My winter list

and the main one....

STAY WARM :)

What's on your winter (or summer) list?

PS had my performance appraisal from the old team today. Easy-peasy. One down, one to go.

Yes, I'm terrible at accepting blog awards

I always love getting some blog love in the form of these awards but I must confess, I'm terrible at the whole accepting and passing them on thing.

I don't like choosing people to give it to unless certain bloggers clearly spring to mind.

And I can't really think about things to say that you don't already know - is my life not an open book?

Also, I don't have a system (!) so I forget until I make the rounds and see the other people "accepting" their awards and then I remember.

Oy!


Anyway, here goes:

I got this trendy award from Rebecca in *blush* January, nearly two months ago.



And then a stylish blogger award from Mandy just last week :)



Thank you so much for the blog love - it's like virtual hugs on the internet.

So, let's see... 7 more things about me...at work

1. My cupboards at work are filled with kitchen things - mugs, tea, coffee, sweetener, biscuits (Salticrax for my low blood pressure) and cup-a-soup (tomato flavour if you're interested) - and not a single box of staples or officey thing.
2. I'm a pen snob. I only write with my beloved Pilot 0.7 gel pens. Try them and see...
3. I regularly talk to myself and tell myself how well I'm doing, like this. "M, you worked SO well today." First time a new guy heard me he thought I was crazy. My response? "If I don't tell myself nice things, who will?" Yip, made my point. Do you tell yourself nice things too?
4. Sometimes I'm amazed I actually function in corporate. I really don't like taking orders from anyone and I hate chasing up people to do their darn jobs. Still, this is why I'm employed (let's call it my tenacity... :)) and most people don't mind it. I personally would hate people badgering me but hey.
5. Most days I do love my job... and when I don't want to do something, I force myself to do it and then reward myself with a mug of tea and some blog reading.
6. They (my team) all use the word "awesomeness" because of me. Ha! I regularly say things to them like, "oh, that is SO part of your awesomeness". I suggested that we have "live your awesomeness" as one of our team values and they went for it. It tickles me pink :)
7. I honestly work with a fantastic bunch of people. We can all be brutally honest with one another and we never have that horrible tension going on. Well, there was one incident with the new person but she and the other guy sorted it out and we are all a happy family again.
   

So... it's late and I'm only giving this to 7 people. With quick intros.

Sarah from Bio Girl. Sarah was the first IF/ IVF blog I followed and Sweet Henry was born
Louisa from 123 myself (that's how I found her - I was checking URLs before buying this domain) with adorable daughter, Nicola.
Heather is a gorgeous, clever IT manager person (that's about as technical as I get) with the most gorgeous little boys and a beautiful daughter. Heather and I are both ESTJ :)
Lynette whose word of the year is breathe - I love her word and her beautiful spirit. She's also a scrapbooker who lives in the city where I was born.
Hayley who is the epitome of stylish. We keep threatening to meet up because she actually lives near me (near by Jhb standards)
Cat who is actually crafty (yes, I'm jealous). Had a beautiful party for her little girl recently (it's me that keeps pointing people to that party post!) and the most fabulously stylish but low key birthday for her twin boys.
Kendra - started following her blog recently from crafty blog hops- go look at her office redo - GORGEOUS


How are you with these award things?

Are you on top of them? Or a slacker like me?


P.S. Coming up - biting, discipline and pics of those darn tins. Also I now have a "crafty things to do" list - yes, you can laugh.

Update on my 36 things list

Well, September was crazy but that's no excuse.

LauraC commented on my first post and said I should categorise the list and then tackle a few every month.

Brilliant idea but I haven't done it yet :)

I will do, sooooooooon.

Things going well

1. reading 5 books a month. I must confess, I'm cheating slightly because I find that to get number 5 in, I have to pick something half-read just to make my quota :)
2. developing my photo system - it's still a huge schlep and I've realised the only thing that will change this is either to take fewer photos or delete more so the process can go faster. this is taking a full evening every 2 weeks and in my view, that's too much.
3. beach holiday is booked
4. as are the photoshoots
5. 29 gifts - this is going fantastic
6. getting hair done - pure necessity!
7. decluttering clothes
   
8. lunch with friends - I am being really intentional about this and it's paying off. I'm able to connect properly (in a gaggle of girls, it's near impossible :))
9. I've done a roast chicken again and this time it was good. Next up... meat.
10. I had two sessions with a life coach which were really illuminating. It's crazy - I coach people and coach them well and yet I still have some blinkers on about my own life.
    

Things that need a lot more work

1. living a simpler life - there are so many pretty things out there and it's taking real self-control to (sometimes) restrain myself. E.g. I don't need any more bags, certainly no more red bags, but this beautiful red bag called out to me on Saturday and you know what? I don't actually regret buying it. It's not only about material things but the other stuff deserves a whole separate post.
   
2. lowering expectations of myself and others - it seems I still think I'm Superwoman and can do everything I want to. I really have to limit my computer time to a maximum of 2 hours at night otherwise nothing else gets done, like the reading thing and spending time with D thing :)

Things going badly

1. massage - I have skipped my massage for two months now but I have a discount voucher so will definitely go in October
2. the weight thing. I am 0.5 kg heavier than I was when I started this weight loss thing 7 weeks ago.
   
3. the gym thing. I really can only make it to gym two nights a week because I have a business to run too and D also needs to go to gym some nights.
4. making money from business blogging. I worked it out and my BlogHer earnings are absolutely pathetic. I make something like R30 an hour spent on blogging. Crazy - if i didn't get so much traffic, I'd self-coach myself to stop that blog. So I booked a coaching session with a blog coach for my business blog to see how I can make more money from it.

Main lesson learned

Stop getting on computer so much!

Do you have monthly and weekly lists? How do you make sure you get them done? Do you also think you're Superwoman?

I think I'm getting old...and list of 36 update

I find myself incredulous at how quickly this month has gone by.

It's always older people who say "time is just flying" so I think I'm getting old :)

My one friend (the one I wrote about before) and I have successfully transitioned to girlfriends again and she is taking me out for supper next week so we've been email-chatting a lot.


The supper is an experience gift for my birthday earlier this month - I love it when the goodness just stretches and stretches, don't you? Anyway, she is turning 40 and is going on a lovely island holiday to Zanzibar as a gift to herself. FABULOUS!

Which got me thinking about my list of 36...

1. Do LOTS more talks
2. Develop and keep up a system for my photos I now have the system; I just need to do it :) I seriously suck at Project 365 - I am going to do better and hopefully make the last 4 months count. If I get this going, I think I'll make it...
3. Do a weekly review post
4. Have a family photo shoot when the babies can walk (I have very specific photos in mind and they need to be walking for that :)) Photo shoot is booked!
5. Take a beach holiday
6. Decide on a policy for attending kiddies birthday parties
7. Go to gym 8 times a month - only managed twice the whole of August
8. Do at least 3 talks on my infertility story to church or other groups See number 36
9. Learn how to make a halfway decent blog header with photos in under 30 minutes
10. Reconnect with a friend I truly love (she's moved to Pretoria so we never see each other any more) Done and it was fantastic
11. Learn to let go A work in progress :) Looks like I'm doing good with the kids :)
12. Read 5 books a month - Done for August
13. Weigh 57 kg - have put on 0.5 kg!
14. Hire a personal trainer to help me get to my goal weight - all costs factored in, need to just start
15. When I reach said goal weight, reward myself with a professional photo shoot
16. Use those photos to have a website redesign - have selected designer - in questionnaire process and then good to go. Decided not to use my photo in header so I don't have to keep paying design fees when I get bored :)
17. Live a simpler life - trying...
18. Simplify my business even more and do only really high-value work Have decided what high-value work means for me - speaking and coaching
19. Travel internationally with D for at least 5 days! Our passports expire in December - just checked out places that don't need lots of time left on your passport. So far France, Spain and Portugal are looking good!
20. Do regular random acts of kindness
21. Pay for a stranger's meal/ groceries
22. Do my version of 29 gifts - 4 unexpected gifts a month this is the one thing that is going really well. It seems I have developed focus because I see gifts everywhere I want to give to others and am loving surprising people. Look out - you may be next :)
23. Get better with my skincare routine
24. Have lunch with a friend once a month. Definitely on this list - a friend I've recently connected with after we lost touch for years (we met at university and I haven't seen her for about 8 years)! We've arranged a lunch date for November :)
25. Get outside of house painted
26. Figure out how to generate income from my organising blog Have session with blog coach end Sept...
27. Redesign organising blog (contrary to what you may think, I find it very hard to let people design things for me as I'm so clear on what I hate!) - Hoping to get a different banner but same look and feel with person who is doing my website
28. Lower my expectations of myself and of others I'm making HUGE strides in this area - but it's a process
29. Take a very basic photography class
30. Learn to cook a roast Thanks to MandyE and Natalie for mailing me recipes - happy to report I've now roasted a chicken. Not 100% happy with results so will do again and again until I am satisfied. Once that's sorted, will attempt meat :)
31. Hire a life coach Had two sessions and am booking more - gained SUCH clarity, it was fabulous :)
32. Get at least one massage a month massage was booked but the therapist cancelled (gran was very sick and whole family was summoned)
33. Get hair done once a month - done for August
34. Have only clothes in my wardrobe that I love and that look good on me Working on it... have decluttered winter clothes about 60%
35. Meet up with 3 blog friends (Cat, are you game?) Does it count that I was with two bloggers at the birthday party on Saturday? No, that's cheating. I intended a proper meet-up.
36. Get involved in some form of ministry again (I've stopped for the last 2 years and am feeling the itch to make a difference again) - could be those infertility talks otherwise even just mentoring people, etc. I've reached out to one church who has booked me before to tell them I'm available and willing to talk to their ladies. If you're in the area and have a group at your church who would love a dynamic, inspiring speaker, I'm your gal :)

And that's where I am - all the green makes me think I've actually made some good progress :)

As always, if you have any ideas for me, let me know - I truly welcome the feedback and input. Of course, if I can help you in any way, I'm very happy to do so.

How was your August?

P.S. Deanne, did that organising comment help the other day?

P.P.S. Tomorrow is D-day to let them know about the job - eeek.

36 candles

I said to D last week, "this year (meaning once I turn 36), I'm not taking anymore cr*p". He said, "oh boy, you already don't" :)

My 36 things to do now I've turned 36 are:

1. Do LOTS more talks
2. Develop and keep up a system for my photos
3. Do a weekly review post
4. Have a family photo shoot when the babies can walk (I have very specific photos in mind and they need to be walking for that :))
5. Take a beach holiday
6. Decide on a policy for attending kiddies birthday parties
7. Go to gym 8 times a month
8. Do at least 3 talks on my infertility story to church or other groups
9. Learn how to make a halfway decent blog header with photos in under 30 minutes
10. Reconnect with a friend I truly love (she's moved to Pretoria so we never see each other any more)
11. Learn to let go
12. Read 5 books a month
13. Weigh 57 kg
14. Hire a personal trainer to help me get to my goal weight
15. When I reach said goal weight, reward myself with a professional photo shoot
16. Use those photos to have a website redesign
17. Live a simpler life
18. Simplify my business even more and do only really high-value work
19. Travel internationally with D for at least 5 days!
20. Do regular random acts of kindness
21. Pay for a stranger's meal/ groceries
22. Do my version of 29 gifts - 4 unexpected gifts a month
23. Get better with my skincare routine
24. Have lunch with a friend once a month. Definitely on this list - a friend I've recently connected with after we lost touch for years (we met at university and I haven't seen her for about 8 years)!
25. Get outside of house painted
26. Figure out how to generate income from my organising blog
27. Redesign organising blog (contrary to what you may think, I find it very hard to let people design things for me as I'm so clear on what I hate!)
28. Lower my expectations of myself and of others
29. Take a very basic photography class
30. Learn to cook a roast
31. Hire a life coach
32. Get at least one massage a month
33. Get hair done once a month
34. Have only clothes in my wardrobe that I love and that look good on me
35. Meet up with 3 blog friends (Cat, are you game?)
36. Get involved in some form of ministry again (I've stopped for the last 2 years and am feeling the itch to make a difference again) - could be those infertility talks otherwise even just mentoring people, etc.

If you have any ideas or you can help me in any way, I'd be very grateful. I believe by putting things out there, good things come back :)

What's on your list and how can I help you get there?

P.S. In this pic I was about 55 - 56 kg. This was taken in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. Actually probably closer to 56 kg as I was having tea and scones a couple of times a day :)

Feeling just a tad overwhelmed

There are so many things WHIZZING through my mind at the moment that I can't concentrate properly on my work.

1. babies' party tomorrow (I am fast leaning towards NEVER doing this again.....too much work ... I know, I know I need to focus on the goal)
2. speaking gigs (can't find clothes - went to Eastgate last night so now starting to panic - would anyone notice if I just wore my maternity pants??? LOL)
3. work, work, work (I am going to miss our work conference because of the speaking gigs which just kills me! I am all into VIBE and PASSION and I love this kind of thing at work. Feel terrible because my boss has been so wonderful about it. He said, "M, it's your passion. you have to do it") I also have that dreaded performance appraisal coming up - I hate those things because they're meaningless and they waste hours of my time - which I have to still prepare for. And I actually have a TON of stuff, all in progress, with OPEN loops. Next week is going to be hectic.
4. messy house (I need to write about this! I feel like the babies' stuff is spilling into all areas and am not happy............). Also, very sad to say but I seriously miss Precious (my cleaning lady who stole money from us) because she cleaned exactly how I like it - thoroughly and she left my house looking as magazine-beautiful as possible :) I've had 4 people since her and none of them come close. I thought I could train the current one but it's getting clearer that it's not going to work. And my motto is "they work for me to make my life easier, not to cause me more stress"
5. D's upcoming 40th

Besides all this stuff, I seriously don't have time to reply back to all the text and facebook and email messages from the babies' birthday.

That's not normally me but I did a blanket "thanks for all the wishes" on Facebook - hopefully you all understand???

Still those text messages are all in my inbox on my phone.

I have replied and thanked Roz for this one. This was our cutest birthday wish :) - aren't those cheeks gorgeous???

Some of you asked about the speaking...

I usually just take a day's leave to go do my thing. In this case, I have to fly to CT on Wed and to Dbn on Friday, so definitely out of office time. And I'll leave early on Tues and catch up at home that evening.

I'm speaking on something organising... lovely and vague.... have followed up with event planner because I gave them 4 topics and they're to choose 1. I obviously made them all sound too juicy :) hence the indecision.

Anyway, life is a bit hectic. I can't wait for the party to be over (and no, it is not all sorted by FAR!).

Next week Friday once I've checked into Dbn airport, I'll be able to relax and focus again.

Gosh.

What do you have planned for the weekend?

P.S. This is bringing up very interesting things in my mind. My dream has always been to jet around the country doing talks BUT this feels too hectic now. It may just be because this is all so last-minute and clashes with party prep .... I don't know.

Deanna, your post is making me think!!! Roz, am I thinking too much?

P.P.S. Now that I've made a list and cleared some of the noise, hopefully I can get some good work done!

500 posts and a long, long list

I can't believe it - these last 100 posts have FLOWN by.


And post 400 was only on 3 March!

When I was going through that electricity thing and I had that headache, I realised that things need to change around here.

1. We gave notice to the tenants so at least we'll know that any future electricity usage is all ours.

2. I'm going to stop worrying about my business - nothing has changed and I am still excellent at what I do (I do know this deep down) even though my marketing is not yielding the results I want.

3. I also decided that I need to relax more so I've hired a new virtual assistant.

I've had two so far - first one was great but went through some personal stuff and as a result, wasn't doing my work on time, etc, etc. I technically am owed about 10 hours' work but I chose to just let it all go and close the loop. Keep the relationship and all that jazz.

Second one was okay, but worked much slower which is not good for me (I like things done yesterday!) and if he doesn't know what's going on, doesn't ask but avoids the conflict so I thought to give him one last chance.

I made a manual of how to do my weekly newsletter, emailed him and asked him if he could commit to do this piece of work on a weekly basis with a 24 - 36-hour turnaround.

No answer in 2 days so I decided that was that.

I put out my work on a freelance site and was INUNDATED with job applicants. Took some time last week filtering through the responses but decided on 3 people. 1 of those didn't get back to me within 48 hours so again is out (I have to be tough because otherwise it's not helping me as the task falls right back to me again) and so I am testing the other two.

One has direct experience with the system I use so she will do this week's one. I've given the other one another boring task and I'll use those to check their attention to detail, speed, accuracy and learning curve.

It's been a big investment in time doing the manual, finding suitable candidates, etc. but I know it will free up lots of time in the weeks and months to come.

Strange or not-so-strange thing - the minute I decided that I need to stop worrying about all this and that I am still fabulous (!), I got an email booking me for an event on Wed and a meeting request to discuss a joint venture - both for SPEAKING.

Did I not say that I wanted to speak more this year???

I am very, very excited about Wednesday's talk.

It's going to be a busy, busy week - we celebrate Youth Day on Wednesday so it's a public holiday.
This week's must do items

1. Go to gym twice (skipped one last week because of Sex and the City)
2. Phone exterminator (I have crawling insects in my kitchen and I've tried everything to get rid of them but nothing's working so even though I hate "wasting" money, these suckers must die!)
3. Dental appointment on Tuesday *gulp* (hate the dentist - it's that needle thing)
4. Write newsletter and send to VA
5. Finalise talk for Wed (it's 80% done)
   
6. Prepare personal development items for work
   
7. Write copy for new website - more on this later...

What's on your must-do list this week?

P.S. I decided on the birthday theme. It's kind of a secret for now (I need to see whether things are easy to get or not) but hopefully, we are good to go.

P.P.S. That is the colour of my bedroom wall. Now you can see why I had to take the red bags and stash them out of sight. What colour would you say it is?

Organising binge

What do you do when you have crazy bad internet problems and you can barely work on the computer?

Why, you organise your house.

Or at least that's what I do.

The computer has been driving me nuts and I think I'm going to phone Dial-a-Nerd.

Love that name.

My local computer guys said there's nothing wrong with my computer. My anti-virus is working normally but I am still losing emails coming in.

Anyway, back to the organising.

I'm flying through the house stuff on my May list because in addition to the disappearing emails, I also have crazy slow internet.

Again, my ISP says there is nothing wrong with connectivity in my area but there so clearly is!

1. I've organised all the babies' clothes and then some.

Cleared out EVERYTHING that no longer fits. This is the first time I've thought about how "lucky" I am to not be having any more kids because I don't have to store small clothes!

2. I've given 3 bags of clothes to the other twins.

3. D fetched the high chairs.

4. My friend with the twins gave us sleep sacks so I don't have to find someone to make them.

5. I went to gym twice this week. Felt positively virtuous and rewarded myself by eating not one, but TWO carrot cupcakes.

6. I planned out my gifts for the month.

7. Started writing out my items for my life list.

8. And a biggie, I am teaching myself to let go.

This is part of organising my time.

Remember when I wrote the first Motherstyles post, I said one of my biggest struggles is letting go.

We were talking parenting but I recognise it in so many areas of my life and this was one of the issues that I recognised I need to do some self-coaching on.

So first thing to let go was an easy-ish one. My diary (planner).

I have a GORGEOUS deep red diary/ planner but  I haven't been using it. The same thing happened last year - I thought it was the maternity leave/ baby thing but no. I forget to look in it half the time and then two weeks pass.

No more.

I let go. Even though it cost a bit of money. Even though I'd customised it perfectly. And so on.

On Wed night I had some time to think and I realised I really really really love a week-at-a-glance diary - that's how I plan my life and that's what works best for me.


I had a spare week-at-a-glance diary I got on a sale so I hauled it out and I am so much happier. I planned out the rest of May and it's so EASY doing it like this!

Small steps, people.


What are you working on? Tell me I'm not the only one with issues!

P.S. Don't forget to enter the giveaway.

P.P.S. That is an old pic as I'm too lazy to take a pic and upload it. Keeping it real :)

Stuff and more stuff

A week late ... but better late than never, right?!

I've fallen off the goal-setting wagon a bit over the last month or two and I want to post here so you'll all keep me accountable.

I have been shocking with gym (not going), shocking with eating properly, my pants are tight and it's winter.

All of which is not a very good combination.

So for May, these are some things on my to-do list:

Me stuff

• Go to gym twice every week for the rest of the month
• Get a massage
  
• Stop eating chocolate (get chocolate fix from Weigh-less hot chocolate)
• Read one book a week (this will mean I have to factor in an hour a night so less computer time)
• Finish two of the three half-read baby books (I can't resist - maybe there's a secret there that's the answer to all my problems????)
• Finish the blogging on Motherstyles
• Work on my issues (seriously, I have tons of stuff I want to self-coach on - I have a list and a folder full of stuff - am thinking a coffee date weekly for an hour with my laptop and my thoughts as a reward for going to gym twice)
• Plan some gifts (some ad-hoc, unexpected gifts that I can surprise people with - the goal 4 a month - 1 down, 3 to go)
• Update and add to my life list. Do you have a life list?
  

House stuff

• Have gates painted.
• Have outside walls painted.
• Choose paint colour for our bedroom and my study
• Look for coat rack
• Look for new entrance hall table
  
• Get gardener to clean out garage!!!
• Evict tenants
  

(We decided even though we're not selling our house, why should we only pretty it up for strangers to live in it??? We deserve freshly painted walls too!)


Baby stuff

• Finish organising their clothes - it is actually organised but I bought some more baskets to keep the drawers neat so need to do final touches.
• Drop off more clothes with the other twins
• Get high chairs (I told a twin friend that I'd buy her 2nd hand ones)
• Decide on the baby dedication and while I'm at it, the baby party. *sigh* (yet another blog post)
• Get someone to make a big sleep sack for Connor (he has almost outgrown his current "one size fits all" one)
  

Business stuff

Decide what I'm doing with the business. Another blog post.

It seems like a lot but I get more done when there's more to do. Make sense? If I hardly have anything on, I feel quite slothful :)


What's on your list for May?

P.S. The babies are 10 months old today. All I can say is GOSH!

Exhausted

We're back and I'm tired.

The babies had a bit of a freak-out (due to them being overtired) during the last 30 minutes of our journey home (good thing they're so cute!) so the minute we arrived, I brought them in and got them settled while D unloaded the car and trailer.

When I eventually went out into our entrance hall/ dining room area, it looked like a bomb had gone off LOL.

I'm still not sure whether the rewards of going away outweigh the schlep of hauling practically the whole house with us. I dread to think what people who actually buy lots of baby stuff do. Do they take it ALL with them???

In the next week this is what's in store for me:

• 3 nights (yes, THREE) of looking after the babies all by myself from 8 pm to 8 am as D has a launch thing at work. In a strange way I'm kind of looking forward to trying out some things with the sleep (!).
• hosting a teleseminar that I still have to put together content and a handout for... I know the subject well though so it should take an hour of concentrated effort and I'll be done
• work...
• laundry laundry and more laundry
  
• finish unpacking my and the babies' clothes (oh wait! V's coming for a few hours tomorrow - she can do the babies' clothes)
• return trailer, camp cot and other assorted errands
• downloading and sorting the gazillion photos (how often do you download and sort? how do you store them?)
  

I'll tell you more about the trip in the next few days but my bed is calling me....

P.S. Happy Birthday, Dee! Glad you had a fabulous day :)

P.P.S. 130 unread posts in my Google Reader! Jeepers - you guys have been busy busy busy! I had very limited time on the computer AND I had to use my sim card from my cell phone to connect to the internet so really just responded to email and did own blogging when I could.

P.P.P.S. Do you know I was so ambitious I took 3 half-read books with me? They are ALL still half read except one which is a bit further along. I am delusional!

Overwhelmed

a SMALL part of what my dining room looked like last night -
notice my kicked-off shoes and my mug of tea :)

Do you ever feel like your brain is racing so much with all your things to do that you can't actually stop to think?

I told you how I forgot we're going on holiday TOMORROW so this weekend has been go go go when I've been here.

I was working at a client's house on Saturday (doing professional organising work - on Saturday I worked with her boys and we decluttered and organised ALL their clothes - it was GREAT!) and of course we had church and some errands yesterday so busy busy busy.

So when I was actually here that's all the time I had to work on this stuff.

Hence the overwhelm.

But then I had to do some self-coaching on myself and I did the first thing I always tell my clients - I made a list.

The list is now made and I've categorised it so after I finish writing this blog post, my computer stuff is done (except for this week's newsletter but I usually write that on a Monday night so will do so tonight) and I can get into the kitchen.

Kitchen area

1. Cook chilli con carne
   
2. Pack our food
3. Pack babies' food
4. Do laundry - whites
5. Do laundry - colours

Bedrooms

1. Pack babies' clothes
2. Pack laptop (!!!) - hopefully the signal won't be too pathetic out in the sticks (compared to Jhb) and I can actually get some good blogging on.
3. Pack my clothes

Out stuff

1. Go to movies with D (we both took today off)
2. Go buy D 15th anniversary present (I do know what I want to get - it's just the getting)

Thank goodness V is here to look after the babies!

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?

Small pleasures

Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland - 2008

• My new blog. Every time I click through, I smile. My new design makes me feel all grown-up and like a "real blogger". It's so pretty and clean and easy on the eye!
  
• Clean bathrooms - what this says about me I don't know but I love cleaning (my) bathrooms. I cleaned the big one again on Sunday (after it had been cleaned on Saturday) because the maid doesn't do it like I like... and I'm too lazy to fire her and find another. *sigh*
  
• Browsing crafty blogs - it can get crazy as in ...my computer shut down from all the links that I'd opened from just one blog, The Girl Creative
  
• A bowl of warm, creamy pasta
• Kendra's giggles
  
• Feeling the crisp, cool winter air on my face
• singing along to happy songs
  
• Jumping into my warm bed with a hot mug of tea and my book
  
• Comments on posts!
• The sight and taste of green Granny Smith apples
  
• Connor's boy sounds
  
• My red handbags
  

What are your small pleasures?

400th post! Our list of top love songs, unashamedly soppy!

this is literally where "it" all started for us -
dining hall at Rhodes University :)

I mentioned last week that Just the way you are by Billy Joel is on our list of love songs.

James Bond Island, Thailand

Some other songs on our list are:

1. Wonderful tonight – Eric Clapton


2. Glory of love – Chicago


3. Just the way you are - Billy Joel


4. At last - Celine Dion


5. Up where we belong - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes (I couldn't listen to this one while in the throes of infertility as I'd cry and cry and then cry some more)


6. More than words - Extreme


7. Have I told you lately that I love you – Rod Stewart


8. The way you look tonight - Michael Buble (don't you love that last scene from My Best Friend's Wedding?! Oh, I love it!)


9. Don't dream it's over - Crowded House (have you noticed how many references to kitchens in their songs???)


10. How deep is your love - The Bee Gees


11. Crazy for you - Madonna


12. Nobody does it better - Carly Simon


13. Against all odds - Phil Collins


14. All out of love - Air Supply


15. Don't let the sun go down on me - Elton John & George Michael


16. Total eclipse of the heart - Bonnie Tyler


17. Nothing compares to you - Sinead O'Connor


18. For the first time - Rod Stewart
    


19. True colours - Cyndi Lauper


20. Take my breath away - Berlin (The Top Gun version!)

There are about 10 more I could add... but I won't :)

And then songs I absolutely can't stand because, even for me, they're too soppy :)

• The love song from Titanic
• I will always love you - Whitney Houston

And to end off, some trivia.

When D and I first got together, he rewrote lyrics to Sting's "Moon over Bourbon Street" for me. Can you see why I fell hard for him? Remember I am easily delighted. I still have that page written on an "I love Rhodes" exam pad in a memory box somewhere :)

Is my list jogging your love songs memory? :)

Do you like any of these songs? Absolutely hate them? :)