Hmmm...

Something New.

Aha!

No, maybe this? Yes.

No.

And then the something new just happened! And this is what it was.

It is not 'something new' that Sprout likes to play doctors and nurses. She has even said that she wants to be a nurse when she grows up. Might be taking after her Mummy there (even though I am not a nurse I did do go to uni for nursing studies, didn't pass the last unit, and didn't go back! Long story. But I worked as a Nursing Care Assistant for three and a half years).

Aaaanyway...

I have had this medical set under my bed for 'a rainy day' which  Sprout ended up finding this afternoon. So I decided it was about time she could play with it. Funny thing is, it IS actually a rainy, wet and cold day here today so twas even more right that I let her go for it.

{Due to the rainy day, it meant dodgy lighting for photos so please bear with me and make allowances for that whilst viewing these photos. Thanks.} 

^Here is the BRAVE patient that is waiting to see her doctor.

Instruments ready. Doctor prepared. Patient called.

And the medical check-up begins!

 Vaccination was given. All her obs were fine.

Dolly was good to go with a clean bill of health!

Job well done Dr. Sprout!

And way-to-go Dolly - didn't even cry at the needle :-)

************

I have been trying to think all day what I could write about as Something New in my life today that celebrates the beauty of life.

Well...

What can be more beautiful than the pure joy of kids play!

Children really are a blessing and enrich our lives so greatly. Wouldn't trade them or the treasured moments they bring to us for the world!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Hello again!

Well, today is all about breakfast.

They say ('they' being the so-called 'experts'), that you should start your day with a good, well-balanced, hearty breakfast. My idea of this is a plate full of bacon, eggs, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and a nice dose of hollandaise sauce. If I eat this for breakfast, I don't usually need anything for lunch. Just keep up my fluids and have a light tea and I am all good.

But I dont have this every morning...

This is what I have:

Since going predominantly gluten-free, I have started eating gluten-free cereals (probably not the best choice as there is still sugar and other 'stuff' in gf foods but anyway).

My main choices are either rice flakes or rice puffs and I have just started using almond milk (and have a rice milk in the pantry to try next.) It's not too bad really. Can't say I don't like it. It's just a taste and consistency I will get used to I think. I thought I would try this in my breakfast cereal in an attempt to cut down on dairy intake and see if that makes me feel any better.

I will do another blog post some time explaining all of this health issue stuff I have been having and why I am trying new things in order to achieve optimum health! Basically, I feel ill alot and after ruling out any physical, medical issues, it has come down to diet and lifestyle, minimising stress and finding ways to just chill.

Anyway, gone off on a tangent there...

BREAKFAST!

Following my cereal, I have:

Toast!

Gluten-free of course. And...it has to be Country Life Bakery brand. It's the only one I have found that I like. Any others are too stodgy and get stuck in my throat I find, so I steer clear of them and only go this type!!

I spread it with whatever I feel like. Never usually strays from my two fave spreads but anyway.

And every breakfast should always include...



Hiya!

Welcome to day two of the May Photo Challenge by papercoterie.

As you would see, today's theme is Tickled Pink.

Just for fun, I thought that I would look up this term at dictionary.com

And it DID have the meaning...under Slang Dictionary (haha).

It means:

amused; utterly delighted; pleased

So for example - in a sentence it would be used like this:

"I am tickled pink that you have stopped by my blog today!"

And I REALLY am! LOL!

________________________________________________________________

So without much more fuss, I thought that I would just tell you some things that I am Tickled Pink with today.

I am tickled pink with this new mail box that hubby made over the weekend. It has a door that opens to put mail in and keeps the mail dry on those wet and rainy days. Utterly delighted ;-)

I am tickled pink that I have been able to have some peace and quiet every day to get some things done around the house without any interruptions OR read a book OR do some knitting/crochet. At this very moment this little Sparkle sleeps and Sprout watches 'her channel' on telly so I can get this blog post done. Gotta be happy with that!!



I am tickled pink that I got to make a batch of these cookies this afternoon. They are soooo scrummy and very easy to make. My kinda baking :-)

Will post recipe sometime to share with ya.

And then, of course, I am tickled pink that I am the Mumma to these gorgeous girls. A wife to an awesome fella. To have a roof over my head. Food to eat.

Talking about food - I know hubby is pretty tickled pink that I am cooking my chicken parmigiana and chips for tea tonight! (Will have to share that recipe with ya aswell sometime. It's a favourite here!)

What are you tickled pink with today?

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna



Firstly, just to point out- MPC stands for May Photo Challenge. In case you were wondering.

Right! That's the business side of things settled ;-)

My Life?

Well I thought I would start with some of my childhood and general information about me and my life so far. So here goes...

Abit of Background

I was born on October 17th in Tasmania, Australia almost thirty years ago. (yep! Big birthday coming up!!)

I grew up in Tassie.

Did all of my schooling in Tassie.

Have a whole lot of family in Tassie.

Was a flower girl twice and a bridesmaid later in life once (as maid of honour for my bestie!)

Obviously I have a mother and father and they are the BEST! Been married for 31 years and still going strong. Love them to bits.

And I have two younger sisters. And we are all totally different. But we all still love each other!

My childhood and teenage years were happy ones, full of adventure, laughter and family fun! I loved school and made friends easily. I was very outgoing and most likely considered 'the life of the party' and a loudmouth! I am still like this abit now but I think I have 'mellowed' a tad over the years.

Abit Later On

I met a man.

And we got hitched.

He is my strength, the love of my life, my hero.

He's my best friend.

Last Sunday, we celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. YAY!

And we are still in love I can tell ya.

Sometimes it's tough...

But I'd rather be with him than without him!

And together...

We had these two delightful characters.

Sprout & Sparkle!

They are the rays of sunshine in our lives and make life worthwhile. Some days it may not feel like it is all worthwhile but they really are the most important things in my life.

Maybe because they consume my EVERY day. LOL!

I love being a mother. I don't think I was prepared for the intensity of their dependence on me but I've learnt to accept that and just BE their Mum. Uh, actually...still learning. The great thing about motherhood is that you do learn something pretty much every day and you see different things in your child as they grow and develop. And you can smile and know that YOU were a part of it. YOU, their mother, helped them to grow and learn.

Sometimes, I can look at other people's life and feel like everyone ELSE is having all the fun. Do you get that feeling sometimes? That your life is dull and boring and doesn't mount up to everyone else's?

Well, you know what I have discovered?

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO!

When I think about it more closely - I don't want someone else's life...

I just want my own.

And make it the best it can be. We can only use what we have at the time to make us happy. So...

*I have an awesome family who love me unconditionally.

*I had a great upbringing and learnt many valuable lessons along the way (usually the hard way but I learnt them all the same!)

*I have made some great friends and acquaintances over the years.

*I married an awesome man who loves me ALL day EVERY day.

*I have two gorgeous girls who don't just fill my days, but fill them with all kinds of wonderful along the way.

I could list more but I will just stop and dwell on these :-)

I'm Happy :-)

So that's my life. In a nutshell. A very small nutshell.

Tune in tomorrow for Day 2.

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna



I have decided to try a new photo challenge along with my normal photo a day snapping created by fatmumslim.

This one is about documenting the beauty of life well lived by papercoterie.

But instead of tagging photos via Instagram, Twitter or Facbook, I have decided to try and do it as a daily blog post. Kinda like a photo story for that day using the prompt that is given here in the list shown above.

On the papercoterie blog post for this photo challenge (go here), the question is asked...

"Are you an adventurous spirit?"

Hmmm...

The comment I left was this:

Am I an adventurous spirit? This question is now rumbling around in my head. Adventurous to me means – spontaneous, risk-taker, no-worries-in-the-world mentality. In my teens and early 20′s…that was me. Now? Cautious, paranoid and a complete stress-ball. I am not blaming motherhood but I guess when you start having kids and you become responsible for people other than yourself…it changes you!
I know I still do have this adventurous spirit and it longs to break-free…maybe this month’s photo challenge will start me in the right direction: Favourite Ritual= my morning coffee, Favourite part of the day= the peace and quiet when the kids are napping, Something ordinary=embracing the chance to get to bed earlier than normal!
A ‘life well lived’ would be interpreted differently for every person and I need to appreciate and celebrate my life for what it is now and embrace everything, big and small, that is in it!

So there you have it!

I am not saying I am totally unhappy with my life. I just think that sometimes we can forget the good amongst the seemingly mundane tasks of the day! Sometimes I feel like I am trudging through the day and not really getting anywhere. Each day just rolls into the next and the same things are done every day! But...

IT'S TIME TO TAKE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE!

And I'm on the bandwagon! So here we go... 

Join me on my journey this month and maybe you want to take this journey of embracing life and seeing the best in every day for yourself! If so, let me know and I can link you up so we can share our adventures around!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Well, mine sure do!

This is what happened the other weekend...

SPRINKLER FUN!!!

Now what kid doesn't like sprinklers or any other kind of water fun? Well, there are probably some who don't - but my 3 and a half year old LOVES it!

Here, I had just dressed her ready to go into town later...

 But SERIOUSLY...

Look at that drenched, blissfully happy grin!

There is just no room to be perterbed.

Yes, she needed a shower. Yes, I had to select another outfit for her to get changed into. Yes, she kept nagging me to do it all again (one guess as to the answer!) but she's a little girl with a love for the outdoors. I was definitely happy to watch her running free, giggling amidst the sprinkly sprays of water!

She's growing up.

I need to hold onto the sounds of girly giggles, silly voices, hilarious antics, and even the whiny nagging. These moments need to be held on to...

As for holding onto special moments - some major holding here!

This girl is developing new skills and abilities every day. It has always been said that the second (and so on) children grow up quicker but I didn't think it would be THIS fast. It's like DON'T BLINK OR YOU'LL MISS IT type thing!

Ten months old. Doing everything but walking ( can't quite work out how to step!).

She has the most gorgeous toothy, scrunchy nose grin that she just bedazzles you with.

And she has a very unique growl. Gotta hear it - can't explain it, but it's rather amusing.

And she also loves being outside. She hears the screen door and she is there trying to get out too.

She's not gonna miss out on any of the fun. NO SIRREE!!

Love my kids :-)

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna



That I am still plugged in!

Been a while since I've been here but I assure you there is good reason why!!

Let me tell you...

1. Hubby finished up in his last job, we helped with the clearance sale and moved house and hubby started his new job on another farm an hour away from where we used to live.

2. Sickness. I am generally not well alot of the time (that's a whole other blog post) and tiredness does not help that. Feels like I just can't get on top of it. To add to that, both girls were teething again right around when we were moving so unpacking the house has been a very slow process as my attention has been needed elsewhere!! Sprout is getting her 4 year old molars (she's pretty good with it all though) and Little Sparkle now has eight teeth (before we moved she only had two!!) In hindsight, she hasn't been too bad, just really clingy and whingy when the teeth are popping through which means...I can't get anything done!! But I'm their mother - it's my job to be there for them. SO I AM!!

3. Every other thing that happens in life. Motherhood is a full-time job and everything else has to fit into life somewhere too. So I've been juggling all that as well.

Sounds like I'm whinging. Well, I'm not really. Just explaining why I haven't been around much lately!

 I have a full life, not always fun but I'm happy! I wouldn't give my kids up for the world and I wouldn't wanna live without my wonderful husband.

Sometimes life does seem a tad confusing and you start wondering about what you could do better or differently. To be honest, there is much of these questions that hubby and I are rolling around at the moment; questions about what we can do to get better financially, what we can do better with the kids, our lifestyle etc.

I hope to get back into blogging regularly and get this side of my life (which I really enjoy) up and running the way I want it to. I have managed to dabble in some creative activities - predominantly crocheting and knitting. I've got the Crochet Fever! I'll share some of that later on.

And I hope to post about some of the afore mentioned issues in my life, with a positive spin. It's not ALL negative. I assure you it's not!!

Well, I WILL be back at some point.

Thanks for dropping by.

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna