My Imaginary Friends

The internet plays a large part in my life. I've been online now for a while, however it's really only played such a big part in the last 4 years. People find the internet a sad and scary place, but the reality for me is that a good chunk, probably around 70%, of my friends... are online. AKA Imaginary friends (thanks Cuntifer for that saying).

Yup, that's right, Mel, the mad woman with imaginary friends! There are lots of reasons why I like my imaginary friends. I'm not a phone person, I hate talking on the phone. With imaginary friends it's not necessary. I'm shy around new people, online I can be the outgoing person I am most of the time without the stuttering, and awkward silences. I don't know about you, but I tend to be more open when I am typing away to someone, as opposed to sitting down with them. When it comes to personal, upsetting stuff, it's easier to type it away while you use a box of tissues up. Not so easy to sit down with a coffee and blurt out your life problems, end up in tears which is often embarrassing. Also, you don't need to organise visits around naps, and illness, and kids crazy days! I like that even when Eli was up all night screaming, or Ashton spent the last 2 days with his head in a bucket, that I can sit down with a hot chocolate and log on to have a nice chat with my imaginary friends. Even at 3am, there is always someone on the other side of the screen, from all corners of the world.

But the absolute most important reason I love my imaginary friends, is that they are just awesome! They are all sorts of people, from all backgrounds. They raise their families in all different ways. They have had many different life experiences, and lots of great advice to go with those experiences. They are supportive, and loving. They are always there to offer a cyber hug, no matter how stupid the reason for being upset. They don't judge, even when they don't agree. They are beautiful, inside and out, and they all absolutely rock my world! From the words that hit home, to the stories that make me cry. From the surprise packages, to the presents that really touched me. From the virtual hugs, to the virtual slaps. I admire, cherish and love each and every one of you.

My imaginary friends have got me through a lot of downs, and bounced in their computer chairs with me through the ups. When I've had problems and questions that I haven't been comfortable asking someone in person, there was always someone to listen on the other side of the keyboard. I large chunk of my imaginary friends have become not so much imaginary, I have been lucky to meet a lot of them in the last few years.

So to all my wonderful imaginary friends, I love you. But you already knew that!

Pay It Forward

When I saw a post on Piper + Lily's blog about Pay It Forward, I decided to dive in to see if could make it in & I did!

So what I have to do is this:

• I promise something handmade to the first five people to comment on this post. To be eligible, those five people must make the same pledge & post it on their blog & so on & so forth. The rules are that it must be handmade by you & it must be sent at some point during 2011.

So, who is going to join me?

*Australia only please*

Water, All Natural Snacks, and Sling Rides

Today was great fun! I took the boys to the beach for the afternoon.

Eli thought the rocks were the best part of our beach trip. He snacked on this one for about 20 minutes.

The kids ended up shoeless as they were soaked, but full of giggles and smiles from having so much fun.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Review of the Adjustable Peanut Shell

This week I was lucky enough to get chosen, by Babes In Arms, to use and review the Adjustable Peanut Shell shoulder sling. This was actually my first try of a shoulder sling (if you don't count the 10 minutes of my sisters Infantino).

The things I love about this sling are the padded shoulder, and the little pocket on the front, perfect size for my phone! It's also very small so can roll up in a handbag easily.

Slipping it on and off is a cinch, and adjusting it is super easy. I am a larger sized lady and it fit me perfectly. I had no difficulty at all following the instructions, so for a new baby wearer, this sling would be great! I love the extra safety strap on the inside, for peace of mind. It's also very soft and snug and Eli really enjoyed it!

I hip carried him as he is almost 10 months old and didn't approve of my attempt to Kangaroo Carry. I wish I'd had something like this when he was a newborn for trips to the shop, or school to pick up the other kids. For the price you'd get your money's worth.

It does come in an array of colours and patterns, I chose black because it doesn't stain and goes with everything. I'm boring like that!

You can check them out here.

The Trip To Get My Car

This week has been kind of a nightmare. I'd spent the last 2 months saving up to go pick up my car. It was in Sorell in Hobart, and needed a new battery, new rear brake pads, and a tank of petrol.

I had booked a hire car to be picked up last Sunday, so I could get to Sorell on Monday (45 minutes from where I am). Get the taxi to the hire car place with both babies and 2 car seats, they wont accept my mastercard because it's a debit card not a credit card. The lady hadn't told me that. So we cabbed back home, $40 wasted and no way to get to the car in Sorell.

I ring around, my aunty lends us her car, so I go down the road to Eastlands shopping centre, buy a battery that the guy says is the right one for the car (according to his book). I stood there saying "It looks too big, are you sure" but he was adamant it was the correct size. Off we go to pick up the car.

Get there, car has been broken into, door lock is hanging out, glove box broken, wires hanging out. I'm annoyed but will deal with it later.

Go to put the battery in, wrong battery and doesn't fit. There are some men across the road working on a house, so I borrow jumper leads from them but still can't start it. Call the mechanic and he comes out (call out fee) and starts the car with his truck battery. Yay!

So I take the car to the mechanic, say to put a new battery in and I'll take the other one back. I get back to Eastlands to take the battery back, and he calls. The pads I bought were the wrong ones. I was scared that would happen. So add another $120 and I now have a set of the wrong pads which I can hopefully return when I get home. He says the car will be ready at 5 now because he needs to get the pads from town so I took the battery back without a hassle

thankfully.

Get there at 5 and the car wont start! The mechanic is stumped because he drove it out of the shop and it worked fine, now it wont start. He works on it for an hour before it goes, then gives me the wonderful news... my starter motor is on the way out. Gives me the option to leave it there or take my chances in getting it home. I drive it to mums.

The car works fine the next 10 times I start it. Tuesday I decided to take Eli out and go op shopping while Ash slept and mum babysat. Get to the second stop and it wont start again. Get the cab home.

My nan drives from Blackman's Bay to take us back out to it and see if we can start it after it's been sitting there for a couple of hours. Goes first try. No more chances, I drive it straight to the mechanic to be fixed. That was 2 days ago. It's still there, they still haven't called me back. I have a terrible feeling I will be bussing home instead of driving :(

Add to that both kids have gastro now.

Bad luck? I think so!

Peanut Sling and Ergo Baby Carriers

So today I am really excited! Last night I got an email from Babes In Arms saying I had been chosen to review the Adjustable Peanut Sling baby carrier! I am very excited, as I have wanted to try a shoulder sling for a long time now! I've tried wraps, SSC, Mei Tais, a POD, and my favourite Hammock Conversion, but not a shoulder sling! Eagerly waiting it's arrival!

I also have entered a draw to win a ERGObaby carrier. These are pretty awesome, just throw them on and off you go, birth to toddlerhood, city to bush. I loved mine (so much so that it turned from black to a grey colour) and used it for 2 years, carrying my Ashy from birth until he was a hefty 17kg toddler. I hope I win! Check it out over at The Bragging Mommy :)

Feel The Love

Today when I picked Jaidan up from school, I said "Guess what Jaidan?". "What mum?" he replied. "I love you the most", I told him. "Mum stop saying that, I don't like it" he declared. "Why not?" I asked. "You give me a headache" he sighed.

Little brat. LOL

On another note, we had a very long and exhausting day today. Headed to a gathering for International Women's Day. It was lots of fun, Ash got to ride a pony and was surprisingly confident! We spent a lot of time there, having a stab in the dark I would say almost half the time we were there today was spent at the ponies.

I am feeling really cranky today. Lack of sleep I think, but I woke up tired and grumpy and haven't been able to kick it. The kids have been good but everything is annoying me so I've parked them in front of the TV for now.

I am so close to having my car I can taste it. Feels like one step forward, 2 steps back at the moment. I almost had the money to go pick it up, which is hard for me as I am usually very close to incoming amount with bills and things, and then the power bill came in didn't it. So back to square one basically and a 2 week wait is turning out to be a 2 month one I think.

Yes, today is a whingy whiny post. I'm allowed to have them occasionally aren't I?