no words.......

I can't express how I am feeling about the terrible tragedy that is/has unfolded in QLD in the last 2 weeks or so. This week the unthinkable happened Toowoomba - yes the same Toowoomba 2000 feet above sea level flooded - don't ask me how I do not know. I will never comprehend the things I saw that day - the much published description of inland tsnumai was very very accurate. The worst thing is we were the lucky ones up here, yes there was some heartbreaking loss of life but the real hit was taken by the towns at the base of the range and lockyer valley - what they have endured is just devastating and honestly if it was me I do not know how I would move on from that.
These communities had no warning unlike Brisbane and Ipswich who had days to prepare themselves, these people were swept away in the blink of an eye with not a seconds notice, how is that right, fair or just. I do not know.
The aftermath of the Toowoomba flood ( and many other areas from what I understand) is ridiculous panic buying, people taking everything insight from the supermarket shelves, we had no need or desire to go to the shops, we were confident the roads would be open within a week and guess what, when we did venture out today - 5 days later there was milk and bread in the shop - very limited and god forbid I wanted pasta or butter or the like, but supplies were there. I did buy some milk cos this big fat pregnant woman has the worst craving for milk ( we usually use powdered so milk wasn't an issue for us ).
Apparently petrol is in short supply too, but we haven't needed it yet either. It is much worse up north however with no supplies getting through, I hope the roads open for everyone soon.

on a lighter note - this was in a fraser coast paper in response to someone suggesting people make their own bread - i still can't believe people aren't aware you can actually make it yourself

But I assume it comes out of the oven as one solid mass. How do you then cut it into slices?

really I kid you not

what more can I say after that

feeling special

This is what I received in the mail today - the picture just doesn't do it justice, its beautiful and in my favourite colour too. The catch is I have no idea who it is from the Aus post satchel just said RAOK.

I am feeling awesome which is why i wanted to do some RAOK's myself but someone beat me to it :). I certainly don't feel like I deserve it, despite good intentions I don't feel like I have ever done some nice for someone for no reason. Not something I am particularly proud to admit but sadly its true, in the past I have spent too much time thinking how bad we have it blah blah blah when in reality we are truly blessed and don't really know hardship, suffering or loss. I have never touched someones life for the better or made the world happier but all that is about to change - watch out world :)

So mystery person, THANKYOU, I can't tell you how you have made my day in so many ways. It was just what I needed.

off to a flying start

with the decluttering that is.....

okey dokey so far i have decluttered

12 odd socks from the washing basket
1 old video player
2 bags rubbish/broken toys from the toy room
1 bag assorted kids clothes - probably could've counted them all individually but i did actually do this in 2010 but didn't put them in the donation bin until yesterday
2 pairs jeans - repurposed into a quilt for moo man
8 old/unused toys
26 items from my wardrobe
1 old sheet with holes

total so far = 53/365

so doing well for day 2 of the year

when I get around to getting on the desktop computer I will load up some photos of the quilt I have experimented with out of 2 pairs of old jeans and some scrap material. I am not just chucking stuff out and donating things I also want to repurpose some of the things I have as well - hence trying to make a quilt out of stuff I already had lying around. It would make actual quilters die from the horror of it but it was really experimental and given me an idea whether it is something I would like to do more of and yes I think it is.

Stay tuned for the photos

News years Resolution number 3

ROAK's or random acts of kindness. I am going to aim for 1 a month for 2011. I often sit around feeling sorry for myself and wishing this, that or the other was different but you know what we are truly blessed in so many ways, far too many to count.

So in 2011 by aim is to keep remembering how lucky we are by giving to those who might be doing it tough

anyone want to join me in this challenge and try to make the world a happier place for everyone

and PS - the decluttering has begun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Years resolution number 2

okay probably not so much of a resolution but a challenge.....My challenge for 2011 is to declutter 1 item per day, so 365 items for the year.

Anyone wanna join me in this, not only will we feel good about how uncluttered our house will be but also by donating/regifting/recycling or repurposing the item will be will doing our bit for the less fortunate and the environment

And as a disclaimer, this was NOT my idea, I wish it was, but I read about it on a forum i like to read http://downtoearthforums.com/forum.php

anyhoo I will try to keep a record of how I am going on here, so feel free to play along with me and we can keep each other motivated

New years resolution number one

this is something I have been thinking about for quite a while but today I got a little wake up call ( really a rather large slap in the face).

Good Friends lost their sister today, far too young and leaving behind 5 beautiful children so in memory of her and what she went through -

 my first resolution is to try harder to live in the moment, enjoy all the little things i seem to take for granted, just the everyday stuff. I feel like I spend too much time fussing and worrying about stupid insignificant stuff, like the dishes, washing etc and not just enjoying the sound of my childrens laughter. I have already whinged enough about how I hate my job and would give everything to be at home - so then why when I am at home do I brush aside the loving cuddles of my children because the dishes need doing or similar. I am an idiot, yep I said it, who gives a rats arse about the dishes when I can spend time with the best things I have ever created. Time is short so from this moment on I am going to make the most of it.....I may need to come back and read this from time to time but that is the plan.

officially done

the christmas shopping that is........well not really but I have done all I am going to do and the last remaining things are being left for MrD.
I still have to make a couple of superhero capes but that shouldn't take too long and then wrap but my shopping trips are done. I think I would have done maybe 50% online and next year I aim to do more that way, so much easier that traipsing around the shops and I am not much of a shopper at the best of times :)

Right now I am downloading New Moon for MrD instead of buying it at the shops.....hello 21st century, this is the first time I have ever done that so pat on the back for me. Although it does seem my internet is not as fast as I thought it was and it is taking an eternity and not sure I can keep him away from the computer for as long as it is going to take but meh its less than a week to go so if he finds out I can live with it :)