just Cesar...

Cesar - Dog Whisperer!!

 My family are in love with Cesar! There, I said it. Did I mention that we don't have a dog? True. We watch his shows. We hang on his every method, his every word. We love his strength, his calmness, his respect for dogs. His respect for families. The way he uses his energy to assert his strength. 

Just thought you should all know...

Ciao for now

just Martha

Loves: Bag Organisers

Yep. Totally infatuated. Ask my friends. I rabbit on and this is what they get for presents at the moment. This is only one type. There are many. It makes finding things in your bag soooo much easier. It 'organises' your bag. It can then be transferred to your other bag and nothing needed is left behind. I like that.

Remember folks 'take pleasure in the everyday' and if being able to find your car keys easily, or you nail file makes you happy..... give it a try!!!

Ciao for now

just Martha

PS: Master T was very chuffed at all your positive comments and lft the office with a big smile on his face...

just a Phone Call Away...

I have a wonderful friend for whom a door has opened. A-n-d she and her family are going through it to a new life, a new adventure, m-i-l-e-s away. I admire her so very much. For taking the plunge. For being brave. For wanting a better life for her gorgeous family. 'The Girls' went out to lunch. Most of us met at Kindy as our boys/girls were starting together and have kept up a close friendship ever since. We sort of, well, 'clicked' really. We are all different but really the same. Do you know what I mean? Lunch was an emotional affair full of news, laughter, gifts, speeches....tears.  Is this the end as she goes off into the wild blue yonder? (in crocodile country no less. See, I told you she was brave...). No. No way indeed. Good friends are not like that. We have Skype. We have blogs. We have phones. Today, we have a zillion ways to keep in touch... Good friends also don't need to talk everyday. They catch up where they left off. That is just the way it is.... My friend is a gorgeous little thing with a lion's heart. She is heavenly. I wish her well on her new adventure and so look forward to hearing her stories...  Dear 'K', this is a 'see you later', never a 'goodbye'... You are always welcome to stay...

Ciao for now




just Martha

Love: Apple Blossoms

Well, the markets were wonderful again this week. I bought apples from growers who come from Stanthorpe. Their apples come from ancient trees and  taste a-m-a-z-i-n-g! They have a 10 year old saying 'yum' at every bite! AND they last in the fridge fresh and crisp for the full 2 weeks if they are not eaten long before. This week I bought apple blossoms as a treat although I did spy tulips so was torn between my old favourites and a new experience. The apple blossoms won and here they are. Let's see how long they last... 

Ciao for now 

just Martha

Love: Bon Voyage

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We have just taken Miss T to the airport for her school trip.  She was nearly sick with nerves at the thought of being late. She had to be there by 5.05am and was up at 3.30 getting ready. Woke us all with a 'time to get up' and was champing at the bit to go... Packed her own bag, checked her own list, sorted her own clothes/outfits/style... How did that happen? I'm usually the one who gets the list out! Am I now obsolete or have I just trained her well? She is 12 and 165cm tall and a force to be reckoned with. I am excited for her, for her adventures, her chance to be independent, her chance to be bitten by the travel bug. For the chance to discover who she is.... I am so proud of her and have so enjoyed every stage of her life, from being a little bump to being this cool, independent, capable girl!!! The joys of motherhood. There are probably some bits I could have done without (like when she was 3 and pointed when saw a severely disabled man in an electric wheelchair in a shopping centre and laughed hysterically at him!! The Silver Fox and I ran away in opposite directions. She was lucky I think that he didn't run her over...) but all in all it has been a wonderful joy!! Have fun my gorgeous Moo Moo!! High school next year.... where did that time go?

Ciao for now 

just Martha

Love: Collections

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 Do you collect anything? What can't you resist? Not really in the Kryptonite category, but something that makes your heart sing. Something you have loads of but might n-e-e-d one more? Me? Boxes, containers, storage....... Aaaah, they are a great love of mine....

What about you?.......

Ciao for now


just Martha

Quirks

Do you have any quirks? Quirky things you do? Harmless quirky things. Not talking OCD level stuff but just, you know, things you do... There is a fine line between quirks and obsession but, maybe you do some things just the way you do...

Here are a few things I do:

• I read magazines from the back to the front. Always. Why? Don't really know
• I like round numbers. For example it is not very often I will buy $87.69 worth I petrol. I will cram more in until it is $88.00. If it jumps to $88.01, it is not really what I was aiming for...
• I give 'the look' when not happy...
• Toast. Stone cold. Stood together on the plate like a little tent to cool. Butter. Lashings. Can't be melted. Marmalade. Aaaaahhhh! Breakfast...

What about you? What 'Quirks' do you have?......

Ciao for now


just Martha

Sad...

weheartit

My little man came home today. He has had a tough week. Full of ups and downs, mostly downs. He plonked down on the chair and slowly told me about it. His incisor had fallen out. This was good because it meant he could score some cash. Now he can only get money from the Tooth Fairy if. And only i-f. He believes in her. He told me where the tooth would be. In case I was talking to Tarah (his Tooth Fairy). Hmmmm, I think he is playing me!! Sadly, he was 'dropped' today by his girlfriend. She said 'your dropped'. (Yep, they still say that apparently). I watched him as he told me, holding my breath. He was dropped once before, when he was 3 and it didn't go at all well. Not well at all. You see he left daycare to go to kindy and his best mate Jay, hooked up with his daycare girlfriend. Apparently. Well, he was destroyed. He told me, when he was 3, that he would 'never love again', 'never get married' and 'never have children'... So, you can appreciate the potential for this situation to go either way... At 10 he could have matured considerably or, he could have coped 3 x worse..... "She'll come back" he said. Son, I hope so because she doesn't know what she is losing!!! There he was, my gorgeous son, running in the cross country, coming 4th, when he stopped to take his girlfriend to the teacher 'because she was crying- I couldn't just leave her Mum'.... SNAG that one!! (he came 9th). Do you know what a snag is? A Sensitive New Age Guy! Maybe there is another term as that does sound a bit....hhhmmm....... 80's-ish!!  He has been picked on as well at school, which we found out at our Family Night (still going by the way and v-e-r-y successful!). Tears, sadness, family discussion on bullying and how to look brave even when you are not... What a week!!! Let's hope that Tooth fairy remembers to come tonight..... We could always blame the rain or the window being shut if she forgets. She has before....

Ciao for now 

just Martha

Talking to You...

weheartit

This message came by way of email to me. I knew when I saw it I just had to pass it on.....

May today there be peace within.

May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.

May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content with yourself just the way you are.

Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Ciao for now


just Martha

Date With a Difference

 I am very excited! I am going on a 'Date Weekend'! 3 nights away. A plane trip. Off to visit LJ (sister) and her wonderful little family. BUT. Here is the thing. It is not with the Silver Fox. No, no, no....... It is with my beautiful Tweenie Daughter!!! And the Silver Fox is excited because he also gets a 'date' with Tweenie Son. Oh, the things we both have planned!!! Friends, do you have dates with your children? A big one-on-one session? We always have. It is all about doing what 'they' want to do, what 'they' want to eat, we go where 'they' want to go. Daughter's dates always include a bubble bath spa and a foot spa with nail polish, a meal out, and a movie. Son's dates? Well, they include lots of bike riding, a picnic and more bike riding...

Each year I take one child to visit LJ for a few nights. Sometimes it coincides with birthdays like Tweenie Son's 10th birthday this year, and sometimes it is just when we can fit it in. We have other dates too. If one child is away or, we just split up for a few hours. Why do we do it? Well, I want to get to know my children AND, I want them to know they are special and loved. AND, sometimes the Silver Fox gets a bit caught up in work so it is a way to get him to smell the roses on his journey through life. We talk about things, loves, worries and dreams..... The secret to Tweenie Son is to get his hands busy so then his mouth will talk!! Friends, remember this about your sons, and men in your life generally. Works like a charm.

Over the years I have caught some flack from other Mummies about my 'dates' and how I should take both children to see LJ. But, I stand firm. When we go, the other child doesn't feel left out because they are excited about their own 'date'. So, I ignore the comments and plan anyway. A trip to see LJ is very exciting for me as well as it involves some special 'sister time'. LJ has one of those special, amazing husbands who says 'go out to dinner girls, I will mind the kiddies'. Doesn't he sound heavenly. He is. No guilt trip!!  Thanks B-I-L. So off we will go to dinner, drink champagne, laugh a lot and usually share some tears. Great fun!!! Don't forget it is very important to charge your own batteries doing something you love. Well, for me, it doesn't get much better. We also get to spend time with LJ's children, which is very important too. I am determined to be the 'Cool Aunty'!!!

So friends, no posts for a little while as I concentrate on sharing the love around. Hope you have a great weekend......

Ciao for now


just Martha

PS: Thank you to all my 'followers' and friends who take the time to comment and to 'read' me. It is very exciting!!!!

Love: Mummies

With all this talk on being a Mummy, with values and beliefs etc, I guess it is time to reflect on my own Mum. What was she like? Really. I mean as a child, a Mum is a Mum right? Friends, look at your past with an adult interpretation. What is your Mum like now you have an adult perspective? Now you have had children (if you have) and know the energy and patience it takes every minute of every day. What will you embrace from her skills repertoire? What will you be keen to discard? I have discussed this with my Mum. She l-o-v-e-d being a Mummy. She showered us with hugs hello, hugs goodbye, 'I love you's'... (she learned not to kiss the babies on the lips after a few doses of gastro!!!) Her family never touched. 'Dinney be so sully wee hen' (Scottish Granny, means don't be silly!)  her Mum said when my Mum went to hug her goodbye. Imagine? I am in a reflective mood today. Probably scared by Tweenie Son's escapades.... Life is a bit uncertain.

My own Mum is slipping away.... gradually....... not in body or spirit. She gets a sort of glassy expression as if she has forgotten something, but is not quite sure what it was or if it was important.... The tide has turned. I watch out for her. I shower her with hugs and kisses. I worry for her. I plan for her. Oh, I do have a Dad too. He is finding this all a bit foreign, a bit deceptive, a bit like a betrayal. I do this with the respect they both deserve. This women he promised to be partners with in life, now needs cajoling and reminding. Over and over.  And over. It is hard, making sure she is going to be safe in the future. Planning ahead is needed but is heart wrenching. She would hate to know she became like this. She who wouldn't go out without her hair done or her lipstick on needs to be gently reminded. It was inevitable as it does run in her family but it doesn't really seem fair. She has survived health issues only to become, sort of, stuck between day and night, awake and asleep. She was a great Mum. I say this in past tense, although I am conscious of the fact she is very much alive. It s just the way it is now. She must have been because we are a close family. We ring, we visit, we take her out. We worry. Her birthday is coming up and we are planning lots of little surprises. We will all be together. We will have cake and champagne! Can't wait. So friends, look at your life with adult eyes, with new understanding. With love. I firmly believe Mothers in general strive for excellence, do the best they can. You do don't you? And as Mothers we know we admire people who do their best...........I love you Mummy-Darling.......


Ciao for now

just Martha

Love: Daughters

Friends, I am aware of the difficulties raising a strong, balanced independent daughter. These days. Why? There are so many pressures today. So many outside influenced. So many negative influences. Maybe these two above had it easy. Maybe they didn't. Different times, different pressures. I don't want to be an autocratic Mummy. I also don't want to be a  'Best Friend' Mummy. I want to be the Mummy. The one to set boundaries. To allow those boundaries to grow. I want to teach consequences. I want to be strong enough not to stop every mistake.  I want to teach my children to be strong. To think for themselves. Not to follow the crowd. Friends, I am sure you will agree that parenting can be tricky. Bad parenting is easy. I've seen it at my place of work. Good parenting - now that is hard. Being consistent, being fair, being supportive.... I want to have a good relationship with my daughter. She will be a teenager soon and I want to still be connected even though her friends will be more important. 

I have discovered Dannielle Miller's 'the buttefly effect' that addresses my concerns and goals. That I can develop a deep connection to my daughter throughout her teenagehood. Hooray!!! It is interesting reading, friends. A bit confronting but all together good old common sense. There is also a section of questions to ask your daughter called 'Let's Talk' so you can understand this child of yours. Very helpful. I read the book whilst on a family holiday and asked Tweenie Girl some questions on the way back in the plane. To check her self identity I asked her what she saw when she looked in the mirror. I received a nice, positive answer. Phew. So far so good. I checked her self esteem by asking her what 5 things she liked about herself. Again, a good response. Then I asked her to name a women she admired. This was to check whether she based her views on looks only or substance. You know what she said? Friends, she said that I was a person she really admired. Well, that blew me away (she hasn't read the book by the way) She said that I was strong, that I didn't always say 'yes' to everything and I always explained things to her. She said she thought I was fair and she knew she was loved!!! Go figure!! Maybe I can do the job I am setting out to do....... Friends, please tell me your thoughts, your fears, your joys.....

Ciao for now

just Martha