ME: Watch this Space ...

Gen friend over at Purls Paws is taking part in a challenge and invited her readers to join.  I thought it sounded like a great idea and have taken her up on that challenge.  


This is what you have to do each day....

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.
Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name.
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends.
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why.
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Your favorite song.


Now i'm joining in from day 4 - tomorrow, better late then never right?

A bit of (NEEDED) time out

When you become a parent you begin to wonder what you ever did with your time before 'the kids' as it seems some days you do nothing but tend to them. You also start to wonder if you will ever get a break from the continuous demands there are, and if your like me - you start to realise that its important for sanity's sake to make time for yourself, and for your relationship.

So yesterday we were lucky enough to have some escape time.

Took the opportunity to try somewhere we hadn't been for dinner before, after a few laps up and down the main street (for old times sake) we parked outside the Ultra Lounge.

Have to say we made a great choice! Its not often my Hubby and i go out for dinner these days and the older i get the more i'm open to trying new things. When it came to choosing a wine to compliment my steak i had ordered i automatically looked at the reds - but the waiter suggested i sample one that was on trial for the wine list. Not one to say no, he brought a Sauvignon Blanc to the table which was fresh and crisp, so inviting i decided to start with a glass (those whom know me will know Sav B is my fav!) ... Although i also pre-ordered a Hawkes Bay Cab Merlot to side my main, call me a traditionalist ... in the end both glasses were a good choice and sure found their way straight to my head.

Dinner was amazing though - starting with the old faithful garlic bread which melted in the mouth at the first bite. It was a bonus when we were served with a complimentary taste of soup of the day - Coconut, Tomato with Vanilla bean oil from chef and thats when i knew dinner wasn't going to disappoint. Main course came Fish of the day - Hapuka pan fried with scallops, prawns and a Jerusalem artichoke puree for Mark which i was lucky enough to sample (er i mean let melt in my mouth) before the plate was empty. My Main was the Beef fillet which i asked to be on kumera mash instead of polenta, complimented with chestnuts, baby beets, broad beans and spinach drizzled with truffle oil - now you know the chef is sure of his meat when they don't provide a steak knife - and they were right it was that tender you didn't need one. WOW seriously the most flavorsome meal i've had for a while, i certainly understand the 'fuss' over truffle oil now. Plates almost licked clean! & no time for desert due to savoring the moment all i could!

Over dinner we decided that we'd head to a movie rather than G Taranaki and Inception certainly didn't disappoint either, i think i forgot to blink from about halfway. Totality worth it though and as i was finishing late and the weather was appalling we decided to wing it, making a night of it and took the chance to catch up with my pre-kids work mates @ The Waterfront Hotel, booking the last available room for the evening (Mark was SO relieved when they said a standard room was left vacant - i think we were both expecting to hear Penthouse EEK!) It certainly was great to have a true night out stopping at a bar or two on the walk back from the movies (in hindsight not the best night to 'wear in' new boots) but i must confess knowing how good the Salmon Eggs Benny is at Ultra Lounge, i had already decided that was my brunch the following morning so it was great to cut down on travel between meals!

However ...... it is a tad embarrassing when you turn up for brunch at the same place you went for dinner, in the same clothes ..... and have the same waiter!

Oh well we soon got over that and enjoyed the rest of our 'break' with more mouth watering, flavour filled food and top rate service.

Now back to reality & how special is it when you get that 'love you - missed you hug' from such special little people, love them both so much xxxx

But hope its not such a long wait until the next one hehe

August .... already!

So far this month our letterbox feels like its attracting nothing much but bills .... I've failed to notice the car WOF until it is now a week over due .... great start huh! ..... seems that theres a pattern here. It feels like there are not enough hours in the day to complete the chores that need doing - or perhaps i'm not doing them fast enough?

But everyday I've been taking a moment out to stop and think,

I've noticed how much my children teach me,

be it the small things like how fun it is to just smile and giggle when pulling washing off the line as mums trying to put it on,

to the big things like how important and happy we feel when love is forever present in our lives. I've found that on days when i stop being controlled by what has to be done and take a moment to share and feel the love with my girls our house runs at a happier level.

Being a Stay at home mum comes with its own challenges and benefits, its only occurred to me lately that there are a lot of things i never realised as i was growing up - like how much you can teach your children by getting them involved in whats happening, not to mention the ease and sense of achievement and involvement that comes from doing something together. We really are our children's first teachers in life, we role model such basic skills that we don't even know we are doing.

It amazes me some days when i stop and watch the girls play, Emma is such a wee delight leading and teaching skills to her little sister - of course there are the moments when she turns and says in the harsh but not quite yelling voice "Rebecca i have told you, i just need you to stop touching that" or "i'm busy, just wait" .... just as i have role modeled to her no doubt, it does bring a tear to my eye when she recalls moments that i'd prefer not to have happened.

But it reminds me to stop and look at the way i'm acting at times because that is how my children see me and although i know that i'm not perfect, i do have the passion to try my best to be the best mum i can to my amazing blessings - thats all i can do.

Now i think I've babbled enough - and the purpose of this post was actually to say i'm starting some spring cleaning and i'm feeling change in the air ... so watch this space as when i have time my blog is going to get a revamp .....

... is there anything you want to see more of?

.... is there anything you'd like to see less of?

I'm open for any suggestions xxx

Hope your having a lovely, sunny and happy day