLdSjSIkxOVWDJ-taVUgpVlMphzN/s400/Christmas+Decorations.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Step 5</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Move it over to the left.</span><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5HiiBg7fggZ-LB-JkvZ6x5yhNWY1sbKmuJ6jy5VIK8Zr55Y53edh58EEv0eL8DUM6ipbtJ9qTa9FVENuYQkEZAdx_WI0kur6Vg7y89kAYH4KFIOMeXx_F-Y7ybLf5Dujh4UzV3H3KrwF/s1600/Homeschooling+Activities.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5HiiBg7fggZ-LB-JkvZ6x5yhNWY1sbKmuJ6jy5VIK8Zr55Y53edh58EEv0eL8DUM6ipbtJ9qTa9FVENuYQkEZAdx_WI0kur6Vg7y89kAYH4KFIOMeXx_F-Y7ybLf5Dujh4UzV3H3KrwF/s400/Homeschooling+Activities.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Step 6</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">And now you start from the beginning and repeat. </span><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8vYQyv8HG63ww1ocv9tqUJfpvqX8nOeePvQCOsysgzw_ExFldXB_9b-k9UC2eQHDalDe2C3Yva3DnLDx1GUCoEOC5hzfJfocqBXXO0f26yYR3BLC8LU5drXCD0ZLprfGc2if8bjyE1jI/s1600/Repurposed+Magazines.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8vYQyv8HG63ww1ocv9tqUJfpvqX8nOeePvQCOsysgzw_ExFldXB_9b-k9UC2eQHDalDe2C3Yva3DnLDx1GUCoEOC5hzfJfocqBXXO0f26yYR3BLC8LU5drXCD0ZLprfGc2if8bjyE1jI/s400/Repurposed+Magazines.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqIc1enhHvzExu1ZwV8sPyJJdKm4-OExmg2iNsQf40cDsnnw-lJIVo10M4PxTyyl8md8j1dfEDAhaezpa9Ul2puLJqg8f7orMlgoP_awRT90q5zyvQuywWz2GafEKgdx-B9PcddaYbaTw/s1600/Paper+Arts+and+Crafts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqIc1enhHvzExu1ZwV8sPyJJdKm4-OExmg2iNsQf40cDsnnw-lJIVo10M4PxTyyl8md8j1dfEDAhaezpa9Ul2puLJqg8f7orMlgoP_awRT90q5zyvQuywWz2GafEKgdx-B9PcddaYbaTw/s400/Paper+Arts+and+Crafts.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOmdzz16pxtki0MDJLJqKiDe22ys_5dcgl-teG5tYmH9R5eNM2hLrfMj8TaiBGptikXws-Sn-R5RGA37_sHFa-h_BY9LtUZLLxnKVco3Whw4jgWOEPQfAGkCyL59XmFWx9b7bpTQCbZQM/s1600/Homeschooling+in+South+Africa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOmdzz16pxtki0MDJLJqKiDe22ys_5dcgl-teG5tYmH9R5eNM2hLrfMj8TaiBGptikXws-Sn-R5RGA37_sHFa-h_BY9LtUZLLxnKVco3Whw4jgWOEPQfAGkCyL59XmFWx9b7bpTQCbZQM/s400/Homeschooling+in+South+Africa.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaceBlbeL8qAJVXGfjg1ojOrFMdAGbyAfFCyHSyTNMrDkxjuJYwd2b9z1bdIGj0nYT2kZTUZ-lF_bww4P4fcr6bb5ZMm2xNHDt_Pv6leAIf_zG8Z0gFfMG6G_N8469udGXye2V7DD6Tt48/s1600/Crafts+for+Homeschooling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaceBlbeL8qAJVXGfjg1ojOrFMdAGbyAfFCyHSyTNMrDkxjuJYwd2b9z1bdIGj0nYT2kZTUZ-lF_bww4P4fcr6bb5ZMm2xNHDt_Pv6leAIf_zG8Z0gFfMG6G_N8469udGXye2V7DD6Tt48/s400/Crafts+for+Homeschooling.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuG4fRNVK0rIUCBoaM1FHh6tz5P6ZTr4T-kxl1aMSU3hzuqlT4xOoi61cPG15LcxCVUx65N6vyP-bBgKuvrHOi9q_BXFUyczp3x8y-fs1girVTO1BK_Z5N3zt7JI5mkueQjN26xfiOIvh1/s1600/Christmas+on+a+Budget.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuG4fRNVK0rIUCBoaM1FHh6tz5P6ZTr4T-kxl1aMSU3hzuqlT4xOoi61cPG15LcxCVUx65N6vyP-bBgKuvrHOi9q_BXFUyczp3x8y-fs1girVTO1BK_Z5N3zt7JI5mkueQjN26xfiOIvh1/s400/Christmas+on+a+Budget.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Step 7</b></u></span></div>
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Cut the bottom points off. You're doing this otherwise the tree won't stand up straight but topple over. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUtCPGgnJCQfKPO_jfTFl7NtHruZ-TTStbHD1ePCkDOATgnkvnqnFWER9W9S-2ThoXK344CDubiMzibJ07IDD5HI04dOB7odd9igW_rMaIQdz8Situ25b5fwM57TDvQnhe19zPpasvh0Q/s1600/Things+to+do+on+a+rainy+day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUtCPGgnJCQfKPO_jfTFl7NtHruZ-TTStbHD1ePCkDOATgnkvnqnFWER9W9S-2ThoXK344CDubiMzibJ07IDD5HI04dOB7odd9igW_rMaIQdz8Situ25b5fwM57TDvQnhe19zPpasvh0Q/s400/Things+to+do+on+a+rainy+day.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Step 8</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pull off the magazine cover. Don't worry if a page comes off with it. Some of the covers come off that way. This is what it will look like from the back after cutting and removing the cover.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqd1r9PUAgOGhJj7hYxiPbeXv3YHc6lDAkvxFz0XlXtZTfXMio8XRpHW5MNxIvL3UYGvMQNz3o6HzWtjYMss8rsodC4SUwcLezc6-ZrBIn4f9ZFgpBdjog97R6felUYzIlk41Qde_J9BjP/s1600/Christmas+Activities.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqd1r9PUAgOGhJj7hYxiPbeXv3YHc6lDAkvxFz0XlXtZTfXMio8XRpHW5MNxIvL3UYGvMQNz3o6HzWtjYMss8rsodC4SUwcLezc6-ZrBIn4f9ZFgpBdjog97R6felUYzIlk41Qde_J9BjP/s400/Christmas+Activities.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
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And if you put it against the wall, it looks fabulous. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3z1VhAIGFCEeuGGhdNaWy7kTzF5DhfyOC5CEXZC_f3GvLyW6OV4msqkFFQvyZjYaZ_3fNWKIuvjQGh5L5x2mjt6Fu3D3mChFvy5oQ-HGTmzWdwGc5oVblauOYE5zhSzP2-UmTUF2tA6v/s1600/Christmas+Traditions.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3z1VhAIGFCEeuGGhdNaWy7kTzF5DhfyOC5CEXZC_f3GvLyW6OV4msqkFFQvyZjYaZ_3fNWKIuvjQGh5L5x2mjt6Fu3D3mChFvy5oQ-HGTmzWdwGc5oVblauOYE5zhSzP2-UmTUF2tA6v/s400/Christmas+Traditions.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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And if you make lots of them, which we did because we have lots of children.... just in case you didn't know (4 and counting:)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwwD_wZlzCSt4qnlSDTzMR1w0drXRieRGAfqEe-8x5JKl8BR16gg_wRU_8Mt-cwVw2bwETOX5LgYCW9ADXmtRPezj34UvcNitcy4ifBREikPpTkGTvs7tMVmaOA1qw0GfCMxoLb5k3mdj/s1600/Christmas+Trees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwwD_wZlzCSt4qnlSDTzMR1w0drXRieRGAfqEe-8x5JKl8BR16gg_wRU_8Mt-cwVw2bwETOX5LgYCW9ADXmtRPezj34UvcNitcy4ifBREikPpTkGTvs7tMVmaOA1qw0GfCMxoLb5k3mdj/s400/Christmas+Trees.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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And if you want to add the stars on a stick like we did, you can find a template <a href="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/3dstar/startemplate.GIF" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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We didn't try this, but I am sure you could make an amazing centrepiece, simply by sticking two of them together with glue and adding the star.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy Crafting!</span></i></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-69570578121835544492012-11-25T23:13:00.002+02:002013-01-31T17:33:40.975+02:00Are you doing too much for your child?I like things to happen smoothly, quickly and according to my standards or ways and yet so often that leads me into a space where I take things away from my children. I stop them doing things that they are quite capable of doing or learning. For example: it's easier for me to cook, rather than let them do it - because I am tidy and I know just how I like it done. But it's not always the best way for my children.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Q9tCWIo3dLbUi5BYmUFiFllpOBc4t7bESO-yNCDvYCPSpbtI1EkOyZKrK_AkW5cgsCM_Ogep7GGClYbRQP0GRlkW5kOixIWtBzVr2I_o0fr9tBFoOuq17eDB6aLa8OmefI42cFbF5Ec/s1600/Building+longlasting+friendships.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Q9tCWIo3dLbUi5BYmUFiFllpOBc4t7bESO-yNCDvYCPSpbtI1EkOyZKrK_AkW5cgsCM_Ogep7GGClYbRQP0GRlkW5kOixIWtBzVr2I_o0fr9tBFoOuq17eDB6aLa8OmefI42cFbF5Ec/s1600/Building+longlasting+friendships.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<u><i>"Are you doing too much for your child" </i>by Debbie Pincus</u> talks about how to change this behaviour and why we should. What I find especially interesting is that she especially mentions parents with special needs children and their desire to help so much that they are no longer helping their child's development and growth. She gives all parents some useful perspective on how to break this cycle.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.empoweringparents.com/Learned-Helplessness-Are-You-Doing-Too-Much-for-Your-Child.php#" target="_blank">Read more about this insightful article here.</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-18342717437710636682012-11-19T22:17:00.000+02:002012-11-19T22:17:23.669+02:00Guest Post: Cleaning in style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bonnies-Household-Organizer-Essential-Getting/dp/0312087950/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352666317&sr=1-1&keywords=bonnie%27s+household+organizer#_"></a><a href="http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=housekeeper&ex=1#ai:MP900428013|"><img alt="lazy housekeeping" class="wp-image-1432 aligncenter" src="http://auntieemsguide.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/mp90042801311.jpg" height="566" title="lazy housekeeping" width="378" /></a></div>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
This is not how I clean house!</h1>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lukegordon/2951637961/sizes/l/in/photostream/"><img alt="ladies of leisure" class="aligncenter" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3212/2951637961_f12f2c0632.jpg" height="333" title="Ladies of Leisure" width="500" /></a></div>
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This is more my style!</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bonnies-Household-Organizer-Essential-Getting/dp/0312087950/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352666317&sr=1-1&keywords=bonnie%27s+household+organizer#_"><img alt="Bonnie's Household Organizer: The Essential Guide for Getting Control of Your Home" class="alignleft" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KG39%2Bw9WL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" height="180" id="prodImage" title="Bonnie's Household Organizer" width="180" /></a>Many years ago, when I was a young bride-- back in the 1900's, as one of my students used to say-- I read a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bonnies-Household-Organizer-Essential-Getting/dp/0312087950" target="_blank">Bonnie's Household Organizer</a>. It changed my life! It taught me some very smart principles of keeping house that can be adapted to any size house, or any schedule. Then I read several of <a href="http://www.donaslett.com/" target="_blank">Don Aslett</a>'s funny but smart housekeeping books (Do I Dust or Vacuum First?) and adopted some of his ideas. Add Flylady, and you have a perfect combination of housekeeping brilliance! And notice I'm saying house <em>keeping</em>, not just <em>cleaning</em>. Here's the lazy way:
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<h2>
<strong>Prevent</strong> dirt and grime.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dust-Vacuum-First-Frequently-Housecleaning/dp/1593373317/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352666454&sr=1-1&keywords=do+i+dust+or+vacuum+first"></a></h2>
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<li>Place mats or rugs inside and outside doors, and from hard floor to carpets. These will catch lots of dirt before it gets where you don't want it.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dust-Vacuum-First-Frequently-Housecleaning/dp/1593373317/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352666454&sr=1-1&keywords=do+i+dust+or+vacuum+first"><img alt="Do I Dust Or Vacuum First?: Answers to the 100 Toughest, Most Frequently Asked Questions about Housecleaning" class="alignright" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mW7rW3nOL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" height="210" id="prodImage" title="Do I Dust Or Vacuum First?: Answers to the 100 Toughest, Most Frequently Asked Questions about Housecleaning" width="210" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dust-Vacuum-First-Frequently-Housecleaning/dp/1593373317/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352666454&sr=1-1&keywords=do+i+dust+or+vacuum+first"></a></li>
<li>Wipe sinks and faucets after you use them to keep them shiny and prevent spots and buildup. Standing water will cause all kinds of ugly!</li>
<li>Wipe up spills while they are new-- you can get them up much faster than if you wait.</li>
<li>Let water and chemicals do most of the work. Spray the cleaner on the spot and let it sit a minute; don't just start scrubbing. Chances are you will be able to wipe it up easily. Water works just as well for dried up food spills.</li>
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<strong>Set up systems</strong> to make things easy and automatic.</h2>
<ul>
<li>I keep a "Goodwill box" in my closet-- a kitchen trash can, with liner. As soon as I realize that something doesn't fit, or gets replaced, (or my hip daughters veto something that's older than they are) I toss it in the can. As soon as the bag is full, I tie it up and take it to Goodwill. They get the clothes, I get the tax writeoff-- it's a win-win!</li>
<li>Keep all things that you will use for one project together. For instance, my envelopes, return address labels, and stamps are all in one place. I also keep sympathy, wedding, baby, and birthday cards there. When I'm really with it, I have baby and wedding gift cards there too!</li>
<li>All of my monthly bills are paid by auto draft. I make sure there is a "pad" of extra money in my account so it won't bounce, and every single payment, even my tithe, comes out automatically. The credit union writes and sends checks to the places that don't accept electronic drafts. Think of the time and postage this saves!</li>
<li>Keep multiples of items that you use regularly in convenient places. I finally realized that scissors are not that expensive, but walking to the kitchen drawer every time I needed them drove me nuts and gave me one more reason to procrastinate. So now I have one in that drawer, one across the kitchen where I mix things up, and another pair in the desk. All labeled to prevent theft by unscrupulous children.</li>
<li>If you can clean everything in one session, a cleaning caddy with all your tools works well. I used to do that, but now I can't clean all at once, so I keep cleaner and paper towels under all the sinks so I can give a quick wipe when I get a minute. There's a bathroom cleaner and toilet scrubber in every bathroom.</li>
<li>Don't clean it unless it's dirty. My bathroom mirror is a huge 5X7 foot one. I'm 5'3' so only a small part above the sink gets splashes. That's the part I wipe every time.</li>
<li>Keep extra trash bags in the bottom of the can. You don't have to (climb the stepstool if you're like me and) get the box out every single time. Every step you save is some time saved, and that will add up! (Then you can blog some more!)</li>
</ul>
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<strong>Eliminate and declutter </strong>regularly.</h2>
The more STUFF you have, the more maintenance is required. Goodwill, the library, your friends-- somebody needs what is lying around unused in the back of your closet or bottom of your drawer! In the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280" target="_blank">Getting Things Done</a>, David Allen said that your file drawers should be no more than 75% full, because if it's hard to file things away, you won't do it. When I read this I had a light-bulb moment! I thought-- what a great idea for any storage container! My too-stuffed closet for example: if I'm going to wear the blue jeans tomorrow or the next day, it's so much easier to lay them across the chair than to hang them and stuff them in the jam-packed closet!
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How to pare down?</h3>
<ul>
<li>To earn its keep, YOU should consider it useful or beautiful. (to paraphrase <a href="http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Morris" target="_blank">William Morris</a>)</li>
<li>It's okay to get tired of things, or replace them, as long as you are not adding credit card debt!</li>
<li>You don't have to keep every gift ever given to you.</li>
<li>If it's a free hand-me-down and it doesn't fit right, get rid of it. Don't worry that it cost somebody else an arm and a leg.</li>
<li>If you work someplace like I do, a school district who buys a T-shirt for everything, you can end up with 15 or 20 in just a few years. You don't need that many! I know some charities make children's clothes from old T-shirts. Find something to do with them, or give them to Goodwill!</li>
<li>When you get a new pair of shoes or jeans, toss a pair of the old ones. Yes you need some yard shoes, but not 4 or 5 pair.</li>
<li>Don't buy more stuff if you have something else that works almost as well or can borrow it. I had to quit buying books because I ran out of space. I buy only occasionally, books that I want to keep. If I can't get something at the library, or through interlibrary loan, I will often buy it planning to donate it to the library after I read it. (Of course, Kindles and such eliminate that problem-- but be careful not to spend unnecessarily! Another post...)</li>
</ul>
<h2>
Get the most bang for your buck.</h2>
<ul>
<li>Neat and tidy go a long way. Keep baskets to collect things you use regularly, and don't want to put up every time, like magazines, games, kids' toys, etc.</li>
<li>Floors, beds, and tables are your largest surfaces. Start there. Save the pantry shelves for later.</li>
<li>Cook in bulk. This saves shopping, prepping, and cleanup time, plus that critical just-home-from-work, ravenous, brain-dead crisis can be averted! Pop it in the microwave and supper is ready!</li>
</ul>
Okay! I hope I've given you some ideas. If I've sparked something new, please share it!<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Guest Blogger Melinda Stanton</span></i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrHTt7ZpRHrNBBTLVpOe0IuJZOCjtmP3zzyU3NbO-CdGx854HSWpYm8cZnn5-2HThMqiQ67BaAxF19S8BfGWnaNQJYX6L05O3xiwuX3kDL7daNpNGEKBO4PP6aA4SVa49E6dZQ2UelYU/s1600/auntie+em+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrHTt7ZpRHrNBBTLVpOe0IuJZOCjtmP3zzyU3NbO-CdGx854HSWpYm8cZnn5-2HThMqiQ67BaAxF19S8BfGWnaNQJYX6L05O3xiwuX3kDL7daNpNGEKBO4PP6aA4SVa49E6dZQ2UelYU/s1600/auntie+em+cropped.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Hi! My name’s Melinda and I’m a teacher. Not just a school teacher- I am that too, but I love teaching anybody anything. Nothing scratches my itch like somebody saying that something I said helped them, or something I showed them made a difference. I like to cook, to read, to garden. I’ve lived over 50 years (just a little bit!); I’ve been married to the same man (He always signs himself “Mr X”) for over 30 years; and all of our children are self-sufficient, tax-paying adults who we love to visit and socialize with. I love the Lord and have served in 2 churches throughout my married life. Our house is paid for and we have no debt.</span><br />
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You can read my <a href="http://auntieemsguide.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/auntie-ems-guide-to-life-2/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Guide to Life </span></a>here, and see more about it.</div>
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I say all that to say– my life works. It might seem dull to some- no drama or fireworks. But I love it. Contentment and peace– that’s what you’ll find at Auntie Em’s house. Sit down and visit a while, and you can find it too.</div>
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<a href="http://auntieemsguide.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/auntie-ems-guide-to-life-2/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaohbz8f4qigWP7lzJzrDZmNPCmWs8hQS2EuBj1AnUtOaCxC3CkH8ZDvqXZr_uAkOOpwIo2ordFFU4WhRJIrRLhkDwyVTUD8cbhSRSeKdKfY2Fk3lVom2AmYLHMZsPtioynvmTR7ASLpI/s1600/auntie-ems-background-new-blue-button1.jpg" /></a></div>
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If you would like to read more about Melinda, you can find her on the web in the following places:</div>
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Blog: <a href="http://auntieemsguide.wordpress.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://AuntieEmsGuide.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com</a></div>
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Facebook Group: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuntieEmsGuideToLife" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>AuntieEmsGuideToLife</a></div>
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Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/AuntieEmsGuide" target="_blank">@AuntieEmsGuide</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-59230636755052122692012-11-18T22:39:00.005+02:002013-01-31T17:33:40.967+02:00100 things that you do or don't know about me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">You may not know me personally and some of you may know me really well but just so that you have a better idea of who Mel is, I wrote this list. After all you read my blog, you should probably make sure that I am not dodgy. Dodgy is a word we use a lot in our house. It means anything or anyone suspect </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">So here's my life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">1. I have a tattoo on my right shoulder of a Pegasus. I had it done in Israel and have never regretted it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">2. My left ear is smaller than my right ear - and the one is a little more floppy than the other. I could think of all sorts of names like "Dumbo" or "Big Ears" but instead I quietly tuck my ears away under bandannas, long hair and ignoring their imperfection.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">3. I love satin pajamas. And so does Sean:)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">4. I have big feet - a big round eight - fat feet, big feet which seems to somehow go quite well with Big Ears - starting to see a pattern here.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">5. I love coffee. Period. I cannot be converted or weaned. My blood type is coffee.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">6. My birthday is on the 15th October and I was born in 1972. 40 years old and counting</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">7. I was a high school teacher before I started homeschooling my children. I got so fed up with teaching other people's kids that I became rather nasty. Now I just terrorise my children at home instead. They love it and I love them.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">8. I go to bed very late every night. I love having time to myself at night.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">9. My favourite colour combination is red, pink, orange, lime green and yellow. I love this colour combination so much that whenever we move, at least one room in the house is decorated in these colours - currently its my kitchen and dining room.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">10. My favourite teacher at school was my geography teacher - he dressed funny, he looked a bit funny and he had those long strands of hair combed over his bald spot - but he believed in me and always encouraged me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">11. When I was in Grade 8, I was a drum majorette - a troupe, the lowest of the low. I never got to hold any interesting objects like flags or maces. I just had to march everywhere and I wasn't particularly good at that either.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">12. I am so directionless that I think I could even lose my way in my own back garden.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">13. My favourite type of fiction is mystery, thriller, espionage and legal detective novels. I get lost in these books. I read them all at once. Three days of reading and then I come up to breathe. My husband knows not to bother me and to lets me just go into hibernation.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">14. My favourite activity is watching a movie.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">15. I got engaged 6 months after meeting Sean.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">16. We got married after 11 months.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">17. It was his khaki shorts and sexy legs that first got my attention.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">18. I am very sensitive to smell. I have to smell good and so do others. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">19. My most expensive toiletries are smell related ones - deodorants, soaps, creams, perfumes</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">20. I love meeting new people and finding out what makes them tick, who they are and where they come from.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">21. If I was a movie maker I would make a movie just on stories about how people met, fell in love and stayed married.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">22. The one item I desperately want is a proper camera, I have an eye for photography but am limited to a small cheap digital one. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGA_3LSPXDTwGKBpErTs1NjTJAo-rZW5LMF5KU35yq6P7HCtvkZLeHvMtfg1a7mDR771KEtp8MfzsfjipsccbgjmjPMkY-evpfaYtiqRZAAZQPvErmn5PapO5B0YUHsLOz1AvWp39FgQw/s1600/on+good+behaviour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGA_3LSPXDTwGKBpErTs1NjTJAo-rZW5LMF5KU35yq6P7HCtvkZLeHvMtfg1a7mDR771KEtp8MfzsfjipsccbgjmjPMkY-evpfaYtiqRZAAZQPvErmn5PapO5B0YUHsLOz1AvWp39FgQw/s1600/on+good+behaviour.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">23. I have 5 children, 4 by birth, one by adoption and one is sitting with Jesus, watching her mommy down here on earth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">24. Our family has always had a tag line we live by "there is always space for one more at our table".</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">25. We love China. We love the people of China. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">26. Our dream is to move to China permanently one day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">27. I have a tongue that is too quick to speak!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">28. I can't touch the tip of my nose with my tongue or my earlobe for that matter.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">29. I have a funny toenail on my left big toe because I dropped a shelf on it when I was pregnant with Ethan and had to have the nail cut off. It's never recovered properly. Neither have I.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">30. My favourite colour is red.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">31. My favourite colour to wear is pink.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">32. My favourite position is first.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">33. I eat peanut butter out of a jar with a spoon after dipping it into the syrup.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">34. I never drink the last part of my coffee. Can't and won't.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">35. Sweet or savoury - why choose? I love all snacks.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">36. I don't like spending too much time with highly strung people, they make me nervous, and tense and edgy and highly strung.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">37. My pet hate is listening to someone chew next to me when I am not chewing. When I chew with them it seems to drown out the sound.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">38. If I were to have a nightmare about a particular animal it would be a maggot. They're so little, they could sneak in anywhere and eat you up. YUCK!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">39. My worst chore in the house is cleaning out the drain after doing dishes, where all the muck collects in that little muck collector and has become all squishy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">40. I think about food a lot. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">41. And coffee.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hHUu7Mh1J8jtZ65uyXjNL-58i5anxNNEWdfH8QgUkhIuC7RoYDA06AaDKmBR_FDLZvyfD84POBymDuy83RIBM3DJRpX9Kpgn0zZLM6U8Q6aTQ7RGF-u2NL17eY87zrGQ5NQSXXt5vME/s1600/legs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hHUu7Mh1J8jtZ65uyXjNL-58i5anxNNEWdfH8QgUkhIuC7RoYDA06AaDKmBR_FDLZvyfD84POBymDuy83RIBM3DJRpX9Kpgn0zZLM6U8Q6aTQ7RGF-u2NL17eY87zrGQ5NQSXXt5vME/s1600/legs.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">42. I don't like my legs. They're like tree trunks that need felling.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">43. I like my eyes and my smile, though I might not be able to see either of these very soon when my skin is completely saggy and covered in wrinkles but for the moment, while I can see them, I like 'em.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">44. My surname before I got married was Claassen.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">45. I am half English and half Afrikaans</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">46. Before I met my husband I travelled to 3 countries and "fell in love" in each one.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">47. I have one sister who lives in the UK.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">48. I love reading in the bath with candles, bubble bath and a glass of wine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">49. I love my blender and use it as often as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">50. My bread machine is one of my favourite items in my kitchen.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">51. I enjoy speaking publicly but always wonder whether what I am talking about makes sense or is even worth listening to.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">52. I have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight for many years and now am just happy to be voluptuous. I reckon that I am a far happier person when I can do what everyone else is doing, rather than being miserable and starving myself.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">53. I love going on dates with my children, spending one on one time with them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">54. I used to be the top shot put athlete in my school.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">55. I was a prefect in primary and high school, and now I wonder if it was not just a way of doing the things the teachers didn't want to do and a huge waste of time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">56. I don't like stories with unhappy endings. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">57. If there is one thing I wish I could do, it would be to fly. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">58. I love having people in my home</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">59. But I am glad when they go home eventually. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">60. I work on my computer every night.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">61. I have tried to study my honours in Psychology twice now. Destiny seems to be speaking louder.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">62. I am passionate about orphaned and abandoned babies.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">63. I stay away from anything that resembles a series on TV, as I get hooked very easily. And if I watch anything while consuming coffee, I am completely and utterly ruined.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAl-3A2QZICTQTLBq40HxpkSiXKoCfQW7mEgywXwMsw-JpeuNlNOiOmFaHNuB6iCvW2KIW_wFTElbR4W1UOhroDz7BsxCNgae42LKM0n4rb-UMKsIscucBCNcR9qPDz4MWANskN_eaz0/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAl-3A2QZICTQTLBq40HxpkSiXKoCfQW7mEgywXwMsw-JpeuNlNOiOmFaHNuB6iCvW2KIW_wFTElbR4W1UOhroDz7BsxCNgae42LKM0n4rb-UMKsIscucBCNcR9qPDz4MWANskN_eaz0/s1600/coffee.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">64. Lemon meringue is seriously my all time favourite dessert. If you make me a lemon meringue pie - I will declare my undying love to you and you will always be welcome in my house.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">65. I love falling asleep on my couch with the light on and the TV on.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">66. Wet wool and shoe laces make me get cold shivers - I avoid them as much as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">67. I refuse to touch anything that develops a skin on it - cooked custard, hot milk, overheated coffee.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">68. I love buying mugs. Whenever we travel to a new place, I buy 2 matching coffee mugs. One for Sean and one for me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">69. I love cappuccino with cream. Who could possibly want frothy milk when you can have cream?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">70. My mother still fixes my clothes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">71. I chat to my mother every day or at least every second day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">72. My dad gets jealous.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">73. So sometimes I phone him just so he can feel important too - and then I ask to speak to my mother.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">74. The most used word in this home is ... MOOOOOOOOMMMMM!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">75. I love butter and cream and sugar. Preferably all at the same time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">76. I snore. Shame. I know. Sad. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">77. I have mole on my cheek that Ruthie (my 4 year old) asks in very public places and very loudly "Mom is that a pimple? Must I squeeze it?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">78. The shower is where I cry. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">79. I love pretty underwear - and so does Sean:)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">80. I love my church family. I couldn't actually imagine life without them. I have parents, sisters, grandparents and aunts and uncles.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">81. I love the Lord, he's the reason I am. In fact he's the reason for everything. And I owe him everything.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">82. When I go shopping, I pick up a packet of chips off the shelf, eat it while I am shopping and pay for it as I leave. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">83. My best friend lives in Mtunzini, I see her maybe once a year but she loves me warts and all - we have been friends for 13 years and nothing ever changes when we see each other.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">84. I get sulky and petulant when I don't get my own way. I am working on sucking in my lip and biting my tongue but it's hard!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">85. I am a redhead, though slightly faded - and I hear that we are a rare breed. There are less and less of us every year, we need to be appreciated and looked after (in my opinion) with lots of special treatment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">86. When I can't fall asleep at night, I have a bath or a shower - it seems to tell my body that it's time to sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">87. My dream is to travel the world with my family and live out of a suitcase.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">88. If I could have one wish it would be travel to every country in the world and give my children the chance to learn on location about every place.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">89. Whenever I swim in a pool at night, I get quite scared and keep imagining a shark in the pool - too many of the old James Bond movies and Jaws.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">90. I over analyze people and situations. I always imagine that I have done something wrong and try and work it out in my mind.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">91. I used to work as a cashier at Checkers when I was 16.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">92. When I lived in Israel I looked after 7000 turkeys and they scared the living daylights out of me on a daily basis.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">93. When I lived in the UK I worked as a street sweeper, cleaning the streets of London, I even occasionally drove a garbage truck.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">94. I love gardening but I spend a fortune on plants that eventually die. I need plants that don't need care or water - basically plastic would probably be the best option.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">95. I drive my husband crazy by opening something new before the old is finished. If the toothpaste is on its last, I let everyone else finish the leftovers and I use the new stuff. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">96. When I make a peanut butter and syrup sandwich, I lick the knife when no one is looking.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">97. I always eat the crust off round my sandwich before eating the rest.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">98. I love lime milkshakes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">99. I love the ocean, I feel like God paints it a different colour for me every day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">100. I love lists:)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-77372127080262119222012-11-16T18:07:00.000+02:002012-11-16T18:07:15.588+02:00And the Winner of the The Greatest Coffee Giveaway<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;">W</span><span style="color: orange;">I</span><span style="color: yellow;">N</span><span style="color: lime;">N</span><span style="color: cyan;">E</span><span style="color: blue;">R</span><span style="color: purple;">!</span></span></b></div>
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I am a week late but I did not forget, so at least there is progress. And so who's the lucky person to win this fabulous gift?</div>
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Well done Nikki Loans you are a winner!</div>
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<b><i>Nikki Loans: I haven't tried Mexican Fudge, so that sounds yum!</i></b></div>
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I am sure you will love this coffee as much as I do</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>**********************************************</b></span></div>
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I know you have all been waiting with baited breath, in fact you can almost <a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2012/09/review-cafe-budan-coffee-at-its-best.html" target="_blank">smell the coffee </a>- you might even be seeing it like a mirage of coffee in the desert, or is that water? Well it's happening, it's big, it's the biggest...</div>
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;">Coffee Giveaway!</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6rhCUIWbITjiOBb0AiPK-tQ_Hr5hGdtk2s-w88gG3kAtnhFnvfogQWsgv1RvPeZ7STjtsqHPgaUH89nMfJ_ZsdxwP8I6IARF9EDiKsM-y5g7ljgcSmBkrS2YRLS9PgkSkPZfdNwFQGY/s1600/Coffee+giveway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6rhCUIWbITjiOBb0AiPK-tQ_Hr5hGdtk2s-w88gG3kAtnhFnvfogQWsgv1RvPeZ7STjtsqHPgaUH89nMfJ_ZsdxwP8I6IARF9EDiKsM-y5g7ljgcSmBkrS2YRLS9PgkSkPZfdNwFQGY/s1600/Coffee+giveway.jpg" height="291" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>Coffee Giveaway!</b></span><br />
<a href="http://mother-mel.blogspot.com/2012/10/interview-with-kevin-baker-local-south.html" target="_blank">Kevin our local barista</a>, who I interviewed earlier this month, has generously given us a great giveaway - 4 flavoured coffees and delicious chocolate covered coffee beans. Just the sort of thing you want to win just before Christmas! Or if you're like me, hide the stash in the cupboard and drink it all by yourself!<br />
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I bet you're asking yourself - What flavours? Hazelnut, Irish Cream, Mexican Fudge and Regular. Oh yeah baby! And then those yummy chocolate covered coffee beans - I mean chocolate and coffee were meant for each other - like the sun and the moon, the fish and the sea., OK so I have run out of any further examples but you get my meaning? All of this is valued at R235 and it could be yours! <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">How to Enter</span></b><br />
Simply leave a comment below and tell me which flavour you most want to try.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">For extra entries</span></b><br />
* Share this giveaway on Facebook/ Twitter and leave a comment separately for each one, to let me know you have. (1 extra entry each)<br />
* Blog about this giveaway - remember to come back and let me know you have done this in the comment section below.(5 extra entries)<br />
* Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MelsMouthfulonMothering" target="_blank">Mel's Mouthful on Mothering Facebook Page </a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/melaniegrant" target="_blank">Follow me on Twitter</a> - come back and let me know by leaving a comment (2 entries each)<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Remember that if you don't have a blog, leave your email address when you comment, so that I can contact you, otherwise you might not get your prize and you don't want to lose out on this one!)</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: #fffd81; color: #353535; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.549999237060547px;">
<i>Anyone can enter our <b>Giveaway</b> AND you can enter even if you have won one of the <b>Giveaways </b>before. Because of shipping fees, this competition <b>is only open to South African readers.</b></i></div>
<div style="background-color: #fffd81; color: #353535; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.549999237060547px;">
<b><i>The Winner will be announced on Friday 9 November 2012</i></b></div>
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Of course for those of you that can't wait to try this coffee, you can contact Kevin directly: <span style="text-align: left;">For only R50 you can buy a 250g bag of the most awesome coffee, and if you live in South Africa it can be posted to you.</span><br />
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<b>His contact details are: Cell 081-2706225 or <a href="mailto:kevin.adp@gmail.com" target="_blank">email him</a> and place your order.</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107509835570701987.post-9844981867201140972012-11-14T20:52:00.000+02:002012-11-14T14:24:46.668+02:00Homeschoolers Don't Socialize - Or Do They?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Oh yes, the <b>big socialisation issue</b>. Hope you have an answer now for every Mom, Nick and Mary - who questions the terrible isolation of your child as you exist in an island of homeschooling! Oh yes, homeschoolers are those rather sad individuals who have nothing better to do (dramatic clearing of the throat) than to sit at home (yes we sit, we don't run, walk or do anything very constructive) and teach our children , who are obviously maladjusted individuals that can't cope with "real" schools and so we keep them at home. <br />
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Did I mention some of those rather pointed comments people make to you? I am sure you could add a few more . So then that rather critical statement - <i>"but how do they cope without spending time with other children?"</i> Of course we all know this is not true. However we are probably more conscious than most mom's of our children's socialisation issues. I kind of count and balance the days. OK so 2 days of play dates, 2 non educational excursions with people around(surely that's considered socialisation?) and then of course sport. I am sure none of you sit and calculate how many days you have spent with and around people. But I used to do that as part of our homeschooling complex<i> </i>(yes I have one.. sometimes).<br />
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I recently stopped counting and decided that I would choose key opportunities for my children to get Out and About. My concerns are now more centred around making sure there is a balance between friends, exercise and sport, being content at just being at home and learning experiences outside of the home.<br />
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I have only lived in Kalk Bay for over a year now and yet we have already developed a substantial program for our children. Some of you may be new to homeschooling, others new to an area, or just struggling to know how to manage the social issue. This is how I went about it, and in fact still do.<br />
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* <b>Phone schools </b>- They always need able bodied individuals whether its for sport, chess or a drama club. Not all schools are open to this but so what, just keep knocking until you find one.<br />
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* <b>Scour the Newspapers </b>- I look out for interesting activities that children can participate in like walks, talks, open days, theatre, art exhibitions, shows on ice. Lots of these can be free so don't feel you have to always pay a fortune for your children's activities.<br />
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* <b>Internet search </b>- I sometimes just search on Google for "Kalk Bay" or "Fish Hoek" and see what websites are listed and what activities they mention. Sometimes you will find something unexpected.<br />
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<b>* Social Networks</b> - A invaluable resource. I belong to a few homeschooling groups which announce various activities that anyone can participate in. If there isn't one, why not start one. Even if its a small group, at least there is a community. Also don't just look at Facebook, there are groups in Linked In, Twitter and so many more.<br />
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<b>* Don't Isolate Yourself from School Going Children</b> -They know lots! Sometimes school going children hear about activities that are being advertised in the area. Extra classes, a special event - maybe even an excursion that you could ask about joining.<br />
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* <b>Travel a Bit if it's That Important to You </b>- Trying to stay in a 10 km radius could be challenging, especially if you live in a small town. Don't have transport? Take a train. Ask friends whether you can contribute to petrol. Ask if can borrow their second car if they have one. Drop and pick up your husband from work so you can use the car.<br />
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<b>*Sports Clubs - </b>Cost more but allow children to participate not only in practises but allows them to compete. If there are none of the more main stream clubs, try the unusual - like lifesaving, horse riding, table tennis. Sometimes the smaller clubs have more opportunities because they are not as sought after and have more space for your child to join the team.<br />
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<b>* Go to the Library</b> - Again the community boards there offer lots of activities and groups that meet there regularly - stamp collecting, quilting, the history society etc. And don't let your <i>own</i> interests govern this, your child may well be interested in quilting even if you never learnt how to thread a needle.<br />
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<b>* Start Your Own Co-op Don't Feel Left Out</b> - You might hear others talking about co-ops and wonder why you haven't been invited to join. Well don't fret, start your own. It doesn't have to be complicated. Its simply a group learning opportunity which could be drama, art, cooking, science. You don't need to be incredibly gifted to run something like this and if you have older children, let them teach the little ones.<br />
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<b>* Go to Gym</b> - Who says it needs to be a team sport. There are lots of opportunities to meet others at the gym!<br />
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* <b> Nature Clubs</b> - Most nature reserves or parks will have some kind of group that gets together regularly, find out when or suggest they start a children's group.<br />
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<b>* Forget About Age Gaps</b> - See it as an opportunity for your children to learn and serve. So often I hear parents complain that the children are too young or too old for their children to join. My children have learnt to interact with older and younger children comfortably because of the cross age combination.<br />
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<b>* Encourage Hobbies </b>- Hobbies allow your child to really develop their creative talents and open up a whole different field of experience to them - scrap booking, model building, woodwork, stamp collecting.<br />
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*<b> Exercise With your Children </b> - Don't always expect others to do it for you - get going with them. If there isn't a coach or a team, then just get going. Run on the beach in the mornings, hike up the mountains, go bike riding. You'll meet like-minded people as you do that and before you know it you'll have an exercise group meeting regularly.<br />
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<b>* Invite Others Over First </b>- Don't always wait for an invitation If your children meet someone at the park and they get on really well, meet the parents, swap telephone numbers and make a play date. I don't leave my children with anyone unless I know them very well. I simply visit with the mom while the children are playing. They get a new friend and so do you.<br />
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Most importantly, remember not to compare yourself to others. Every family is different. Running around all over the place for the sake of socialisation could lead to a very harassed and stressed day. Don't try to do everything but maintain balance and ensure quality rather than quantity. I have made many mistakes running after activities only to find them an absolute waste of time and money. I am exhausted by the end of the week, the house is untidy and my husband is wondering when we'll have a decent meal.<br />
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So what about you? I would love to hear from you. What have you found really worked for your family? <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330944753499639576noreply@blogger.com8